Part 2 — CHAPTER VI.

EARLY MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

In the section of Orange County taken from Ulster the first two companies of militia were organized before 1738. The regiment to which they were attached consisted of nine companies, located as follows: Kingston 3, Marbletown 1, Wallkill 1, Hurley 1, Rochester 1, New Paltz 1, Highlands 1.

The regimental officers were: Colonel, A. Gaasbeck Chambers; lieutenant-colonel, Wessel Ten Broeck; major, Coenradt F. Elmendorf; quartermaster, Cornelius Elmendorf.

The following lists give the names of the officers and privates in the territory which is now a part of Orange County:

Foot Company of the Highlands.

Officers: Captain, Thomas Ellison; ensign, John Young; sergeants, David Davids, Moses Gariston, P. McCloghery; corporals, Jacobus Bruyn, James Stringham; Jonah Hazard; clerk, Charles Clinton.

The names of the privates were as follows:

John Umphrey Jolin Markham

Alexander Falls John Read

David Bedford Joseph McMikhill

Wm. Coleman David Umphrey

Joseph Sweezer James Gamble

Thomas Coleman John Gamble

John McVey Cornelius McClean

John Jones John Umphrey, Jr.

Patrick Broderick James Umphrey

Joseph Shaw Peter Mulinder

Caleb Curtis Robert Burnet

William Sutton Archibald Beaty

Jeremiah Foster Daniel Coleman

Charles Beaty David Oliver

Amos Foster Arthur Beaty

Alexander Foster Matthew Davis

James Young John Nicoll, Jr.

James Nealy Alexander McKey

Robert Feef Robert Sparks

Joseph Butterton Juriah Quick

Samuel Luckey Jacob Gillis

Joseph Simson Thomas Johnston

James Clark Casparis Stymas

John Clark John Monger

Lodewick Miller James Luckey

Peter Miller Thomas Williams

George Weygant Johannes George

William Ward Jeremiah Tompkins

William Ward, Jr. Isaac Tompkins

John M. Kimberg William Watts

William Smith, Jr. Josiah Ellsworth

James Edmeston James Ellsworth

Tobias Weygant Anthony Preslaer

Jerry Manse Jonathan Tomkins

Robert Banker Moses Ellsworth

Thomas Fear John Marie

Frederick Painter Jonathan Owens

Thomas Quick Andrew McDowell

Total, 85.

Company of the Wallkill.

Officers: Captain, John Bayard; lieutenant, William Borland; ensign, William Kelso; sergeant, John Newkirk; corporal, John Miller.

The names of the privates were as follows:

Lendert Cole Stephanus Crist

Cornelius Cole Jacob Bush

Barnat Cole Benjamin Haines

John Robeson John McNeill, Sr.

James Gillespie Matthew Rhea

Thomas Gillespie William Crawford

John Wilkins Robert Hunter

William Wilkins James Monell

Andrew Graham George Monell

George Olloms John Monell

John North William Monell

John North, Jr. Thomas Neils

Samuel North Robert Neils

James Young John Neils

Robert Young Matthew Neils

Matthew Young Nathaniel Colter

James McNeill John Neily, Jr.

John McNeill Joseph Buttletown

Andrew Borland Thomas Coleman

John Borland Joseph Shaw

John McNeill, Jr. Patrick Broderick

James Crawford William Soutter

John Crawford John Butterfield

Alexander Milligan John McVey

Nathaniel Hill John Jones

Alexander Kidd Joseph Knapp

Archibald Hunter Isaiah Gale

James Hunter Caleb Knapp

John Wharry Robert McCord

John Mingus William Faulkner

Isreal Rodgers Samuel Smith

Jeremiah Rodgers Joseph Theal

James Rodgers James Crawford

James White Joseph Sutter

John Manley David Craig

Francis Falls Edward Andrews

Cronamus Felter Samuel Crawford

Richard Gatehouse Andrew McDowell

John Boyle Philip Millspaugh

Richard Boyle Cronamas Mingus

Robert Hughey Stuffel Mould

Robert Buchanan Johannes Crane

James Eager John Young

Thomas McCollum Hendrick Newkirk

Sojonaro Her Frederick Sinsabaugh

John Haven Cornelius Wallace

McKim Clineman Hendrick Crist

Jury Burger Tunas Crist

Hugh Flanigan Lawrence Crist

Benjamin Bennet Mathias Millspaugh and son

Patrick McPeck John Jamison

John Eldoris John McDonald

Patrick Gillespie James Davis

John Lowry

Total, 114.

