Mead, Zaccheus, and Knapp, Mr.
John M. McDonald interview — 1844-10-26
Zaccheus Mead (1759-1846) recounts a raid that DeLancey’s Refugees made into Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1780 that resulted in the death of Loyalist Captain Solomon Fowler and a woman who was killed when a house belonging to the Smith family was burned. He then describes British General William Tryon’s February 1779 raid on Greenwich, including American General Israel Putnam’s escape from the pursuing British force. Mead also recounts the hanging of Brom Barrett (mistakenly referred to here as “Brown Ballott”) as well as the killing of Loyalist Shubael Merritt. He concludes the first part of the interview by referencing the capture of Colonel Levi Wells in 1780. At this point in the interview, Zaccheus Mead is joined by a Mr. Knapp of Cos Cob. The men discuss General Putnam’s escape from the British during Tryon’s raid of Greenwich.
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Transcription
Nehemiah Brown contd.
"Shube"—adding, "Chance has thrown me into your power. I'm a prisoner, and expect to be treated as such." They answered, "You are a bad fellow, and ought to be hanged" but gave him quarter. Mr Brown's was at Hogpenridge, one and a half miles from Sherwood's Bridge. They said, "let us see your hand," and made him take it from his hat.
October 26th Zaccheus Mead, of Horseneck: When DeLancey in 1780 made an excursion to Horseneck with his cavalry they advanced from Sherwood's Bridge and retreated across Byram. They came suddenly upon a sentinel posted near the guard house and south of Sherwood's bridge road who fired and ran. Captain
Zaccheus Mead cont'd
Fowler with one or two of his men then rode opposite the guard house and called upon them to surrender. They answered by a general discharge. Fowler was not killed outright, but lived a short time and bled to death when they took off his cravat. It was supposed an artery was cut. The dragoons set fire to the house, and the guard attempted to escape running northerly, but they were overtaken in the fields by the horse, and all who had been in the Guard house were killed. The guard house stood north of the Sherwood Bridge road where a white house is now situated and Fowler was taken into and died at the adjacent house, next to the guard house. [marg: ?] Easterly towards Horseneck where he died [This house is now standing, and can't be more than 200 feet from where the guard house stood.] His body was taken down by a flag a day or two afterwards. The guard house was burnt, and a house near the church belonging to two brothers named Smith, This house is said to have been
Zaccheus Mead contd.
Chester. He then sent one of his horse express to Colonel Holdridge. Finding them still advancing when he retired to Maroneck, he sent the second and the third at Rye. But the inhabitants knew nothing of Tryon's advance till daylight. Then they collected as fast as they could. For this neglect in not communicating the intelligence of the British advance Holdridge was censured. Putnam took post with Col. Holdridge's men and the neighbouring militia on the second eminence as you enter the village from New York drawing up the troops across the road with the two Cannon in the road and a little south west of the church (towards New York) which stands on the second eminence. When the British arrived at the first eminence they halted a moment and then advanced slowly, having previously sent out strong flanking parties to get in rear of the Americans on both sides. The centre then advanced slow and
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the flanks fast (in order to surround the Americans). The field pieces were fired twice loaded with grape &c, and then abandoned. Putnam finding the British were getting around him and about to seize the roads &c, ordered a retreat directing Colonel Holdridge to take possession of a neighboring hill, but he retreated five or six miles to Stanwich. Putnam pursued by Emmerick rode down the hill where the road suddenly turns off east, striking the stepping stones three fourths of the way down. Some of the dragoons were looking on above in amaze-ment. Putnam turned around, took off his hat and huzzaed. Most of the dragoons did not see him when he turned to descend the hill, but pursued on the road leading north to Stanwich where I came near being taken by them. Putnam then went to Stamford, and the British to the landings where they destroyed some sloops and the salt works, &c. They destroyed the gun carriages,
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spiked them and broke off the trunnions, took cattle, &c. A Canadian Frenchman belonging to Holdridge's was pursued in the fields, south of the village, towards the Sound by a British dragoon from their right flank. The Frenchman tried to escape by running, but finding his retreat cut off turned round as the dragoon had his sword raised to cut him down, and shot him, through the mouth and chin, dead.
[marg: x From Barrett?] Brown Ballott lived in Greenwich before the war, and was an Irishman. Captain Lockwood was concerned with [Fade Donaldson] in taking and hanging him without trial which was much dis-approved of by the inhabitants at the time. The Refugees would have hanged Lockwood as well as Donaldson, if they could have taken him!
Samuel Reynolds from Coscob with a party in whaleboats took Shube Merritt. Shube had fired at Reynolds
(Zaccheus Mead — continued.)
when a prisoner, and Reynolds vowed revenge. With a party who were, personally, enemies of Shube, they went several times, just at the close of the war, in search of him, and discovered him at last at Maroneck from their boats by their glasses. They tracked him to New Rochelle &c &c. He was shot several times by the party after Reynolds had killed him.
Captain Lockwood was a native of Greenwich, and an active and good officer.
When Colonel Wells was surprised in North Street (Connecticut) the Refugees made a circuit and came down upon him from above.
Zaccheus Mead (and Mr Knapp of Coscob): Continuation. When the British advanced against Putnam in 1779, he said to the troops who
were preparing to repel a charge: "Steady, boys! We'll beat 'em! Don't you see they are half drunk?"
Thomas Merritt, then of Emmerick's, afterwards a Sheriff in Canada, was here on a visit about thirteen years ago and examined the precipice. He saw Putnam descend, and considered it a daring exploit. He and some of his men snapped their pistols and carbines at Putnam, but the priming had become damp in fording Byram which was deep, the planks having been taken up.
[Mr Knapp: "Putnam was at the Tracy House, talking with a lady who advised him to take care of himself, but he refused, saying there was no danger. She then pointed out a party of dragoons (on the British right flank) advancing rapidly towards him that he had not seen. He instantly bade her good morning; and putting spurs to his
Mr. Knapp contd.
horse rode at full speed to near where the Dutnam Post road suddenly turns off to the east, and then leaving the road continued his flight in [a] the South easterly direction, striking the stepping stones about three fourths of the way down. Having arrived safely below the hill, he leaped his horse across the fence and galloped some distance across the fields leaving his pursuers far behind. He was a good horseman, and upon this occasion mounted upon an uncommonly fine fresh horse, while the steeds of the pursuing dragoons were jaded by their long march.”