USA > New York > Ulster County > The history of Ulster County, New York > Part 10
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IIO
THE COUNTY OF ULSTER.
ond) regiment had for its field officers Charles Clinton, Lieutenant Col- onel; Cadwallader Colden, Junr., Major, and Johannes Jansen, Adjutant, and was composed of thirteen companies, commanded respectively by Captains Johnathan Hasbrouck, Johannes Hardenbergh, Jr., Jacob New- kirk, William Ellison, James McClaughry, Thomas Jansen, Cadwallader C. Colden, Budewine Terpening, David Galatian, Moses Phillips, John Wollay, and John Crage. The territory which it covered has not been definitely ascertained, but from the names of officers of the regiment in 1772, it seems to have included the entire belt of country north of the original county line as far as the line of New Paltz and west from the Hudson to the Wallkill at Phillipsburgh. Colonel Hardenbergh's first regiment covered the remainder of the county. The headquarters of the first was at Kingston; the headquarters of the second was at New Wind- sor. It is doubtful if either regiment was at any time in the field en masse, the nearest approach to that field service being in 1755, when both regi- ments were ordered out to reinforce Colonel (Sir) William Johnson in his operations around Lake George and Fort William Henry, which will be noticed later. The principal field service was in detachments and com- panies of volunteers regularly organized, and of these the record is frag- mentary and unsatisfactory, and that of the volunteer companies more or less mixed. The earliest in the field seems to have been a company com- manded by Captain Cornelius Van Buren-Jacob Rutzen De Witt, Lieu- tenant ; later Matthew Rea, Lieut. No list of this company appears of record. Captain Richard Rea had a company recruited from Duchess and Ulster, and Ebenezer Sealy, Jun'r, recruited one in southern Ulster, in 1758, of which James Clinton and Edward Erwin were Lieutenants. A company under Captain Stephen Nottingham of Shawangunk-Henry Jansen and Cornelius Wynkoop, Lieutenants-stand on the published roll: "Mustered the 15th of April, 1758, by Charles Clinton, Esq., Lieutenant Colonel of one of the Battalions of said Province." The roll is as follows :
A ROLL OF CAPT. STEPHEN NOTTINGHAM'S COMPANY VOLUNTARILY ENLISTED IN HIS MAJESTIES SERVICE IN THE PAY OF THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK & MUSTERED THE 15TH OF APRIL, 1758, BY CHARLES CLINTON ESOR. LT. COLONEL OF ONE OF THE BATALIONS OF SAID PROVINCE, WITH THE TIME OF THEIR SEVERAL INLIST- MENTS.
Captain. Stephen Nottingham Esq'r. Lieutenants. Henry Jansen. Cornelius Wyncoop.
Serjeants Thom's Nottingham Gerret Brodhead Jacob Nottingham John Johnson
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
III
Corporals Jacob Vandermark Petrus Schoonmaker
Barnet Mercle Drum'r. George Webster
PRIVATES.
Wilhelmus Mercle
Joseph Martin
Mortin Middagh Jun'r
Jacob Vanderlinde
John Dotey
Lucas De Witt
John Keater Dan'1 Mckinley
Johannis Stroup
Petrus And. Vanlieuven
Petrus Clarewater
Peter Luyick Junr
John Middagh
John Ebberhard Gochnat
Mortin Krum
John Cane
John Brodhead
Joseph Griffen
Andries Davis
Roger Blameless
Luke Brodhead
Mortha Bayard
Wm Ennist
Philip Schoonmaker
Jacob Keater Jun'r
Joost Koonst
Philip Swart
Solomon Osterander
Isaac Roosa
Stephanus Weest
Adam Huffman
Bruynus Vanderburgh
Aaron Rice
Nath'l Bryant
Baltus Kiefor
Abraham Keater Nich's Slouyter
Benj'm Swart
Benj'n Mercle
Ezekiel De Witt
Dirck Chambers
Petrus De Witt
Andries Kyser Arie Keater
Lucas Wyncoop
Johannis Sleight Jun'r
Japhtha Slouyter
Jacobus Post
Rich'd Lounsberry
Benj'n Eakerley
Hendricus Bedeker Jun'r
Barent Legg
Petrus Oosterhout
Coonrad Andries Tiel
Johannis Ryder
Cornel's Hardenbergh
Koonrad Burger
Hendrick Beem
Peter Miller
Hermanus Dumont
Hugh Smith
Johannis Degraff
Wm Kiger
Jacobus Montanie
John Brede
Casper Ruyter
Wilhelmus Chrispel
Garret Newkirk
Joseph Watkins John Wheeler Jacob Helm
Hendrick Clough
Petrus Schoonmaker
Jacob Sloughter Martin Griffin
Johannis Turner Jacob Clyn Egbert De Witt Jun'r George Mack Andries Rudolf Petrus Vernoy Garton De Witt Christopher Medler
Wm Shafe Griffe Estel
Johannis Hornbeak
John Mullen
Benj'n Curtright
Nath'l Curtright John Van Vleet Wm Hyn Chrisse Davids
Hendricus Post
Jam's Alegar Wm McConnell Jacobus Turner
Hendricus Oosterhout
George Middagh Jun'r
Jacobus J. Bush
Jacob S. Freer
Gerardus Newkirk
Petrus Mercle
II2
THE COUNTY OF ULSTER.
