Brown, Nehemiah, 1766-1847
John M. McDonald interview — 1844-10-21; 1844-10-28
John Macdonald interviewed Nehemiah Brown of Rye near Port Chester over two days in October 1844. It is uncertain whether this man is Nehemiah Brown (1766-1847) of Hogpenridge, or if he is Judge Nehemiah Brown (1774-1855). On the first day of the interview, Brown recounts the exploits of Loyalist Shubael Merritt. According to Brown, Merritt was originally a member of Emmerich’s Chasseurs, a Loyalist unit, but was later expelled. Brown also gives a detailed recounting of Merritt’s combat with James Dole, an American cavalryman. He also describes the death of Captain Solomon Fowler, the commander of a troop of Loyalist cavalry who was mortally wounded during a skirmish in Horseneck in Greenwich, Connecticut on May 22, 1780. The first day’s interview concludes with mention of Thomas Ferris, who participated in the capture of the horse of Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey. In the second day’s interview, Brown discusses how Lieutenant John Brown of Colonel Elisha Sheldon’s 2nd Continental Light Dragoons successfully evaded a party of British cavalry that was pursuing him on King Street in Rye.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
37 October 21st Nehemiah Brown, of Rye, near Portchester: "Shube Merritt and his brother Thomas both belonged to Emmerick's. Thomas quarreled with Emmerick and drew his sword challenging him. He left the corps in consequence. Shube got Emmerick into so many scrapes by plundering &c that Emmerick expelled him. Shube and Thomas were both from Rye. Thomas joined the Queen's Rangers afterwards. Emmerick was a severe disciplinarian, and sometimes struck his men. He was unpopular in consequence. Thomas was afterwards high sheriff of one of the counties in upper Canada.
Dole was a sergeant in Sheldon's. In 1780 (August 17th?) he was in King Street. They (Nehemiah Brown and his brother) told him that Shube Merritt Merritt and Adderton (or Addington) intended to attack him. He asked them how they were armed, and was informed [page break] Neh. Brown contd. with pistols only. "How many?" "Two." "Then", said he, "I'll stand my ground." He then stopped at Captain Joseph Wilson's, and was talking with his daughter when Shube and Adderton advanced and stationed themselves on each side of the gateway. Dole then drew his sword and advanced. As he went out of the gate Shube called on him to surrender upon which he struck at Shube who instantly fired at and missed him. - Adderton then fired and wounded him badly in the side. Dole then charged upon Adderton, but finding his strength failing from loss of blood, he put spurs to his horse and rode as far as Nathan Merritt's (about half a mile), where, faint from loss of blood, he remained and had his wound dressed, and staid till he recovered. Shube called at Merritt's and claimed Dole as his prisoner and demanded his property. Fearing Shube, Merritt's people surrendered his sword and pistol. Shube then proposed to [page break] Nehemiah Brown contd. parole him. Dole replied that it was unnecessary as he should probably die. Shube insisted he should surrender himself below if he recovered. Dole said he would if Shube assured him he would be paroled. Shube refused to accede to that, and Dole refused to surrender. Shube then said he would kill him, and Dole bid him defiance. Shube was struck with Dole's courage and expressed his admiration of such bravery at the gates of death. Shube ended the colloquy by saying he would leave it to Dole's sense of honor and propriety whether he should go below and surrender when he got well or not. Dole at last consented. When well he went below, and was afterwards promoted to a lieutenancy.
Captain Fowler was wounded in the neck at Horseneck, and complained to his friends on the ground that his cravat choked him. They took it off. The ball fell out of his neck [page break] Nehemiah Brown continued. and he instantly bled to death.
When Tom Ferris and two others took Delancey's horse they were so hotly pursued, that Tom abandoned his friends, and meeting a quaker on horseback in East Chester, made him dismount and took his horse; but the horse, put to speed, soon tired, and jumping Ferris ran into a swamp, and afterwards got to Throgs Neck where his mother lived.
Brown of October 25th Lieut. John Sheldon's, was a jersey man, and his daughter was afterwards married to General Zebulon Pike, killed in [Canada]. Brown afterwards settled in Kentucky. He was once in command of a party of Sheldon's, and pursued up King Street, by a superior party, I believe, of Regulars. Brown's horses were jaded and one man overtaken by the enemy, just had first surrendered, when Brown, putting himself at the head of a few men of tried courage, faced about and charged. [page break] Nehemiah Brown contd. He told them not to venture quite so far as he went. He retook the man and horse, and told the man not to ride with so slack a bridle, but to keep a tight rein and use his spurs. This occurred pretty well up King Street. Brown charged several times with a few of his fresh men and horses, and brought his party off safely.
Abraham Lyon. October 22d Abraham Lyon, of Byram Bridge, Connecticut. "The American picket guard was kept at my father's house where I live by Byram Bridge. Another was on the hill above above on the south west of the road. When Tryon advanced to Horseneck the planks were taken up; but the British crossed