Morrison's Pensions

---

Claims Against The State, By James F. Morrison

            The following claims against the State of New York are only a few known to exist from the Mohawk District, Tryon County. Most if not all were burned in 1911 in the Capitol fire in  Albany.      
            The claim of Michael Von Koughnot, who was a loyalist is still preserved in Canada as well as other loyalists claims which were given to the British government for compensation of properties that were either destroyed or confisicated because of their   loyalities to England during the War of Independence.
            The common factor that ties these claims together is that the homes were destroyed on May 22, 1780 by Crown forces under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Johnson. Not only did they kill loyalists in this raid but it also appears that they burned the home of at least one and possibly more as well.      
The Mohawk District of Tryon County is only one of five districts that were established and by militia law all able bodied men from the ages of 16 to 50 had to serve in the local militia companies which were in turn formed into regiments for those districts and county.
            The Mohawk District is now, the Towns of Amsterdam, Charleston, Florida, Glen, Mohawk, Root, City of Amsterdam, and Village of Fonda all of Montgomery County and the following are from Fulton County; the Towns of Johnstown, Perth, Mayfield, Broadalbin, Northampton and the City of Johnstown.
            The militia regiment that was formed from those able bodied men from the Mohawk District on August 26, 1775 was the Third Regiment of Tryon County Militia which was commanded by Colonel Frederick Fisher [Visscher].
            No Claims, against the State are more pathetic than those for Damages by the Raids of the Enemy. Some of the comments were as follows:-"The Robbers has taken out of my House "; " His wife after being taken prisoner and a child of 18 mos murthered "; " To one son Kild "; " Two brothers murthered and his father taken"; " by the wanton destruction of the Enemy"; " Widow ot ------- who was Killed by the Enemy and all his effects burned'; " by the Enemys to America"; " Killet and Daken of this Fammely My Father and Mother My Brothers wife with 8 Children and one sarvan maith one Brother Daken Brasnor [Prisoner] lost"; "by the Enemy, the Indians & worse as they, the British and Torrys";"His father killed by the Enemy "; "I loose more than Double the sum above, besides my son of Seventeen years of age who was killed same time "

A bill of Dammage of Isaac Davis May 22nd yr. 1780.
Bildings housses barens and barks valued att......£250 0 0
Wheren Close of all my famaly valued att............34 14 0
Waggon an plow gers all Complete valued att........20 10 0
three beds garnished wed all valued att.................20 0 0
horsses and Ship and bids valued att.................12 0 0
Chist and Sugger and money valued att............19 3 0
Houssel furnish all valued att...........................15 0 0
fences gren and apeltrees valued att...................12 10 0
horn Cuttels to they valued att........................7 16 0
Arms and Cutterments Sords and pistils..............7 18 0
Hoksseds pots an Cartels att......................... 4 0 0
taner and Currermen tolls att..........................7 10 0
Sleys and gers wed all att.............................6 10 0
Sadals bridles Sets and Sids att...................6 10 0
Carpentters tuls wed all Complete att.............4 10 0
Sumekers tuls and lader att..........................3 0 0
Total £465 11 0
Dated 12 Feby. Isaac Davis.

            The Claims are more accurately localized than is the case with any other class of Claims. In Albany County the sufferers lived in the Districts of East Rensselaerwyck, Hoosack, Saratoga, Schenectady and Schoharie-the latter District having been raided in 1778, 1780 and 1781. The great majority ol the Claims from this County, however, arose from the Invasion of Gen. Burgoyne, in 1777. Some ot them began in May, when he was at Ticonderoga, others follow on his track Southward to his deleat at Saratoga; and. still others refer to Damages by his Troops " on their way to Boston ".
An Estimation of Damages Dun by The Enemy at the time When General Borguyn Was Douon with his army in this quarter in year 1777.

To Cornelius Van Veghten at Saratoga.
His Dwelling house Computed ..................................... £ 250 0 0
A Large new baron with Egetant Bildings of 3 Berrags and Sheep pan and Corn houses.... 250 0 0
1 Stoor hous ................................................................ 140
I Greise mill ........................................................... 320 0 0
I Dwelling hous oi my miller .......................................... 0000
The army Laing at this place not apennal of fence left on this farm which I Supose I cannot have Egin for .160 0 0
one wind mill ............................................................... 7 0 0
5 Eyron Shad Slays .................................................... 28 0 0
3 plows .............................................................. 14 0 0
2 Harres .... ............................................................ 800
6 Horn Cattle .......................................................... 24 0 0
7 Hors lind . . ........................................................... 70 0 0
45 Hogs lind ............................................................ 40 0 0
a quantety of Grean Left in the Stoorhouse and in the mill which I cannot account for, 31 Jany. Cornelius Van Veghten.
           

