Lyon, Martha Banks
John M. McDonald interview — 1848-11-04
Martha Banks Lyon (1764-1849) recalls an incident that took place near the end of the Revolutionary War when Colonel James Holmes, a former Bedford resident, led a party of Refugees to rob the house of her father, John Banks, in Middle Patent. She awoke to find a gun pointed at her father and witnessed an exchange between him and Colonel Holmes, who insisted on taking John Banks prisoner and giving him parole. Samuel Banks, Mrs. Lyon’s older brother, evaded capture during the raid, and was able to get some of the plunder back. (A note written by John Macdonald indicates that his raid might have been connected to the expedition to Middle Patent led by Colonel Isaac Hatfield on July 1, 1780; however, Mrs. Lyon implies that the incident took place in 1782.)
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Transcription
only one dollar! They demanded more. Father said that was all he had &c. A gentleman now spoke: "How d'e do, Mr. Banks?" "I don't know who you are," said father, much frightened and trembling like a leaf. "What! do'nt you know an old neighbor?" "No," said my father, "I do'nt recollect you." "I am Colonel Holmes (?)" replied the stranger. My father then reasoned with and shamed Colonel Holmes for allowing an old acquaintance to be robbed. He replied "That is the usage of war!" Just before this I heard them say, "Give up your money, or you are a dead man!" I ran into the room in my night dress, and knocked up the muzzle of a gun pointed at my fathers breast They took off all our bed clothes and most of our other clothes which we never got again. They enquired
for my brothers and took one of them a prisoner. Then they enquired for the other brothers. I told them the others had gone to Bedford for a force to take them. They then left my fathers in a hurry and retreated. A few plunderers remained behind to take off what remained of our clothes My brother Samuel (a Lieutenant) was concealed between two beds and suffocated almost. He at last got his gun, went out and fired at them. This alarmed them, and an officer came back, struck the plunderers with the flat of his sword and made them give up the plunder They took off all our cattle but when my brother fired at them they abandoned the cattle. They then took the road towards Stanwich. This occurred in the last of the Revolutionary war.
Peace was declared the very next year. Our cattle were taken three different times and every time retaken.
They spared the torries when the Refugees came up, but plundered the whigs."
[Does not the foregoing account of the plundering excursion to Middle Patent towards the close of the war relate to Colonel Hatfield's foray of July 1st 1780? J. M. M.]
"Colonel Holmes insisted upon taking my father prisoner, notwithstanding all he could say, and sat down and wrote and gave him a parole requiring him to go down to Morrisania in ten days, but it being towards the end of the war he didn't go.
My brother, Samuel, was so bold
in advancing and firing upon them that they supposed there was a large force supporting him and following them, and they consequently retreated in haste. After the Refugees had left the room where he was concealed, - Samuel said: "I'll follow them!" We tried to stop him but he insisted upon our helping him out of the second story window to the ground. We then followed his directions. Took his hands and held on till he was ready to jump to the ground, then handed out his musket and cartridge box. When we endeavoured to dissuade him from the rash attempt, Samuel said: "I haven't the least fear of them and I'll have our cattle back."