Devoe, Hannah
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-09-04
Hannah Devoe mentions the surnames of three American soldiers who were killed by British cavalry. She then refers to the “Rich ball,” a celebration held at a house of the Rich family in Mile Square in Yonkers that was interrupted by a party of Americans who had fired into the building. Two women had multiple bullet holes in their petticoats as a result of the gunfire. She concludes by giving her impressions of American Captain Daniel Williams, tavern proprietor Peter Post, Frederick Philipse III (Lord of Philipsburg Manor), and Grace Isaacs Babcock.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 491 -
Sept. 4th. Mrs. Hannah Devoe, wife of Joshua, aged 90 in May last, living within a few days of the same age with her husband: “Vincent, Smith and Barton went from Thomas Laurence’s barn the morning they were killed, about a mile south of where the British horse overtook them. At the Rich ball six
- Hufeland Index Page 492 -
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 Yankers, 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 ladylike 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.