314 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777. 



While the army lay at Village Green, a tragic event occurred 

 that goes to show that Gen. Howe had become alarmed at the 

 extent of these enormities, and was determined to put an end, at 

 least, to nnJiceiised plunder. Three Hessians one night started on 

 a plundering expedition, crossing Chester Creek into Middletown 

 township, and entered the dwelling of Jonathan Martin, now the 

 property of Bennet Temple. They compelled Mr. Martin to 

 show them through the house, and to point out such articles as 

 they wanted. Miss Mary Martin, the daughter of Mr. Martin, 

 then aged about 18 years, and afterwards the wife of William 

 Sharpless of Middletown, reprimanded them for their conduct, 

 which provoked one of them to inflict a slight wound upon her 

 with his bayonet. Not satisfied with the plunder obtained at 

 Mr. Martin's, they proceeded to the house of a Mr. Coxe, in 

 Chester township, now the property of Thomas McCall, where 

 they appropriated such articles as they found suited to their 

 taste, among which was a silver watch. Mr. Coxe had a daugh- 

 ter about the same age as Miss Martin. On the following day, 

 these two young girls proceeded to the headquarters of General 

 Howe and made their complaint to him personally. He pro- 

 mised that if they could point out the men, they should be pun- 

 ished. The troops were at once formed into line, when the girls 

 passed along and pointed out the robbers ; after which they re- 

 tired to some distance. The oflScers then put the troops through 

 various evolutions, leaving the men in different positions. The 

 same men were again pointed out by the girls as the guilty par- 

 ties. This operation was again repeated with a like result. The 

 men were then searched, when some of the stolen property was 

 found upon them. They were tried by a court martial and all 

 convicted. Two of them were sentenced to be hung, and the 

 third to perform the office of executioner. Upon whom the ex- 

 treme penalty should be inflicted, the question was decided by 

 casting lots. 



The sentence was carried out to the letter. The two men 

 were hung on the limb of an apple-tree on the property owned 

 by George L. Nield, in Aston ; and what is remarkable, they 

 were allowed to remain hanging after the army moved away.' 



Thomas Button, upon whose property part of the army lay, 

 was then in his ninth year, his father being deceased. Upon 

 the arrival of the army, he was subjected to a close examination 



' This story was received from two different sources — from Thomas Button, now 

 in his 9 tth year, who has a distinct recollection of the encampment, and of many 

 circumstiince? connected with it; and from Mr. Joseph Mancil, aged 80 years, to whom 

 it was communicated by his wife (now deoeaseil) who had received it from Mrs. Sharp- 

 less (formerly Miss Martin) with whom she had ^e^ided. The onljr difference in their 

 narratives respects the number of men. Mr. Mancil names but two, both of whom were 

 executed, while Mr. Dutton insists, that three were convicted, and two executed, as 

 has been mentioned. 