The following, found in the records of the original County of Orange, is entitled "A List of Officers Belonging to the Regiment of Foot Militia in the County of Orange, in the Province of New York," and is dated June 20, 1738:

Officers of Foot Militia.

Colonel, Vincent Mathews; lieutenant-colonel, Solomon Carpenter; major, George Remsen; adjutant, Michael Jackson; quartermaster, James Thompson.

First Company: Captain, Ram. Remsen; lieutenant, Cornelius Smith; ensign, Ebenezer Smith. Three sergeants, three corporals, one drummer, sixty-three private men. In all, 73.

Second Company: Captain, Samuel Odell; lieutenant, Henry Cuyper; ensign, Benjamin Allison. Three sergeants, three corporals, one drummer, fifty-eight private men. In all, 68.

Third Company: Captain, John Holly; lieutenant, Michael Dunning; ensign, Sol. Carpenter, Jr. Three sergeants, three corporals, one drummer, one hundred and eleven private men. In all, 121.

Fourth Company: Captain, Jacobus Swartwout; lieutenant, Johannes Westbrook; ensign, Johannes Westbrook, Jr. Three sergeants, three corporals, one drummer, fifty-five private men. In all, 65.

Fifth Company: Captain, Nathaniel Du Bois: lieutenant, David Southerland; ensign, Isaac Hennion. Three sergeants, three corporals, one drummer, sixty-three private men. In all, 73.

Sixth Company: Captain, Abraham Haring, Jr.; lieutenant, Garret Beanvelt; ensign, John Haring. Three sergeants, three corporals, one drummer, sixty-two private men. In all, 72.

Seventh Company: Captain, Jacob Vanderbilt; lieutenant, Andrew Onderdonk; ensign, Aaron Smith. Three sergeants, three corporals, one drummer, fifty private men. In all, 60.

Troop of Horse: Captain, Henry Youngs; lieutenant, William Mapes; cornet, Michael Jackson. Two sergeants, two corporals, one trumpeter, fifty-two private men. In all, 60.

Total officers and soldiers, 595; sub-officers, 56 foot.

In 1756 the Ulster regiment was divided into two regiments. Kingston was included in the northern one, and the southern was embraced in the precincts of Highlands, Wallkill and Shawangunk. These regiments took part in the French and Indian War.

In September, 1773, the officers of the Southern Regiment were: Colonel, Thomas Ellison; lieutenant-colonel, Charles Clinton; major, Cadwallader Colden, Jr.; adjutant, Johannes Jansen.

In 1775 the New York Provincial Congress passed a law for organizing militia which provided that counties, cities and precincts should be divided, so that a company might be formed in each district to consist of about 85 men, including officers, between the ages of 16 and 50 years; that these should be formed into regiments of from five to ten companies each; that the regiments should be classed in six brigades, under a brigadier-general and brigade major, and the entire force should be commanded by a major-general.

The Fourth Brigade when formed consisted of five Orange County regiments, the colonels of which were William Allison of Goshen, Jesse Woodhull of Cornwall, John Hathorn of Warwick, A. Hawkes Hay of Orangetown, and Abraham Lent of Haverstraw. The four Ulster County regiments were commanded by Johannes Hardenberg of Kingston, James Clinton of New Windsor, Lee Pawling of Marbletown, and Jonathan Hasbrouck of Newburgh.

