The Seabrooks

By Peter V. Speziale

The Seabrooks is the first book in a three-part saga that I am writing. This three-part saga chronicles and depicts the Seabrook family as they struggle to maintain their position of neutrality in the Revolutionary War. The entire family, which consists of Betty, Henry, and John, is convicted to their well-entrenched views toward the war; that is that they wish for the war to end as quickly and peacefully as possible, and with the least amount of bloodshed and property damage as possible. And most important of all, they want to stay completely out of the entire affair. But they are tested by loyalists and patriots alike, and they have to resist temptations, pressures, and other factors that attempt to sway their opinions and ideologies. That is to say, both loyalists (as well as the British) and patriots want the neutralists to join their side because they both knew that it was the neutralists that held the balance of power, and thus, they held the key to victory.
The Seabrooks are subjected to a series of events that test the integrity of their neutrality and their resolve to stay neutral. But eventually, a very significant event impacts the entire family and causes them to reassess their ideologies and political views in regards to the war.
The saga focuses on the life of John Seabrook, who is the only son and child of Henry and Betty Seabrook. They are a strong and morally upright family, and they portray a typical and traditional family that was common during the Revolutionary War era. They are members of the roughly one third of the colonial Americans who wished to remain neutral in the war. These neutralists, as I call them, took on a political view that emphasized not only staying uninvolved throughout the war, but they also desired a swift, bloodless, and peaceful resolution to the conflict; perhaps nowadays, one might refer to them as pacifists.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499079944

Peter V. Speziale

The valley of the Albany, New York area. It is here, along the shore of the beautiful Hudson River that I have spent much time in my life doing things I like such as canoeing, fishing, kayaking, and just simply taking a walk along the shores of the river on a pleasant day. It is from these experiences that I thought it would be nice to write a book about our area and incorporate into that book the beauty of the Hudson River valley. I am a graduate from Potsdam College with a BA in ILR and psychology, and I hold a masters degree in public administration from the Sage Colleges of Albany and Troy, New York.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

The Seabrooks is the first book of a three-part saga that I am writing. This three-part saga chronicles and depicts the Seabrook family as they struggle to maintain their position of Neutrality in the Revolutionary War. The entire family, which consists of Betty, Henry, and John, is convicted to their well-entrenched views toward the war: that is, they wish for the war to end as quickly and peacefully as possible, and with the least amount of bloodshed and property damage as possible. And most important of all, they want to stay completely out of the entire affair. But they are tested by Loyalists and Patriots alike, and they have to resist temptations, pressures, and other factors that attempt to sway their opinions and ideologies. That is to say, both Loyalists (as well as the British) and Patriots want the Neutralists to join their side because they both knew that it was the Neutralists that held the balance of power; and thus, they held the key to victory.

The Seabrooks are subjected to a series of events that test the integrity of their Neutrality and their resolve to stay Neutral. But eventually, a very significant event impacts the entire family and causes them to reassess their ideologies and political views in regards to the war.

The saga focuses on the life of John Seabrook, who is the only son and child of Henry and Betty Seabrook. They are a strong and morally upright family, and they portray a typical and traditional family that was common during the Revolutionary War era. They are members of the roughly one-third of the colonial Americans who wished to remain Neutral in the war. These Neutralists, as I call them, took on a political view that emphasized not only staying uninvolved throughout the war, but they also desired a swift, bloodless, and peaceful resolution to the conflict; perhaps nowadays one might refer to them as pacifists.

Unfortunately, wanting to stay Neutral and staying out of a conflict, and actually being able to do so, are often two different things, and often these Neutralists found themselves caught up in the conflict in some way or another. These influences came not only from the Patriots but also from the British and Loyalists, for both sides knew that the balance of power lay in the hands of the Neutralist Party and that persuasion of these people to join their side, through propaganda and other means, meant a clear and decisive advantage in winning the war.

No doubt, no family, Neutral or otherwise, was unaffected by the war. And this book illustrates just what a typical family of Neutrality may well have been exposed to by the attempts of both sides (British and Patriots) through manipulation and propaganda (which often was not only manipulated by unscrupulous proponents but also, in some cases, flat-out lies) aimed at the Neutralists in an attempt to win over their support.

The Seabrooks are one such family. They are very well grounded within a strong sense of family, faith, and religion, as well as having an entrenched ideology toward their political views of Neutrality.

This book examines the life of John Seabrook, as well as his father Henry and his mother Betty, as they encounter an array of experiences, political and otherwise, that reshape not only their lives but also their attitudes and beliefs regarding their resolve to stay Neutral. And also how their Neutrality is tested during the Revolutionary War. Although John Seabrook is the main character for the entire three-part saga, Henry, his father, assumes an equally important role in the first novel.

