According to the Research journals of William Stillwell Carman, journal no. 19,  John Carman was called the Refugee because he would not fight in the Revolutionary War.  Left Hempstead L.I. at the time the English forces landed on Long Island in 1776, when he was a young man, settled and owned a farm in the Sannandoah Hills near Stormville, Dutchess Co. NY .  Analysis of the events on Long Island show that he was more likely of Loyalist persuasion, and rather than enter conscription into an American Militia, he chose to leave, which is in perfect harmony with what many other Long Island loyalists did in the same situation.

It also appears from records that John seems to have been on the list of people to 'keep an on on' -  "In Jan. 1776 he apologized for his Tory leanings (REV.PAP. 1:215). His conversion could not have been very sincere as he was captured in the "Swamp fight" in June of that yr. by the Continental Forces, and later discharged (REV.PAP. 1:373). He was very likely picked up again by the Americans for in July same yr., a John Carman and others, who had been jailed in New York City petitioned the American authorities to release them as their businesses would suffer and further, desired, at least, to be told why they had been confined (REV.PAP 1:421). It is rather difficult to imagine that any one of their family really believed in his own innocence. Sometime during 1776 a John Carman and others signed the Articles of association as residents of Queens County, L.I. (REV.PAP. 1:209). As a Joseph Bedell also signed this paper, and there was a prominent Tory of that name in the Region, the writer thinks that the paper was signed by many of those who had been captured in June as a condition of their release, or possibly by those unfortunates who had been jailed in New York City either to show their "innocence" or as a condition imposed by the jailers." - "John 1 Carman of Hempstead, Long Island and Some of His Descendants thru his Son John 2", Henry Alanson Tredwell, Jr, 160 Henry Street, Brooklyn 2, NY, August 1946, p.32 (collection of the NYGBS #2913).

This Joseph Bedle above was also involved in the Swamp Fight with John Carman.   Bedle later fled to Canada.  Joseph Bedell married  'Ruth', as her second husband. Her first husband was Thomas Carman, uncle of  John Carman which would make Joseph Bedell,  John Carman's step-uncle.  From the records above John does not appear to be unwilling to fight, rather unwilling to fight against King George.   As enlistment in the Revolutionary militia was mandatory, as part of the program to convert the many loyalists of Long Island, it appears that John became "the Refugee" to escape from having to been forced into the Continental Army.

According to several of the grand-children of this family line, John Carman and his brother Israel 'went to Nova Scotia' ( the destination for Loyalists in those times ).  His other brother, Adam, remained on Long Island.  However it appears that he may have never made it to Nova Scotia, or didn't stay long, and settled in Dutchess County instead.   No refuge from the War for sure, for he lived not far from Yorktown.  But he was not subject to the persecutions he suffered on Long Island.

In identifying John "the Refugee", we have John's grand-nephews naming him and Israel Carman as leaving Long Island. And the reverse information in William Stillwell Carman's journals from family lettters in Dutchess County, New York stating that "John Carman had a brother Israel and probably a brother Adam as well".  There is only one branch of the family that I know of where we have brothers John, Adam, and Israel.