Brown, David, 1762-1850
John M. McDonald interview — 1848-12-05
David Brown (1762-1850) discusses the execution of American whaleboat man Fade Donaldson, who was hanged on the orders of Loyalist Major Thomas Huggeford in retaliation for the execution of Brom Barrett. According to Brown, Huggeford, who returned to Westchester County after spending time in Nova Scotia at the conclusion the Revolutionary War, feared retaliation from the Donaldson family. Brown then recalls an incident in which he and his father were taken from Rye to Greenwich by American Colonel Anthony Walton White, who feared that they would give information to a British force under John Graves Simcoe that was pursuing White toward Connecticut. Along the way, White unsuccessfully attempted to bring a Mrs. Carihart with them. David Brown and his father were let go through the efforts of a Captain Sherwood, who, though a Loyalist, had influence among the Americans in Greenwich. Brown concludes with a humorous anecdote of a visit to a tavern with Captain Sherwood.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
881 199 2/3 [margin: Old Mrs Carihart. - Capt. Sherwood - officers in dept, he - Robt Merrill of East Chester - Mr. Theall - Mr Wetmore.] Decr 5th David Brown, of Harrison, aged 86: "Major Hungerford told Fade Donaldson he would hang him. This was the day he was taken. He declared him to do so without trial. He replied - "You'll see!" Soon after he took out his watch and said, "Donaldson, you have half an hour longer to live!" Donaldson was firm at first, but softened when the hour of execution approached. I don't know whether or not Brom Barrett was an Irishman - but I think not. In the morning of the 5th of August 1779, my father, brother and myself were going to work in the road at Rye near the square house, when Colonel White drove overtook us and told us to go on, and have us from where we had stopped at a black smith's shop to Horseneck, being afraid we would give information to Colonel
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200 882 214. Simcoe who was pursuing. By the time we were on the hill over Byram the British was within 200 yards of us at the bridge. When Major Hungerford returned from Nova Scotia he at first lived on the hill across Byram river, and was compelled to go about with arms for fear of the Donaldsons who had threatened to kill him, &c. Col White stopped old Mrs Carihart about the same time he stopped us and tried to drive her to Lt Horseneck also, but she was such a scold he could do nothing with her and let her go. While at Horseneck on this occasion and under guard, a tory, old Captain Sherwood ordered the guard to let us go. The guard at first refused, but Captain Sherwood at last got us clear. He liked to drink, and we stopped and drank with him in the afternoon at a Tavern at Horse -neck. My father said, "How is it that
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201 883 2/5 [margin: James Nash, and Francis lived at Byram on the other side.] [margin: *Griffins?] you, a tory, take such liberties with the officers as to set the prisoners free?" He replied, "Ah Brown, every devil of 'em is over head and ears in debt to me!"
Decr 5th Samuel Lyon, of Rye, aged nearly 89: "Simcoe and Tarleton were both up when the British army lay at Griffin's hill in 1779. I don't think Simcoe commanded the party that burnt Bedford. Part of Tarleton's legion was at the burning of Bedford. Bearmore commanded the out guard when the British were at Griffin's hill, having under him about twenty horse. He applied to Colonel Tarleton for an addition to his force but Tarleton refused. I saw Caleb Green once driving a flock of about 150 geese with which he went down safely to Morrisania.