Barker, William
John M. McDonald interview — 1845-10-22
William Barker (1764-1859) recounts a story that took place on November 13, 1778, when he encountered Colonel John Simcoe’s Loyalist Queens Rangers on their way back from capturing Colonel Thomas Thomas of the Westchester County Militia. An officer of the Queen’s Rangers threatened Barker and took his horse, but Barker successfully convinced Simcoe to arrange for the return of his mount. Before recovering his horse, Barker passed Ward’s House, which had been torched during the raid. He mentions a few Loyalist Westchester men who served in DeLancey’s Refugees, including some who were captured in Tuckahoe in 1777 or 1778. He concludes by noting that he saw Benjamin Green, one of the men who stole Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey’s horse, as he escaped northward from present-day Bronx County toward White Plains and Purchase.
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 219 -
October 22d. William Barker of White Plains: “I had been sent on an errand on horseback to Captain John Tredwell and was returning home, being then about fourteen, when between my father’s (Squire Bonnats) and the next house south (Bate’s) I met a detachment of soldiers and was accosted by one of Colonel Simcoe’s officers on the return of his party from the capture of General Thomas. This officer bade me dismount, threatening to cut my head off if I did not, and mounted the horse I had been riding myself. I followed on and enquired for the commanding officer, and at length found Simcoe who, after I had represented my case to him said: “Well, don’t be afraid, my little man, you
- Hufeland Index Page 220 -
shall have your horse – march on with us for the present, and I’ll send for him.” Presently a soldier came along leading the horse which was then given up to me. They had one or two other prisoners besides Colonel Thomas. Before I recovered my horse we had come near to Ward’s House which had just then been burnt. The roof and beams had fallen in and it was still burning.” “Jacob Purdy of White Plains had a brother Henry who was a captain in Delancey’s, and went to Nova Scotia.” “Joshua Barnes and Benjamin Hunt, a Captain and Lieutenant of Delanceys were taken at Tuckeyhoe or near there by a company of Meigs’s regiment. I saw the prisoners as they passed up, that is, Barnes, Hunt, and their company consisting of about thirty men. The time I think was in 1777 or 1778.
- Hufeland Index Page 221 -
I saw Colonel William [X] Green after he had taken Delancey’s horse pursued by the dragoons who could not overtake him. They followed him a long distance, but I think not above White Plains or near the Quaker Meeting house in Purchase. He walked his horse up the hills, beckoned them to come on, and let them approach near but when at the summit he spurred and left them far behind.”
[X] Benjamin (?)