Elizabeth Archer Tuttle
John M. McDonald interview — 1846
Elizabeth Archer Tuttle was a daughter of Benjamin Archer. She notes that Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey was headquartered at her father’s home in present-day Bronx County, and that Westchester Guide Abraham “Brom” Dyckman captured DeLancey’s adjutant James Pugsley at this house. Mrs. Tuttle then discusses a number of aspects of the Refugee settlements in the southwest portion of present-day Bronx County, including Fort No. 8, a floating bridge across the Harlem River, the various headquarters of Colonel DeLancey, and her impression of Major Mansfield Bearmore. She also explains why DeLancey avoided capture during Cushing’s raid in April 1780. She concludes by stating that the Morris family of Morrisania were all supporters of American independence and went north when the area was occupied by the Refugees.
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Transcription
October 9th Garret Garretson, of Yonkers: Donop's horse was ambuscaded by a party of Americans who got above and below them - the infantry below [some distance from] the cavalry. The ~~sight~~ [marg: noise] of the fight resembled a smith hammering a bar of iron - no firing, fought only with their swords. The same night I saw [marg: Isaac] Martling who was killed by the Refugees. They set [marg: Gload Requas] fire to Mr. Rogers's house one mile below Tarrytown, but the fire was extinguished.
[ Mrs. Elizabeth Tuttle, 5th Avenue - Haerlem - near Madam McGowan's - John Tuttle.
Isaac Collard of Green St, I think, the west side of the town - shoemaker has much new information. ]
Elizabeth Tuttle, [marg: nee Archer see opposite] of New York: "John Pugsley was adjutant of DeLancey's - was taken up stairs when Brom [Dyckman] and others surprised my fathers house which was DeLancey's headquarters one year or perhaps less.
A guard [garrison] was kept at No. 8 all the war. The floating bridge was from No. 8, or near it across Haerlem creek. Refugee settlements on Gouverneur's and Lewis Morris's lands about as much on one as the other.
Col. DeLancey had gone out to meet a flag at my Lord Underhill's and it rained, so he escaped Cushing's attack, but several were taken.
Hatfield commanded at Morris's house when it was burnt, and it was then DeLancey's head=quarters - and afterwards headquarters were at our house - his headquarters afterwards were at his own house at the mills.
Bearmore was a nice looking man.
Morris's all whigs and went away above. - Their woods all cut down. They sued several persons for cutting the wood and recovered com=pensation
October 8th Jackson Odell: Brom [Dyckman] shot three quarters of a mile south from the barn where Woodbridge fired from, and near the forks of the road a little north of Judge Ward's house. The road then ran north of the barn. Henry Trenchard made a circuit ~~road or~~ north and east of the barn - passed through a swamp and rejoined his friends. Valentine's Hill, near Hunt's bridge (Hunt's hill?). Mr Jacobus [Dyckman] told me that Col. Knowlton's affair with the British was near Peter Myers.