hung upon the British rear on their retreat - November 11th. Among those who drove cattle below to the enemy was a farmer of Greenwich, Connecticut, named Jabez Huested, who on one occasion had collected a drove with which he was going below in the night. Passing through Rye, on the Post Road, he was informed that Captain John Thomas with a com- -pany of thirty or forty militia had taken a position on the road to intercept par- -ties and droves going down. Huested was so situated that he could not return, and knowing when he was to encounter resorted to a successful stratagem. When he approached Thomas's ground he drove his cattle furiously onward, making a great noise and uttering bloody threats: 'Here boys! here the rascals are! - Kill them every one! - No quarter! -
- Hufeland Index Page 272 -
Push on!' &c. When the Captain heard this he supposed the Refugees were coming on in force and retreated with his company to Beaver Swamp, in North Street. near John Haight's old place. For this conduct Captain John Thomas was tried, broken, and had his command taken away. Mary Sniffen, with a party of friends from near Round Hill or thereabouts, forming a considerable company, was killed at Rye Neck in 1777.(?) The party escorting her were driving cattle below and stopped a moment at Stoneybrook to water when they were fired upon by some militia under John Maynard of Purchase Street near Merritt's corner (that is, below) who were lying in ambush. Her friends escaped but she was thrown from her horse and afterwards killed by a bayonet