USA > New York > Queens County > Flushing > History of the town of Flushing, Long Island, New York > Part 8
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West of the Meeting-house was a hospital. where small- pox raged. South of the Meeting-house was a parade ground. A guard-house, which stood west of the Aspinwall house, was pulled down by the soldiers for fire wood. The Aspinwall house was the headquarters for the officers. Col. Hamilton's headquarters were in the Mitchell house, corner of Whitestone and Bayside avenues. The old Duryea house, south of the Cemetery was also used as headquarters. Many soldiers were at times encamped beyond this house, near
9 Documents and Letters, Second Series, p. 31.
One of the German officers, Lieut. Hinrich, writes thus about Long Island, Sept. 18, 1776: "Long Island is a beau- tiful island. It has a great number of meadows, orchards, fruit trees of all descriptions, and fine houses The Quakers are not rebels : on the contrary they have publicly proclaimed in all their gatherings and churches that whoso- ever went armed would lose their membership The whole island forms an exquisite picture . . . The ladies on this island are not ugly, and upon the mainland are even said to be pretty." Letters of Brunswick and Hessian Officers, p. 188 et sq.
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Fresh Meadows. Cannon were mounted on the ridge east of Whitestone avenue, between Broadway and State street. A beacon was erected on Washington street, east of Main street. It consisted of a pole wrapped with straw, and bearing aloft a tar barrel. This was one of a system of signals, extending from Norwich Hill to New York, via Flushing. 10
Flushing furnished comfortable quarters for both officers and men. The favorite toast was: "A long and moderate war." For amusement, the officers played at fives against the Meeting-house, or rode to Hempstead plains to take part in the fox-hunting, horse-racing, bull-baiting and other
10 "Signals by day and night for Long Island and Kings bridge, to be made from Norwich Hill, Sutton's Hill and Flushing Heights.
MEM .- Norwich Hill is two miles south of Oysterbay, Sutton's Hill is three miles from Cow Neck Point, Flush- ing Heights are near Ustick's house." General Order of William Tryon, Major General. Documents and Letters. Second Series, p. 36.
There was a small fort at Whitestone, at Bogart's Point. The militia from Jamaica were sent over in squads of six or eight to man the fort. They stood guard for about a fortnight, and were then relieved by others. The fort was cold, and sentinels found the neighboring tavern more attractive. Col. Hamilton one day surprised Stephen Higbie, sergeant, smoking in the tavern. He knocked the pipe out of Higbie's mouth and, pointing a pistol at his breast, cried : "Are you a d-d old Presbyterian or not?" "No!" " 'Tis well you said no, or I'd blown your brains out. Now I've some hopes of you." Documents and Letters, p. 46.
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"good, old English sports." The soldiers also had their fun. They rolled large cannon-balls about a course of nine holes ; they ran races, tied in sacks; they made wry faces for wagers; they tried to catch pigs whose tails had been soaped.
"The Royal and Honorable Brigade of the Prince of Wales Loyal American Volunteers, " was quartered at "the famous and plentiful town of Flushing, " early in 1777. 11
Colonel Hamilton was appointed in command of the Queens County militia, and from his headquarters, "In- nerwick," issued many orders that are still preserved.
At Whitestone stood the home of Francis Lewis, an un- compromising Patriot. A party of light-horse, under Col. Birtch, surrounded the house, seized Mrs. Lewis, and de- stroyed books, papers and furniture. Mrs. Lewis was sent to New York. Here she was imprisoned for several months. She would have been without the common necessaries of life, but for the faithful attendance of negro servants who followed their mistress, and ministered to her wants. She was finally released by the intervention of Washington, who ordered the wives of two British officials to be im- prisoned in Philadelphia, until Mrs. Lewis was restored to freedom.