Albertus Anthony Philip Miller William Mercle John Beneway Sam'l Wells Jun'r
John Vanderspagle
Rich's Brodhead N. B. John Johnson Serjt John Dotey
John Herman
Hendrick Beem
Wm Snyder
Johannis Degraff
John De Witt Jun'r Cornel's Hendrikse
Petrus Post &
Richard Brodhead
These were enlisted & sworn but not mustered.
A LIST OF THE MEN'S NAMES INLISTED BY STEPHEN NOTTINGHAM OUT OF THE FIRST REGIMENT IN ULSTER COUNTY, (1758).
Garton DeWitt
Benjamin Ekly
Andreas Rudolf
Jacobus Turner
Egbert Dewitt Jun'r
Johannes Kidder
Petrus Vanoy
Petrus Schoonmaker
George Mack
Cornelius Hardenbergh
George Webster Drumer
Cunerate Burger
Wilhelmus Marker
Johannes Hornbeek
Martha Midagh
John Mullen
Jacon Vandermark
Benjamin Kortraght
John Keter
Gerardus Newkirk
Barant Markle
Petrus Markle
Daniel Mckinley
Isaac Roose
Petrus Clarewater
Casper Ryter
John Middagh
Johannes Turner
Jacob Notingham Serjeant
William Heyne
Martin Crum
Nathanael Courtraight
John Broadhead
William McConner Clarke
Andreas Davis
Phillip Scoonmaker
Luke Broadhead
Joest Konnet
William Ennis Jun'r
Phillip Swart
Jacob Keter Jun'r
Solomon Ostrander
Adam Hoffman Bruyness Vanderbergh
Jacob Freer
George Middagh Jun'r
Aaron Rice
Jacobus Hanneste Boss
Peter Vanlooven Jun'r
Richard Loonsberry Jun'r
Nathanael Bryan
Abraham Keter Jun'r
James Alliger
Nicholas Slouter Jun'r
Cunerate Andreas Steel
Benjamin Markle Dirck Chambers
Petrus Ostrout
Thomas Notingham Serjeant Andreus Kyser Jesta Slouter
Griffith Asstith Belta Kisser
Henrikus Osterout
Benjamin Swart John Vanfleet Jacob Klyne
Petrus Dewitt Lukeas Wynkoop
Jacobus Post
Christopher Davis
Henricus Post
Petrus Andreas Van leven
Henricus Rediker
Peter Luiks Jun'r
Barant Legg
Christopher Midler
Johannes Strope
Stephanus Wist
William Sheaff
Petrus Post
The Lewis Publishing Co.
