Field, Jane Haviland
John M. McDonald interview — 1848-12-07
Jane Haviland Field (1765-1860) notes that her family’s home in Harrison served as headquarters for American General Philip Schuyler for three days, likely in 1778. She gives her impression of Schuyler and recounts an incident when she served him milk. After Schuyler left, the house served as headquarters of John Brown Cutting, Apothecary of Hospital, Eastern Department, for several weeks. The headquarters of General Charles Lee was also nearby. Mrs. Field concludes by giving her impressions of Loyalist majors Thomas Huggeford and Mansfield Bearmore, and vouches for the veracity of interviewee James Nash.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 892 -
<left margin> Jeremiah Anderson of King St. ? <left margin>
Decr. 7th Jane Field (widow of Aaron Field) of King Street: “I was born in the Fall of 1765, in the lower part of Purchase Street. My father’s name was Haviland. When the troubles commenced my uncle Doctor Haviland who was in the service, went above with his family
- Hufeland Index Page 893 -
And by his request my father moved in and occupied his house during the war. This is the house now occupied by little John Carpenter, the General’s son. Genl. Schuyler (in 1778, probably?) had his quarters here once for about three days. He was proud and distant, smoked his pipe with his feet upon a different chair from the one on which he sat, remained in his room &c, and sent for milk. I treated him (from not knowing the world) with as little ceremony as ^(I) he treated anyone else, and asked what quantity he desired, supposing he wanted to purchase milk. This gave offence, and as we did not please him he left us in a few days. Soon after John Brown Cutting, the Apothecary General of the American army came to our house where he had his quarters for five or six weeks. Genl Lee’s quarters were in an old house owned by rough John Carpenter
- Hufeland Index Page 894 -
Major Thomas Huggeford was generally kind to the inhabitants &c. Major Bearmore was cruel. He killed the only son of Obadiah Mead on the south end of Quaker ridge which he deeply regretted. &c. James Nash of Byram is a man of undoubted veracity. &c.
Dec. 7. Major Jeremiah Anderson – see page 100 (of original and p. of copy)