11 Documents and Letters, p. 142.
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The war did not stop the usual course of events in human life. 12 People married, carried on their business, and died. Lieut. Col. Beverly Robinson, Jr. was married, in Flushing, Jan. 26, 1778, to "the amiable and accom- plished Miss Nancy Barclay. "13 Henry Nicoll was married to Elsie Willet, of Spring Hill, June 21, 1779. The events of Nov. 27, 1780, must have caused no small stir in Flush- ing society. On that day, the Rector of St. George's solemnized three weddings: Capt. Jarvis Dobbs, of the sloop Abigail, was married to Miss Hettie Worthman ; Capt. Heymen Clarke, of the Industry, to Miss Annatie Worth- man ; and Capt. Matthew Farrington, of the Nancy, to Miss Phebe McCullum. 14 Thus Flushing surrendered to the British Navy. The newspaper comment on this tripple wedding was as follows: "The amiable accomplishments of
12 "Long Island (from the Tour of which I am just re- turned) is the only peaceful and happy spot at present in this Part of America. The Inhabitants are exceedingly benefited by supplying the Army, and are, excepting a few Presbyterians to the Eastward, eminent for their Loyalty, on which Account they suffered much while under the Terror of the Rebels." Ambrose Serle to the Earl of Dart- mouth, April 25, 1777. Steren's Manuscripts in European Archives, Documents 2057.
13 Nancy Barclay was the daughter of the Rev. Henry Barclay, D. D., of New York. Doctor Barclay and his family were probably among the refugees in Flushing.
14 Queens County in Olden Times, p. 56.
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the young ladies presage the most perfect happiness that the marriage state can afford."
William Prince advertised his "large collection of fruit trees, "and directed orders to be left at "Gaine's, or on board the Flushing boat, near Fly Market, Ferry Stairs, Oliver Thorne now Master."15 Houses and lands were bought and sold. So were negroes. David Colden adver- tised for sale a healthy man and woman, "neither in the least infatuated with a desire of obtaining freedom by flight. "16 "A likely negro wench, aged twenty-two, and her male child, aged twenty-two months," were offered for sale in New York, with the recommendation that the woman understood all kinds of house-work, and "was brought up in Flushing." The farmers found ready market for their crops and wood. It is true the sales were often
15 William Prince established his nursery in 1737. It is supposed to have been the first nursery in America. When the British took possession of Long Island, Gen. Howe placed a guard to protect the Linnean Botanic Gar- dens, as the nursery was called. The war seriously affected Mr. Prince's business. He was compelled to sell a large number of grafted cherry trees for hoop poles.
16 Documents and Letters, p. 146.
"May 22, 1780. £5 Reward-Ran away from his master, David Colden, a negro named Kelso. He had eight days' leave of absence to find a purchaser. He speaks English only, and wore apple-tree buttons on his coat."
Queens Co. in Olden Times, p. 56.
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compulsory, but in most cases a fair price was paid. 17 For instance, an order was issued, April 23, 1778, notifying farmers from whom the soldiers had taken hay, that if they would present their claims "to Mr. Ochiltree, Deputy Commissary of forage at Flushing, with proper certificates," they would be paid. 18
Education appears not to have been neglected. Among the advertisements in a New York paper, we find one for "a private tutor, to teach Latin, etc., to go in a gentleman's family at Flushing. "19
Mixed in with these occasions of joy, and events in every day business life, were also occasions of sorrow. Mrs. Susanna Cornell, the wife of the Hon. Samuel Cornell, a member of His Majesty's Council, in North Carolina, came to Flushing as a place of safety, during the war. Here she
17 The price of wood, per cord, was as follows :
Oak Hickory
From Flushing to Cow Neck. £3 £4.10
From Cow Neck to Huntington 45s. 70s.
From Huntington to Setauket 35s. 45s.
Hay and grain brought the following prices, in 1778 :
Upland hay 8 8. per cut. Rye. 10 s. per bu.
Salt hay 4 s. per cut.
Buckwheat 7 s. per bu.
Straw. 3 8. per cut.