II3
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
Albertus Antony
Johannes Wheller
Jacob Holm
Henrick Plugh
Petrus Johannes Schoonmaker
John Harman William Snyder
Martha Byard
John Dewitt Jun'r
Johannis Sleight Jun'r
Cornelius Hendrickse
Jacobus Montany
Joseph Martin Jacob Vandelinder
Wilhelmus Crespel
Lukeas Dewitt
Gerret Newkirk
John Eberhard Gohnat
Joseph Atkins
Peter Miller
John Vanderspegle
Hermanus Dumont
Abraham Post
Martynas Griffin
Arw Terwilliger
Aari Keter
P. CHAR. CLINTON.
John Doughty lying in the Small pox John Johnson did not attend Henrick Beam Johannes De Graff )
did not appear. These men are not mustered .*
This Company with that recruited by Captain Sealy and James Clinton, is presumed to have been in Lieutenant Charles Clinton's Brigade under General Bradstreet for the reduction of Fort Frontenac on the St. Law- rence. The expedition, it may be noted here, was successful. The fort was one of the strongest fortresses in America. It was taken by sur- prise, and with it came to the Provincial forces nine armed vessels, forty pieces of cannon and a large quantity of provisions and stores. George Clinton, son of Lieut. Col. Charles Clinton, accompanied his father on the expedition, and in 1777, became the first Governor of the State under the Constitution.
In 1760 James Clinton raised a company in southern Ulster, of which George Clinton and Isaiah Purdy were Lieutenants. In 1761 he recruited another company, of which William Stewart and Hendrick Johannes Sleght were Lieutenants. In 1762, he recruited another - Lieutenants William Stewart, Alexander Denniston, Mathew Smedes and John Mc- Neal. The endorsement on the roll of this company reads: "For guarding the western frontier of Ulster and Orange Counties," in which service Clinton's previously recruited companies were engaged. The muster rolls are very complete in descriptive lists-where born, age, height, color of
"The last five.
Phillip Miller William Markle John Beneway Samuel Wells Jun'r
Jacob Slouter
Roger Blameless
John Brady
Hugh Smith
William Keyger John Kain Joseph Griffin Ezekiel Dewitt
II4
THE COUNTY OF ULSTER.
hair and eyes, and give the reader a pretty correct idea of "what manner of men" composed the militia. The enlistments were in each case for one year. The men were clearly from Colonel Ellison's second Ulster regiment. They cannot be eliminated from the history of Ulster County by the new county line of 1798 without perpetrating a gross injustice. Ulster, the mother county, borrows nothing from her sons; she takes that which belongs to her history. In 1774 Colonel Ellison divided his regiment in two battalions, the first of which was placed under the command of James Clinton, whose next appearance will be in the forces raised in his native county for the war for National Independence.
Turning back to 1755, when the Ulster regiments were called out to re- inforce Colonel (later Sir) William Johnson at Lake George, a statement written by Colonel Ellison shows that the first regiment had transporta- tion by sloop from Kingston, and the second by sloop from New Windsor to Albany. From Albany to Fort Edward the men marched on the west side of the Hudson, carried their equipments and provisions, waded through creeks "crotch deep," and camped "opposite Fort Edward," i. e. on the west side of the Hudson, were ordered "to go voluntarily" to the attack of a force of the enemy lying between Fort Edward and Fort William Henry. In less than an hour the whole force "waded through Hudson's River to Fort Edward." "The last of the militia had not got well through the river before the attempt was thought too hazard- ous, whereupon we were ordered immediately back to our camp," wrote Colonel Ellison in his narrative. After remaining in camp five days, and learning that the French "were destroying Fort William Henry," the regiments returned to their homes, and were criticised for so doing. Except in the alacrity with which they had hastened to the field of duty, it was not a "glorious campaign." The "retreat," if so it may be called, was justified on the ground of the necessity for protecting their own homes.
Leaving the local events of the war to the historians of the towns in which those events occurred, and referring to the report of the State His- torian, 1896, Colonial Series, for such muster rolls of the Ulster militia as are in the archives of the State, we throw the view forward to the threshold of the war for Independence in the annexed list of officers, and of two companies of privates in the Second Ulster Regiment in 1773, compiled from original manuscripts found among Colonel Ellison's
115
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
papers, now in Washington's Headquarters, never before printed or pub- lished. The list is as follows :
To SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON, BAR'T MAJ'R GENERAL OF THE MILITIA OF THE NORTH- ERN DEPARTMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK :
"In obedience to your General Order of ye 16th of July, 1773, you have here un- derneath the return of the Second Regiment of the Militia of the County of Ulster, whereof
Thomas Ellison, Coll. Charles Clinton, Lieut. Coll. Cadwallader Colden, Junior, Major. Johannes Jansen, Adjutant.