Other characters that are very important in this novel are the following:

1. Rusty, the local sheriff

2. Spike LaMountain, a scruffy old trapper

3. Douglas Tilman

4. Peggy Shippen, John’s girlfriend and possibly John’s future fiancée.

5. Edward Shippen, Peggy’s father, as well as a local businessman and magistrate.

6. Willow Brook

7. Prancing Fox

8. Snow Drift

9. Lone Wolf

10. Stalking Deer

11. Lone Wolf

12. Jane McRay

13. Sarah McRay

14. Jarvis

This book has moral lessons that are illustrated in intense scenes of love and compassion. Moral lessons also prevail in the unfolding of a legal drama, as well as in other types of events that are in different parts of the book.

A point of interest is the character of Spike LaMountain. Although he is a seemingly mundane and minor character, his character brings out and represents the dichotomy of differences in attitudes and opinions between the Patriots and the Loyalists. Spike is vilified in the book by the Loyalists, yet, at the same, the Patriots view Spike as a hero and a martyr.

Stalking Deer, the main villain of the book, goes out into the frontier and commits atrocities against the settlers, and, in doing so, triggers a series of events that leads John and Henry to come to a critical point in their political views toward the war.

This book depicts traditional fashions of the day, as well as customs, speech, and ideologies that were common in the Revolutionary War era. I make use of common words and phrases of the time, and I deliberately incorrectly spell words that some of my characters are saying in an attempt to capture not only the character’s, personality but also to portray the poor education and diction that many of these types of people had back in their day. These types of characters are rough, uneducated, and they are typical of the common, hardy colonial Americans of the time.

This book is a book of fiction, although it is based in part on some actual events and persons of the time. As a book of fiction, the people and events that I have portrayed in this book are done so to suit the needs of my fictional story and in no way accurately depict these people and events. Note also that there are some crucial aspects of the actual events that really did occur, that are contained within this book that are, indeed, quite true. I will discuss these in the prologue.

The second book in this saga is called The Privateer. This book follows John as he pursues his life as a privateer. This book depicts John as he sails the ocean as a privateer, and it chronicles his many adventures in various ports and towns along the way. John experiences many new things (as well as making many new friends) as he unearths these exotic new places and experiences (including a confrontation with pirates, as well as an epic naval battle with the British).

The third and final book will continue with John and his fellow shipmates as they are taken as prisoners of war. The title will be disclosed upon publication.

CHAPTER 1

The Orchard

It is autumn of the year 1777. Amidst the chaos and turmoil of the American Revolution lies a small town called Brunswick, New York. The town of Brunswick is situated on the west side of the beautiful Hudson River Valley, and it is nestled on a high and panoramic hillcrest that overlooks the picturesque river valley. The settlement of Albany is located on the opposite side of the river and is about five miles south of Brunswick, while the town of Troy is situated along the shores of the mighty Hudson River on a narrow strip of land that lie at the very foot of the rolling hills of Brunswick.

The Albany and Troy area was founded by the Dutch during the dawn of early American colonization, and soon these early settlers had transformed the rough and rugged wilderness of the Hudson River Valley into a wonderful mosaic of fertile farmlands, which dotted the landscape of the scenic Hudson River Valley for miles and miles.

These settlers were a brave and hardworking lot. They toiled very hard clearing the lands, and they eventually tamed the resistant landscape and transposed these virgin woodlots of aspen, oak, and elm into functional lots of rich, plowable soil, of which sprouted a multitude of sundry crops. A multitude of new farms and farmers sprung forth from the landscape in order to tend to the growing needs of these essential crops. These farms typically varied in size, were typically varying in size, some being large, some being small, and some about medium sized.

Regardless of the farm’s size, a typical Hudson River Valley farmer could expect to raise livestock, as well as grow and harvest crops such as fruit trees, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and other sundry agricultural crops. One might expect to see these types of crops grown frequently on farms during early colonial America because a family’s survival depended on growing a good variety of life-sustaining agricultural plants and maintaining various types of livestock.

These farms were spin-offs of the old Dutch patroon land tracts. These tracts of land were enormous parcels of land that were given by the Dutch government to aristocratic Dutch families. These lands were then procured and used by these people of wealth and status for the purpose of being developed into profitable uses. These tracts of land were typically either twenty miles along the Hudson River and twenty miles deep inland, or they were about forty miles along the river and only about ten miles inland. These tracts of land were typically given by the Dutch government to a patroon to be utilized on only one side of the Hudson River. Thus, regardless of whether the land was located on the east or west side of the river, the land patroon could only own the land that was on their side of the river and never on both sides of the river.

The typical patroon land tract centered around a very large, well-built house that was typically made of brick and stone. I had the fortune and the pleasure of visiting one home that is just south of Troy, New York. It is called Fort Crailo, and just like the name implies, the home also served as a fort and garrison. These garrison-like type of Dutch homes not only served to protect the lives of their aristocratic owners, but the garrison-styled homes also sported strong palisadelike walls. Gun ports were also built into the walls to allow the defenders a safe and well-protected zone of fire. The patroon garrison-styled homes also helped to protect the lives and families of the local residents while encountering Indian raids and other types of hostilities that were common during the early Dutch colonial era.

