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Madame Bearmore

John M. McDonald interview — 1847-10-21

From the Westchester County Historical Society catalog:
John Macdonald does not provide the first name of Madam Bearmore, who was a cousin of the prominent Loyalist officer Mansfield Bearmore. She may be Elizabeth Barmore (b.1790). Madam Bearmore notes that her mother, who was still alive at the same but was suffering from memory loss, always implied that Bearmore was a good officer and a man who impressed his opponents.

Original findings from this interview

The Bearmore family's own voice on Major Mansfield Bearmore
Madam Bearmore — a cousin of the famous Loyalist Major Mansfield Bearmore — passes on her mother's recollection that Bearmore was 'a very bold officer and good man' and that 'the upper party in the Revolution stood in great awe of him.'
Whig source agrees: Bearmore was 'much dreaded'
On the same day, Thomas Currie Jr. — a Whig source — independently said Mansfield Bearmore was 'a good and gallant officer, and… a person that was much dreaded by the Whigs.' Even his enemies respected him.

Manuscript page facsimiles

High-resolution images served from the Westchester County Historical Society's IIIF endpoint. Click any page to view full size.

Transcription

October 21st Mad. Bearmore. " My father was a cousin of Major Bearmore. My mother is now very far gone in dotage, and has almost lost her memory. She always represented Major Bearmore as a very bold officer and good man. The upper party in the Revolution stood in great awe of him. The family of Caleb Williams living at Annsville were related to Major Bearmore, and must have many particulars of him" &c

[marg: Curry.] Oct. 21. Thomas Currie, junr. : "I have always heard Major Mansfield Barmore well spoken of as a good and gallant officer, and as a person that was much dreaded by the whigs in the Revolutionary war.