Holly, Isaac
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-11-01
Isaac Holly (1764-1851) recalls a raid when DeLancey’s Refugees captured an American guard that was posted near his family’s home on the Boston Post Road in Greenwich, Connecticut. During this raid, the Refugees unsuccessfully attempted to capture Colonel Mead of the Connecticut Militia. Holly then gives a detailed account of the capture and hanging of Brom Barrett at Titus Bridge in Greenwich. He also mentions an incident in which his brother Stephen was on a whaleboat commanded by a Colonel Fitch that attempted to capture a boat near City Island, and explains the route taken by Loyalist Major Mansfield Bearmore when he surprised the American guard at Sherwood’s Bridge in Greenwich. Holly concludes by describing a number of officers and soldiers who spent time in Greenwich during the Revolutionary War, including Fade Donaldson, Anthony Walton White, Nathan Frink, James Holmes, and Tim Knapp.
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 576 -
Novr. 1st Isaac Holly: “Delancey’s Corps cut off and captured a guard near our house, about one hundred yards north of the Post road. Colonel Mead took this guard from Titus’s Bridge, then about a mile above the present bridge, where Genl. Waterbury kept a strong advanced guard. Colonel Mead took a guard of about twenty to protect his person while visiting his house under Putnam Hill which he had been compelled to abandon. Col. Mead was returning to Titus’s Bridge from his excursion when the Refugee horse came on ^overtook him. Some tory had as was supposed given ^sent on Kip information at ^to Horseneck where some of Delancey’s Refugees happened to be at the time. Mead and his brother escaped being on horseback ^mounted on fleet horses. The Refugees could not leap the stone wall in pursuit of the Americans (who had jumped over) on account of the snow
- Hufeland Index Page 577 -
bank. The Refugees then went about twenty or three rods to a barn, got into the field and cut off the American party (before they reached Mahanns river) on the west side. The river was frozen and if the Americans could have reached it they would have crossed to the east side, while the horse, probably, would not have ventured. One American was killed by one of Delancey’s refugees, named Lockwood, originally from Greenwich When Brom. Barrett ^or Valet, was taken he was delivered to the commanding officer of the guard at Titus’s Bridge who ought to have protected him. But soon after, on the same day, Capt. Samuel Lockwood, Fade Donaldson, and some others came with loud threats, outcry and excitement and demanded him. The officer frightened surrendered him, and they instantly hung him on a cherry tree at Titus’s Bridge very barbarously, throwing a rope about
- Hufeland Index Page 578 -
his neck as soon as they saw him swearing &c, and pulling him by the limbs, after he was suspended. It was in fact murder, and General Waterbury had them all taken up, but they escaped then. Donaldson was afterwards hung in West Chester for this. My brother Stephen was once, when about 16 years old, with Colonel Fitch. Near City Island they attacked a wood boat which was lying at anchor near a guard ship in the night. The Captain was on deck with five or six muskets loaded by his side. When he had heard the whaleboat he snapped a gun at them which missed fire and they then fired a volley from the whaleboat which killed him. The whaleboat then boarded and wanted to cut the cable, but the hand would not tell where the axe was. They then all took hold of the cable and pulling with all their might
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soon brought up the anchor. The guard ship [X] all this while (that is, while they were getting the S. [sloop?] underway) was firing. All this while it was calm and the guard ship’s boats put out and were close to them when, fortunately, a fine breeze from the south sprang up and they made their escape to Horseneck which was not then below the lines. I think I have heard that Lieut. Hull of Fitchs’s corps was the famous Commodore Hull’s father. Major Bearmore surprised the guard at Sherwood’s Bridge several times by coming upon them from above in the direction of Quaker Bridge, on a road which runs along the banks of Byram river. Fade Donaldson was a very rough man and plundered. He and Capt. Lockwood suspected that Brom. Barrett was a spy.
<left margin> see origl. p. 70 <left margin>
[X] This must have been the “Shuldham” (guard ship) of 10 guns, which was captured by some whaleboat men near City Island. – See p. 74 of original and p. 95 of copy. J.E.
- Hufeland Index Page 580 -
Col. White of the Dragoons rode a very fine horse. Capt. Frink had been an officer in the American militia – Colonel or major, I believe. He was a very gentlemanly man. Colonel Holmes, of Bedford, who went off to the enemy was a brave man, but a gambler after the war, and his example was said to have had a very bad effect upon the young. Tim Knapp was cousin to the Knapp’s of Greenwich, from which place he himself came. – A handsome man of a very handsome family.