“This collection contains rare primary-source information: first-hand accounts of individuals experiencing the American Revolution as it unfolded in the geographically-significant area of the war, which is now Westchester County. These accounts allow researchers and the public to gain a better understanding of life in the late 18th century, and how men and women, from various walks of life, survived the struggle for independence.” Westchester County Historical Society
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald
The following interviews from the recently digitized "McDonald Interviews" collection
contain several excerpts about the Ward House, emphasizing its historic significance.
March 16, 1777: Skirmish at Ward’s House (Second)
October 23, 1776: Skirmish at Ward’s House (First)
November 13, 1778: Capture of Colonel Thomas Thomas and Destruction of Ward’s House
NT_324 Interview with Williams, John
"I helped to bury the dead. Wards House was called “Winter Hill.” When the British stormed it they came up secretly along the Bronx and through a corn field. Were challenged by the sentry whom they shot, and then advanced quickly and took the house. The house was afterwards burnt after it had been entirely dismantled of doors, windows, roof &c. which we carted off, amounting to as many as fifty loads. This I saw."
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/778/rec/8
INT_246 Interview with Dibble, John
“I was at the attack of Ward’s house by Major Campbell. The same day we went down to Williams’s Bridge on a scout to cover a foraging party of five or six teams which went down to Morrisania to take off forage. The British came from Kingsbridge to oppose us and we fought them across the river all day long till the teams returned. We were about eighty strong. About forty went down with the teams, and forty remained at the bridge. The British were about fifty strong at the bridge where they had a fort. It was right before we got back to Wards. Samuel Delavan [X] commanded us, and he was saved that night in consequence of wearing a red coat passing for a British officer. The British approached Ward’s house on ^from the west side of the road. A sentinel was posted north or perhaps in the road who challenged and the British then ran up. Capt. Noah Bouton came to the door and asked for quarter, saying they would then surrender. but Major Campbell said: “Fire away, boys! – Kill all the d – d Rebels you can!” Bouton then fired with his musket and shot Campbell through the body dead. There were about two hundred Americans in the house, and they all escaped but twenty seven who were taken prisoners and six who were killed. The British had eight killed. I ran out of the house north, and found a company advancing which I joined and with them advanced to the house where the British were firing into the windows. We took post behind a stone wall and attacked them, but they outnumbered and outflanked us, and compelled us to retreat. That night we retreated two miles off and next day buried the dead at Ward’s house, and next day after that we retreated to North Castle, and afterwards about a week went to White Plains where we remained until discharged."
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/679/rec/15
INT_352 Interview with McLean, Donald
1849 “Capt. Archibald Campbell of Dutchess County, killed at Ward’s house had been a British officer who had served in the old French or Seven Years’ War. Most of the Scotch officers who settled at Fredericksburgh had also served in the same war, &c. By the treaty the property of officers in the service was not to be confiscated.”
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/855/rec/1
INT_383 Interview with Barker, William
"The Hainses who, in the Revolutionary war were active Royalists and celebrated for bodily strength and courage were the grandsons of the original Godfrey Haines (at least I think so). It was Elijah Haines that was killed at the capture of Ward’s house I believe."
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/1000/rec/2
INT_207 Interview with Odell, Jackson
"John Shaw, was a Scotchman from somewhere in Salem, a mechanic of some kind, a good swordsman, and was a dragoon (a private) in, I believe Captn Samuel Delavan’s light horse. At the urprise of Ward’s house in March 1777, he went upstairs for his saddle and took it off safely although at every step the stirrups struck the stairs with a loud noise. He left a son who married the youngest sister of James McChain and lives now at Peekskill. John Shaw had the reputation of being a very brave soldier."
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/617/rec/3
INT_393 Interview with Williams, John
"I remember when Colonel Simcoe went up with a party and burnt Ward’s House. They took off all the siding of the house, together with the doors, window shutters, &c. and transported the same to Kingsbridge to build barracks for the troops. After this they set fire to the (Wards) house and burnt it down."
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/1030/rec/4
INT_346 Interview with Gedney, Prince
"Elijah Haines, a relative or connection of my master’s family and a brother of Godfrey Haines, and others, was killed in the attack upon Ward’s House."
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/1455/rec/5
INT_080 Interview with Barker, WIlliam
"Captain Campbell and Lieutenant Paddock met in Wards house, when the former entered and ran each other through. Lieut. Paddock had just at that time, obtained a Lieutenancy in the Continental army, and came down to the lines to recruit from the militia and others. One of the Haines’ family a private in the Queen’s Rangers was killed at the same time."
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/407/rec/7
INT_078 Interview with Barker, William
“I had been sent on an errand on horseback to Captain John Tredwell and was returning home, being then about fourteen, when between my father’s (Squire Bonnats) and the next house south (Bate’s) I met a detachment of soldiers and was accosted by one of Colonel Simcoe’s officers on the return of his party from the capture of General Thomas. This officer bade me dismount, threatening to cut my head off if I did not, and mounted the horse I had been riding myself. I followed on and enquired for the commanding officer, and at length found Simcoe who, after I had repre- -sented my case to him said: “Well, don’t be afraid, my little man, you shall have your horse – march on with us for the present, and I’ll send for him.” Presently a soldier came along leading the horse which was then given up to me. They had one or two other prisoners besides Colonel Thomas. Before I recovered my horse we had come near to Ward’s House which had just then been burnt. The roof and beams had fallen in and it was still burning.”