Wheat flour 80 s. per cut.
Wheat. 26 s. per bu. Rye flour 30 s. per cut.
Corn. 10 8. per bu. Buckwheat flour. 26 s. per cut.
Oats. 7 8. per bu. Indian meal ..... 28 s. per cut. Flint, p. 447. .
18 History of Queens County, p. 38.
19 Documents and Letters, Second Series, p. 28.
i
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died of small pox, Feb. 16, 1778, contracted by inoculation. She left five daughters. "The Hon. Mrs. Napier, lady of the Hon. Capt. Napier, of the 80th Grenadiers," died of consumption, at Mr. Vanderbilt's house, Jan. 10, 1780. She was but twenty-three years old. "Her remains were depos- ited in the Colden vault, at Spring Hill, attended by the officers of the 22nd, 38th, and 80th Regiments. "20
Religious services were uninterrupted. The Friends, though deprived of the use of their Meeting-house, held regular meetings in private houses and barns. Abel Thomas, a traveling Quaker preacher, testifies to the courteous treatment received at the hands of Col. Hamilton. Arri- ving at Flushing, Thomas was taken before Hamilton, as were all strangers. "We informed him, " writes Thomas, "that we intended to hold meetings on the Island. His answer was that 'if that was our business, it was a pity to hinder us.' He readily gave us a permit to travel through the Island. " 21 Regular services were held at St. George's
20 Documents and Letters, p. 145.
"She left the world with the most perfect serenity and resignation ; her two daughters, one, three and the other, two years of age, are under the protection of Col. Archibald Hamilton, nearly related to the Hon. Capt. Napier, by the Marquis of Lothian's family." Royal Gazette, New York, Jan. 15, 1780.
21 Documents and Letters, Second Series, p. 59.
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Church. The Rector was, for a time, assisted by the Rev. John Sayre, a refugee from Fairfield, Conn.
It is impossible to say just how many soldiers were quartered in Flushing, during the war. We have already mentioned the 71st Highlanders, and the Brigade of Loyal American Volunteers. 22 An advertisement in Rivington's Gazette tells us that the 1st Bat. of Delancey's Brigade was in camp, at the head of the Fly, in January, 1773.23 From similar sources and from the reports of American spies, we
22 Page 135 Col. Beverly Robinson was in command of the Loyal American Volunteers; Lt. Col., Beverly Robin- son, Jr. ; Maj., Thomas Barclay. Documents and Letters, p. 247.
.
Col. Beverly Robinson was born in Virginia, 1723. He served, under Wolfe, against Quebec, in 1759. Though opposed to the action of England which brought on the war of the Revolution, he remained loyal to the English govern- ment. He was implicated in Arnold's plans of treason. He went with the commission, sent by Clinton, to plead for the life of Andre, and reminded Washington of their former friendship. At the close of the war, he went to New Bruns- wick, and subsequently to England, where he died in 1792. Beverly Robinson Jr. was born in New York state in 1755. He served in his father's regiment as Lt. Colonel through the war. In 1783 he went with the emigrants to Nova Scotia, and later to New Brunswick. He resided at St. John's and served as a member of the Provincial Council. He died in 1816 while on a visit in New York.
23 "Sutler wanted for the 1st Bat. of General 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. Rivington's Gazette, Jan. 17, 1778, Doc. and Let., p. 143.
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gather the following information. It will be seen that it is impossible to state how many soldiers were here at any given time, for frequently only the arrival or departure is noted, or from an advertisement we learn that a certain regiment was here on a given day. How long was its stay cannot be ascertained.
"One regiment of Scotch" was in Flushing, in Feb- ruary, 1778. The 17th. Reg. of Foot, 24 and the Maryland Loyalists' Regiment, were in camp at the head of the Fly, in September of the same year. The 64th25 was also some where in the town during the year. It embarked at White- stone, in September, and went into camp at Bedford. The 1st Bat. of Hessians was reported at Flushing, in February, 1779.26 The 82nd was at Whitestone, 27 in July of the same year. The 3rd Bat. of Hessians was here early in 1780.
