USA > New York > Schoharie County > Military records of Schoharie County veterans of four wars > Part 1
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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 07952675 6
MILITARY RECORDS
OF
SCHOHARIE COUNTY VETERANS
OF
FOUR WARS
COMPILED BY GEORGE H. WARNER LATE CO. C, 134TH N. Y. VOL. INF.
ALBANY, N. Y. WEED, PARSONS AND COMPANY, PRINTERS 1891
Checked
VER NEW YORK PRIN TARBARY 2087 10
L.
Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-one,
BY GEORGE H. WARNER, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
Wart First.
ERRATA.
PAGE. RECORD.
29. Hendricus Shafer, for 1882 read 1832.
31. John Snyder, for 1862 read 1782.
Peter Richtmyer, for eighth read third.
Samuel Carey, for Samuel Swan read John Swan.
Cedar Creek, for Oct. 10th read 19th.
William Robinson, for 1852 read 1864.
Jeremiah Pitcher, for February 23, 1864 read 1865.
David E. Swart, read Daniel, and died 1864.
54. 89. 125. 135. 136. 165. 170. Geo. Yeomans, for July read June. 185. Geo. Settle, for 1864 read 1861. 198. William C. Brazee, for September 5, 1865 read 1864. 231. Jacob Parslow, for August 23 read August 28. Holmes K. Nelson, for October 1863 read 1861.
235. 252. Ezra Buck, for 1864 read 1884. 289. Hiram Borst, for July 30, 1865 read 1862. 289. David Borst, for August 26, 1864 read 1862. 306. Charles L. Decker, for May read August. 314. Alfred Armstrong, for Orso read Orlo. 31S. Mitchell Hubbard, read Michael. 325. Robert Vaughn, for July 16, 1865 read 1863.
346. For Stephen Jarvis read Travis.
350. 144th Inf., for Charlestown read Charleston.
423. Stephen J. Merenes, for 259 read 359.
426. John W. Vroman. for 222 read 322.
THENEW YORK 2087 10
-
MUCHASOVO ATIONS,
1907
L.
Wart First.
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
REVEILLE.
War of the Revolution - Forts and Defenses - Discipline and Equipment -Committee of Safety - Roster of the 15th Regiment of Militia - Riflemen and Rangers- Prison Report - Casualties - Roll of Honor - Brothers in the Revolution - Queer Names - Index of Names.
If "he that ruleth his own spirit is mightier than he who taketh a city," the private soldier must be entitled to recognition in a measure equal to his services. There are heroes and there have been heroes, but not all of them are mentioned in history, song and monumental inseriptions. Service without sacrifice cannot be called heroism, although many have risen to be honored, by popular ap- plause, who have sacrificed nothing ; having no regard for the rights of others. Believing that the private soldier, in all American wars, who did his full duty in a patriotie spirit, is equally entitled to recognition with those of superior rank, and that his name and position in the military history of the past should not be lost and forgotten, I have attempted this work without excuse or apology. The veterans and their friends will not forget that those who fought to maintain the rights of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness " are entitled the fullest measure of honor and respect. Proper honors shown to a worthy servant or benefactor cannot be compassed by a banquet, the blare of trumpets, or the thunder of artillery. Such spasms subside as the sound dies away, and the smoke disappears, while the recipient of the ovation may often be found behind the procession or paying the bills. One hundred and fifteen years have elapsed since war was declared against the American Colonies by England, and yet, after an active service of five years, even the names of each militia man of this county cannot be obtained without great pains and doubt. Provision has been made by our law-makers to make a roster, and record of term of service, of those who served in
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SCHOHARIE COUNTY VETERANS.
the several wars, but like many just and important laws, the incom- plete execution, or a failure wholly, on the part of those intrusted with the work, leaves our sources of information as meager, nnsatis- factory and perplexing. In the prosecution of this work I have had but one object in view - the military record of every citizen of Scho- harie county whose home was in the county when he entered the service. I recognize the right of any one to make the same effort and to enjoy any honors belonging to it. I admit my interest to be personal, as gratifying a "hobby," but deny a purpose to profit otherwise. If I please myself and at the same time perform a ser- vice for others, I see no occasion to make empty excuses or fawning platitudes.
The greatest hero is he who divides an honor with his comrades; the greatest coward, he who ascribes all honor to himself. I dis- claim any honor in giving my comrades their due; I repudiate the title of coward, as I have not aspired to honors or popularity. Being personally satisfied with my work, through doing all in my power, I shall greatly regret any just cause for any dissatisfaction among my comrades living or the friends of those dead.
