90 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



The letter further adds : " Its to be observed that by this time 

 All America had broke out in open Violence & Rebellion — Every 

 friend of Governm't was persecuted & none durst take a Step 

 in favor of Governm't under pain of imprisonm't & unheard of 

 Outrages. This rendered our future Success Difficult & pre- 

 carious & laid us under the Necessity of Altering the ground of 

 our proceedings — 



" I was Sixteen months absent from My family. My place 

 upon Staten Island is totally ruined as well by our own troops 

 as by the Rebells. My Wife & Children were more abused & 

 insulted on Acco't of her being an American born than if she had 

 been from any other Country. Yet she continued a Steady loyal 

 Subject in spite of every abuse or insult they could offer her & 

 She found means to Convey Useful Articles of intelligence to 

 Governor Tryon. Capt'n Hyde Parker & Capt'n Vandeput w'ch 

 these Gentl'n can better relate in short, My Lord, I have been a 

 Capt'n Lieu'l the 5th of Aug'st 1762 A full Cap't in 1772 when 

 all Capt'n Lieul's got Rank Yet after all this My long services & 

 Sufferings what am I ? A provincial Capt'n in place of being an 

 olde Major in the Army & may be when these disturbances are 

 over turned ab't my Business without either Rank or half pay a 

 Cruel unjust & unmerited ill treatment should it so happen." 



To Gilbert Meyer, who was in charge of the farm on Staten 

 Island, Captain McDonald wrote from Halifax on October 16, 

 1777: 



" My Dr. Gilly : I am much at a loss n't to write to you as you 

 are so neglectful in letting me hear from you how Matters stands 

 with y'rself & place. I am sorry to hear that the Barn is burnt 

 when the Jersey people paid you a visit but this is a trifle in 

 Comparison to other things you Should make it your business 

 to write every Month an Acc't of every thing that passes & w't 

 you wish to let me know Leav'g the Letters with Mr. McAdam 

 in New York who will not miss any opportunity of Sending 

 them." 



In a letter to Mr. McAdam, June 10, 1778, Captain McDonald 