24 Col. Moncton ; Lt. Col. Johnson; Maj. Armstrong. Capt. Darby advertises for a strayed horse. Rivington's Gazette, Sept. 5, 1778. Doc. and Let., pp. 143, 250.
25 Col. Pomeroy ; Lt. Col. Ed. Eyre; Maj. Brereton. Uniform-Red, faced with black. Rivington's Gazette, Sept. 23, 1778. Doc. and Let., pp. 144, 251.
26 Report of Spies. Doc. and Let. p. 260.
There were 350 Hessian Chasseurs at Flushing on Feb. 16, 1779. Queens Co. in Olden Times, p. 54.
27 Col's. Gunning and F. McLean; Lt. Col. Craig; Maj. Robertson. Doc. and Let., pp. 144, 252.
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There is reason to believe that the 22nd, 38th, 28 and 80th, Grenadiers, also, were here, in January, 1780.29 Simcoe's corps crossed the sound to Flushing, July 19th, and pro- ceeded to Huntington. On the 19th of August, 9000 troops were reported at Whitestone and West Chester. Toward the close of the same year, General Sir Henry Clinton30 returned from his campaign against Charleston, and went into winter-quarters on Long Island-"the main army of the British lay at Flushing, from Whitestone to Jamaica." During 1781, we find the 17th Dragoons-300 men-near Fresh Meadows, and Benedict Arnold's Legion of Provin- cials-200 men-near Black Stump. 31 The 38th and 51th were here in February, 1782. 32 During the summer we find the King's American Dragoons, consisting of four troops mounted and two unmounted, under the command of Col.
28 Col. Sir Robert Pigot; Lt. Col. Henry Edw. Fox; Maj. French. Uniform-Red, faced with yellow. The 38th was near Fresh Meadows, with headquarters at Dur- yea's, during the summer of 1783, also. Doc. and Let., p. 250. 29 Page 139.
30 Clinton's own regiment was the 84th. Royal High- land Emigrants. Col. Sir Henry Clinton. K. B. ; Lt. Col. John Small, Maj's. Alex. Macdonald, Thos. Murray. Doc. and Let., p. 252.
31 Report of Spies. Doc. and Let., pp. 244, 260.
32 The officers of the 38th. have already been given. Those of the 54th were: Col. M. Frederick: Lt. Col. A. Bruce ; Maj's. A. Foster and John Breese. Doc. and Let., p. 251.
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Benjamin Thompson, encamped near Fresh Meadows. During the same year, 1782, the 1st Bat. Grenadiers was at "Ireland Heights, near Flushing."33 Toward the close of the year, we find also Ludlow's corps, Fanning's corps, and Robinson's Loyal American Volunteers, at, or near, the head of the Fly. 34 During the next year, 1783, the 34th, 38th, 54th, 64th35 regulars, as well as Delancey's 3rd Bat. and Robinson's Loyal Americans, are reported at Flushing.
With so many idle soldiers about, it is not surprising that we read of many cases of depredation. 36 Every effort was made by Gen. Delancey to restrain the soldiers and to protect the inhabitants from outrages. 37 Soldiers were not
33 Rivington's Gazette, July 3, 1782. Doc. and Let., p. 150. 34 Doc. and Let., p. 260 ..
35 "Any persons having demands against the late Lt. Steadman, 61th. Reg., are desired to send accounts to Lt. Hutchinson of the 64th. Gren., near Flushing." Rivington's Gazette, July 19, 1783. Doc. and Let., p. 151.
36 Ambrose Serle writes to the Earl of Dartmouth, Sep. 5, 1776, concerning the Hessians: "The injudicious Abuse and Menaces of the Rebels, and the Hope of Plunder ( for I hear all the Hessian common Soldiers have a Notion of making their Fortunes), have stimulated them to Such a Degree, as by no Means inclines them to show Tenderness and Mercy. They are very expert in foraging, and have made great Use of their Time." Stevens Manuscripts in European Archives. Document 2042.