But few of the graves of Revolutionary inen can be found to-day, and fewer still have epitaph or sign. Their names are dropping out of the roll of memory and their descendants remember but little or none of the traditions of their services. With the men of 1812 we stand on nearer ground, as many of their children are with us. The men of the Mexican war from this county were but a hand- ful, and the prosecution of that war was not highly creditable to our government. I have embodied in the records of the veterans such facts and data as has been in my power to gather, and such infor- mation as their friends and descendants have been able or willing to give me. The survivors of the Union Army live in the memories of the past. Those who were fortunate or unfortunate enough to sur- vive the havoc of battle, the hardships of the march, or the hell of prison life, and endured and suffered in an humble capacity, and made their sacrifices through patriotism, are not especially men- tioned in "Orders" at the present day, nor are they called ten paces to the front to receive honors at our " dress parades." A vast army has passed over the graves of those who perished and the weary and fainting bodies of those who survive, and in its struggle for gain and honors, is fast losing respect for the survivors of the skirmish line which cleared the way. Words do not win battles, in honorable warfare. Words may win fame and popularity, but I question the
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honor or right when the silent servant is obscured by the joy raised by the trumpeter.
COPY OF COMMISSION ISSUED 1778.
The People of the State of New York, by the Grace of God FREE and INDEPENDENT-Greeting ; We reposing special Trust and Con- fidence as well in your Patriotism, Conduct and Loyalty, as in your Valor and Readiness to do us good and faithful Service, Have ap- pointed and constituted, and by these Presents Do, appoint and con- stitute yon the Said Johnathan Bixby, Captain of the Company of Militia in the Beat wherein you reside, in the Regt. whereof Peter Van Ness Esquire, is Col.
You are therefore to take the said Company into your charge and care as Captain thereof and duly to exercise the Officers and Soldiers of that Company in Arms, who are hereby commanded to obey you as their Captain, and you are also to Observe and follow such Orders and Directions as you shall from time to time receive from our Gen- eral and Commander-in-chief of the Militia of our said State, or any other your Superior Officer, According to the Rules and discipline of War, in pursuance of the Trust reposed in you, and for so doing This shall be Your Commission, for and during our good pleasure, to be Signified by our Council of appointments. In. Testimony whereof, we have caused our Seal for Military Commissions to be hereunto Af- fixed. Witness our Trusty and well beloved George Clinton Esquire, our Governor of our State of New York, General and Commander in chief of all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of the same, by and with the Advice and Consent of our said Council of Appoint- ment, at Poughkeepsie the twenty eighth day of May in the second year of our Independence, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight. Passed the Secretarys Office. The 15th June 1778. GEORGE CLINTON.
By his excellencys Command.
JON' MORRIS SCOTT. Secretary of the State.
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
Previous to the declaration of war against the American Colonies by England, several of the inhabitants of the county had served in the British cause against the French, and a few were holding official
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SCHOHARIE COUNTY VETERANS.
positions in the Colonial Militia through commissions from the King: notably, Peter B. Vroman and Adam Chrysler. Late in the year 1775 an enrollment was made of men for service against the Crown, and in defense of the rights of the Colonists. Vroman espoused the Patriot cause and was commissioned commander of the Militia in what is now Schoharie county. His neighbor, Adam Chrysler, adhered to the cause of the King and was given a captaincy, and the com- mand of the few Tories and Indians who were induced to make war against the Patriots. Like all men who turn against the apparently weaker party, in the expectation of gaining position and profit, his acts and methods were revengeful and barbarous. From the time of the settlement of the valley of Schoharie and its tributary sec- tions-Cobleskill, Turlach and the Fox Creek Valley, until the in- vasion of 1777, the inhabitants had worked industriously to build up houses and increase their resources and incomes. So well had they succeeded, that they were able to produce for others, and the surplus wheat from Schoharie valley became one of the important factors of assistance to the Provincial government.
