Elijah is the son of Lewis Vincent and Abigail Fowler of Westchester County, New York. He was married to Abigail Bayeux June 3, 1791 in the city of New York.
BIOGRAPHY
The following incident is recounted in both Rev. Robert Bolton's and Thomas Scharf's history books of Westchester County New York, published 1905 and 1886 respectively. Both historians describes a incident that occurred either in October 1776 or 1781 in Eastchester during the Revolutionary War. A French Cavalry Officer, serving in Rochambeau's cavalry and stationed in what is now Hartsdale/Greenburgh, together with several of his compatriots, rode through Scarsdale via Crawford's Mill along Post Road to a blacksmith in Eastchester. The owner, Lewis Vincent was absent, and his son, Gilbert, was alone at the home. The Cavalrymen insisted on having their horses attended to. Gilbert refused to attend to the French cavalrymen, Partly due to the fact that is was Sunday, the Lord's day, and that they lacked the necessary fuel for the forge. Local patriots escorting the French allies warned them that the Vincent family were known Tories and that another son, Elijah Vincent rode with Delancey's Marauders. The officer thinking this to be merely a pretense or that he was unwilling to provide service for the enemy, provoked a scuffle with him, which ended in the death of young Vincent. When his brother, Elijah Vincent of Delancey's refugee corps. received word of Gilbert's death, he was outraged and vowed revenge on the murderer. Elijah embarked on retribution, and rode alone to Scarsdale and waited in ambush, watching the French scouting parties riding from their encampment on Greenburgh Hill to Scarsdale. After several nights of watching in vain, the the opportune moment for revenge arrived. It so happened that a party of the Duke of Lauzun & rsqou;s patrols passed by the very spot that Elijah Vincent laid in wait behind some bushes. He sprung up from behind the cover, and fired upon the unsuspecting company, striking a Captain of the
Hussars, who fell from his horse, mortally wounded. Elijah then escaped uncaptured. After this, according to Scharf's & Bolton's histories of this incident, Elijah became a terror throughout the whole region to all who opposed the Crown. Gilbert's death reportedly occurred at Halsey Mansion in Eastchester, Westchester Co. New York. It is reported that this home belonged to the Vincents, the blacksmiths of the town, who were greatly respected. James Cardinal, former Scarsdale historian, believes the ambush took place at a point where Crane Road had once crossed Post Road, in a northwesterly direction, at a location that would now be behind the Village Hall. By the end of the war, Elijah had risen from Ensign to Lieutenant in the Corps of Guides. After the war the family fled to New Brunswick, where he was granted a tract of land for his service to the British in Regimental Block Three at lower Queensbury, York Co. on the St. John River above Fredericton. However by 1791, he returns to New York, where he marries Abigail Bayeux at the Holy Trinity Church Parish in New York City, on June 3rd 1791. He also purchases 30 acres of land in the town of Westchester, New York from his grandfather, Charles Vincent the 3rd, for two hundred and twenty pounds. Then by 1796, he moves his family and settles in Willoughby Township, Lincoln-Welland County, Ontario Canada. In 1970 Willoughby was annexed to Niagara Falls Township. He petitioned for 2,000 acres of crown land in Canada for his service. Each of his four children also received grants for 200 acres each, three of his children settled in Middleton Township, Norfolk County Ontario Canada. Later some of the children settled in Bayham Township, Elgin County Ontario Canada. Willoughby records report that on "April 14th, 1801, Amy, wife of Philip Forse, relinquished her right of Dower in Lot 7, 7th concession, Willoughby Township, County of Lincoln, District of Niagara, according to law, to Elijah Vincent, grantee of Philip Forse." This 200 acre plot lays between Beck Rd. and Montrose Rd. on the East and West and Schisler Rd. to the North and Gonder Rd. to the South. Also In Willoughby Township records it reports that in 1801, Elijah was an assessor for the townships of Willoughby and Crowland after Gideon Dudley refused the office. It states, "Gideon Dudley, being duly elected to the office of assessor for the townships of Willoughby and Crowland, declined the said office, came before me this 14th day of March 1801, being summoned to appear to know the reason of his not accepting said office, and not having just