Oppenheim's Revolutionary Soldiers
IN THE SMITH CEMETERY, VOORHEES ROAD, OPPENHEIM:Hector Allen, Town Historian of Oppenheim, responded to a request for information on Revolutionary War Soldiers by sending these pieces. He sent in three articles ,all relating to each other. The first two, on this page relate to the burials of Revolutionary soldiers and the third relates to those people of the Revolution era from Oppenheim who were "heroes" and/or wounded & survived, etc. and can be found at this link: Heroes.
Article #1
"First of all, Revolutionary War veterans in our Township fall into two different classes; those who were residents before the war, and those who moved here from New England, Long Island and elsewhere after the war. The former are usually more prominent in the records because their families were (and, in many cases, still are), local residents. I have a few men buried in Oppenheim whose graves were never marked by the D. A. R. as Revolutionary Vets because they were not local and therefore not known to be veterans.
IN THE CHATSEY CEMETERY, RT. 29, E. OF OPPENHEIM-EPHRATAH C. S.:
John Swartwout, b. Feb. 15, 1753 and d. Sept. 17, 1823. He probably served in a unit from Long Island or near N. Y. C.. One interesting story has a Swartwout, Samuel (possibly brother to John) donating a blue uniform coat for the background for the first U.S. "Stars & Stripes" to fly in battle at Ft. Stanwix in 1777. If this is the case, then Samuel was one in the 3 N.Y. Regiments in the Continental Army, (probably the 3rd N.Y.).
[Note: In the notes below by Marion C. Mang, she lists a John Swartwort, born 1752.]
IN THE HEWITT CEMETERY, RT. 29, 2 MILES E. OF DOLGEVILLE:
Josiah Brown, age 73, d. 12/25/1827. (No other data)
George Higbie, age 63, d. 3/27/1819. (He was a member of the 1st Westchester Co. militia, and was a P.O.W. on a British prison ship from 1781-83).
Jonathan Bacon, age 89, d. 7/15/1848. DAR marker, but I have no other info. I assume he was from N. England of downstate.
John Moffet, age 50, d. 12/5/1810. (His grave was never marked as a veteran, but a lady from Peoria, Ill. doing genealogy work on this family gave me his military records. In 1990 we conducted a small ceremony and planted a DAR marker on his grave, 180 years after his burial! He was from Mass., near Deerfield, and enlisted there.)
Job Wood, age 69, d. 3/16/1824. No data on his service, but most likely he came here after the War to settle. I don't believe his family was "local".
Daniel Guile, age 51 yrs., 4 ms., 15 ds., d. 4/10/1810. No data on his service although I would bet that his family was "local".
Frederick Ritter, age 77, d. 1/21/1840. (see further material). He is buried with his wife Elisabeth who outlived him 13 years and died in 1853. His grave is also not marked by the D. A. R....He was from Albany County, I believe, and lived in the Town of Salisbury which is in Herkimer County and borders Oppenheim to the N. West.
IN THE SMALL MOSHER CEMETERY, S. OF THE LOTTVILLE RD:
Jacob Youker, age 92, d. 1849. He was one of I believe, 4 brothers who served in the Revolutionary War in the local "Tryon Co." militia.
There is one additional burial in Oppenheim that you might be interested in. A Henry Burkdorf died 7/12/1824 at the age 87 yrs. & 6 mos. He was also a Revolutionary War veteran, but on the other side. He was with the Hessian forces captured at Saratoga in 1777, spent some time in prison camps and then managed to stay here and become an American. Some of his descendants still live in the St. Johnsville area, south of us. The cemetery is in really poor shape, and at one time cattle were pastured in it. It is at the end of Twin Church Road, on a side hill.
The above was received from Hector Allen in the form of a letter.
Below was compiled in 1976 by Marion C. Mang, the then Town Historian of Oppenheim, who passed away in the early 1980's.
The following are the names of some of the soldiers from this town (Oppenheim) who fell victims to the Great Rebellion:
John Williams, Isaac Yonker, John Ward, David Doxtater, Andrew Smith, Daniel Perry, Irvin Austin, Reuben Walrath, Hartley Yonker and Harmon Cool.
Source: Compiled by Hamilton Child, 1869 - 1870.
Following are the names of two soldiers who served in the Revolutionary and are buried in Chatsey Cemetery, Town of Oppenheim:
William Shearer, Born May 7, 1751. Died February 28, 1817. Source: Tombstone Record.
John Swartwort, Born 1752. Died September 17, 1823. Source: Tombstone Record.
