Between 1844 and 1850 John McDonald, whose father was Dr. James McDonald of White Plains, traveled throughout Westchester County, interviewing 241 persons, all of whom were then between 70 and 96 years old, about their recollections of Westchester County during the seven years of the American Revolution. The interviews were then transcribed into eight volumes by John English, who added additional information to them. Two of the interviews are shown here, one describing events leading up to the Battle of White Plains and another depicting the severity of the fighting and hardships of Westchester residents during the war years.

This early “oral history” is one of the few sources of first-hand experiences of Westchester citizens while the county was the “neutral ground” between the British troops in New York City and George Washington’s Continental forces, stationed for a good part of the war just north of the county line.

This record is also associated with:
Eastchester
New Rochelle
White Plains