reason for declining was fined two pounds lawful money of this Province, and Elijah Vincent was appointed by the magistrates to serve in said office." signed Thomas Cummings, Justice of the Peace. Thomas Cummings also signed a petition for a land grant for Abigail Bayeux, wife of Elijah Vincent. Abigail's father was Thomas Bayeux, a Loyalist, and Customs House Officer for New York. It is presumed that Elijah and Abigail were quite friendly with Thomas Cummings, since they named their son, Thomas Cummings Vincent after him. In 1804 Elijah Vincent appears in Willoughby records a Collector for the townships. in the 1823 census of Willoughby Township Elijah appears as having 2 male children and one female child. Elijah wrote his will January 14th 1833 as a resident of Willoughby Township, Niagara District, and has his four children as beneficiaries. The Executors of the will were William Hepburne, James Cummings, both of Chippewa, and his son, Thomas Cummings Vincent. There is conflicting reports on his death date, one source reports he died December 22, 1835, and another that he died 1843. Burial is unknown, possibly Holy Trinity Church in Chippewa or possibly in an unmarked grave in another cemetery.
Another record found relating to Elijah Vincent, is the court martial of George Hughston. George Hughston Private in the First Regiment of Foot Guards was brought Prisoner before the Court, accused of Desertion, with his Arms and Accoutrements: Presenting and Cocking his Firelock at one of the Pioneers who was in pursuit of him. Elijah Vincent Ensign in the Corps of Pioneers being duly Sworn, deposes that on the Evening of the 13th of February between the Hours of Seven and eight o'clock, he was informed that two men were crossing the River at Hollands Ferry; Lieutenant Hunt of the Pioneers ordered two men to follow them imagining them to be Deserters, Ensign Vincent followed them with part of his Guard, and came up with the Prisoner who was Kneeling and presenting his firelock at one of the men he had with him, he desired Prisoner to drop his Piece, which he immediately did and Surrendered himself a Prisoner, upon the Firelocks being given to him he found it was Cocked; and after leaving the
Prisoner in Charge of one of his Men he went in pursuit of the other man.
George Strawbridge Private Soldier in the Corps of Pioneers being duly Sworn
Deposes that he was a Sentrie, and seeing two men crossing the River at Hollands Ferry he informed his Officer of it, who sent some men in pursuit of them, does not recollect the Night but thinks it was about fourteen days ago.
Gilbert Williams Private Soldier in the Corps of Pioneers, being duly Sworn, deposes that being ordered by his Officer, to pursue two men that were seen on the River, came up with them and saw one of them sitting in the Snow with his Piece presented at him, on which he retreated and called to the Guard to come up, saying that they had arms upon his retreating the man called out to him laughing God damn you do you take me for a Rebel, upon assistance coming up to him, the man laid down his Arms and Surrendered himself a Prisoner
Question by the Prisoner to the Evidence. Was not I in Liquor?
A. I think you was in Liquor.
John Lint Private Soldier in the Corps of Pioneers being duly Sworn deposes, that on the night of the 13th Instant, he was sent by his Officer with others in pursuit of two men supposed to be deserting on his coming up to the Prisoner he saw him with his piece presented at Gilbert Williams, he turned the Piece from Williams and presented it at him: on Ensign Vincents coming up and calling to him to Surrender he drop his firelock, which Ensign Vincent took up, and found it to be Cocked. Question by the Prisoner to the Evidence. Was not I in Liquor?
A. You was in Liquor.
The Prisoner being put on his Defence, says that he was so intoxicated with Liquor that he does not know how he got there, that if he had any intention of Deserting he has lately had frequent opportunity as he has been upon many of the out posts— has nothing further to say but throws himself entirely upon the mercy of the Court. The Court having considered the Evidence against the Prisoner as also his Defence, is of Opinion that the Prisoner is Guilty of the Crime laid to his Charge, being a breach of the first Article of the Sixth Section of the Articles of War, therefore Sentence him to Suffer Death.
Wm. SCHUTZ Capn. Coldm. Gs.
& Lieut. Col. in the Army Prest.
Charles KERR Lt.
43d Regt.
D: J: A:
H CLINTON
WILL of Elijah Vincent
FROM: The Valley of the Six Nations,
by Charles Johnson REF:p. 581

