Bates, Jonathan, c.1772-1854
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-11-04
Jonathan Bates (c.1772-1854) recounts an incident that took place in 1781 when a force of Refugees landed at Five Mile River in Darien, Connecticut. Marching north along the river, the force reached a bridge where Selleck Reed, a militiaman, was posted. A skirmish ensued after Reed was killed, and American troops led by a Captain Slosson (likely Captain Nathaniel Slason) retreated. Reed’s funeral sermon was delivered by the Reverend Moses Mather. Bates then recounts the British raid of July 22, 1781, on Mather’s congregation at the Middlesex Parish Church (now the First Congregational Church of Darien). He concludes by referencing the locations of Gorham Mills in Stamford and Five Mile River in Darien.
Manuscript page facsimiles
High-resolution images served from the Westchester County Historical Society's IIIF endpoint. Click any page to view full size.
Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 604 -
Novr 4th. Johnathan Bates of Darien: “During the Revolutionary war a party of Refugees once landed on the east side of Five Mile River and moved up. Their landing was observed by Captain Slosson of the Coast guard who happened to be near them. – Slosson watched them on the west side of Five Mile River unseen by the Refugees and advanced opposite them till they arrived at a large rock near a bridge south of the highway where a sentry was posted who belonged
- Hufeland Index Page 605 -
to the Coast guard. This sentry whose name was Read hailed the Refugees who instantly fired and killed him. A skirmish ensued, and Slosson, after having several men wounded, retreated with his party. Read’s funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Mather who took his text upon the occasion from I Kings XXII. 34. “And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the King of Israel between the joints of the harness; wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thy hand and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.” – See also II. Chronicles XVIII. 33. Before Captain Frost finally got off with the Darien Congregation, it must have been as late as 9 or 10 P.M. as up to that time I heard the noise of cannon from the armed vessels. Mather’s youngest son escaped by getting under the seats and behind the womens petticoats. Another son jumped out of the window, was wounded, but escaped.
- Hufeland Index Page 606 -
Gorsham’s Mills are about three and a half miles east of Stamford. Five Mile river is about one and a half miles east of Darien church.