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/384/rec/6
INT_138 Interview with Lawrence, Samuel
"In 1777, I went under Captain Richard Sackett in the Nine Month’s Men and we fought the British across the Bronx near Williams Bridge. We then retreated for safety, and Major Fish our commander, a very wary man, conducted us, cautiously, across the fields to Wards house – Wards house was full, and our party went to a house about a quarter of a mile further (Morgan’s). I was fatigued with fighting and marching all day and fell asleep immediately, and was waked by the firing at Wards. Fifteen or sixteen Americans were killed there. Fish took a musket and fired at the British repeatedly. I believed always that Captn William Bouton, then living in South Salem killed Major Campbell with his [fuzee].[X] (?) (see orgl. p. 84) John Shaw, a Scotchman, a volunteer horseman, was at Ward’s and went upstairs for his saddle after the enemy were in their stirrups and ^it went clink! clink! as he came down the stairs. They, the British, captured then, a great number of horses."
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/942/rec/9
INT_345 Interview with Clark, Moses
"They dismantled Ward’s house, taking boards, doors, windows, &c. away and then burnt what remained."
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/856/rec/12
INT_131 Interview with Coutant, John
[Description: "John Coutant (1754-1850) begins his interview by describing an American attack on a Hessian force near Ward’s House in Eastchester on October 23, 1776. At the time, the bulk of the British army was encamped in New Rochelle, and a portion of the army was on the Coutant family farm near present-day Webster Avenue and Eastchester Road . Coutant indicates that he brought some wounded Hessians over a rough road from the site of the battle to the main encampment in New Rochelle."]
“The skirmish between the Americans and Hessians on October 23rd. and 24th. ’76 (?) was about a mile from here near Mrs. Morrell’s house, in the fields, this side. The Hessians probably had been out towards East Chester plundering when they were attacked by the Americans who surrounded them. About eight wounded Hessians were brought in here. Great alarm in camp – Drums beat to arms. Wounded men were taken on board hospital ship in East river the next day by me and our team. While conducting them an alarm was made by an officer that the rebels were coming from Fort Washington and we were ordered to turn about – A false alarm – but we did turn about. When I shook the wounded in driving over the rough road they screamed, and the Hessian guards abused me. This was in the forenoon about 7 or 8 o’clock. The British army all turned out. About the middle of the war an American Captain with a detachment of men were pursued by a body of British horse in East Chester near the church. The Americans took to the fields, and crossed through [New Rochelle] a little west of me about half a mile. Em-merick, I think, was with the British party, but I don’t know who command-ed the American party – The Americans crossed a swamp near the White Plains road and [New Rochelle] passing over ground where cavalry could not act, and took the opportunity to make a general discharge. British attempted to charge repeatedly, but the American Captain was so judicious that he brought his men safely off. I think this was a scouting party. Probably a scouting party of C. Oakley. (?)"
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/502/rec/13
INT_128 Interview with Horton Francis Coutant
"In 1776 the British army moved gradually by our house – the British first, and then the Hessians took their place. The British when they left moved south towards Wards house. [Qu? Sunday 27th] They stripped us of everything. The skirmish with the Hessians was near our house. They had been plundering, and had pumpkins on their heads which they dropped. They took off the doors and shutters from our house to transport their wounded on."
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/926/rec/14
The McDonald Papers, Part !!, Chapter 5, Recollections of the Revolution
"DEATH OF MR. CRAWFORD Late in the fall & first part of the winter of 1776 Col. William Duer, Egbert Benson & Jonathan G. Tompkins (all members of the committee of safety) were appointed to superintend the bringing off of all the stock, forage & grain from the lower part of West Chester County to prevent it falling into the hands of the enemy. Four Continental four horse waggons, with a number of ox teams were procured for that purpose, all the cattle & horse kind of all ages & sizes also forage were brought to my Father’s farm. Samuel Crawford (the Father of Elijah Crawford) a stout, spirited man was conductor of these teams. Being down on a Sunday, there was a good deal of skirmishing between Delevan’s rangers & the Tory refugees (Capt. Samuel Delevan who commanded a company of rangers was stationed at Judge Ward’s house & went down every day to protect these teams). Mr. Crawford called to see his sister & fell in the rear of the teams. The refugees came into the house, & he surrendered himself a prisoner. One of them asked him his name & as soon as he told it run him through with his bayonet. He was taken to King’s bridge, thrown into a waggon to be taken to New York & died by the way. The same night, a company commanded by Capt. Archibald Campbell (a Scotchman) were marched into the yard in front of Judge Ward’s house. Campbell immediately advanced on to the piazza floor & uttered the most profane oaths, & order-ing the rangers to resign, he approached the step of the door, when a shot from inside, struck him & he fell dead on the piazza floor, when some of his men fired, & killed Lieut. Padock, who was standing inside, near the door. After entering the lower part of the house & finding no one there, (the rangers, some of them secreting themselves in different parts of the house & some made their escape out the back door) Campbell’s men made a pricipitate retreat, there being a large company of militia, at a house about 1/4 mile distant who, on hearing the firing, instead of coming to aid the rangers all ran off.
https://collections.westchestergov.com/digital/collection/mcdonald/id/284/rec/11
The Ward House in the McDonald Papers
Courtesy of The Westchester Historical Society