Colonel Allison's regimental district consisted of Goshen and the western part of Orange County. Colonel Hathorn's of Warwick and the southern section, Colonel Woodhulls of Cornwall (then including Monroe and Blooming Grove), Colonel Hasbrouck's of Newburgh, Marlborough and Shawangunk, and Colonel Clinton's of Windsor, Montgomery, Crawford and Wallkill. The other four regiments belonged to territory now outside of the county.

Colonel Allison's Regiment.

William Allison, colonel; Benjamin Tusten, lieutenant-colonel.

Goshen Company, 1775: George Thompson, captain; Joseph Wood and Coe Gale, lieutenants; Daniel Everett, Jr., ensign. In 1776 Lieutenant Coe and Ensign Everett were transferred to a minute company, and in their places William Thompson was appointed second lieutenant and Phineas Case, ensign.

Wawayanda Company, 1775: William Blair, captain; Thomas Wisner and Thomas Sayne, Jr., lieutenants; Richard Johnson, ensign.

Drowned Lands Company, 1775: Samuel Jones, Jr., captain; Peter Gale and Jacob Dunning, lieutenants; Samuel Webb, ensign.

Chester Company, 1775: John Jackson, captain; John Wood and James Miller, lieutenants; James Parshal, ensign.

Pochuck Company, 1775: Ebenezer Owen, captain; Increase Holly and John Bronson, lieutenants; David Rogers, ensign. In 1776: Increase Holly, captain; David Rogers and James Wright, lieutenants; Charles Knapp, ensign.

Wallkill Company, 1775: Gilbert Bradner, captain; Joshua Davis and James Dolson, lieutenants; Daniel Finch, ensign.

Minisink Company, 1775: Moses Kortright, captain: Jolin Van Tile and Johannes Decker, lieutenants; Ephraim Medaugh, ensign. In 1777 Martinus Decker became second lieutenant vice Johannes Decker.

Colonel Hathorn's Regiment.

John Hathorn, colonel.

Warwick Company, 1775: Charles Beardsley, captain; Richard Welling and Samuel Lobdell, lieutenants; John Price, ensign. In 1776 John Minthorn became captain in place of Beardsley, deceased; Nathaniel Ketcham and George Vance, lieutenants; John Benedict, ensign.

Pond Company, 1775: Henry Wisner, Jr., captain; Abraham Dolson, Jr., and Peter Bartholf, lieutenants; Matthew Dolson, ensign. In 1776: Abraham Dolson, Jr., captain; Peter Bartholf and John Hopper, lieutenants; Mathias Dolson, ensign. In 1777: Peter Bartholf, captain; John De Bow and Anthony Finn, lieutenants; Joseph Jewell, ensign.

Sterling Company, 1776: John Norman, captain; Solomon Finch and William Fitzgerald, lieutenants; Elisha Bennett, ensign. In 1777: Henry Townsend, captain; William Fitzgerald and Elisha Bennett, lieutenants; Joseph Conkling, ensign.

Florida Company, 1775: Nathaniel Elmer, captain; John Popino, Jr., and John Sayre, lieutenants; Richard Bailey, ensign. In 1776: John Kennedy, lieutenant, vice Popino. In 1777: John Sayre, captain; John Kennedy and Richard Bailey, lieutenants; John Wood, ensign.

Wantage Company, 1775: Daniel Rosekrans, captain; Janus Clark and Jacob Gale, lieutenants; Samuel Cole, ensign.

Colonel Wooodhull's Regiment.

Jesse Woodhull, colonel; Elihu Marvin, lieutenant-colonel; Nathaniel Strong and Zachariah Du Bois, majors: William Moffat, adjutant; Nathaniel Satterly, quartermaster.

Oxford Company, 1775: Archibald Little, captain; Birdseye Youngs and Thomas Horton, lieutenants; Nathan Marvin, ensign. In 1777: Thomas Horton, captain; Josiah Seeley, first lieutenant; Nathan Marvin, second lieutenant; Barnabas Horton, Jr., ensign.

