Today
is the second Inauguration of President Obama. As my daughter and millions of
other American citizens stand and watch him take his Oath of Office on the
steps of the Capitol, as we listen to our President tell us ‘our journey is not
complete’, I am reminded of the American soldiers who continue to sacrifice
today for our freedom. They continue to fight to help us in our forward
journey. We thank and honor them all.
I
am also reminded of all of my ancestors who helped in that first fight, so long
ago, to forge our freedom and future as a young nation. Here is a list of those
direct ancestors who we know fought in the American Revolutionary War. There were
countless brothers and nephews also, but we’ll stick to direct lines.
Josiah Taylor's Gravestone
On
the Taylor Side, doubtless you
remember the Three Generations of Taylors who bravely fought in Connecticut for
us. Josiah Taylor (1701-1781), his son Gamaliel Taylor (1735-1815) and Josiah’s
grandson Thomas Taylor (1758-1826)
have their story written here:
Amos Walbridge (1693-1788),
fought in both the French and Indian War and in the Revolutionary War. He
served during the War as Captain of his own regiment, although we can see by
the following letter written by him in 1780 that he was a Major by the end of
the War.
“Sir The commissary of prisoners desired me to inform you
that he has received information from Philadelphia that there is sixty
prisoners to be here Wednesday next and there is one now in town wanting to be
sent over. He wants your directions where they shall be put if a flag should
not be granted to send them immediately over. I am sir your obedient humble
servant
A Wallbridge Maj”
George
Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General
Correspondence. 1697-1799 Ames Walbridge to Jedidiah Huntington, April 9, 1780,
Image 765 of 1125
Letter written by Amos Walbridge
Amos
Walbridge died February 27, 1788, in Stafford CT at the age of 94. Doing the
math and looking at the date of his letter ( 1780), my 6th Great
Grandfather was 86 at the time he was fighting for our independence—something
to be proud of!
Henry Walbridge (1738-1818),
son of Amos, fought along with his father in both the French and Indian War and
in the Revolutionary War. His grandson wrote years later:
“I have often
heard him relate incidents of the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary
Wars, for he was in both. He received the title of Captain after the
Revolutionary War closed, at the time the Indians destroyed Royalton, in
Vermont.
When he moved his family from Connecticut to Randolph, Vt., it made the seventh in the town. He made his pitch, as he called it, in the unbroken forest of two hundred acres of land, built a log house, and cleared up a splendid farm.”
On
the Baker Side,
Solomon Baker's Gravestone
My
brother Jim writes me more on Solomon’s wartime service: “Solomon was really a wild man because he was present at every major
engagement in the Northeast except Concord/Lexington and the Battle of
Herkimer (Solomon was fighting in the much larger Battle of Saratoga at the
time and couldn't be in two places at one time). As soon as he heard
about the potential battle in Boston, for example, he high-tailed it there and
arrived the day after the Battle of Bunker hill. He was present at eight
to ten battles all over New England and NY.
Solomon’s
sister Jerusha Baker, married John Joe Backus, my fourth great grandfather.
Both Solomon and John Joe became direct ancestors of mine when Solomon’s son
Ira and John Joe’s daughter, Jerusha, married.
DID
Solomon’s father, Benjamin Baker (1720-1798) fight in the Revolutionary War? We
know he fought in the French and Indian War, but there are too many Benjamin
Bakers from New York who fought in the Revolutionary War to be sure.
John Joe Backus (1747-1842) was
a farmer. He enlisted with his second cousin, Solomon Baker, Jerusha's brother
and became a Sergeant in the War. John Joe’s son wrote long after the war of
the many times his father came and went during the War—starting when Ebenezer
was a young boy of nine years old. ‘Ebenezer
remembered his father talking about fighting at Ticonderoga, in the Burgoyne
campaign, and being down Lake Champlain in pursuit of the enemy from the
circumstances of the snow being very deep.
Ebenezer remembered things like his father
taking with him a sorrel horse and returning with a roan one and that
immediately on the return of his father, his father was attacked with the camp
distemper which confined him for some time. Ebenezer further remembered one
time in particular of his father's going, because it was called ‘the great
scout party’ and there being many of the Continental troops quartered at his
father's house at the time and having to back wood to make fire for warming the
soldiers and cooking.’
