Hoag, Hannah
John M. McDonald interview — 1846-10-31
Hannah Hoag (b.c.1762) discusses the plundering that was inflicted upon her family by both sides during the war. She also recounts the landing of British troops on Teller’s Point (now Croton Point) in 1779, as well as the use of the North Castle Church as a hospital. Mrs. Hoag also notes that James Totten, a Loyalist who was believed to have been involved in the murder of a French army surgeon in Yorktown, feared reprisal for this crime for the remainder of his life.
Original findings from this interview
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 404 -
October 31. Mrs. Hannah Hoag, aged 86: “My father, in the beginning of the war lived at Verplank’s Point and afterwards at Tarrytown, and was repeatedly plundered both by cowboys and skinners. I saw the British army when they landed at Tellers P[oint] and marched up [in 1779, probably]. They then encamped one night on Colberg Hill, a short distance east of the Post road, and marched the next day to Verplank’s Point. I very probably told Schuyler Thompkins some years ago that the British cavalry one night or so on the hills near Newcastle corner. What I then told him was correct, though I have forgotten all about it. In my opinion there is no high ground south of Croton river from which you can see Verplank’s or Stoney Point, unless it be very near Sing Sing. North Castle church was a very large, unpainted, shingled building,
- Hufeland Index Page 405 -
which stood by the roadside wher the Methodist Meeting house now is. It was situated within the inclosure now occupied as the burying ground by the Methodist Church contiguous to Kirby’s Mill pond – was occupied as a hospital during the Revolutionary war, and was pulled down about twenty years ago. [X] [X A stranger at New C[astle] corner, as well as Mrs. Hoag, told me this.]
The story of James Totten and the French surgeon was always considered true. Totten, in the latter part of his life, was afraid to be alone in the dark, or at night.