Macdonald, John. Interview with Oakley, Samuel, b.c.1766; (1844-10-12). Experiencing the Neutral Ground of the American Revolution: The McDonald Interviews, WCHS item 1790. Transcription courtesy of the Westchester County Historical Society (No copyright - United States).

- Hufeland Index Page 011 - 1844 October 12th Samuel Oakley: "Mr. [Jotham] Purdy belonged to Delanceys and was killed in 1777 at Maroneck [X] Bridge. A party of Delancy's went up on an excursion, and Purdy was with the advance guard of about twenty cavalry. On a knoll just over the bridge was an American party of about thirty infantry. The knoll was almost inaccessible, to …

Ogden's sentinel was pacing the long piazza in front of the house, and when he turned was pinioned, and threatened with immediate death if he made a noise. They then went to the stable and saddled and bridled his horse - then to his chamber and woke him. He had retired fatigued and slept through all the noise. When he awoke the first thing he saw was the glittering of three …

All went over safe, though one or two of the horses came near going down by the head. The troopers were directed to sit back upon the haunches, and the horses then kept their heads more easily above water. Their number was about forty, and they crossed from the Point. [I think this was when the American and the French engineers measured the distance &c.] Captain Honeywell of …

He was cautioned anxiously not to make the attempt. [There was a pass above back of Honeywell's (or Watsons?) where there was a bridge which was guarded in 1776 by the Americans.] A party of the guides and others under Odell (Queré, John?) had been to Morrisania and were returning by the Sprain road. - They were hungry and weary, and had five or six prisoners, and some of …

When an American party went down to Throg's Neck they were fired upon from the British fort at Whitestone (in 1781) and covered all over with sand but none were killed. The party immediately retreated singly up the neck. [They were engineers. My uncle, James Oakley, was with them as a guide.] The British in 1779? (when? in 1778.) took a great quantity of [wheat grain and] …

Kipp and Holmes had their pistols, but it was said the men had not, which occasioned much censure towards the officers. They could not reach Mosiers men with their swords. In 1781, when Hull attacked the Refugee settlements he was at West Chester and retreated to East Chester, being soon followed by the Refugees who overtook him in East Chester. A detachment of Parson's …

One of Delancey's men was up with a flag and talking of some prisoners they had recently made, said to Cornelius Oakley: "We'll have you next."- Oakley replied, "That may well be for none of us can tell what may happen." He soon after received information from a spy (a cripple who was suf fered to go about among the Refugee posts and settlements unmolested and unsuspected) …

The women shrieked, and a scene ensued when their partners were captured, but they brought off most, if not all, the prisoners. The garrison of No.8 was alarmed, and pursued; but Oakley's party retreated successfully, having taken among other prisoners the very man who predicted his (Oakley's) capture. Nimham was intimate with some of the Ferris [X] family, and either [X] …