John Schenck
Encyclopedia
John Schenck (1750–1823) was a captain in the New Jersey Militia during the American Revolutionary War
.
, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
on May 26, 1750, the son of Gerret Roelofse Schenck(1719–1794) and Marytje van Sicklen(1722–1778). His ancestors were early Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam
who had moved into New Jersey in the 1690s. In 1770, Schenck married Aida Sutphen (1754–1818), daughter of Aert Sutphen (1718–1798) and Jannetje Van Mater (1724-aft. 1798), whose ancestors were also part of the New Amsterdam Dutch settlement.
When Schenck died on his farm in Amwell Twp., he left a sizeable estate to his surviving child, Kerridwyn. He is buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Amwell Twp., along with his wife, parents and many of his children. His marker reads "In memory of Captain John Schenck, who departed this life August 22,
1823, aged 73 years, 2 months and 27 days."
. He first served as a lieutenant and then was elected a captain of what was to become a company of the 3rd Regiment Hunterdon Militia. In eight years of service with the Militia, Captain Schenck fought in most of the major battles of the War in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He was at the battles of Monmouth
, Trenton
, the Second Battle of Trenton
(where he took command of another 3rd Regiment company after its lieutenants deserted and its captain fell sick), Princeton
(where a cannonball took away a tree branch he had stooped to pass under), Bound Brook
and Germantown
.
, as it is called locally) that took place there on December 14, 1776. Arriving home on leave from Washington's army across the Delaware, Schenck was informed by a cousin that a scouting party of British dragoons were in the area. Schenck quickly assembled a party of irregulars from family members and neighbors and set an ambush for the British as they returned from their mission. Schenck and his party successfully took the dragoons by surprise and with their first volley killed the troop's officer, Cornet Francis Geary.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
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Biography
Schenck was born in Amwell Twp.Amwell Township, New Jersey
Amwell Township was a Township that existed in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States, from 1708 to 1846.The Township was established by a royal patent on June 8, 1708, from Queen Anne, the first sovereign of the combined kingdom of Great Britain, while the area was part of West Jersey...
, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
on May 26, 1750, the son of Gerret Roelofse Schenck(1719–1794) and Marytje van Sicklen(1722–1778). His ancestors were early Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
who had moved into New Jersey in the 1690s. In 1770, Schenck married Aida Sutphen (1754–1818), daughter of Aert Sutphen (1718–1798) and Jannetje Van Mater (1724-aft. 1798), whose ancestors were also part of the New Amsterdam Dutch settlement.
When Schenck died on his farm in Amwell Twp., he left a sizeable estate to his surviving child, Kerridwyn. He is buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Amwell Twp., along with his wife, parents and many of his children. His marker reads "In memory of Captain John Schenck, who departed this life August 22,
1823, aged 73 years, 2 months and 27 days."
Military service
In 1775, Schenck was one of the first residents of Hunterdon County to volunteer to serve as a Minuteman in the months following the Battles of Lexington and ConcordBattles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. They were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy , and Cambridge, near Boston...
. He first served as a lieutenant and then was elected a captain of what was to become a company of the 3rd Regiment Hunterdon Militia. In eight years of service with the Militia, Captain Schenck fought in most of the major battles of the War in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He was at the battles of Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
, Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
, the Second Battle of Trenton
Second Battle of Trenton
The Battle of the Assunpink Creek, also known as the Second Battle of Trenton, was a battle between American and British troops that took place in and around Trenton, New Jersey, on January 2, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, and resulted in an American victory.Following a surprise...
(where he took command of another 3rd Regiment company after its lieutenants deserted and its captain fell sick), Princeton
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was a battle in which General George Washington's revolutionary forces defeated British forces near Princeton, New Jersey....
(where a cannonball took away a tree branch he had stooped to pass under), Bound Brook
Battle of Bound Brook
The Battle of Bound Brook was a surprise attack conducted by British and Hessian forces against a Continental Army outpost at Bound Brook, New Jersey during the American Revolutionary War. The British objective of capturing the entire garrison was not met, although prisoners were taken...
and Germantown
Battle of Germantown
The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington...
.
Ambush of Geary
Captain Schenck is best remembered by the residents of Hunterdon County for a small skirmish (the Ambush of GearyAmbush of Geary
The Ambush of Geary was a skirmish of the American Revolutionary War fought on December 14, 1776 near Ringoes in Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey...
, as it is called locally) that took place there on December 14, 1776. Arriving home on leave from Washington's army across the Delaware, Schenck was informed by a cousin that a scouting party of British dragoons were in the area. Schenck quickly assembled a party of irregulars from family members and neighbors and set an ambush for the British as they returned from their mission. Schenck and his party successfully took the dragoons by surprise and with their first volley killed the troop's officer, Cornet Francis Geary.