37 The Orderly Book of the Maryland Loyalists Regiment contains the following: "Flushing Fly, Sep. 4, 1778. The Gen1 Expects The Commanding Officers of Corps will use their utmost Exertion to Pertect the Property of the Inhab-
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allowed to go more than half a mile from camp. After sun- down, they were not allowed to leave the camp at all, without a pass. The roll was called several times a day, to assist in the enforcement of this order. When John Willet was attacked and robbed, on June, 1778, General Delancey offered a reward of $10 to the person who would discover and report the offender to Major Waller. 38 When James Hedger was murdered, Col. Hamilton offered a reward of 150 guineas for the arrest of the criminal.
Still, in spite of every precaution, many depredations were committed. They cannot, however, be all charged against the British soldiers. Flushing, like all other places on the North Shore, suffered from the bands of piratical plunderers known as "whaleboat men." These infested
itants and not Suffer the Corn-fields Orchards, gardens or fences to be Destroyed or Damaged without Severely punishing the offender."
"The soldiers not to be Allowed to Stray from the Incampment, and if any are found 1 Mile from Camp They will Be taken up and Deamed as Disserters. "
"Flushing Fly. Sep. 23, 1778. It is again Possitefly Ordered That No Wood is Cutt or fences Destroyed on any Pertenc whatever or any other Injury Done to the Property of Late widdow Waters in the Rare and Left of the Incamp- ment." Pages 84 and 100.
38 Major Waller died in 1780 and was buried at Jamaica, on the 24th of October.
.
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the waters of the sound and robbed Whigs and Tories alike. Nor did they hesitate to commit murder. 39
Judge Jones, a resident of Long Island during the Revolutionary war, complains bitterly of the conduct of officers and soldiers. He says that Clinton's men "robbed, plundered and pillaged the inhabitants of their cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry, etc. "40 Farmers were com-
39 Gaine's Mercury and Rivington's Gazette give accounts of the raids of these whaleboats at Bayside and Little Neck. Several houses were robbed at Bayside, among others that of John Thurman, a New York merchant. At Little Neck, Thos. Hicks was robbed of his law books and other property. Documents and Letters, p. 146.
David Haviland and Robert Lawrence offered a reward of ten guineas, Aug. 4, 1783, for the recovery of thirty-four sheep, which had been taken away in a boat at Abraham Lawrence's Point.
· Documents and Letters, p. 151.
40 "David Colden, Esq., an inhabitant of Flushing, a gentleman of the first character and reputation as to honesty and veracity, told me that when the troops left that place, in the spring of 1781, there was not a four-footed animal left in the town (a few dogs excepted) nor a wooden fence standing within the township." Jones I, 368.
Holt's Journal, Aug. 10, 1778, contains information fur- nished by a "gentleman who left Flushing, last Lord's Day. " He stated : "Bread was very scarce, pease and oatmeal being served out instead. Commissary rations were entirely stopped. Soldiers' wives were allowed quarter, instead of half rations. 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, peccavi.
Documents and Letters, p. 143.
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pelled to put their turkeys, geese and chickens in the cellars at night, and keep strict watch over them in the fields during the day. "It was no uncommon thing for a farmer, his wife and children, to sleep in one room, while his sheep were bleating in the room adjoining, his hogs grunting in the kitchen, the cock crowing, hens cackling, ducks quack- ing and geese hissing, in the cellar." Horned cattle were locked up in barns. But, in spite of lock and bar, they were not always safe. David Colden had a fine stall-fed ox, which he was reserving for New Year's, but the barn was broken open and the ox was driven away. "This robbing was done, " adds Jones, "by people sent to America to pro- tect Loyalists against the persecution and depredations of rebels. To complain was needless; the officers shared in the plunder. "41
The murder of James Hedger, already referred to, occurred in April, 1782.42 He was living in the house of
41 Jones's History of New York During the Revolutionary War. I, 262.
This history was written between 1783 and 1788.
