Historic treasures lie beneath our feet as we trod the lawns, streets, and fields of the Town of Pelham. Occasionally, those treasures surface as was the case recently when Resi Donovan and her friend, Jim Donohoe, both of Pelham Manor dug up a Revolutionary War cannon ball in Ms. Donovan's yard at 917 Plymouth Avenue. See Mon., May 18, 2015: Cannonball Fired in The Battle of Pelham Found on Plymouth Street in Pelham Manor.
Sometimes, however, treasures lie not beneath our feet but, instead, within our archives similarly waiting to be found. Pelham Manor resident Mark Gaffney has uncovered significant records of the depradations that occurred in the Manor of Pelham during the Revolutionary War. Mr. Gaffney is the most serious scholar of Pelham history whom I know among the many who are out there. Recently he located a series of records that detail efforts by British Loyalists to obtain compensation for the loss of their personal property in the Manor of Pelham during the Revolutionary War. The records Mark Gaffney found are located in the National Archives of the United Kingdom and have been digitized and made part of the "UK, American Loyalist Claims, 1776-1835" collection maintained as part of the online collections available via Ancestry.com.
Mr. Gaffney brought to my attention extensive records reflecting claims for compensation pursued by two of the Manor of Pelham's most infamous British Loyalists: John Pell and Joshua Pell, Jr. (often referenced as "Joshua Pell II"). Joshua Pell, Jr.'s father, Joshua Pell, Sr., built a home in the Manor of Pelham in about 1760. A portion of the original Joshua Pell farmhouse still stands and is incorporated into the home known today as the "Kemble House" that stands at 135 Shore Road in Pelham and 791 Pelham Road in New Rochelle. The home has two addresses since the Pelham - New Rochelle boundary runs right through the home.
In a research paper prepared several years ago, Mark Gaffney wrote about the Joshua Pell property. He said:
"When Joshua Pell [Sr.] died in 1781, he left a tract of land to Joshua Pell II, then serving as a Captain in the British militia seeking to suppress the American Revolution. 69 [See Footnote 69 Below] Pursuant to the New York Legislature's October 22, 1779 "Act for the Forfeiture and Sale of the Estate of Persons who have adhered to the Enemies of the State," land in Pelham of Joshua Pell II was confiscated and half of it sold to William and Sarah Bayley. 70 [See Footnote 70 Below] She was a niece of Joshua Pell II, a relative entitled to purchase his seized land. The other half went to Augustine Prevost, the border between the halves being a stone fence to the present day dividing properties in Pelham Manor on Roosevelt Avenue and Park Lane, respectively. 71 [See Footnote 71 Below]
69 Settlement of the Ancient Town of Pelham at [].
70 Id. at [].
71 Westchester County Records of Land Conveyances, Liber P, Page 54; Libert T, Page 27."
I have written about Joshua Pell II on a number of occasions. See:
Mon., Aug. 20, 2007: Canadian Records of Claim Asserted by Joshua Pell, Formerly of Pelham Manor, A Loyalist Who Fought for the British in the Revolutionary War.
Fri., Aug. 3, 2007: Abstract of Sale of Lands of Joshua Pell of Pelham Manor by the Commissioners of Forfeiture in the Southern District of New York State in August, 1784.
Mon., Jun. 18, 2007: Information About Slaves Owned by Joshua Pell, Jr. of the Manor of Pelham.
Mon., Oct. 2, 2006: The Revolutionary War Diary of Loyalist Joshua Pell, Jr. of the Manor of Pelham.
Wed., Aug. 30, 2006: 1786 Notice Requiring Filing of Creditors' Claims Against Forfeited Estates of Loyalists Including Joshua Pell of the Manor of Pelham.
Another Pell family member who owned a large farm in the Manor of Pelham when the Revolutionary War began was John Pell. Like Joshua Pell II, John Pell was a Loyalist who filed claims after the War in an effort to obtain compensation for his losses during the war.
The records that Mark Gaffney located appear to be records of efforts by Joshua Pell II and John Pell to obtain compensation for loss of personal property rather than the loss of their land. The records shed light on the terrible losses incurred by Pelham residents during the war.
Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog includes images of the various records concerning John Pell as well as transcriptions of those records and citations and links to their sources. A later posting will address the records of the claims of Joshua Pell II.
