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
491 63 12. four men lying dead side by side – Hessian horsemen, I do not know how many, were killed. The Edgar lane fight was in the afternoon. The Hessians sheep skins over their saddles. I remember when Col. Philipse was taken off to New England. Major Strang said he thought and was informed that the room at Frederick Rich's was full of Refugees.
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
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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: "Sam 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