General Erskine House

This home is tied to one of the more complex figures of the American Revolutionary era, James Erskine, and its story reaches back to the earliest days of the nation’s founding conflict. Erskine arrived in America in 1776 as a brigadier serving under Sir Henry Clinton, playing a role in the British campaign for New York. He commanded troops during the pivotal Battle of Long Island, one of the first major battles of the Revolutionary War. By 1777, he had risen to serve as Quartermaster General under Lord Cornwallis, helping to guide British strategy during a critical phase of the war. Erskine is notably remembered for his counsel during the Battle of the Assunpink Creek, where he advised against delaying an attack on General George Washington’s forces. That hesitation allowed the Continental Army to slip away overnight, leading directly to the American victory at the Battle of Princeton. His military career continued with involvement in raids and campaigns across the Northeast, including the British expedition into Connecticut and the Battle of Ridgefield, as well as the Philadelphia campaign and the Battle of Monmouth. Following these engagements, Erskine was placed in command of the eastern district of Long Island, linking him directly to this region and, ultimately, to Southampton. By 1779, having been promoted to Major General, Erskine returned to England, closing his chapter in North America. Yet his presence here left a lasting imprint. Today, the General Erskine House stands as a quiet reminder of Southampton’s place within the broader narrative of the Revolutionary War—a village touched not only by Patriots, but also by figures from the opposing side whose decisions shaped the course of history.