            Dutchess County seemed to escape with but a few Claims for Damages, except" When the Enemy surprized our Guard at Ward's House ". Westchester County sent in several Claims due to the burning of houses when the British Army occupied Peekskill, in March, 1777. The latter Claims were accompanied by the statements of Appraisers appointed to value the buildings. Orange County sent in no Claims that appear among the documents.
            The County of Tryon was the worst sufferer. Bills for Damages were sent from the following localities:-Andreastown, Beaver Dam, Butlers borough, Canajoharie District, Caughnawaga District, Cherry Valley, Coenradt's Town, Curry's Town, Durlach, German Flats District, Herkimer's Town, Kingsland District, Jerseyfield, Little Falls, Mohawk District, Old England District, Palatine District, Remasniders Bush, Saggenigo, Sand Flats, Springfield, Stone Arabia, Warrensborough, Warren's Bush.
            The second Raid of Sir John Johnson, in October, 1780, was the cause of nearly all the claims in Tryon County. Full descriptions will be found in the "Public Papers of George Clinton", in "The Northern Invasion", by Franklin B. Hough, 1866; in "Schoharie County and Border Wars of New York", by J. R. Sims, 1845; and in "The Old New York Frontier", by Francis Whiting Halsey, 1900. Briefly stated, the object of the Raid was to cut off the supplies upon which General Washington depended; and to destroy the resources of all, in the valleys of the Mohawk and the Schoharie, who were friendly to the American Cause. Johnson's Army, organized in Canada, made a detour to the westward and began by attacking the three Forts on the Schoharie, none of which were taken. The Enemy devastated the Schoharie valley, and continued the work in the Mohawk valley. They defeated Col. John Brown at Fort Paris (Palatine Bridge); but, in the end, they were defeated by Gen. Robert Van Rensselaer, and fled. The documents give the dates when the following places were raided:-Caughnawaga.0ct .l8; Durlach, Stone Arabia and Mohawk District, Oct. 19; Warrensborough, Oct. 25.
            The documents also record a Raid, by John Dockstader, July 9, 1781. On Oct. 24, of that year, about 700 British and Indians, under Maj. Ross and Maj. Walter Butler, entered Curry-town, among the Mohawk River settlements. They continued on the south bank of the River, burning buildings and taking Prisoners. From Auriesville, they proceed to Fort Hunter, crossed the Schoharie River and went as far as Yankee Hill in the present town of Florida. Thence they turned directly back to Johnstown. The next day. Col. Willett overtook then near Johnson Hall, and the Enemy retreated to the East and West Canada Creeks.
            Earlier Raids had been made on Cherry Valley, Nov. n, 1778; and on Caughnawaga, May 22, 1780; and still other Raids were made in 1782. Several Claims are made for " Damages to the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, the Allies of the Confederated States ", Herkimer's Town and the German Flats were raided at the time of the Battle of Oriskany, Aug. 6, 1777.
            The latter was also raided in Sept., 1778.

A List of the Real and Personal Effects of Frederick Fisher Wantonly taken and destroyed by the Enemy in the Year 1780.
A Dwelling House-Burnt................................................ £ l00 0 0
2 Beds and Bedding......................................................20 16
Mens and Womens Ware ...............................................23 4
A Tea Kittle.........................................................................4
A Brass Kittle................................................................0 9
Plates ..........................................................................19 19
Earthen Ware................................................................1 11
2 Brass Ladles....................................................................0 9
A Silver Mounted Sword......................................................7
2 Guns..............................................................................1 10
Holstors and Pistols.............................................................2 16
A Saddle Bridle and Saddle Bags.....................................3 4
A pair Boots................................................................1 12
2 Negroes and a wench - carryed off .................................240
A Barn and 2 Barracks Burnt .............................................35
12 Load Hay do .............................................................15
50 Scipples Indian Corn do 3/...............................................7 10
2 Horses-carryed off..................................................................30
A Set Horse Harness................................................22 10
£ 494 7 0

            State of New York SS. Frederick Fisher being duly sworn deposith and saith that the above Account contains the Articles belonging to him which were burnt or destroyed or carryed off by the Enemy and that the prices affixed opposite to the same are reasonable. Sworn before me this day of Jany. 1782. Fredk. Fisher [Col.] Robt. Yates.
            State of New York Tryon County. An Account of the Damages which Samuel Campbell of Cherry Valley have Sustained by the Enemy on the Eleventh of November 1778.

                                                                        £ S D
To one Dwelling house burnt........................................ 150
To Two barns burnt..................................................... 150
To two horses taken away.............................................30
To two mears and one Coalt do.....................................20
To one Cow taken away..............................................5
To one beet burnt .........................................................5
To four fat hogs killed....................................................12
To one Negro boy carried off.........................................50
To one Waggon burnt....................................................7
To one Slay and Harness burnt...........................................6
To thirty Loads of hay do................................................ 30
To wheat and peas and oats burnt in the Straw....................50
To Corn and Potatoes and flax burnt...................................10
To one watch taken away.......................................................6
To two Sadls and bridles carryed off.................................5 10
To Cloathing and house all furniture burt or carryed off........200
To Cash taken away........................................................60
Jany. 25, 1782. £795 10 0
Saml. Campbell [Col.]

