USA > New York > Putnam County > Garrison > History of St. Philip's church in the Highlands, Garrison, New York, including, up to 1840, St. Peter's church on the manor of Cortlandt > Part 10
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The Loyal American Regiment saw considerable active service during the War. When the men were little more than raw recruits they took part in the capture of Forts Clinton and Montgomery; in the Pennsylvania cam- paign, in the attack on Stony Point, and later served in the south under Lord Cornwallis. Attached to the Loyal Americans were the Royal Guides and Pioneers, consisting of 6 companies, 17 officers and 175 men, who were also under the command of Colonel Robinson.
Beverly Robinson's own war record was honorable. He served under Generals Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Rawdon, Vaughan and Tryon. As Colonel of the Loyal American Regiment he received no pay, but writes, "He was afterward appointed Colonel of Guides
1 At the close of the War Frederick Philipse Robinson accompanied his father to England and joined the British Army. He fought with great distinction under Wellington, attaining the rank of Lieutenant- General. For his services he was made a Knight Commander of the Bath. In the war of 1812 he commanded the English troops in the attack on Plattsburgh. He died at Brighton, England, on January 1st, 1852, at the age of eighty-seven years.
2 After serving for some time in the Loyal American Regiment Morris Robinson was transferred to the Queen's Rangers Hussars of the regular army. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and died at Gibraltar in 1815 at the age of fifty-six.
3 John Robinson went to New Brunswick in 1783 and four years later married Elizabeth, daughter of the Hon. Chief Justice Ludlow. In that province he filled almost every public office, including member- ship in the King's Council. He died October 8th, 1828, during his term of office as Mayor of St. John.
138 The History of St. Philip's Church
& Pioneers in which character he recª Pay of 20/s a day which he gave up for the Place of Commissary of Cattle for which he received the same pay was constantly on Duty during the War, though not often at the head of his Regiment, owing to a Difference respect® the Rank of Provincial Officers as compared with the Regular."
He did, however, take part in one stubborn fight. In the fall of 1777 the position of the Continental troops on the Hudson became critical. Burgoyne was endeavoring to force his way from the north to Albany, and Sir Henry Clinton moved his troops from New York up the river. The Highlands were the key to the situation, and an attack was planned upon Fort Montgomery, then garri- soned by only about six hundred militia. Outwitting General Israel Putnam by a skilful feint, Clinton divided his forces and detached Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, with nine hundred men, to attack the fort from the rear. The Americans fought stubbornly and Campbell was killed. The command devolved upon Beverly Robinson and he finally captured the position. Sir Henry Clinton testified of him that "He distinguished himself on many occasions, particularly at the taking of Fort Montgomery where he behaved not only with Spirit and Courage but with the utmost Humanity."
General Lord Rawdon adds, "As an officer he was always desirous to exert himself and distinguished him- self on the expedition against Fort Montgomery. His attachment to the British cause was uniformly steady and active."
In time of war one of the least obtrusive but most important departments is that which is concerned with
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the gathering of information concerning the position, resources and movements of the enemy. Of this depart- ment Beverly Robinson was the chief in the New York campaign. He testifies that "he was employed by Sir Henry Clinton in the line of secret Intelligence, and had the direction of the Guides," and Clinton himself adds, "He attended Sir Henry in his expedition up the North River where he was of the greatest service to him from his knowledge of the country and the people With respect to Intelligence, he was at the head of it."
There has been a disposition to censure Colonel Robinson because of this association with spies, but it should be remembered that such work, however dis- tasteful, was strictly within the line of his military duty. There can be no question but that Beverly Robinson was an active agent in the André-Arnold episode. As head of the Intelligence department he was undoubtedly familiar with the secret correspondence between "Gus- tavus" (Arnold) and "John Anderson" (André). If further proof were needed it would be found in the explicit statement, made under oath by Sir Henry Clinton before the British Commissioners on December 16th, 1785, "He (Robinson) likewise offered himself to Sir Henry Clinton to do the very same service that Major André afterwards did with respect to Mr. Arnold."
It is not therefore surprising that when a personal interview between the two chief conspirators was first arranged, and Arnold went down the river to Dobb's Ferry on September 11th, 1780, to meet André, the latter was accompanied by Beverly Robinson. The reason for this is admirably set forth by André's biographer, Winthrop Sargent:
140 The History of St. Philip's Church
Robinson's circumspect and cautious character were thought needful to check the buoyancy of his comrade, and he was likewise fully acquainted with the pending negotiations. Indeed it was probably through him that Arnold's first overtures were made. But the large acquaintance and interests he had in the region, and his knowledge of the country, made his presence additionally desirable.1
The interview was frustrated because of the inoppor- tune activity of a battery of guns, and Arnold returned to West Point.