Clove Company, 1775: Jonathan Tuthill, captain; John Brewster, Jr., and Samuel Strong, lieutenants; Francis Brewster, ensign.

Bethlehem Company, 1775: Christopher Van Duzer, captain; William Roe and Obadiah Smith, lieutenants; Isaac Tobias, ensign. In 1776: Gilbert Weeks, ensign.

Upper Clove Company, 1775: Garrett Miller, captain; Asa Buck and William Horton, lieutenants; Aaron Miller, ensign.

Woodbury Clove Company, 1775: Francis Smith, captain; Thomas Smith and Alexander Galloway, lieutenants; John McManus, ensign. In 1776: John McManus, second lieutenant; Thomas Lammoreux, ensign.

Southwest Company, 1775: Stephen Slote, captain; George Galloway and John Brown, lieutenants; David Rogers, ensign.

Blooming Grove Company, 1775: Silas Pierson, captain; Joshua Brown and David Reeve, lieutenants; Phineas Heard, ensign.

Light Horse Company, 1776: Ebenezer Woodhull, captain; James Sayre, lieutenant; William Heard, cornet; Azariah Martin, second master.

Colonel Hasbrouck's Regiment.

Jonathan Hasbrouck, colonel; Johannes Hardenburgh, Jr., lieutenant-colonel; Johannes Jansen, Jr., and Lewis Du Bois, majors; Abraham Schoonmaker, adjutant; Isaac Belknap, quartermaster.

Clark's Newburgh Company, June 8, 1788: Samuel Clark, captain; James Denton and Martin Wygant, lieutenants; Munson Ward, ensign; William Albertson, Isaac Brown, Ebenezer Gidney and Hope Mills, sergeants; Hugh Stevenson, Isaac Demott, John Simson and William Palmer, corporals; Sol Buckingham, drummer.

Conklin's Newburgh Company, May 4, 1778: Jacob Conklin, captain; Jacob Lawrence and David Guion, lieutenants; John Crowell, ensign; Robert Erwin, Robert Ross, John Lawrence and Abraham Strickland, sergeants; Jacob Strickland, corporal; Abraham Smith, drummer.

Smith's Newburgh Company, April 24, 1779: Arthur Smith, captain; Isaac Fowler and John Foster, lieutenants; William Conklin, John Kniffin, James Clark and Reuben Holmes, sergeants; William Smith, William Michael and Samuel Griggs, corporals.

Colonel Clinton's Regiment.

James Clinton, colonel; James McClaughry, lieutenant-colonel; Jacob Newkirk and Moses Phillips, majors; George Denniston, adjutant; Alexander Trimble, quartermaster.

Eastern New Windsor Company, 1775: John Belknap, captain; Silas Wood and Edward Falls, lieutenants; James Stickney, ensign.

Western New Windsor Company, 1776: James Humphrey, captain; James Karnaghan, second lieutenant; Richard Wood, ensign.

New Windsor Village Company, 1775: John Nicoll, captain; Francis Mandeville and Hezekiah White, lieutenants; Leonard D. Nicoll, ensign.

First Hanover Company, 1775: Matthew Felter, captain; Henry Smith and Johannes Newkirk, Jr., lieutenants; William Crist, ensign.

Second Hanover Company, 1775: William Jackson, captain; Arthur Parks and James McBride, lieutenants; Andrew Neeley, ensign.

Third Hanover Company, 1775: Cadwallader C. Colden, captain; James Milligan and John Hunter, lieutenants; Matthew Hunter, ensign.

Fourth Hanover Company, 1775: John J. Graham, captain; Samuel Barkley and Joseph Crawford, lieutenants; James McCurdy, ensign.

Fifth Hanover Company, 1775: John Gillespie, captain; Jason Wilkins and Robert Hunter, Jr., lieutenants; Samuel Gillespie, ensign.

First Wallkill Company, 1775: Samuel Watkins, captain; David Crawford and Stephen Harlow, lieutenants; Henry Smith, ensign.

