Vredenburgh, Susan Valentine
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-09-29
Susan Valentine Vredenburgh (1756-1854) was a daughter of Abraham Valentine and Deborah Barton. Although John Macdonald refers to her as Susanna Vredenburg, it appears that her first name was actually Susan. Mrs. Vredenburgh begins her interview by noting that she was a schoolmate of interviewee Joshua DeVoe, and that she had to assist him after he suffered epileptic fits. She tells a dramatic story of how Grace Isaacs Babcock refused to give a mourning ring that commemorated her late husband, the Reverend Luke Babcock, to a robber. She also notes that the Loyalist Captain Benjamin Ogden of DeLancey’s Refugees had his cattle and horses plundered several times. Mrs. Vredenburgh concludes her interview by providing descriptions of Sarah Williams (sister-in-law of Frederick Philipse III, Lord of Philipsburg Manor), Anna Fowler, and Fowler’s fiancée, Hessian Captain Carl von Rau, who was mortally wounded before the couple was able to marry. John Macdonald adds a postscript to the interview in which he notes that Mrs. Vredenburgh’s son showed him a sword said to have been carried by Westchester Guide Abraham “Brom” Dyckman when he was mortally wounded.
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 525 -
Septr. 29th. Mrs. Susanna Vrendenburg, born Valentine: “I will be 92 years old next May. I went to school with Joshua DeVoe who was subject to epileptic fits, and being older than he often picked him up. When Mrs. Babcock was robbed one of the men who were all disguised bade her take her glove off – She took the glove off her right hand. He then ordered her to take off the other which she did. Then he asked her for the ring upon her finger which she refused. He persisted and threatened to cut off her finger – She replied: “This is a mourning ring which contains some of my dead husband’s hair, and you shall not take it without taking my life.” The robber touched with such firmness and affection made no further attempt for it, but observed, “You shall keep it then.” Captain Ogden kept house at Vermille’s but was several times plundered of all
- Hufeland Index Page 526 -
his cattle and horses. &c. Miss Williams, Madame Philipse’s sister, lived with Mrs. Babcock thro’ the war and died at her house. She was a very elegant and accomplished woman, as were also Madames Philipse and Babcock. The two former were English. Miss Fowler was very handsome, but Rouw looked like a Hessian. Mrs. Vredenburg’s son showed me a very long heavy sabre which he said was the sword carried by Brom. Dyckman at the time he received his mortal wound.