Lawrence, Samuel
John M. McDonald interview — 1846-10-30
Samuel Lawrence (c.1759-1848) was the son of Captain Samuel Lawrence of the Westchester County Militia, and served in his father’s company as a private. He recalls seeing George Washington visit his encampment on Mount Misery at North White Plains in North Castle in 1778. He recounts his experience of March 16, 1777, which began with a skirmish at William’s Bridge in the Bronx and ended with the attack on Ward’s House in Eastchester. Lawrence also recalls that American Colonel Thomas Thomas alerted the militia about the possibility of a raid on July 10, 1779, the day before the burning of Bedford. Lawrence went out with his father’s company to watch for the British. Stephen Ambler, a member of the company, was killed by the Refugees after mistaking them for the 4th Continental Light Dragoons (Moylan’s Horse). Lawrence concludes by noting that John White was assigned to guard Loyalist John Champenois after he was captured on December 24, 1778.
Original findings from this interview
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
October 30th Samuel Lawrence, 87 years old, a Pensioner:
In 1778, we encamped at Mount Misery where General [Washington] visited us—
“Very good.” (Our [inter: officer was] officers were absent and he [Washington] asked our sergeant how large the guard was, when we were relieved &c. To all the sergeants answers he replied: “very good!”)
In 1777, I went under Captain Richard Sackett in the Nine Months’ Men and we fought the British across the Bronx near Williams Bridge. We then retreated for safety, and Major Fish our commander, a very wary man, conducted us, cautiously, across the fields to Ward’s house.—
Wards house was full, and our party went to a house about a quarter of a mile fur=ther (Morgan’s). I was fatigued with fighting and marching all day and fell asleep immediately, and was waked by the firing at Wards. Fifteen or
sixteen Americans were killed there. Fish [inter: took] a musket and fired at the British repeatedly.
I believed always that Captn William Bouton then living in South Salem killed Major Campbell with his fuzee. T.x (?) (See on p. 84) [marg: x Fusee (mil.) a fuse - a tube filled with a combustible composition used for blasting or firing shells.] John Shaw, a Scotchman, a volunteer horseman, was at Ward's, and [inter: went] was up stairs for his saddle. after the enemy were in their stirrups and [inter: it] went clink! clink! as he came down the stairs. They, the British, captured, then, a great num -ber of horses.
— When Bedford was burnt Col. Thomas, the day before, sent word that the enemy were out and several militia companies were ordered out. I was in my father's company and we lay at Samuel Lyons's, near Canfield Hill. [inter: Two] Several volunteer horsemen were with us. Stephen Ambler was posted along with one
Van Schot on the hill west of Holley's tavern with orders if they saw the enemy, or any body of men coming on either road to give the alarm — one to us, and the other to Pound= =ridge. Both the west and east roads were in their sight from the hill. Ambler, bewildered, thought they were a party of Moylan's, and endeavoured too late to retreat. [* So in original. — This sentence should read: When Ambler saw the enemy he became bewildered &c. J.E.] He was cut down by the British Refugees who advanced on the west road. He was cut to pieces and fell off, and the horse escaped. The British were disco= =vered near Raymond's hill about a mile off but Ambler thought they were Moylan's. The British posted Vi= =dettes on Canfield's hill and staid about an hour or so advancing by way of [New]North Castle Church and entering the village between daylight and sunrise.
[John White was hired to guard over Champenois's the night he was—
prisoner. Party down the night before to [West Farms] and plundered.]
[ George W. Lawrence promises to draw up a statement of his fathers Revolutionary recollections. Judge Hart thinks the brother (Calvin Lawrence) would be the better man for this purpose.) — J. M. M. ]