Records of Claims of John Pell
The fifteen images that appear immediately below reveal a fascinating story about John Pell of the Manor of Pelham in Westchester County between 1776 and 1788. According to the materials, John Pell owned an estate in the Manor of Pelham when the British landed on Pell's Point immediately before the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776. John Pell was a Loyalist who supported the British cause. That, however, did not seem to protect him from the depradations of the British and German troops who landed that day. During the War, on November 10, 1780, John Pell was indicted by American authorities as a Loyalist traitor in proceedings that led to the forfeiture of his Pelham Manor real estate. Judgment was entered against him on October 26, 1782.
After the War, John Pell filed a claim with the British government seeking compensation for personal property losses he claimed were incurred on "1776 October 18th" (the date of the Battle of Pelham) including 21 milk cows, 8 fat cattle, 17 fat yearlings [i.e., yearling horses], 10 calves, 2 pairs of oxen, 110 sheep, 30 hogs, and 7 horses, all valued at 719 British pounds sterling.
The first two-page document below, a "Memorial" of John Pell's claim filed by an attorney representing him named John Patterson briefly summarizes Pell's claim and provides a "Report" by the British Office for Auditing the Public Accounts confirming that there is no record that the Commissary General at the time the losses purportedly were incurred had been charged for the losses.
The second document is a nine-page examination of the claim and decision on the claim of John Pell by two representatives of the British "Office of American Claims." According to that document, once the war began, John Pell and his family were known to be Loyalists and were persecuted for it. Indeed, the examination of claim states "he was by Reputation a Loyal Man and when the Americans made excursions to West Chester, he always took refuge in New York." Once Pell was "stripped of his estate," according to the document, he was "driven by distress to live in a Barn belonging to one of his neighbors."
Eventually John Pell and his family rented a farm and took refuge on Governor's Island in New York Harbor just off the coast of Manhattan. Destitute, Pell attempted unsuccessfully to sell his claim for personal property losses against the British government "for £100 to enable him and his Family to go to Nova Scotia on the evacuation of New York."
In support of his claim, Pell submitted two unsworn certifications, one from a former lieutenant in the Loyalist regiment known at the time of the Battle of Pelham as "Rogers Rangers" and the other from the former Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the Rogers Rangers at the time named Robert Rogers. Together the two unsworn certifications indicated that Rogers "gave orders to be culled from the Manor of Pelham, sundry Cattle for the use of the Army" and that Rogers subsequently delivered to the lieutenant "a considerable number of Cattle, Horses, and Sheep which I [the lieutenant] was to deliver to the Commissary of the British Army" and that the lieutenant delivered the cattle, horses, and sheep to the Commissary.
In addition to being unsworn, the two certificates did nothing to establish from whom the livestock were taken, much less whether they were taken from John Pell. Additionally, the reputation of Robert Rogers had suffered mightily since the early days of the war. Rogers reportedly suffered from alcoholism and at one point in his career had been arrested for treason, though he subsequently was vindicated.
John Pell also submitted an affidavit from a Pell family member, Loyalist Joshua Pell, in support of his claim. That affidavit stated in part:
"that when the British Army landed at the Manor of Pelham he who was an Inhabitant of it [i.e., Joshua Pell] landed with them. That to his certain knowledge Mr John Pell of the same Manor had a large stock of Cattle on his Farm which he verily believes was taken by and for the use of the British Army, as the said Pell, immediately complained that they were taken from him, that the Deponent then went to Colonel Rogers about them who told this Deponent, that one of his Lieutenants of the Name of Frost had his Orders to collect all the Cattle he could find and return them to the Commissary and that said Frost told the Deponent that he returned all the Cattle that he had in care by Col l Rogers's Orders, to the Commissary, which was what to the best of the Deponents knowledge, that at that time passed and the Deponent has great reason to believe that the Claimants Cattle was among those taken as aforesaid."
John Pell also submitted an affidavit from Jonathan Fowler of Eastchester based entirely on hearsay. The affidavit stated, in part, that at the time of the Battle of Pelham Fowler "heard Colonel Rogers say that he had taken the Claimants [i.e., Pell's] Cattle when he was on the Manor of Pelham and to the best of the deponents knowledge and belief he at the same time said that they were for the use of the Army."
The two representatives of the British "Office of American Claims" rejected Pell's claim summarily. They found that the proof was inadequate to establish that the livestock had been "regularly taken for the Public Service or with any intention of paying for them." Furthermore, the representatives went so far as to suggest that the "certificate" purportedly signed by Rogers was a forgery, stating that "The Certificate of Colonel Rogers being genuine is doubted from a comparison with other Papers of his signature." In any event, the representatives concluded, even if the Rogers certificate were genuine, "a Certificate from Colonel Rogers in his present situation can deserve but little attention," perhaps an oblique reference to his tattered reputation.