I. Jonathan Hasbrouck, Capt .; Samuel Sands, Ist Lieut .; Wolver Actor, 2nd Lieut .; Cornelius Hasbrouck, Ensign-4 Sergts., 4 Corporals, I Drummer, 14I men.
2. Johannes Hardenbergh, Junr., Captain; Jacobus Rose, Ist Lieut .; Corn'ls Maston, 2d Lieut .; Jonathan Hardenbergh, Ensign-4 Sergts., 3 Corp's, I Drum- mer, 101 men.
3. Jacob Newkerck, Captain; Matthew Fetter, Ist Lieut .; Hendrick Smith 2d Lieut .; Johannes Newkirk, Ensign-4 Sergt's, 4 Corporals, I Drummer, 69 men.
4. William Ellison, Captain; Judah Harlow, Ist Lieut .; John Nicolls, 2d Lieut .; Francis Mandeville, Ensign-4 Sergt's, 4 Corpl's, I Drummer, 70 men.
5. Thomas Bull, Captain; Samuel Watkens, Ist Lieut .; William Booth, 2d Lieut .; Stephen Harlow, Ensign-4 Sergt's, 4 Corpl's, I Drummer-63 men.
6. James McClaughry, Captain; James Humphrey, Ist Lieut .; Joseph Belknap, 2d Lieut .; James Burnet, Ensign-4 Sergt's, 4 Corporals, I Drummer, 160 men.
7. Thomas Jansen, Captain; Matthew Jansen, Ist Lieut .; Abraham Smedes, Sen., 2d Lieut .; Severyn F. Bruyn, Ensign-4 Sergt's, 4 Corporals, I Drummer, 73 men.
8. Cadwallader C. Colden, Capt .; Thomas Colden, Ist Lieut .; James Milliken, 2d Lieut .; Mathew Hunter, Ensign-4 Sergt's, 4 Corpl's, I Drummer, 100 men.
9. Budewine Terpening, Captain; Elisha Freir, Ist Lieut .; Jonathan Ostrander, 2d Lieut .; John Everitt, Ensign-4 Sergt's, 4 Corporals, I Drummer, 59 men.
10. David Galatian, Captain; Curdrow Graham, Ist Lieut .; Peter Hill, 2d Lieut .; Jacob Bodine, Ensign-4 Sergt's, 4 Corpl's, I Drummer, 67 men.
II. Moses Phillips, Captain; William Dirr (?), Ist Lieut .; Elijah Beaver, 2d Lieut .; David Mores, Ensign-4 Sergt's, 4 Corpl's, I Drummer, 70 men.
12. John Wollay, Captain; Latting Carpenter, Ist Lieut .; Humphrey Merrit, 2d Lieut .; Joseph Murry, Ensign-4 Sergt's, 4 Corpl's, I Drummer, 107 men.
13. Joseph Crage, Captain; William Sinnall (?), Ist Lieut .; John Graham, 2d Lieut .; John T. Graham, Ensign-4 Sergt's, I Drummer, 102 men.
The total strength of companies is given in uncertain figures in some instances. The total strength of the regiment is placed at 1350 men, 64 Sergeants, 53 Corpo- rals, and 15 Drummers. John Wollay's company was surely a Marlborough or- ganization. Thomas Bull's company was surely Captain William Faulkner's com- pany in 1772, of which Thomas Bull was then Ist Lieutenant. Captain Faulkner returned 243 men. It was surely in the old Precinct of Wallkill on the west side, with western and northern limits undefined.
I16
THE COUNTY OF ULSTER.
"A LIST OF ALL THE RANK AND FILE MEN WITHIN THE PRECINCT OF SHAWANGUNK, ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE WALLKILL, BELONGING TO THE COMPANY OF MILITIA WHEREOF JOHANNES HARDENBERG, JUN'R, IS CAPTAIN, WITHIN THE SECOND REGIMENT OF THE COUNTY OF ULSTER, AS FOLLOWS :
Jacobus Roos, Ist Sergt.
Teunis Terwilliger,
Corns. Masten, 2d Sergt.
Isaac Slaughter,
Teunus Terpening, 3d Sergt.
