Macdonald, John. Interview with Tompkins, Caleb Recollections - Prepared by Hufeland (). Experiencing the Neutral Ground of the American Revolution: The McDonald Interviews, WCHS item 2212. Transcription courtesy of the Westchester County Historical Society (No copyright - United States).

- Hufeland Index Page 1081 - Caleb Tompkins (of Scarsdale) Recollections of the Revolution. Copied from a small mss Volume in N.Y. Hist-Socy Oct 1925 All that I know about the ancestry of my father, is what I have heard from him; that in the early settlement of Westchester County, three brothers emigrated to this county, from England and purchased this whole or the greater …

After he was 21 Capt Griffen having no children of his own adopted him as his son and had him baptized by the name of Jonathan Griffen. From that time and for several years previous, he had the sole management of the farm and all of Capt Griffens business. Shortly after his appren= ticeship expired, he married the daughter of Caleb Hyatt, a respectable farmer, and a justice of …

In the latter part of September 1775 some British vessels of war came up to Sutton's (now called Delanceys Neck) at Mamaraneck, it was suspected with a view to land and plunder the militia of the lower part of the county, who were called to rendezvous at Mamaroneck under the command of Major Genl. Lewis Morris. While there, information was obtained that William Lounsberry who …

When the party came near, Lounsberry fired upon them but did no injury; some of the party returned the fire and wounded one Bloomer Nelson in the knee. Lounsberry ran off, Floods singled him out, pursued, came up with him, and ordered him to surrender; he refused and fought Floods with his gun. Floods run him through with his bayonet and in his breeches pocket were found his …

Some time in the winter of 1781 or 82 a party of these guides + militia horse, under the command of Capt Williams went down to West chester + took a number of swords + pistols and returned as far as Sing Sing, where they insisted on stopping to get some refreshment + feed their horses. Williams urged them to go on about 3 miles, where some Continental troops were and where …

The rest of the party were coming on crying out Kill the d--d rebels &c when Williams (having given up his sword, had nothing to defend himself with + was sure of being cut to pieces) mounted his horse + ran off another quarter as fast as the first; finding it impossible to escape, he leaned his horse's head toward the channel of the river, determined to run in and drown …

Totten came near enough to strike him with his sword + cut the end of his nose so as to draw blood, when Odell gave a back handed stroke + cut Totten on the shoulder or cheek when they ceased further pursuit. After they left him, Odell attempted to take up his horse when his feet slipped from under him + he went several rods on the ice, he hung to him + as the horse rose …

They started and after proceeding four or five miles night overtook them + was likely to be very dark + rainy; *the* Lieutenant hesitated about pro= ceding farther as he had no orders + if any thing disastrous should happen he might be censured, but concluded to leave it to Oakley and Dyckman; the *counselled* together + agreed to proceed. When within two or three miles of …

They told the refugee if he was faithful as soon as they effected their purpose he might go, but if he had deceived them they would kill him on the spot. They then placed the refugee in front two soldiers, one behind the other + Oakley behind them that they might appear as one man + ordered the refugees when hailed to answer but press forward + the soldiers when near enough to …

Before Oakley could get on his feet Dyckman sprang in over his back at the same time the soldiers burst open the door + they took 24 prisoners + one of them was a cornet in Delancey's horse; their surprise was so sudden, that but three or four of the enemy had time to seize their muskets - Oakley and Dyckman hurried off their prisoners + had gone 3 miles, when the alarm gun of …

Griffen expected they would be pursued + kept looking out for the enemy; he soon saw they were in sight + told Oakley of it. He paid but little attention to it, although he was there alone, the rest of the party having gone on. He sat still while he had drank the cider and eaten the cake. He then handed Griffen the mug drew up the reins, drew his sword, put spurs on his horse …

They secreted themselves until his return. When Delancey returned, his horse with another indifferent one + a sprightly mare (that had been taken from the upper part of the county) were turned into a meadow in part of which there was corn, + two black boys sit to watch the horses + keep them from getting into the corn. In the afternoon there came a heavy shower + the boys ran …

