Buckhout, Mr.
John M. McDonald interview — 1848-10-07
Mr. Buckout may be Jacob Buckhout, whose age was recorded as 65 in the 1850 United States Census. He describes the location of the Loyalist Refugee settlement in present-day Bronx County, noting that it was situated “a little east of Morrisania Church” (St. Ann’s Episcopal Church), and indicates that remnants of the huts were still to be seen.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
126 682 15. That Joshua King was a Lieutenant in Sheldons, Dr. That Rhea and Newley were Lieutenants, Dr. &c. I am to have these papers with me at Flushing on my return from West Chester.
October 7th Mr. Buckout of Morrisania: "I have always heard that the Refugee Settlement burnt in 1781, stood, or, what is called the "Nut Woods", a little east of Morrisania Church and a little north of the eminence or knoll which is north east of the house I live in. There are at the present time some remains of the huts. An old Frenchman
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683 127 16. named Rocco told me he occupied one of these buildings. The small brook that crosses the road between Mill Brook and the Bronx, is called Wigwam Brook, and, as I have understood, was once of sufficient power to turn a mill; there being one upon it.
Harlem river between Morrisania and Randall's Island is not more than 300 feet in width.
The old Morrisania hill, as I have always heard, stood a little south of the Church. You can see where the dam and pond of the Mill Brook were.