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Miller, Hannah Mabie

John M. McDonald interview — 1846-10-23

From the Westchester County Historical Society catalog:
In another interview with John Macdonald, Hannah Mabie Miller (c.1759-1849) indicated that she was living at the home of her aunt in present-day North White Plains during the Revolutionary War. She states that “Major Shepard” (likely Lieutenant Colonel William Shepard of Massachusetts) received a wound to his neck. She then notes that American General John Nixon was headquartered at her aunt’s house during the Battle of White Plains. Mrs. Miller gives her impression of Loyalist Captain Gilbert Totten, comments on his capture of American Benjamin Green, and describes the escape of Westchester Guide Cornelius Oakley from captivity in Manhattan. She also notes that Anthony Miller commanded the company of American militia that killed William Lounsbury in Mamaroneck in August 1776, and that Miller went behind British lines afterward, never to return to Westchester County. On the second page of the interview, Mrs. Miller references the death of Captain John Day Scott of Maryland, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of White Plains, at her aunt’s home. She also vividly describes the fate of the wounded after the Battle of Youngs’ House. Mrs. Miller concludes by stating that William Mosier was feted with a dinner at Bedford after his victory over DeLancey’s Refugees in 1781, and describes the site of the encampment of the Native American soldiers of the Stockbridge tribe near her aunt’s home.

Original findings from this interview

Stockbridge Indians camped at 'the calf pasture' on the James Muller farm
Hannah Mabie Miller gives the specific geographic location of the Stockbridge-Munsee encampment in Westchester: 'The Stockbridge Indians encamped in a piece of ground called "the calf pasture" between the Bronx and the road and east of the Bronx, on the late James Mullers farm.' A precise location for the Native American militia encampment — present-day research should be able to identify the James Muller farm.
→ See 03 Nimham Last Stand

Manuscript page facsimiles

High-resolution images served from the Westchester County Historical Society's IIIF endpoint. Click any page to view full size.

Transcription

October 23d Hannah Miller:

Major Shepard wounded in the neck. Genl. Nexan quartered at my aunts (where Eliza Elias Capron now lives), and was a plain good man. Captain Totten was a mild gentlemanly man, and took Green, a huge fellow, prisoner, after wounding him about the head severely. The blood ran in streams down his clothes when he took his hat off.

— Cornelius [Octob] Oakley was concealed by Widow Day several days. Couldn't swim, and crossed the Harlem river on a raft. While laboring hard to get across, a "shite poke" alighted and sat upon the raft. He said: "If ever a man was in distress and prayed, I did then."

— Anthony Miller (who lived at W. F's place) commanded the company that killed William Lounsbury. He soon afterwards went below to make his peace and never returned.

At the battle of White Plains, Capt. Scott was brought to our house in a litter, and died next morning. At Young's house, the fire melted the Snow, and the wounded, when they cried for water, had their thirst quenched with water, mixed with their own blood. A number of wounded lay about the house.

Mosier was made much of after he defeated Kipp and had a fine dinner given him at Bedford.

The St[ockbridge] Indians encamped in a piece of ground called "the calf pasture" between the Bronx and the road and east of the Bronx, on the late James Mullers farm.