Post, Frederick, 1762-1850
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-10-01
Frederick Post (1762-1850) gives several details regarding the Van Cortlandt family and their occupation of what is now the Van Cortlandt House Museum in Van Cortlandt Park. (He erroneously refers to James Van Cortlandt as Jacob Van Cortlandt.) Post then mentions the Battle of Van Cortlandt’s Woods, and notes that American Captain Daniel Williams and his men, who were in position near the Native American soldiers of the Stockbridge tribe, would have been cut off if not for their very quick retreat. He then discusses a Mr. Bowers of Fort Washington, and concludes by stating that the residents of Yonkers and were required to supply and trade with the “lower party” (British and Refugees) to avoid starvation.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
while the punishment was going on, declaring he meant it all for their good. One, one of his men after running the gauntlet, leaped up, clapped his hands and exclaimed: "I am now a better man than ever I was!" Colonel Emmick immediately put his hand in his pocket & gave him a guinea.
October 1st Frederick Post of Yonkers: "Jacob Van Courtland and who took the large house and farm under the family entailment was a very good benevolent man, universally loved. - During the war, and while residing in Courtland House he became out of health and went to New York for change of air and medical treatment where he soon after died. The estate then devolved on Augustus who lived at that [page break] at Flatbush (L.I.) but Frederick moved in and took possession and gave up his own house to Colonel Warner who kept his Head quarters there when his regiment lay in that part of Westchester. After the war in 1784 or 85; Frederick moved back and Augustus took the Hall and estate.
On the day the Stockbridge Indians were ambuscaded, Capt. Daniel Williams was near them in the rear with his rangers, and but for a very quick retreat would have been cut off. Old Mr. Bowers of Fort Washington was a German or Dutch man, but whether or not he came over with the Hessian army, I don't know. He married a daughter of old Jacob Moore. The here (that is, about Yonkers and Mile Square) were under the necessity of supplying the lower party with provisions and of trading with them, or of starving.