New York
Seth Mead a Private in Coll. Delancey’s Corps of
Refugess, being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, deposeth and
saith That on the last Sunday in October last, he was taken Prisoner near the
Saw Pitts in the Township of Rye in West Chester County by Benjamin Kirby,
Botch Brush, Nathl. Sacket and on
Dittimus a Party of Rebells who were I a whale boat, and Was carried by them
across the Sound on Long Island to one Zeno Carpenters who lives in Lattin Town
on the North Side of said Island, and about thirty miles from this City, where
there was one Thomas Carpenter, Son of the said Zeno Carpenter who joined the
said Party and then proceeded to one Job Merrits about a quarter of a mile from
the said Carpenters, who gave them. Information that they could not do the
particular Business which they had come upon, but that there was one John
Butler who lived about a mile off had a great deal of money; That thereupon the
said Party went to said Butlers House, but as they were afraid there might be
more men in the House than they expected, they did not go in- That then the
said Thomas Carpenter told the said Party that there was one Henry Bird a
Refugee who was at Benjamin Lattins also a Neighbour of said Carpenters, who he
knew had a considerable Sum of money, they Immediately proceeded to said
Lattins House, knocked on the door and demanded Entrance, which was granted
them, and they asked the family if Henry Bird was there? Who answered no. That
the said Party then replied, that they told a damned lie and ordered a Candle
to be light; after which they soon found said Bird, and immediately demanded
his money and Watch, which he gave to them.
The Deponent further saith, that after the said
Party had robbed the said Bird, the said Thomas Carpenter told them that there
was one James Browne a Refugee in the same house, and advised them to rob him
also, which they accordingly did all of his money and Cloaths, after beating
him in a most cruel manner.
The Deponent further saith, that after the said
Party had robbed the said Bird and Browne, as they came out of the Door to go
away, there was that Instant a Patrole of two of the 17th Dragoons
who were passing by the said House, and that the said Thomas Carpenter hailed
them and asked them who there were; they answered Friends to King George, upon
which the said Thomas Carpenter presented his Gun at them and snaped, which was
owing to the Guns being wet. That the said two Dragoons then galloped
off, and the said Thomas Carpenter told the Party that he imagined upon his
snaping his Gun at the Dragoons, there would be an Alarm, and advised them to
get off as soon as possible; and if they wouldn’t come over the next Thursday
Night, he wouldn’t look out and see that everything was ready and safe in order
to rob the Person which they had intended, but whose name the Deponent could
not learn- That in Case they could not come on Thursday Night, he said Thomas
Carpenter further told them, that he would come over to them and let them know
it would be safe for them to come.
And this Deponent
further saith that they said Thomas Carpenter and Job Merrit shared equally
with the said Party the money and Effects which they the said Party had
plundered of said Henry Bird and James Browne.
And further the Deponent saith not.
Seth Mead
Sworn on this 7th day
Of June 1781 before me
D Mathews Mayor
Of the city of
New York
Wiliam L. Clents Library, Sir Henry Clinton
Papers, Volume 158, folio 3