Hobby, Anna
John M. McDonald interview — 1849-11-12
Anna Reynolds Hobby (1772-1852) was the daughter of Horton Reynolds and wife of David Hobby Jr. Her father-in-law, David Hobby Sr., was a major in the 2nd Regiment of Westchester County Militia. She recounts the capture of Colonel Levi Wells by Loyalist cavalry at her family’s home in Greenwich, Connecticut, in December 1780. Mrs. Hobby notes that her father received a warning of the attack from John Bearmore but disregarded it. Her sister Lydia Reynolds (later Lydia Reynolds Belcher) pleaded in vain with Major Thomas Huggeford of DeLancey’s Refugees to stop firing into their house, which they then set fire to. Lydia Reynolds was able to put out the fire with the help of a concealed American soldier.
Original findings from this interview
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 938 -
Novr 12th. Mrs. Anna, widow of Colonel Hobby, of Middle Patent, deceased, and daughter-in-law of Major Hobby who served in the Revolutionary war: “I am in my 78th year. I remember when Colonel Wells was surprised and taken at Horton Reynolds’s (my father). A young man named John Barmore came several times and told my father of the intended attack, but he disregarded it. One American soldier was killed and several wounded. None of the Refugees were either killed or wounded, I believe. My sister Mrs. Belcher called upon Major Huggeford to stop
- Hufeland Index Page 939 -
the firing into the house, but he didn’t mind her. They set fire to our house, but Mrs. Belcher (my sister) assisted by an American soldier who escaped by being concealed under a bed put the fire out. Several officers, besides Col. Wells were taken, but most of the Americans escaped. There was no other Major Hobby that I ever heard of but my fatherin-law. Colonel Wells on the above occasion was taken off with only one boot on, as the Refugees would not wait for him to draw on the other!”