The early colonial period of the Dutch era meant danger—danger not only from hostile Indians that may be lurking about but also danger from invading European powers as well, as the Dutch found out years later, when they were forced to peacefully surrender New Amsterdam to the English.

These initial land tracts were eventually parceled and subdivided a number of times until they eventually became the small, medium, and large farms (such as the Seabrook farm) that were currently in use at that time.

The town of Brunswick, like most towns of this era, was made up of various businesses that were run mostly by tradesmen such as coopers, blacksmiths, and millers. In addition to the small artisan shops was the general store. The merchant of the general store was typically a wealthy individual, and in the case of the town of Brunswick, a man by the name of Edward Shippen was the owner of the town’s general store. In addition to running the general store, Edward Shippen also served as the town’s local magistrate.

The Shippens were of Dutch and Danish decent. Edward was Dutch, and Henrietta was Danish. Edward and his wife Henrietta had two daughters; one of their daughters was named Sarah, and their other daughter went by the name of Peggy.

The entire family were devoted and ardently Loyalist to the crown, although they kept it low-key. The Shippen family did their best to keep their Loyalism a secret, and they stayed out of any overt Loyalist activities. Their decision to become Loyalist and remain Loyalist throughout the entire Revolutionary War was no doubt influenced by their wealthy status. Many people who remained loyal to the crown tended to be wealthier Americans.

Edward was a man of medium height and build. He sported a brown mustache with a greased and twisted curl on each end. He had slightly balding and graying hair, which reflected Edward’s long and exhausting life that had been consumed by the daily stress, toil, and grind of running his busy store every day.

Edward walked with a slight limp in his left leg, and he ambled about most of his life using a well-polished hickory cane that he had crafted himself. Mr. Shippen also wore spectacles, and he was presently attired in a tan- suit that was decorated with a fluffy white tie.

Edward’s limp was caused by the result of a musket ball wound that he obtained while fighting in the French and Indian War during the seize of Fort William Henry in the year of 1755. He was manning one of the fort’s high-logged and wooden palisades, when a red-hot .45 caliber musket ball went careening off a nearby cannon and deflected right into the thigh of his left leg. The round musket ball had missed the femoral artery by a fraction of an inch, and thus, Edward’s life was saved. But the lead ball did damage his femoral bone, and as a result of the wound, he had a permanent limp.

Intelligent, shrewd, and cunning, Edward was able to eventually create a business empire by constructing a business of his own, which involved trading and selling with local farmers and fur trappers. Edwards would buy items cheaply and then sell these very same items at a much inflated price back to other people. Edward soon realized that another handsome profit was also to be made by selling to these farmers and trappers other types of essential items (such as manufactured items from abroad) at an exuberantly marked-up cost, and the locals had to pay his prices because he had the only mercantile store in the area. Eventually, Edward’s general store became the hub of buying and trading in his community; and as a result, Edward Shippen became a very wealthy and powerful man.

Edward and Henrietta were soon able to afford a modest and comfortable home in the countryside just outside of town. Their home was designed and built by a German architect. The house was a very large and an exuberantly built Federal-style home. The home sported three large brick chimneys and six large fireplaces. There was a fireplace in each of the four bedrooms as well as one in the kitchen, one in the study, and one in the parlor. The grand home was painted a canarylike color of yellow with white trimmed windows and latticework. Plus, there were four large white pillars incorporated into the front of the lavish mansion. The fabulous pillars stood tall and high; they looked like proud lighthouse beacons, and they seemingly acted as if they were not only guiding and welcoming oncoming guests to the magnificent home, but the splendid pillars also seemed to be tempting and beckoning, as well as welcoming, the oncoming guests when they arrived. And these guests were often taken in awe at the inspiring, beautiful magnificence and eloquence of the home; many guests were even somewhat intimidated by the exuberant residence. So inspiring was the dwelling that many guests would comment on the magnificence of the grand mansion as they traversed the long and winding cobblestone driveway toward the large front door.

Travelers and passersby could easily see the magnificent home from atop its one-quarter-mile-long driveway as they passed along the dusty road below. And from the windows of the big mansion, the travelers looked like an army of tiny ants as they causally marched along the winding road that was far below.

As I mentioned, the large home had a parlor and a kitchen. Plus, for safety and sanitary reasons, as well as to help keep the house cooler in the summer months, a smokehouse was located just a few rods away from the home. So, too, there was another kitchen and was about three hops and a skip away from the main residence. It was outside, in this exterior kitchen, that most of the family’s meals were cooked. Obviously, having the meals cooked in the hot ovens outside of the home was a benefit to all in the hot summer months, and, additionally, these very same meals were often cooked inside the home in the cold months of the winter to help heat the large house.

