Documents and letters intended to illustrate the revolutionary incidents of Queens county; with connecting narratives, explantory notes, and additions, Part 11

Author: Onderdonk, Henry, 1804-1886
Publication date: 1846
Publisher: New York, Leavitt, Trow
Number of Pages: 280


USA > New York > Queens County > Documents and letters intended to illustrate the revolutionary incidents of Queens county; with connecting narratives, explantory notes, and additions > Part 11


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164. Thos. Woodward (now Viator's) heard a noise among


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his fowls in the trees back of his house. He tracked a fellow in the snow and fired at a venture. The next morning a sol- dier was found dead, a short distance from the house, with a fowl in his bosom. Woodward kept out of the way a few days, and was never called to account.


165. Wm. Furman, at the head of the Fly, (now Ab'r Rhoades',) was an executor of Coe's estate, and supposed to be in possession of a large sum of money. He was robbed of $1,600 and badly beaten (as he lay in bed, where he was ordered to remain) to foree him to make further disclosures. When he ran to a neighbor's to spread the alarm, he was covered with blood. The robbers were refugees, and were detected at Brooklyn ferry from the peculiarity of the coin. Mr. Furman appeared before the British authorities at New- York and identified some of the pieces, yet none of the money was ever restored. After the peace he was sued by the heirs of Coe, and acquitted in the Court of Errors.


166. One night, a little before the peace, Thos. Cumberson was awakened by a knocking at his door by some persons, who asked the way to Hallet's Cove. They then wanted to come in and get something to eat. This he refused, as the hour was unseasonable. They affected to go off satisfied. But, sus- pecting they might return again, Cumberson dressed himself, and stood his loaded gun by his bed. In a short time, without notice, his front door was forced open by a stone as large as a man could well manage. The robbers then rushed in upon him, and one cried out, "Now, you raseal, we've got you." He fired instantly and lodged the load in the fellow's abdomen, and sung out, as to a friend present, " Hand the other gun, or fire yourself." Thereupon, all three decamped. The wounded man essayed to mount his horse, but failed. He, however, snapped his pistol at Cumberson, who had followed him out of doors, and was looking on. Finally he begged to be led into the house. C. told him he had been in onee. "Yes, to my sorrow," said the wounded man, throwing down his pistol and falling on the ground. He at first refused to give up the names of his associates ; but on being told by the British surgeon that he had but a short time to live, he confessed all. His name


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was Michael Hogans. Three of them had deserted from the British camp at Flatbush and come over to the English Kills, where they broke open the King's stables and stole three wa- goner's horses. His two accomplices, Docharty and Lyons, rode off to Hallet's Cove, where stealing a boat, they crossed the river, and were never heard of afterwards. The wounded man died eight hours after in great agony, and was sewed up in a blanket of Mrs. C.'s, and buried in the woods east of the house.


167. Cor. Rapalje, who lived on the cross-roads from Dutch Kills to the Bowery, (since Purdy's,) heard a noise among his cattle. He took a gun and his negro a hatchet, and killed a soldier.


H. Furman had a heifer stolen, and found her fifty yards off, her hind quarters cut out, the restleft. Aaron, his son, lost some ducks, but on complaining and pointing out the thief, he was punished. Robbers could be told by marks on their but- tons or caps.


J. Remsen, one and a half miles south of Newtown, hearing some soldiers in his cow-yard, fired and put shot into three of them.


Wm. Howard had his cows penned up before his house, bars wedged, front door open, and a person sitting up all night to watch, yet they were stolen. A by-word among the British was, " You are punished, not for stealing, but for being found out." Corn and potatoes (when soldiers lay near) were often watched at night. Potatoes sometimes sold at 18s. and half a guinea per bushel; butter, 8 and 10s. per lb .; beef, 1s. 6d .; turkeys, half a guinea a piece. Much provision (such as flour, pease, butter, oats, meat) came from England and Ireland.


