A. O. had been Deputy Chairman|| of the Committee for Cow Neck, Great Neck, &c., and it became his duty to grant passes to those wishing to leave the county, and preside at meetings where resolutions, offensive to the Loyalists, were often passed; hence, though a mild and moderate man,¶ he naturally from his position incurred their resentment. After the defeat at Brooklyn, he left his home and was concealed for two or three weeks at Jacob Vanderbelt's, Huntington. He then came in on the faith of the British Proclamation, and gave up to Sir Wm. Erskine, on Long Island; in violation of which he was cast into prison.

One Sunday before his imprisonment, as he was returning from Flower Hill, I. R., with Mike Burns and one Osborn, met him, used abusive language, and finally seized the reins of his bridle, and for lack of rope, said he had "a great mind to peel bark and hang him."

While A. O. was yet in Provost, Capt. Stephen Thorne rode up to his house, and as he sat on his horse, said, in the course of conversation with A. O.'s wife, that " the Declaration of Independence was a wrong thing." She replied, (perhaps to conciliate his good will,) that "her husband did not approve of it either, and thought it was going too far; but as it was the will of the majority, he fell in with it.”**

During the armed occupation of Queens county, the Loyalists had frequent opportunities of insulting the Whigs. Immense quantities of cord-wood were carted to A. O.'s landing, (now C. Pearsall's.) The gates were often left open, and if his son, tired of driving out stray cattle, should request a carter to shut the gate, "Your father is not Chairman of the Committee now," would be the ready taunt. And if the father should venture a like request, he would be greeted with "You d-d Dutch rebel, I'll go on board the man of war (meaning the guard ship in Cow Bay,) and complain of you for hindering me from carting the King's wood."

* Col. Graydon says a like insult was offered the American prisoners taken at Fort Washington.

+ Women often brought food for the prisoners in little baskets, which after examination, were handed in. Now and then, the guard might in

tercept what was sent, or Cunningham (if the humor took him) as he passed through the hall, might kick over vessels of soup placed there by the charitable for the poor and friendless prisoners.

"I was appointed provost marshal to the Royal army, which placed me in a situation to wreak my vengeance on the Americans. I shudder to think of the murders I have been accessory to, both with and without orders from government, especially while in New-York, during which time there were more than 2000 prisoners starved in the different churches, by stopping their rations, which I sold. There were also 275 American prisoners and obnoxious persons executed; out of all which number there were only about one dozen public executions, which chiefly consisted of British and Hessian deserters. The mode for private executions was thus conducted: A guard was despatched from the Provost about half-past twelve at night, to the Barrack street, (now Chambers,) and the neighborhood of the upper barracks, to order the people to shut their window-shutters and put out their lights, forbidding them at the same time to presume to look out of their windows and doors, on pain of death; after which the unfortunate prisoners were conducted gagged, just behind the upper barracks, and hung without ceremony, and there buried by the black pioneer of the Provost."-Dying Confession.

§ One Guinea Reward.-Ran away, a black man, named Richmond, being the common hangman, formerly the property of the rebel Col. Patterson, of Pennsylvania. Aug. 4, 1781.

WM. CUNNINGHAM.

|| Gov. Tryon said, "I should, were I in more authority, burn every committee-man's house within my reach, as I deem those agents the wicked instruments of the continued calamities of this country; and in order sooner to purge the country of them, I am willing to give 25 silver dollars for every acting committee-man, who shall be delivered up to the King's troops." Nov. 23, 1777.

¶ Benj. Sands, Chairman of the Committee, was for going ahead. He was especially severe on the New-Yorkers who moved into the district. (See 43.) When A. O. recommended gentler measures, he replied," Then you think we ought to do nothing, eh?"

**The Declaration of Independence," says Graydon, " was not received with the enthusiasm since supposed. Many who had supported the Whig cause fell back."

118. Major Thorne, of Great Neck, was taken by Col. Birch, Sept. 27, 1776, at his house, and carried to Flushing

meeting house; on the 28th, carried to Newtown meeting house; and on the 29th to New-York, and put in the new City Hall, (site of the Custom House,) and kept there till Nov. 12, when, at the repeated solicitations of his wife, Col. Ludlow became surety for his conduct, and he was set free.

Col. Birch also took from Major Thorne 7 cows, worth £49, 2 three year old steers, worth £14, 1 heifer worth £5, 15 sheep worth £9; total, £77.

