Archer, William, Archer, Samuel, and Macdonald Notes
John M. McDonald interview — 1846-10-09
John Macdonald visits the remnants of Fort No. 8 in present-day Bronx County with William Archer (b.c.1786). Macdonald’s description of the location of Fort George in Manhattan relative to Fort No. 8 is incorrect, as it was located south and west, not east, across the Harlem River from Fort No. 8. Samuel Archer (b.c.1796), William’s brother, notes his belief that his home served as the headquarters of Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey. Samuel suggests that Macdonald visit his sister Elizabeth Tuttle.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 451 -
October 9th William Archer. – Went with him and examined remains of Fort No. 8. on his land which is a higher elevation than Morris’s – that is, where Lewis Morris’s house stands. [The site of No 8. is the highest ground on the east margin of Harlem creek.] Fort George, on Laurel hill, stood nearly but not exactly opposite to No. 8, being a little south and east of No. 8. Both my father’s and my grandfather’s name was Benjamin Archer. Samuel Archer: “I believe my house which is the same my father occupied during the Revolutionary war was the headquarters of Col. Delancey for awhile. My sister Eliza. Tuttle living under the hill east of Madame McGowan’s knows how this is.”