Mandeville, James
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-10-20
James Mandeville (1760-1848) recalls his participation in an American raid that was conducted into present-day Bronx County in January 1783 to capture Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey. He details the route of the expedition to and from the Bronx, and names the guides who directed the force. According to Mandeville, DeLancey avoided capture by hiding in a hog pen. He then notes that Brom Dyckman, a Westchester Guide, was interred at Crompond Burying Ground, and mentions the captivity of John Paulding, one of the three captors of British Major John André. Mandeville also refers to John Odell’s escape from captains Samuel Kipp and Gilbert Totten of DeLancey’s Refugees across the ice of the frozen Hudson River from Ossining to Croton Point. This incident took place while the soldiers who took part in the expedition that Mandeville previously discussed were stopped in Ossining on their way north toward Peekskill. He concludes by noting that many houses were built in Peekskill during the Revolutionary War.
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Transcription
said, "There's a rascal escaped from New York! We'll have you again there before night!" &c. Shabal Cunningham, of Sawpitt, was another of Mosiers men; also a boy, Asa Jones, Abraham [Tarrytown] Williams, one Loder (his name I believe was Daniel Loder) who was a brother of Jonathan Loder of Cobberg).
- [marg: James] Captr. Lilly was a militia officer before the war, a tory. He lived about two miles south of Peeks Kill on the Post road.
[marg: James Mandeville was for many years a hotel keeper at Peekskill.] Octr. 20th James Mandeville: "We crossed Hunt's Bridge, went through East Chester, crossed Williams Bridge, and advanced easterly upon DeLancey's house in our excursion in January 1783. - Williams ordered all horses to be left west of the Bronx, in a village. DeLancey was out when
we arrived, but returned before we left, and concealed himself in a hog-pen, as the family afterwards told us. In retreating we passed Cortlandt's house and returned through Yonkers village, being guided by John Odell, Abraham Odell, Isaac Odell (who was nicknamed Armand) John McChain, and Wm. N. Dyckman.
[marg: Abraham.] I have always understood that Brom Dyckman was buried at Crompond burying ground, but where in particular I don't know. Mr. Thomas Strang will tell I think.
[marg: See pa 55 orig.] Paulding [while] was detained prisoner [English?] among the American officers, fared well and was a great lion.
Kipp and Totten were the two who pursued Colonel Odell on the ice, one at each side, cutting at him until Totten lost his fore finger and let his sword fall. I saw this wound afterwards at Morrisania.
I remember when there were only
five dwelling houses in the village of, Peekskill. This was before the Revolutionary war. In the course of the war they built a good many more houses.
[marg: Col. Saml. Drake not Joseph — Hyatt — Merritt — riflemen Tories — 600 men fr. DeLancey to disarm the Tories — Dr. Seig- Newson — Thomas Currie, Jr. Peekskill.] October 20th Thomas Strang. "When the British under Abercrombie came to Crompond and burnt Strang's house, it was afternoon. When the horse came June 24th, it was early in the morning. On the 24th of June, Tarleton came up by a circuitous route, going up the Croton above Pines Bridge one mile and a half or more above, crossed at Vail's ford, advanced upon Crompond from the east by a road which bends like a semi-circle, coming in to the Crompond road, a little south of where Delavan