Below are images of the documents with links to the digital originals (pay subscription required). Each is followed by a transcription of its handwritten text.
Memorial of Claim of John Pell by John Patterson,
Attorney for John Pell. The National Archives of the UK;
Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims,
Series I; Class: AO 13; Piece: 087 - Letters and
Schedules A-Y. Page 1 (Available Via Ancestry.com,
UK, American Loyalist Claims, 1776-1835 [Database Online]
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid Subscription
Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"113
The Memorial of John Patterson Attorney for John Pell of West Chester in the Province of New York prays payment of the sum of two hundred and ten pounds being the value of twenty one Milch Cows at ten pounds each, for the sum of eighty pounds being the value of eight fat cattle at ten pounds each, for the sum of sixty eight pounds for, seventeen fat yearlings at four pounds each, for the sum of twenty seven pounds for eighteen calves at one pound ten shillings each, for the sum of eighty pounds the value of two yoke of oxen at forty pounds each, for the sum of one hundred and ten pounds the value of one hundred and ten sheep at twenty shillings each, for the sum of sixty pounds, the value of thirty hogs at two pounds each, for seven horses valued at twelve pounds each is eighty four pounds taken from the estate of John Pell for the use of His Majestry's Army, in the year 1776. Total Amount of this claim is seven hundred & nineteen pounds.
I have examined the Account of the late David Weir Esq r. Commissary General at the time when that this Property is said to have been taken but do not find that the Public have been charged therewith.
All which is humbly submitted.
Chas Stedman
Office for Auditing the Public Accounts 16th. August 1786.
Rec d 16 August 1786
[Illegible Initials]"
Memorial of Claim of John Pell by John Patterson,
Attorney for John Pell. The National Archives of the UK;
Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims,
Series I; Class: AO 13; Piece: 087 - Letters and
Schedules A-Y. Page 2 (Available Via Ancestry.com,
UK, American Loyalist Claims, 1776-1835 [Database Online]
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid Subscription
Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"417 [Number 417 Appears within a Diamond]
31
Report.
On the Claims of George Rome, Capt: Achibald Kennedy, James Hume Esqr, John Watson, Eliz. th Delancey, and John Pell.
Mr. Stedman to the Commissioners for Auditing the Public Accounts &c. &c. &c.
[An Oblong Ink Stamp with "PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE" around the rim and a crown in the center.]
August 16th. 1786.
Recd 16 August 1786.
W; Sh; Mmc. [Illegible Initials]
Minute 16 Aug t."
Examination of Claim and Decision on Claim
of John Pell, The National Archives of the UK;
Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims,
Series I; Class: AO 12-13; Piece: 72 - Decisions,
Examinations, Army and Navy, 1789, Page 1
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid
Subscription Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"211
107
Office of American Claims
29th November 1788.
Present
Colonel Dundas
Mr. Mackenzie
Examination on the Demand of John Pell late of the Province of New York
21 Milch Cows £10 each........................£210 " "
8 fat Cattle at £10 each.......................... 80 " "
17 fat yearlings at £4.............................. 68 " "
10 Calves at ...... 30 s / ........................ 27 " "
2 Yoke of Oxen at £40........................... 80 " "
110 Sheep at ...... 80 s / ....................... 110 " "
30 Hogs at .......... 40 s / ....................... 60 " "
7 Horses at ..........£12........................... 84 " "
£719 " "
Memorial read.
Rev d John Paterson Examined
Produces power of Attorney from John Pell dated at New York 23rd October 1783 appointing Examinant his Attorvney.
Also
115 [The number 115 appears within a diamond]"
Examination of Claim and Decision on Claim
of John Pell, The National Archives of the UK;
Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims,
Series I; Class: AO 12-13; Piece: 72 - Decisions,
Examinations, Army and Navy, 1789, Page 2
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid
Subscription Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"212
Also read a Letter from Gilbert Totten dated Annapolis Nova Scotia 15th Nov 1786 stating that John Pell was then there, that he had come thither from New York in order to lay his claim before the Commissioners but that it was too late to be admitted -- That he had been stripped of all his Property by confiscation of the State of New York and was reduced to great distress.
Examinant has been informed that Claimant has since rented a farm on Governors Island in the State of New York and believes he still lives there; he was by Reputation a Loyal Man and when the Americans made excursions to West Chester, he always took refuge in New York.
