GEORGE YOUKER: STATIONED AT FORT SCHUYLER

George enlisted in the spring of 1776 as corporal while living at Oppenheim in Captain Christian House's Company (Seventh Company) in Colonel Jacob Klock's Regiment of Tryon County Militia (Second Regiment).

George with part of the company marched to Fort Schuyler where they were stationed for about a month.

In the spring of 1777, George again enlisted in Captain House's Company.

In the middle of July, George under Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer and Colonel Ebenezer Cox with about 200 men marched to Unadilla to hold a conference with Joseph Brant and his warriors. George with the rest of the detachment returned home about the end of July. George was then stationed at different forts along the Mohawk River.

In the spring of 1778, George again enlisted in Captain House's Company.

On November 9th, George with others were ordered out under Colonel Klock and started on their march to Fort Alden at Cherry Valley to reinforce the garrison there.

They reached Cherry Valley on November 12th and found it in ruins. Many of the houses were still on fire and Colonel Klock's men put them out and also gathered the dead for burial. George returned home after about two weeks at Cherry Valley.

In the spring of 1779, George again enlisted in Captain House's Company. George was stationed at different forts along the Mohawk River.

In the spring of 1780,George again served under Captain House. George about the 1st of August, went with Colonel Klock under General Robert VanRensselaer and guarded Captain Samuel Gray with his company of boatmen and boats with supplies up the Mohawk River to Fort Schuyler.

George returned home about two weeks later and he was stationed at different forts along the Mohawk River.

In the spring of 1781, George again served under Captain House and he was stationed at different forts along the Mohawk River.

On April 1, 1782, as a private in Captain Abner French's Company in Colonel Marinus Willett's Regiment of New York State Levies, George was stationed at Fort Rensselaer (Fort Plain) and at Fort Herkimer. George was discharged on January 1, 1783.

In January of 1783, George enlisted in Captain Jellis A. Fonda's Company in Colonel Willett's Regiment. George was discharged in the fall of 1783.

George also served as a private in Captain Henry Miller's Company (Third Company) in Colonel Klock's Regiment at various times during 1778, 1779 and 1780.

JACOB YOUKER: ESCAPES FROM BRITISH ARMY

On June 1, 1777, Jacob while living in Oppenheim enlisted as a private in Captain Christian House's Company (Seventh Company) in Colonel Jacob Klock's Regiment of Tryon County Militia (Second Regiment).

In the spring of 1778, Jacob enlisted in Captain Samuel Gray's Company of Boatmen. Jacob was employed in transporting supplies up the Mohawk River to the garrison at Fort Schuyler (Fort Stanwix).

Jacob under Captain Gray was then stationed at Fort Herkimer. On September 17th, Captain William Caldwell and Captain Joseph Brant with 352 Indians and Loyalists layed waste to the settlement near Fort Herkimer. Jacob with the rest of the garrison were unable to stop the enemy from burning the settlement.
In the spring of 1779, Jacob enlisted in Captain House's Company and he was stationed at Fort Remesnyder which is presently called old yellow church north and west of Dolgeville.

In the spring of 1780, Jacob again enlisted in Captain House's Company and he was stationed at Fort Remesnyder (?).

On April 25th (or 3) 1780, Jacob with George Eadle left the fort to go out on a scout. After marching about three miles from the fort they were taken prisoners by about fifty Indians. The Indians had just raided a nearby settlement and had several prisoners with them already. Jacob with the other prisoners except George Eadle who escaped were taken back to Canada.

Jacob was taken to Buck's Island and from there he was taken to Montreal. He and the other prisoners were given a choice of prison (and probable death) or to join the British Army. He was in the Kings Royal Regiment in the fall 1780 Raid on the New York frontier. In mid October when the raiders were in the Mohawk Valley Jacob escaped (deserted) and reached home. A story in the family was that he hid in the rocks at Little Falls. (Source: Gavin Watt, The Burning of the Valleys, page 341, Dundurn Press, Toronto.)

