- Hufeland Index Page 344 -

Mr. Jonathan Bates, of Darian, who said: “I am 74, and remember well the taking of the Middlesex congregation. Capt.

- Hufeland Index Page 345 -

William Frost and his party landed at night – marched 4 or 5 ^2 or 3 miles and secreted themselves in a wood a short distance from the church. When the hour of service approached they sent forward a man who knew personally all of the congregation, and who from the top of a high tree reconnoitered all who went to church. They thus learned that Capt. Gershom Richards, Josiah Hoyt, Nathan Waring and most of those who were particularly obnoxious to them were not present, and they then determined to defer the attack till the afternoon service. Captain Frost was from that neighborhood and most of the party under him. When the afternoon service had commenced, Frost and his party advanced from the wood, passed across some low ground to the upland about the church, and the route by which they advanced being covered with bushes and trees the refugees were not observed till they jumped the road fence. A moment afterwards they surrounded and captured the church. Mather was in the pulpit and Frost said to him: “Come down here, Old Mather

- Hufeland Index Page 346 -

I want to use you.” Four or five of the congregation escaped by leaping from the window and running. Among these were two sons of Mr. Mather; and others escaped by hiding behind the women’s clothes. One man was wounded in the leg in crossing the fence. They tied the congregation two and two, together and marched them to the islands at the mouth of the Five Mile River – (the place called Scotch Cove, from the circumstance that a Scotch vessel was once wrecked there). Here the vessels did not meet them at the appointed time, and the neighbouring militia collected under Major Davenport and attacked them. They were now in danger. They had gained the inner island, and the Americans were afraid of killing their friends. Nevertheless they kept up a cautious but constant fire upon the party on the island and on the vessels. The large vessel could not approach near them on account of the shoal water and rocks &c, and the wind prevented the galley (armed sloop) for a long time. – Meanwhile Davenport’s party continued to

- Hufeland Index Page 347 -

fire, and a buttonwood tree which grew upon the island was filled with bullets. The galley at length got up, and being armed with swivels kept the Americans off and swept the bar [X] (which makes across the mouth of the river just above the islands) with their fire – this is a, grape shot. As the large vessel could not approach them, the Refugees swam their horses off to her when they were taken on board. I have always heard that they took thirty six horses and thirty six pillions . It was as late as 10 at night when they all re-embarked. I have seen he Rev. Moses Mather walking in the road armed with a musket, and I have always heard it said and believe that he sometimes took his arms into the pulpit. In those days the men always took their arms to church.

[X] (which at low water is almost bare, so that a party may wade (cross) without difficulty to the islands.)

- Hufeland Index Page 348 -

Aug. 29 Jonathan Bates (continued): Captain Frost’s party landed at Scotch Cove two miles from Darien Church and retreated by the same place. Lieut. Joseph Smith who commanded under Frost was likewise from Stamford. The country between Darien Church and the [Sound] was then covered with a thick wood so that Frost marched all the way completely concealed from observation. He halted in a thick wood of very high trees where he remained till the afternoon – having landed at night and gained the wood before daylight. A swamp thickly covered with high brushwood and alders intervened in the direction of the church between the Refugees and some higher ground with young timber and brushwood, so that they gained the road unperceived. They were in full retreat at three o’clock taking the route by which they advanced. About 4. an alarm was general at Stamford, bells ringing and drums beating. A large body of militia

- Hufeland Index Page 349 -

soon assembled under Major Davenport who led them to Scotch Cove. It was low water, and Frost’s party crossed to Fish Island. He placed the prisoners on the outer island leaving ten men to guard them, and with the rest defended the inner island against Davenport who attacked him immediately. The armed vessel had not returned at the appointed time so that the Refugees were in danger of capture. There was a large tree on the island round which the wind had blown up a mound of sand. Here the Refugees took shelter from the fire of Davenport’s men. The tree, next day, was found perforated with bullets. The armed vessel not being able to reach the island in consequence of a calm, a galley, armed with swivels, rode into the channel which separates the Fish Islands, and maintained a constant fire upon the Americans preventing them from crossing the Cove. Davenport’s men were afraid to fire on the Refugees

- Hufeland Index Page 350 -

upon the outer island for fear of hurting their friends. The Refugees and prisoners were taken on board the galley, and the horses were swum off to the armed vessels and hoisted on board. Some of the prisoners were paroled and the rest sent to the Provost. Captain Richards and Nathan Warring never returned. Hoyt returned in a very weak and sickly condition.”

(?) See account at 2/50 and 3/67. – On the 7th of June, 1779, a party from Long Island landed near Gorham’s harbor and surprised a small guard of ten or twelve men at Gorham’s mills, in Stamford, which was at the time engaged in playing cards by moonlight in the farm yard of one Pennoyer, sitting on some logs by the mill dam. The Refugees who landed advanced on the east side of Long Neck, and concealing themselves behind a fence reached the guard unperceived, and,

- Hufeland Index Page 351 -

<left margin> So in origl. see p. 37. <left margin>

firing suddenly, killed two and wounded another. The two killed lived several hours afterwards. (!) Their names were William Fancher and Zaccheus Hoyt. One John Mills, from the neighbourhood, was with the Refugees and fired on the guard. He immediately sprang over the fence and advanced to where Fancher was lying bathed in his own blood. They recognized each other. “You have killed me!” said Fancher. “I am sorry,” answered Mills; “but am afraid we shall have to kill you all before we are done.” They had been school fellows and had grown up together in the strictest bonds of friendship, and before the troubles were inseparable friends. Mills carried his dying companion to the neighbor’s house, and, for a while, was overwhelmed with sorrow.”