Park, Abigail, 1792-1872
John M. McDonald interview — 1845-12-10
Abigail “Abby” Park (1792-1872) indicates that her father, Joseph Park, was a member of Captain Samuel Treadwell’s Company of Westchester Light Horse that was called out in 1776. The company was patrolling Tellers Point (now Croton Point) when they were spotted by the HMS Phoenix, a British ship in the Hudson River. The Phoenix prepared to fire on the company until a Loyalist onboard the ship told the commander that the company was friendly to the British.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
64 327 1845 192 December 10th Abby Park: "My father belonged to Captain Samuel Treadwell's company of West Chester Light Horse which was called out in the year 1776, and was on duty in the Summer and Fall of that year at Dobb's Ferry, Tarrytown, Sing Sing, and Teller's Point &c, to watch the British frigates, Phoenix and Rose &c, and prevent them from communicating with the shore. The uniform of the company was a scarlet Coat, buckskin breeches, boots and cocked hat and feathers. I have often heard my father say that there was but one whig in the Company, and they had to keep a good look out for him. They stood in great fear of him. Once at (Tellers) Tellers Point the company were walking along the shore when an officer proposed to the Captain of the Phoenix to open upon the rebels and blow them to . . . .
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67 328 1845 193 Accordingly (the Captain consenting) the vessel was brought with her broad side to the shore, the port holes opened, and they were on the point of firing when a tory who happened to be on board said to the Commander: 'You are not surely going to fire upon Captain Treadwell's company. He and they are our friends.' In consequence of this representation the Phoenix did not fire. The Company was never called out after the Fall of 1776.