Article #2
Revolutionary War Dead And Buried
In The Town Of OPPENHEIM
Gabryszewski Road:
Abandoned cemetery on the left just before going down the hill to cross the bridge.
No Stones Standing
Frederick BAUM died 1843 aged 84 years, 11 months, 22 days. (Tombstone Record)
Served as a Private with the 2nd Regiment of the Tryon County Militia under Col. Jacob Klock.
He served as mail carrier, usually made his trips at night so that he might safely pass the ambushcades of the Indians
He married Elizabeth HELMER who died Jan. 10 1839 aged 73 yrs.
Kring’s Bush Road:
Abandoned cemetery on the left side of road between C. Humphery and Everett Flanders Sr. homes.
No Stones Standing. They are in pieces on the ground.
Marcus ("Marx") DUESLER died March 6, 1846 aged 82 years, 9 months (Tombstone Record)
Served as a Private with the 1st Regiment of the Tryon County Militia under Col. Samuel Campbell.
He was born in Germany in 1763. He was a private with Col. Marinus Willett.
He enlisted at the age of 16 and participated in the battle of Sharon Springs.
He married Elizabeth HOWER who died May 16, 1847 at age 83.
Floyd Finch Property:
Abandoned cemetery on Finch property east of Fred Cairns property on top of the hill.
Augustinius ("Tenus") FLANDER died March 19, 1848, aged 89 years, 3 months, 3 days (Tombstone Record).
Served as a Private with the 2nd Regiment of the Tryon County Militia under Col. Jacob Klock.
He married Magdalena FOX, daughter of Major Christopher Phillip FOX and Anna Margaretha KLOCK.
Bowers Road:
Abandoned cemetery on abandoned road, Town of Oppenheim
John HOFFMAN died Oct. 12, 1854 aged 78 years, 8 months, 2 days.
Served in War of 1812.
Crum Creek Cemetery:
Located across from the property now owned and occupied by David Hayes.
John ("Jost") C. HOUSE died April 13, 1853 aged 83 years, 7 months, 6 days (Tombstone Record)
Served as a Private with the 1st Regiment of the Tryon County Militia under Col. Samuel Campbell.
Baum Road:
Abandoned cemetery on hill on Baum Road in back of house where Harold May used to live.
No Stones Standing
Nicholas SHAFFER died August 29, 1837 aged 71 years, 7 months (Tombstone Record)
Served as a Private with the 2nd Regiment of the Tryon County Militia under Col. Jacob Klock.
Bell Road & County Road 114:
Abandoned cemetery located on top of hill on left just off County Road #114 on Bell Rd.
In memory of Adam THUMB, who departed this life Apr. 24, 1814 aged 79 years, 4 months, 14 days (Tombstone Record)
There is a marker "Capt. Adam Thumb – Revolutionary Soldier 1775-1783" erected by Oneida Chapter DAR
Served as a Private with the 2nd Regiment of the Tryon County Militia under Col. Jacob Klock.
He was born in Wurtemburg, Germany and first located at Palatine Church, then a thriving village, and plied his trade as a blacksmith. When the revolutionary War broke out, he was the first to enlist and he became Captain of the Rangers in Col. Jacob Klock’s Regiment. He was in the Battle of Oriskany, along with his two brother (Conrad & Nicholas THUM). During that campaign he managed to bring home a British anvil. He used it for many years and it became a family heirloom but was finally lost. [Position as Ranger Captain can not be confirmed using the source noted below]
There was a reward offered for his capture and delivery to Canada of 500 pounds in gold if alive and 100 pounds in gold if dead. He saw the victories of 1776 and 1812.
Notes:
* Originally compiled by Mrs. Margaurite FINCH – Town of Oppenheim.
* Transcription provided by and confirmation of regimental assignment confirmed by Douglas J. Weaver. Confirmations based on Lou D. MacWethy’s listing of regimental rosters in his 1933 book "The Book of Names Especially Relating to The Early Palatines And the First Settlers in the Mohawk Valley"; pg. 137-177.
* Contributed May 17 1999 by Douglas J. WEAVERwho is researching the following names in Fulton, Montgomery & Herkimer Counties: BAUMAN, CLAUS/CLAUSE, FREDERICK, GOODRICH, HILLEGAS/HELLINGAS, MEYER, SMITH, WEAVER, and WELLS.
Copyright ©1999, Hector Allen
Copyright ©1999, Douglas Weaver, Jeanette Shiel
All Rights Reserved.
Last updated Tuesday, 13-May-2008 13:37:22 PDT