USA > New York > Orange County > New Windsor > History of the town of New Windsor, Orange County, N.Y. > Part 7
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Robert Stewert,
John Nicoll,
Alexander Telford,
John Nicholson,
Alexander Kernahan,
Nathan Smith,
Samuel Wood,
Samuel Brewster,
Robert Smith,
James McClaughsy,
Williamı Stinson,
Samuel Logan,
Nathaniel Garrison,
Samuel Sly,
Jonah Park,
Matthew DuBois,
Henry Roberson,
James Denniston,
Andrew Dickson,
Matthew McDowell,
Scudder Newman,
Benjamin Horman,
John Cook, Jacob Mills, Daniel Mills, John Umphry,
George Coleman, (2)
James Humphrey, (2) William Miller, Peter John,
James Umphrey,
George Umphrey,
John Davis,
Oliver Humphrey,
William Telford,
Thomas Cook
Samuel Lamb, ( ?)
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
Daniel Clemence, Robert Conhan, (?) john Waugh, Walter McMichail, George Coleman, James Dunlap, (by order )
James Gage, (by order ) James McDowell, John Smith, Francis Mains,
William Fulton,
James M. Oliver,
James Miller, James Taylor,
William Miller, (2)
John Morrison, Hugh Polloy,
Charles Byrn,
Hugh Waterson,
Samuel Given, (by order)
Jonathan Parshall, Caleb Dill, (by order)
John Dill, (by order)
Robert Burnet, Jr.,
James Greer, Timothy Mills, John Mills,
Edward Miller,
William Buchanan,
Thomas Eliot,
Robert Whigham, Matthew Bell,
John Crudge, (by order)
Robert Campbell, Robert Thompson, Nathaniel Boyd, (by order) Robert Boyd, Sr., (by order)
Charles Nicholson, Charles Kernaghan,
Silas Wood, Richard Wood,
Jonn Coleman, John Burnet, Robert Boyd, (?) William Crawford, Jas. Young, Joseph Beatty,
John W. Miklan, ( ?) Andrew Robinson, Henry McNeeley, Jr., Alex Taylor. Robert Johnston,
Geo. Harris, James Perry,
Joseph Sweezey,
Stephen King, (by order)
Samuel Boyd,
Alexander Fulton,
John Murphey. (by order)
John Cunningham,
James Faulknor,
Benj. Burnam,
James Jackson, Jr., David Clark,
Austin Beardsley,
Isaac Stonehouse,
Nathan Sargent.
Thomas Swafford,
John Hiffernan,
Gilbert Sect, Timothy White,
James Smith, (by order)
James Docksey, (by order)
Dennis Furshay, (by order)
Wm. Park, Solln Smith, George Mavings,
David Thompson,
Samuel Woodward, Samuel Brewster, Jr.,
Nathaniel Liscomb, Jonathan White,
.60
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
William Robinson,
David Mandevill,
Eliphalet Leonard,
William Mulender, (by order)
Arthur Caddan, ( ?)
Alexander Beatty,
William Nichols, (by order)
William Welling,
John Johnston,
Peter Welling, (by order)
Edward Lyal,
Isaac Belknap,
Thomas McDowell,
John Close, (Rev.)
David Crawford,
Hugh Turner, (by order)
Henerry McNeeley,
William Moffat,
James Crawford,
Nathaniel Boyd, (2)
John Morrison, (?)
Edward Petty,
William Niclos, Joseph Belknap.
William Beatty,
In May, 1776, the Committee of Safety was changed, in consequence of the active employment of some of its members in the field. It was then composed of Samuel Brewster, Robert Boyd, Jr., Nathan Smith, Hugh Humphrey. George Denniston, John Nicoll, Col. James Mc- Claughry, Leonard D. Nicoll and Samuel Arthur. Samuel Brewster, chairman.
