Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 October 1879 — CELEBRATED HIS CENTENARY [ARTICLE]

CELEBRATED HIS CENTENARY

A Man Whom Washington Patted on the Head, and Whose Sister Married John Paulding, One of the Captors of Atndre[NewYork Sun, Oct. 2.] Yesterday was the One hundredth anniversary of the birth of Captain Denike of Yonkers. In his pretty little house iu Wells avenue a few friends assembled and congratulated the veteran. They did not remain long, for the old soldier, in the past few weeks, has shown signs of failing health, He says that in his youth he was a remarkably powerful man. and, though his form is thin and bent now, the remains of ancient vigor are perceptible. His sight is especially good, and he can read without glasses. Captain Denike lived until he was six years old on the borders of Dutchess county, where he was born on Oc toberlst, a century ago. Inhischildhood he went with his family into Westchester county, where, with the exception ot a few comparatively brief periods of absence, he has lived sinse.

The captain, jike most very old persons, remembers the early occurrences of his long life much more distinctly than'those of later date. His father had been what was then called “walking guard” of Ge neral Lafayette, and was acquainted with General Washington. When the present cuptain was but four years old he was taken by his parents to New York to see the general, and one of the tenderust recollections of the old man’s life was the affectionate way in which the father ot his country placed his hand upon his little visitor’s head and smiled upon him; The meeting, he says, was in a tavern, where many of the lights of the revolutionary war used to assemble Captain Denike scoffs at the tales of serpents that are told to-day. He thinks the reptiles hsve lost their venom, and with it the boldness that distinguished them in former years. “Why, ’he savs, ‘96 years ago I remember well that I and my two brothers, who are both dead long ago, were sitting on the floor of my father’s house eating oat meal and milk. A big rattlesnake, that had crawled in at the door without being noticed by any of us, suddenly thrust his head into the bowl and began eating the oat meal quicker than all of us together could do. But we were not afraid of snakes in those days, and my oldest brother just drove the brute off with a spoou, and then we all jumped upon him until he was dead. That’s the way we served venomous serpents when I was a bov.” Soon after that; and easily within his recollection, he says, his mother died. He remembers being lifted up tp kiss her for the last time as she lay on the bed. The solemnity of the occasion made an indblliblc .impression upon him, and the faint words of ad vice that fell from her lips were not forgotten. Not long after his mother’s death he was employed by a Quaker named Quimoy to mind his sheep. He remained 11 years with the old farmer, and his life was a very happy one, and filled with such simple, homely adventures as occur in a shepherd’s experience.

When not attending to the sheep he went to school, where he was an attentive and progressive pupil, but too independent to become much of a fa vorite with his teacher. Having thrashed one of his schoolmates he was threatened with corporeal punishment, but he resisted to the extent of flinging an inkstand at the teacher, who then appealed to Mr. Quimby.— The old farmer took the boy’s part, and, failing to conciliate the teacher, removed his protege from the school. For some years after he was 17 young Isaac worked as a carpenter, and at the breaking out of the war of 1812, lie enlisted, and soon became a quartermaster’s sergeant. He was then 38 years of age. It was not in this war, however, that he earned the title of captain. After the conflict was over he turned his attention to nautical matters, and for many years he ran a sloop from-Peekskill to New York. Si net? that time he has been called captain. For two years he was a deputy sheriff, and for nearly 12 years a constable of the town of Cortlandt. His great strength and indomitable courage admirably fitted- him for the latter office, and he had many and thrilling adventures. Once he had to arrest a man named Abraham Wright, who was the terror of the country side. He had fired at*several officers who had tried to capture him, and Denike was the only man who would now undertake the task. He found Wright’s door locked, and his demand to be admitted being refused he burst it in with an axe. Wright was standing at the other side of the room with a loaded gun In his hands, and immediately upon the constable’s entrance he fired. The charge shattered Denike’s left arm. But despite his comparatively disabled condition he sprang upon Wright, overthrew and bound him, and lifting him into his wagon took him to White Plains, where he was tried and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. The pris oner, however, was liberated after nine months, and afterward be?atno a warm friend-of Captain Denike’s. Captain Denike relates a somewhat curious story of the liberation of slaves in the State of New York after the emancipation proclamation of 1820. He was at the house of Mr. Solomon Hawse, of Peekskill, when the latter told his slaves they were freemen, and gave each of them a parting gift of $5. One old woman begged to be allowed to remain with him, and being accorded the permission, lived in iier old master’s house until she was older than Captain Denike is to day. Captain Denike’s sister married John Paulding, one of the captors of Major Andre, and until his memory began to fail some months ago, the veteran was never tired of relating anecdotes that his brother-in Jaw had told him of the death of the brave but unfortunate British spy.