Another reason why it was important to cook most of the meals in the outside kitchen was to reduce the risk of fire. Often a hot kitchen oven was the culprit of many a colonial-era fire, and cooking outside of the home not only helped to retain cleaner and cooler air inside the home but also helped to safeguard the home from the possibility of erupting into flames from an unattended kitchen stove or oven.

As I mentioned, there were several bedrooms inside the mansion, plus there was a dining room for consumption of family meals. In addition to the dining room, there was a library. Within the confines of the decorative library was a vast assortment of scholarly and intellectual literature for the astute Peggy to devour, as well as a collection of legal and political works for the literary and professional needs of the magistrate, Judge Edward Shippen.

The Shippen mansion overlooked the picturesque Hudson River Valley, and from the mansion’s front porch, one could easily see and enjoy the lovely view of the estate’s apple and peach orchards. The fruit trees took on a luminous, mallard-green color in the summertime, and in the autumn, the impregnated fruit trees were bulging with delicious fruit and the trees were laden with a multitude of peaches and apples t lovely pink and reddish spots shone on the crisp red apples and peaches as they lie waiting to be plucked from their branches.. These peach and apple orchards were full of luscious and tender peaches and apples; they were scattered among the rolling hills of the magnificent Hudson River Valley, and they seemed to go on forever and ever as they eventually faded into oblivion as they slowly receded from sight, melting into the gorgeous landscape of the winding Hudson River Valley below, the mighty river slowly taking its course as it gently meandered its way northward to the upper reaches of the Adirondack Mountains.

It is here, in one of the Shippens’ apple orchards, that our story begins.

Peggy Shippen, Edward’s youngest daughter, is deeply engaged in an intimate conversation with young John Seabrook. John is a very strong choice for Peggy to someday become married to, and John was also seriously considering the lovely and intelligent Peggy Shippen to someday become his fiancée. That is, of course, if John could manage to gain the approval of the ever-discerning and discriminating Judge Shippen. For ultimately it was up to Judge Shippen to decide who among Peggy’s suitors should marry his treasured daughter. And without his approval, John could not have Peggy for a marriage partner.

John and Peggy are both taking a nice and scenic casual stroll among the trees of the apple orchard on a fine sunny day that autumn, the abundant apples dangling around and above them as they ambled and strolled along the narrow path of the apple orchard. Apples were everywhere around them as they walked; red and golden, the fruit gently swayed above and about them, delicious and tempting, as they enjoyed the crisp autumn breeze.

Peggy, who was not yet eighteen years old, was a beautiful and vibrant young woman. She had her mother’s pretty blue eyes, her lovely olive complexion, and her dark brown hair. While Peggy inherited her beauty from her mother, she inherited her shrewdness and intelligence from her father. Peggy was a very brilliant and educated young woman who was impressive and engaging to converse with. Peggy also inherited a touch of Judge Shippen’s famous temper, but that was more or less subdued within the fine young woman’s spirit because her hot temperament was typically not one of her dominant traits. But Peggy, for the most part, had inherited more of her mother’s warmth and kindness of heart; and it was these traits of tenderness that most often prevailed over her temperament. But at times, she could display her father’s hot temper and nasty demeanor.

Peggy was also a fairly tall young woman for her day. She stood at about five feet five inches tall, and Peggy sported a well-figured, pear-shaped body like that of an English ballet dancer. Peggy’s trim and well-figured body catches John’s attention as a gentle breeze blew and revealed her lovely figure to him. John saw Peggy’s crimson-colored dress hugged and pressed against her supple body as the wind gusts continued to flutter and press the garment against Peggy’s waist, showing John her lovely thighs as she slowly walked along the path with him. The lovely dress could be heard by both of them, and the garment sounded like a drum beating a rhythmic tune as it continued its resonance of flapping and fluttering in the stiff and galling autumn breeze.

Peggy and John glided along the path as they walked and talked, and they were both obviously enjoying their walk that evening when suddenly, Peggy tripped and stumbled over a rock that was hidden from view within the confines of some tall grass. Peggy was caught off guard by the hidden obstacle, and as she lost her footing, she began to stumble and trip; she almost regained her footing, but she slipped on a fallen apple. And now Peggy began to tumble and fall with inevitability toward the ground.

Suddenly and abruptly, Peggy’s fall was halted. John had somehow managed to catch Peggy by her arm; and as a result, he had saved Peggy and her lovely dress from a muddy landing. And perhaps, too, John may have spared both Peggy and her dress from becoming damaged from their near miss with the ground.

John held Peggy, and he straightened her up again. John continued to hold her in his strong embrace. And then, spellbound by their attraction for each other, they both just stood there for a moment or two and looked at each other like two stunned swans. They were both mesmerized by the love spell that each had on the other. They continued to say nothing; they just gazed intently into one another’s eyes.

