- Hufeland Index Page 1046 -

October 22d Prince Gedney (slave), of White Plains: “I will be 92 on the 16th of December next. Elijah Haines was a private in the Queen’s Rangers, &c. and was killed in the attack upon Wards House. It was Bartholemew Haines who was engaged in spiking the cannon at Kingsbridge, although some of his brothers might have assisted. Thomas and James Haines brother of Elijah and Bartholemew were both grenadiers in one of the British regiments which went south where they were both killed. In the summer of 1781, the French cavalry lay in the long lot, directly east of where James Tompkins afterwards built his dwelling house and where he died. The French horse encamped there in the Long Lot upon Chatterton Hill, for about six weeks. – Captain Absalom Gedney then occupied what was afterwards the James Tompkins farm. He (Capt. Absalom) married

- Hufeland Index Page 1047 -

my masters widow and I went to live with him there. I lived there previously to and after, as well as during 1781,” &c.

[Octr. 22d Previously to calling on Prince Gedney this day, I stopped at Mr. James Willis’s and saw his wife and Miss Theta June, &c. This was on my return from East Chester and Mamaroneck.]

October 23d Prince Gedney of White Plains, said: “Moses, the oldest son of Edmund Ward, Jonathan Purdy, and James Tompkins were guides at the battle of White Plains for the British army. Jonathan Purdy was with the British army on the Danbury Expedition. Colonel Thomas and Cornelius Oakley were both concerned in driving cattle below towards the close of the war and also (as was said) during the middle part of the war. They managed in this

- Hufeland Index Page 1048 -

way. They collected cattle together, or allowed others to do so, and then shut their eyes and allowed the Cowboys to take them to New York. The Cowboys somehow always found out where there was a lot of good fat, cattle collected. I used often to go below to sell chickens, butter and provisions for my master, and have often seen Colonel Emmerick at Kingsbridge, and knew Captn Ben Ogden. Sometimes, I went into New York to buy. On such occasion I got a pass from General Horriman [X] or some other Hessian officer, whose quarters generally were at Morris’s house. The pass allowed me to go in the city and purchase the articles which were specified. Once I lost my pass and went back for another. This provoked General Horrimo^an who said “What for you lose your pass? Be careful. Suppose you lost this, I give you no more.” After scolding awhile he gave me a new permit [X] sometimes written Horrimon.

- Hufeland Index Page 1049 -

and then asked, “Vat will you trink? – Here’s prandy, rum and gin.” I answered that I would take a glass of spirits which he gave me accordingly. Once Captain Honham [X1] (from Pecks land road, two miles from Horseneck village) went below with a party of seven for plunder. They were skinners, and Honham was their guide and commander. Having succeeded in their excursion, they were returning with a drove of cattle and some horses they had taken off, when they were overtaken by Captain Samuel Kipp at the head of his troop, while they were traversing in their retreat home, the cross road which commences about a half a mile below Prince Gedney’s corner and connects Purdy [X2] lane ^street with North street. Honum was conspicuous at the time the pursuers came up, being mounted upon a very fine horse which had belonged to one of Kipps men. The Refugees had been following after the plunderers

[X1] sometimes written Honum. [X2] sometimes written Purdy’s Lane, and Purdy Street.

- Hufeland Index Page 1050 -

with the most vindictive feelings, and the sight of this horse which they at once recognized, added to their ferocity. Kipp charged instantly, crying to his men – “Pursue, boys! pursue! Down with them and no quarter!” The Skinners who were now all mounted (?) [See William Barker’s account] spurred their horses onward to their utmost speed, but the strong efforts which in moments of extremity men so often make and make successfully were unavailing upon this occasion. All but the leader were overtaken and cut to pieces without mercy. The extraordinary fleetness and power of endurance of Honham’s horse were barely sufficient to save the rider’s life – for Captain Kipp at one time came up with him and striking at the flying skinner wounded his horse. One of the first skinners overtaken was a young man who, after receiving a great many sword cuts, was left upon the ground for dead. He was, however, still alive,

