82 HISTORY OP which was standing by the fire-place^ threatened to use it on the tory's headj at the same time suiting the gesture to the word in such a manner as to warn him of the necessity of beating a hasty retreat. Notwithstanding the dangers to which the settlers were exposed^ a number of them remained on the Delaware until 1779. In the spring or early part of the summer* of that year, Covfley, accompanied by his eldest son^ Jonathan, a lad some twelve or thirteen years of age, had been to the house of Isaac Sawyer, another whig, then living a short distance below the present village of Hobart. On their return, having arrived near home, the father walking, and the son riding on horseback, they were surprised and captured by four Schoharie Indians, Ham Henry, Seth Henry, Adam, a sister's son, and Nicholas, also a relative. Immediately after their capture the Indians fastened a military feather (which they had doubtless procured from the hat of a fallen soldier in battle,) to the front of the boy's cap, and sent him on ahead, while they and their prisoner followed. The family of Cowley, who were anxiously looking for his return, seeing the lad approaching alone on horseback with a military ornament so conspicuous, were filled with apprehensions. They were, however, kept but a short time in suspense, for soon the father made his appearance accompanied by his captors. The Indians offered no kind of violence to any of the family, but amused themselves by shooting their fowls, exclaiming, pidgee ! pidgee One of them shot at a churn which was standing out of doors partly filled with water, and expressed his gratification by laughing heartily to see the water gush out of the hole made by his rifie ball. After a short time spent
- Simms' History of Schoharie gives the date as " early in the
spring," and as I have usually found his - statements correct, I think it more than probable this was the time.