Jim Kinsella also adds here about John Joe: “He and Timothy Baker
(his brother-in-law), would spell each other during the War. One would
serve while the other took care of both of their farms -- when the one came
back from serving the other would go and take their place.
John
Joe’s father, John Backus, MAY have fought in the Revolutionary War. He
certainly did fight in the French and Indian War, but there are too many John
Backus’ from CT that fought in the Revolutionary War to be sure (yet!).
Jacob Youngs/Jung (1746-1842) and his father Peter also likely
served in the Revolutionary War. Several
online accounts believe this but I have yet to pin down documented proof. Online
accounts have Rev. Peter Jungs (1725-1799)’ home as a meeting place during the
Revolutionary War.
One
detailed writing recounts of Peter and his wife Elizabeth Mosher, my 6th
great grandparents:
"In 1778,
when the Indians began their depredations in the Schoharie settlements, the
patriots of New Rhinebeck made the home of Peter Young their rendezvous. Being
but few in numbers, and the Tory Neighbors becoming more venomous as their
allies began to make their raids, this little company concluded to leave their
homes and seek safety in the forts.
A band of
Indians assembled at a Tory's house in the neighborhood to capture them, upon
which Peter Young started to take his wife, who was a cripple, to the Camps for
safety; but fearing he would be unable to do so, she was taken to a small cave
at the foot of the mountain and left there alone. Being supplied with
provisions, she remained for several days in that place without being
discovered by the Tories whose houses were very near.
The walls of
this 'rock house', as it has since been called, for many years plainly showed
the marks of the fires she built late at night, when all was quiet and danger
of being seen had passed.
After the
Indians had passed off to other fields for murder and devastation, her husband
returned and carried her to the Camps, where she remained until the close of
the war."
His
son, Jacob Young ‘Served in Samuel Campell's battalion, Tryon County Militia’.
William Mott (1735-1786), my
fifth great grandfather, fought in the Revolutionary War, along with Jacob, our
fourth great grandfather, Timothy, Jacob’s twin brother, and another brother,
William Jr.
William
fought in Col. Swartwout's Regiment, Duchess County NY. He was elected Captain
in 1775, and promoted to Major in 1776.
Jacob Mott (1761-1834) was
a Minute Man in Capt. William Mott's Company in 1777, and was frequently called
out during the ensuing four years.
Jacob Mott's Gravestone
This
is the list for now. There are several ancestors whom I believe fought, but
have not yet been able to prove.
To
all of those who have fought for us in any of our wars, a simply ‘thank you’ is
not enough. But we will do our best to remember your sacrifices, keep your
memories and stories alive, and attempt to preserve our nation’s freedom,
creativity, and strength.
As
our President said earlier today: “Let us answer the call of history and carry
into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom.”
4 comments:
I love all the research that went into all this information! Thanks!
Your Mom has always been so wonderful at doing the geneologys and she is a fantastic share-er. I am so glad her children are too.
Our ancestors were such a part of history, our country's and our family's. They are truley people we can be proud of.
Kathryn,
I love digging up bits of information--who knew that an 86 year old ancestor fought in the Revolutionary War?!
Love telling the stories and hoping they will be told again, and again.
Love,
Pat rarely mentions her time spent on this blog but WE know! While some of us help as we can the majority of the research is done by her! I am very grateful to her for this work!!
Mr. Herdeg,
My name is Richard and I'm a freelance journalist.I'm interested in finding out more about Jacob Mott. The reason I'm writing is because the gravesites of Mr Mott and several others, some of whom I believe may have been Revolutionary fighters as well by the name of Longbothom, are in an unkempt and neglected cemetery(if you can call it that) located in Selden, NY on Long Island. There are some very old headstones which are barely readable and it strikes me as utterly outrageous that the site remains in this condition. It is hidden away in some woods across the street from a public library and I'm sure the public isn't even aware that they are there. If you read this comment please contact me with any information you might have. rkurdt@gmail.com Thank you very much.
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