Mills, Jonathan
John M. McDonald interview — 1846-10-31
Jonathan Mills (1764-1848) recalls that on July 2, 1779, the day of the Battle of Pound Ridge, he was sent to drive the cattle of his family and his neighbors to a safe place, but accidentally drove them into the hands of the British troops who were returning from the battle. The British eventually let the cattle go, and Mills was able to retrieve them. He then recounts the burning of Bedford on July 11, 1779, and states his belief that Colonel James Holmes was present and ordered the burning of his own house. Mills also states that the Refugee cavalry attempted to go to Middle Patent to burn the home of “some whigs obnoxious to them,” but were not able to pass the Mianus River on the Middle Patent road.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 409 -
October 31st Jonathan Mills, of Bedford – 83 years old: “On the day Poundridge was taken, I was sent to drive the cattle of my father and of our neighbours to a place of safety, but unfortunately, I conducted them directly into the hands of the enemy whom I met on their return. They took all the cattle; but, after driving them some distance let them go, and we got them again.
- Hufeland Index Page 410 -
Colonel Holmes, I think, commanded the party that burnt Bedford and directed his own house to be fired first, knowing he would be paid for it. There was a company or two of militia posted the day before to guard the roads east of the village. They, the Refugees, attempted to go (that is, a part of them) to Middle Patent for the purpose of burning the houses of some whigs obnoxious to them, but when they came to Mahanus river (about half a mile from Bedford or the Middle Patent road) finding the bridges taken up (the road passes over a small island) and the stream deep and muddy, they retired.