Macdonald, John. Interview with Hobby, Enos, 1761-1857; (1849-11-05). John M. McDonald Interviews, 1844-1851, WCHS item 1363. Westchester County Historical Society. Transcribed by history.croton.news April 2026.
November 3d Went, accompanied by John Nugent to White Plains --
In the evening at Mr Washington Tompkins.
Nov. 4. At the Episcopal Church, Jr.
Novr 5th Enos Hobby, of Middle Patent, aged 89: "Bearmore, I [that] think when I knew him was about 25 or 30, and a very good and bold officer, but severe towards prisoners. In November (?) 1780, we started from Headquarters at Morris's house (afterwards …
The American scouts was posted
at the time they fired on the south east cor
-ner of the roads which cross at Twitchings
and kept up their fire with great spirit for
a quarter of an hour. The night was pitch
dark and we couldn't see their number.--
Bearmore ordered his men to charge, but the
bank was high with a fence on the top which
the horses couldn't surmount and with
trees and bushes. At this …
John Glisson, an Irishman of my
acquaintance said to me: "Let's exchange
accoutrements, and you push into Mor
-risania, and don't take anybody behind
you." I did so, and took care of the
horse. There were several troop of
horse along with us. The sun was about
an hour high when we started, but
the night that ensued was uncommonly
dark. Bearmore died a few weeks after-
-wards. He was a fine looking…
Jesse Mills proposed that we should escape, and most of us agreed to make the attempt; but one prisoner was weak-hearted, and said he would inform against us if we persevered. We had as many men (including the sailors) as the guard numbered, and the sailors were anxious to second us.
Next day, however, the sailors were taken to another prison at Fairfield. I went up to Stanwich on this occasion w…
The officer in command
came in to look at us on the same night, and
said to the officer of the guard: "If any one of
the prisoners attempts to escape, dispatch
and run him instantly through!" About
midnight, or a little after, I rose, according to
our plan, and cried out: "Surrender!" &c, and
then ran for the door and knocked down the
sentry posted immediately at the outside of the
door. My three …
A third sentinel was posted on the road in advance about eight or ten rods off, and he fired as we supposed at the second sentinel's flash and killed him dead. When we formed our plan of escape there was a report current that the Refugees were coming up to liberate us, and this report materially aided our escape, as it intimidated the guard when we shouted out and made them think they were surpris…
I think it was in 1781, that the fever was
so fatal at Morrisania. I had it in 1781.
The second time I was taken at North
Street, a little south west of where Abraham
Reynolds lives. There were three of us, and
we were taken by Lieut. Charles Smith, father
of Charles Smith of North Street (Stanwich). Charles Smith said to me: "Cousin Enos,
we must secure you and take you in, and then
we'll parole…