Thomas Leggett and the Revolutionary War

Thomas Leggett was the g-g-grandson of John and Martha (Mead) Richardson. He lived in West Farms, Westchester County, New York. 

​The following is an excerpt from the book "History of the several towns, manors, and patents of the county of Westchester, from It's First Settlement to the Present Time" by the Late Rev. Robert Bolton; New York, 1881;  pg. 447-448 detailing an incident Thomas experienced at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
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"While a youth, at the commencement of the revolutionary war, he [Thomas] was living with his father [John] on the farm adjoining Morrisania.  All he possessed at this time was a very fine young mare, the gift of his parent. Prior to Colonel De Lancey's taking possession of  his father's house, a party of British refugees took, with other property, his favorite animal, whilst he, being unarmed, could only bluster and threaten. He refused, however, to leave them, and actually accompanied the robbers two miles on their route to head-quarters. As the party were passing the spot which now makes the southern entrance to West Farms, two Continental soldiers rose up from behind a stone wall and fired. The man leading the mare was shot, and fell; the mare turned round and ran homewards, to the great delight of the owner, who immediately followed. Soon after this event the family, driven from home, were compelled to seek shelter elsewhere. Mr. Leggett nd his two brothers went to Saratoga; here they cleared a small piece of land, erected a log house, and prepared to spend the winter. But on the approach of Burgoyne, they were taken prisoners by the Indian allies.  His two brothers were carried to Fort Edward by the Indians, whilst he himself was conveyed to Burgoyne's camp.  Here he fell in with a neighbor named Concklin, who, after a fortnight's detention, forged a pass for both.   By this means the sentinels were deceived. Our heroes swam the north river, (it was the early part of October,) and ran all that night.  The next day they concealed themselves in the woods, and the following night kept on their way, avoiding all habitations of note. Not knowing the state of parties in the country, they skulked from one place to another until they reached Dutchess county, where Concklin was known.  Here, they rested themselves and obtained food. Soon after the treaty of peace, Mr. Leggett removed to New York. He died October 10th, 1843. "

Today, West Farms is a residential neighborhood in a west central part of The Bronx, New York City,  also known as the northeast corner of the South Bronx. Morrisania is the historical name for the South Bronx.

Oliver De Lancey was a senior Loyalist officer, during the American Revolutionary War. De Lancey joined General Howe, on Staten Island, in 1776, and raised and equipped, the three battalions, with his brother, James, of DeLancey's Brigade, consisting of 1,500 loyalist volunteers from the Province of New York, and served as commanding officer on Long Island.
The house of Oliver De Lancey was plundered, by Patriots, in November, 1777 and confiscated in October, 1779.