The products of the valley and the homes and lives of its inhabit- ants became objects for the care and protection of the home rulers, and at the same time marked subjects for the torch, tomahawk, and scalping-knife of the foreign aggressor. Just previous to and at the time of the first invasion of the valley the sentiments or politics of the inhabitants became pronounced, and the distinction between Tory and Rebel neighbors became marked. Brother opposing brother, and son against father, in several instances. The Rebel of the Revolution was the man who had, and whose ancestors had, labored to make a home in a new land, and not only believed in his rights of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," but that the preservation of all the fruits of his toil, and his freedom to enjoy them, depended on resisting an avaricious and exacting foreign power to the last. A Tory of the Revolution was that ubiquitous thing, existing in every period of the world's history, who had no patriotism and less courage, and who hoped for success of the power- ful invader, that he might be allotted the lands and home of his thrifty neighbor, as a reward for being a scoundrel. The term " Tory " is supposed to be of Irish derivation, and meaning "a robber." If the descendants of the Palatinates and others who settled in Scho- harie county had cause for hatred of England previous to the Revo- lution, we may infer that they had far greater cause for hatred when that power, their so-called foster father, employed savage Indians to
7
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
despoil their homes, murder their children, and kill, scalp or lead into captivity the men who defended their new homes against foreign oppression. When Tory neighbors sheltered and enter- tained their savage allies, and gave "aid and comfort" to the enemy of our "Deutsche" ancestry, the "donner vetter blixen, und ver dom," consigned the Tory to eternal disgrace. In the be- ginning of the year 1776, two delegates from Schoharie met with the General Council at Albany to devise plans for mutual safety and protection, and to make public declaration of their allegiance to American Independence, and opposition to the acts of the British Parliament. In June of the same year a local "Committee of Safety," of six persons, was appointed to order and regulate the af- fairs of public interest. As vacancies occurred in this board or com- mittee, from time to time, during the six years in which its existence was a necessity, new appointments were made, so that historians tell us fourteen of the prominent men of that day served as "Com- mittee Men " during the war.
In 1775 a regiment of Militia was organized in the Albany dis- trict, which included three companies from Schoharie under Colonel Vroman, who with the commissioned officers of the three companies received their appointments Oct. 20th of that year. A fourth com- pany was organized in the Cobleskill in 1777, and in 1778 a fifth company was enrolled in the "Turlach " settlement ; but owing to predominating Toryism, the company disbanded ; some of its mem- bers beingattached to the Fourth and First Companies ; others sery- ing as scouts and rangers ; while a few were enrolled in the Tryon County Militia. The four companies were assigned to the Fifteenth Regiment of Militia and Levies of New York. They served on de- tail and detachments along the Mohawk until the fore part of the year 1777, when they were recalled, and held in readiness for an ex- pected invasion of the valley.
On the 7th of July, 1777, a general order was issued, requiring the posting of sentinels, and such stringent military regulations as the peril of the times demanded. After such ;preparations had been made as to give a greater feeling of security, a part of the Militia were again detached to join General Gates, who was then opposing the British under Burgoyne. But, suddenly, the inhabitants of the valley were aroused from their fancied security, by the approach of the British Captain McDonald with twenty-eight Regulars. The in- vading force being joined by a party of Tories and Indians under Adam Chrysler, numbered, according to Simms, about one hundred
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SCHOHARIE COUNTY VETERANS.
men. The alarmed Colonists dispatched messengers to Albany, for assistance, who were followed by Colonel Harper, who had just arrived in the valley, and who commanded the defenses in this val- ley and all the ontposts to the south and west. Colonel Harper secured a reinforcement of a company of cavalry and proceeded to Schoharie, where he was joined by the remaining Militia, and then proceeded as far as Boneks Island, meeting the enemy in ambush at the Chrys- ler farm, north of what is now the Boneks Island Ferry. The Patriots were met by an unexpected volley from the enemy, who were immediately ronted by a charge of the cavalry, which closed the en- gagement. This first battle in Schoharie county took place Ang. 14, 1777, and as before stated, near the upper limit of the present vil- lage of Fultonham. The loss to the Patriots was one man of the cavahy killed, and two of the Militia wounded; one mortally. Dur- ing the latter part of the year 1777, three forts or stockades were built in the valley. as described elsewhere. In the latter part of May, 1778, spies of the enemy were discovered in the vicinity of Coble- skill. Captain Christian Brown, commanding the Fourth Company of Militia, dispatched a messenger to the lower fort for assistance, and was reinforced by Captain Patrick with forty men of the Continental Army .- SIMMs. *
The combined force of the Patriots is given as fifty-seven men. Captain Patrick, being in command of the troops, proceeded up the valley as far as the house of George Warner, Sr., then standing in what is now Warnerville and opposite the intersection of the Hynds- ville road. From this place the enemy could be seen skulking far- ther up the valley. It must be remembered that the inhabitants of these valleys lived with Indian neighbors for many years, and had become familiar with their tricks and devices, so that when now and then an Indian discovered himself, they rightly feared it to be a ruse to lead them into a trap. With the commander it was otherwise. He led his little band directly into the snare prepared by Chief Brandt, and, suddenly as the burst of a suppressed volcano, the fire of two hundred rifles was poured in the faces of his little band. After the volley from the enemy, the surviving Patriots sprang to trees, to con- tend with the foe on more equal footing ; but a breathing spell revealed the hopelessness of the situation. Patrick with nearly one-half of the
* I find but one "Captain Patrick " in the roster of New York troops, both Militia and Continental; Samuel Patrick was commissioned captain of the Cantshook Company in the East Orange or Cornwall Regiment of Militia in Feb., 1776. No mention of his death is made in the roster.
