from somewhere in Connecticut. - [Was this Captain Doolittle of Ridgefield? - See Note Book 1/84.] There was a frolic once during the Revolutionary war in [North Castle, proba- -bly, or somewhere near there] which was attended by a number of skinners, among other persons. Joseph Hubbs and Jem. Husted, two noted Refugees having heard of the frolic, lurked about the house, and communicating, probably, with some of the dancers, found out where the Skinners had stacked their muskets. Having possessed themselves of these arms, Hubbs and Husted suddenly made a great noise crying out - "Surround the house! - shoot everyone that comes out!" Having succeeded in convincing the Skinners that the house was surrounded by a numerous party, the two tories compelled them to come out one at a time and surrender. As they came out they were tied and secured and all conveyed below. Once during the war, Jared Palmer,
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a tory from near Horseneck and a man of great strength accompanied by two boys named Joseph Close and John Conn, came down in the night with a drove for New York. It was in the winter and towards day that Palmer and the two boys stopped at Mr. Hart's in Purdy Street to warm themselves by the fire. (?) They hadn't been long at the fire before two armed men belonging to the upper party came in and called upon Palmer and his boys for immediate surrender The names of the two Whigs or Skinners were Eli Nelson and Thomas Pew, and they threatened the three drovers with instant death if they attempted to escape. Thereupon they proceeded to secure the captives who were all three unarmed. Pew drove the boys into a corner of the room and there guarded them, while Nelson proceeded to secure Palmer by tying his arms with a cord taken from one of the farmer's beds.