14 January, 1833
"In the name of God, Amen,, I Elijah Vincent of the Township of Willoughby in the Niagara District, Province of Upper Canada.
gentleman, do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following: First, I resign my soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping and believing in the remission of my sins by the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, and my body I commit to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executors herein named, and my worldly estate I give and devise as follows: Lots 6 and 7 in the seventh concession of Willougby Township, described as follows..."

Beneficiaries being his four children. Executors were William Hepburn of Chippewa, Merchant, James Cummings of Chippewa, Esquire, and his son Thomas Cummings Vincent. Bequests of money made in pounds and shillings.

Signed:
Elijah Vincent
Witnesses:
Adoram Dell
Jacob Everingham
John Gurr

Another account of Elijah Vincent's encounter during the Revolutionary War:
Some encounters ended in bloodshed and even death. On July 7, the day after the arrival of the French forces, was spent, so Closen, "in more extensive reconnaissance of the neighborhood." The next day, July 8, the hussars apparently set out to make their presence known in the neighborhood. Joseph Odell (*1766) of Greenburgh was one of many interviewees who remembered what happened that Sunday morning: "Elijah Vincent was from near East Chester Village and he had a brother who was a blacksmith and had his shop, in the Revolutionary War, near where Armstrong’s tavern was afterwards built. Soon after the French Army came to West Chester County, a detachment of Lauzun’s cavalry called at his Smithy and requested him to shoe some horses. He refused because it was Sunday. Some altercation ensued which ended in a fight and Vincent was killed. Elijah Vincent vowed revenge and watched the French patrol with a party of men for some time till he fell in with the scout whose Captain he killed. He took from the Frenchman’s pockets an elegant gold watch and some coin.[69]
Daniel Odell of Yonkers told McDonald on 20 October 1845, that "A detachment of French Cavalry stopped at Vincent’s smithy in east Chester and requested him to shoe some horses which he refused saying he had iron in the fire for other work upon which he was engaged. Some altercation ensued which ended in a quarrel. A French officer (?) drew his sword and cut Vincent down leaving him for dead but at length he recovered. His brother Elijah Vincent on being informed of it vowed revenge and waylaid the French horse. The Vincents were born and brought up on the place (at East Chester) of their father which was afterwards owned by Colonel William S. Smith, son in law of President John Adams.[70]
And John Williams of Peekskill, aged 90, told McDonald that the blacksmith killed by the French was Gilbert Vincent who lived about ¼ of a mile from East Chester. He had told the French hussars that he had no coal when he refused to shoe the horses, but the French had not believed him. In revenge his brother shot a French officer near Scarsdale despoiling him of all his arms which he afterwards showed me and which I saw consisting of a sword, dagger, pistol, epaulettes, scarf, belt etc all extremely elegant.[71]
The truth of these stories is confirmed in Mackenzie's Diary, where Elijah is identified as an ensign in the "West Chester Refugees." Planning to "surprize some French Officers quartered at a house in the front of their camp" with seven men of his corps, "on their way there they fell in with a patrole of 6 Hussars of The legion de Lausun, which was followed by an Officer and 25 Dragoons." Vincent shot the officer and "brought off the Officers Cap, Sword, etc." [72] If Gilbert Vincent was killed on Sunday, July 8, Elijah did not waste any time. The personnel file of 25-year-old sous-lieutenant Pichon, adjutant of Lauzun's Legion, records: Tué en patrouille, killed while on patrol, on 10 July 1781. [73]
sources;
[69] McDonald Papers Vol. 1, p. 193.
[70] McDonald Papers Vol. 1, p. 215. The property, later known as the Vincent-Halsey House, was situated on Provost Avenue in the Bronx between the original Boston Post Road and Coles Road.
[71] Vol. 6, p. 823. See also Frederick Rich, age 80, of Mile Square in Vol. 4, p. 506, in September 1846: Elijah Vincent ambushed the French because they killed his brother, a smith of East Chester, who refused to shoe the horses of the French dragoons. Vol. 4, p. 510, contains an interview with Philemon Fowler of East Chester in September 1846. Vincent was a blacksmith, and killed because he would not shoe a horse for them (a party of French) in consequence of which Elijah Vincent vowed revenge and soon after shot a French Captain. The only dissenting voice is found in Vol. 1, p. 196, in a note written 8 October 1845. Mr Jackson Odell tells me he has ascertained from Mr ? that Vincent’s brother lived though cut to pieces, and that this barbarity was practiced not by the French but by Americans.
[72] Mackenzie, Diary, p. 568. Mackenzie gives the date of the incident as July 17.
[73] Bodinier, Dictionnaire, p. 380.
"America Meets France outside New York City"
http://www.hudsonrivervalley.net/AMERICANBOOK/America.html

