USA > New York > Westchester County > Tarrytown > Souvenir of the revolutionary soldiers' monument dedication, at Tarrytown, N.Y. October 19th, 1894; > Part 6
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John Dean 1787
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by the fate of his brave elder brother. Stephen, second son of Thomas who had remained on the paternal farin, died unmarried in 1782. Of the daughters of Isaac Dcan, Mary married Jolin Steymets, Margaret, David Concklin, and Einey, Captain Glode Requa.
The earliest record of the family on the Philipse Manor is the appointment of Isaac Dean as one of the Road Commissioners, 1757, which office he hield continously until 1771. Isaac Dean was also Assessor in 1760. Samuel Dean's ear mark is recorded in the old Manor book date of Dec. 10, 1758, the record of Isaac Dean's mark being Dec. 25, 1761. The following document, with the autograph of Frederick Philips attached, is preserved among the Dean papers :
Received, this 26th, day of December, 1769, from Isaac Dean, Esq., one of the ten- ants on the Manor of Philipsburg, the sum of six pounds four and sixpence, for one year's rent due the day and date above ; by me
FRED PHILIPS.
And the following :
This may certify that John Dean's deed for the farm whereon Johannes Britt lived is made out for him, and is free from any incumbrance in the Commissioner's office. August 1, 1786.
To the Loan Officers.
P. V. CORTLANDT.
Jolin Dean, the Revolutionary Soldier, was known during the latter part of the past century as a well-to-do farmer. About ISIo, he became somewhat infirm ; - an articular lameless, which had been cansed by his horse falling with him during a skirmish near Kings- bridge, on July 3d, 1781, an account of which appears herewith, gavc limi great discomfort during his last years, and led to his final illness.
The following interesting sketch of Sergt. Jolin Dean, who so well acted a Patriot's part during the stormy period of the Revolution, on this historic Ground, is mainly copied from the Westchester Herald, published at Sing Sing by the late Caleb Rosco, Esq., who did so much by his patriotic zeal to perpetuate the memory of those Revolutionary days, the first chapter appearing date of March IS, 1856 :
It is not less an impulse of patriotism than of filial affection, to preserve the memory of the lieroic deeds and endurance of out ances- tors ; and in 110 age preceding our own, probably, since history has been known, has there becu greater or brighter examples than the American Revolution affords to adorn human virtue and character.
We have but recently learned some interesting facts and inci- dents, wholly authentic, from a reliable source, connected with the life of Sergt. John Dcan, a Revolutionary soldier of the town of Mount Pleasant, and conceiving the recital of them would be beneficial to our
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readers, as portraying the vigor and devoted licroism of an humble citi- zen of Westeliester County in the days that tried men's souls they are herewith published. We are enabled, however, to open the narrative with but an imperfect outline of the origin and early life of the worthy name placed at the licad of this article.
We commence then by stating that Thomas Dean, the father of Jolin Dean, was a native of the town of Cohasset, L. I. ; and when the French war of 1756, as it was called, broke out, Thomas Dean was either drafted or enlisted to go to Canada in Colonial service, to fight the bat- tles of the mother country against the French ; but the mists of time have in a great measure effaeed the record of noble deeds then enacted. Suffice it to say, Thomas Dean was at the battle of Stony Brook, and in other perilous conflicts in that school of arms which taught the infant Ameriea afterward to assert and maintain ber rights against the exac- tions and unequal taxation of the people whose battles they had fought, and whose fame they had helped to elevate. Mr. Thomas Dean returned after the peace which transferred the Canadas and provinces to the British crown, and resumed the pursuits of agriculture in a portion of what was called "Philipse Manor," in the present town of Mount Pleas- ant,-rearing his family by the sweat of his brow in that peaceful pursuit.
Thomas Dean was appointed to the important office of Town Clerk of this Manor in 1766, as the following quaint notice copied from the old record testifics :
April ye Ist, 1766. Then ye inhabitants of Philipsburg met together to make town laws for that year, and they chose me for their Town Clerk. THOMAS DEAN.
It is in character like caligraphy, with a good strong bold signa- tirc. And then how his New England thought and early education stands out in its concise expression, and in his reference to the Town Laws to be enacted. No reference to the Manor whatever, but the au- tonomy and independence of the New England town was in his thought as he penned those lines. Several pages of the old book appear in his hand writing, and although unfortunately the directly succeeding years are missing from the old record, he was doubtless the Town Clerk of the Manor for quite a period.
