and, second, Lea Nagle, widow of Benjamin Blackledge, in 1817.
He was a soldier in the American Revolution and captured three times by the enemy, but on one occasion was rescued by his friends. The first capture was in the vicinity of Englewood, when he was taken to New York and placed in the Sugar House Prison. Afterwards, having regained his liberty, he belonged to the "minute men," as did some of his brothers. Their rendezvous was known as "Wolf Den," midway between Demarest and Cresskill. Having been betrayed by one Samuel Cole, the entire band was surprised by the British and taken to the Sugar House, excepting Jan, brother of Benjamin P., who made his escape by plunging in a stream. Those who survived were subsequently exchanged. His third experience was at English Neighborhood, when he was captured by three Tories, one of whom was his old comrade, Samuel Cole, who offered to release him for a sum of money. At the moment Colonel Blanch and a few Americans came in sight. The Tories fired upon the patriots and wounded the Colonel. Seeing their pieces were emptied he ran towards his friends and effected his escape. Cole was sent to Halifax after the war, and remained there for seven years.
He was a Private, Minute Man, Bergen County, New Jersey Militia; Private, Captain James Christie's Company, Bergen County Regiment (Colonel Theunis Dey, commanding), New Jersey Militia, summer of 1779, and served one month; Private, Captain Abraham Harring's Company, Bergen County Regiment, fall of 1779, and served one month; Private, Captain John Huyler's Company, Bergen County Regiment, spring of 1780, and served one month; enlisted June, 1780, for six months, as Private, Captain Thomas Blanch's Company, Major Samuel Hayes' Battalion, New Jersey State Troops, on frontier service; Private, Captain James Christie's Company, Bergen County Regiment, in 1781; taken prisoner Sept. 6, 1781, and confined in Provost Jail and Sugar House Prison, New York; exchanged Nov. 18, 1781.
This soldier drew a pension after the war and in his application he states that he was sixteen years of age at enlistment.
Children of Benjamin P. Westervelt (153):
381 Catlyntje, b. June 14; bap. at Schraalenburgh, July 3,
1785. She m., first, Samuel Demarest; second, Jacob Christie, and d. in 1866.
+382 Jan, b. April 5, 1789; bap May 10, 1789.
383 Wyntje, b. April 14; bap. at Schraalenburgh, May 8,
1791. She m. John Banta, and d. in 1835.
+384 Petrus, b. Oct. 15, 1796.
385 Gerret, b. March 24; bap. at Schraalenburgh in April,
1799. He d. in 1804.