- Hufeland Index Page 1051 -

and while the Refugees were in pursuit of Honham’s party, crawled a short space and concealed himself behind the roots of a tree which had blown down; but, on their return, Kipp’s men discovered the wounded skinner and literally cut him limb from limb. One young man they attempted to take below a prisoner, but when placed on horseback he fainted from loss of blood, having received many wounds. Supposing him dead, they left him behind telling Mr. Hart of Purdy’s Lane to bury him; but the gentleman finding the prisoner still alive had him carefully nursed, called in surgical aid, (Dr. Thatcher?) and was at length gratified by his recovery. This young man and Honum were the only two who escaped. All the rest were killed outright. Richard Cornell, formerly of White Plains, was guide to the party that went down for the young man (when he had sufficiently recovered) and took him above. He was

- Hufeland Index Page 1052 -

from somewhere in Connecticut. – [Was this Captain Doolittle of Ridgefield? – See Note Book 1/84.] There was a frolic once during the Revolutionary war in [North Castle, probably, or somewhere near there] which was attended by a number of skinners, among other persons. Joseph Hubbs and Jem. Husted, two noted Refugees having heard of the frolic, lurked about the house, and communicating, probably, with some of the dancers, found out where the Skinners had stacked their muskets. Having possessed themselves of these arms, Hubbs and Husted suddenly made a great noise crying out – “Surround the house! – shoot everyone that comes out!” Having succeeded in convincing the Skinners that the house was surrounded by a numerous party, the two tories compelled them to come out one at a time and surrender. As they came out they were tied and secured and all conveyed below. Once during the war, Jared Palmer,

- Hufeland Index Page 1053 -

a tory from near Horseneck and a man of great strength accompanied by two boys named Joseph Close and John Conn, came down in the night with a drove for New York. It was in the winter and towards day that Palmer and the two boys stopped at Mr. Hart’s in Purdy Street to warm themselves by the fire. (?) They hadn’t been long at the fire before two armed men belonging to the upper party came in and called upon Palmer and his boys for immediate surrender The names of the two Whigs or Skinners were Eli Nelson and Thomas Pew, and they threatened the three drovers with instant death if they attempted to escape. Thereupon they proceeded to secure the captives who were all three unarmed. Pew drove the boys into a corner of the room and there guarded them, while Nelson proceeded to secure Palmer by tying his arms with a cord taken from one of the farmer’s beds. Palmer refused to be bound, and a fierce struggle ensued between him and Nelson who had laid his musket aside, in which the former was victorious having succeeded in tying his antagonist fast with the very bed cord he had

- Hufeland Index Page 1054 -

made use of. While Palmer and Nelson were struggling for the mastery, Close and Conn cheered the former on and at last rose upon Pew. These boys were only about 15 or 16 years old but strong enough to keep Pew from using his weapons or aiding his companion, until Palmer came to their assistance and terminated the struggle by knocking down their opponent with the but end of Nelson’s musket. Nelson and Pew were then securely fastened arm to arm and the drovers with their cattle and prisoners prosecuted their journey without delay and arrived at New York in safety. The blow by which Pew was prostrated broke Nelson’s musket. Soon after the above adventure, Jared Palmer was taken prisoner (he probably belonged below) by a scouting party from Horseneck, and his captors gave him the choice either to remain a prisoner or to fight a very celebrated bruiser of their company who had invariably

- Hufeland Index Page 1055 -

been victorious in all the pugilistic encounters in which he had been engaged, they, expressly, giving their words of honour to Palmer that he should go free in case he should overcome their champion. Palmer accepted the pugnacious alternative and a combat with fists ensued, the result of which was for a long time doubtful, but the cattle drover at last triumphed over his adversary and was set at liberty. Peter Angeoine, a Refugee, originnally from Fox Meadow had his right (?) arm broken by a shot in the combat between Mosier and Capt. Kipp, but was so much excited upon the occasion that he brandished his sword in the other hand and hurraed for King George. He went to Nova Scotia and never returned. Nathaniel Adams who wounded the merry man in the shoulder with a musket ball at the Court House at White Plains was never taken. His resolution

- Hufeland Index Page 1056 -

was such, and he was so well known, that they were afraid of him. Bearmore, was greatly dreaded by the lower upper party. He charged, pursued, cut down, and gave little quarter. He and Captain Samuel Kipp were the severest and most impetuous of all the Refugee commanders.”