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Novr. 22d Isaac Holly, of West Greenwich, Connecticut, aged 84: “Three Refugees came up to Stanwich and played cards to decide who should kill June who lived east of Stanwich Meeting House. The lot fell upon a person who refused. Silas Chapman (one of the party) offered to commit the assassination if they would treat him. They consented, and he killed June in a cornfield. Afterwards (the same day probably) a skirmish took place between three Refugees and three Americans at Stanwich near the Meeting House, on the road which

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runs east and west. They advanced, fired upon each other, and then retreated alternately a number of times without either side gaining or losing ground. One or more of the Americans were named Palmer At length one of the Refugees was killed, and being disheartened they then fled. The Refugee killed was the said Silas Chapman This happened about the time that June was assassinated, and might have occurred on the same day, but I doubt it. It occurred however about the same time. The late Benjamin Brush of Stanwich told me this day story and he saw the affair.” [X] Chapman was not killed until sometime after June’s death. “Sometime (I think about the middle of the war) four armed British vessels chased two American privateers from somewhere in the Sound to one of the Horseneck Harbours. The privateers ran for safety into a narrow harbor called the ‘Old Chimney’ among

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high rocks. Old Chimney lies between two large rocks, and is not more than large enough to afford shelter to two vessels. The British ships then withdrew and during the night sent to Long Island for assistance. They were joined next morning by two row galleys armed with cannon &c. In the mean time the alarm guns had been fired, and the militia and the Continental troops from Horseneck Meeting House collected near the shore to protect the privateers. The British first sent the galleys near the shore in such a position as to rake the privateers. Finding that this didn’t produce the necessary effect the British determined to storm the privateers and their allies. I was a boy and saw the attack. The troops were sheltered by some high rocks behind which they lay in safety. The privateers men took their cannon ashore which was put in position and fired briskly upon the British shipping as they approached As the British came towards the shore, they (the British) fired the first ball, and

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then grape &c. which tore up the trees and bushes. The moment they came within musket shot, the militia and troops rose and fired, with wonderful effect. – A great many must have been killed &c. The enemy immediately slackened sail, turned about, and withdrew without any further effort on their part, and the privateers consequently escaped. The British hoisted sail and made for Long Island or New York. The Privateers next day or day after escaped to the eastward where they had come from. The Americans this day were probably commanded by the Continental officer stationed at Horseneck, but it might have been Colonel Mead. Brom Barrett was not from this part of the country. He might have been an Irishman Coscob (spelt cos.) is the name of an old Indian who lived there, and from whom the place was so called.

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The schoolhouse, occupied during the war as a guard house and prison, stood about twenty rods east of the Bridge. When the sentry was killed at the school house (see Enos Hobby’s account) the officer in command was thought to have done wrong. He posted the third sentinel without informing him where the second was. Whaleboats sometimes used sails and masts which they raised and lowered or struck at pleasure. At the capture of the Shuldham, Andrew Mead, was the first man who boarded. He saw the British sailors run to get the spears, and he then armed himself with one and called out to his followers to do the same. He told me the story. He was always the foremost in every thing. Coscob is where the first bridge occurs in going east from Putnam Hill on the turn pike.

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When peace took place Titus’s Bridge was one of the outposts, and during the latter part of the war, the lines ran from Titus’s Bridge north westerly towards Pines Bridge.

<left margin> Isaac Davis one mile from here – an old man – Denham Palmer aged 84 – ½ mile from Davis’s. </left margin>

I think Enos Hobby is mistaken, and that it was the sentinel posted in advance about thirty rods from the school house near a hickory tree who flashed his gun, upon which the sentinel by the school house fired and killed him. The second sentry, it was said, didn’t know where the first ^third? one was stationed. I am certain I am not mistaken in this. Captain Frink resigned his commission when he went below, and consequently could not be made out a deserter. Samuel Reynolds of Horseneck was the man who killed Shube Merritt. I knew him (Reynolds) well. He was not a whaleboat captain. It was said that he killed Shube Merritt in cold blood after having promised him quarter.

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At the end of the war, 1780, 1781, &c. the lives did not extend further west than Mahanus river. When Colonel Mead was pursued by the Refugees, all his guard was taken except one boy who got upon the ice and escaped. Colonel Mead and his brother Enoch were mounted and escaped. The Refugees got between the guard and Mahanus river and cut them off. When they first overtook the guard the Refugee horse cut down and killed one of the soldiers. The ice was too weak for the horsemen I believe. Tim Knapp when about to be hung exclaimed – ‘Must I be hung for stealing one horse when so many horses have been taken by Delancey’s Refugees?’ His brother Tom was killed by Titus Mead. The hickory tree where the sentinel was killed is on the west side of the salt creek, and there is a large oak tree near which the schoolhouse stood.” [I examined the ground &c. this day

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with Mr. David Miller.] “Capt. Samuel Lockwood of East Greenwich was a very good soldier and so was Captain Ebenezer Jones. At the time Colonel Mead was chased, and the guard furnished him by General Waterbury cut to pieces and taken as above I lived near Mahanus river, and saw the whole affair.” [When Colonel Hatfield and Major Huggeford were taken January 18th 1780 Keeler, Lockwood, and Mead, were ingorant of there being a large stable a short way off where the greater part of the enemy’s best cavalry horses were kept constantly saddled and bridled. These were mounted by the Refugees when they pursued. &c.]