Coutant, John and Coutant, Isaiah
John M. McDonald interview — 1844-10-11
Brothers John (1754-1850) and Isaiah Coutant (1756-1845) witnessed the British encampment on their family’s property in New Rochelle in October 1776 prior to the Battle of White Plains. They discuss this encampment, and mention the skirmish that took place in Eastchester on October 23, 1776. They also discuss the activities of Loyalist Shubael Merritt and American whaleboat man Fade Donaldson, who was captured in New Rochelle and later executed. The brothers indicate Colonel Andreas Emmerich raped an enslaved woman who gave birth to his child. They indicate that part of the British army encamped on Thomas Paine’s farm in October 1776, and conclude by describing the location of Bon Foy’s Point in New Rochelle near Davenport Neck.
Manuscript page facsimiles
High-resolution images served from the Westchester County Historical Society's IIIF endpoint. Click any page to view full size.
Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 008 -
October 11th John and Isiah Coutant, living on the cross road about one and a half or two miles from New Rochelle village: “The British army first encamped from Elias Guion’s farm to Haerlem river, and then on our farm along the Ridge. Howe’s Headquarters were at James Pugsleys, father of Hannah, an old house on the east side of the road to
- Hufeland Index Page 009 -
John & Isaiah Coutant contd.
White Plains, a little north of the cross road leading to our house. The skirmish with the Hessians took place at the house where the Widow Morrell kept a tavern, and the wounded were brought all the way to our house to have their wounds dressed. The firing created a great alarm, and the British regiments all turned out. Shube Merritt belonged to Emmericks, but conducted himself so bad that Em merick dismissed him, and he then fought and plundered upon his own hook, as a cowboy. He lost one hand and part of his forearm, and was killed at [Mrs. Fallon’s [X1]] (near Barton’s) house at New Rochelle Landing. When Emmerick dismissed him, he said he would show what he could do. Fred. Donaldson was taken in a thicket of bushes in front of Eells [X2] house where Captain Daniel Williams kept tavern after the war, and where he died, and where M. Pinkney afterwards lived. The party
[X1] (Widow, *Teton’s* house? see p. 78. Copy.)] [X2] (so in original see p. 13 -)
- Hufeland Index Page 010 -
J. & I. Coutant contd.
that took him placed him in care of Mr. (Elias?) Guion (in whose house they took refreshments) giving him a pistol and telling him to shoot him (Donaldson) if he stirred. Guion said Donaldson was a neighbor of his, and if he ran he would not hurt him, and they answered he should be held responsible. Donaldson then assured Guion he would not escape, or get him in trouble. They took Donaldson on horseback the same day to Huggeford’s Headquarters and hanged him. A black man, called Bull Pete had a good looking wife that Colonel Emmerick got with child. The child lived with a Mr. Pine, and was called Loo Pine. Bull Pete said (when asked about it &c.) that Emmerick made her drunk and slept with her. Loo lived near White Plains at John Gedney’s. Part of the British army encamped on the Tom Paine farm (as is said) N east of the White Plains and New Rochelle road.
- Hufeland Index Page 011 -
Bon Foy’s Point is owned by Davenport It is not on the Neck, but on the main, contiguous to the Neck.”