The fighting Delavans: A North Salem family's role in the battle for liberty

NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - The story of the American Revolution is filled with unsung heroes. The Delavan Family of North Salem is one such example. This family of ardent Patriots did so much for the cause of Liberty here in Westchester County and yet are unknown to most of the American public.

Timothy and Hannah (Bouton) Delavan had twelve children (eleven boys and one girl). Ten of their sons survived into adulthood. Timothy I served in the French and Indian War with three of his sons. Twenty years later, Timothy I served in the American Revolution with nine of his sons and one grandson. Timothy’s youngest son would serve (and die) in the Ohio Valley under General “Mad” Anthony Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

The Delavans played an incredibly active role in the American Revolution. Most of them served in the local militias, particularly the Westchester County Militia 3rd and 4th Regiments, and the Dutchess County Militia 7th Regiment. Some served in multiple positions throughout the course of the war, such as Samuel, Nathaniel, and Daniel.

During the war, the local Westchester militia was charged with protecting their local communities from attacks from the British and Hessian troops, as well as dealing with the marauding “Cowboys” and “Skinners”. The Patriots controlled the region north of Peekskill, while the British controlled the region south of Morrisania. The region in between was known as “The Neutral Ground”. This title was very inappropriate. “The Neutral Ground” was anything but that. There was a constant state of fighting in that area for the entire length of the American Revolution (even after the Battle of Yorktown!). Aside from the official army troops fighting each other, neighbors were taking advantage of the chaos to settle old scores against their neighbors. It was not uncommon for farms or fields to be set ablaze, livestock stolen or killed.

Even before the war came to New York, the Delavans were active in preparation to lead the Patriot resistance to the Crown. On October 1, 1775, Captain Samuel Delavans Rangers and Captain Nathaniel Delavan and the Westchester County Militia 3rd Regiment were deployed to build and arm the forts that would monitor the East River and the Harlem River, respectively. While the Delavans were not at the Battle of Long Island/Brooklyn Heights in late August 1776, they were in position to assist General Washington’s troops as they evacuated from Long Island. At the Battle of Harlem Heights, Captain Samuel Delavans Rangers would play an important role in attacking and harassing British troops as Washington repositioned his forces.

The Battle of White Plains (October 28, 1776) was the largest and most important battle fought in Westchester County during the American Revolution. Colonel Samuel Drake’s 3rd Regiment held their position in the center of the Continental defenses on Purdy Hill. They faced the main body of General William Howe’s army. Most of the militias fought on Chatterton’s Hill along the Bronx River against Hessian forces led by Colonels Rall and Von Donop.

In January 1777, Delavans Rangers engaged in several skirmishes with Colonel James Delancey’s Corps of Cowboys. Throughout the war, the main problem the Patriot militias had to deal with were the marauding groups known as the “Cowboys”, the “Skinners”, and the “Refugees”. The “Cowboys” were usually Loyalists or British soldiers who took their neighbors' cattle to feed the British troops. The “Skinners” were equal opportunity offenders who took advantage of the chaos in the region. They wantonly stole the property of Loyalists and Patriots alike. The worst of these groups were the “Refugees”. This group was a paramilitary group whose goal was to attack, capture, or kill American soldiers and militia. All three groups operated with the tacit approval of Colonel James Delancey, the former Sheriff of Westchester County and Colonial Legislator.

The Ward House in Eastchester served as the base camp for American foraging parties down into Loyalist New York City. On March 16, 1777, Captain Samuel Delavan and a group of 120 Westchester County militiamen provided cover for a group of five or six foraging parties into Williamsbridge. Major Archibald Campbell responded to the raid by surrounding and attacking Ward House. The Patriots fought bravely but were forced to evacuate the house. Captain Delavan barely escaped wearing a red coat and passing for a British officer.

The spring of 1777 was a very active period of the war here in our region. On March 23rd and April 26th, the British hit and destroyed American supply depots at Peekskill and Danbury. The 7th Dutchess and 4th Westchester Regiments scrambled their men to join General David Wooster at Bethel. Wooster’s forces would march from Danbury to intercept General William Tryon’s forces before they reached the heart of Ridgefield.

Two companies of the 3rd Westchester, led by Captains Nathaniel Delavan and Jesse Truesdale, marched overnight from North Salem to Danbury. It appears that the 3rd Westchester played a major role in disrupting and harassing Tryon’s forces as they left Danbury to return to Compo Beach. The 3rd Westchester destroyed a bridge over Wolf Pond in the Mirey Brook District of Danbury to slow Tryon down. They also repeatedly fired upon the rear of Tryon’s forces as they marched from Danbury to Ridgefield. This forced Tryon to reposition his best troops to the rear of his line.

Later that day, Wooster’s forces would engage Tryon’s forces twice along North Salem Road (Route 116). While the first engagement led to the capture of 20 British prisoners and many wagons of looted American supplies, the second engagement suffered several casualties, particularly the death of General Wooster and the wounding of Colonel Thaddeus Crane. The Delavans fought actively and heroically in the first two engagements, however, there is no clear record of their involvement in the 3rd engagement in the downtown area of Ridgefield.