When the Colonies resisted the encroachments upon their rights, . he was among the first to join the whig cause, and unhesitatingly took up arms in defense of the rights of he Colonies, but by an adverse fort- une became a prisoner to the British, and was imprisoned for nearly
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eighteen months in that horrible den or dungcon of filthi, eruelty and starvation, too well known to our patriot aneestors as the Old Sugar Honse.
So it was on this Manor that Sergt. John Dean, whose name has been reseued from forgetfulness by a respectful notiee in that execllent work, " Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution," was rearcd, laboring with his father, and imbibing those principles of American virtue and heroism which afterwards characterized his life. It will be unnecessary for us to promise that John Dean was a man of stout, vig- orous frame, an iron will, indomitable courage, and great impulse, for these traits were exhibited in every act of his life.
At the time when the American Colonies began to distrust and resist the measures and legislation of the English Parliament concerning them, Mr. Dean and his sons manifested a deep interest in the progress of events ; and when hostilities on the part of the Colonies had been re- solved upon, John Dean, with the full approbation of the eonscript father, was among the first to join the patriot eause, and early in the struggle, at the age of nineteen years, enlisted as a private soldier in Capt. Horton's Company, organized in this county, which marelied to Canada, and was connected with the 4th battalion, under Coi. Van Cortlandt. His elder brother William also enlisted with him, with like zeal, and proceeded with that company to Canada, but the fatigue and hardships of the journey proved too much for their health, and both were taken sick, as is well known many others were in that service. William dicdand was buried on the far-famed plains of Abraham ; John, however, eontinned with his company to St. John's U. C., where he, too, was arrested by siekness, caused by rowing in an open boat with provisions in such inelement weather that nearly all perished.
An old letter not dated other than October, but doubtless of 1775, from "Peat" Garrison to John Dean, acknowledges the receipts of let- ters from him dated September previous. It says "We are more glad than ever that none of you are deserters, for poor Franeis Pease was taken up this morning. They brought him here all pale and trembling and frightened to death. You inform us of what we heard just before, that you was going to St. Jolins," &e. Again : "Our Tories are noto- rious and we want more soldiers to learn them how to behave. God- frey Haines, one of the ringleaders, was last week brought before the Committee. He acknowledged all that was alleged against him," &c.
While siek from these exposures he was unfit for service, but went from St. John's to other stations, as a hospital subject-was sue-
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cessively at Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and Fort George, where he was at length discharged honorably, as unable to endure the rigors of the campaign. We have the unique document before us as preserved by him, and it reads as follows, -the endorsement is almost wholly effaced :
Whereas John Dean, a private soldier of the 4th batt'n, Capt. Horton's Company. has been returned to me by the Director of the Hospital as unfit for further duty, and capable of returning home. I do therefore, agreeable to the General's order hereby dis- charge him. PETER YATES, Coll.
Fort George, 2nd Nov. 1775.
Endorsed. The within named has, Cartouch box and belt.
From. Fort George, Mr. Dean, miserably clad, and withont money, made his way on foot as well as he was able to the city of Al- bany, where he was so fortunate as to find a friend in Capt. Abram Martlings of Tarrytown, who had penetrated as far as that plaee with his periauger, and with him returned to Tarrytown, and to his home in Mount Pleasant, a few miles east of that point, where he was received with the warmest affection and expression of joy at his return. With eare, and the cheerful companionship of his parents and friends, his health was happily restored.
Here again his heart beat still in unison with the glorious eause of freedom ; and although ardent in his espousals to his country, he found time, like a true and brave knight, to win and wear the affeetions of a fair lady, Miss Mary Storins, of the same town, to whom he was married in 1776. This was also the year in the summer of which the Congress of the United Colonies adopted the Declaration of Independ- enee, and when the Provincial Congress of New York, had also laid off that title of dependenee, and adopted in Convention at the Court House in White Plains, (according to Lossing's History, -- 1876,) the title of State of New York. As another evidence of his entire devotion to his eountry, we find among his papers the following certificate, the only one of the kind we have ever seen.
PHILLIP'S MANOR, 15th March, 1777. "I hereby certify that JOHN DEAN has taken the Oath of Allegience prescrib'd by a Resolve of the Convention of the State of New York. Dec'r 27. 1776.
GILBERT DEAN, Capt."
