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Octr. 12. Mrs. Nancy Sarles, of Middle Patent: "In the Revolution- -ary war my father lived in Bedford a mile and a half from the village on the road to White Plains. His name was Israel Lyon, an active whig and a committee man. When Tarleton took Poundridge, he set fire to Bedford Church, but it was extinguish- -ed and the church was not burnt until Bedford was set fire to. When they burnt Bedford, they advanced by the upper or west road and entered about daylight. The party consisted of several hundred composed of leather Caps and Refugees and all mounted. The Refugees did all the mischief, plundering and burning whilst the Leather Caps sat on horseback and kept their ranks. They retreated by the White Plains road. The militia were all out in the direction of Stam- -ford except a picket guard which they attacked and dispersed, killing one man.
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They were hungry when at our house asking constantly for bread, and we gave all we had. They then set fire to our house and retreated. [X] I endeavored to put the fire out, and succeeded down stairs, but they had fired a bed upstairs which I knew not of until it was too late. Just then a party of our militia came to our assistance, and helped to save some things in the house. I don't know who commanded the British - whether it was Simcoe or Tarleton or who. The Leather Caps were regulars, and appeared to have come in order to support the Refugees The Leather Caps, I think, were Hes- -sians. Colonel Holmes's house at Bedford was burnt. It was, I think, occupied by Benjamin Hayes. Tim Knapp was from near Horse- -neck, and a very handsome young man.