Edwards, Amelia
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-09-23; 1847-09-24
Amelia Edwards (b.c.1770) was the widow of Daniel Edwards. On the first day of this two-day interview, she explains how her aunt Phoebe Turner was murdered by a group of men supposed to be from Emmerich’s Chasseurs, and notes that a Black woman who resided with Turner was believed to have died from fright while witnessing the attack. Mrs. Edwards then describes the American attack led by Aaron Burr on the block house at West Farms in the winter of 1779, and recounts British activity in present-day Bronx County in 1776 following the Battle of White Plains and during the capture of Fort Washington. The headquarters of British General Sir William Erskine were at the Edwards house during this time. Mrs, Edwards then notes that Justus Miller and James Brundage, two Loyalists from King Street along the border of New York and Connecticut, belonged to Major Mansfield Bearmore’s corps and married her sisters against her father’s wishes. The two men were taken prisoner during a raid led by American Daniel Williams on December 24, 1778, along with John Champenois. She then provides her recollections of Major Bearmore, and identifies several locations in present-day Bronx County: the location of the theft of Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey’s horse by Tim Knapp, the sites of Colonel DeLancey’s headquarters, the Refugee settlement at Morrisania, and the block house at West Farms. On the second day of the interview, Mrs. Edwards recalls two officers who served with DeLancey’s Refiugees, Captain Moses Knapp and Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Hatfield. She states that both were from Crompond in present-day Yorktown, and that Knapp was married to a sister of Hatfield. She concludes by discussing Major Bearmore and the location of his headquarters.
Original findings from this interview
Manuscript page facsimiles
High-resolution images served from the Westchester County Historical Society's IIIF endpoint. Click any page to view full size.
Transcription
Simmons in consequence left the corps and went above. Williams was reputed a good officer.
Septr. 23d Mrs Daniel Edwards: "My aunt, Mrs Phoebe Turner, a widow, and my mother's sisters, was robbed by men in disguise of Emmerick's, but she marked the clothes with a scissors which she always carried, in consequence of which they were found out and flogged severely. About three weeks afterwards, she was found murdered and robbed, being hacked to pieces (had several wounds, her arms much cut in warding off blows) An old black woman living with her was found dead and unwounded and was supposed to have died from fright. She was robbed of about four hundred pounds the first time, and recovered
the soldiers about £360. It was never known for certain whether she was robbed of this money the last time, or whether she had buried her money. It was searched for afterwards but never found. She lived at the time where Honeywell Watson now resides. The negro servant [inter: men] living with her were absent on a frolic.
The block house at West Farms was burnt before it was quite finished. It was all finished but the roof. Apprehending an attack they took the roof off an old house to cover it. They sent for assistance to Fort No. 8, and a party was sent to the support. They defended themselves when attacked for some time and afterwards fought across the river near DeLancey's bridge. The soldiers from No. 8. did not come up till after the block house was burnt, and the Americans had returned from Fordham [British tried to cut off the retreat of the Americans] - Americans on [inter: the] west and
British on the east side of the Bronx, near DeLancey's bridge.
After the battle of White Plains, Sir Wm. Howe's Headquarters were at DeLancey's house at the Mills, and Sir Wm. Erskine's at my fathers house, a short distance north of our house on the side hill. When Fort Washington was taken the British army was encamped on the high grounds about West Farms -
that is, on the west side of the Bronx at Fordham and West Farms. They had six guides all sworn to conduct them faithfully, and no one permitted to speak to them. Two of the guides were John and Joseph Emery and another Isaac Williams. They were called up at 2 oclock in the morn=ing when the army marched to Fort Washington Sir William Erskine allowed us two or three rooms and the guides (under guard) staid with us. No one was allowed to speak to them. They afterwards said that the marching of so large a force below them, with lights every where around
confused them, and the responsibility alarmed them so that they came near leading them wrong. They were sworn to fidelity.
Justus Miller and James Brundage from King Street being Refugees of Bearmore's corps married my sisters contrary to my fathers wishes who didn't want them to marry out of the (Quaker) meeting. They were taken by Captn. Daniel Williams on a night so stormy and cold that they didn't go below where they usually went for greater safety. John Champenois was taken that same night at Isaac Hunts house which stood near the Presbyterian Meeting House. Williams behaved outrageous, and took horses &c and broke furniture &c.
Bearmore, I think, commanded the Refugees before DeLancey came forward and took command — and was not under him. He was "a gallant officer". He and his two sisters occupied the
house then owned by Cornelius Leggett about three quarters of a mile below West Farms. Here he was taken prisoner by Armand.
DeLancey's horse was taken at or near Gurnt jackets Swamp on Willotts Neck, by Tim Knapp.
Col. DeLancey's Head quarters during part of the war were at my father's house, a little north of our present house (about one or two hundred yards) on the Side hill; and during another part they were about a mile below West Farms at an old house now standing, then owned by Cornelius Leggett, and now, I believe, by a son of Major Leggett.
The Refugee settlement consisted of so many as 300 huts, the principal part of which were on Madame Morris's lands on the east side of the Mill Brook, but a good many were on General Morris's portion of Morrisania.
The Block house at West Farms stood
nearly on a line with the road leading to Dr. Lancey's bridge.
Septr. 24th. Captain Knapp was married to a sister of Colonel Hatfield. Both went to Nova Scotia and were from Crompond. Knapp returned to New York, and was sent to and died in the State Prison of New York in consequence of some crime. Colonel Hatfield married a daughter of Doctor Willett of Willett's Neck and went to Nova Scotia with him, where she died, but her body was brought [back] and interred in the Family ground at Hunt's Point. He [Hatfield] was a tall, large man.
— Knapp middle sized &— Hatfield never returned from Nova Scotia.
Bearmore born on Throgs Neck, of a poor family, but a very brave officer. — His Headquarters were at Cornelius Leggetts.