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168. Friends' meeting-house was used successively as a prison, hospital, and hay magazine. When the British officer first went to take possession, Friends were in silent meeting. He put his head in the door, but seeing them sit so quiet and demure, he withdrew till shaking hands was over. During


**


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the rest of the war, Friends met in barns and private houses. West of the meeting-house was a hospital, where the small- pox raged dreadfully. South was the parade. No fences were to be seen : all had been torn down for fuel. The guard- house knocked up for the purpose, was west of Aspinwall's, now Dr. Bloodgood's. "When the British first entered Flush- ing, they set a guard over Prince's nursery .* But as there was no sale for trees, fine cherry trees were cut down for hoop- poles. The trees grew to a large size, and the nursery was much neglected."


On the high ground, where the old Methodist meeting-house now stands, was the alarm-pole. This was wound round with straw (so as to be easily fired) and surmounted with a tar- barrel, and was one of a series of beacons to transmit the alarm to Jamaica, where most of the British troops lay, in case the Americans or their French allies should land on Long Island.


For sport, the officers would play at fives against the side of the meeting-house. "A long and moderate war," was their standing toast. The common soldiers would roll an eighteen or twenty-four pound ball in nine holes; or tied up in a sack, the head only visible, a half-dozen would run for a wager. Others would find more congenial amusement in a trial at making wry faces, the prize being a quantity of tobacco. A still lower order of amusement was, soaping a pig's tail, the pig being the property of the lucky fellow that could hold him thereby.


The punishments were "picketing" for the horsemen. A pointed stake was driven into the ground. On this the of- fender stood barefoot, with one hand tied at arm's length to a tree overhead, the other hand and foot bound together. Others run the gauntlet between two rows of soldiers, each having a birch whip, or were paid off with the cat.


* Thompson, II. 85.


169. Feb. 17, '77, Gaine. Sutler wanted for his Ex. Gov. Brown's corps, who understands his business. Very great en- couragement will be given on applying to the quarter master at Flushing. .


170. Mar. 3, '77, Gaine. The Royal and Hon. Brigade of


.


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the Prince of Wales's Loyal Amer. Volunteers quartered at the famous and plentiful town of Flushing. Recruits taken also at Wm. Betts', sign of the Gen. Amherst, Jamaica. £5 bounty and 100 acres of land on the Mississippi, for 3 years, or during the rebellion. Present pay and free quarters. Cloth- ing, arms and accoutrements supplied. Bringers will receive $2. God save the King !


[Twenty in a drove would come from New England to enlist in Brown's corps .- Ed.]


171. Sept. 29, '77, Holt. Two men detected in transporting tories [recruits ?] from Killingworth to Long Island, near Flushing, were sent to jail to New London.


172. Stolen from Isaac Underhill, of Flushing, a sorrel horse, &c., Oct. 29, '77.


173. Jan. 26, '78, Gaine. Married at Flushing, Beverly Robinson, Jr., Esq., Lt. Col. of the Loyal Amer. Reg., to the amiable and accomplished Miss Nancy Barclay.


174. Sutler wanted for the 1st Bat. of Gen. Delancey's Brigade, who is capable of furnishing a large mess. Apply to the gentlemen of the Reg., at the Camp, head of Flushing Fly .- Rir., Jun. 17, '78.


175. Aug. 10, '78, Holt. Fishkill, Aug. 6. A gentleman who left Flushing last Lord's Day, says there were 12,000 about New-York. Bread was very scarce, pease and oat- meal being served out instead. Commissary's rations en- tirely stopped. Soldiers' wives* allowed quarter instead of half rations. Two vessels from Cork brought 1,000 barrels provisions. The Long Island people were selling off their small cattle and poultry, as they were daily robbed of them by the soldiery. Our friends on the island, since the battle of Monmouth, are in high spirits, and the formerly active tories now begin to hang their heads and cry peccati.


[* A certain number of soldiers in each regiment was allowed to bring their wives with them, called " washerwomen,"-often common prostitutes .- Ed.]