Second Wallkill Company, 1775: William Faulkner, Jr., captain; Edward McNeal and John Wilkins, lieutenants; John Faulkner, ensign.

Third Wallkill Company, 1775: Isaiah Velie, captain; Israel Wickham and John Dunning, lieutenants; Jonathan Owen, ensign.

Fourth Wallkill Company, 1775: William Denniston, captain; Benjamin Velie and Joseph Gillet, lieutenants; David Corwin, Jr., ensign.

Of the Hanover companies the First had been known as Captain Newkirk's Company, the Second as Captain Goldsmith's, the Third as Captain Colden's, the Fourth as Captain Crage's, and the Fifth as Captain Galatian's.

Of Wallkill companies the First was located on the east side of the Wallkill, the Second on the west side, between the Wallkill and Little Shawangunk Kill, the Third south of the Second, between the Wallkill and the Little Shawangunk, and the fourth northwest of Little Shawangunk Kill.

During the service of these organizations in the War of the Revolution there were many changes in the commands. They were home guards. In case of alarm, invasion or insurrection, the companies were instructed to march and oppose the enemy, and immediately send an express to the commander of the regiment or brigade, who was to control their movements.

Under a law passed by the Continental Congress in May, 1775, three companies of minute men were raised in the southern district of Ulster, with the following officers:

Newburgh Minute Company: Uriah Drake, captain; Jacob Lawrence and William Ervin, lieutenants; Thomas Dunn, ensign.

New Windsor Minute Company: Samuel Logan, captain; John Robinson, ensign; David Mandeville and John Scofield, sergeants.

Hanover Minute Company: Peter Hill, captain; James Latta and Nathaniel Hill, lieutenants; William Goodyear, ensign.

These companies and one organized in Marlborough formed a regiment which was officered as follows:

Thomas Palmer, colonel; Thomas Johnston, Jr., lieutenant-colonel; Arthur Parks, first major; Samuel Logan, second major; Isaac Belknap, quartermaster.

Another regiment was formed from two companies organized in Goshen and Cornwall, with the following officers:

Cornwall Minute Company: Thomas Moffat, captain; Seth Marvin and James Little, lieutenants; Nathan Strong, ensign, who was succeeded by William Bradley.

Goshen Minute Company: Moses Hetfield, captain; Cole Gale and Daniel Everett, lieutenants. Later James Butler and William Barker were chosen lieutenants and William Carpenter ensign.

The officers of the regiment were:

Isaac Nicoll, colonel; Gilbert Cooper, lieutenant-colonel; Henry V. Verbeyck, first major; Hezekiah Howell, Jr., second major; Ebenezer Woodhull, adjutant; Nehemiah Carpenter, quartermaster.

Both of these regiments of minute men were on duty in the Highlands in 1775-6; but the system did not work satisfactorily, and in June, 1776, Congress repealed the law.

Three drafts were made in 1776 to reinforce the army—in June, July and September. Under the first draft Orange County sent three companies and Ulster four to the vicinity of New York City, as a part of General John Morin Scott's Brigade. The second draft took one-fourth of the militia under Colonels Nicoll and Pauling, constituting a brigade under General George Clinton. By the third sixty-two men were drawn from Colonel Hasbrouck's Regiment, and were a part of 600 men which reinforced the garrisons at Forts Clinton and Montgomery.

In July, 1776, companies of rangers were organized for the protection of the frontiers, and three of them were raised in Ulster County, under Captains Isaac Belknap of Newburgh, Jacob De Witt of Deer Park, and Elias Hasbrouck of Kingston.

Of the four "Continental" Regiments organized in 1775 to serve six months, the one commanded by Colonel James Clinton was largely composed of Orange and Ulster County men. Orange furnished two companies—Captain Daniel Denton's of Goshen and Captain John Nicholson's of New Windsor. The four regiments were in the expedition to Canada in 1775.

Under a call by Congress of January 8, 1776, for troops to reinforce the army in Canada, New York furnished one battalion. A second call was made on January 19, under which New York was required to furnish four.