Examinant saw him there in the year 1783 he was there with his wife and Family and then informed Examinant that he had been dispossessed of his landed property, had been driven by distress to live in a Barn belonging to one of his neighbors"
Examination of Claim and Decision on Claim
of John Pell, The National Archives of the UK;
Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims,
Series I; Class: AO 12-13; Piece: 72 - Decisions,
Examinations, Army and Navy, 1789, Page 3
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid
Subscription Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"213
108
Examinant states as a further Proof of Claimants Loyalty that he offered to transfer the whole of his claim to him for £100 to enable him and his Family to go to Nova Scotia on the evacuation of New York
Examinant does not know anything of the Loss of the property claimed from his own personal knowledge, but says the papers relative thereto were lodged with the Board of Claims at New York. -- he received the Account stated in the Memorial from the Claimant and supposes the prices stated therein were the [full] value of the articles at the time the same were taken, but for more particular information he begs leave to refer to the Papers laid before the Board of Claims at New York
(Signed)
John Paterson
Signed before the Commissioners at their office -- Lincolns Inn Fields 2d Dec r 1788 }
Witness James Betts
James Hay.
The following is a Copy of the Demand and Certificate lodged before the Board of Claims at New York City.
government
116 [The number 116 appears within a diamond]"
Examination of Claim and Decision on Claim
of John Pell, The National Archives of the UK;
Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims,
Series I; Class: AO 12-13; Piece: 72 - Decisions,
Examinations, Army and Navy, 1789, Page 4
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid
Subscription Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"'government
To John Pell Viz
1776
October 18th
'On the Manor of Pelham.
'To
' 21 Milch Cows .....£10 ...........................£210 " "
' 8 fat Cattle............£10 ........................... 80 " "
' 17 fat yearlings 80 s / [sic]................ 68 " "
' 10 Calves at ...... 30 s / ........................ 27 " "
' 2 Yoke of Oxen....£40........................... 80 " "
' 110 Sheep at ...... 20 s / [sic].................. 110 " "
' 30 Hogs at .......... 40 s / ....................... 60 " "
' 7 Horses at ..........£12........................... 84 " "
£719 " "
'New York Aug t 7th 1783
'City of New York )
} ss'
'in America )'
'Personally appeared before me the above named John Pell who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that the things above stated were taken for and used by the British Troops; that for his Loyalty he has been turned off of his Estate and that he has never received any pay or satisfaction for the things above charged & further sayeth not
Signed (John Pell).
'Sworn before me this 9th Aug t 1783
Signed Rob t N. Auchmuty
Not. Pub."
Examination of Claim and Decision on Claim
of John Pell, The National Archives of the UK;
Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims,
Series I; Class: AO 12-13; Piece: 72 - Decisions,
Examinations, Army and Navy, 1789, Page 5
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid
Subscription Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"109
'I do Certify that Colonel Rogers in the Year 1776 at New Rochelle in West Chester County delivered to me a considerable number of Cattle, Horses, and Sheep which I was to deliver to the Commissary of the British Army (thereof acting at that time) and no person else without his Order, which Cattle, Horses and Sheep I delivered to the said Commissary.
(Signed) Jacob Frost'
'N. Bevaras that time Lieut in said Regiment where Colonel Rogers Commanded.'
'This is to Certify that in consequence of an Order from Headquarters -- I gave orders to be culled from the Manor of Pelham, sundry Cattle for the use of the Army which was delivered to the care of Lieut Frost who had a guard for that purpose
(signed) Robert Rogers
Lt Col. Comm t of the Kings Rangers
New York Aug t 8th - 1783
'City of New York )
} ss
in America )
'Personally appeared before me one Joshua Pell
117 [The number 117 appears within a diamond]"
Examination of Claim and Decision on Claim
of John Pell, The National Archives of the UK;
Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims,
Series I; Class: AO 12-13; Piece: 72 - Decisions,
Examinations, Army and Navy, 1789, Page 6
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid
Subscription Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"Pell, who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God deposeth and sayeth that when the British Army landed at the Manor of Pelham he who was an Inhabitant of it landed with them. That to his certain knowledge Mr John Pell of the same Manor had a large stock of Cattle on his Farm which he verily believes was taken by and for the use of the British Army, as the said Pell, immediately complained that they were taken from him, that the Deponent then went to Colonel Rogers about them who told this Deponent, that one of his Lieutenants of the Name of Frost had his Orders to collect all the Cattle he could find and return them to the Commissary and that said Frost told the Deponent that he returned all the Cattle that he had in care by Col l Rogers's Orders, to the Commissary, which was what to the best of the Deponents knowledge, that at that time passed and the Deponent has great reason to believe that the Claimants Cattle was among those taken as aforesaid
'(Signed) Joshua Pell'
'Sworn before me this 10th Aug t 1783
'(Signed) Rob t. N. Auchmuty
Not. Pub.'"
