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<left margin> James Peck, n. Glenville – aged </left margin>

Novr. 24th. Solomon Peck, of Peck’s land, Greenwich, Connt. aged 84: “When Major Huggeford took off Colonel Wells, the Major advanced from King Street, crossed the Byram and Peck’s land moving mostly through the fields, and so came into North Street north of Horton Reynolds’s where he surprised Colonel Wells, and captured him and some of his officers and men. Huggeford retreated down Peck’s land street with his men and officers. In Peck’s land street about a mile and a half from Sherwood’s ? Bridge the road then passed through a thick wood. The officer who commanded the van came in and reported that there was an armed force in front and asked what he should do. “Charge through them!” was Hickford’s answer. The officer did so, but sustained a heavy fire. This force was a patrol of Colonel Wells, consisting of 15 or 20 men. Colonel Wells was abed when taken. They took him off on horseback. Samuel Palmer, a sergeant of militia

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was a very enterprising, spunky man, and had about twelve men who followed him. Two of them were his brothers, Levi and Stephen They all carried long heavy guns that carried an ounce ball, while the Refugees had short pieces convenient to carry among the bushes. Palmer’s men were a great terror to the Refugees. It was Levi Palmer who shot Chapman. It might have been the same day the latter killed June. Chapman was killed a quarter of a mile east of the Stanwich Meeting House on the east and west road. I remember when Captain Sylvanus Mead of the militia living at Clapboard ridge and Gideon Close of the same place were taken off. This Captain Mead was afterwards killed at Coscob. The Refugees were very plenty and always skulking in the woods and bushes. Most of those who came up from Morrisania were originally from about here. Captain Isaac Howe of Pecksland a very active, bold militia officer, was attacked once

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in the road between his house and Horseneck by two Refugees. He was on horseback with a child in his arms, and his sister behind him. The Refugees ordered him to surrender. He refused, and put the child in the road while his sister jumped off. The Refugees fired, and the ball of one passed through his body. He was going up hill, and the ball striking him under the collar bone came [out at] of his shoulder. (?) The Refugees had both been his neighbors. After receiving the wound Howe drew a pistol and faced about firing at the Refugees who immediately ran off. Major Fitch was a very active good officer. He me the Refugee horse once at Mahanus river, and was ordered to surrender, but he formed his men, and when he came within musket shot he fired and cleared them. He was a true friend to the country. When Colonel Hatfield in July 1780, took off the cattle of Middle Patent and Stanwich,

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Colonel Beebe’s regiment lay in North Street, and Captain Isaac Howe piloted them to King Street where they overtook the Refugee party and had a skirmish – One American of Beebee’s was killed. Colonel Holmes was along at this time The Refugee horse charged, crossed a rail fence behind which Beebee’s men had formed, and killed the man above mentioned. One Schoolhouse at Clapboard ridge was kept open during the whole war. All the rest were closed. Shube Merritt often came up here with small parties of two three or half a dozen plundering and sweeping off horses and cattle. When the British Refugees came up in the winter to Mahanus river, they chased several Americans who took to the ice and escaped. The Refugee horse didn’t venture to follow, because the ice was too weak. This was the time Colonel Fitch advanced upon the Refugee horse

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and compelled them to retreat. Samuel Reynolds was chased among the others across Mahanus river. When they pulled up, he turned about and charged with his bayonet wounding the horse of one of them. Reynolds was very obstinate and refused to surrender. Delancey’s Refugees cut off the American posts at Byram and Sherwood’s Bridge so often that these outposts were withdrawn to Titus’s Bridge on Mahanus river, where they remained all the war although several times cut off. Peck’s land commences about one mile and three quarters north of Sherwood’s Bridge and extends in a northerly direction about two miles, but does not extend as far west as Byram river. Major Bearmore came up here very often and cut off the guards at Byram and Sherwood’s Bridge. He was a very savage fellow.

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There was one Colonel Holdridge who commanded a regiment of militia horse. Once they went below, and had a pretty smart skirmish with the enemy somewhere north of New Rochelle or Maroneck This might have been Colonel Whites affair with Simcoe. It was not cold weather when it took place. That much I remember.