Militia regiments

On March 8, 1772, The Province of New York

Province of New York

The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...

 passed a bill for the establishment of organized militia in each county. In 1775, at the start of the American Revolution

American Revolution

The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...

, the Tryon County

Tryon County, New York

Tryon County, New York was a county in the colonial Province of New York in the British American colonies. It was created from Albany County on March 24, 1772. It was named for William Tryon, the last provincial governor of New York. Its boundaries extended far further than any current county...

 militia comprised four regiments, formed according to their geographical locations:

• 1st regiment: Canajoharie
  Canajoharie (town), New York
  Canajoharie is a town in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 3,730 at the 2010 census. Canajoharie is located south of the Mohawk River on the south border of the county. The Erie Canal passes along the north town line. There is a village of Canajoharie in the town...
  
   District
• 2nd regiment: Palatine
  Palatine, New York
  Palatine is a town in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 3,240 at the 2010 census. The named is derived from the Palatinate in the Rhineland, the homeland of the early settlers of this region....
  
   District
• 3rd regiment: Mohawk
  Mohawk, Montgomery County, New York
  Mohawk is a town in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 3,844 at the 2010 census.The Town of Mohawk is on the north border of the county, west of the City of Amsterdam.The county seat, Fonda is in Mohawk.- History :...
  
   District
• 4th regiment: German Flatts & Kingsland
  Herkimer (town), New York
  Herkimer is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States, southeast of Utica. It is named after Nicholas Herkimer. The population was 9,962 at the 2000 census.The town contains a village also called Herkimer...
  
   Districts

A 5th regiment from the Harpersfield area was created under the command of Colonel John Harper of Harpersfield on March 3, 1780. Only three companies are designated, Captain Alexander Harper's, Captain Daniel McGillevrey's, and Captain Lodwick Breakman's.

Before they fled to Canada in 1775, Hendrick Frey, Daniel Claus

Daniel Claus

Christian Daniel Claus was a commissioner of Indian affairs and a prominent Loyalist during the American Revolution.He was born September 13, 1727 at Bönnigheim, Württemberg the son of Adam Frederic Claus and his wife Anna Dorothea. He arrived in America in 1749...

, Sir John Johnson, and Guy Johnson

Guy Johnson

Guy Johnson was an Irish-born military officer and diplomat for the Crown during the American War of Independence. He had migrated to the Province of New York as a young man and worked with his uncle, Sir William Johnson, British Superintendent of Indian Affairs of the northern colonies. He was...

 were colonels and in command of these regiments.

On August 22, 1775, by order of the New York Provincial Congress

New York Provincial Congress

The New York Provincial Congress was an organization formed by rebels in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred.A Provincial Convention assembled in New York...

, the Tryon County militia and the Albany County militia were organized together into a brigade. One fourth of each company were to be selected as Minute Men, pg. 30.

Minutemen

Minutemen were members of teams of select men from the American colonial partisan militia during the American Revolutionary War. They provided a highly mobile, rapidly deployed force that allowed the colonies to respond immediately to war threats, hence the name.The minutemen were among the first...

.

On October 5, 1776 a resolution of the New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 State congress appointed Nicholas Herkimer

Nicholas Herkimer

Nicholas Herkimer was a militia general in the American Revolutionary War, who died of wounds after the Battle of Oriskany.-Career:...

 Brigadier General of the Brigade of Militia of Tryon County

Tryon County, New York

Tryon County, New York was a county in the colonial Province of New York in the British American colonies. It was created from Albany County on March 24, 1772. It was named for William Tryon, the last provincial governor of New York. Its boundaries extended far further than any current county...

.

