Ferris, Mary Ann
John M. McDonald interview — 1845-10-18
Mrs. Thomas Ferris is likely Mary Ann Ferris (1760-1851). She married Thomas Ferris, whose name is mentioned in a number of other interviews, shortly after the end of the Revolutionary War. She discusses the burning of Bedford, and notes that the British attempted to go to Middle Patent but did want to ford the Mianus River. Later, a party of DeLancey’s Refugees did reach Middle Patent to drive off cattle. Thomas Ferris was involved in the theft of Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey’s horse Goliah. Mrs. Ferris reminisces about this incident and Tim Knapp, who was executed by DeLancey for his role in the theft. She also recounts a failed attempt that her husband and a few comrades made to capture British officers at Throggs Neck, and their subsequent escape with the assistance of American double agent Luther Kennicutt, who enclosed them in a stone wall. Mrs. Ferris concludes with comments regarding Lieutenant Joshua King and Captain Jeronimus Hoogland of the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons.
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Transcription
1845,
have retired by the Purchase Street road or King Street. They were about taking Carpenter when some one said: "Let him remain — he'll die upon your hands," and they then left him at the door.
October 18th. Mrs. Thomas Ferris of North Castle. I am a native of Middle Patent, where I lived during the Revolutionary War, and married, near its close, Mr. Thomas Ferris. I think it was part of DeLancey's party that fired Bedford from their conduct as they attacked Mr. !..!.. Millers of that place, re-fusing him quarter and hacking him to pieces with their swords —
Knapp was the handsomest young man I ever saw.
Mr. Ferris went down to Throgs Neck with Captain Jonathan James Sackett and Jedediah Owen to capture some British officers there (Captain Simcoe's). They went out in the night to drink at a well near [inter: thus] his mother's house where they were seen by one of her black men who betrayed him to the enemy – Kinne=cutt then lived there and was their friend. He came to them and told them their situation. The enemy posted sentinels at the Bridge and all the passes and waited till morning to search every person of the Neck. They then went with Kennicutt down near the point where there were some old stone walls and they built one another up in the wall – that
is, they built a wall on each side of the concealed, Kennicutt performing the work for Ferris who was the last. At day light strict search was made through all the Neck. A high reward was offered for the seizure, and Ferris heard the Refugees talking about the reward and them within two yards of where he lay. The Refugees searched for them for several days during which time Kennicutt furnished them with provisions. They effected their es= cape, after the enemy who had sift= ed the neck relaxed in their exertions
- General King of Ridgefield was a Lieutenant in Sheldon's and a good Officer. Captain Hoogland of East Chester (?) belonged to Sheldon's.