Brush, Benjamin, 1764-1847
John M. McDonald interview — 1846-11-19
Benjamin Brush (1764-1847) begins this interview by discussing the 1780 skirmish in Greenwich, Connecticut during which Loyalist Captain Ebenezer Theall was killed, as well as the killing of Obadiah Mead by a Loyalist force commanded by Mansfield Bearmore. He then discusses the wounding of Josiah Gaines of DeLancey’s Refugees and the latter’s theft of the horse belonging to the doctor that cared for him. Brush also recounts a raid made by a British force under Banastre Tarleton that went as far east as Stanwich but failed to capture American Colonel Anthony Walton White. He states with certainty that Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Hatfield commanded the Refugee force at the skirmish in which Captain Theall was killed, and that Loyalist Captain Nathan Frink led the party that captured Captain Mead (likely Richard Mead). After referencing a Captain Pope, Brush explains why Captain Frink changed his allegiance and sided with the British. Brush then recounts a skirmish near New Rochelle involving a force of the 4th Continental Light Dragoons under Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Walton White. He also mentions an incident connected with a skirmish between a force of American cavalry commanded by Captain David Hopkins and a British force led by Andreas Emmerich. (This may be the engagement of July 30, 1779.) Brush concludes his interview by providing additional information regarding the skirmish in which Captain Theall was killed.
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Transcription
130 365 [margin: PAIRS] Benj^n Brush, Sen. P.O. Stanwich. 23. 1846. November 19, Benjamin Brush: Just as Hatfield was passing here a skirmish ensued. (?) Believe one man was killed. Theall was left behind, but his friends carried his body to and buried him at Rye. Mosier brevetted them with 12 men at the Rocky Pass. This happened about the middle of the day.
Bearmore commanded the party that killed Obadiah Mead. Mead was pursued and was on the point of surrendering, when a soldier (or Bearmore, as most say) shot him. Bearmore said he was very sorry and lamented the occurrence. Bearmore was said to have killed him.
DeLancey had a trooper named Josiah Gaines who was very dangerously wounded and left near Round Hill. D^r Belcher cured him, and to show his gratitude he stole the Doctor's horse! DeLancey afterwards made Gaines pay D^r Belcher for the horse to the full value.
When Tarleton came to Round Hill he
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131 366 [margin: PAIRS] 24. took a vidette, of White's, at that place and inquired for him, at Mr. Jonathan Knapp's, when he (White) was in Mr. Knapp's barn situate about a quarter of a mile east of Roger Brown's. &c. They expected to find White at my father's (Mr. Edward Brush) about one mile west of Stanwich Meeting House, and after leaving Round Hill they directed one party to take the north and the other the south road to take him (so as to come upon him) on both sides, but he had removed his quarters the day before. The south party proceeded as far as Stanwich Meeting House, but the north party went no further than my father's (Mr. Brush's).
[margin: ^Tarleton 3] I don't remember Gill's pursuit of [Totten].
I am certain Hatfield commanded the party when Theall was killed.
Frink commanded the party that took Captain Mead.
Captain Pope a fat man. They furnished
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132 367 [margin: PAIRS] 25. him with a horse at N. R. [New Rochelle?]
Captain Frink was in the American service and went below. He was an Eastern man, and thought himself ill treated.
When White retreated for N. R. [New Rochelle] J^y 30^th 1779., Captain Heard, Lieut^s Peyton and Gill remained behind, with ten or twelve men, and kept the British at bay. When they, that is the rearguard, retreated their trumpeter came near being taken or killed. He was overtaken and the plume cut from his cap by the British dragoons. (Heard and Peyton and eight or twelve men) — Heard said to Peyton: "It's a pity to see poor Keese killed. Let's separate and let 'em pass." They separated — that is, wheeled right to left) Keese passed, and they then attacked and killed the two pursuers. Peyton was afterwards killed in a duel with Lieut. Overton an Eastern (Connecticut) man, I believe. A [margin: see ough p. 62]
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135 368 [margin: PAIRS] 26. large dog picked up a dragoon's sword and swam with it across the pond at [New Rochelle]. The dog belonged to Pope's party, and, in consequence, became a great favorite.
When Hopkins attacked Emmerick at Young's House, Heard and Peyton were among the foremost in the pursuit. Sergeant Carr, however, was a head of all the pursuers, and wanted to take Emmerick's horse which was a very fine one. Carr said he could have killed the horse easily, but wished to take him unhurt. Heard called out to him: "Push on, Carr! — Push on!" The Yagers (or if not -by) were afraid of firing upon Heard's party till they retreat, lest they should hurt Emmerick and his horse-men; but when they turned to retreat they were fired at by a great number, but rode through it.
Captain Theall was killed with Col. Hatfield in 1780. They turned about when fired at the foot, that is, west of the
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136 369 [margin: PAIRS] 27. Round Hill, and, taking a circuit thro' the fields, came again into the White Plains and Round Hill road about a quarter of a mile beyond Levi Mead's. Colonel Beebe meanwhile marched with his regiment from North Street about four miles south of Stanwich Village) to cut off Hatfield's retreat. Beebe marched across the fields and came upon the White Plains and Bedford road.
[margin: 1846. November 18.] Stephen Neall: "Lunsbury was about 40 years of age, and had 30 or 40 enlisted. A Lieutenant of Rangers told me he was taken with his company, they (the company) being stationed by themselves, and he escaped by swearing, shouting, and passing for