Major Thorne had marched to Brooklyn with the militia, and stood guard all night at Fort Oblong, when he was attacked with the dysentery. He returned home on furlough Aug. 25. After the defeat at Brooklyn he fled the county, crossed the Sound at Huntington, and went to Fishkill, where the Congress was in session.

Dr. Latham attended him and was with him at Fishkill, Sept. 7. Soon after this the Major ventured to return home, and was arrested in violation of the Proclamation.

119. The Oyster Bay committee were in session at Dan'l Cock's, Matinecock, when news was brought of our defeat at Brooklyn. They at once broke up and hastened home, there to await their fate, except Joost Monfort and Isaac Bogart, who took leave of their families, mounted horses and rode off to Huntington Ferry, where they crossed the same night in company with Maj. Thorne and others, and proIceeded to Fishkill. Joost Monfort, after a few months absence, ventured home in the night, and before day hurried off to Gen. Robertson, at New-York, to give up before his loyal neighbors should molest him. however, and Esq. A. V York to prevent his getting a pardon.

W

They got wind of it,

hastened to New

He was so abusive

when he found he could not succeed, that Robertson ordered him out of his office and gave Monfort a certificate.

120. The Kings county light-horse were now driving cattle from Hog Island, but on hearing of the defeat at Brooklyn, they left the cattle at Matinecock and crossed the sound at Huntington, Aug. 29, leaving their horses to come by the next boat. But the Huntington committee detained

the horses for the defence of the island, so that the riders went without them to Fishkill, where the Convention sat.

121. A British sergeant and three light-horse came to Cedar Swamp in September, and continued there some time, hunting Whigs and impressing wagons.*

* Sept. 7, 1776. One Harrison, from Long Island, reports to Congress that "the ministerial troops have been to Oyster Bay and Hempstead. That the disaffected have joined the enemy and proceeded as far as Setauket; that Wm. Smith, of - administers oaths of allegiance,

and Tho's Smith, of Hog Island, receives submissions."

He

122. A week after the Kings county horse had driven the cattle off Hog Island to Matinecock, a detachment of the 17th light dragoons appeared at Norwich and apprehended George Townsend, chairman of the Queens county committee, and John Kirk, also a committee-man. Townsend was not at home the first time his house was visited, but had fled to Huntington, whence he unfortunately returned. Kirk was in his corn-field stouting top-stalks. When warned of the approach of the enemy and advised to flee, he refused, saying he was ready for his fate now, for should he escape this time, he could have no peace till they seized him. also had faint hopes from the proclamation of Howe, promising pardon to all who would quietly remain at home. They conducted the two committee-men on horseback to the house of Samuel Townsend, member of the Provincial Congress. They found him seated on his stoop, and informed him of their business. A crowd soon gathered around, attracted by the novel sight of British light-horse and sympathy for their fellow-citizens. The officers were most hospitably entertained, and such appliances used that on one Buchanan's promising he should be forthcoming at NewYork whenever summoned, he was allowed to go at large.

Far different was the fate of the other two. George Townsend having been chairman of the committee, and withal a bold, blunt, talented man, had exasperated his loyal

neighbors past endurance, and could find no intercessor in his hour of peril. And when an old acquaintance, John Townsend, at the mill, was importuned to say a kind word for Kirk, he coolly replied, "He has got into this scrape himself; let him help himself out as best he can."

the

This same Townsend was forced to leave his property at peace, and go in exile to England, where he died.

The troopers, on their return to Norwich, were met by Kirk's wife and daughter, (my informant,) who had gathered up some clothing and other articles, to render the hardships of prison more tolerable. To soothe their anguish, the women were told the prisoners would soon be released. That night they were shut up in the meeting house at Flushing, and next day taken to the Provost, where they were thrown among the offscouring of the earth. After repeated remonstrances, they were separated from this vile herd. Penelope Hull, a Quakeress, offered to carry them food twice a day. Their washing was done at home. After nine weeks' imprisonment, two English Quakers, Jacob Watson and Robt. Murray, procured their release, and became security for their good behavior. That evening, as the family of Kirk was seated quietly by the fireside, they heard a knocking at the door. "There's the soldiers again," exclaimed the affrighted mother. She was mistaken. It was George Townsend's voice. "Why don't you come and help your father out of the chaise ?" He was sick of the small pox, caught in the Provost; and his return home, instead of diffusing joy and peace, spread consternation and death! The husband, indeed, recovered, but the wife and her infant daughter went down to the grave.