42 This was Hedger's second encounter with robbers. Some time before this he found two men choking his sister. He ran for his gun. They, thinking he was trying to escape, ran around the house to intercept him. Hedger killed one of them and wounded the other. The body of the dead man, who was named Sibly, was hanged on a gibbet, on the Hempstead plains, and the regiment paraded before it. The wounded man received 1,000 lashes, save one. Documents and Letters, p. 147.
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his sister, the "Widow Talman, at the mill, four miles east of Flushing." Hearing a noise, Hedger went to the door to call his dog, and was shot dead. The murderers secured property valued at £200, in specie, clothing and plate. They were afterwards discovered to be members of the 38th and 54th regiments of Grenadiers. One of them, named Perrot, confessed. Five others fled. Three of them were captured and taken to Bedford, whither the regiments had gone. There, two, named French and Porter, were hanged. 43 Ten days after the murder, an address, signed by forty- seven inhabitants of Flushing, was presented to Lieut. Col. A. Bruce, of the 54th, commanding the 38th and 54th, thanking him for the quiet and security enjoyed by the community, for the politeness of the officers and the orderly and decent behavior of the soldiers. The address stated that, during the winter, there had been no occasion for murmuring or complaining. ++ Though this was after the murder, it must have been before the culprits had been discovered.
Samuel Skidmore, near Black Stump, was shot, while in his house-the ball having passed through the window. 45
43 Documents and Letters, p. 147.
44 Documents and Letters, p. 148.
45 History of Queens County, p. 83.
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The house of B. Areson, at Fresh Meadows, was robbed. One of Simcoe's men came and asked for cider. While Mr. Areson went to draw it, the soldier stole $10. He returned at night and carried away property valued at $100. Mr. Areson had a new, unfinished house. It and his barn were torn down by the Jagers. 46 James Bowne was awakened one night by a disturbance in his barn-yard. Going to the window to discover the cause of the noise, he received a musket ball through his arm. His son Walter, a lad about ten years old, in company with his cousin William Bowne, the son of Willet Bowne, went through the woods for Dr. Belden, to dress the wound. Willet Bowne also had an ex- perience with lawless marauders. His house was entered at night, and he was aroused by a company of partially dis- guised men who demanded his money. On his refusing to give it up, they tied his hands to the bed-post and applied a lighted candle to the ends of his fingers. But the old man loved his gold more than his fingers. The would-be robbers, being unable to discover his treasure, were compelled to go away empty-handed. Bowne recognized them, in spite of their disguise, or at least thought he did; but magnani- mously declined to prosecute them. ·
46 Documents and Letters, p. 150.
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On Christmas Eve, 1779, the house of Col. Hamilton took fire, and was burned to the ground. Everything in the house was destroyed-"elegant furniture, a stock of provis- ions and various sorts of wines, spirits, intended to regale his numerous friends, the military and other gentlemen of the neighborhood, at this convivial season. "47
On the first day of August, 1782, Flushing was honored . by a visit from His Royal Highness William Henry, the Prince of Clarence, who was afterwards King William IV. While in Flushing, the Prince was the guest of William Prince. His Royal Highness came to present a stand of colors to the King's American Dragoons, then in camp about three miles east of the village, on ground afterwards owned by James Lawrence. Col. Benjamin Thompson, afterwards Count Rumford, was in command. The regiment, consist- ing of four mounted and two unmounted troops, was formed in front of the encampment, 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 this was a semi-circular bower, for the accommo- dation of spectators. The standard was planted under the canopy. At one o'clock, the Prince arrived, accompanied
47 Royal Gazette, N, Y., Jan. 5, 1780. Documents and Letters, p. 144.
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