136 THE BOROUGh OF THE BRONX

Chester. In 1666 the settlers purchased more land from the In-
dians. Among the sachems who signed the deed was Annhooke,*
the slayer of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson. On March 9th, 1667, Gov-
ernor Nicolls granted the settlers a confirmatory patent.

The famous old St. Paul's Church has an interesting past.
It was built in 1765 to replace one erected in 1699 which had been
destroyed by fire. During the Revolution, St. Paul's was used by
the British at various times as a stable and as a hospital. After
the war it served as a Court of Justice, and Aaron Burr, who
fought Alexander Hamilton in a duel, pleaded many cases here.
The Church-yard contains some 6,000 bodies, the oldest head-stone
being that of "M. V. D." who died February 15, 1704. Some of
the prominent families interred there are — Pinckneys, Fowlers,
Drakes, Hunts, Odells, Underbills, Valentines, Sherwoods and
others as famous.

The lawn opposite St. Paul's was used as the Colonial village
green and here also stood the first church. It is said that between
the group of locust trees, still standing, were the village stocks
where offenders were punished.

The Vincent-Halsey House on Columbia Avenue is another
old landmark around which is woven many an interesting tale.
The Vincents were the village blacksmiths, and, being devout
Christians would under no circumstances shoe a horse on Sunday.
Adherence to this principle caused the death of one of the black-
smiths, Gilbert Vincent. A French officer in the Continental army
who had been despatched on some important business lost a shoe
of his spirited mount as he was passing thru the village. The
officer led the horse to the Vincents' smithery but he was refused
the shoe on the ground that such labor on the Sabbath was a
desecration. Impatient to get away, and angered at what he con-
sidered unpatriotic obstinacy and unfriendliness to the cause, the
officer drew his sword and struck the pious blacksmith to the
ground. This cold-blooded murder so incensed Elijah Vincent, the
brother of the slain man, that he promptly obtained a commission
in the British army and became the most vindictive and uncom-
promising enemy the patriots had in the whole territory. Nothing
was considered safe from him and his associates, not even the
old bell, the Bible and the prayer-book which had been presented
to St. Paul's Church by Queen Anne. To safeguard these from the
profaning hands of the marauding soldiery, which held nothing
sacred, they were buried in the ground adjoining the edifice, where
they remained until the close of the war. The Vincents moved
away when the British evacuated New York, and Col. W. S. Smith
of the thirteenth Massachusetts Regiment, a distinguished officer
of the Revolution and an aide of the staff of Washington, moved
into the mansion.

Ensign Elijah Vincent born in America, prviously a farmer from West Chester, served 4 years in provincial Corps
source:
Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War: Official rolls ... By Murtie June Clark