Thus it will be perceived he was foremost among the patriots of Westelester. Within a month after the battle of Chatterton Hill, or White Plains, as it is usually entitled, he enlisted in Capt. Dean's Com- pany, of which there is evidenee in a small scrap of paper, eurious enough as a relie of the past, dated the same month, and in Mr. Dean's own handwriting, entitled, " A Morning Report of Capt. Dean's Com- pany, in Col. Drake's Regiment," showing the number of offieers and
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men present fit for duty ; I captain, 2 lieutenants, 3 sergeants, 3 cor- porals, 25 privates, in all 34 ; ou guard, I lieutenant, I sergeant, 4 privates ; relief of guard, I corporal, I private ; on command, I cap- tain, 4 privates ; sick present, 8 privates ; sick in hospital, I corporal and 3 privates ; sick absent, 4 ; deserters, 7-in all 70-Rangers.
In this service he continued for two years, acting as a volun- teer guide in many enterprises undertaken to surprise the enemy, who were securely established at Morrisania, and from whence the Refugees under their protection were making continual inroads and depredations upon whig families, whose fathers and sons were engaged in the defence of the country. Sergt. Dean used to relate an account of the attack upon the statue at the Bowling Green, New York, when the people cut off the head, east it into a wheelbarrow, and after wheeling it about the eity, devoted it to be cast into musket balls, in which shape they intended to return it to the cnemy, then on Long Island, &e. He further relates that he was also with the troops under Col. Putnam, and during the retreat, when so hotly pursued by the British, and nearly surrounded, he with another soldier hid themselves in the bushes, and afterwards, at night, swam across the Spuyten Deuyvil Creek into West- chester, and thus reached their homes in safety.
As a mark of the trustworthiness and reliable character of Mr. Dean, we give the following order, fromi Col. Graham, also found in his "revolutionary pocket-book," written in a beautiful style of pen- manship, committed to him while a member of Captain Dean's Com- pany of Rangers ---
WHITE PLAINS, June 22d. 1778
SIR-Please to deliver the bearer, Mr. John Dean, the two remaining boxes of Cartridges left in your care for the use of my Regt. MORRIS GRAHAM, Col.
To Capt. Reuben Stiles.
Commissary of Issues, Kingstreet.
M1. Dean, by his bold and frequent enterprises against the refugees, as cowboys, became well known to almost all the predatory bands who then infested the county of Westchester, and of course was an object of resentment and revenge. One winter night, after mueh absence and exposure, he thought to taste the comforts of home, and retired to his own bed about the usual time, -his usual place of retreat and rest had been under a cliff ealled Raven Rock, on the slope of But- termilk Hill, near his father's house -- when he was surprised to hear the tramp of horses, and suddenly-before he could flee-without his clothing, he was surrounded and demanded to surrender, with a fire- lock presented at him in two directions. He thought of his family, and
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of the possibilities of life and death, and being unarmed, and over. whelmed by numbers, coneluded to surrender. His captors at once tice him, and lic was forthwith conveyed to Delancey's quarters at Mo :- risania, where he was for awhile exposed to the most taunting and opprobious insults which his fellow eitizens, but tories, could heap upen. him. But at length he was able, by the promise of the release of a icfugee whom he knew, to obtain a parole by which he again passed the lines into the Neutral Ground, and here is the precious document itself. verb. et lit., or rather a printed copy of it :
If John Foster, a prisoner t > the Continental Army, is discharged from his parole John Dean, a prisoner to the British, shall be discharged in exchange for him.
West Chester, JAS. DELANCEY, Col. to the W. C. Rangers.
Dec. 23d, 1780.
(Endorsed.) Permit the bearer. John Dean, a prisoner paroled for ten days. to pass the lines. JAS, DELANCEY, Col. to the W. C. Rangers. West Chester, Dec. 23d. 17So $
By the annexed discharge it will be seen that he was very prompt in securing his release from the tory Colonel's grasp, and in fulfilling his word of honor :
This is to certify that John Dean is discharged from his parole, be being exchanged for John Foster. T. HUGGEFORD, Maj. West Farms, 2d January, 1781.
