1781

Only one grandchild this year.

030303 Catherine Christman (b.1781)

Widows with Small Children Struggled

In April he [Joseph Brant] attacked Cherry Valley, capturing two detachments of Continental soldiers, who were attempting to provision the perpetually besieged Fort Stanwix-which, at long last, was abandoned.

“Widows with small children struggled on through seven desperate years on the frontier farms Mere Indian massacres and scalpings and Tory burning of crops and buildings were as common as thunderstorms, Mere existence depended absolutely on the production of soil, and where even planting of crops had to be done under guard; where too, every home had empty chairs or maimed victims of battle or both, in the family circle; and in addition to all this, there were constant and pressing demands of military service from every male over sixteen years of age, in both regular army and militia. Furthermore answering a call for militia service usually leaving the family exposed and unprotected, and supplying ones own food and arms and ammunition, in a district so ravashed that General Schuyler at one time reported that not a barrel of fish was to be had in the whole district though he were to offer an equal might of silver therefor. When the war was over the struggle against poverty had to be continued indefinately. In the words of the French, ‘the war left the remaining citizens stripped of almost everything except the soil.” - R.G. Windsor Spellman

“American fortunes were at low ebb in New York who Colonel Marinus Willett was assigned command of the region. By this time, only 2,000 settlers remained in and about the Mohawk Valley. Willett had at his disposal a mere 130 Continental troops and a vastly diminished pool of militia recruits.” – Alan Axelrod

Most Christmans Remained

020104 Jacob Christman (b.1768), 0304 Nicholas Christman (b.1755), and 0302 Frederick Christman (b.1748), were all in the N.Y.Line of the Continental Army.

Jacob and Nicholas would both be at the Battle of Johnstown.

Jacob, who enlisted in April, was a corporal in Capt. Henry Vanderwarker’s Company in Col. Van Rennsalear’s N.Y. Regiment, but by October was in Col. Willetts Regiment of N.Y. State Levies with Nicholas.

Jacob, would be wounded three times in the leg by musket balls. Frederick may still have been in Canada as a prisoner. But not for long. Captured in 1778 at German Flatts, he had children before 1777 and again after 1781.

All of the other Christmans who were in the militia, must have still been in the militia given their experience and the fact that there were not that many people left living in the valley; somebody had to defend it.

Lampman’s Battle

In July, a group of men from the Palatine district decided to defect to the British. They were Nicholas Herkimer, Jacob I. Klock, Adam Klock, John Anguish, Old Bangle, John Bangle, Henry Heiney, Mathias Wormwood, Phillip Helmer, and Nicholas Rosencrantz.

After two months they returned to attack their neighbors with 14 Indians. The specific plan they devised had a disgusting motive. They wanted to attack the family of Johannes Bellinger, kill the parents, and capture his six virgin daughters who, evidently, were beautiful. The motive was for sex. The area was near Fort Hess, eight miles from Fort Paris. Phillip Helmer , before defecting to treachery, was in love with one of the Bellinger girls but was rejected. Fort Hess was apparently in the vicinity of Fort Plain because the group recieved provisions from the family of Petrus Ehle. He lived in a stone house near the railroad, a half mile east of the Fort Plain railroad depot in the late 1800’s. They were joined by the Hess brothers who recruited others to join them. Phillip Helmer had second thoughts and made an effort to warn the Bellingers. He was suspected of being a traitor to his own group by an Indian, so he fled. On the way to Fort Hess he stopped to wash the Indian paint from his face and was captured in his Indian dress by Col. Klock and Christian Nellis. They sent to Fort Paris for help. It was Sunday, and the militia from Fort Paris were having church services when the message came. Captain Sammons and Lieutenant Samuel Gray mustered 40 men which probably included Johann Jacob and Nicholas Christman. [Samuel Gray was very close to Johann Jacob, signing as witness to his will. Gray also lived across the road from Johann Jacob. Samuel Gray lived on Lot 77, Johann Jacob on Lot 93] Andrew Gray was also in the group. Simms says that a few State troops were also among them so it is possible that Mary’s Nicholas was also there.

Simms says that the response to the call was with great speed and determination, and soon came upon the traitors two and one-half miles north of Fort Hess about 4 PM. They were on a ridge near the premises of Lampman. They took to trees and a skirmish ensued. One Indian was killed, one wounded who later died. The Americans charged; the traitors fled, and escaped back to Canada. Andrew Gray shot the Indian who died immediately. For many years later the tradition was that people out late at night were spooked by a headless Indian.