176. Sep. 5,'78, Riv. Stolen, strayed, or driven away by mis- take with the army, from the head of the Fly, Ang. 27, a mouse-


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colored mare, with hog mane and bush tail ; also a red cow, the property of Capt. Darby, 17th Reg. of Foot. Whoever will give information of the above at the Head Inn, Jamaica, or widow Waters, head of the Fly, shall be handsomely re- warded.


177. Sep. 23, '78, Riv. Four guineas reward, and no ques- tions. A cow was stolen, Aug. 27, from the place of embark- ation at White Stone, belonging to the 64th Reg., now at Bed- ford camp.


178. Oct. 10, '78, Rir. Strayed, from the encampment of Maryland Loyalists* at Yellow Hook, July 20, a very likely roan mare. Any person bringing her to the Reg., now lying at the head of Flushing Fly, will receive two guineas reward.


[* Wrecked in the Bay of Fundy, on their voyage to Nova Scotia, Oct. '83, and many lives lost .- Ed.]


179. Oct. 31. '78, Rit. Stolen or strayed, a bay mare, branded G. under the mane. Whoever will deliver her to Obadiah Leech, at D. Bowne's, Pigeon Meadow, three and a half miles east of Flushing, shall have $4 reward.


180. July 3, '79, Rir. Edmund Fanning, Col. of the Asso- ciated Refugees, on board the Diana transport at Whitestone, received a letter from Edward Winslow, Lt. Col. Commandant of the Associated Refugees on board the Royal Charlotte, Huntington Harbor, that "he with Col. Upham had attacked Norwalk, and stretched along Connecticut shore, occasioning new troubles to our enemies."


181. July 14, '79, Riv. Five guineas reward. Stolen, last Friday, from near the house at the west side of the Watering Place at Whitestone, a MARQUEE, marked Col. McLean's Reg. [82d.]


182. Jan. 5, '80, Rir. On Christmas eve, the house of Col. Hamilton [since H. Mitchell's] at Flushing, was burnt to the ground with every thing therein-elegant furniture, stock of provisions, various sorts of wines, spirits intended for the regale of his numerous friends, the military and other gentlemen of the neighborhood, at this convivial season. A cask of cartridges and some gunpowder for the militia, were in the garret, which prevented the exertions that would otherwise have been made.


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183. Jan. 17, '80, Riv. Died of consumption, aged 23, in Mr. Vanderbelt's house,* Flushing, the Hon. Mrs. Napier, lady of the Hon. Capt. N., 80th Grenadiers, now on the expedition. Her remains were deposited in the Colden vault, Spring Hill, [now Judge Strong's,] attended by the officers of the 22d, 38th and 80th Reg's. Her two daughters are under the care of Col. A. Hamilton.


[* In 1789, the house of John Vanderbelt, with the records of the town of Flushing, were burnt. The incendiary, a black girl, was hung .- Ed.]


184. Mar. 1, '80. The Grand Duke was a guard ship at City Island a fortnight ago .- Con. Gaz.


185. June 10, '80, Riv. £6 reward. Stolen, May 26, a sor- rel mare, &c., out of the pasture of Edmund Pinfold.


186. July 19, '80. Simcoe crossed the Sound to Flushing, on his way to Huntington .- ( See 205.)


187. Strayed from the camp of the guards at White Stone, Aug. 16, '80, an iron-grey gelding. Guine, Aug. 28.


188. Aug. 18, '80. Con. Gaz. There are 9,000 troops at White Stone and Westchester.


189. Sept. 15, '80. Con. Gaz. By a gentleman from Long Island we are informed the main army of the British lay at Flushing, from White Stone to Jamaica, two regiments of Hessians at Jamaica, and the liglit infantry at Huntington : provisions very scarce, especially salt, and it was very sickly.


190. Riv., Oct. 11, '80. Five guineas reward. Stolen or strayed, Oct. 5, from the farm of Daniel Bowne, now occupied by Col. Isaac Corsa,* a light bay gelding, &c.