Mr. Dean returned to his anxious family and friends, in a few weeks, and resumed his services in the patriot ranks. The following statement concerning a maranding excursion into this county, in which Mr. Dean also participated, is here presented :
One little matter that occurred in our County during the Revolutionary War, I will try to relate. One Lieutenant Aulthouse and Lieutenant Barnes, (of Delancey's Regi- ment,) made an excursion into our county, with 22 men each Lieutenant Aultbouse came up by the Saw-mill river road, and went up to the upper part of what is called Phil- lips Manor. and collected quite a drove of cattle. and Barnes went through the White Plains to North Castle, and collected quite another drove, and on Christmas morning Aulthouse came down the Saw-mill river road, and Barnes by the way of White Plains. about 9 or 10 o'clock in the morning ; and the news spreading quickly, the militia soon marched after them and overtook them above where Greenburg church now stands, and began to attack them, but not in force sufficient to make a formidable attack. Captain Martling at Tarrytown, was alarmed and rallied in haste with what part of his company he could collect, proceeded by the road to the bridge over the river, near the church, and joined the party already harassing the enemy ; and the force by this time was so formid. able that they were obliged to leave their drove and try to save themselves : but the militia men, in hot pursuit, took some prisoners and killed others, so that not one escaped but James Husted. their guide ; while the party under Barnes, at the White Plains, suf- fered the same fate ; I believe not one escaped, and so both of the Tory parties lost their Christmas dinner of beef. It caused some rejoicing among our people, and the owners of the droves recovered their stock. This story may be an old story to a few of our citizens, and it was largely talked of in our county, but the younger portion of our people may find it somewhat new and interesting. Both these achievements took place on Christmas morning. 1775, if my memory serves me right. I am certain of the day, though not of the year, but think [ am correct.
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Other and more particular accounts of the above encounter appear on following pages as given by Sergt. John Dean and also Lieut. Samuel Young.
Mr. Dean again details another hair-breadth cscape, saying : Went out one morning with a small party of inen, east of the upper cross-roads in the south part of Mount Pleasant, to see what we could find ; after going a short distance, we saw some men ahead of us with guns ; we started pretty rapidly after them, and when coming close to them, they started to make their escape, and separated. I put after one full speed, and soon overtaking him, he turned upon me to make a fight. I told him to "surrender !" but he being very obstinate, refused and tried very hard to shoot me. But I prevented him from doing it by spurring my horse; knocked the gun up with iny sword, which was very long, and saved myself. We parleyed for some time, until my patience was exhausted, and I made a desperate rush at him by spurring my horse. He made a pass at mic with his gun; the bayonet struck iny horse in the mouth, which left his head exposed, when I gave him a backhanded stroke across the cheek, and cut part of his ear off. He fell to the ground and I didn't intend to strike him again, but he pre- sented his gun again to shoot me, and I then struck him two or three times across the head and arms. I theu thought, " If he can live he may."
I dismounted and raised him up, and he fainted for awhile. When he came to, lie revived, and said he, "I'm a dying man, but do not blame you for what you have done." I said, "You are worth a dozen dead men -- rouse up and get on my horse." I got him upon the horse and took him to the nearest house, where I borrowed some old linen and scraped lint and dressed his wounds as well as I was able and left him.
A few years after the war, he came to see me ; as soon as I saw him, I recognized him by the scar on his face, and part of his ear being off, which was done by the first stroke I gave him with my sword. He shook hands with me, and asked me if I knew him. I told him I did. We then conversed about the circumstances that passed at the time. Says he, "I am a cripple for life, but I do not blame you ; for it was my intention to shoot you rather than surrender ; but you got the advantage of me." It was impressed on me, when he came to see me, that he came to revenge himself upon me ; but he did not blanie me. One of his arms was stiff where the end of the elbow was cut off. I gave him his dinner and he left me, sincerely thanking me for my
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kindness in taking him into a house and dressing his wounds. He left mie and I never saw him again. The man was a Tory, by the name of Basly.
RENCONTRE WITH TORY PRISONERS.
, Mr. Dean relates, "One night myself and another man were sent with two tory prisoners to Head Quarters, at Peekskill. The night being very dark, we ealled at a house on the west of Buttermilk Hill for rest and to get some refreshments ; there were 110 men at the house, but women, -they formerly being tainted with toryism. After leaving the house and travelling some distance, we went on talking aloud, thinking of no danger, when first I knew I was elinehed by the prisoner by my side, and thrown to the ground, and then with his knee on my breast he stabbed me in the side with what I afterwards found to be a large jack knife, nine or ten inches long. It happened not to take effeet as he had intended ; it was a slanting stab, went through my elothes, and grazed my skin. Being pretty spry and stout at that time, I raised with him and threw him from me, and he made his escape. The other prisoner knocked iny comrade down, and cleared himself also ; I lost my hat in this affray. Next morning I went to the place and found my hat and the knife I was stabbed with ; the knife being partly shut with blood on. I suppose when he stabbed me, the knife shut and eut him, and he let it fall. 'Those prisoners had their hands securely tied behind them when we left the house, and it was my supposition the knife was given to them at the house where we stopped, to eut themselves loose unpereceived by us, the night being very dark."
