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the English troops had been withdrawn from these parts, Pomp’s master said to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.
Courtesy Lizbeth Halsey White Files, Southampton Historical Museum Archives and Research Center.
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