Peterson, John
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-10-19
John Peterson (1746-1850) was a Black soldier who served in the Westchester County Militia. Although his surname was popularly known as Peterson, he notes that it was actually Patterson, and that he was born on the Hudson River in New Jersey opposite Spuyten Duyvil Creek. Most of his interview is spent discussing Mosier’s Fight, which took place on December 2, 1781. A group of Westchester County Militia led by Lieutenant William Mosier formed a square and repulsed an attack of Refugee cavalry led by Captain Samuel Kipp. Peterson recounts the names of the men who comprised Mosier’s force, which included Black and Native American soldiers. Peterson was recognized and insulted by Captain Kipp, who had seen him while he was imprisoned in Manhattan.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 549 -
October 19th. John Peterson, of Peekskill: “My real name is Patterson, and I was born in New Jersey opposite Spuyten Duyvel Creek in the State of New York. My father’s place where I was born was on the banks of the Hudson river. The following are the names of the men under Lieut. William Mosier at the time he repulsed Captain Kipp, near General Thomas’s – vizt.: David Slater, David Jones, James Croft, Henry and Godfrey Christian or Vought (or both these surnames), John Peterson, Prince Sacket, Peter Sokkadox (an Indian) and one Mayhew (also an Indian) James Necring, Willm. Campbell (an Irishman and a good soldier). The two Indians were from the east end of Long Island, near Quag [X] – James Tuttle – I had just previously escaped from prison in New York, and this was the reason Kipp was so hostile to me. He insulted me and
[X] Quogue ?
- Hufeland Index Page 550 -
said, “There’s a rascal escaped from New York! We’ll have you again there before night!” &c. Shubal Cunningham, of Sawpitt, was another of Mosiers men; also a boy, Asa Jones, Abraham Williams of Tarrytown, one Loder (his name I believe was Daniel Loder) who was a brother of Jonathan Loder of Colberg. Captn. Lilly was a militia officer before the war, a tory. He lived about two miles south of Peekskill on the Post road.
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