John looked lovingly at Peggy; he was the only son of a prominent local farmer. He was about five feet ten inches tall, and he had sandy light brown hair. At twenty years of age, John was a little larger than average, and he was strong and athletically built. He had a slight bend in his nose from a farming accident. One day while helping his father fix a broken axle on a wagon, the block slipped, and the axle fell, striking John in the nose and breaking it, thus, causing the slight bend in his nose.

John’s father was Scottish, and his mother was English. John looked a little like each of them; he had his mother’s green eyes and pleasant good looks, and he had his father’s square chin, as well as his long, large, and prominent ears.

John just stood there looking at Peggy without speaking; he looked like a stupefied circus clown who was trying in vain to entertain a reluctant crowd of circus goers. Peggy laughed at him tenderly as John just stood there, speechless and somewhat hypnotized by Peggy’s magnificent body and beautiful face.

Peggy returned John’s speechless gaze, and she thought to herself, "John is quite a promising young man, and most certainly, he would make a wonderful husband for me someday soon. Peggy knew that her father would prefer that John become a Loyalist because she and her father were of such stock. Perhaps though, thought Peggy, I can somehow manage to convince John to change from his current position of being a Neutralist to that of being a Loyalist."

Peggy continued to assess John. She looked at John, who was dressed in a pair of fine period black and tanned leather pants, plus he wore a nice brown shirt and white tie. John’s strong body and green eyes reflected deeply into Peggy’s psyche, and his stoutness had a positive honing and tempering effect, which was now engrained upon the very essence of her being. John’s physique and strength of body and mind was acquired throughout his life as he grew up and worked at the Seabrook farm, which ran alongside a stream that flowed peacefully within the confines of the picturesque Hudson River Valley.

John’s toughness and resilience was not only inherent to his body but his soul as well. This individual toughness of John’s disposition was very evident to Peggy. Peggy saw that there was a young man that has grown up instilled with the values of discipline and good, hard work. John was accustomed to awaking each day at 4:00 a.m. to milk the cows, and by 9:00 a.m. he would be outside fixing fences or doing whatever needed to be done that day on the farm. By 6:00 p.m., he would retire to their farmhouse for some of his mother’s fine home cooking.

Back at the apple orchard, John and Peggy both held each other with all the love and compassion of two love birds.. Peggy and John both savored and enjoyed the moment of intimacy that they were able to share and they held and embraced each other arm in arm.

The breeze gently blew John’s sandy-colored hair, causing it to shimmer back and forth, the sun’s last glinting rays shining upon the two young lovers as they continued to embrace one another Peggy’s beauty and loveliness surpassed all in the eyes of John Seabrook, and he once again gazed at the lovely flower before him, which was graciously clad in a crimson dress and she was now made even more lovely and beautiful amidst a backdrop of various red and golden colored apples that glowed bright from the last waning opaque rays of the setting sun.

John continued to look at Peggy, and her stunning beauty entranced him with feelings of lust as she stood there before him, tempting him, tempting his resolve, and tempting his soul. Peggy also tempted John’s discipline; and Peggy, along with her flowing dress and shapely body, was as tempting to John as the apples strewn about on the ground were tempting to the scavaging squirrels and chipmunks.

Peggy’s beauty and loveliness surpassed all in the eyes of John Seabrook, and he once again gazed at the lovely flower before him, which was graciously clad in a crimson dress. Both of which were now even more enhanced by the pleasing visual effects of a backdrop that was made up of various red- and golden-colored apples amidst a setting sun.

After their hypnotic moment of passionate gazing had elapsed, Peggy began to smile her lovely smile as she looked back at John yet once again; this time Peggy had a hint of embarrassment and laughter in her eyes. She laughed and said to John, Oh! John, I have all of the thanks in this world to you. After all, if it were not for you, I would have fallen straight onto the muddy ground. How clumsy of me! Peggy then began to break out laughing over the entire matter, and John soon joined in.

Then John said to Peggy, My love, thou is normally as graceful and elegant upon the crests and heels of thy foot. But, my dearest Peggy, I must not withhold the truth from thou lovely brow. I must admit to thee that, indeed, you were quite spastic having fallen like ye did. With that spoken, John began to laugh. And he then began to laugh even louder due to his jeering remark and joke at poor Peggy’s expense. But Peggy, being a levelheaded and good-natured sort, took the joke in good humor, and she too began to laugh.

Peggy looked at John again with laughter still in her eyes and a laughing smile on her face. Peggy’s laughing eyes and smiling face melted away into passion as she continued to gaze at John’s attractiveness.

John returned Peggy’s gaze, and soon the two young lovers were once again overcome with passion. Then the two young lovers once again embraced one another among the red and golden hues of the apples that dangled among them serenely from the many orchard trees. Peggy’s lips met John’s lips, the strong grip that John had on Peggy’s arm melted away, and John gently caressed Peggy’s shoulders with both of his strong but gentle hands. Then the two young lovers kissed passionately for what seemed like eons of time.

