Davis, Zipporah
John M. McDonald interview — 1848-12-13
Zipporah Miller Davis (1768-1850) was a daughter of Elijah Miller and Ann Fisher, and resided with her family in the Elijah Miller House in North White Plains. She recalls a blacksmith’s shop owned by Gabriel McFadden on the hill above Billy Fowler’s house. She then describes several of the American officers who stayed at her family’s houses, and relates a story in which her mother unsuccessfully appealed to General Horatio Gates to stop cutting down trees on her property. Mrs. Davis also recounts the murder of a son of Daniel Nimham, the Wappinger sachem who commanded the Stockbridge Munsee company in the American army. She concludes by mentioning that two French officers had their headquarters near her family’s house.
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 904 -
Decr. 13th Zipporah Davis: In the Revolutionary war there was a blacksmith’s shop on the hill above Billy Fowler’s which was kept by Gabriel McFaddion, brother of John. Genl Gates and his aids, Major Armstrong, Major Hughes and Major Pierce lay at my brother’s house during the whole of one summer (1778, probably). Gates was a very gentlemanly, pleasant man and wore spectacles. Gates directed his men to cut wood for their use from off some land belonging to us, and the soldiers continued this until our fields were entirely stripped of the trees. The fuel was for the most part brought home by hand, and the most convenient lots were consequently selected. My mother remonstrated but General Gates said: “surely Mrs. M we must consult the convenience of poor soldiers and not work them to death.” When Lee left our house, McDougall came
- Hufeland Index Page 905 -
and had his quarters there. Colonel Meig’s quarter were on the flat by the pond near Joshua Horton’s where his regiment lay. A young son (almost a baby) of Nimham was killed by, I think, one of Meigs’s men, and the old chief was very anxious to have the murderer discovered and punished, but this was not done. Nimham and his men lay for sometime in the “calfpasture,” near our house. Two French officers had their quarters on the hill above our house. I don’t recollect their names. This must have been in 1778. – One of these officers was a chevalier, and came to see us after the peace – (probably, after the French Revolution).