Five days later Robinson again went up the river on the Vulture and anchored at Teller's Point. He dis- patched a letter to Arnold proposing another meeting, which was eventually arranged. On September 20th André went on board the vessel with every prospect of consummating the deal. "André," writes Sargent, "had boarded the Vulture in the highest spirits, and confident of success; nor was even the cautious and circumspect Robinson disposed to believe in failure. In fact Robin- son was placed in his present position because, among other reasons, his character for clear-headedness stood as high as his reputation for probity and honor; and it was intended that should the negotiations be consummated by André rather than himself, he should at least exercise a wholesome check on his companion's buoyancy."
When Arnold insisted upon a meeting within the American lines Robinson's caution manifested itself, and he refused to leave the ship. André's consent to the proposal proved his undoing. When the news of his
1 The Life and Career of Major John Andre, by Winthrop Sargent, Edited by William Abbatt, p. 295.
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capture reached the Vulture Beverly Robinson made one supreme effort to secure his release. Distasteful as it must have been to him, he appealed to Washington in the following letter:
Vulture off Sinsink, Sept. 25th, 1780.
Sir,
I am at this moment informed that Major André. Adjutant Genl. of His Majesty's Army in America, is detained as a prisoner by the army under your com- mand. It is therefore incumbent on me to inform you of the manner of his falling into your hands: He went up with a flag, at the request of General Arnold, on publick business with him, and had his permit to return by land to New York; under these circumstan- ces Major André cannot be detained by you, without the greatest violation of flags, and contrary to the cus- tom and usage of all nations, and as I imagine you will see this matter in the same point of view as I do, I must desire you will order him to be set at liberty, and allowed to return immediately. Every step Major André took was by the advice and direction of General Arnold, even that of taking a feigned name, and of course not liable to censure for it. I am, Sir, not forgetting our former acquaintance, your very H. Sert.
Bev. Robinson, Colo.
Early in 1783 it became evident that the War of the Revolution was nearing its end. The King's speech at the opening of Parliament forecasted Articles of Peace and on the 19th of April Washington announced the cessation of hostilities between the United States of America and the King of Great Britain. The day pre- vious a schooner sailed up the Hudson to Newburgh, "the first American vessel which had come up the river
142 The History of St. Philip's Church
since the British took possession of New York in the year 1776."1 These conditions brought the English face to face with the problem of caring for the men of the Provincial Corps who had surrendered homes and occupations for the king. Some place of refuge where they could maintain themselves had to be provided, and in the month of April Beverly Robinson and Cruger, of De Lancey's Brigade, ad- dressed a circular to the commanding officers suggesting the dispatch of an agent to Nova Scotia "for the purpose of soliciting and securing grants of lands."2 Sir Guy Carle- ton seconded their efforts by sending Thomas Wetmore of Westchester County to the country adjacent to Nova Scotia to lay out lands for the loyalists. His instructions were brief but to the point: " You are to provide an asylum for your distressed countrymen. Your task is arduous, execute it like a man of honor. The season for fighting is over-bury your animosities and persecute no man. Your ship is ready and God bless you."3
The land eventually selected was on the west side of the Bay of Fundy-a tract which had hitherto been peopled by a few Acadians and Indians. On that in- hospitable shore, in the autumn of 1783, some fourteen thousand souls landed. They were without shelter and short of food, but set about the task of turning the barren land into a garden. Amongst these refugees were not a few of the men of Beverly Robinson's regiments. The Fort Howe muster roll of September 25th, 1784, shows 95 men, 39 women, 77 children and 8 servants belonging to the Loyal Americans, and 176 either serving
1 Heath's Memoirs of the American War, p. 387
2 The Winslow Papers, p. 81.
3 Ibid p. 508-9.
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in or dependent upon the Guides and Pioneers.1 In- cluded in the number was the Rev. John Beardsley,2 former rector of Christ Church, Poughkeepsie, and chaplain to the regiment.
Though Colonel Robinson did not accompany his men to New Brunswick there is reason to believe that such was his original intention; upon no other basis can we account for his appointment as a member of the King's Council for that Province. He, however, elected to spend his exile in Great Britain.
