Townsend, Sylvanus
John M. McDonald interview — 1847-10-22
Sylvanus Townsend’s age was recorded as 95 in the 1850 census, which means he was about 21 years old when he worked as a nurse at the North Castle Church for more than two months after the Battle of White Plains in 1776. Townsend states that Brigadier General William Smallwood of Maryland was cared for in a house near the church. He also explains that a Captain Keeler had several fingers cut off at Crompond in June 1779 because he extended his sword while intending to surrender. Other officers whom Townsend mentions are Benoni Platt and Gilbert Dean. Dean’s wife took a Loyalist soldier prisoner during the burning of Bedford in 1779. Townsend concludes by mentioning Timothy Delavan, who brought provisions to his nine sons who fought at the Battle of Ridgefield in 1777.
Original findings from this interview
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 22d Sylvanus Townsend
[marg: (New Castle Church?)] "Immediately after the battle of White Plains the N. C. Church was a hospital, where I officiated as nurse for two months or more. Swallwood, a wounded officer of the Maryland troops was in a house near the church at the same time.
Captain Keeler taken at Crompond in June 1779, intended to surrender, but presenting his sword point foremost received a cut which cut off several of his fingers. He was from North Salem.
Shaw was a good soldier.
Genoni Platt and Gilbert Dean were both volunteer Captains. Platt from New Castle and Dean from Bedford.
Gilbert Dean's wife took a drunken Refugee prisoner, first conveying him into the house, and then getting his arms and shutting him up.
Old Timothy Delavan had nine sons who were at Ridgeford Ridgefield on occasion of
the Danby? expedition, and he himself went on horse back to carry provisions for them.”
[marg: Hyatt, (Carpenter store, 333 Broadway) will tell where Gen. Montross lives.] Oct. 22d Samuel Lawrence of Cross River: “Major Fish was a very fine looking active soldier and commanded the scout of between 100 and 200 men, nine months and militia men which went down towards Williams’ Bridge, where we en-countered the British and Refugees across the river. I didn’t then know the object of the scout. It was for the party of our folks to sweep off from West Chester and Morrisania the cattle fatting there for the British in New York. This we accomplished, and the cattle, taken to Horse neck for safety, while we diverted the enemy and drew their attention towards Williams Bridge. We went down in the morning and remained all day skirmishing with