The Battle of Yorktown

In 1781 all of the efforts of the war were concentrated at Yorktown where the main British force had gathered. The British were cut off from their own naval support by the French, and Rochambeau and Washington sent their troops south in a force march and began a siege. On October 14 they launched the attack. Count Wilhelm of Forbach who was one of the sons of Duke Christian IV of Zweibrucken of the Palatine, and head of the grenadiers and riflemen of the “Royal Deux-Ponts” regiment, charged. Without artillery assistance he took one of the main British fortifications by surprise. Cornwallis saw that his situation was hopeless and unlike General Herkimer he trusted in his own efforts and surrendered five days later on October 19, 1781. They captured 8000 British troops.

The Reverend Stuart from Fort Hunter, now in Canada, wrote: “I cannot omit to mention that my Church was plundered by the Rebels, & the Pulpit Cloth taken away from the Pulpit; it was afterwards employed as a tavern, the barrel of Rum placed in the Reading Desk, the succeeding Season it was used for a Stable; And now serves as a Fort to protect a Set of great Villains as ever Disgraced Humanity.”

The Battle of Johnstown

“In October, however, 800 Tories and British regulars plus 120 Indians under the command of Captain Walter N. Butler were reported at Warrens Bush, 20 miles from Willett’s headquarters at Canajoharie. The Americans could muster no more than 400 men, mostly militia. Nevertheless, Willett marched to Johnstown, where he divided his force in two for a combined frontal and rear assault. The men assigned to the front , directly under the command of Willett, panicked and broke ranks-despite their commander’s exhortations. But the detachment attacking from the rear, led by a Major Rowley, carried out their attack so fiercely that the British forces scattered, leaving much of their equipment behind. Despite the failure of the frontal assault, the combined British and Indian force had 50 men killed or wounded and yielded another 50 prisoners. Willett’s losses were also considerable, 40 dead or badly wounded.

Willett made the most of his resources, circulating them throughout the countryside. Shortly after Willett took up his new command, his scouts reported fires near Corey’s Town. The commander dispatched men to investigate and extinguish the blazes, while he mustered as large a militia as he could - about 170 men. With this force, Willett attacked a combined detachment of 200 Indians and Tories under Donald McDonald, killing at least 40 of them while sustaining losses of only five men, with nine wounded. This effectively quelled raiding in western New York for the balance of the summer of 1781.” - Alan Axelrod

In this battle, according to pension abstracts were:

020104 Jacob Christman (b.1768) Shot three times in the leg.
0304 Nicholas Christman (b.1755)

“On October 11, 1781, Major John Ross and Captain Walter Butler with twenty-five men from the 8th Regiment, one hundred men from the 34th Regiment, thirty men from the 84th Regiment, 120 men from the King’s Royal Regiment of New York, 150 men from Butler’s Rangers, forty men from Captain Leake’s Corps., twelve Chasseurs and 130 Indians totaling a force of 607 men left Oswego on their way to the Mohawk Valley.

Major Ross and his men arrived in the Mohawk valley on October 24th, and they attacked and plundered Currytown and took several inhabitants prisoner. Major Ross and his men afterwards headed for Warrensbush (now Town of Florida).

Late that afternoon Colonel Marinus Willett who was in command at Fort Rensselaer on arriving word of this invasion from some of the Currytown settlers, sent messengers to Forts Clyde, Paris and Plank for additional troops while he gathered troops and supplies at Fort Rensselaer.

The Christmans in that area were:

0201 John Christman (b.abt.1740) 1st Regiment
0203 Johann Jacob (b.1744) 2nd Regiment
0206 Nicholas Christman (b.abt.1755) Ranger (Palatine)

Major Ross with his detachment arrived a few hours before daylight on October 25th at Warrensbush. At the first ray of sunshine the enemy attacked and burned Warrensbush. About one o’clock Ross and his men with great difficulty crossed the Mohawk River which was swollen from the recent heavy rains.

A scouting party from Fort Johnstown under Lieutenant Isaac Saulkill was sent out to find the enemy’s whereabouts and strength. Saulkill and his men fell in with a party of Ross men near Tribes Hill and Saulkill was killed and the rest dispersed. Ross now headed for Johnstown.

That morning Colonel Willett was joined by Major Abraham Copeman with about seventy-five men from Fort Plank and Fort Clyde. Colonel Willett with his men, wagons and a three pound brass cannon left Fort Rensselaer and crossed the Mohawk River to Caughnawaga where he was joined by men from Fort Paris and Caughnawaga. Colonel Willett was informed that a case of ammunition was lost in the crossing. Willett sent Sergeant William Wallace and William Feeter to Johnstown to reconnoiter the enemy’s movements.

Captain John Little at Fort Johnstown gathered another scouting party to search for the enemy. Captain Little with Lieutenant Zepheniah Batcheler, Sergeant John Eikler, Sergeant Henry Shaw, Corporal Jacob Shew, Privates John Brothers, Peter Yost Jr., David and John Moyer with four others left the fort in search of the enemy. Sergeant Wallace and Feeter joined Little and the scouting party shortly after they left the fort.