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WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
entire force had been killed or mortally wounded ; the enemy out- numbered them six to one, and total extinction appeared near at hand. Realizing this, Captain Brown ordered those remaining to re- treat: The enemy, in pursuit, burned the Warner house and two men within, who had stopped in the retreat, and were using it as a bar- ricade, and continuing their fire on the enemy from the windows. The strength of the enemy on this occasion has been given as two hun- dred ; their loss not given. The Patriot loss had been given as twenty-two Continentals killed and eight wounded, five Militia killed and three wounded. A part of these losses were sustained after the retreat began, as the Patriots contested the way for some time afterward .*
In an old register of the Lutheran Church of Schoharie, now in pos session of Mrs. Martin Luther Shafer, and which I was kindly per- mitted to examine, I find in the records of deaths under date of May 29, 1778, the names of the five men killed at the " battle of Coble- skill." Without doubt, the battle of Cobleskill occurred on the 29th of May, 1778. Brandt followed up his victory by burning houses and other property belonging to the Patriots, sparing only such as the resident Tories hoped to come into possession of through confisca- tion. The Patriots and their families fled to the lower fort or concealed themselves in the forests and in the bushes along the banks of the streams.
The result of this eonfliet compelled the inhabitants, except Tories, to abandon their homes and take up their residence at the Lower Fort. It also encouraged their Tory neighbors to commit more open aets of hostitity. From this time forth the small Militia force was reinforced by different bodies of Militia from adjoining districts. Late in the year, a block-house was erected, under the supervision of Colonel Duboise, at the present eastern limit of the village of Coble- skill, and during the winter this officer made the head-quarters of his regiment at Schoharie. In May, 1780, Chrysler with a small band appeared in Turlach, now Seward, captured nine prisoners and re- turned to Canada. On August 8, following, he appeared in the Vroman's land, burned a few houses, murdered a few inhabitants and captured thirty prisoners. Previous to the raids of May and June, and in April of the same year, a party of thirteen men, under
*In Author Simms' First History the date of the battle of Cobleskill is given as June 1, 1778. In his later work," The Frondiers of New York," he gives the same date, but in a foot-note he quotes an extract from "Campbell's Annals," which fixes the date of the battle at May 29.
2
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SCHOHARIE COUNTY VETERANS.
the command of Captain Alexander Harper, who had been sent to the head of the Delaware to " make maple sugar " and overlook the con- dnet of suspected persons residing in that vicinity, were surprised, three killed, and the remainder taken prisoners by Chief Brandt, with a strong party of Indians and Tories. Returning in the same year to October 17, we find Colonel Johnson, of the British Army, steal- ing past the Upper Fort at daylight, at the head of about one thou- sand Regulars, Indians and Tories, with the intent of capturing the Middle Fort and laying waste the entire valley. His forces were discovered by Peter Feek, who hastened to the Upper Fort and gave the alarm. The "warning gun" was fired, and the forces at the Middle Fort, being apprised of their danger, prepared for action; while Johnson, aware that he was discovered, began the work of destruction - burning houses, barns and grain stacks, and stealing horses and cattle. Previous to this time a company of riflemen had been sent to reinforce the Schoharie Militia. Of this company the famous Murphey and Ellerson were members, and were among the defenders of the Middle Fort, and were of the party sent ont as skirmishers, previous to the investment of the fort. Johnson opened the attack by firing shells from a small mortar, and solid shot from a small field piece which had been carried in parts, and had been remonnted before the attack. The solid shot passed over, and beyond the fort, while the shells from the mortar did no far- ther damage than frightening an invalid lady to death, and covering a frightened old bachelor with feathers. Following his bombard- ment, Johnson sent a flag of trnce in an attempt to gain some knowledge of the strength of the fort and the number of its de- fenders. But at each of two or more trials, the flag was fired upon before the bearer conld approach near enough to gain the desired information. According to the evidence of history, Murphey fired on the flag at its first appearance, and Martinus Zielie on the second; while Murphey held his fire to shoot Major Woolsey in case he at- tempted to execute his threat, "to run the man through who fired on the flag again." This " Major Woolsey " is spoken of as a "Con- tinental officer." At the time above referred to he was a major in Colonel Duboies' regiment of Militia, but, previous to being com- missioned in the regiment, he had been appointed ensign of a com- pany in the Fourth Battalion of the Line authorized by Congress in 1776. He carried the attractive name of Melancthon Lloyd Woolsey and no doubt was a "hellum fellow " on dress parade, but Murphey and the spunky Dutchmen at the Middle Fort would not recognize
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WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
his authority to surrender their scalps to Johnson and his Indian followers.
