Dyckman, Jane, 1783-1870
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-10-18
Jane Dyckman (1783-1870), the daughter of Benjamin Dyckman and Martha Lent, resided at the Dyckman House, which still stands on the east side of the Albany Post Road at the railroad tracks in Montrose in the Town of Cortlandt. She notes that Benjamin Dyckman, Pierre Teller, and George McChain participated in the “ice fight” that took place along the Hudson River in northern Ossining in January 1783. McChain was killed during this engagement. She then describes the location of a Hessian and an American encampment relative to her house, and notes that the papers of her father contain a manuscript journal belonging to an officer.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
539 155 60. October 18th Jackson Odell: “Mr. Vermilyea says that Barnes was one of Emmerick’s captains – that when the American guides and others were surprised and taken at Jacob Vermille’s on the Turkeyho road, in June 1781, by DeLancey’s Refugee horse, the Refugees for the most part pushed forward in pursuit of the great rest of the Americans who had gone on leaving Odell (Nick) and the other prisoners, behind under a small guard. – The prisoners rose upon the guard which was too small, and most of them escaped.”
Octr 18. Miss Jane Dyckman, of Courtlandt. “Benjamin Dyckman, Pierre Teller, and George McChain were
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156 540 61. 2 were at the celebrated ice fight in 1783, and the last of the three was killed. The Hessians encamped on the hill in sight, about a mile south of our house, and the Americans on the hill near us, a little south. (Was this in 1779?) Among my father’s papers was the MS. Journal of some officer which is much I lent it at your service. to Mr. Bolton a Draftsman, at Sing Sing, in the employ of the R.R. Company. Pierre Teller, junr. lives at Sing Sing. (Is he son or grand = son ?)
Mem. October 18. At General Wards office, saw young Mr Van Wyck who promised he would represent to his father my wish to examine the Revolutionary papers and documents, in his hands belonging to his father or his uncle, the late General Philip Van Courtlandt.