Oakley, Samuel
John M. McDonald interview — 1844-10-12
Samuel Oakley (b.c.1766) gave this interview to John Macdonald over two days. He indicates that his grandfather and the father of Westchester Guide Cornelius Oakley were brothers. He begins by discussing the death of Jotham Purdy, a Loyalist officer, during a skirmish in Mamaroneck and the capture of Captain Benjamin Ogden by an American raiding party in the Bronx. (Other interviews indicate that Purdy was killed in Rye, not Mamaroneck.) He also describes how a troop of DeLancey’s Refugees swam their horses across the Long Island Sound from Throggs Neck to Queens during the reconnaissance of the American and French armies in July 1781, and how the tide affected Westchester Creek and led to the drowning of the daughter of Loyalist Captain Solomon Fowler. He then recounts how a group of Americans who conducted a raid in the Bronx were captured when they stopped for supper at the home of Isaac Vermille in present-day Yonkers. Oakley notes that Dyckman’s Bridge, also known as the Farmers’ Bridge, that connected Manhattan to the mainland was taken up by the British during the war. He recalls that the party of Americans that reached Throggs Neck in the Bronx in July 1781 were fired upon by British artillery posted in a fort at Whitestone in Queens, and that the British stole a large quantity of grain and flour from the mills of American Colonel Thomas Thomas in Harrison. Oakley begins the second day of the interview by describing Mosier’s Fight of December 2, 1781. He then recounts the American raid led by William Hull against the Refugee settlements in present-day Bronx County on January 28, 1781, as well as a skirmish that took place near the Eastchester church while Hull’s command was withdrawing. Samuel Oakley also recounts a successful raid led by Cornelius Oakley that disrupted a ball at a house near Fort No. 8 and resulted in the capture of several prisoners. Samuel Oakley also notes that Daniel Nimham, sachem of the Wappinger People, was friendly with the Ferris family. He briefly describes the participation of the Stockbridge-Munsee soldiers at the Battle of Van Cortlandt’s Woods. Oakley then explains why Loyalist officer Robert Simmons decided to change his allegiance to the American cause, and states his belief that Edward Thomas was too young to have been American Colonel Thomas Thomas’s adjutant. (A note indicates that Edward Thomas was, in fact, the colonel’s adjutant.) Oakley next states what he has heard regarding the certificates given by foraging parties to their friends. He concludes by noting that he does not know the first name of the man named Purdy who was killed at Mamaroneck.
Original findings from this interview
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
Saml. Oakley contd.
Bon Foy's Point is owned by Davenport It is not on the Neck, but on the main, contiguous to the Neck."
[marg: 1844.] October 12th Samuel Oakley: "Mr [Jotham] Purdy belonged to DeLanceys and was killed in 1777 at Maroneckx [marg: x sometimes written Mamaroneck.] Bridge. A party of DeLancey's went up on an excursion, and Purdy was with the advance guard of about twenty cavalry. On a knoll just over the bridge was an American party of about thirty in= =fantry. The knoll was almost inaccessi= =ble to cavalry, and has since been removed in whole or part. The advance guard attempted to rush over the Bridge, and get in rear of the Americans, and while passing received their fire, which
was given with fatal effect. Purdy and another were killed, seven wounded, and five horses killed. The guard then fell back upon their main body, and the Americans retreated to the woods to avoid capture by superior numbers. I am certain this was not at New Rochelle.
Captain Ogden was taken at his quarters at Vermille's under the hill at Dychman's Bridge. The Americans passed the outposts without discovery. Ogden's sentinel was pacing the long piazza in front of the house, and when he turned was pinioned, and threatened with immediate death if he made a noise. They then went to the stable and saddled and bridled his horse — then to his chamber and woke him. He had retired fatigued and slept through all the noise. When he awoke the first thing he saw was the glittering of three dragoons swords over his head. He was mounted, and taken in upon his own horse.
Samuel Oakley contd
My grandfather, and the father of Cornelius Oakley of White Plains were brothers. James Oakley, of the Revolution, who belonged to the same company with the Odell's and Dyckman's, and was their friend &c, was my uncle.
When the French advanced to Haerlem river in 1781, a troop of DeLancey's horse was on Throgs Neck and swam their horses across to Whitestone, Long Island. — Willett Carpenter was among them. All went over safe, though one or two of the horses came near going down by the head. The troops were directed to sit back upon the haunches, and the horses then kept their heads more easily above water. Their number was about forty, and they crossed from the Point. [I think this was when the American and the French engineers measured the distance &c.]
