THE TOWN OF POUNDRIDGE. 115 



able to overtake Sheldon, returned, burnt the Major's house with most 

 of its contents, permitting one of his soldiers cruelly to cut and maltreat 

 his wife; drove off his valuable stock of sixteen cows; burnt the meet- 

 ing-house, and were about committing further outrages when the ma- 

 litia under command of Major Leavensworth began to approach, and 

 Tarleton fled with all the precipitation he came. 



Mr. Hunt, from religious scruples, was a non-combatant ; yet a true 

 friend to his ' country, and in vain appealed to the honor of a British 

 soldier for protection against robbery and insult. 



It may seem an unpardonable digression at this place, to notice some 

 thrilling incidents that occurred on this occasion ; but justice to the 

 bravery of some individuals in Sheldon's command, demands a passing 

 notice. 



John Buckhout who happened to be in the rear of Sheldon's regiment, 

 during the retreat and closely pursued, was accosted in the imperative 

 tone of a British dragoon : " Surrender, you d — rebel, or I'll blow your 

 brains out ! " John, not heeding the threat, was saluted with a pistol 

 shot, which hit his cap and perforated the scalp on the side of his head 

 without further injury. "There, (says the dragoon,) you d — d rebel, a 

 little more and I should have blown your brains out." 



"Yes, d — n you, (replied John,) and a little more you wouldn't have 

 touched me ! " John continued his speed and escaped without further 

 injury. 



Jared Hoyt, a brave soldier, also in the rear of Sheldon's command, 

 was hard pressed by Tarleton's advance, and within striking distance of 

 his assailant received a blow from the heavy cutlass of his pursuer on the 

 head. The blow only cleft the skin and hair from the side of his head ; 

 Hoyt instantly returned the blow back-handed, which struck his assailant 

 directly in the mouth, nearly separating the top of his head from his 

 body, which stopped his bawling. 



One of the largest proprietors in the southeast section of this town 

 was Elnathan Weed, Esq., who, in 1799, erected the old mansiona now 

 occupied by Aaron Fancher, Esq., near the banks of the Rippowarrus, 

 or Mill river. He is said to have held at one time seven hundred acres 

 of land in Poundridge. His son, Elnathan Weed, was the father of Levi 

 and George Weed. His daughter, Sarah, married Stephen Hoyt, of 

 South Salem, whose sons are William Hoyt and Stephen L. Hoyt of 

 Lewisboro'. 



The Fanchers were also extensive owners of land in the southeast cor- 

 ner of the town and the vicinity of Trinity Lake. This family were orig- 

 inally from Stamford, Conn., and probably descended of the Fanshaws, 

 of Fanshawgate, county of Derby, England. 5 John Fancher was living in 



a The old iroia door latch Is still preserved and bears the initials and date, " E. W., 1799." 

 f Fan-hiw (Fanshawgate, County Derby, Parsloes and Barking, County Essex, and West 



Park, County Stratford; from the lastnaihe derived the Lord Fanshavre) anus— or, a chev. 



betw. 3 fleur-de-lis sa. Crest, a dragon's head erased vert, flames of Ore issuing from the 



mouth, cole, ppr. 