The importance of this committee will be recognized when it is stat- ed that it not only was the representative of the association but was a part of the Revolutionary Government of the province and of the pre- cinct so far as it became necessary. The government of New York differ- ed from that of the New England Colonies. The people of the latter, under their several charters, elected their own governors and legislatures ; while those of the former had no such power, the governor being ap- pointed by the King, and the governor's council composed of members of his selection. In New England, therefore, the revolution could be carried forward without disturbing the existing order of things, while in New York the government had to be set aside, and, as in the case of the nation, a new one created. Pending this change, common law was maintained as far as practicable, while to these committees were as- signed the powers inferentially declared in the Pledge of Association : " The necessity of preventing anarchy and confusion, which attend dis- solution of government," and " the preservation of peace and good or-
*Note .- (?) indicates uncertainty of surname; (2) that name appears twice without suffix of Jr. or Sr. The names are from the original list, found among the papers of Genl. James Clinton, chairman of the committee, now deposited in Washington's Headquarters, Newburgh. While their genuiness cannot be ques- tioned, the completeness of the list (as showing the full number of " freemen, free- holders and inhabitants ") may be, as it fails to account for many who are known to have been such at the time. It is not probable that a full return was ever made, and we are, therefore, without the names of those who refused to sign as well ·as of some perhaps, who did sign the Association.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
der, and the safety of individuals and property. At first responsible only to the general committee of New York City, the local committees were subsequently recognized by the provincial convention and its subordinate committees of safety, and invested with the control of the minute men, and all the duties of local revolutionary administration. Precinct com- mittees could appoint assessors and collectors, while county committees were to be " considered as supervisors " and could assess, raise and col- lect taxes " by distress upon the goods and chattels of the defaulters." They could also "apprehend and secure all persons" who evinced "an inimical disposition to the cause of America.
It was not necessary, in New Windsor, that many of the duties of the committee should be exercised ; the officers of the precinct continued to perform their accustomed duties in the interest of the revolution, leaving to the committee the arrest of those inimical and the organiza- tion of the militia. In many of the cases of arrest, the New Windsor committee acted in concert with that of Newburgh. The most import- ant action of this character was the arrest of Cadwallader Colden, Jr., at his residence in the precinct of Hanover (now Montgomery). The story as related by himself, states that in June, 1776, between eleven and twelve o'clock at night, his house was surrounded by a company of armed men, who, on being questioned, stated that they had been sent by order of the joint committee of Newburgh and New Windsor, with in- structions to search his house, which they proceeded to do. Standing guard over the premises until the next day, they conducted him to the home of Mr. Jackson, in New Windsor, where he was confined twenty- four hours, although Mr. Thomas Ellison offered to become bail for his appearance. When taken before the committee he was informed that the charge against him was that of being "inimical to the American cause." He replied that while he had had convictions in regard to the duty of the people, and had expressed them at a time when he thought it possible to ward off the calamities of war, he had subsequently " en- tirely avoided interfering in any shape in public affairs." Given the choice of trial by the joint committee or by the county committee of Ulster, he accepted the latter, and was at once removed, under guard, to the jail at Kingston. The case was brought before the general com- mittee at New Paltz, July 4. when, on his refusal to sign the pledge of association and also to give his pledge of honor "that he would im- mediately equip himself for the field of battle, and in case of actual in- vasion, go forth with the rest of his neighbors to action in defence of
*History Newburgh, 30, 138.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
his country," he was again committed to jail. The joint committee rep- resented on the trial, that they had made the arrest under the conviction " that the committee of the precinct of Hanover were afraid to treat Mr. Colden as he deserved ; " that although not in their district he was more contiguous to them than to the district in which he lived ; that in his original signature to the pledge of association it was evident he only meant to secure a sanctuary for his person and property ; that the pro- test which he had written against the appointment of delegates to the first provincial congress, was " the evil seed sown in this county from which the whole of the fruits of toryism sprung, for to their knowledge upwards of sixty persons in the precinct of Newburgh had subscribed it "*
Other reasons were stated, and especially that the pledge of associa- tion was not a pledge of neutrality, " but a firm bond of union for mutual defence, which required activity." This bond he had plainly violated. Colden remained in jail for over a year, when he was permitted to re- side on parole at the house of Jacobus Hardenburgh, in Hurley.
MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.
The first military organization in the district of which New Wind- sor now forms a part was made prior to 1738, and was known as " the foot company of military of the precinct of the Highlands." It was one of the companies of the Ulster regiment of which A. Gaasbeck Chambers was colonel .* So far as can now be identified the following members were residents of the New Windsor district, viz :
Capt. Thos. Ellison, James Neely, John Reid,
Arthur Beatty. Charles Beatty,
Ensign John Young,
Sergt. P. McClaughry,
David Humphrey,
Matthew Davis,
Corp. Jas. Stingham, Corp. Jona Hazzard, Clerk Chas. Clinton
John Gamble,
Jas. Edmeston,
Cor'us McClean,
Andrew McDaved,
John Humphrey, John Humphrey, Jr., Caleb Curtis,
Alex. Falls, James Humphrey, David Oliver.
Joseph Shaw,
Peter Mulinder,
John Jones,
James Young,
Robert Burnet,
Joseph McMikhill.
