Guion, Elias, 1772-1855
John M. McDonald interview — 1844-09-05
Elias Guion (1772-1855) notes that his father, Elias Guion (1728-1811), was placed sentry over American whaleboat man Fade Donaldson after the latter was captured by DeLancey’s Refugees at New Rochelle. He also discusses a skirmish that took place in New Rochelle, the British encampment there in 1776, and some of the activities of the whaleboat men in the area.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 002 -
1844 Septr. 5th Elias Guion of New Rochelle Village: I was four years old at the commencement of the Revolutionary war, and was
- Hufeland Index Page 003 -
Elias Guion continued. present when Frederich Donaldson was taken at New Rochelle early in the morning. (?) My father was placed sentry over him by the Refugees who handed him a pistol, and directed him to shoot the prisoner if he attempted to escape. My father (?) replied he should not kill a neighbor and townsman. Donaldson was taken the same day to West Chester and hanged. This was in one of the last years of the war. [Probably in the beginning of 1782.] Donaldson was a very enterprising whaleboat man. When De Forest and Lockwood took the British vessel of war [X] in East Chester bay, they carried their boats across Pelham Neck. The Whaleboatmen were frequently at [New Rochelle] where Donaldson had lived. The stone wall, west of the road at [New Rochelle] bridge over the M[amaroneck] pond was built after the Revolutionary war. Before that there was a common unenclosed on that side of the road. At the skirmish there, the
[X] (The Shuldham. ?)
- Hufeland Index Page 004 -
Elias Guion cotnd. American infantry fired across the bridge from an ^the adjacent eminence on the north side and killed or mortally wounded seven (?) or eleven (?) of the British Refugees. Many of them bled to death on the flat rock near the south end of the bridge on the east side of the road. [Obs. The eminence in question is in accessible to cavalry, and within pistol shot of the bridge, (?) or almost] The wounded men all bled to death and the stone was covered withs their blood. The British army in 1776, was encamped from close to [New Rochelle] village until you came near Hutchinson’s river.