Peggy suddenly felt a warm pulsing sensation of heat run up the back of her neck as John’s warm, tender kiss enveloped all of her senses. She became flushed, and her skin turned a crimson color as they continued to kiss each other passionately beneath the fruited trees. They continued to embrace and kiss one another for what seemed to be an eternity. They continued to kiss and caress each other again and again, and then they concluded with one very long and compassionate kiss as the sun cast its last rays of the evening upon them.

After their moment of passion had subsided, and both lovers abated from their moment of passion together, Peggy said to John, Will you be going to Wilbur McFarland’s ball next Saturday night?

My dearest Peggy, replied John with earnestness in his voice, I have thought of nothing but the ball, and how lovely it would be to dance the night away with ye, my love. I can only imagine ye dressed in your finest gown, swinging ’n’ swaying away to the tunes and melodies of grand and harmonic music. How lovely a scene, the lovely white lace of your magnificent gown brushing gently along the parlor floor as you float along the dance floor like a graceful angel, while you dance the night away with me.

Peggy responded and said, Oh how sweet and lovely of you to hold me in such magnificent and grand regards.

Then Peggy lamented in a somewhat serious tone of voice, Ye do know, John, that the McFarlands are devout Loyalists. Father and I fancy the company of Loyalists, and it would not be presumptuous nor wrong for us Shippens to be sympathetic towards the Crown and towards the Loyalists!

With that said, John responded tenderly to the lovely young Peggy, The fact that Wilbur McFarland is a Loyalist, and it’s likely to be a Loyalists’ ball, is of no consequence to me, my dearest Peggy. Neither is you and your family’s position in this war. I only wish to be with you, my love. I will be wanting in this life only to have you as my date at that ball on Saturday night. All is fine, and I will meet you there on Saturday night.

Okay! Fine, I will see you there on Saturday night, replied an elated Peggy.

By the way, John, added Peggy, Wilbur is the head of the local Loyalist Society, and my father is a good friend of his. They will both be delighted to see you at the ball on Saturday night.

Peggy continued and said, They can use a young man like you as a new member of the Loyalist Society, John. Do be a dear and think it over for me. With that said, Peggy gave John an inquisitive look with her lovely and beautiful blue eyes.

Then Peggy continued with sincerity in her voice and said, There is power in numbers, John, They need strong, young men in the society. The local Tories are finding themselves being subjected to more and more harassment by them ruffian thugs that are calling themselves Patriots, and the worse ones of that dirty bunch are calling themselves the Sons of Liberty. The Patriots are beating up Loyalists, and they are subjecting them to unspeakable atrocities and humiliations. And for what? Because Loyalists choose to remain loyal to the crown. Those hooligans are outlaws, John. They are so crude and mean! I declare they have no respect for the crown nor for her loyal children. Peggy ended her speech with an emotion that suggested to John of her disrespect for both Patriots and their Patriotic cause.

Peggy, ye know how my father and I feel about such matters concerning the war. We both feel that noninvolvement in this dispute is the best course to maintain. We want neither trouble nor side with either side in these disputes, and we are both Neutralists in these matters, said John

I know, my love, said Peggy with even more charm in her lovely blue eyes, but all I ask is that you give it some thought. For me, my dearest? Peggy batted her lovely eyes at John.

Then Peggy added, My father would find you to be a much more favorable suitor for me if you were to choose to become a Loyalist. And besides, lamented Peggy, you may find someday down the road that those brutal heathens may start to intimidate and harass Neutral folks like you and your family into joining their rebellious cause.

I will keep that in mind, replied John with sympathy in his voice.

John then bid Peggy farewell, and he promised her that he would come calling for her at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night at the big gala event at the Wilbert home.

Then John returned home amidst a setting sun. He now had not only the ball and Peggy on his mind but also the question of Neutrality. Can he and his family stay Neutral in this war? John pondered the question all the way home, and he also wondered about the fate of the Patriotic cause.

John pondered the fate of the struggling colonies as he continued to ride his horse along the path. He could now smell freshly cut hay in the air that was coming from neatly cut and stacked piles of hay that lay in piles all along his path; the hay bales looked like furry creatures in the dark dusk of twilight as they patiently and silently sat awaiting to be removed from the fields and placed into the barn for the winter.

Were the Patriots even capable of winning this war? By the looks of things to this point, the British seemed to be winning the war. The powerful crown of Britain and its vast empire would seemingly be impossible to defeat, regardless of how dedicated the Patriots were to the cause of liberty and freedom. The military resources of Britain, and especially its powerful navy, would most likely prove too much for the fledgling Patriots to overcome, thought John as he continued traveling along the dusky path toward his home.