John Slaughter, Jun'r,
Corns. Rant, Ist Corp.
Jacob Terwilliger, Jun'r,
John Slaughter, 2d Corp.
Benj'm Van Keuren,
Jonathan Dowel,
Corn's S. Terwilliger,
Will'm Dowel,
Alex'r Dowel,
Jonathan Hardenbergh,
Andries Dubois,
John Erwin,
James Oliver,
Zacharias Terwilliger,
Alex'd Colter,
Art Masten,
Jacob Ostrander,
Zachari Vandemarke,
Helmus Ostrander
Helmus Vandemarke,
Corns. Vernoy
Joh's Willer,
Petrus Terwilliger,
Dunkan McMollin,
Benj'n Terwilliger, Jun'r,
Petrus Terwilliger, Jun'r,
Jacobus Terwilliger,
John Carnaran,
Abraham Bevier,
Joh's Alsdorph,
Jonathan Campble, Moses Bull,
Mathewis Masten,
Samuel Hegger,
Jon's Rank,
James Harding,
Paulus Butten,
Lowrance Rank,
John Varliman,
John Stienbergh,
Ebenezer Brown,
Abrah'm Stienbergh,
Petrus A. Roos,
John A. Roos,
Daniel Hogain,
Isaac Hannion, Jun'r,
Will'm Lewis,
Joel Cample, Solomon Terwilliger,
John Lewis,
Myndert Newkerk,-70.
Whereas my two Lieutenants, at our last meeting nave both resigned their commissions, I would beg leave to have the following gents returned as Officers in their room to serve as Lieut's, and also an Ensign in the room of Erwin, who is absent-as follows: Jacob Roos, Ju'r, Ist Lieut., in the room of Lieut. Van Keuren; Cornelius Masten, 2d Lieut., in the room of Lieut. Kain; Jonathan Har- denbergh, Ensign, in the room of Edward Erwin.
All from your Humble Serv't,
JOH'S HARDENBERGH, JU'R.
177, August 24th. To Col. Tho's Ellison.
Arry Terwilliger, Will'm Erwin, George Erwin,
Justus Banks,
Samuel Erwin, Jun'r,
Simon Alsdorph,
Ezekiel Masten,
John McMillin,
Embros Jones,
Jonathan Bevier,
Phillip Rank,
Jeremiah Johnston,
Mathewis Stienbergh,
Hendricus Terpening,
117
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
"A LIST OF A COMPANY OF FOOT MILITIA COMMANDED BY CAP'N WIL- LIAM FAULKNER, TAKEN THE 13TH DAY OF JULY, 1772.
Capt. William Faulkner,
Robert Osburn,
Thomas Bull,
Lieuts.
Wm. Couples,
Daniel Butterfield
John Butters,
James Crawford, Ensign,
John Mingos,
David Crawford,
Jonathan Jourdan,
John Faulkner, ·Sergts.
Robert Dougherty,
David Moore,
Hugh Dougherty, 1
Moses Phillips
Phillam Muckelvaney,
George McNish, Ju'r,
Daniel Teers,
Clarke McNish,
Johanas Crance,
David Corwin,
John McHenry,
David Corwin, Jr.
Daniel McHenery,
Samuel Wybrant,
Samuel Willsson,
John Brown,
Pearce Mansfield,
Archibald Brown,
John Gilcreest,
Isaiah Veal,
Wm. Quiggey,
Obadiah Veal,
Benjamin Bennett,
Thos. McWhorter,
James Finch,
John Cox,
Joseph Finch,
Jeremiah Cox,
Henry Mapes,
Jacob Myers,
Jinks Corey,
John Hill,
Timothy Skinner,
Waight Carpenter,
John Gillett,
Mathew Smith,
John Yeomans,
Stephen Smith,
Samuel Davis,
Henry Smith,
Luke Carter,
Israel Smith,
Zeporon Cobb,
Daniel Smith,
Eliakim Brown,
Nathaniel Owen,
Nathan Howell,
Jonathan Owen,
Jonathan Corey,
Casper Ritter, John Green,
Thomas Ager,
John Green, Jr.,
Joseph Sayre,
James Rogers, Jr.,
Ebenezer Green, Thomas Denn, Daniel Denn,
Peter Cavanaugh,
Daniel McVey,
John Conkling, Jr., Jacob Harrison, George Murry,
James Morrison,
Wright Peterson, Assa Cobb, Joseph Cobb,
George Embler,
William Cooley, Elijah Reeve,
Samuel Marvain, Daniel Wood,
Art. Yerks, Neal Mclaughlin
Elijah Seely, Abraham Taylor, William Gilbert, Solomon Wheat, Simeon Mash,
John McGowan, Phillip Crist, Thos. Neely, Jr.,
Wm. Bodle, Moses Strain, Archibald Scott,
Thomas Mash, Jr., Timothy Coleman,
Samuel Dunning,
-
Daniel McNeal
Thos. Johnston,
Elijah Reeve, Jr.,
Archibald McCurdy, Jr.,
Edward Campbell,
-
7
I18
THE COUNTY OF ULSTER.
