Carpenter, John
John M. McDonald interview — 1844-10-23
John Carpenter (1769-1851) discusses the capture of American Colonel Thomas Thomas at his home in Purchase during a British raid on November 13, 1778. Thomas Carpenter, who served as Colonel Thomas’s quartermaster, was seriously wounded during the raid. John Carpenter also discusses why Captain Samuel Kipp of DeLancey’s Refugees delayed in attacking an American force under Lieutenant William Mosier on December 3, 1781, and describes the location of Clapp’s Tavern on King Street in North Castle. The interview contains two memoranda, both of which concern the death of Loyalist Captain Jotham Purdy in Rye.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 043 -
October 23rd John Carpenter: “Col. Thomas told Carpenter he would jump from the window and Carpenter said he would follow. Thomas sprang like a squirrel upon (or in) a small pen, and instantly a cry arose: “One of them has escaped! Shoot! – Kill him!” One hundred shots were fired but he escaped westerly to a swamp covered with trees and brush, but closely followed by some horsemen, when, unfortunately, he came into the midst of Ogden’s troop who were in pursuit of Reuben Lane, one of Thomas’s party who had escaped. He clung to the neck of Ogden’s horse. Ogden held his sword over and protected him for which Thomas afterwards showed himself grateful. Thomas was in his shirt and drawers when he attempted to escape, in which dress they took him off. His wife sent his clothes after him by a servant. Thomas Carpenter was a Quarter master of Thomas’s regiment, and apprehending Thomas’s fate, would not follow
- Hufeland Index Page 044 -
John Carpenter cont’d.
him from the window, but crept for safety under a bed. There he received a great many bayonet wounds until he gave himself up. Thomas’s party were all taken except Brundage, Carpenter and Reuben Lane. They attempted to take Carpenter off, but he bled so profusely they thought he was dying and laid him down by the road side close to Thomas’s house. After Simcoe left, Mrs. Thomas had him taken in and nursed him. General Parsons soon after, on the same morning, came by Thomas’s house, and one of his surgeons dressed Carpenters wounds which were numerous in the neck, body, and hips. When Simcoe left Thomas’s house his party forgot their dead dragoon, but sent two soldiers for him, and they buried him under the before mentioned chestnut tree, east of Thomas’s house. As the two soldiers were carrying him along an old woman taunted them saying: “You’ve got a fine parcel of plunder there!” They were much incensed
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John Carpenter cont’d.
and threatened to kill her. When Parson’s detachment arrived they attempted to overtake Simcoe but he retreated too rapidly. Jotham Purdy, I believe, was one of Delancey’s captains. - [Mem. This is confirmed by Lott Merritt, a trooper, whose horse was killed mounted Purdy’s and retreated with his party. One horse ran half a mile, and then dropped dead … David Brown.] When Kipp advanced against Mosier it was said that he waited a long time for a detachment of infantry that accompanied him and attacked only when he found they would not arrive in time.— Totten. Ben. (?) Clapp’s tavern in King Street was afterwards Headquarters for the Americans in the Revolutionary war. It stood on the White Plains road to Bedford about a quarter or half a mile south (?) from the corner at the Smithy where you turn east to go to Bedford.
- Hufeland Index Page 046 -
[Mem. The spot where Captain Purdy was killed is not more than half a mile from Rye Bridge on Purchase Street road, and at the fork here the Hogpenridge road commences. After his fall his party wheeled about and must then have advanced to White Plains by some other road – probably North Street. J.M.M. He must have advanced by the North Street there being then no other. J.M. M.-]