Curser, Sarah Cook
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-09-29
Sarah Corsa, whose surname was usually spelled Curser, was the daughter of John Cook, who kept a tavern at Paprinimen (referred to in this interview as Paparimo and Paparinimo) in present-day Bronx County. She notes that a Hessian general stayed at her family’s home in the fall of 1776. (She indicates that the general’s name was Smith, but it does not appear that there was a general by this name.) She also describes the activities of Frederick Philipse III, Lord of Philipsburg Manor.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
523 123 44. White Plains and Fort Washington, battles of York Island, military movements on Col Humphreys Life of Put. Humphreys account of the Skirmish on Harlem Heights. 301. 302. 3.
Sept. 28th (Sunday) returned from West Farms to White Plains.
Sept. 29th Mrs Sarah Corsa “General Smith, the Hessian General Paparininimo. (3) quartered at our house at Paparimo took but never slept – We could hear him walking all night long. This was in the Fall of 1776, and after the battle of White Plains. When Colonel Philipse was arrested he could not have gone far, as he (came back or rather) sent a servant every day to see his family.” [margin: This probably was while he was at New Rochelle – J. M. M.]
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124 524 45 “My father was John Cook an Englishman who kept the tavern at Paparinimo. Col. Philipse brought him over from England to be his gardener, in which capacity he served him for many years. His wife also was English, and came over with him! When Col Philipse went off it was cold weather – I think in the autumn of 1776, or January or February 1777. On his way to New York, he stopped a short time at Van Courtlandt’s house. After the battle of White Plains my father left Paparinimo and went to New New York City with his family, where we all remained during the war.