Oppenheim's Revolutionary People
This is one of three related articles that Hector Allen, Town Historian of Oppenheim, responded to in a request for information on Revolutionary War Soldiers. The first two relate to the burials of Revolutionary soldiers and can be found at this link: Soldiers.
The third article, below, relates to those people of the Revolution era from Oppenheim who were "heroes" and/or wounded & survived, etc. It was originally compiled in 1976 by Marion C. Mang, the then Town Historian of Oppenheim, who passed away in the early 1980's. Liberty has been taken to arrange the soldiers name's alphabetically.
Article #3
"The inhabitants of Oppenheim suffered proportionately with those of other towns of this region from the ravages of the Indians and Tories during the Revolution. The following persons who participated to a greater or less extent in the great struggle for freedom were citizens of Oppenheim at that time, or have lineal descendants now living in the town. [1976]
Frederick Baum was employed as mail carrier. His trips were usually made in the night, that he might more safely pass the ambushcades of the Indians.
Peter S. Bidleman was stationed at Ft. Plain.
John H. Broat fought in the battle of Stone Arabia, and his son John H. Broat Jr., then a mere lad was a teamster during the war.
Amos Brockett was among those detailed to guard the forts along the coast of Long Island Sound.
Henry Burkdorff and Henry Hose came to America as British soldiers with General Burgoyne. Neither of them returned to the their mother country.
Capt. Elijah Cloyes was mortally wounded in a skirmish while under Gen. Sullivan's command.
Peter Davis was killed by the Indians while at work in his fields. His wife escaped, but their daughter was taken prisoner with a man named Pring. They were carried to Canada, and after suffering imprisonment for some time escaped were married.
Andrew Dusler was captured by the Indians and kept as a prisoner until the close of the war.
Marcus Dusler enlisted when only sixteen years old, and participated in the battle of Sharon Springs.
John Flander lost his life in the Revolution.
Wm. Fox participated as Captain in the battle of Oriskany and in the last battles with Burgoyne.
Peter Getman served during the war. When only sixteen years of age, he went with a company of militia in search of a band of Indians and Tories who had been committing depredations in the neighborhood. Just previous to this, the Indians had called at the home of of the Rector family and asked for something to eat. They were told to help themselves, which they proceeded to do in such a lawless and extravagant way that Mr. Rector demonstrated in on gentle terms. At this they became angry and as they were moving away they turned upon the house and fired a volley of musketry through the upper half of the door, which stood open. Mrs. Rector seeing them raise their guns to fire held up her frying pan to protect her husband, who was standing in the door. One bullet passed through the frying pan and shattered the arm of Mr. Rector; but the Indians, seeing no one fall, were not satisfied, and returned to the house, knocked Mrs. Rector down with a tomahawk, scalped her and left her for dead. During this time an old grandfather escaped to the woods with two of the children, but one little boy, six years old, who was eating bread and milk outside the door when the Indians came up, was killed and his body thrown into a creek nearby. When found he still grasped the spoon with which he and been eating. Mrs. Rector soon recovered consciousness, dressed her wounds, and walked to Stone Arabia, where she remained in the fort until she entirely recovered.
Henry Hayes taught school at one of the forts along the Mohawk at the time of the Revolution.
Martin Nestle lost one eye during the war.
Jason Phipps served as a regular soldier through the war.
James Plant was a shipbuilder by trade; he was taken prisoner by the British while at work in the shipyard at New Haven Conn.
John Sponable was captured by the Indians. While held by them as a prisoner, a young squaw became enamored with him, and upon his refusing to marry her, he was struck on the head with a club and left for dead. He soon recovered his senses and found his way to the British lines, where he was sold to a Frenchman.
Jacob Vedder was a teamster. On one occasion he was suddenly attacked by a small party of Indians, who sprang out of a thicket upon him with uplifted tomahawks. He defended himself with a spade and succeeded in making his escape.
Jacob Yonker was captured at the battle of Oriskany and taken to Canada, where he enlisted in the British Army, with which he afterwards returned near Little Falls, where he, together with a few others, made their escape, and concealing themselves among the rocks till the army left the place, succeeded in reaching their friends.
John Keam, Isac Kegg, George Cook, Wm. Rowland, Frederrick Baum, Jacob Dusler, David Barker and John Pier were also identified with the scenes, incidents and battles of the Revolution.
Source: History of Montgomery and Fulton Counties, N.Y. Published by F. W. Beers & Co., 36 Vesey St., New York, N.Y. in 1878.
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Copyright ©1999, Hector Allen, Jeanette Shiel
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Last updated Tuesday, 13-May-2008 13:36:41 PDT