Lyon, James and Sutton, James
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-11-18
James Lyon (1761-1850) and James Sutton (1760-1849) both served in the Westchester County Militia. They describe a skirmish that took place on December 29, 1780, between a party of Refugees against a company of Continentals commanded by Captain Thomas Pritchard and two companies of militia commanded by captains Marcus Moseman and Yaup Vermille. They note that Armand’s Legion was encamped several times on Succabone Street in Bedford, and conclude by mentioning the Black soldiers of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment who were attacked by Refugees at the Battle of Pines Bridge.
Original findings from this interview
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Transcription
was the captain and Abijah Harris was the Lieutenant of a militia company in Bedford, to which my neighbor James Sutton belonged.
Colonel Armand and with his legion was sometime in North castle and Bedford. Col. Holmes was with the party that took Bedford. Holmes was a bad man.”
Nov. 17th James Sutton, of Bedford aged 88: “I was in Capt. Vermille’s company of militia of which Abijah Harris was Lieut. A man was here trying to get a pension for [his] the widow. Col. Harris and the [men] man were from Bedford. I do not know where Vermille was from originally. Probably from below?” [marg: see origl p. 101.]
Nov. 18th James Lyon and James Sutton: “Lieut. Abijah Harris was a good and skilful soldier - So was Captain Yaup Vermilyea, but he was somewhat-
addicted to plundering. Succabone Street is about two miles from Bedford in a westerly direction and commences when you turn to the right and ascend a hill in coming from Bedford to this place. The Refugees several times came to Suckabone Street and were pursued from thence to Clark's corner. We were in a skirmish near Clark's corner, when Capt. Pritchard, and Captains Moseman and Vermille with their companies pursued the Refugees to that place, which is about six miles below Old North Castle Church on the Tarrytown road. The Americans when they attacked occupied ground much higher than the Refugees, in consequence of which although they fired two or three rounds, they overshot the enemy, doing them no injury.
Col. Armand with his legion lay at several times in Succabone St. but did not remain there long, changing his quarters fre=quently. He had a fine company of riflemen who were excellent marksmen.
In May 1781, Pines Bridge was guarded by
negroes, and they were attacked by the Refugees at the same time in the morning that Davenports house was surprised and taken. This negro guard was entirely cut to pieces, but by a different party from that which surprised Greene and Flagg.
Nov. 18th Mrs. Martha Griffen of Bedford (aged 77) New Purchase: "Col. Holmes, I believe, commanded the party that burnt Bedford, and folks [said] that he would never return, but he did.
Capt. Yaup Vermille lived in Cherry Street, and was very good at plundering. Lieut. Harris (Abijah) was a smart good soldier. Sheldon's and Moylan's horse lay near here in the vicinity of Stephen Moseman's, at different times was staying long in one place. Sheldon's [men] were great plunderers. The Refugees often drove cattle off and were sometimes pursued and the cattle