Miller, Hannah Mabie
John M. McDonald interview — 1846-11-21
Hannah Mabie Miller (c.1759-1849) begins her interview by discussing her impressions of three Loyalist officers: Captain Gilbert Totten, Colonel Isaac Hatfield, and Lieutenant James Kipp. She discusses military stores that were kept at White Plains and Wright’s Mills in North Castle. She also recounts a story regarding Anthony Miller, who was a paternal uncle of her husband, Gilbert Miller. Anthony Miller was an American militia officer who was present when Loyalist William Lounsbury was killed in Mamaroneck while recruiting on August 29, 1776, and later went into the British lines in Manhattan to “make his peace.” Miller was imprisoned in the Provost Prison, where he caught smallpox and died.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 362 -
1846 November 21 Mrs. Hannah Miller: I am 88 years old. Totten was a small man but remarkably handsome and well formed. Colonel Isaac Hatfield was a tall, well looking and good man. Lieut. James Kipp was small, active and talkative. During the Revolutionary war I was with my aunt, the widow Brewer, on the place where John Wolfe once lived, and where Elias Capron now resides. There never was any large quantity of public stores at White Plains at any one time except in 1776 and 1778 – though at Wright’s mills there generally was some on hand in all probability. Anthony Miller commanded a company of militia and took a very active part among the whigs at the commencement of the troubles. He was at the capture and death of William Lounsbury. Fearful then that he had gone too far he went below to make
- Hufeland Index Page 363 -
his peace. Someone informed that he had aided in Lounsberry’s death, and had used expressions derogatory to the King’s government. He was, in consequence, thrown into the old Provost prison where he caught the smallpox and died. The Black rate was enforced in our neighbourhood.