Archibald Beaty,
The regiment was divided in 1756 into two regiments, of which the first embraced Kingston, etc., and the second embraced Newburgh, New
* Brod Bros. Con. ii., 245, 305.
** Hist. Newburgh, 273. Doc. Hist. N. Y., IV, 226.
James Gamble,
John Nicoll, Jr ..
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
Windsor, etc. The latter was under command of Col. Thomas Ellison and took part in the French and Indian war of that period. In Septem- ber, 1773, it was under the following officers, viz : Thomas Ellison, colo- nel ; Charles Clinton, lieutenant-colonel ; Cadwallader Colden, Jr., ma- jor, and Johannes Jensen, adjutant. In 1774, Col. Ellison divided the regiment into two battalions, of which the command of the first batalion was given to James Clinton .* This was the last re-organization of the militia under authority of the English government.
On the 22nd of August, 1775, the Provincial Congress of New York passed a law under which the militia of the Revolution was organized. This law set aside the commissions and the organizations which then existed, and provided that counties, cities and precincts should be di- vided by their respective committees of safety, so that in each district a company should be formed " ordinarily to consist of about eighty-three able-bodied and effective men, officers included, between sixteen and fifty years of age."
The companies so formed were directed to be " joined into regiments, each regiment to consist of not less than five nor more than ten com- panies, and the regiments were to be classed in six brigades. When the organization was perfected, the counties of Orange and Ulster formed the fourth brigade, under Brigadier-General George Clinton, ar was composed of five regiments in Orange county and of four regiments in Ulster county, of which the second Ulster regiment was placed under command of James Clinton, colonel ; James McClaughry, lieutenant- colonel ; George Denniston, adjutant ; Alexander Trimble, quarter-mast- er ; Jacob Newkirk and Moses Phillips, majors ; New Windsor was a part of the second regimental district under Colonel Clinton, and was divided into three company districts-Eastern, western and village. In the eastern district the company was organized on the 5th of October, 1775-John Belknap, captain ; Silas Wood, first lieutenant ; Edward Falls, second lieutenant ; James Stickney, ensign. The western district company was organized May 6, 1776-James Humphrey, captain ; James Kernaghan, second lieutenant ; Richard Wood, ensign. The village com- pany was organized in 1775 **- John Nicoll, captain Francis Mandeville,
" Out of respect of his family and in consideration of the long and faithful services of the deceased old gentleman, and his son, James Clinton in the Pro- ivncial service the last war."-Letter of Gov. Tryon to Col. Ellison.
** Prior to the organization of these companies, a company of militia had ex- isted in the upper part of the town and another in the lower part. The officers of the former, in May, 1775, united in the "pledge of association" of that year : " To observe and carry into execution to the utmost of our power, all and every the orders, rules and recommendations, made or to be made by the Continental or our Provisional Congress." The signatures were James McClaughrey, George Denniston, John Burnet, James Humphrey, James Faulkner, Jacob Newkirk, Rich- ard Wood, William Telford, Samuel Logan, James Kernaghan, Alexander Beatty.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.'
first lieutenant ; Hezekiah Winter, second lieutenant ; Leonard D. Nicoll, ensign.
The changes in the officers and membership of these companies as. well as in the second regiment were quite frequent, and mainly by reason of enlistments and commissions in continental regiments. It was in this way that the command of the regiment devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel McClaughry, who, on the 23rd of January, 1776, appointed the village of New Windsor as the place of rendezvous of his regiment in case of an alarm. From December, 1776. to May, 1778, the regiment was in service probably not less than three hundred days .* In this period was included its participation in the defence of the Highland forts (Oct. 6, 1777), where it lost, in killed, wounded and prisoners thirty-nine mem- bers, as follows :
Col. Jas. McClaughry,
Robert Barclay,
Henry M. Neely,
James Wood,
Robert Henry,
David Thompson,
William Scott,
Elias Wool,
Matthew DuBois.
