Odell, Jackson
John M. McDonald interview — 1845-09-30
Jackson Odell (1792-1849) was the son of John Odell, one of the Westchester Guides. He states his belief that Captain John Pray was a Rhode Islander, although it appears that the latter was actually from Massachusetts. He then notes that his father’s horse that had been given to him by Lieutenant Governor Pierre Van Cortlandt broke loose during the skirmish that took place along the Hudson River in Ossining in January 1783, but was recovered. Odell also describes an encampment of British troops under Sir John Vaughan on Odell’s Hill, and notes that the Dyckman family took the name Jacob from Governor Jacob Leisler. Odell recalls Wright Carpenter, a member of the Society of Friends who served as an officer in the Westchester County Militia. Because of his military service, he was on “very bad terms” with his family. Odell then recounts his father’s actions during a skirmish that took place on March 4, 1782, when an American raiding force under Captain Israel Honeywell was returning through present-day Mount Vernon. He also explains the defection of Colonel Rudolphus Ritzema, son of the Reverend Johannes Ritzema, from the American side to the British. Odell notes that among the papers taken by Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey at the Davenport House after the Battle of Pines Bridge was a letter from George Washington to Colonel Christopher Greene urging the capture of DeLancey. Odell explains that DeLancey was aware of the existence of this letter from his spies, and determined to attack first, resulting in the Battle of Pines Bridge. He also recounts that while John Odell was speaking with DeLancey under a flag of truce in 1778, he was warned to leave Westchester County for Upstate New York to avoid retribution from the Refugees. Jackson Odell concludes with a description of Westchester Guide Abraham “Brom” Dyckman.
Original findings from this interview
Manuscript page facsimiles
High-resolution images served from the Westchester County Historical Society's IIIF endpoint. Click any page to view full size.
Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 182 -
1845
Sept.30 Jackson Odell: Captain Pray, as I have always understood was a Rhode Islander. Col. John Odell’s famous gray horse presented to him by Governor Van Courtland broke loose and escaped on the surprise of Captain Williams at Orsers house, but running northerly for Colbergh was recovered. Gen. Vaughan was encamped at Odells hill for Six (?) weeks, in the course of which time Odells orchard was cut down except one or two trees, about one thousand bushels of wheat destroyed in the sheaf and his fat hogs killed for the army. For this last, that is the hogs, he was afterwards when confined in the Sugar House, fully paid. This must have occurred in the Fall of 1776. (?) The Dyckman family take the
- Hufeland Index Page 183 -
1845
baptismal name of Jacob from Governer Leisler. Wright Carpenter the fighting Quaker was a Lieutenant in Captain Hobby’s company and Colonel Thomas’s regiment. He was on very bad terms with his family in consequence of taking up arms. On Honeywell’s excursion to Morrisania on the fourth of March 1782, Colonel John Odell was with Major Woodbridge on the East chester road when he placed his men, infantry from NewEngland, in ambush behind a barn. Odell advised him to place them in the barn and to throw the double doors open when the enemy came up, but he persisted in putting them behind the building. When the enemy approached with their vanguard of horse, the Yankkees could not be prevented from peeping and the ambuscade being thus discovered the horsemen all pulled up but one and receiving the fire at a distance escaped unhurt. A private of Delancey’s Re-
- Hufeland Index Page 184 -
1845
-fugees named Henry Treucher being in advance and riding at speed passed the ambuscade, and wheeling about repassed through a shower of shot, and, with his horse escaped unhurt. Colonel Ritzema was an able officer who had been in the Dutch service. General Philip Van Courtland used to say that he considered him as a tactician fully equal to Baron Steuben. His defection was said to have arisen from paternal advice, and the father in consequence because unpopular and was compelled to move up the river near Albany where he continued to preach long after the Revolutionary war. Among the papers which Delancey found at Colonel Greene’s quarters on the 13th of May 1781, and which were soon after sent by him with
- Hufeland Index Page 185 -
1845
a pocket book, some money, other papers and letters, &c, was a letter from General Washington to Colonel Greene, in which this expression was used, “Take DeLancey at all events.” DeLancey said he was informed of this by his spies and determined to strike the first blow. My father used to say he considered this one of the boldest and best conducted enterprises that occurred during the war. DeLancey marched his detachment along by roads and across fields so as to pass all American outposts and patrols unobserved and gained the Croton without discovery. My father being down with a flag in 1778, Colonel DeLancey took him aside and told him he had better withdraw from the lines for a while, as some of his men whose
- Hufeland Index Page 186 -
1845
relatives had had their houses and barns destroyed were determined to retaliate upon the Odell and Dyckman families and he would not be able to prevent them from destroying the houses of his father and relatives. In consequence of this friendly caution Colonel Odell withdrew for to the Mohawk Valley. Abraham Dyckman was a dark, complexioned, broad shouldered thick set short athletic man.