November 18th John Paulding. My mother, [inter: an] aged woman who always lived in this vicinity says she has always heard that Major Andre was taken South of the brook by the three, who were posted at the line on the west side of the road — that he watered his horse at the brook, and Williams being on guard and Van Wart and Paulding playing cards, and that he was searched and examined on the east side of the road, &c.

Nov. 29th Samuel Ferris. of Stanwich, Conn, aged 76 on the 10th of last August: "I think Bron Barrett was an old countryman, and had no friends or relatives in these parts, and was no connection of the Barretts of West Chester County. If he had been I should have known it. It was in 1782, I think, that he was hanged. It might have been

in 1781. F. Donaldson must have been hanged shortly afterwards. My father lived at Middle Patent, and was so harassed by blackrate and by Skinners and cowboys that he came to Stanwich where he had some property, and staid two years till after peace. I think, upon reflection, he must have moved from Middle Patent to Stanwich in the Spring of 1782, and returned in the Spring of 1784. Brom. Barrett was hanged while we lived in Stanwich

— Towards the close of the war (in 1782 probably) the Refugees of Morrisania consisting of about 30 or 40 foot came up to Stanwich where they were met by a force of 20 American militia from the neighbourhood, and a skirmish ensued, in which a private of the Refugees named Silas Chapman (an uncle of mine) was killed (or rather mortally wounded — dying two days after). The Refugees fearing an

increase of the American force, from the alarm soon after retreated. I think that Lieut. Benjamin Brush commanded the Americans this time. He was cousin to Benjamin Brush of Stanwich who died more than a year ago. Charles Smith (father of Charles Smith of North Street) was Lieut. Benjamin Brush's captain, Chapman's father was in the old French war and a strong whig in the revolution.

— Mud Fort or Fort Nonsense was about three miles north west of Stamford and about the same distance in a straight line east from North Street. It was designed and constructed by General Waterbury as a place of refuge for the people on the lines to fly to for safety with their cattle when the Refugees came up, but was so much out of the way the people laughed thinking no one would ever go to so remote a place. A guard was kept up there

The party that burnt Bedford consisted of regular troops as well as Refugees. I have heard that Colonel Holmes commanded them.

Old Colonel Holby was a captain in the Revolutionary war, and must have left several papers which if saved are in the hands of his grandson Jonathan Holly of Middle Patent. Samuel Smith [was his] brother in law.

[marg: Quaker-Ridge] Obadiah Mead's only son (that is, Solomon Mead) was killed by Bearmore or his party, a little south of Quakeridge Meeting House. He was a fine young man and there was great mourning for him.

Cock fighting and horse racing were both common in and after the revolutionary war, in Connecticut as well as in West Chester, as I have witnessed both myself. In Connecticut they had to be a little shy about betting. Col. Holmes and the

Knapps and Bushes of Horse neck kept fine horses and cocks and practiced both.

Luther Kinnicutt at the close of the war was a Skinner and his reputation bad. He lived in North Castle.

Daniel Chapman, was father to Silas Chapman, shot at Stanwich close by the Meeting House. The father always said he would shoot his son if he ever met him in the army.

My father suffered the black rate because he had friends and relatives who had gone below and whom he would not expose. These sometimes called at his house though he attempted to keep them away. He turned out in the American militia when called upon."