Hobby, Cynthia
John M. McDonald interview — 1849-11-17
Cynthia Husted Hobby (1770-1863) was the daughter of Peter Husted, a resident of Horseneck in Greenwich, Connecticut, who suffered greatly during the last years of the Revolutionary War. His horses and cattle were taken by DeLancey’s Refugees. Mrs. Husted obtained a permit from Colonel James DeLancey to keep one cow, which Mr. Husted caused to travel to Morrisania several times to retrieve after it was stolen. Mrs. Hobby recounts the circumstances surrounding the murder of Thomas June, a resident of Stanwich, by a Refugee, and recalls that the residents of Horseneck fled their homes and hid in the woods when an alarm gun was fired to warn of Refugee raids. Mrs. Hobby recalls Major David Hobby, a cousin of her husband, who resided in Middle Patent in North Castle, Westchester County, and served in the Westchester County Militia. She also recollects a Colonel Mead of the Connecticut Militia, and his concealing of a cannon during a British attack on Horseneck. She notes that the public schools of Greenwich were discontinued during the war, and suggests that John Macdonald visit her brother, Peter Husted, and Charles Smith.
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Transcription
on that occasion! — Wells's officers and men were quartered in three farm houses not far apart which were all attacked at the same time; — Horton Reynolds's and the two others.
Captain Frink was up here frequently during the latter years of the war. He was a brave man and always went ahead.
Charles Smith of North St— several miles above here is one of the best men you could see for Revolutionary information
I am not a brother but a cousin of Mrs. Belcher and Mrs. Hobby."
Novr 17th Mrs. Cynthia Hobby, born Husted, in the year 1770, near Horse neck: "My father's name was Peter Husted. His horses and cattle were
all taken repeatedly during the last years of the war by the Refugees. Once they took our last cow. My mother begged for the cow in vain. This cow was taken by a Refugee named Seth Mead. Our cow we got back. Colonel DeLancey gave us a permit to keep a cow, and when stolen my father went several times to Morrisania to reclaim the cow which was restored honourably. It was only towards the end of the war that the people at Horseneck and that neighborhood were much plundered.
Towards the end of the war the Refugees who entertained a spite against a man named June living east of Stanwich and a party of them being up they played a game of cards to decide who should kill him. The lot fell upon Mills Hobby, but he being an old acquaintance another Refugee offered to take his place and shot June while hoeing corn. June dropped down dead in the fields.
When the alarm gun was fired the people fled from Horseneck three or four miles back, with their effects which they had hid in the woods and bushes.
There was no Major or Col. Hobby dur=ing the Revolution, but the one of that name who lived in Middle Patent. Of this fact I am certain. Major Hobby was a cousin of my husband.
Colonel Mead was afterwards a general, and his son a Colonel of the militia — Colonel or Major Mead was clever, and a man of good judgment but not a very enterprising soldier. Once when he commanded at Horseneck the British made an attack, and he had a field piece always which he concealed. This fact, his hiding the field piece, always created a laugh at his expense. His military papers are all pro=bably in possession of his grandson Theodore who lives in a white house at the foot of Putnam Hill.
During great part of the war the public schools were discontinued, and children
being kept at home their education was for the most part neglected. My brother Peter Husted lives at Glenville, and he and Charles Smith of North [marg: x North Castle?] (who receives a pension for Revolutionary services) can tell many particulars of events which transpired in this neighbourhood!
Nov. 17th Peter Husted, of Glenville: I was born in 1772, about one mile from Horseneck church. When Tryon, came up to Horseneck in 1779, flanking parties advanced through the fields north and south of the main column which marched on the Post road. An American soldier was chased by a British dragoon, south or south east of the road. The soldier crossed one fence followed by the dragoon. He then ran