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Chatterton, Stephen, 1778-1850

John M. McDonald interview — 1847-09-07

From the Westchester County Historical Society catalog:
Stephen Chatterton (1778-1850) was the son of Michael Chatterton. Michael was a tenant on Philipsburg Manor, and his farm encompassed a portion of Battle Hill in present-day White Plains. Stephen describes his father’s activities during the Battle of White Plains, and states that the British used a temporary bridge to cross the Bronx River.

Manuscript page facsimiles

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Transcription

64 492 13 holes were made by balls in one woman's petticoats, and three in anothers. Capt. Daniel Williams was born on the Sprain road at a farm situated on the confines of Greenburg and Yonkers, and was a very clever man. Peter Post who lived on the north river and kept a tavern was a tory. Colonel Philipse, a good man, except that he was very bitter where he disliked. Mrs Babcock was a very lady like woman. There are but a few days difference between my age and the age of my husband, both of us being ninety in May last.

Sept. 7th Stephen Chatterton of Greenburg: "I am nearly 71 years old." "Michael Chatterton who lived from early in the last century until the close of the Revolutionary war at the foot of the

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493 67 14 hill (Chatterton's) near the bridge was my father. He was there during the battle of White Plains, and during the cannonade and firing, hid himself in the cellar of the house. A party of the British advanced from the South, an unexpected quarter and took the Americans by surprise and decided the battle. The British built a bridge over the Bronx during the engagement over which they crossed. This bridge was a temporary one."

Sept. 7th John Tompkins, of Greenburg: "My father Isaac Tompkins was a young married man in July and August 1781, when the French army encamped on our farm, and lived then in