William McMullen,
Francis McBride,
Isaac Denton,
Robert Houston,
George Brown,
Andrew Wilson,
Ethan Sears,
Christopher Sypher,
Philip Millspaugh,
John Dankins,
John VanArsdell,
William Stenson,
George Coleman,
William Humphrey,
Albert Wells,
George Humphrey,
Hezekiah Kane,
James Miller,
John Manney,
John Skinner,
Isaac Kimbark,
Gradus Vinegar,
Samuel Falls,
Bolton VanDyck,
Moses Cantine,
Cornelius Slutt,
John Carmichael,
William Howell,
James Humphrey,
John Hanna,
A special feature in the organization of the militia under the law of 1775 was what were known as minute men. The law provided "that after the whole militia " was formed, in the manner already detailed " every fourth man of each company " should "be selected for minute men " of such persons as were willing to enter into that necessary ser-
*No return has been discovered. The estimate is based on the return of ser- vices of Col. Hasbrouck's regiment under similar orders .- Hist. Newburgh, 14I.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
vice. The persons thus selected were to be organized in companies and elect officers, and the companies were to be organized in regiments. The plan, however, was not satisfactory in its operation, and it was abolished in June, 1776. In the meantime the provisions of the law were gener- ally complied with. In the southern district of Ulster three companies were formed, one in New Windsor, one in Newburgh and one in New Marlborough, of which the former was organized in October, 1775- Samuel Logan, captain ; John Robinson, ensign ; David Mandeville and Join Schofield, sergeants. The regiment of which they were a part was under command of Mornas Palmer, of Newburgh, colonel, and was on duty in the Highlands in the winter of 1775-'76. The principal duty of the companies, however, was in the capacity of a posse comitatus under the direction of the local committees of safety.
The first New York or "Continental " regiments as they were called, were constituted in 1775 for the term of six months. These regiments were four in number, of which the third was placed under command of Colonel James Clinton. Four companies were recruited for this regi- ment in Ulster county, of which one was raised by John Nicholson of New Windsor, who writes under date of July 13th : "Agreeable to my warrant and instructions from the Provincial Congress, I have en- listed a company of seventy-two men to serve in the Continental Army, and now wait for further directions of the Congress." The regiment composed part of the force engaged in the campaign against Canada in the winter of 1775-'76, where Nicholson was raised to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. On the 19th of January, 1776, a call was issued under which New York was required to furnish four battalions "to garrison the several forts of the Colony from Crown Point to the southward, and to prevent depredations upon Long Island, and to promote the safety of the whole." The command of the second battalion was given to Colonel James Clinton, and of the three companies recruited for it in Ulster county, one under command of Captain John Belknap, was raised in New Windsor, and was engaged on garrison duty in the Highlands.
In September of the same year, New York was called to furnish four battalions "to serve during the war." To the third of these battalions, under command of Colonel Peter Gunsevort, New Windsor sent one com- pany under Captain James Greggs ; George I. Denniston, ensign. A fifth battalion was added to the number in October, under command of Colonel Lewis DuBois, of Marlborough ; Samuel Logan, of New Wind- sor, major, and drew no small number of recruits from New Windsor. These battalions and Colonel John Lamb's artillary were the only regi- ment raised in the State " for the war," and were kept in the field by
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
levies and by recruiting for short periods to supply vacancies in their ranks. Colonel DuBois' regiment and Col. Lamb's artillery were en- gaged in the defence of the Highland forts in October, 1777, and suffered severely in killed, wounded and prisoners.
Necessarily imperfect as is this record, it is sufficient to show that in every military organization in the State during the revolution, that whenever the flag of the rebellion floated-whether amid the snows of Quebec or on the burning plains of Monmouth, at Fort Schuyler, Sara- toga and Yorktown-New Windsor was honorably represented by her sons in its defense.
REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS.
The Fall of the Highland Forts.
When the general alarm occurred on the occasion of the loss of the forts in the Highlands (Oct. 7, 1777), the people of the village of New Windsor village fled into the country for safety, leaving behind them in their haste their dwellings ready for occupation either by friends or enemies, and as the result proved in many cases it made little difference which was the fortunate temporary possessor. William Bedlow writes that his family were unable to remove " several boxes and cases of China, some cases of pictures and looking glasses, several tables (one with marble slab), chairs, window curtains, some ornamental China, with images of Shakespear and Milton in plaster of Paris, and a parcel of table furniture left in the closets," for the recovery of which he sub- sequently advertised in vain. * Colonel Ellison, tradition says, was more fortunate. He put his money and plate under the ground in his smoke house, hung up his hams and lighted a cob fire. The hams were gone, on his return, but the treasure was safe. Governor George Clinton ap- parently suffered with his neighbors and perhaps to a greater extent.
