?At the time of the battle of Brandywine, Sept. 11, 1777, Hannah Dutton was a widow with five children; of whom the oldest was in his 19th year, and the youngest not yet three. Her son Thomas, then in his ninth year, said that he went to school that morning, but when the booming of the distant cannon was heard from the scene of conflict, the teacher dismissed the scholars, saying, "Go home, children, I can't keep school to-day." A few days after the battle, the British army arrived in the neighborhood, and encamped on the hills to the westard;--a part of the camp being on the Dutton farm. Little Tommy marched boldly up to the camp, and drove the cows home least they should be killed by the soldiers. An officer noticed him, and thinking no doubt there must be something good to eat where the cows belonged, ordered four soldiers to follow, and accompany him home. As they walked along, the officer made various inquiries about the family, asking Tommy if his father was a rebel,--whether his older brother had a gun, and what he did with it, &c. Arriving at the house the four soldiers were stationed around it to prevent a surprise from any lurking rebels who might be in the neighborhood, while the officer entered. Hannah Dutton was somewhat alarmed at first, but was assured that the family would not be molested, with the exception that she must produce all the butter, cheese, milk, and other fresh provisions, that she could possibly spare; for all of which the officer paid her, saying, they did not come to rob the people. She remarked that he had but one hand, to which he replied that he had lost the other in Flanders. Before leaving he informed her that the army would probably move from their enampment in a few days, and that she had better bolt and bar every door and window, to keep out the stragglers or camp followers, who, under pleas of wishing to get a drink, or light a pipe, would try to gain admittance in order to steal whatever they could lay their hands upon. This timely warning was of use as events proved. While the army was still encamped here, Thomas Dutton and another boy of the neighborhood strolled into the camp, when some of the soldiers, to tease them, prevented their return for a little time, and told them they were going to shoot the old men of the country, and hand the boys. Thomas thinking he certainly had a friend in the one handed officer, decided in case of trouble to inquire for him. Hannah Dutton was married a second time 12 mo. 11, 1783, to Thomas Wilson of Chichester. Her death occurred 3 mo. 25, 1825 . She was active in meeting affairs, and filled the station of overseer in Chichester meeting." Cope, Gilbert, "Genealogy of the Dutton Family of Pennsylvania," (Higginson Genealogical Books, 14 Derby Square, Salem, MA, 01970) West Chester, PA: 1871.