Valentine, Dennis and Corsa, Andrew
John M. McDonald interview — 1844-08-26
During the first half of this interview, Dennis Valentine and Andrew Corsa (1762-1852) discuss a number of locations in the northwest portion of present-day Bronx County connected to the Revolutionary War. Corsa then recounts how Loyalist Colonel James DeLancey profited by fattening the cattle brought in by Cowboys and Refugees. He also mentions the skirmish of July 3, 1781, and the capture of Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Hatfield of DeLancey’s Refugees on January 18, 1780. Corsa then references a son of Oliver DeLancey, the pay received by the mounted soldiers of DeLancey’s Refugees, the service of Captain Isaac Corsa, and the house fortified by Colonel Andreas Emmerich.
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Transcription
Dennis Valentine and Andrew Corsa. (1844. Augt. 26th.)
D. Valentine: No. 4. (Fort?) stood three quarters of a mile, or a mile north of D. Valentine's on Tetard's old farm. The ground on which it stands (stood?) is now occupied by Mr. Bathgate, but owned by another person. 1. 2. & 3., or some of them, were on Tippett's Hill or Ridge. Believe they ran along the Ridge.
Andrew Corsa: In July 1781, the Yagers were encamped on York Island, at King's Bridge, I believe. Fort Charles stood by the bridge. The Albany road then ran along the Mile Square road under the Ridge, and crossed Tippett's Brook close to Cortlandt's House, passing near the door. South of it? [The lane which now leads from the Mile Square road to Cortlandt's House is part of the old road.] The road which now crosses from the Mile Square road to the Albany Post Road some distance South of Cortlandt's was made after the Revolutionary war. Before
Dennis Valentine & Andrew Corsa continued:
(Andrew Corsa:) during, and for many years after the war, the only bridge over Tippett's brook was that by Cortlandt's house. Afterwards the road was formed across the Salt Meadow, and the bridges near Mrs Macomb's constructed as they now exist.
[marg: ?] The last I saw of Lincoln's army (on the 3d of July 1781) they were in a wood by the right side of the road from Mile Square to Williams's Bridge. Hunt's Bridge is the Bridge which crosses the Bronx directly east of Yonkers. The fort or redoubt at Williams's Bridge stood about one hundred yards north of the house situate on the east side of the hill. Negro fort or Cook's fort stood about two hundred yards south of Isaac Valentine's stone house on the old Post Road on the left as you go to Kingsbridge and on a round hill near the road.
DeLancey made money by fatting cattle brought in by the Cow boys and Refugees; and he would refuse them a permit to go out unless they gave him a pre-emption on their Cattle being appraised. He left West Chester rich. Had a
Dennis Valentine & Andrew Corsa contd
(Andw. Corsa:) son who came here on a visit from Nova Scotia about three years ago. In the battle of July 3. 1781, Totten's command were infantry. Richard Morris's (the judge) house burnt when Hatfield was taken was of stone & stood on the east side of the road near the present residence of Robert Morris. —
Manor of Fordham nearly square. — As much as three miles long.
Oliver DeLancey's son now lives in East Chester near Sampson Valentine's.
DeLancey's horse received pay — Does not know about the foot.
Capt. Corsa belonged to the militia and served under Bearmore, but did not receive pay. Dennis Valentine can tell about Forts No. 1. 2. 3. 4. &c.
The house fortified by Emmerick must have been Tetard's, which was stone.