In the spring of 1781, Jacob enlisted again in Captain House's Company.

On October 24th, Major John Ross and Captain Walter Butler with 607 men were in the Mohawk Valley burning and killing. On October 25th, Colonel Marinus Willett with 412 men fought Major Ross and his men near Johnson's Hall at Johnstown.

On October 28th, Jacob under Captain House and Colonel Willett left Fort Dayton in pursuit of Major Ross. On October 30th, Colonel Willett and his men fell in with the rear guard of the enemy under Captain Butler at the West Canada Creek. After several minutes of skirmishing the enemy retreated. On crossing the creek Captain Butler was found seriously wounded and an Oneida Indian named Anthony tomahawked and scalped Butler. Eight more men from Butler's Rangers were also found dead.

Jacob had served different times in Captain Keyser's Company in Colonel Klock's Regiment until 1780.

Jacob was born on October 26, 1757 and he died in 1849. Jacob is buried in the Mosher-Youker Family Plot on a farm one mile east of Lotville in Oppenheim.

JOHN YOUKER: FOUGHT AT JOHNSTOWN

John enlisted as a private in the summer of 1776 while living at Oppenheim in Captain Christian House's Company (Seventh Company) in Colonel Jacob Klock's Regiment of Tyron County Militia (Second Regiment).

John served under Captain House until the spring of 1781. John was stationed at Fort Dayton and other forts along the Mohawk River.

Once while John was passing the Indian Castle on his way to Fort Dayton, he was fired upon by a party of Indians and one musket ball passed through his clothes but he escaped and reached Fort Dayton in safety.

In April of 1781, John enlisted as a private in Captain Lawrance Gros' Company in Colonel Marinus Willett's Regiment of New York State Levies.

On July 9th, Currytown was attacked and Colonel Willett who was in command at Fort Rensselaer on receiving word of this invasion gathered what troops that could be spared from that fort and went in pursuit. John under Captain Gros joined Colonel Willett in the pursuit of the enemy.

They found the enemy encamped in a swamp at Sharon Springs and battle was given. After about and hour and a half of hard fighting the enemy retreated. John under Colonel Willett returned to Fort Rensselaer.

On October 24th, Major John Ross and Captain Walter Butler with 607 men were in the Mohawk Valley burning and killing.

Colonel Willett at Fort Rensselaer, upon receiving news of this invasion, sent messengers to Forts Clyde, Paris and Plank for additional troops. Colonel Willett gathered what troops that could be spared from that fort and in the morning of October 25th, Colonel Willett and his men went in pursuit. John under Captain Gros joined Colonel Willett in pursuit of the enemy.

Colonel Willett and his men marched to Fort Johnstown at Johnstown. On reaching there the garrison informed Colonel Willett that Major Ross and his men were encamped near Johnson's Hall. Colonel Willett and his men left the fort and marched to where the enemy were encamped. A battle now raged and ended with the coming of darkness and with the enemy retreating.

John under Colonel Willett returned to Fort Rensselaer and from there they marched to Fort Dayton. On October 28th, John under Colonel Willett again went in pursuit of Major Ross and his men. On October 30th, Colonel Willett and his men skirmished with the rear guard of the enemy under Captain Butler at West Canada Creek. After about fifteen minutes of skirmishing the enemy retreated.

Colonel Willett and his men now crossed the West Canada Creek and Anthony, an Oneida Indian, found Butler seriously wounded and he tomahawked and scalped Butler. Eight more of the Butler's Rangers were found dead. John under Colonel Willett returned to Fort Rensselaer where he was discharged on January 1, 1782.

John was born in 1760 and he died on September 31, 1831. John married Anna Rinckel (Wrenkel) on January 13, 1784 by the Reverend Abraham Rosencrantz of the Dutch Reformed Protestant Church of Herkimer.

By James Morrison with additions by Robert Youker