Examination of Claim and Decision on Claim
of John Pell, The National Archives of the UK;
Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims,
Series I; Class: AO 12-13; Piece: 72 - Decisions,
Examinations, Army and Navy, 1789, Page 7
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid
Subscription Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"(217)
110
'City of New York )
}
in America.............)
Personally appeared before me: Fowler of East Chester who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he heard Colonel Rogers say that he had taken the Claimants Cattle when he was on the Manor of Pelham and to the best of the deponents knowledge and belief he at the same time said that they were for the use of the Army.
(Signed) Jonathan Fowler
'Sworn before me this 3d August 1783
'Rob t. N. Auchmuty
The following minute appears to have been made upon this Demand by the Board of Claims at New York.
'The Proof is by no means satisfactory that these Cattle were regularly taken for the Public Service or with any intention of paying for them -- a Certificate from Colonel Rogers in his present situation can deserve but little attention.'
[Illegible Initials]
118 [The number 118 appears within a diamond]"
Examination of Claim and Decision on Claim
of John Pell, The National Archives of the UK;
Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims,
Series I; Class: AO 12-13; Piece: 72 - Decisions,
Examinations, Army and Navy, 1789, Page 8
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid
Subscription Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"210
Report On the Claim of John Pell . . . New York
The Certificate of Colonel Rogers being genuine is doubted from a comparison with other Papers of his signature, and were it not so, a Certificate from him would not be deemed sufficient to establish a Demand for supplies furnished in the Year 1776 so contiguous to New York by a Loyalist attached, as it is asserted, to the Kings Army as a guide.
The Commissioners conclude if the Demand has been just, it would, under such circumstances, have been made, and paid long before the year 1783.
Besides, there appears upon examining the Proceedings of the Board of Claims instituted at New York, to which this Demand was referred, the following Minute upon it.
'The Proof is by no means satisfactory, that these Cattle were regularly taken for the Public Service, or with any intention of paying for them -- a Certificate"
Examination of Claim and Decision on Claim
of John Pell, The National Archives of the UK;
Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims,
Series I; Class: AO 12-13; Piece: 72 - Decisions,
Examinations, Army and Navy, 1789, Page 8
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid
Subscription Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"219
111
from Colonel Rogers in his present situation deserves but little attention'.
For these reasons collectively the Demand is rejected
Thomas Dundas
Robert Mackenzie
119 [The number 119 appears within a diamond]"
Record of Indictments [Page Reflecting Data For
John Pell] The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey,
England; American Loyalist Claims, Series I; Class: AO
12-13; Piece: 86 - Documents Communicated
by New York State Government, 1786, Page 1
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid
Subscription Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
[NOTE: The image immediately above and the one immediately below are adjacent pages in the record and are meant to be seen next to one another with data read from left to right across both pages. The transcription beneath the record below transcribes the entire entry for John Pell across both pages.]
Record of Indictments [Page Reflecting Data For
John Pell] The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey,
England; American Loyalist Claims, Series I; Class: AO
12-13; Piece: 86 - Documents Communicated
by New York State Government, 1786, Page 2
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid
Subscription Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"P
68
Persons Names County
& places of abode where Indicted When Indocted Date of Judgment
[Data Omitted; See Two Images Immediately Above]
Pell John of
Manor Pelham
Westchester...Yeo.....Westchester......Nov 10 1780........Oct. 26...1781
[Data Omitted; See Two Images Immediately Above]"
Amount of Sales of the Forfeited Estates in the Southern District
of the State of New York. [Page Reflecting Data for John Pell].
The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; American
Loyalist Claims, Series I; Class: AO 12-13; Piece: 86 - Documents
Communicated by New York State Government, 1786, Only Page
(Provo, UT: 2013, Updated 2015 - Paid
Subscription Required). NOTE: Click Image To Enlarge.
"Amount of Sales of the Forfeited Estates in the Southern District of the State of New York."
Names Specie Sales Certf: Sales
[Data Omitted; See Image Above]
John Pell_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _[£] 542 10
[Data Omitted; See Image Above]"
[NOTE: This item likely references the forfeiture and sale of John Pell's real property rather than personal propery located in New York State.]
Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak." Labels: 1776, 1780, 1783, 1786, Battle of Pelham, Battle of Pell's Point, John Pell, Joshua Pell Jr., Neutral Ground, Pell's Point, Revolutionary War
