Holly, Isaac
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-11-01
Isaac Holly (1764-1851) recalls a raid when DeLancey’s Refugees captured an American guard that was posted near his family’s home on the Boston Post Road in Greenwich, Connecticut. During this raid, the Refugees unsuccessfully attempted to capture Colonel Mead of the Connecticut Militia. Holly then gives a detailed account of the capture and hanging of Brom Barrett at Titus Bridge in Greenwich. He also mentions an incident in which his brother Stephen was on a whaleboat commanded by a Colonel Fitch that attempted to capture a boat near City Island, and explains the route taken by Loyalist Major Mansfield Bearmore when he surprised the American guard at Sherwood’s Bridge in Greenwich. Holly concludes by describing a number of officers and soldiers who spent time in Greenwich during the Revolutionary War, including Fade Donaldson, Anthony Walton White, Nathan Frink, James Holmes, and Tim Knapp.
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Transcription
Novr 1st Isaac Holly:
" DeLancey's Corps cut off and captured a guard near our house, about one hundred yards north of the Post road. — Colonel Mead took this guard from Titus's Bridge, then about a mile above the present bridge, where Genl Waterbury kept a strong advanced guard. Colonel Mead took a guard of about twenty to protect his person while visiting his house under Putnam Hill which he had been compelled to abandon. Col. Mead was returning to Titus's Bridge from his excursion when the Refugee horse overtook him. [inter: came on.] Some tory had as was supposed given [inter: sent on to] Kip information at Horseneck where some of DeLancey's Refugees happened to be at the time. Mead and his brother escaped being [inter: mounted] on horseback on fleet horses. The Refugees could not leap the stone wall in pursuit of the Americans (who had jumped over) on account of the snow
bank. The Refugees then went about twenty or three rods to a barn, got into the field and cut off the American party (before they reached Mahanns river) on the west side. The river was frozen and if the Americans could have reached it they would have crossed to the east side, while the horse, probably, would not have ventured. —
One American was killed by one of DeLancey's refugees, named Lockwood, originally from Greenwich When Brom. Barrett, [inter: or Valet,] a valet, was taken he was delivered to the commanding officer of the guard at Titus's Bridge who ought to have protected him. But soon after, on the same day, Capt. Samuel Lockwood, Fade Donaldson, and some others came with loud threats, outcry and excitement and demanded him. The officer, [inter: frightened] surrendered him, and they instantly hung him on a cherry tree at Titus's Bridge very barbarously, throwing a rope about
his neck as soon as they saw him swearing &c, and pulling him by the limbs after he was suspended. It was in fact murder, and General Water -bury had them all taken up, but they escaped then. Donaldson was after -wards hung in West Chester for this.
My brother Stephen was once, when - about 16 years old, with Colonel Fitch. Near City Island they attacked a wood boat which was lying at anchor near a guard ship in the night. The Captain was on deck with five or six muskets loaded by his side. When he heard the whale boat he snapped a gun at them which missed fire and they then fired a volley from the whale boat which killed him. The whale boat then boarded and wanted to cut the cable, but the hand would not tell where the axe was. They then all took hold of the Cable and pulling with all their might
Col. White of the Dragons rode a very fine horse.
Capt. Frink had been an officer in the American militia — Colonel or major, I believe. He was a very gentlemanly man.
Colonel Holmes, of Bedford, who went off to the enemy, was a brave man, but a gambler after the war, and his example was said to have had a very bad effect upon the young.
Tim Knapp was cousin to the Knapp's of Greenwich, from which place he himself came. — A handsome man of a very handsome family.