Robbins, Mary Feaks
John M. McDonald interview — 1849-11-06
Mary Feaks Robbins (b.c.1770) notes that she lived near Robbins’ Mills (then known as Wright’s Mills) during the Revolutionary War, and that she remembers the Battle of White Plains. She also knew the Kipp and Totten families. She recollects a story that her mother, Deborah Feaks, told her regarding a skirmish that took place between Loyalists commanded by Captain Samuel Kipp and a force of American militia. Captain Kipp visited the Feaks home after the skirmish. Mrs. Robbins also recalls that Luther Kennicutt and a party of Skinners ransacked her family’s home, but did not find a mitten filled with gold and silver that she had hid in the cellar. She concludes her interview by mentioning John Champenois and Stephen White, who were killed at Youngs’ House in present-day Valhalla in December 1778.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
Coscob to the same school house we had been confined in, and then paroled us all three. My cousin Charles Smith took off my garters this time and pinioned my arms gently.
Novr. 6th Mary Robbins of New Castle (Chappequa) born Feaks, aged 79: "I was born and lived in the Revolutionary war near Robins's Mills (then Reuben Wrights) We were often robbed, &c. I remember the battle of White Plains. I remember the Kipps, [illegible] and Samuel and James Totten. My mother said that there was a skirmish near where Dr. Adams lived about two miles east of Twitching's corner, on the road to Robin's Mills. Captain Samuel Kipp had heard that some of the American militia were down and pursued them, overtook them, chased them through the
fields north of the road and cut them to pieces taking some of them prisoners. On his return he called at my fathers and asked my mother for a bowl of milk and water. When mother carried out the drink he turned the ruffles of his wrist band back when perceiving his hand bloody, she shuddered so that she could not hold the bowl and handed it to another person when Captain Samuel (Kipp) said: "Never mind, Deborah—'Tis only a little of the damned rebel's blood!" Samuel Kipp was austere, and had the reputation of being severe towards prisoners, but was originally a tender hearted and quick witted, lively man!
Once towards the end of the war Luther Kennicutt came to my father's at the head of a party of Skinners, consisting of Robert Simmons, Joseph Gregory, of Somers, and Daniel Varnell. They demanded our money. Kennicutt robbed my uncle of his hat and coat—made him take them off and gave him in exchange an old bear