71 147 70 Nehemiah Brown, cont. who was conducted to camp. The Refugees took the Frenchmen's horses and left the waggon. The waggon was taken into camp by the American party.

Madam Mead. Octr. 31st Madam (the Widow of Andrew) MEAD, of Horseneck: My husband, Andrew Mead, was a whale boat man. Connecticut? The [Country] Conn. was infested by plunderers, and Congress authorized and recommended retaliation by whale boats which attacked the enemy's vessels in the Sound. Captain Lockwood and my husband commanded the party of whale boat men that took the Shuldham in East Chester Bay. Andrew Mead and Lock wood, when they approached and were hailed, answered: "We want to come under your lee for protection." Andrew [margin: + It was Lockwood who answered. He commanded. J.M.] 70

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148 72 71 Madam Mead, cont. Mead was the first to spring on board. The British vessel was surrounded by a netting eight or ten feet high which he cut. The sentry fired at and wounded him. He (Mead) then having cut through fired at the sentinel and missed him. He then boarded, followed at first, by only three or four. Having fired their guns and pistols, Mead ran to the windlass and called upon the men to arm with the spears (boarding pikes) on board. An officer with some of the marines appeared who cried out, "Kill him! kill him!" Mead when he first came on board had directed his men to close the hatches to prevent the marines from coming up, and he now rushed to the cabin door to get possession and close it when he met the Captain coming on deck with a pistol in each hand both of which he fired at him (Mead) and wounded him in each shoulder. Mead, at the same time, wounding the Captain severely with his pike (?) in the breast and side. The other whale boat men now came

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151 73 72 Madam Mead, cont. up, and but for them he would have been killed. Mead now, with difficulty supporting himself, called upon the British Captain to surrender. The Captain, unable to stand up any longer said: "If I must, I must!" and gave up. They were run used to water and vessels, (2) moved slowly and awkwardly, not to say timidly, or, as Mead used to say like old women. When they had taken the vessel, they kept the British colors flying, and brought her into Stamford (3) or Norwalk. (3) The British Captain was wounded by Andrew Mead in the side. (3) He was taken to Stamford or Norwalk, and had his wound dress ed by a surgeon. He was supposed to be, and thought himself, almost, well when he suddenly bled to death. He used to say to Mead, who was confined near him: "Mead, are you not well yet? I have almost recovered." He never blamed Mead for wounding him, but said he did right, and acted in all respects like a true 72

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152 74 73 Madam Mead continued. soldier. Mead always said that they would have taken her (the Shuldham) without loss or resistance if the [Continentals] had promptly followed his lead, and if his orders for closing the hatches had been obeyed.... The road here running north to Stanwich was called North Street, and Colonel Wells's headquarters were about a mile from here on the road towards Stanwich, in the house now occupied by the widow Amy Reynolds. The Refugee party set fire to the house by kindling straw in different places which was extinguished by some children when they left. Putnam's headquarters (and the Ameri- =can head quarters generally) at Horseneck were at the Tracy House, then, called, from its owner the Knapp House. Brom Barrett, I think, was pla- =ced as sentinel over the British officer, Captain Frink, who bribed him and escaped. Br. B. was said to have confirmed this, and to 73

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155 75 74 Madam Mead contd. have told how many guineas he got. He then went below and joined Delancey. Long afterwards he came up to get his wife, was pursued, and wandered several days in the woods, came one night to my fathers who at first refused him admittance, but consented on his saying he should perish if not taken in, and on his complying with my fathers request to hand his gun in through the window, breech foremost. He said to my father who directed him to a bed up stairs: "I hope you will not betray me." He slept late, and my father rose early, and, deeming it his duty, informed the authorities who took him (Barrett). His execution without judge or jury was generally censured. He was a foreigner — and, I believe, an Irishman. Mrs Bearmore, mother of Abr. Bear- =more, lives four miles northerly from Pecks- =kill, with her son Mead Bearmore, near Mr. Fox's, and not far from the Turn- =pike road. The widow of Jabez Hobby, a Refugee, 74

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156 76 75 Mead Mead contd. a Refugee lives near the Toll gate and must remember much. J.M. Putnam encountered most danger after arriving at the bottom of the hill. Here he leaped his horse over the north side of the fence, and passing in rear of a farm house (?) rode furiously towards through a swampy piece of ground over- =grown with bushes, his fine horse leaping fences and obstacles until safe, J.M.

Saml. Lyon. Nov. 1. Samuel Lyon, of Rye, Hogpen ridge Road: Tarleton was a large heavy man. I saw him with Bearmore. Bearmore wanted Tarleton to give him some of the dragoons to strike an American post near Byram but Tarleton refused.