Horton, John, 1780-1854
John M. McDonald interview — 1848-12-14
John Horton (1780-1854) describes several locations connected to the Battle of White Plains. He begins by describing Merritt’s Hill, an eminence located on the east side of Silver Lake and West Street in the Town of Harrison. Horton recalls that his father owned a farm at the top of the hill, and that Skinners visited the family’s house where Horton’s mother prepared meals for them. Horton then discusses the movement of British light horse down Merritt’s Lane, which is presumably present-day Lake Street. He concludes by stating that the British army built a bridge across the Bronx River during the Battle of White Plains, and notes that it was below Azariah Horton’s saw mill.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
244 906 238.. December 14th John Horton of White Plains: "The commanding ground described by General Heath as being on his left and east of the hollow, must have been Caleb Merritt's hill, the top of which was then covered with wood. My father owned the farm on the summit of Merritt's hill; and at the close of the Revolutionary war lived there in a log house near where Shelly afterwards built and lived. At the conclusion of the war I was three years old, and remember well to have seen the Skinners at our house where they sometimes called and got my mother to provide breakfast or dinner for them. Malcolm Malcomb and Fenno must have been posted near our house. The [margin: Light what? -- infantry or cavalry?] British Light at the battle of White Plains must have come up Merritt's Lane (on the road which leads from the White Plains and Rye road to the Pond and [page break] 907 247 239 Bedford Post road) towards Merritt house, and the wheat field must have been on the side-hill by the lane, and just north west of the wood which formerly covered the south east extremity of the hill down to the road. The heavy stone wall at the head of the hollow must have been the old stone wall part of which yet remains, and which ran from the dam along the road easterly across Merritt's Lane. There was no other wall that answers Heath's description. This old wall built of heavy stones with earth thrown up on both sides. The bridge built by the British at the battle of White Plains was below Azariah Horton's saw mill the Bronx. Poplar and other trees were felled for the purpose of constructing it."