David Smith, Jr., Joseph Smith, John Daily, Jun'r, Robert Burnett, Wm. Rippe, Stacey Beeks, Phillip Ketcham,
Assa Brown,
Alex. McVey,
Ephraim Watkins,
Assa Brown, Jr., Thomas Lake,
Hezekiah Watkins,
John Connor,
Samuel Watkins,
Abel Wells,
John McNeal,
Saml. Rogers,
Solomon Rogers,
John Booth, Jur.,
Stephen Harlow,
John McGarrah,
Pelethia Pierce,
Benjamin Booth,
Wm. Booth,
Wm. Forsythe,
Francis Burns,
Charles Finley,
David Moore,
Absalom Bull,
Ephraim McCoy,
Jas. Colwell,
Robt. Simerill,
Phillip Shay,
John Monnell, Jur.,
Anderson Deane,
Wm. Wire,
Thos. Curtice,
Jonathan Webb,
Jonathan Webb, Jr.
Edward Hopper,
Benjamin Veal,
Solomon Thompson,
David Booth,
Moses Clarke,
Israel Rogers, Jr.,
Robert Rogers,
James Wilkins,
Samuel Oliver,
James McCord,
John McCord, David Daily,
Benjamin Daily,
Alexander Pray,
Wm. Willkin, Jr., John Faulkner, Wm. Faulkner, Robert Faulkner, William Bull,
William Faulkner (Mason), William Faulkner, Samuel Faulkner,
John Patterson, Henry Patterson,
Patrick Bodle, Jacob Crance,
John Booth, Thos. Carscaddan, Jas. Carscaddan,
John Tuthill,
John Murry,
Daniel Decker, Isaac Decker,
Nathaniel Wells,
Reeves Cox,
Israel Wickam,
Mathew Wickam, Isaac Smith, Wm. Stubs,
David Stubs,
Samuel Stubs,
John Ludlum,
Archibald McEntire
William Wickam, Tilton Eastman,
Benjamin Doughty, Ephraim Everett,
Michael Rood,
Daniel Wollen,
Elihu Carey, George Smith,
James Springsted,
Benejah Curtice,
Abraham Stanton,
Rufus Stanton, Amos Parke,
Ebenezer Parke, Abner Skinner,
Abiel Worden, David Sprague,
Richard Johnston,
Andrew McCord, John Willkins,
Wm. Morrison, Wm. Smith, Samuel Stubs,
Samuel Umphry,
Mathew Dillon, James McVey, Andrew Embler, James Monell, Samuel Wetherlow,
Lake Mohonk.
1
119
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
James McClure,
James Rogers,
John Thompson, Samuel - -?
John Jourdon,
Ephraim
Henry Marshall,
Samuel Dowe,
Henry Savage,
John Zates,
Adam Hoslander,
Jonathan Jourdan,
John Sweet, John Moore,
Thomas Peck,-243
The enlistments in the regular English regiments, of which there were many, is a field of inquiry that cannot be entered upon.
120
THE COUNTY OF ULSTER.
CHAPTER VIII.
MEN OF ULSTER IN THE REVOLUTION.
