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Madam Mead. Octr. 31st Madam (the Widow of Andrew) Mead, of Horseneck: My husband, Andrew Mead, was a whaleboat man. The [country] Connt. [X1] was infested by plunders, and Congress authorized and recommended retaliation by whaleboats which attacked the enemy’s vessels in the Sound. Captain Lockwood and my husband commanded the party of whale boatmen that took the Sholdrum [X2] in East Chester Bay. Andrew Mead and Lockwood, when they approached and were hailed, answered [X3]: “We want to come under your lee for protection.” Andrew

[X1] Connecticut?

[X2] Shuldham?

[X3] It was Lockwood who answered. He commanded. J.E.

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Madam Mead contd.

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 ide. The other whale boat men now came

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Madam Mead, contd.

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 unused to water and vessels, and 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 (?) or Norwalk. (?) The British captain was wounded by Andrew Mead in the side. (?) He was taken to Stamford or Norwalk, and had his wound dressed &c. 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 respect like a true

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Madam Mead continued.

soldier. Mead always said that they would have taken her (the Sholdrum [X1]) 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 home 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 American headquarters generally) at Horseneck were at the Tracy House, then, called, rom its owner the Knapp House. Brown Ballott [X2], I think, was placed as sentinel over the British officer, Captain Frink who bribed him and escaped. Br. B. was said to have confirmed this, and to

[X1] Shuldham ?

[X2] Brom Barrett.

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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, breach foremost. He said to my father who directed him to a bed upstairs: “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 (Ballott). His execution without judge or jury was generally censured. He was a foreigner – and, I believe, an Irishman. Mrs. Bearmore, mother of Abm. Bearmore, lives four miles northerly from Peekskill, with her son Mead Bearmore, near Mr. Fox’s, and not far from Turn pike road. The widow of Jabez Hobby, a Refugee,

<left margin> Barrett <left margin>

<left margin> Jeremiah <left margin>

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Mad. Mead contd.

a Refugee lived near the Toll gate and must remember much. &c. 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 through a swampy piece of ground overgrown with bushes, his fine horse leaping fences and obstacles until safe, &c.