* Col. Corsa essentially contributed to the capture of Fort Frontenac, now Kingston, Aug 27, 1758. He volunteered with his Long Island men to erect a battery on the night of Aug. 26, in the midst of the ene- my's fire, which opening in the morning, cannonaded the fort and pro- duced the surrender. The Col. received a slight wound.


In the first detachment of 440 men was Capt. Daniel Wright, of · Queens.


In the second detachment, of 668 men, was " Lieut. Col. Isaac Corsa, of Queens, Maj. Nathaniel Woodhull, of Suffolk, and Capt. Richard Hewlett, of Queens." Why has not justice been done to the services rendered by Queens county in the old French war ?- ED.


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191. Nov. 27, '80. Gaine. To be sold, a healthy negro man and woman, neither in the least infatuated with a desire of obtaining freedom by flight, which so unhappily reigns through- out the generality of slaves at present.


DAVID COLDEN, Esq., Flushing.


192. Feb. 3, '81, Rir. Stolen, strayed, or taken up by an impress warrant, when the troops moved from Flushing, a bay mare, &c. Whoever brings her to John Rodman's house, Bay Side, shall have $2 reward from John Thurman.


193. March 20, '81. Three companies of regular troops on Long Island. The forts on the north garrisoned by militia .*


* There was a 'small fort at White Stone, east of the creek, at Bo- gart's Point, on a steep bank. Boats were overhauled here. The militia from Jamaica went over in squads of six or eight, and stood guard a fortnight or so, when they were relieved by others. The sentries suffered from the cold, as no fire was allowed in the fort, on account of the pow- der stored there. After the officer had gone the rounds, the sentinels would sometimes quit their post and repair to a neighboring tavern. Stephen Higbie, sergeant, went with a guard to White Stone. He had left his post to warm and smoke in the tavern, when Col. Hamilton sud- denly came in, and knocking the pipe out of Higbie's mouth, and point- ing a pistol at his breast, cried out, " Are you a d-d old Presbyterian or not ?" " No." ""T'is well you said no, or I'd a blown your brains out. Now I've some hopes of you."-ED.


194. April 9, '81, Gaine. A few nights ago some whale boats from New Rochelle canie over to Flushing Bayside and plundered several houses: among the rest, that of Mr. John Thurman, merchant of this city.


195. A. Hamilton, Col. Commandant of. Queens county militia, and Aid-de-Camp to his Excellency Gen. Robertson, in the name of the gentleman, the farmer, and of every indi- vidual of Flushing, thanks Lieut. Col. Loewenstein, of the 3d battalion Hessian Grenadiers, for the protection of their pro- perty ; and wish the corps every success, honor and happiness. Innerwick, April 29, 1781.


196. May 21, '81. J. Holroyd thanks the gentlemen of the army and navy, and informs them that he has opened the Queen's Head, at Flushing.


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197. June 20, '81, Riv. Thomas Hicks [Little Neck] a fortnight ago was robbed of law books, and very considerable property : and several whale boats were lately in Flushing Bay.


198. July 23, '81. Washington went on Frog's Neck to see what communication could be had with Long Island. The engineers attended with their instruments, to measure the dis- tance across. A few harmless shot were fired [from the fort at White Stone ?]-Sparks, viii, 112.


199. Aug. 13, '81, Gaine. Thursday night eight rebel whale boats made their appearance at Bayside, and some of them landed a few men. But as they did not like the appearance of things, the country being very soon alarmed, they did no harm, speedily re-embarked and made the best of their way to the rebel shore. They carried off nothing, and said they only wanted a few prisoners.


200. April 20, '82, Rir. 150 guineas reward. On the night of Ap'l 11 a most wicked and flagitious murder was committed at the widow Talman's house, at the mill, four miles east of Flush- ing, [now J. P. Carll's,] by several people armed with pistols and bludgeons, and their faces blacked, on James Hedger. Wearing apparel in large quantities, £200 in specie, and silver plate, were carried off. Any accomplice except the one who fired the shot that slew the innocent, will be pardoned (if he give evidence) and receive 100 guineas reward from A. Ham- ilton, Col. Commandant of Queens county, at Innerwick.


