Odell, Jackson
John M. McDonald interview — 1845-09-18; 1845-09-22; 1845-09-23
John Macdonald conducted this interview with Jackson Odell (1792-1849), the son of Westchester Guide John Odell, over a period of three days. On the first day, Jackson Odell recounts American Captain Nathaniel Cushing’s April 1780 raid into present-day Bronx County and the subsequent withdrawal of Cushing’s party through Greenburgh. The pursuing Refugees under Captain Samuel Kipp caught up with Cushing’s force near present-day Ardsley. He also notes that John Odell was present with American Colonel Joseph Thompson on February 3, 1780, the morning of the Battle of Youngs’ House, and carried Mary Youngs (who later married Abraham Van Wart) to safety. Jackson Odell then explains that his grandfather Jonathan Odell was taken prisoner after the Battle of White Plains and was held in the Sugar House prison in Manhattan with other men whose sons were in the American service. He notes that this policy “confirmed the fate of many whigs.” Odell concludes the first day of the interview by stating that Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey was found under his bed when he was captured by Garret Dyckman in 1777. On the second day of the interview, Odell discusses the retreat by Colonel James DeLancey’s force after the Battle of Pines Bridge in 1781, and recounts their stop for refreshments at the home of Jonathan Odell. He then states that DeLancey stayed at the home of James McChain after pursuing Captain Cushing’s raiding party, at which time he praised the leadership of Cushing. He also lists the names of the men who were taken with Jonathan Odell after the Battle of White Plains and imprisoned in the Sugar House, and recalls the proposal of marriage by American Colonel Mordecai Gist (spelled here as Guest) to Grace Isaacs Babcock of Yonkers. Odell concludes the second day of the interview by discussing his father’s role at the Battle of Youngs’ House. Odell begins the third day of the interview by discussing the Saw Mill River Road as well as the Carpenter and Van Tassel families. He notes that the British army had an encampment near the home of Jonathan Odell in present-day Irvington, and identifies the location where the Refugees caught up with Captain Nathaniel Cushing’s raiding party.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 158 -
1845
Jackson Odell – Sept.18. “Cushing was some time engaged in preparing his expedition and it was got up with great care. The second in command was Lieutenant Blake a good soldier. The party consisted of one hundred and ten men picked men of the Masschusetts line, all young and enterprizing and all volunteers, together with five guides who were always mounted, vizt. Michael Dyckman, Abraham Dyckman, John Odell, James Oakley and John Pine. On their retreat along the Sprain road they left it and moved by the right across the fields when they arrived at McChains they had been followed along the Sprain road by a strong detachment of Delancey’s horse and the mounted Yagers. They crossed the Dobbs Ferry road a little west of Colonel John Odells (about half way from Odells to Sp[ring] brook ?)[X] and continued to retreat through the fields. Just before they crossed the Dobbs Ferry road (on Odell’s farm) Captain Kipp who commanded the enemy’s advance
[X] (Spring Brook)
- Hufeland Index Page 159 -
1845
attempted a charge, but failed and had one man killed and several wounded. They gained the Saw Mill by crossing some open fields called Van Tassel’s slope a little south of Van Tassel’s hill where they expected a charge. A small party of militia under Captain Sybert Acker joined them when they came to the Dobbs Ferry road near Colonel Odells. My father was with Colonel Thompson on the morning of the attack and carried to a place of security the daughter of Mr. Young afterwards Mrs. Van Wart. Jonathan Odell, my Grandfather was made prisoner after the battle of White Plains and confined in the sugar house together with Jacob and Ab[raham] Storms and some of the most respectable heads of families because their sons were active or serving as soldiers in the cause of Independence. This was always thought to have been bad policy on the part of Howe. This cruelty confirmed the fate of many whigs.”
- Hufeland Index Page 160 -
1845
Jackson Odell – Sept. 18th. – DeLancey was found under the bed by Garret Dyckman. I am certain of this for I have often heard him tell the story. He was well acquainted with DeLancey. Found him under bed. Jackson Odell – Sept.22d. (Monday) DeLancey retreated by the North river road after the attack of Colonel Greene and halted at Jonathon Odells and took refreshments. He asked for a bed and slept awhile first taking off his boots – Kept his men in good order an reproved them severely when turbulent. James Foshey (who belonged to Totten’s company) boasted at this time that he could show more rebel blood upon his sword than any of the detachment. DeLancey, on his return from the pursuit of Captain Cushing, stopped at James M Chain’s and took breakfast. He slept there a short time with boots and spurs on. Enquiring
- Hufeland Index Page 161 -
1845
the name of the officer who commanded the American detachment and being informed it was Captain Cushing, he exclaimed: “He will one day be General Cushing.” The names of those taken up with Jonathan Odell after the battle of White Plains and confined in the sugar house were Abraham Storms and Jacob Storms, Tennis Cronk and Gerritt Lent. They all died but Odell who was taken with the others in the Fall of ’76 and returned. Mrs Rebecca Odell, mother of General Odell was the bearer of proposals of marriage on the part of Colonel Guest (Gist) to the Widow Babcock who declined on the ground that Col. Guest was a stranger, that she ought to learn more of his circumstances and standing before she could listen to his suit, &c that the times were not propitious for marriage.
- Hufeland Index Page 162 -
1845
Sept. 22d. Jackson Odell. – “Captain Roberts urged Thompson at Young’s house to fall back upon the relief or to retire into the house, but he persisted in drawing up in front. John Odell was then dispatched to a hill near Twitching’s corner, where one of the relief companies had been posted, but it had marched a day before to Wright’s Mills. Upon the first intelligence of Newton’s Nortons advance, Jonathan Odell (Col. John) conducted a daughter of Joseph Young afterwards Mrs. Van Wart on horseback to a place of safety. The horse he rode was the Courtland grey. Tuesday September 23rd. – “The road from the White Plains road near the C[ourt] house which leads to Twitching’s was called Saw Mill river road. Lieut Wright Carpenter was brother of Mr. Carpenter who lived by Colonel Odells. The Van Tassel family
- Hufeland Index Page 163 -
1845
settled early in the country before Philipse purchased and intermarried, some of them with the Indians. Laurence’s plantation near Dobb’s Ferry probably just above. The English encamped sometime on the high ground west of the Turnpike road and adjacent to Jonathan Odell’s house. This ground was generally called Odell’s Hill – while there they burnt about 1000 bushels of wheat belonging to Mr. Odell and cut down most part of his orchard. DeLancey’s party overtook Cushing on the Sprain road about two miles south of Mc. Chains, but the way being narrow and the retreat conducted with skill they found no opportunity to charge till they arrived at Bates’, that is, Odell’s.