On October 6, 1777, the Delavans were engaged in the “Battle of the Clintons” at Forts Clinton and Montgomery in the Hudson Highlands. British General Henry Clinton sent 2100 men north up the Hudson River to attack the forces of American Generals, Governor George Clinton and his brother James. 900 British troops went around the left flank of Bear Mountain to attack the forts from the west, while the rest of their force proceeded along the Hudson River from Stony Point to Fort Montgomery. The British outnumbered the Americans by 3 to 1 and had 5 ships bombarding the forts. The fighting was incredibly fierce. Eventually, as darkness fell, the hazy smoke of the razed American buildings, and the overwhelming British firepower forced the Americans to flee the forts. The only good that emerged from this battle for the Americans is that Henry Clinton decided to return to New York City with his men rather than to proceed to Saratoga to reinforce General John Burgoyne’s forces.

On July 16, 1779, General “Mad” Anthony Wayne executed a brilliant nighttime attack on the British stronghold at Stony Point. Wayne’s forces consisted of 1,500 highly trained men, including Daniel Delavan. Wayne’s men scaled the steep slopes of Stony Point in very dark and windy conditions. To maintain their stealthy approach, most of Wayne’s men carried unloaded weapons, relying more on bayonets. The speed and surprise of the attack quickly overwhelmed the 750 British soldiers, most of whom were captured without injury.

A week later, on July 24, 1779, the dreaded British rangers, John Simcoe and Banastre Tarleton, launched an attack on the First Presbyterian Church in Yorktown Heights. The church had been used as a base camp, barracks, and supply depot by the Americans. The church was set ablaze and most of its supplies were destroyed. The 7th Dutchess Regiment had 30 men killed or wounded at this attack. Tarleton then proceeded down the road to the home of his frequent nemesis, Captain Samuel Delavan. While Delavan was not home, over 30 American militiamen under the command of Captain Israel Honeywell were captured and imprisoned in the dreaded New York Sugar House prison.

In September 1780, Captain Daniel Delavan was present for one of the great moments of infamy in American history- the betrayal of General Benedict Arnold. The fortress at West Point was a vital part of American defenses of the Hudson River region. As commander of the fort, Arnold offered the fort and some vital strategic information to the British in exchange for 20,000 British pounds and the rank of Lieutenant General. While Arnold escaped on board the HMS Vulture, the spy John Andre was captured. General Washington placed Delavan in temporary command of the fort. Delavan also witnessed the execution of Andre in Tappan.

Captain Daniel Delavan was assigned to the 2nd Regiment of the New York Line after he was relieved of his duties at West Point. He would spend the final year of the war under the command of the Marquis de Lafayette and General Benjamin Lincoln. Delavan fought at the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia, the battle that ultimately gained our freedom from Great Britain. According to Delavans obituary, at the end of the war, the Marquis de Lafayette presented Daniel Delavan with his sword as a sign of respect and friendship.

A year later, troops under the command of Comte de Rochambeau returned to Yorktown Heights on September 24, 1782. Rochambeau established his headquarters at the home of Captain Samuel Delavan (on Hallock’s Mill Road). Rochambeau ordered his men to dredge and redirect a stream to provide a fresh supply of water for his men (and Delavans mills). They also made repairs on Delavans home and outbuildings. Unfortunately, as the weather changed, the French troops cleared the property of trees and fenceposts to be used as firewood. As the French were preparing to leave for Boston, Delavan arrived with the local constable and threatened to place the Comte de Rochambeau under arrest for damages done to Delavans property. At first, the French officers were incredulous- but then Delavan grabbed the Comte by the scruff of the neck. Delavan demanded an exorbitant amount of money in payment for the damage. To his credit, Rochambeau waved his men off, told them to investigate the charges. Rochambeau paid Delavan half of what he had demanded and left.

The true end to the war in the New York region occurred on November 25, 1783, with Evacuation Day. All of Timothy Delavans sons were given the honor of being the personal honor guard for General Washington and Governor George Clinton as the marched from Harlem to the Battery. Later, a dinner was held in honor of the Delavans and their service during the war.

The youngest Delavan brother, Cornelius, was the only one to die in combat. Cornelius served in the Legion of the United States, under General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, in the early 1790s. Like several of his brothers, Cornelius served as a Dragoon. During the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Delavans company charged out in pursuit of the Miami Indians. Unfortunately, they raced out beyond the cover fire provided by Wayne’s Army. The Miami Indians ambushed Delavans company killing many of them. While the Americans quickly defeated the Miamis, many of Delavans company were buried in a mass grave whose location is now unknown.

Like so many other soldiers, after the war, the Delavans returned to their farms and tried to help reestablish their communities. Several of the brothers became involved in the towns of North Salem and Patterson as local government officials. Two of the brothers moved into very prominent careers. Immediately after the war ended, Major Nathaniel Delavan was elected to represent Westchester County in the 5th New York State Assembly in Poughkeepsie under Governor George Clinton. Captain Daniel Delavan would overlap his military and civic career. He would ultimately achieve the rank of Brigadier General in 1802. In North Salem, Daniel would serve in many civic positions including Town Clerk (1790-1793) and Town Supervisor (1793-1799). Daniel was then elected as Westchester County Sheriff from 1806 to 1807.

Amazingly, this family of heroes would disappear soon after the American Revolution. Timothy I was born in 1713 and died in 1803. He fought in the French and Indian War in his late 40s and in the American Revolution in his 60s. Timothy would outlive eight of his twelve children, while his wife Hannah would outlive ten of her children. This family of warriors would survive fighting in two wars. Only young Cornelius would die in combat.