Odell, Joseph
John M. McDonald interview — 1845-10-03
Joseph Odell (1766-1855) begins his interview by recalling the Battle of White Plains. Hearing the firing of cannons, he sought a position from which to observe the battle when he was questioned by Captain Daniel Williams, who was hidden in the woods with his company of Westchester militiamen. Odell then discusses the January 1783 skirmish along the Hudson River in northern Ossining when the Refugees refused to give quarter to George McChain and captured John Paulding. He also notes that Andreas Emmerich narrowly escaped death at the Battle of Van Cortlandt’s Woods, and that the Native American soldiers of the Stockbridge tribe passed his father’s house on the Saw Mill River Road the day before the battle. Odell notes that Andreas Emmerich took the Saw Mill River Road when he raided the homes of Cornelius Van Tassel and Peter Van Tassel in November 1777, indicates that Hessian Captain Carl von Rau was killed near the site of the Methodist church in Yonkers in 1781, and suggests that Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Hatfield of DeLancey’s Refugees surprised a party of Americans at the home of William Underhill south of Lent’s Hill in Yonkers. He states that the Vermille house where Isaac Odell and several others were surprised by a party of Refugees in June 1781 was located on the Sprain Road in Yonkers. Odell also recalls an incident when three young men (Barton, Lawrence Smith, and Vincent) whom he describes as “foolish” and “rash” were staying at his family’s farm and were attacked by a party of DeLancey’s Refugees under James Kipp and Samuel Kipp near Dobbs Ferry. Odell then explains the story regarding Elijah Vincent, who avenged the killing of his brother Gilbert by a group of French soldiers. (A note at the end of the interview indicates Jackson Odell informed John Macdonald that Gilbert Vincent actually survived the assault, which he believes was committed by American soldiers.) Joseph Odell also describes the location of the home of Israel Honeywell in present-day Ardsley, and notes that Frederick Philipse, Lord of Philipsburg Manor, was taken to Simsbury, Connecticut, in late 1775 or early 1776. Odell recalls that the fort at Dobbs Ferry was constructed sometime after the naval battle involving the HMS Phoenix and HMS Rose on August 3, 1776. He concludes by describing the visit of Prince William Henry (who later became King William IV) and General Sir Guy Carleton to Philipsburg Manor, and notes that the men dined at the house of Frederick Van Cortlandt.
Original findings from this interview
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
1845. [marg: + B]
occupied by Major Ross &c on Gist's surprise is now owned by Mr.
October 3d. Joseph Odell of Gren=burgh on the Saw-Mill River Road: "I was born in the year 1766 and remember well the Battle of White Plains. When the Cannonade com=menced I went on the hill in rear of my father's house a few rods south of where I now live to try if I could get a sight of the troops, when an armed man came out of the bushes, took me, and questioned me about the firing, what it meant &c. I told him I did not know. &c I then discovered the man to be Capt. (afterwards Colonel) Daniel Williams who was concealed with his company in woods and thickets. The day was remarkably warm and fine.
1845.
George McChain at the surprise at Orser's was refused quarter in consequence of having been concerned in setting fire to some houses and barns of the British Refugees, and of having attempted to burn Colonel DeLancey's house at West Farms by firing some barrels of tar which were extinguished. Paulding was considered a prisoner of consequence, and, having before escaped several times when captured, was guarded with great care. They secured him by tying his legs under the belly of the horse he rode. He tried to prevail upon several during his march from Sing Sing to West Chester to untie the ropes, saying he could escape almost anywhere by jumping from his horse and taking the woods. —
At the ambuscade of Nimham, Colonel Emmerick was deliberately fired at by an Indian and narrowly escaped by ducking his head — the ball hitting his hat. The Indians passed my fathers down the Saw Mill River Road, the day before they were surprised and cut to pieces.
1845.
When Emmerick took the Van Tassells he marched up the Sawmill River Road.
[marg: x] Captain Rowe was killed near the Methodist Church at Yonkers, was a great favorite among the country people where he was known.
The place where Colonel Hatfield surprised a party of Americans who had been below was probably at William Underhill's about a mile south of Lent's Hill. Some American troops were [certainly] once surprised there early in the morning.
[marg: x] Vermille's house, where Isaac (Uck) Odell and two others, guides, were surprised and taken in June '81, on their return from an excursion to Morrisania, having stopped to sup — is on the Sprain Road one mile and an half south east of Joseph Odell's.
Barton, Lawrence Smith and Vincent had been about our place several days intending an excursion
somewhere below where they had frequently been, when they were surprised by the Kipp's. They were foolish rash young men, who had rendered themselves extremely ob- =noxious to DeLancey's Refugees. –
When Kipps party came up these youth's presented their pieces but did'nt fire – the Refugees telling them: "if you pull a trigger we'll hack you to pieces." They then attempted to escape across Saw Mill river. Barton was killed just as he had crossed the river and his head cut entirely off. Law- =rence Smith was killed about forty rods west of the river. Vincent secreted himself under a heap of brush, but being discovered by a horse treading on him, received three
1845, 58
cuts on his arm and had his head cleft open by the sabre. He was left for dead, but recovered to the astonishment of every one.
Elijah Vincent was from near East chester Village and he had a brother who was a black-smith and had his shop, in the Revolutionary War, near where Armstrong's tavern was afterwards built. Soon after the French Army came to West Chester County, a detachment of Lauzun's cavalry called at his Smithy and requested him to shoe some horses. He refused because it was Sunday. Some altercation ensued which ended in a fight and Vincent was killed. Elijah Vincent vowed revenge and watched the French patrol with a party of men
1845. 59.
for some time till he fell in with the scout whose Captain he killed. He took from the Frenchman's pockets an elegant gold watch and some coin.
The house of Captain Israel Honeywell near the corner of Dobbs Ferry and Saw Mill River road was burnt on account of the warm part taken by him and his family in the Revolution. (This is the burnt house laid down in the Historical Society's maps.)
In 1775 or early in 1776 Col. Philipse was taken up and sent for safety to Simsbury mines, in Connecticut, where he was soon after paroled and returned home. It was in the summer or fall of 1776, soon after the affair
1845. 60.
of the Phoenix and Rose that the Fort at Dobbs Ferry was built which stood adjacent to Von Livingston's house on the east side of the road, the remains of which are still visible Observed the Fort was probably intended to protect the Ferry which was then south of the present Ferry nearly opposite the Livingston house.
— Whence Prince William Henry came out to Philipse manor near Valentine's Hill in company with General Carleton at the head of the covering party of a grand forage which was said to consist of five thousand or six thousand men The Prince and Sir Guy dined at Frederick Van Cortlandtt's where Henry White and Augustus Morris Van Cortlandtt afterwards resided
1845.
[marg: +] October 8th. Mr. Jackson Odell tells me he has ascertained from Mr. that Vincent's brother lived though cut to pieces, and that this barbarity was practiced not by the French but by Americans.
October 3rd. Jackson Odell. "I heard my father often say that George McChain was killed in consequence of being concerned in burning the houses and barns of some Royalists and of having attempted the destruction of Colonel DeLancey's house by firing some tow.
"My father assisted in capturing Captain Ogden twice. He was with the party that took him at Vermielle's at Kingsbridge and with Cushing's party. He was riding by Ogden's