They then sent search in every direction to search the neck they searched so thoroughly for them, that they got up into the top of a large tree, to spend the night. They had been there but a short time, when five or six Refugees came under the same tree + talked about lying down. One of them said there was another tree, a little way off and that would be better to sleep under …

Luther Kinnicutt who was acting as spy for the Americans, was on the neck at the time + he, with one Robert Simmons (who had been a Refugee Lieut, but had taken disgust + come back to the Americans) endeav= ored to secrete these men. They built them up in a very wide stone wall near the water side, where they remained 2 or 3 days. Kinnicutt + Simmons laid sedge along the sides …

Major Flagg of Greenes regiment, had retired; hear= ing the noise he got up + sitting on the bedside dis= charged a pistol through the window. Those without fired through the window + killed Major Flagg who fell back on the bed. Col Green had 5 or 6 negro waiters. The enemy (as they were called) attempted to force the door open; Greene and his negroes tried to prevent them …

The Attack on Col Thompson Col Thompson was stationed at Youngs house, with his regiment in the winter of 1780, which was near the line of what now are the towns of Greenburgh + Mount Pleasant - Col Thompson had sent one company of his men to the west near Saw Mill River + another to the east where Abraham Davis resided. They found the enemy were approaching near them with …

Andre The legislature passed a law that all stock found driving toward the enemy, below a designated line, should be a lawful prize to the captors Paulding, Williams + Van Wart were all natives of the town of Greenburgh + resided (as also did their parents) neighbors to each other, near the Saw Mill River. They with five or six others went near Tarrytown to capture whatever …

Finding it impossible to escape, Mosier formed his men into a hollow square, facing outward, with orders not to fire until he did; calculating to make the best Terms he could before surrendering. The refugees came on at full speed + shouting. When they pressed on Mosiers men, they kept them back by pricking their horses noses with their bayonets. Holmes approached near to …

The men fired + the horsemen ran off helter skelter through the fields. A negro (belonging to Capt Sackett) who was with Mosier, sprang from the ranks and thrust his bayonet into Kipp By the time the enemy formed again, Mosiers men had reloaded + when the enemy again charged, Mosiers men gave them another shot, where they again fled, they formed, came on a third time and were …

+ with his company made prisoners Joshua Barnes who had resided at what is now called Hart's Corner in the town of Greenburgh (formerly called Philipse Manor) in the early part of the war, nearly a year before the battle of White Plains, went with several others to the British. He there obtained a captains commission. Althouse not returning as soon as expected, Barnes with his …

They remained here 8 days, then decamped and marched down + captured fort Washington below Kings Bridge. <left margin> In the original this comes *af [after]* death of Crawford end of pp 22 O. Huf <left margin> - Hufeland Index Page 1101 - Death of Mr Crawford Late in the fall + first part of the winter of 1776, Col William Duer, Egbert Benson + Jonathan G Thompkins (all …

Being down on a Sunday, there was a good deal of skirmishing between Delavan's Rangers + the Tory refugees (Capt Delavan who commanded a company of rangers was stationed at Judge Ward's house + went down every day to protect the teams) Mr Crawford called to see his sister + fill into the rear of the teams. The refugees came into the house + he surrendered himself a prisoner …

He had approached the step of the door, when a shot from inside struck him + he fell dead on the piazza floor, when some of his men fired, + killed Lieut Paddock, who was standing inside, near the door. After entering the lower part of the house + finding no one there (the Rangers some of them secreting themselves in different parts of the house + some made their escape out of …

I was born at Scarsdale Dec 23 1759. In 1775 I was enrolled in the militia at the age of 16 + performed duty until the battle at White Plains. I belonged to Col Thomas Thomas reg= iment. In the fall of the same year the militia were ordered out + assembled at Mamaroneck, some British vessels of war lying off that place, it was supposed intending to land and plunder, they …