The following probably has reference to the foregoing :
Phillipsburgh, July 7th, 1777. Rec'd of Mr. John Dean the sum of three pounds ten shillings in full for a gun which he borrowed of me and lost by an insurrection of prisoners which he attempted to carry to Peekskill. PETER GARRISON.
A FORAY IN THE TORY REGION.
During my residenee in the southern part of Mount Pleasant, I was so mueh annoyed by the Tories that I could not sleep in my house with any safety ; therefore I left the place and went to Somerstown, formerly Stephentown. One night a company of us started on a seout- ing party, when arriving near the East River, in the southeasterly part of the county, we learned from some spies that there was a danee in a house not far off-we proceeded until we eame near the house, then dismounted, left our horses with one of our company and went cautiously to the house, surrounded it, stove in the door, and found
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among them a Britishi Doctor by the name of Tucker, bleeding a man. I took hold of the Doctor, and told him he was my prisoner, and "he must go with me." His wife was present, and begged of me "to treat her husband well." I gave her my word I would, and I always invari- ably did so. We brought off all the men that were in the house. This Doctor I took upon my horse before me. While riding along, the Doctor slipped into my pocket five guineas. After arriving at head- quarters, we delivered up our prisoners, as was usual for scouting parties; I handed the Doctor the five guineas he had given to ine ; he refused to take them back at first, and appeared to be a gentlemen in every respect ; but I insisted that he should take the guincas, saying he "was from home and among strangers, and I was at home." "That is very true," he said, and he took the guineas again. I inter- ceded for him and had him exchanged in a few days.
A few years after the Revolution, Doctor Tucker came into the neighborhood where I lived, and inquired of one Abrahamn Underhill, living in Mount Pleasant, about three-quarters of a mile north of the Unionville Mceting House, if he knew one John Dean? He told him he did, very well. The Doctor then related the story about his taking him prisoner and then telling Mr. Underhill where he lived, directed him to say to Mr. Dean he must come and see him, and he never shall want for five nor ten dollars, and " I will give his wife as handsome a present as she ever saw, for his treating ine so kindly.". So much for treating a prisoner well.
CAPTURE OF COWBOYS AND CATTLE.
I resided about four miles out of Tarrytown, in the town of Mount Pleasant, near the line of the town of Greenburgh. Early one morning, being near the house of Mr. Youngs, I saw a company of men and a drove of cattle halted at the house. I secreted myself in an old building, so near to them that I found they were Tories, and had been up north stealing cattle. I found there were twenty-eight in the com- pany, and after they had left, I went to the neighbors and collected as many together as I could, and we followed on with our guns, firing upon them and alarming the inhabitants, saying, "Come on my boys !- there are but twenty-eight of them ; we will have them," etc. We followed them down the Saw mill river road, until we had collected a large company, who kept up a continual firing. The cow thieves scattered around and about three-fourths of a mile north of the Green- burgh Church, the last man was shot in Jolin Buckhout's orchard. We had shot or taken all prisoners but one, their guide, by the name of
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Husted, who was the only man who escaped. We returned with our prisoners and the cattle to thic headquarters (Jameson's, in Northeastle, ) and delivered them up, while the cattle were elaimed by their rightful owners.
ATTACK UPON A BRITISH SLOOP OF WAR.
In those times inen were always on the alert and ready to find ont every thing that was going on here between the lines ; and being at Tarrytown one day in company with one Jacob Acker, there was observed a British vessel lying a short distance south of Tarrytown. We had information that they sent a boat ashore every morning to get butter and eggs from a small grocery near the river. Acker and inyself thought we would put a stop to that; so we with our guns in hand, one morning secreted ourselves in the bushes, on the bank of the Hudson River. It was not long before a barge put off from the vessel, with an officer in the stern, rowing for shore; when they got near enough we discharged our guns into the barge. One man seen to fall over back in the boat. They then pulled again for the vessel with all possible speed. We loaded again and discharged another volley. We found the vessel was aground; we thereupon procured a small cannon that was in the place, and by the help of a few meu, hove up a breastwork of stone and earth, and with this cannon fired at that vessel, and most every shot took effect. We continued firing until she struck her colors. Then she hove ballast overboard, until she floated, and sailed off. A part of the old breastwork is still remaining there.
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