From contemporary documentary evidence it would seem that the Robinsons were in financial straits through their devotion to the British cause. Nineteen days before he left the shores of America forever Colonel Robinson addressed to Sir Guy Carleton the following pathetic but dignified letter:
1 The Winslow Papers, p. 244.
2 Rev. John Beardsley was born April 23rd, 1732, at Repton, Conn., and was baptized by Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson of Stratford. He studied for two years at Yale and then entered King's College of which Dr. Johnson had become first President. Proceeding to England he was ordained by Archbishop Secker at Lambeth on August 23d, 1761, and on his return took charge of the churches at Norwich and Groton. For ten years he was Rector of Christ Church, Poughkeepsie, and Trinity, Fishkill. Mr. Beardsley was an ardent Tory and on December 13th, 1777, was ordered by the Committee of Safety to remove to New York, which was then in the hands of the British. He then became chaplain to the Loyal American Regiment of which Beverly Robinson was Colonel. At the close of the War he migrated to Canada and for fifteen years was Rector of Christ Church, Maugerville, N. B. From 1793 to 1802 he also served as chaplain to the King's New Brunswick Regiment commanded by Beverly Robinson, junior. The later years of his life were spent in retirement at Kingston, N. B., where he enjoyed a pension from the British Government. He died on his birthday, in 1809, and was buried in the chancel of Trinity Church, Kingston.
144 The History of St. Philip's Church
New York, June 6th, 1783.
Sir,
I beg leave to address your Excellency in this way and to lay before you my unhappy situation, having neither resolution nor Confidence to do it personally.
The time for his Majesty's Troops finally quitting this place seems to be so near at hand, that I am under the greatest anxiety for the future Comfort and safety of my family; And would therefore wish with your Excellency's permission and approbation to go imme- diately with them to England. But, Sir, I must con- fess to you, that my circumstances are so very dis- tressing that I cannot leave this place, without some assistance from Government, to enable me to dis- charge those debts I have been under the necessity of Contracting since I joined the King's Army, incurred chiefly by raising a Regiment for the King's Service, which I have been endeavouring to pay off with all the savings I could make from my subsistence, but the necessary support of a large family has prevented me from Accomplishing of it as yet.
I would therefore; humbly ask, that you would be pleased to advance me Six months pay for both my Commissions, from the 24th & 30th of this month. I am induced to make this applycation at present, because Capt Sweney of the Assureance has not only Offered but presses us in the most friendly manner to go home with him, and I would wish to be ready, to accept of his kind offer, whenever he is Ordered to go.
My son the Lieu' Colº will continue with the Regt, He and my son John, a Lieut will go with the Regt to Nova-Scotia to join in the Settlement of that Country; my other Sons will follow the fate of the Regimts they belong to.
I would beg the leave of telling your Excellency that I have lost as good an Estate by this Unhappy War as most people in this Province very few Excepted,
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But I never had any Idea nor the least Expectation that Govermt would or indeed could repay me for those losses should the war End in the unhappy man- ner it has; But Sir, I always hoped and Expected that one who had Sacrificed so much property not by being a nominal & passive Loyalist; but by taking an Active part, from the very first rise of the Rebellion, in favor of the King & Constitution of Great Britain, and ever endeavouring to restore their Authority in this Coun- try, would not be neglected, but have some provision made for him that would give his family a Comfort- able Support during their lives; I shall with great Humility Submit myself intirely to y' Excellency's direction, being with the greatest Esteem & Respect Y' Excellency's mot Obt & mo8 Hum1 Sert
Sir Guy Carleton, K.B. &c. Bev. Robinson1
What answer was made to this we do not know, but Ward Chipman writes to Edward Winslow from New York under date of June 25th, 1783:"Col. Robinson and his family are sailed for England in the Lion."2
Mr. Robinson departed with commendatory letters from the Governor to Lord North and Sir George Yonge, Bart. The former reads as follows:
My Lord, June 17th, 1783
Colonel Beverly Robinson of the loyal American Regiment who will have the Honour of delivering this
1 Manuscripts in the Royal Institution of Great Britain, London, 1777-1783. American Loyalists-Transcript of various Papers relating to the Losses, Services and Support of the American Loyalists and to his Majesty's Provincial Forces during the War of American Independence, preserved amongst the American Manuscripts in the Royal Institution of Great Britain, London. 1777-1783. Transcribed for the New York Public Library, 1903. Vol. V, p. 45-7.
