General Thomas told me that during the Revolutionary war, he was compelled to leave his house and farm in Harrisons Purchase, which were for the most part of the time between the lines. Late in the Fall of 1778, having been informed that the British force at Kingsbridge and West Farms had gone into Winter quarters, he ventured home, where he was surprised by the enemy about daylight. He sprang from the window of his bedroom, half dressed, and in his drawers ran for the woods and
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would have escaped, but was overtaken and surrounded by the light horse, and forced to surrender himself. He was allowed after this to procure some clothes but having lost his hat in attempting to escape was for sometime without one. At last he was furnished with an old hat, and a very old and sorry horse which he was compelled to mount, and so was conducted to Kingsbridge. During his march to Kingsbridge, he was often left alone among the enemy's soldiers, and at these times was much exposed to the insults of the privates who guarded him. This petty persecution proceeded chiefly from one Robert Crooker, a man with whom he had previously been well acquainted. At length, one of the enemy's soldiers, an Irishman, interfered in his behalf, and swore with great warmth that he wouldn't stand by and witness such treatment to a prisoner any longer. After this he was no longer
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