Romer, John
John M. McDonald interview — 1848-11-18
John Romer (1764-1855) was the son of Jacob Romer and Frena Haerlager. His family resided near the present Tarrytown Reservoir during the Revolutionary War. He details the movements of the three captors of British Major John André (John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams) prior to André’s capture on the morning of September 23, 1780, noting that the men stopped at his father’s house to pick up breakfast. After André’s capture, John Romer went to the site of the capture to retrieve the breakfast basket and pewter basin that the captors had left there. Four other men (James Romer, Isaac See, Abraham Williams, and John Yerks) had set out with the three captors that morning and were watching another road at the time of André’s capture. As Romer notes, the members of this party did not share in the honors that the captors received, and were “greatly dissatisfied.”
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 833 -
John Romer – brother of James – Basin of pewter from Jacob Romers – Told me where to find it – mutually to assist – 4 a quarter of a mile off on the hill.
Novr. 18. Capt. John Romer: “On the morning Major André was taken the three captors called at my father’s (Jacob Romer) and took a breakfast prepared for them in a pewter basin and basket. They stopped awhile in the bushes upon the hillock, I pointed out to you east of the road and north of the brook and there took the repast, but afterwards crossed the wood, and when they captured Andre were south of the brook. After the capture they forgot all about the basket and basin, but on calling at our house described where they had eaten &c, and had left it, and I was sent for and obtained it on the above mentioned hillock. The two parties were by agreement to assist each other, to run to each others’ aid in case a firing was heard. The four were watching a bye road a quarter of a
- Hufeland Index Page 834 -
mile off to the east, down which the Cowboys drove the cattle they had taken, in order to avoid observation, and which didn’t join the Post road until near Yonkers. As they had agreed to share alike the four were greatly dissatisfied &c.