            The Claims in Ulster County were, in most cases, for Damages when Kingston was turned by Gen. John Vaughan, Oct. 16, 1777:- Memorandum of goods burnt by the Enemy in Kingston Eusopes-

One FetherBed Holld. Tick 1 Boulster, 1 Pillow, 1 Coverlin to the Bed,....£14 0 0
1 Bedsted 20/ One green Rug 55/........................ 3 15 0
2 larg Rose Blanckets............1 8
1 Larg lookinglass ..............6 0
2 Chaina Teapots................0 16
Eight Burnt Chaina Chocolate Cups.0 10
1/2 Doz. Tea Cups and saucers.0 14
Four do plates.............0 2
2 larg Cream Couler sauce Cups.0 4
1/2 Doz. Blew Chaina plates. . .
1/2 Doz. Cream Colour do ....0 6
One Dining Table Black Cherry wood.1 4
One do Teable larg..1
One larg Copper Kittle.3 13 9
One do Brass. .......1 12
Six Flat back Chairs...1 16
One holland Cubberd Neatly Adorned with wax Work. .10
One Barrel Soap. . .1 12
Three Wine Canters.. 0 6
One Chest wt Cloathing and linnen.1 10
One do wt Sundry books as 1 larg Dutch Bible.3
One larg Knibhe one Sermon book some of the others Divinity & some History.1 12
One New Spining Weale.............................1 12
Twelve Pictures wt Glass over, forgot the price alow . .18
One larg Knot Bowl Cost.1 4
Two larg Knot Bowls Cost 32/ one do 8/.£ 2
Two Beds wt Straw or Straw Beds.........2 10
Two fine workt Baskets ...................0 16
One Tapend Water Crane..................0 6
Corn. Van Santvoordt.
£ 54 17 3

            After some of the worst efforts of the Enemy had been made, the Legislature, Nov. 22, 1781, passed this Concurrent Resolution:-Resolved that the honorable the Chief Justice and puisne justic of the Supreme Court of Judicature of this State for the time being, be, and they are hereby respectively authorized and requested to collect returns and evidence in the manner described in the letter from the Honorable Robert R. Livingston Esqr of the 12th instant to his Excellency the Governor of this State attendant on his Excellency's Message of this Day of the Damage done by the Enemy within this State, by the wanton destruction of property, and that the Legislature will make provision for defraying the Expense attendant on this Business and for compensating the Chief Justice and puisne justices for their services herein.
            Judge Robert Yates acted under this Resolution. He gave two separate Reports to the Legislature; one of them in 1781, and the other without a date. His charge was 2/- pr each deposition.
State of New York to Robert Yates Dr.
            To taking a Number of Depositions respecting Losses sustain'd by the Depredation of the Enemy in the Northern Parts of this State Vizt 227 a 2/ £ 22. .14.. [This Account was audited and paid in 1790]
The following were Claimants for Damages by the Enemy:-
Albany County

Abeel James
Ball Johannis
Bauck Johannis
Bauck John William
Bauck Thomas
Bauck William
Beck Martinus
Becker Abraham
Becker Albertus
Becker Harmanus
Becker Isaac
Becker Johannes Jos.
Becker John
Becker John Albertus
Becker Peter
Becker Storm
Becker Storm, jr.
Belknap Abel
Bellinger Johannis
Bellinger Marcus
Bergh Philip
Borll Johannis
Borst Baltus
Borst Hendrick
Brown Christian, Capt.
Cramer Charles
Davis Catherina
Deitz William
Eckeson Thomas
Eckeson Tiunes
Enters Peter
Enters Jacob
Forster Anna
Forster George
Freymier Johannes
Graham John
Hills George
Honak Henry
Kercher Philip
Kest Richard
Kniskern Johannes
Kniskern William
Koeningh Michael
Lansing Garret J.
Lansing Isaac N.
Lawyer Jacob
Lawyer Johannis
Lawyer Lorence
Luke Jacob
McCrea John
Mann Peter
Mattise Johannis
Merkel John
Merkle Hendricik
Meyer Christian
Nukel Gerrit C.
Nukerk John
Porks Daniel
Rechtmeyer George
Reinhardt George Fr.
Rickart Eva
Rickart George
Rickert Johannes
Robinson Charles
Schaefer Jacob
Schaffer Martinis
Scheffer Jost
Schell Jost
Schelman George
Schneider Peter
Shafer Hendrick
Sidnich Wiiliam
Sillenick Harmanus
Snyder William
Sternberg Abraham
Sternberger Nicklas
Sternbergh David
Stubrach Hendrick
Swart Peter
Swart Tuenis
Taylor Jeremiah
Van den bergh Evert
Van den bergh John
Van Slick Marteynis
Vroman Adam
Vroman Peter I.
Vrooman Barent
Vrooman Barent, Jr.
Vrooman Johan
Vrooman Peter
Vrooman Simon
Vrooman Tunis
Waite William
Warner George
Warner Nicholas
Wendell Abraham
Wendell Evert
Werth John Jacob
Winne Daniel
Winne John
Yates Peter
Zielie Martinis
Ziellie Peter, Jr.
Zimmer Jacob

         

Return to opening page of Morrison's Pensions