Sutherland, Silas
John M. McDonald interview — 1846-10-29
Silas Sutherland (1755-1846) served as a sergeant in the Westchester County Militia during the Revolutionary War. He begins his interview by listing the homes that were burned by the British on July 11, 1779, on their return through North Castle after the burning of Bedford. Sutherland then discusses the skirmish in Greenwich, Connecticut, where Loyalist Captain Ebenezer Theall of DeLancey’s Refugees was killed, as well as a fight on King Street along the border of New York and Connecticut in which an American force led by Colonel Bezaleel Beebe attacked Loyalist troops led by Colonel Isaac Hatfield.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
October 29th. Silas Sutherland, of Middle Patent, born in 1735: When Bedford was burnt they fired on their retreat the following houses: Israel Lyons, John Ferris, Peter Lyons, Madam Griffins, a house occupied by Ichabod Ogden where the militia headquarters, afterwards owned and occupied as a Tavern by John Smith.
Captain Theall's party made a circuit first passing through Middle Patent, [c North] Castle, then Stanwich, and he was killed near Round Hill — west of it — in a narrow pass among the rocks by Mosier's Company. —
When Hatfield retreated from Middle Patent, Colonel Beebee attacked him in or near King Street. Colonel Beebee stationed at the time in Stanwich. He marched and attempted to cut off his, Hatfield's, retreat.
A Skirmish between Beebee and Hatfield in or near King Street.
General Thomas, a good officer.
Silas Sutherland contd. 76
Dr. Palmer and wife — When Mosier killed Theall, his Company lay in a wood near Round Hill and he ambuscaded him in the afternoon at a narrow and rocky pass.
[marg: See origl. p. 87.] October 29th Joshua Smith of Middle Patent: "The Stamford and Greenwich Party* (?) obtained a grant from the Indians [Crown?] for land eight miles from the Sound northerly, which left an oblong tract between Bedford, Stanwich and Greenwich, (in Connecticut) four miles wide. This was discovered by the
* They first bought the Indian title, and intended to buy 12 miles north from the Sound; but [considering] the (Counties) Country (?) had enough determined to buy only eight miles north. —