Source: Transcribed from papers donated by James
F. Morrison. Microfilm Reel 78, Revolutionary War Rolls 1775-1783,
National Archives, Washington, D. C.
Tryon County Rangers
by James F. Morrison
The following article is on Captain John Winn's Company of Tryon
County Rangers which was raised on August 1, 1776 and discharged on
March 27, 1777.
On July 23, 1776 the Provincial Congress voted to raise several
companies of rangers for the protection of different counties in the
Province of New York. The following excerpts pertain to the three
companies raised in Tryon County. The three companies were under
the command of Captain John Winn, Christian Getman and Hannes Marcus
Demuth.
"That in like manner & for the same service
two hundred and one men be raised in the County of Tryon to be divided
into three companies each to consist of one Captain, tow Lieuts, three
Sergeants, three Corporals, and fifty-eight Privates"
"That the Officers and Privates furnish
themselves each with a good Musket of firelock, Powder Horn, Bullet
Pouch & Tomahawk, Blanket &Knapsack."
Captain Winn's Company finally mustered on August 28,
1776 and they were troubled from that time with several of the men
fighting with each other, drunkeness, expending ammunition without
orders, disobedience of orders, men not mustering because they had not
received their pay or bounty nor did they want to march out of the
county.
In spite of these problems the company made scouts to
Lake Otsego, Susquehanna River, Unadilla, West Canada Creek,
Philadelphia Bush, Canajoharie, Cherry Valley, and in October they were
on their way to Fort George.
On October 31st they reached the inn of Stephen
Vealue near Lake George. While the men were resting the trouble
again started when Jacob Weaver from the German Flatts began to shoot
his musket without orders and refused to stop when Captain Winn ordered
him to stop firing.
Weaver now began to threaten Captain Winn with bodily
harm and during a scuffle Captain Winn hit Weaver in the stomach with
the muzzle of his musket. Weaver was attended to by Dr. Budd and
he said the injury was slight. Unfortunately Dr. Bud was wrong and
Jacob Weaver died November 2nd.
On the company's return to Tryon County, Captain Winn
was relieved of command of his company and he was arrested and placed in
the Johnstown jail. Captain Winn was later taken to the Albany
Jail by order of Colonel John Nicholson and he was still there on
January 15, 1777.
I've found parts of the courtmartial testimony and
Captain Winn's testimony but there is a lot more missing including the
verdict. Captain Winn however, never acted in a military capacity
in the Tryon County Militia after this incident.
First Lieutenant Lawrence Gross commanded the company
during Captain Winn's imprisonment, and part of the company in February
of 1777 with other men from Tryon County Militia marched to Fort
Ticonderoga to build fortifications and a floating bridge across Lake
Champlain.
Muster Roll of Captn John Winn's Company of Rangers
Raised in the
County of Tryon and State of New York
now in the Service of the said
State of New York
Captain
John Winn appointed 1st August 1776
Lieutenants
Lourens Gross appointed 1st August 1776
Peter Schremling appointed 1st August 1776
Sergeants
John McCollum apptd 10th Augst 1776
Elias House apptd 12th Augst 1776
James Gueenall apptd 19 Augst 1776
Corporals
Conradt Styne apptd 8 Augst 1776
Gottlieb Snyder apptd 8 Septr 1776
Wm Stensell apptd 20 Septr 1776
Privates
Time of Enlistment
1776 |
|
Private |
|
August 2
|
|
Jacob Lieway |
| 3 |
|
Johanjost Kremer |
| 4 |
|
Joannes Reebsamen |
| 4 |
|
Conradt Fritsher |
| 4 |
|
Jacob Weaver |
| 4 |
|
Peter Adamy |
| 4 |
|
Frederick Seger |
| 5 |
|
Joseph Freeman, exchanged him for
John McDonald |
| 5 |
|
Johannes Kesslaer |
| 5 |
|
John Cogdon, exchanged him for
Adam Price |
| 6 |
|
Johannes Countryman |
| 7 |
|
Nicholas Christman |
| 7 |
|
Adam Franck, exchanged him for
Peter Lampford Senr |
| 7 |
|
Adam Bellinger |
| 7 |
|
Joseph Jackson |
| 8 |
|
Peter Hellegas |
| 8 |
|
Jacob Timmerman, exchanged him for
William Nellis |
| 8 |
|
John Dingman |
| 8 |
|
Samuel Stevens |
| 8 |
|
William Atkins, exchanged him for
John House |
| 8 |
|
Gershom Vander Warke |
| 8 |
|
James Vander Warke |
| 9 |
|
John Anthony |
| 9 |
|
William Roorey |
| 9 |
|
Christian Shillip |
| 10 |
|
Frederick Lepper |
| 10 |
|
Thomas Llump |
| 11 |
|
Godfried Helmer |
| 12 |
|
Barent Hornung |
| 12 |
|
Richard Young |
| 12 |
|
Josiah Scotten |
| 12 |
|
Johannes Snyder |
| 12 |
|
Samuel Kennedy |
| 12 |
|
Hanjost House |
| 13 |
|
Richard Johnson |
| 16 |
|
Christian Nellis |
| 16 |
|
Nicholas Stensell |
| 16 |
|
George Bush |
| 16 |
|
John Pickerd |
| 16 |
|
Peter Lampford Junr |
| 17 |
|
John Mabee |
| 17 |
|
George House |
| 17 |
|
Felix Mackly |
| 17 |
|
Josiah Heath |
| 19 |
|
Abraham Kronckhite |
| 19 |
|
Ezekiel Leathers |
| 23 |
|
Daniel Ogden |
| 23 |
|
Francis Reebsamen |
| 23 |
|
William Bush |
| 24 |
|
James Kauch |
| 25 |
|
James Bratt |
| 25 |
|
Geo Van Slyck exchanged him for
James Hamilton |
| 28 |
|
Lewis Andrews |
| Septr 3 |
|
William Kook |
| 18 |
|
Jacob Roader in place of
Henry Embody |
| 22 |
|
Thomas Hayes |
NB The alterations made was by Consent of the persons Exchanged who being unable to undergo the fatigues of the Service they were
Ordered upon, procured those persons in their places; the Alterations in the Corporals, was made by the parties themselves with my
Advice and Consent, those Persons formerly appointed being unable to Acct not properly
understanding their duty.
The Within Muster Roll I do certifie to be True and
Exact State of my Company, and that the whole Company Since the day of Mustering
have been constant Duty and a Good part of them were upon Different Commands before they Mustered.
Lake Otsego 25th September 1776
John Winn Captain