Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Stories of the American Revolution

by Mrs. Edward P. White | circa 1932

Many local stories have come down to us from the days of the American Revolution. Tradition sometimes speaks louder than historical fact. With this in mind let us listen to some of the tales told by our great grandfathers, and remember that they heard them from their grandfathers who had really lived in Revolutionary times.

One of the most famous characters of those days was Pompey, a slave in the Mackie family. He was born in the colonies, was shrewd, a man of good sense, of much force, always ready to make or take a joke. Some English dragoons were quartered on his master in the winter of 1778. They made the mistake of insulting Pomp, and one day to get even he mixed pounded glass in the feed of some of the horses. Suddenly the horses were found dead in their stalls, Pomp was questioned by his master and cross-questioned by the officers, but was ignorant and innocent of any knowledge of the calamity. Sometime after the English troops had been withdrawn from these parts, Pomp’s master said to him one day, “Tell me, now, Pomp, what really happened to those horses.”

“Ground glass mighty good for hosses, Massa, ground glass mighty good for hosses.”

On another occasion he had difficulty with a soldier who was interfering with Pomp’s barn yard arrangements. The dragoon drew his sword. Pomp quickly charged at the soldier with his pitchfork and routed the man from the fields. (Howell’s History of Southampton)

Mrs. Betsy Bush of Southampton has the original bill of Pomp’s sale to his master.

MRS. LEMUEL PIERSON             Major Cochrane was the commanding officer in Bridgehampton. He is still remembered as a merciless tyrant. Bridgehampton suffered much from lawless soldiery by day and night. Cattle were carried off, forage seized without payment, and sometimes they even destroyed furniture in the houses of the inhabitants. One day they came to the home of Mr. Lemuel Pierson and turned him out. He was determined to take some of his furniture with him, and although the soldiers stood over him with drawn swords he gained his point. His wife proved to be as good a fighter as he for when the soldiers called another day in her husband’s absence, she met them at the door with a teakettle of hot water and threatened to scald the first man who came in. She was unmolested. (Howell)

EDWARD TOPPING                        In a house on Main Street and Corwith Avenue, Bridgehampton, lived Edward Topping. One night a number of English soldiers with blackened faces and coats turned inside out came to his house on mischief or trouble intent. Mr. Topping was awakened by their noise, and seizing his gun ran to defend his house. One man raised a window and started to enter. Topping commanded him to get out and said he would shoot if the man persisted. No attention was paid to his warning, and he shot. The man fell back dead and was carried off by his companions. The next morning word was sent to General Erskine in Southampton. General Erskine came down to learn the facts. When he learned the truth, the General said to his soldiers, “Is this one of the flower of the British army?” Then kicking the body, he said, “Take him down to the ocean and bury him below high water mark, and let me hear no more of it.” The same affair under Major Cochrane might have had a different ending for Mr. Topping. (Howell)

MARTHA HALSEY                        There is a pretty story of Martha Halsey, a young girl who lived in Southampton at the time of the English occupation. One day an English soldier approached her and asked her for a kiss. She angrily reached up and pulled off his hat and trampled it on the ground, much to the amusement of his companions, who jeered at him. Muttering, “You cursed little rebel,” he picked up his dusty headgear and slunk away. (Howell)

DR. SILAS HALSEY                        The town furnished four surgeons for the war of the Revolution: Henry White, Shadrack Hildreth, William Burnett, and Silas Halsey. Dr. Silas Halsey was a very determined man. There are many stories told of him. He lived in the Old Post House on Main Street at this time. It is said that once in crossing the ford at Water Mill, he met a squad of English soldiers, who threatened to capture him. In that day everyone was terribly afraid of small pox. They had reason to be, because vaccination was unknown. Dr. Silas on this occasion pulled a vial from his pocket and shook it at his captors.

“I’ve small pox enough here,” he shouted, “to pepper the whole British army. Let me go or I’ll fire it among ye.” No one stopped the doctor. He afterward moved to Connecticut among the refugees. His wife died there, and when the war was over, he moved to Ovid, New York, where his descendants live today. (traditional)

CAPT. DAVID HAND                        Captain David Hand had been a prisoner of war five times before his twentieth year. He was one of those unfortunate prisoners on the old Jersey, worst of prison ships. He was a man of great courage and daring. He was at one time robbed and plundered of his clothing by English sailors. He marched up to the captain of the ship and demanded it saying, “All I ask now is to begin at your traffrail and fight the whole ship’s crew forward and die like a man.” He was taken to Halifax, and footed it home across New England in winter. After tramping through the slush all one day, he thought he had taken his last step on earth, but he fell in with kind folks who nursed him back to health. He returned to Sag Harbor where he lived to the age of eighty-one, having had five wives. Their five gravestones may be seen today in Oakland Cemetery, Sag Harbor, and on his own this inscription:
            “Behold, ye living mortals passing by,
            How thick the partners of one husband lie;
            Vast and unsearchable the ways of God,
            Just but severe his chastening rod.”  (Adams)

CAPT. JOHN WHITE                        Deacon John White of Sagg was one of the refugees who had gone to Connecticut. While the English were in possession of Sag Harbor on May 23, 1777, he piloted the Meigs expedition which successfully crossed Long Island Sound, transported their whale boats across the north side of the island, crossed Peconic Bay, landed at Sag Harbor, arrested the English garrison and destroyed twelve English brigs and sloops, one hundred tons of hay, ten hogsheads of run, and a large quantity of grain. They returned to Connecticut in twenty-five hours without the loss of a single man. (Mather)


REV. SAMUEL BUELL                        One of the most noted characters of this section was the Rev. Samuel Buell, minister in the East Hampton church at this time. Although a staunch patriot, he made friends with the English officers, and was able by his friendly relations to do more for his people than if he had been unwilling to meet the invaders half way. He and General Erskine were very good friends and often went hunting together. One day General Erskine brought one of his young officers over to East Hampton to meet the minister. “And what division of His Majesty’s army do you have the honor to command?” Dr. Buell said pleasantly.

Lord Percy, young and arrogant, said quickly, “A legion of devils straight from hell.”

Not to be outdone in repartee, the old minister bowed low and said courteously, “Then I suppose I have the pleasure of addressing Beelzebub, Prince of Devils?”

Another time when General Erskine said, “Dr. Buell, I have just ordered your townsmen to appear with their teams at Southampton at seven o’clock tomorrow (Sunday) morning.” Dr. Buell replied, “Your Excellency, you are in command six days a week. Sunday is the Lord’s day. I am in command then. I shall countermand your order.” The teams did not go out the next day. (East Hampton History)

These are a few of the stories of the Revolutionary war, listened to by girls and boys of Southampton for generations. In recounting them we are reminded of Emerson’s Concord Hymn:            “The foe long since in silence slept,
                                    Alike the conqueror silent sleeps.”

The enemies of one hundred and fifty years ago are firm friends today, and England and America stand together, leading the world in understanding and friendship.

Courtesy Lizbeth Halsey White Files, Southampton Historical Museum Archives and Research Center

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