Barker, William
John M. McDonald interview — 1845-11-24
William Barker (1764-1859) recalls Nathaniel Adams, a resident of White Plains who had a quarrel with a company of American levies. Vowing revenge, Adams shot one of the men while the levies were playing ball at the Westchester County Courthouse. Barker places Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey’s headquarters at the home of Theophilus Hunt in present-day Bronx County, and gives his impressions of a number of officers from Westchester County, including Loyalists Mansfield Bearmore, Isaac Hatfield, James Kipp, Robert Simmons and Gilbert Totten and American Daniel Williams.
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 308 -
1845
November 24th. William Barker: “Nathanial Adams was a blacksmith who previous to the Revolutionary War lived opposite to where I now reside. He was married to a daughter of Mr. Owe who then lived in a house where mine now is. He had a quarrel with some individuals of a company of Levies, commanded I think by Captain Ambrose Horton of White Plains, or by Captain Micajah Townsend. He vowed revenge and sent them word he intended to attack them. Mounted upon a very fleet mare he rode to the Court House with his musket loaded, where they were playing ball, fired and wounded a merry man who, however, recovered. Some say he re-loaded (after retiring) advanced and fired a second time. Several of the Levies fired at him both times but did not hurt him. He was pursued
- Hufeland Index Page 309 -
1845
by several horseman but escaped, and afterwards went to Nova Scotia as I have always heard. I believe, but am not certain that after he wounded the merryman, he was taken and imprisoned for a while. Adams was considered a very brave man. Colonel DeLancey’s Head Quarters were (part of the time) at Hunt’s house about one mile below West Farms, on the Bronx river road, being the most southerly of two houses which stand on a little hill or rising ground near each other and on the west side of the road. Benjamin Green is the name of Coffin’s father in law. Kipp and Bearmore had the reputation of being severe if not cruel in their treatment of prisoners. Captain Williams, when taken at Youngs house was brought as far as one
- Hufeland Index Page 310 -
1845
Mr. Gales, near James Sniffen’s on the Allaire road before he was furnished with a hat and boots, &c. but he was there made comfortable in consideration of his treatment of prisoners. He was always reputed a brave man, and a very skillful partisan officer. After the Revolutionary war he lived at New Rochelle and kept tavern in the house where Micajah Pinkney afterwards lived, but finally became intemperate. Captain Totten was a middle sized man, rather under than over, but uncommonly well made and handsome. When I saw him he was always on horseback. On excursions, the commanders of infantry were always (probably) mounted. (?) Captain Kipp was a rosy, stout, well looking man in appearance very much like [his]brother Allan, though not quite so fleshy - otherwise
- Hufeland Index Page 311 -
1845
much like him. Colonel Hatfield was from Dutchess County, or somewhere near Crompond, and was a cousin (I believe) of Joseph Hatfield of White Plains. After the war he went to Nova Scotia. Captain Simmons of DeLancey’s Corps was a native of that part of Courtland’s Manor called Somers where his father lived. He left the West Chester Refugees before the close of the war in consequence of a quarrel with some officer and went above. James Tompkins, Gilbert Hatfield and honest John Tomkins were great fighters and great friends. They always stood by each other, and were much respected and feared by the young men of their day.”