Source: This article was written
by James
F. Morrison; included in November 1986's newsletter from Col.
Frederick Fissher's Regiment of Tryon County Militia, 3rd Battalion .
One of the least known civilian service
performed during the American Revolution. Although they were not
considered soldiers and they received higher pay than soldiers, they did
perform military duties, fought in battles and many of them were either
killed, wounded or taken prisoner. These companies served on the
North River (now called the Hudson River) and the Mohawk River supplying
all fortifications with supplies from Albany. These men when
applying for pensions could not use this service to obtain a pension as
they had to prove at least six months military service and many of these
served only in the boat service and were denied a pensions on these
grounds.
The following excerpt is from William Feeter's
pension (No. S13013) who had served about four years in the boat service
in Samuel Gray's Company.
"In the year 1780 - deponant again
enlisted to carry provisions to Fort Stanwix and other forts west of
Schenectady as before stated & went to Albany in February to muster
and was sent home to remain till the river opened in the Spring - at
which time deponant went to Schenectady & commenced boating &
continued in the same service most of the time till late fall, Samuel
Gray was Captain or had command & direction of the boats - &
each boat was manned by these men during the Summer the boats then in
number as deponant believes were on their way to Fort Stanwix & had
proceeded as far as Fort Schuyler where the City of Utica in the County
of Oneida is now situated when they were informed by a friendly Indian
that the Indians commanded by Brant were in ambush up the river to
Surprise & take the boats - The Boatmen landed & picketed in a
Small Spot of ground adjoining the bank of the river opposite their
boats to secure themselves against the Attack of the Indians. They
sent an express immediately to Schenectady for relief & Genl Van
Rensselaer came up the Mohawk River collected the militia in his way
& relieved them after they had been there Eleven or Twelve days -
& guarded them Safe to Fort Stanwix - "
The following is excerpted from
Lieutenant Samuel Tallmadge's Journal for 1780 in ORDERLY BOOKS OF THE
FOURTH NEW YORK REGIMENT AND THE SECOND NEW YORK REGIMENT, ed. Almon W.
Lauber, 1932, p. 540. ..."The Waggon Master is to see the
Waggons to the Boats and Return them to Camp as soon as they are
Unloaded. Mr. Barret is to go with the Boats to Fort Schuyler and
there to Remain unloaded till the troops Arrive, Capt Gray of the Battow
Men is to proceed with all possible Dispatch, with the Boats under his
Command"... Dated Orisco Novr 21st 1780.
There were several companies of BATTEAUX
during the war and following is a list of the captains:
EVERT VAN EPS (1776)
William Peters (Peterson) saw service mostly on the Hudson River
PETER H. EHLE (1779) Sullivan-Clinton Campaign and the Onondaga Campaign
JOHN MARTIN (taken prisoner on August 2, 1777 at Fort Schuyler and
imprisoned ay Quebec, company was disbanned)
SIMEON DEGRAFF saw service on the Hudson River
JOSEPH PEEK saw service on the Hudson River
John Leffler saw service on the Hudson River
John Mynderse who also served on the Hudson River.
Susan Watkins who recently visited the
National Archives in Washington xeroxed muster rolls of some of these
companies for me and for which I am very thankful for her
assistance. There are many men in these companies who were from
Tryon County.
The following Muster Roll of Captain Samuel
Gray's Company was taken from REVOLUTIONARY WAR ROLLS 1775 - 1783,
microfilm reel 122.