John heard a noise, and he looked over his left shoulder and caught a glimpse of a fluffy white tail whispering from within a thicket of bushes. The big white-tailed buck then bounded over some rocks, and then it skipped over a fallen tree and disappeared into the dark woods that lie ahead of him.

If the colonies were even to overcome such odds, and actually manage to win the war, how would each colony effectively rule over their domains? Would not the colonies themselves become entangled in disputes with each other? There are very considerable political and economic differences and needs from colony to colony. These differences are especially great between the New England colonists and the Southern colonists, and these differences are so great that perhaps even the colonies themselves would go to war with one another someday? thought John as he carefully rode his dapple-colored horse through a stream.

It would be best follow father’s example, thought John. It would be best to continue to walk the fine line of being and remaining Neutral in this dispute. The appeal of, and cases of both the Loyalist and Patriots over the last several years, have been compelling, thought John. The Loyalist say it is only right and proper to pay the Crown taxes for the protection that the Crown has provided for us. And that, after all, it was the Crown that allowed us to come here and develop and live on her lands, and supporting the Crown is the right thing to do, as loyal subjects should do. On the other hand, the Patriots claim it is unfair to tax us without equal representation in parliament. And that the Crown is not acting in our best interests, but rather, the Crown is being selfish towards us, and she is taxing us at our expense without our consent. Both sides are claiming that the other side is selfish, and both sides have committed atrocities against one another. The Loyalist and British have seized property and tortured the Patriots, and the Patriots have done likewise to them.

After John had thought about all of this, he concluded that it was best to stay out of it all. He felt and agreed with his father—it was best to remain uninvolved with both factions. After all, not only were the Seabrooks remaining Neutral in this fight but so were about one-third of all other colonists throughout the land. Then John thought, But can we walk on mid ground in this conflict forever? It was most likely that if the Neutral colonists could be swayed one way or the other, that that side would have the winning edge in this conflict. So far, both sides have been trying to entice the Neutralists to join them, and both the Patriots and the Loyalists have been careful not to cause Neutralists harm to either their person or their property, lest they cause the Neutralists to join the other side.

John wondered about all of these things as he continued to ride home that evening. The dapple-colored horse whinnied as it rounded a bend in the path, and soon the big horse rounded yet another bend, and soon the Seabrook farm was in view. John put his horse into the barn and fed it some oats and water, and then John retired to his house for some rest.

CHAPTER 2

A Loyalist’s Price

The next morning John awoke to a serenade of music conducted by songbirds joyfully singing away in a melodious symphony, one that was so grand and perfect that only Mother Nature and God himself could be the conductors of. The beautiful serenade of birdsongs were continuous that morning and broken only by the occasional awkward cackle and crow from one of the Seabrooks’ roosters, whose rude interruption of the birds’ musical serenade seemed to not only disrupt their tempo but also seemed, on momentary occasions, to cease and desist the birds from conducting their joyous jubilee.

And so it was on this wonderful morning that John came downstairs to have some breakfast with his family. When John arrived and sat at the kitchen table, his mother was busy working over the hot kitchen stove, cooking some bacon and eggs.

Betty Seabrook was a woman of virtue, and she was also a very good and very loving mother to John, as well as a loving and faithful wife to John’s father. Betty, as well as the rest of the Seabrook family, had, instilled in her, the value of practicing prudence along with her honest approach to living a peaceful and conservative lifestyle.

Betty carefully turned over a side of bacon; her hair was pinned up into a bun and covered with a white bonnet to protect it from the heat and splatter of the cooking. Betty Seabrook worked constantly and laboriously over the hot stove, and despite the many years of hard work and toil, she was still a beautiful woman, and throughout the many the years of tending to hard farm life and work, she managed to retain a warm and wonderful complexion to her skin. Betty’s cheeks were plush and slightly reddened as she stirred up a bowl of scrambled eggs.

Betty Seabrook had sandy-colored hair that was similar in color to John’s hair, but Betty’s hair was a little darker than John’s. And Betty’s build was also somewhat similar to her son John’s build. Betty was a little full figured, and she was strongly built with a large-boned frame. Like his mother, John, too, was stout in stature and strongly built.

How would you like your eggs, John? Betty asked of John in a warm and loving tone of voice.

Runny, replied John.

And you, dear? asked Mrs. Seabrook with a warmth and loving smile that conveyed to her husband her heartfelt sincerity and affection.

John could see every day how his mother and his father communicated with one another, and he was constantly reminded by them that even after all these years, they both still love each other. I hope someday Peggy and I can share a love for one another like my parents have—that is, if she chooses to marry me someday, thought John.

Mrs. Seabrook came over to the table with prudence and served both John and his father breakfast with a warm smile that seemed to shower sunshine everywhere it was cast. Betty then proceeded to serve herself, and then she seated herself on her chair at the kitchen table.

The Seabrooks then proceeded to say a prayer, which was customarily done by them at breakfast and dinnertime. Once the prayer was said, they all commenced to eating their breakfast and having a mealtime conversation.