After his failure to gain a knowledge of affairs within the fort, Johnson resumed his firing for a short time, and then departed down the valley, destroying and driving away the property of the Patriots, and sparing that of the Tories. Author Simms estimates the number engaged in the defense of the Middle Fort at between three and four hundred. At the Lower Fort, Johnson found the Rebels " at home," and prepared to receive him with their " Grasshop- per " at the gate, and their riflemen in the tower. Contenting him- self with a brief halt, and a few shots from his artillery, he passed on to near Sloansville, where he encamped for the night. On the fol- lowing morning, Colonel Vroman, with as many men as could be safely spared from the forts, started in pursuit, picking off strag- glers and harassing Johnson's rear as far as the Mohawk. On the same day, the 18th, and while the Patriots were in pursuit of Johnson, Philip Chrysler, with Seths Henry and a band of Tories and Indians, appeared in Turlach, murdered Merclay. Catharine, his niece, and two boys, and with three white children and several slaves as prisoners, made their retreat to Niagara, by way of Charlotte Valley. In November, 1781, another raid was made on Vroman's land by Chrysler, in which he succeeded in killing one man, Isaac Vroman, and stealing several head of cattle and horses, and burning two houses. The raiders were overtaken on the following day near Jefferson Lake by a small force of Schoharie Militia under Captain Hager, and a company of Militia of the Ninth Battalion under Cap- tain Hale. Owing to the cowardice of Hale, Hager was compelled to fall back, after making an attack. Through the efforts of Hager and Murphey, Hale and his forces were rallied, and upon the arrival of Colonel Vroman with an additional force of forty men. the pur- suit was continued until the trail was lost, when the Patriots re- turned to the valley. During the September previous, a party of Indians under the leadership of a " Tory from New Rhinebeck " - that neighborhood now known as Lawyersville - made a second raid through the Cobleskill Valley, and burned all the houses except the dwellings of Peter and John Shafer, and the recently erected Fort Duboise.
On the 10th of July, 1781, an engagement took place in the present town of Sharon between forces under Colonel Willett, and a plundering party of Tories and Indians under one Docksteder. But few Schoharie men were engaged in this affair, such as lived in the
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SCHOHARIE COUNTY VETERANS.
western limits and were enrolled under Willett. From the latter part of 1781 until the declaration of peace, the settlements of. Schoharie escaped further invasion, although an attempt to capture Major Becker was made on July 26, 1782, and in December following, George Warner, Sr., was captured and taken to Canada.
It is to be hoped that some one will rise up and be equal to the task of writing a full and connected account of the troubles and trials of our ancestors. From the foregoing and the "Personal Records" hereafter given, we find precedents confirming England as the " Old Oppressor. The tomahawk, war club, scalping knife and prison ships, stimulated by British gold, were her instruments for subju- gation during the Revolution. At a later day, the binding of rebel- lions Sepoys to the muzzles of cannon, to be blown to shreds, was a punishment for rebelling against her avarice. The prison pens of Belle Isle, Salisbury, Andersonville and Florence and the bloodshed and woe which followed the unfurling of the " Stars and Bars " were but the consequences of her sympathy, encouragement and gobbling propensities ; while to-day we find her proffering golden guineas, as purchase-money for American industries, and for the scalps of American workmen. In giving the personal record of the Revolu- tionary men of Schoharie there are many omissions ; many interesting facts and dates being beyond recovery. It is a roll call of the dead. In some cases I have endeavored to gather facts from conflicting tes- timony, and may have arrived at erroneons conclusions.
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