Lyon, Samuel
John M. McDonald interview — 1844
The McDonald Interviews contain interviews with four men named Samuel Lyon: Samuel Lyon (1787-1860) of Chestnut Ridge in North Castle, Samuel Lyon (1760-1849) of Rye, Samuel Lyon (c.1793-1863) of Weaver Street in Greenwich, Connecticut, and Samuel Lyon (1764-1856) of Yonkers. Although not specified by John Macdonald, it is likely that Samuel Lyon of Yonkers gave this interview, as it is grouped with interviews from residents of the Yonkers area. Samuel Lyon begins his interview by recounting the British and Loyalist approach northward to the Battle of Pines Bridge on May 14, 1781. During the previous fall, a group of 12 Refugees had come up to Crompond and stolen 14 head of cattle. A man whom this group had captured was able to escape, and as a result a party of 13 American volunteers under Richard Garrison gathered and pursued the Refugees southward. They encountered the party near where British Major John André was captured in Tarrytown in September 1780, and overtook a portion of the party near the present Village of Irvington. Lyon also notes that Loyalist Shubael “Shube” Merritt had his forearm severed by a Captain Wilson, who was preventing Merritt from breaking into the bedroom of his daughter.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 124 -
Saml. Lyon:
Col. Green surprised about a mile below Pines Bridge. British crossed Blenis’s ford a mile below Pines bridge – Green’s quarters three fourths of a mile north from the ford on a high hill. Delancey’s party came up the road leading by the Chappequa Meeting House – (White Plains or Saw Mill River road ?) They halted about two miles south of Pines Bridge and warmed themselves at Nathan Hyatt’s judging
- Hufeland Index Page 125 -
Samuel Lyon contd.
they should be too early. Samuel Kipp said while they were warming themselves at Nathan Hyatt’s they would neither give nor take quarter. In the fall of ’80 (?) probably, twelve Refugees (about the middle of October) had been at Crompond and came down with fourteen head of cattle – a party of 13 volunteers under Richard Garrison. They were informed by an old man whom they had made prisoner and who escaped. They pursued the Refugees from the Croton, and first saw them at the great white wood tree where Andre was taken, and overtook them at the village of Irving [where the village of Irvington now stands]. Took the cattle, two prisoners and four horses. The rest escaped in a swamp – one wounded – Lyon one of the volunteers – All mounted – Cornet Thomas Merritt was a brother of Shube – Shube attempted to enter [break into] the bedroom of Captain Wilson’s daughter
- Hufeland Index Page 126 -
in King Street. Wilson cut off his hand (forearm) with an axe.