T HE history of the men of Ulster "and what they did" in the war for National Independence is eminently a history of toils, privations and exposures to the contingencies of savage warfare and conten- tions with domestic and foreign enemies. In no portion of the State, except in the Mohawk Valley, did the burden of the war press more heavily, and in no portion was it borne with more unflinching determination. In our general histories - in the histories which form the text books in our schools in which our children are made familiar to some extent with Revolutionary events - full justice has never been paid to the people of the valley of Hudson's River, the view is invariably from the Boston standpoint of events, as though the "Sons of Liberty" of New York and Philadelphia, and Virginia were not as earnestly engaged in the contention of taxation without representation as were the people of Massachusetts. While we may remember that the first gun fired between the Provincials and the forces of the British Ministry was heard at Lex- ington, and Concord, and gave to our national history the stories of Bunker's Hill and the Boston Tea Party, it should not be forgotten that opposition to the taxation of the Colonies was as pronounced in New York as it was in Boston. Tea was not thrown overboard in New York Harbor, but ships cargoed with it were sent back; the statue of George III. was overthrown, and Governor Colden burned in effigy. The locally interesting fact may be added to the popular narrative that the most fearless leader of the Boston "Mohawks" - the man who shouted in Faneuil Hall, "Overboard with the tea !" was a son of Ulster County - Dr. Thomas Young - the playmate of James and George Clinton, who drew his inspiration with them from the same fountain, and subscribed with them the great principle, "Eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
The war of the Revolution was the outgrowth directly of the French and Indian war which closed in 1763. The Ministry - "the Mother
I21
MEN OF ULSTER IN THE REVOLUTION.
Country" about which we hear so much in commendation in anti-Repub- lican circles-demanded that the people of the Colonies should be taxed to defray, in part at least, the expenses of that war. To this end they im- posed a tariff tax on teas imported by the Colonists, and failing in that followed with a tax payable by stamps on all legal papers, denied to the Colonists the privilege of manufacturing the goods which they might require, and quartered on the people large bodies of men to enforce their edicts. The Colonists remonstrated, and demanded that there should be no tax levied without representation. When the collisions with the Government occurred in Massachusetts, the sentiment of the people was voiced by Henry in the Virginia House of Burgesses, "Our chains are being forged; their clanking may be heard in the streets of Boston. I know not what others may do, but for myself give me liberty or give me death !" The effect was electric. "To arms! to arms !" rang through the colonies. Had not this spirit been aroused the collisions in Massachusetts would probably have passed into history as incidents of a heated dis. cussion of public affairs. The people of New York, however, were eminently conservative and hopeful of a peaceful solution of the pending controversy, though not the less earnest in their convictions. The "Sons of Liberty" of New York City formed and sent out to the towns "Articles of Association" advising the appointment of "Com- mittees of Safety and Observation." The towns responded with great promptness. The committees were formed, and the "Articles of Associa- tion" signed with great unanimity. The New York Association then invited a meeting of delegates from the counties of the Province to serve in Provincial Convention to assemble in New York April 20, 1775. The local committees of Safety forming a County Committee, met at New Paltz April 7th, and appointed Charles De Witt, George Clinton, and Levi Pawling as delegates from Ulster. This Provincial organization of the State Government of New York - the "rebel" Provincial govern- ment-held the reins of State, in successive assemblings, until the adoption of the State Constitution in 1777, a document that came from its hands. At the meeting of the corvention in New York delegates were appointed to represent the Province of New York in a "General Con- gress," substantially the first Continental Congress, at Philadelphia, May Ioth, 1775. The delegates were John Alsop, Simon Boerum, George Clinton, James Duane, William Floyd, John Jay, Francis Lewis, Philip
122
THE COUNTY OF ULSTER.
Livingston, Robert R. Livingston, Col. Lewis Morris, Col. Philip Schuy- ler, and Henry Wisner, a majority of those present at any session of the Congress being empowered to cast "the vote of the State" on any ques- tion under such "instructions" as should be given to them by the Provincial Convention of New York. To these "instructions" is due the fact that the vote of New York was not cast for the Declaration of Inde- pendence until July 9th, 1776, and the "immortal document" signed by only four of the representatives of New York. The steps to the formation of "a government of the people by the people, and for the people," were thus participated in by the people of Ulster at every stage of their prog- ress-the Associations, the Committees of Safety, the Provincial, and the Continental Congresses.
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