2 Winslow Papers, p. 198.
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letter is a gentleman greatly distinguished for his Probity and general worth and whose Possessions in this Country were very large and whose Family was numerous and bred up in expectations of oppulence & Honour. It is among the severest Calamities of the Time that a Gentleman of this Description should be obliged with the Female Part of his Family to seek aid and Protection in a Country to which the simplicity of his Manners may not perfectly Correspond but I entertain no Doubt that your Lordship's Reception of Him will be such as to soften those Evils which on account of his Truth & unshaken loyalty & Fidelity he is obliged to undergo,
Rt hoble Lord North.
Guy Carleton.1
On his arrival in London he took up his residence at Mortlake on the river Thames. His situation is best summed up in the words of his memorial: .
His family now with him in England consists of his Wife, one Son and two daughters most tenderly brought up, and these with himself driven from the enjoyment of every part of his valuable property, of which there remains no hope of recovry to a family that has taken so decided a part in the Cause of their Sovereign and the British Constitution thus reduced from ease and affluence to his present State, the pleasing Expectations of his family de- stroyed and at an advanced age period of life com- pelled with them to seek a new residence and the means of support; your Memorialist can only find consolation in that distinguished benignity & attention invariably shewn by his Majesty to his unfortunate Loyal American subjects; and in full Confidence that the Justice of the British Nation will never leave those
1 Royal Institution MSS., American Loyalists, Vol. V, p. 193.
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to suffer who have sacrificed their all in her Cause & Interest."1
In all fairness it should be stated that the government of Great Britain was not slow to recognize its great obligation to the Loyalists, and a tribunal was created to hear and adjust claims for losses and services and to award compensation. Beverly Robinson's memorial was filed on December 11th, 1783. It is a lengthy and ex- tremely interesting document. Compensation was claim- ed for the loss of personal and real estate, and as the schedules afford valuable data for the study of economic conditions in pre-Revolutionary times, they are here reproduced :
Inventory of the Personal Property of Beverly Robinson all of which he has lost by the Rebellion in North America.
Principal Sums due on Mortgages, Bonds and Notes from Sundry
persons as per Schedule
6830- 8-4
Interest due thereon to May 1st, 1777. 1788- 2-4 8618-10-8
Principal sums due on Bonds & Notes from his Tenants, 7191-17-4
Interest due thereon to the 1st May, 1777, 1338- 0-4 8529-17-8
Rents due from his Tenants to Ist May, 1777,
2754-15-0
My half of a large Grist Mill, Saw
Mill & Potash works in partnership
with Col: Roger Morris built on
his lot at Philips Town-Cost 3000 my half is 1500- 0-0
1 Audit Office, American Loyalists MSS., Vol. XLIII, p. 207.
148 The History of St. Philip's Church
My half of goods & other effects in a store kept in our joint accounts at said Mills by Thomas Henderson as per Estimate 4000- 0-0 5500- 0-0
Eight Negroes Vizd
Harry a young fellow 19 years old 80- 0-0
Rose a young Wench 20 do 60- 0-0
Coobaugh do
20 do
60- 0-0
Belinda do
18 do
60- 0-0
Sarah do
18
do
60- 0-0
Phillis do
15 do
50- 0-0
Candis do
15 do 50- 0-0
Clarinda do
13 do 50- 0-0 470- 0-01
Stock, Grain & farming Utensils.
4 pair of large Oxen at £18 £72
3 Pair young Oxen @
15
45
18 Cows @ 5
90
1 Large Bull 10
10 young Cattle 3 years old @ 3 30
8 do 2 do @ 30/ 12
259- 0-0
100 Sheep on my farm; 100 do put out
to sundry people
@
8/
80- 0-0
6 Horses & Mares
@
16
96- 0-0
2 Fillies rising 4 @ 29 40- 0-0
2 Horse Colts rising 2 & 3 years @ 20
40- 0-0
233- 0-0
250 Bushels of Wheat @ 7/
87-10-0
1 In the State records at Albany there is preserved the following account: State of New York
To Commissioners of Alms Houses in the City of New York.
To support of Jenny, Slave formerly belonging to the Estate of Bev. Robinson from the 1st of May, 1805, to the 1st of August, 1808, is three years and three months @ $36 per annum is $117.
I do hereby certify and approve of the above as a good account.
22d August, 1808. DE WITT CLINTON.
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350 do Indian Corn @ 3/6
61- 5-0
300 do Oats @ 2/ 30- 0-0
100 do Rye
@ 4/
20- 0-0 195-15-0
Ploughs, Carts, Slays, Waggons and other Farming Utensils 100- 0-0
A new Sloop 65 Tons, built at my
own Dock, cost upwards of
650- 0-0
Household furniture as p Inven- tory made out by Mrs Robinson
1000- 0-0
28413-18-4
At 4/6 Per Doll' is Sterling
£15982-16-0
With respect to the rest of the Per- sonal Estate (Viz) Negroes, Stock, Grain, farming Utensils, Sloop and furniture, I have not at present any proof of the particulars but have put them down from recol- lection.
