When an American party went down to Throg's Neck they were fired upon from the British fort at Whitestone (in 1781) and covered all over with sand but none were killed. The party immediately retreated singly up the neck. [They were engineers. My uncle, James Oakley, was with them as a guide.] The British in 1779? (when? in 1778.) took a great quantity of [wheat grain and] flour which had been sent (that is, the grain) to Thomas's Mill to be ground. The British pressed a great many teams and took it off. (?) The Mill was south of Thomas' house on Blind Brook, (?) I believe.
- Hufeland Index Page 017 -
Saml. Oakley contd.
Oct.14th- [Samuel Oakley continued.] When Kipp overtook Mosier he was at Breakfast at a house (Treadwell's?) with his company. One or two of the soldiers made their escape across the fields. Thirty-two remained with him and retreated. The affair took place near General Thomas's, between the Purchase road and King street near Treadwell's. Kipp and Holmes had their pistols, but it was said the men had not, which occasioned much censure towards the officers. They could not reach Mosiers men with their swords.
In 1781, when Hull attacked the Refugee settlements he was at West Chester and retreated to East Chester, being soon followed by the Refugees who overtook him in East Chester. A detachment of Parson's brigade took possession of the church with some pieces of cannon and fired upon the green Yagers who advanced (horse and foot) from Kings bridge by the road