Whoever will discover any part of the goods in the posses- sion of any person, shall receive 50 guineas, and the informer's name concealed, if desired .*


* Hedger, a miller and sportsman, was twice engaged with robbers. The first time, he heard a noise and found two men choking his sister. They left her and fell foul of him, beating him on the head with their pistols. He disengaged himself and ran in a back room for his gun. Thinking he meant to escape, they ran around to the back door; but Hedger was too bold for that. He stood ready with his gun, and as they returned and were entering the front door he fired-it was moonlight. The foremost was wounded in the throat, and fell dead in the doorway. The other ran off, having his face spotted with shot, and left their horses


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in an adjoining swamp, where they were discovered three days after, tied to a tree. He was subsequently detected at Southhold, and received one thousand lashes, save one. The body of the dead man (Silby, of the 60th regiment, others say one of the 17th dragoons) was hung in an iron frame on a gibbet, on the Plains north of Hempstead, and his regi- ment paraded before it. The creaking of the iron, as it swung to and fro by the wind, would often alarm the nightly traveller.


The second time, April 11, 1782, Hedger heard a noise and opened the door to call his dog, but as he was shutting it the robbers fired and lodged a ball in his body. He ran for his gun, but dropped dead in the middle of the room. Nothing was heard of the robbers for some time, when a soldier, Perrot, being under guard for some offence, expressed an anxious desire to have a few words with his commanding officer. He then made a full disclosure of the robbery and murder. His five accom- plices suspecting what was going on, fled instantly ; but three of them were detected at Lloyd's Neck. They were grenadiers of the 38th and 54th regiments, then lying at Flushing, and were brought in irons to the camp, on Charles Cornell's land, Flushing, so fatigued with the heat and journey that their tongues lolled out as they lay down, while their con- ductor went for a pail of grog. They were tried at Bedford, whither the regiments had removed, and two, Tench and Porter, hung on a chesnut tree on land late of Francis Skillman. Cunningham and his mulatto were the executioners. The criminals, dressed in white, mounted a ladder, and so both swung off on one branch .- ED.


201. May 1, '82, Riv. Address presented to Lieut. Col. A. Bruce, of the 54th regiment, commanding the 38th and 54th in their winter quarters, at Flushing.


Impelled by a recollection of the quiet and security we have enjoyed during your residence in this town, permit us to make a public acknowledgment of your vigilant attention, and of the honor and politeness of your officers ; and of the orderly and decent behavior of the soldiers of the 38th and 54th regiment, under your command in this district.


When we declare, sir, that throughout the winter no occa- sion has been given for murmuring or complaints; that an exemplary conformity to orders and regulations has been observed both by officers and soldiers, we testify a fact that has given us the most lively impression of the honor of the regi-


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ment, and of your attention to the interests of government and his Majesty's service.


Signed by forty-seven respectable inhabitants of Flushing, April 27 .*


* Lieut. Col. Bruce replies, April 30, from his quarters at Bedford, that he has merely fulfilled the wish of his sovereign and the orders of his commander-in-chief .- ED.


202. July 3, '82. Rir. Five guineas reward. A grey mare stolen or strayed from the grenadier eamp, on Ireland Heights, near Flushing. 1st battalion British grenadiers.


203. Aug. 7, '82. Rir. Presentation of colors, Thursday, Aug. 1, to the King's Am. Dragoons, under Col. Benj. Thomp- son, [afterwards Count Rumford, see Thompson i., 478,] at camp, about three miles east of Flushing, [on land of A. Fish, now James Lawrence,] consisting of four complete troops mounted, and two dismounted. The regiment was formed on advantageous ground in front of the encampment, having a gentle declivity to the south, with two pieces of light artillery on the right. About sixty yards in front of the regiment was a canopy twenty feet high, supported by ten pillars. East of which was a semicircular bower for the accommodation of spectators. The standards were planted under the canopy.