Bev: Robinson.
Valuation of the Real Estate.
30359 Acres of Settled Lands @ 3 p Acre £91077-0-0
29595 do of unsettled do @ 15/ do 22196-0-0
59954 whole No of Acres £113,273-5-0
A large Lot of Ground in New York on which I had a very good house, Stables &c but as the house was burnt in the great fire that happened when Sir Wm.
Howe first took possession of the City the value of the house &c is ommitted the ground is worth .. 500-0-0 Sterling
150 The History of St. Philip's Church
New York Currency 113,775-5-0 which at 4/6 p Dollar is Currency Sterling
63996-7-0
Amount of Real
Estate 113,773-5-0 @ 4/6 p Doll is 63097- 7-0
do Personal
do 28413-18/4 do 15982-16-0
142,187-3-4
£79,980- 3-0
It is not surprising that many fraudulent claims were filed against the government, but a careful study of Bev- erly Robinson's brief impresses one greatly with its moderation. There is no suggestion of any effort to obtain greater compensation than his losses justified. It would be difficult to find a fairer statement of claim. The schedules contain the name of every tenant on the estate; the rents paid for the farms; the detail of every Bond, Mortgage and Note with the interest thereon; and a list of the debts owing by Mr. Robinson, together with a full and clear estimate of his annual income.
The Royal Commissioners subjected every claim to the most rigid scrutiny. In each case the claimant appeared in person and was required, where possible, to produce witnesses in support of his statements. This naturally consumed considerable time and Robinson's case was not reached for two years. It was heard on December 16th, 1785. Sir Henry Clinton appeared personally to testify to the military services and certificates were pre- sented from Lords Cornwallis and Rawdon. As far as the valuation of the lands was concerned, there testified William Smith, ex-Justice of the Supreme Court of New York; John Kane, who kept a country store at Pawling, in Dutchess County; Malcom Morrison, a former tenant
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on Lot No. 7, and Captain Duncan Campbell of the 84th Regiment of Foot, who had purchased land in Fredricks- burgh from Mr. Robinson in 1770. How Beverly Robinson fared during these two years may be gathered from a letter he wrote to Edward Winslow1, then in Nova Scotia,-a letter which is full of interest, both personally and politically :
Mortlake (in Surrey) Apr. 29th, 1784.
Dear Sir,
I wrote you on the 19th Instant inclosing some Letters and Newspapers for Beverly. I also wrote you the same day by Mr Goodall, recommending him to your notice as a friend of mine; he is a merchant in London & is gone to Canada to settle some matters there & will visit Halifax about Aug't next when he will deliver you my letter.
I now again take the liberty of troubling you with the inclosed letters for my boys, and beg you will be so good as to forward them. The large package, marked newspapers, you are welcome to open & peruse if you have none by any other Channel so late, What can I say to you about Politics? I can say nothing but what you will see in the papers, and therefore must refer you to them, and they contain nothing but about Elections. The Election for West- minster has now been warmly contested for 25 days.
1 Edward Winslow was a descendant of the first Governor of Plymouth Colony. He graduated from Harvard in 1765, and at the Revolution remained loyal to the Crown. Appointed by General Gage to be Collector to the Port of Boston, he left that city on its evacuation and went to New York, where he was gazetted Muster Master-General of the Loyalist Forces. After the War he spent some time in England. He accumulated a vast store of letters and papers on the Revolution, a selection from which was published by the New Brunswick Historical Society in 1901, under the able editorship of the Rev. Dr. W. O. Raymond.
152 The History of St. Philip's Church
Lord Hood carries it hollow, but the Struggle is very hard between Mr Fox & Sir Cecil Wray; for the first two or three days Fox was ahead, the next 12 or 14 Sir Cecil lead, for a week past Fox got ahead again & was yesterday 41 before the Knight, and most people think he will carry it, mearly by Industry and Good Management; at any rate there will be a Scrut- iny demanded let who will be foremost at the end of the poll, & that they tell me will take up six months, and in that case none of the three will sit in the Par- liament the next Session. The members of the last Opposition have lost their Elections almost every- where, and it is thought Mr Pitt will have a great majority. I hope he will not take Lord S(helburne) into the ministry which has been talked of some time.
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