Payroll of Capt. Samuel Grays Compy of Batteumen
&c in the service of the
United States of America from from the date of their respective
enlistments
to the 29th Feby 1780
Date of
Enlistment 1780 |
|
Officers & Men's Names |
No. Days in
Service |
Amt of Wages |
| Jany 15 |
|
Capt. Samuel Gray (1) |
46 |
147 4 0 |
| 20 |
|
Leut Peter Kyser(2) |
41 |
114 16 0 |
| 20 |
|
Serjt Henry Kartwright(3) |
41 |
106 12 0 |
| 20 |
|
Serjt Andrew Gray(3) |
41 |
106 12 0 |
| 20 |
|
Jacobus Van Vorst |
41 |
98 8 0 |
| 20 |
|
Albert Vedder |
41 |
98 8 0 |
| 24 |
|
John Fitzgerald |
38 |
91 4 0 |
| 24 |
|
James Williams |
38 |
91 4 0 |
| 24 |
|
Andrew Dunham |
38 |
91 4 0 |
| 24 |
|
Adam Smith |
38 |
91 4 0 |
| 25 |
|
George Kelly |
37 |
88 16 0 |
| 24 |
|
John Stuart |
38 |
91 4 0 |
| 25 |
|
William Veeder |
37 |
88 16 0 |
| 25 |
|
Coenrat Kilts |
37 |
88 16 0 |
| 25 |
|
Christopher Kill |
37 |
88 16 0 |
| 25 |
|
Henry Wafel |
37 |
88 16 0 |
| 29 |
|
Robert Alen |
32 |
76 16 0 |
| Feby 1st |
|
Alexr Morough |
29 |
68 12 0 |
| 1 |
|
David Burns |
29 |
68 12 0 |
| 5 |
|
Christian Edick |
25 |
60 0 0 |
| 5 |
|
Nicholas Kesler |
25 |
60 0 0 |
| 5 |
|
Thomas Bell |
25 |
60 0 0 |
| 5 |
|
George M. Weaver |
25 |
60 0 0 |
| 5 |
|
John Weaver |
25 |
60 0 0 |
| 5 |
|
Frederick Smith |
25 |
60 0 0 |
| 5 |
|
Coenrat Fults |
25 |
60 0
0 |
| 5 |
|
Coenrat Edick |
25 |
60 0
0 |
| 5 |
|
Henry Timerman |
25 |
60 0
0 |
| 5 |
|
Peter Suits |
25 |
60 0
0 |
| 5 |
|
Jacob Lap |
25 |
60 0
0 |
| 5 |
|
George Stansel |
25 |
60 0
0 |
| 5 |
|
Jacob Pealer |
25 |
60 0
0 |
| 9 |
|
Hanyost Fink |
20 |
40 0
0 |
| 9 |
|
Peter Young |
20 |
40 0
0 |
| 13 |
|
John Kyser |
16 |
38 8 0 |
| 13 |
|
Henry Canter |
16 |
38 8 0 |
| 19 |
|
John M. Martin |
10 |
24 0 0 |
| 19 |
|
Peter McGardner |
10 |
24 0 0 |
| 19 |
|
Frederick Bowen |
10 |
24 0 0 |
| 19 |
|
George House |
10 |
24 0 0 |
| 20 |
|
Lawrence Hilts |
9 |
21 12 0 |
| 20 |
|
Peter Hilts |
9 |
21 12 0 |
| 20 |
|
Nicholas Kestler Jun |
9 |
21 12 0 |
| 20 |
|
Ichobod Bony |
9 |
21 12 0 |
| 21 |
|
Henry Nellis |
8 |
19 4 0 |
| 21 |
|
John Boyer |
8 |
19 4 0 |
| 21 |
|
Michael Potter |
8 |
19 4 0 |
| 21 |
|
Adam Bellinger |
8 |
19 4 0 |
| 26 |
|
William Forgison |
4 |
9 12 0 |
| 26 |
|
James Forgison |
4 |
9 12 0 |
| 27 |
|
Henry Rickmoyer |
3 |
7 4 0 |
| 29 |
|
Henry Van D Warker |
1 |
2 8 0 |
| |
|
|
Total Amount: |
£ 3105 12 0 |
The above payroll is Just & True
By me
Signed Samuel Gray
Wages per day for the Men listed were 48£.
with exception of the following:
1. Capt. Samuel Gray's wages: £64 per day.
2. Leut Peter Kyser's wages: £56 per day.
3. Serjts Henry Kartwrightand Andrew Gray's wages: £52 per
day.