How was your visit to the Shippens’ home yesterday? inquired Mrs. Seabrook.

It went very well. We had a wonderful dinner of roast turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, and carrots. We also had a delicious rhubarb pie for dessert with a delicious glazed cream on top of it, replied John enthusiastically.

John obviously did not want to discuss the romantic session that he had with Peggy in the apple orchard, so he added, Peggy and I then went for a nice long walk around the orchard trees after we finished with our dinner, and we had a lovely and engaging conversation.

Sounds like it was a good evening for both of you? asked John’s father Henry.

It sure was! Then John proceeded to say, Peggy invited me to the Wilbur McFarland place this Saturday to attend a ball and dance that they will be having.

The McFarland place! I hear that they are good folks! But I also hear that they are Loyalist, aren’t they, dear? asked Mr. Seabrook as he inquired of his wife’s knowledge on the subject.

Why, yes, Henry! I believe ye are correct. They are generally regarded by people in this area as being Loyalists. Plus, Hettie Brinson from my church organization told me that it as clear as a shiny black button that the McFarlands are Loyalists.

John replied, Peggy told me that they are Loyalists too. Plus, she said that there would be a lot of other Loyalists at the ball, along with some Neutralists like ourselves.

Then John added, Regardless of the McFarlands having different political views and opinions about the war than from that of our own, I met Mr. McFarland and his wife in town before, and they seem like good folks to me. What do you think, Mom?

They are fine folks! I know Linda McFarland very well. She is a member of our church, and she is involved in a church organization with me. Linda is a wonderful and kindhearted person and so is husband Wilbur. Go ahead, John. Go to the ball with Peggy. You two youngsters have yourself a good time, replied Betty.

Yes, John! added Henry. Go to the ball. The McFarlands are good people, even if they are Loyalist. Remember, son, Loyalists or Patriots, people tend to be just that. People! Most of whom are good and kind, God-fearing folks like ourselves. Don’t be afraid to mingle with them just because they have different political views and ideas about the war than us Neutralists have. Respect their views and opinions, but adhere to, and embrace, our own political views and opinions as well. And with that spoken, Henry gave his son John a stern yet endorsing look from his prominent face.

John did not want to discuss the conversation he had had with Peggy regarding the Loyalists and Patriots, so he said, Father, what of the plight of the Loyalist? There will likely be many of them there on Saturday. Perhaps one or two may try to convert me into joining their cause. What should I do if they try to coerce me out of my position of Neutrality?

Just tell them that you wish not to become involved in these matters. They should respect your position and not bother you anymore in those regards. Remember, John, Loyalists are mostly good people, the same too with many of the Patriots. Loyalists have their reasons for being loyal. Some are good reasons, some are bad. Same, too, goes for the Patriots, lamented Mr. Seabrook.

Henry scratched his grayish beard, and the Scotsman thought hard for a moment. Henry Seabrook, being a careful thinker, pondered the question that his son had posed to him some more. Henry was very much like his son, but at six foot one, Henry was a rather tall man for his times. But unlike John, who was very husky and stoutly built at about five feet ten and 185 pounds, Henry had more of a medium, or a medium-slender, build; but he, too, also weighed about 185 pounds. And also, Henry was not only about three inches taller than his son but he was also wiry whereas John was stout.

Henry had chestnut-colored brown hair and a full beard, his beard complemented by a finely manicured mustache. His mustache was slightly darker and less gray than was his beard, plus Henry’s mustache had more of a rusty color to it that seemed to match and go along with his chestnut-colored hair.

Then Henry looked directly into his son John’s eyes and said to him, Best to stay Neutral, son! And let’s hope that this whole mess clears itself up as bloodlessly and peacefully as possible.

And god willing, let us hope that this war ends as soon as possible, added Mr. Seabrook with a high degree of concern in his voice.

Then Henry said to John, If they seem to be persistent, just tell them politely that you are sound and dedicated to your position in these matters. Tell them that you wish to remain Neutral in the war and that you have no desire to change your allegiances. They will understand!

Then Henry changed the subject and said, Son, I need you to milk the cows after breakfast. When you are finished milking the cows, come and meet me at the north end of the property. I’ll be near the pond fixing a fence there, and I’ll need some help.

Then Henry added, Later on in the day when we are all done with our chores we will take the wagon into Troy to pick up some supplies.

When John and Henry finished their breakfast they went outside to do their morning’s work, and meanwhile Betty went about doing her chores inside the house. When they had finished their work, John and his father went into the stables and secured two horses that they needed to hook up to their wagon. Once they had completed hooking up the horses onto the wagon, they proceeded to go to the town of Troy so that they could go to Zachary’s General Store in order to procure the essential supplies they desired.

Zachary’s General Store was a typical colonial store of that period of time. Unlike Judge Shippen’s general store, which was located inland from the river, Zachary’s General Store was located right