Captain Honeywell of the [American] West Chester Refugees was the brother of Philip Honeywell, and lived where Isaac Odell afterwards resided. His, and his father's
Saml. Oakley contd.
name was Israel.
In and before the Revolution the tide at West Chester mills rose over the causeway [marg: * see next page - 14a] which accounts for Rochambeau's adventure. It was afterwards raised. Captain Solomon Fowler in the beginning or before the war attempted to cross to attend a wedding. He was on horseback, and his wife and daughter (a girl of fifteen) in a gig. The tide swept the gig away and the daughter was drowned. He was cautioned anxiously not to make the attempt. [ There was a pass above back of Honeywell's (or Watson's?) where there was a bridge which was guarded by in 1776 by the Americans. ]
A party of the guides and others under Odell (Queré, John?) had been to Morrisania and were returning by the Sprain road. — They were hungry and weary, and had five or six prisoners, and some of DeLancey's horses, cattle and arms. [ The main body with the prisoners went on, but one of the Odells, Post, McChain, and^an other stopped, and were taken by a party of DeLancey's that pursued.]
* The tide was [rose] so high that the cause= =way was impossible. After it was at a certain height they never ventured to cross it. Fowler relied upon his knowledge of the way. Fowler had been out once, before he was killed, and some sneered at his prudence and even doubted his courage. He ventured, almost alone, among the Americans determined to establish a reputation for courage which should last.
Samuel Oakley cont'd.
Some one proposed to stop and get supper at Uncle Isaac Vermille's (father of Isaac Vermille of Dobbs Ferry). They stopped and were surprised, and taken by a party that followed them, (?) June 1781.(?)
— Dyckman's or the Farmers' Bridge, was taken up by the British during the war. It was built because they paid toll at King's Bridge.
— When an American party went down to Throgs Neck they were fired upon from the British fort at Whitestone (in 1781) and covered all over with sand but none killed. The party immediately retreated swigly up the Neck. [They were engineers. My uncle, James Oakley, was with them as a guide.]
— The British in 1779? (when? in 1778.) took a great quantity of wheat [inter: grain and] flour which had been sent (that is, [inter: the] grain) to Thomas's Mill to be ground. The British pressed a great many teams and took it off. (?) The Mill was south of Thomas house on Blind brook, (?) I believe.
Saml. Oakley contd.
Oct. 14th — [Samuel Oakley continued.] When Kipp overtook Mosier he was at Breakfast at a house (Treadwell's?) with his company. One or two of the soldiers made their escape across the fields. Thirty two remained with him and retreated. The affair took place near General Thomas's, between the Purchase road and King street near Treadwell's. Kipp and Holmes had their pistols, but it was said the men had not, which occasioned much censure towards the officers. They could not reach Mosiers men with their swords.
In 1781, when Hull attacked the Refugees settlements he was at West Chester and retreated to East Chester, being soon followed by the Refugees who overtook him in East Chester. A detachment of Parson's brigade took possession of the church with some pieces of cannon and fired upon the green Yagers who advanced (horse and foot) from Kingsbridge by the road
Samuel Oakley cont'd.
that comes out by Philemon Fowler's. The green Yagers when fired upon by Cannon refused to advance. A strong force was drawn up in East Chester Church yard behind the Church. The firing from the Church prevented the Refugees from advancing any further. The Refugees rallied very soon after the destruction of their settlement, and followed Hull from West Chester to East Chester village. — One of DeLancey's men was up with a flag and talking of some prisoners they had recently made, said to Cornelius Odell Oakley: "We'll have you next." — Oakley replied, "That may well be, for who none of us can tell what may happen." He soon after received informa tion from a spy (a cripple who was suffered to go about among the Refugee posts and settlements unmolested and unsus -pected) that there was to be a great ball at a house near Fort No. 8. Oakley, [illegible] and a party went down on the
Samuel Oakley contd.
visited them or promised to just before his death. The Indians were enticed in the open fields by the British and attackd by the horse, when they made for the woods, some of them throwing away their arms (French muskets) on the retreat.
The pass at Throgs Neck (besides the Bridge) was on or near the farm of Honeywell Watson.
Captain Simmons left the British service in consequence of a quarrel with some officer or some other difficulty, and did not return. There was a Captain of DeLancey's named Frederick Williams with whom Simmons quarreled and fought. Simmons was quartered and commanded on Throgs Neck.
Adjutant Thomas, I think, must have been John, the General's brother. Edward was too young. (It was Edward)
The foraging parties on both sides, I think, took mostly from their enemies whom they never paid, and when they took from their friends gave certificates, but