On August 6, 1777 the Tryon County Militia under the command of Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer fought the Battle of Oriskany

Battle of Oriskany

The Battle of Oriskany, fought on August 6, 1777, was one of the bloodiest battles in the North American theater of the American Revolutionary War and a significant engagement of the Saratoga campaign...

 with British forces under the command of Barry St. Leger, Sir John Johnson, Colonel John Butler, and Captain Joseph Brant. While British casualties were high, the Tryon County Miltia suffered a casualty rate nearing 70%

In 1779, the Tryon County militia was amalgamated with the Albany County militia. On March 20, 1780 Brigadier General Robert Van Rensselaer was given command of a brigade of militia which included the Tryon County Militia.

In 1781, Marinus Willett

Marinus Willett

Marinus Willett was an American soldier and political leader from New York. He was characterized by historian Mark M. Boatner as "one of the truly outstanding American leaders of the Revolution."...

 was given over all command of the Tryon County Militia.

1st Regiment

The first regiment, or battalion, of the Tryon County Militia was commanded by Colonel Samuel Campbell and later Colonel Ebenezer Cox (killed in the first volley of the Battle of Oriskany, August 6, 1777).

2nd Regiment

The second regiment, or battalion, of the Tryon County Militia was commanded by Colonel Jacob Klock.
Officers of the second regiment under the command of Colonel Klock included Captain Henry Divendorf, who was killed on the Oriskany Battlefield on August 6, 1777, and his brother Jacob Dievendorf (died 11/23/1816) who was promoted to Captain upon the death of his brother Henry.

3rd Regiment

The third regiment, or battalion, of the Tryon County Militia was commanded by Colonel Frederick Fisher, or Visscher. Lieutenant Colonels were Adam Fonda and Volkert Veeder. Majors were John Bliven and John Nukerk. Adjutants were Robert Yates, Peter Conyn, John G. Lansingh, Jr., and Gideon Marlett. Quarter Masters were Theodorus F. Romine, Abrahan Van Horn, and Simon Veeder. Surgeons were John George Folke and Surgeon William Petry.

The third regiment constituted eight companies. As of 26 Aug 1775 they were led by the following:

• 1st Company - Captain Jacob Gardinier, 1st Lieutenant Abraham D. Quackenbus, 2nd Lieutenant William Hall, Ensign Gideon Marlat.
• 2nd Company - Captain John Davis, 1st Lieutenant Abraham Vedder, 2nd Lieutenant Jacob Simon.
• 3rd Company - Captain Robert Yates, 1st Lieutenant Cobus Crommel, 2nd Lieutenant Peter Yates, Ensign Hendrick Lewis.
• 4th Company - Captain John Fisher, 1st Lieutenant John Wemple, 2nd Lieutenant Mindert W. Quackenbush, Ensign Gerrit Gysbertse VanBrocklin.
• 5th Company - Captain Samuel Pettingell, Lieutenant Thomas Caine, Ensign Samuel Barnhard, Jr.
• 6th Company - Captain Abner French, Lieutenant David McMaster, Ensign Peter VanderLenden.
• 7th Company - Captain Lewis Crout, 1st Lieutenant Jeremiah Swarts, 2nd Lieutenant Christian Carnest, Ensign Emanuel DeGraff.
• 8th Company - Captain Abraham Hodges, 1st Lieutenant Joseph Yeamans, 2nd Lieutenant Abel Hunt, Ensign Amos Bennet.

4th Regiment

The fourth regiment, or battalion, of the Tryon County Militia was commanded initially by Col. Hansyoot Herkimer, and after his death in 1775, by Colonel Peter Bellinger, formerly lieutenant colonel of the regiment.

Rangers

Rangers were raised for service in their home counties: "unless called forth for the defence of a neighboring County or State by the Mutual Consent of the bordering County Committees of the respective Counties or States".

On July 23, 1776, by order of the Provincial Congress of New York, three ranger companies were established under the commands of:

• Mark Demuth
• Christian Gettman
• John Winn

These ranger companies were disbanded on March 27, 1777

On July 17, 1777, by order of the Provincial Congress of New York, two ranger companies were established under the commands of:

• John Harper
• James Clyde

External links

• Bibliography of the Continental Army in New York compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History