At one o'clock the Prince,* with Admiral Digby, Gen. Birch, Hon. Lieut. Col. Fox, of 38th, and Lieut. Col. Small, of 84th, and other officers of distinction, came on the ground and received the usual salutes, (the trumpets sounding and the music playing "God save the King,") and posted them- selves in the canopy. The regiment passed in review before the Prince, performing marching salutes. They then returned, dismounted and formed in a semicircle in front of the canopy. Their chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Odell, delivered an appropriate address. After which the whole regiment, officers and men, kneeled and laid their helmets and arms on the ground, held up their right hands, and took a most solemn oath of allegiance to their sovereign and fidelity to their standard, the whole re- peating the oath together. The chaplain then pronounced a solemn benediction. The regiment rose and returned to their ground and fired a royal salute. They then mounted and


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saluted the standard together. As soon as the consecrating and saluting the standard was over, the Prince came forward to the centre of the regiment, received the colors from Admiral Digby, and presented them with his own hand to Lieut. Col. Thompson, who delivered them to the eldest cornets. On a given signal, the whole regiment, with all the numerous spec- tators, gave three shouts, the music played "God save the King," the artillery fired a royal salute, and the ceremony was ended.t


* His Royal Highness, Prince William Henry, their Majesties' third son, aged 18, since King Wm. IV., entered on board the Prince George, under Admiral Digby, in order to qualify himself to rank in the Royal Navy. He also visited Lloyd's Neck .- ED.


+ On this occasion an ox was roasted whole. He was spitted on a hickory sapling, twelve feet long, supported on crotches, and turned by handspikes. An attendant dipped a swab in a tub of salt and water to baste the ox and moderate the fire. Each soldier then sliced off for him- self a piece of the ill-cooked beef .- ED.


204. Some of Fanning's men got in the house of Willet Bowne and tied him with a bedcord to the bedpost, and then held a candle under the ends of his fingers, to torture him into a disclosure where his money was hid; but he continued inflexible.


205. Wm. Glean, on the east road from Jamaica to Flushing, (now W. H. Woolley's,) had eight or ten cattle stolen one winter. One night his safeguard heard a noise, and firing at a venture, killed a Hessian.


The house of B. Areson, at Fresh Meadows, was robbed. One of Simcoe's men came there by day and asked for cider, and while the old gentleman went to draw it, he surveyed the premises, stole $10 from a cupboard, and returning at night, he carried off effects to the value of $100. They beat Mr. A. severely, led B. Nostrand and his father out by the well and held them there till the house was rifled, when they thrust them in and shut the door. Three of the soldiers returning for some booty they had concealed in the woods, were discovered, and complaint was made to Col. Simcoe, but no satisfaction ob- tained.


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B. Areson had a new house, not yet finished. It and his barn were torn down by the Jagers for barracks, who lay one winter at Frame's. The Hessians also lay at Bowne's, and had huts back of W. Lawrence's, now S. Pierson's. They would give the driver of an impressed wagon a drame or ' schnapps," and a crust of bread to eat with it. The Hessians were inveterate smokers and coffec drinkers.


There were soldiers billeted along the Black Stump road. Ryerson's Inn was a famous stopping-place for the soldiers quartered on Long Island when going or returning from their expeditions.


206. Feb. 7, 83, Riv. Bob, a negro, was put in the Provost for assaulting Mr. Jackson, of Delancey's 3d Bat., at Flushing .*


* May, '83, Col. Robinson's corps was at the Fly .- Ed.


207. For sale a black stallion, to be seen at the quarters of Capt. Millet, 34th Reg., at Flushing .- Riv., June 7, '83.


208. June 25, '83, Rit. All persons are forewarned to trust my wife' Mary, now living at Bedford, West Chester county. STEPHEN SMITH,


Sergeant in the King's Amer. Reg., head of Flushing Fly.


209. Riv., July 3, '83. $8 reward. Stolen or strayed from the pasture of widow Suydam, near Flushing, a bay mare.




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