* Whereas, on the 7th of October last, when the general alarm took place on the loss of our forts in the Highlands, my family removed from my house, at New Windsor, unable to carry off all my effects, by which cause a considerable quantity was left, consisting of several boxes and cases of china, some cases of pictures and looking glasses, several tables, one a marble slab, chairs, window curtains, some ornamental china, with images of Shakespear and Milton in plaster of Paris, and a parcel of table furniture left in the closets; the whole to the amount of upwards of six hundred pounds value. As the subscriber flatters himself the above effects have been removed for safety by persons at present unknown to him, if those who have them in possession will be so kind as to inform him by a line, directed to the care of Capt. James Jackson, Sen., at New Windsor, he will most thankfully acknowl- edge the obligation and repay any expenses they may have been at. But should any person be so base as to have taken anything from his house with design to secrete the same, they may depend, on discovery, to be prosecuted for the whole loss. A great many small articles are missing, not mentioned above.
WILLIAM BEDLOW.
Fishkill, Nov. 5, 1777 .- Adv. N. Y. Packet.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
From the place of refuge of his family (Little Britain) he writes under date of Dec. Ist, 1777 : "I have a cot at my house out of which the militia stole the irons ; will you get it repaired for me, as I have no other bed or bedstead." It will not be presumed that any of Governor Clinton's townsmen were guilty of these appropriations; but rather that they were by the class known as " skinners " who were found in every camp and who robbed friend and foe alike.
Morgan's Riffemen .- It cannot be said, however, that the people of New Windsor village were altogether law-abiding. Under date of Aug. 7, 1775, Governor Tryon writes : "Eleven companies of riflemen, con- sisting of about one hundred men each, with ammunition, from the prov- inces of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, have lately passed through this province, crossing over Hudson's river at New Windsor, in their march to the provincial camp near Boston."* Tradition adds to this statement of fact, that just before the troops entered the village, a man, meanly dressed, but otherwise of gentlemanly appearance, called at William Edmonston's and said that Col. Morgan was coming. He went on and stopped at Mr. William Ellison's, and there said that he was Col. Morgan. The troops soon arrived and with them Col. Morgan. The deception practiced by the stranger incensed the colonel and he handed him over to his troops, who tarred and feathered him without even the form of a trial. The boys of New Windsor enjoyed the mat- ter heartily, and had no trouble in obtaining from Mrs. Rachel Cooper (who lived in the village and sold cake and beer), a pillow of feathers for the purpose.
SEIZURE OF SALT.
An incident of a different character appears in a communication from Col. John Hathorn, of the precinct of Goshen, under date of Dec. 2d, 1776, in which he writes: "Note your memorialist had a small quantity of salt in Mr. William Ellison's store at New Windsor; that there was not more than he had engaged to his neighbors, and was obliged to keep for his own use; that a large number of men, whose names your memor- ialist can not discover, without any legal authority, have taken out of said store, as well the sale of your memoralist (except one bushel ). as of other persons, and that your memorialist is in the greatest want of
*Col. Hist., VIII, 597. These troops were the famous Morgan Riflemen, com- manded by Daniel Morgan, "a man of powerful frame and stallwart courage." A large proportion of them were Irishmen. Upon their breasts they wore the motto. " Liberty or Death." Wonderful stories of their exploits went to England; the written record of their services forms one of the brightest pages of American history.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
salt for his own use; that unless a check is put to such unjustifiable pro- ceedings, your memorialist apprehends, from the seemingly disorderly spirit at present prevailing among the common people, his property, as well as those of others, will be very insecure."
A TEA RIOT.
Tea caused more trouble apparently than salt. Capt. Jonathan Lawrence was in command of Fort Constitution; his wife remained in charge of his store in New Windsor. The Congress of New York had resolved that no person should charge to exceed six shillings a pound for tea. The local committee complained, "that Mrs. Jonathan Lawrence sold tea at eight shillings per pound, and that her husband made Fort Constitution a depot for that useless herb." The Congress replied (June 14, 1776), stating that "Capt. Lawrence, with all the commissioners at the fort, are discharged from their superintending. We are surprised at his conduct, and make no doubt you will treat him and all others ac- cording to their demerits after a fair hearing."
Tea at six shillings the people seemed determined to have. In July, 1777, James Caldwell and John Maley, of Albany, purchased tea in Philadelphia, and in transporting it had occasion to pass through New Windsor. Stopping at the tavern of Isaac Schultz for the night, the contents of their wagon was noised abroad. A mob of men and women speedily collected, and, under the plea that the tea was held at a price higher than six shillings, seized the load and sold it to themselves at that price. For the time being the town was supplied with tea. The Council of Safety of the State disapproved of the transaction, and de- cided that the owners of the tea "could obtain satisfaction for the injury in the ordinary court of law; " and this was all the remuneration, prob- ably, that they ever received.
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