Shortly after the scouting party left the fort, Major Ross and his men appeared before the fort. Stephen Shew then on sentry duty fired at them and the men in the fort turned out to defend it. After a few minutes of musket and cannon fire the enemy retreated from the fort. Stephen Shew, Jacob Covenhoven, Jeremiah Crowley, Isaac and Jeremiah Mason with several others pursued the enemy through the Village of Johnstown when they were joined by Captain Little and the scouting party.

Captain Little ordered the garrison back to the fort while he and his men would follow the enemy. Wallace went to give Willett the intelligence of Ross’ movement.

Wallace met Colonel Willett about a mile from Johnstown and informed him of the enemy’s movements. Willett with his men marched to Fort Johnstown and arrived there a few minutes after the garrison returned. Jeremiah Crowley, Jacob Covenhoven, Isaac and Jeremiah Mason with a few others joined Willett making his force 412 men and they left Fort Johnstown with only eleven men to guard it.

Colonel Willett sent major Andrew Fink with about fifty men to reinforce Captain Little and his party. Captain Little was hit in the right shoulder and the scouting party with their wounded Captain took to the woods. Here another brief exchange of musket fire took place and Sergeant Eikler was killed. Major Fink and his men now joined the scouting party.

Colonial Willett and his men arrived at the field where the enemy had encamped. Willett and his men now charged the enemy pushing them into the woods. Major Fink with his men and the scouting party finding themselves greatly outnumbered left the woods and joined Colonel Willett just as he arrived on the field. Fink and his men took position at the cannon which was placed on Willett’s right wing and under the command of Captain and Rew Moody.

Colonel Willett now sent Major Aaron Rowley with Captain Samuel Clark, Lieutenant Dudley Holdridge, Sergeant William Wallace, Privates Isaac Mason, Enos Morse, Henry Rightmyer, Nathaniel Sherwood, Abram Winston and 140 other men to gain the rear of Ross and hoping that with Ross between they could capture his entire force.

Shortly after Rowley left, Willett’s right wing started to retreat and Ross with his men on seeing this took the advantage and charged causing panic in Willett’s right wing and now they were in a full fight. Willett desperately tried to regroup his right wing but they did not listen to him. Now the left wing of Willett’s command, holding the field alone was soon pressed by Ross now also took flight. Willett with his men retreated back to the Village of Johnstown and they took refuge in St. John’s Church.

Major Fink with his detachment with Captain Andrew Moody with his company of artillerymen with the cannon poured a heavy fire into the left wing of the enemy but Ross now turned his men and charged the cannon. Fink and his men with the artillerymen being outnumbered now also retreated from the field and joined Willett at the church.

Just then Rowley and his men arrived at their position behind the enemy and poured a heavy fire into them. The enemy now turned the cannon around and now fired it at Rowley and his men. Willett at the church hearing the fighting continuing knew that Rowley had reached his position and Willett rallied his men and returned to the field of battle.

Willett and his men charged the cannon and recaptured it but not before the enemy had spiked it with a brass nail in the priming hole and blowing up the ammunition wagon. Willett and his men pressed Ross, and fighting continued until darkness fell on the battlefield and with Ross and his men retreating from the battlefield.
The battle started about four o’clock and lasted until darkness fell. The Battle of Johnstown was commonly called by the troops at the battle the Hall Battle or Willett’s Battle. Ross had eleven men killed, eleven men wounded and thirty-two men were taken prisoners.

Nicholas Herkimer one of the Loyalists captured and the rest of the prisoners were sent to Fort Hunter and from there they were sent to Schenectady. Willett had twelve men killed, twenty-four men wounded and five were taken prisoners.

Major Aaron Rowley, Captain Samuel Clark, Lieutenant Dudley Holdridge, Privates George Hackney, Daniel McVey and Abram Winston were seriously wounded and they were sent to the General Hospital at Albany. Jeremiah Mason with several others gathered the dead and they performed a mass burial for their fallen comrades. Nathaniel Sherwood one of the men wounded at Johnstown died from his wounds on October 27th.

Colonel Willett with his men marched to Fort Dayton where they were reinforced by about 100 men from Schenectady and about sixty Oneida Indians. On October 28th, Willett left the fort in pursuit of Ross. On October 30th, Willett skirmished with the rear guard of the enemy under Captain Walter Butler at West Canada Creek. After about fifteen minutes of fighting the enemy retreated leaving Butler and four other men behind dead. After pursuing them a short distance Willett and his men returned to Fort Rensselaer. – From the Tryon County Militia Gen Web Site.

The papers collected by Hon. Thomas Sammons, the Revolutionary patriot, and known as the “Sammons papers” contain an account of the battle of Johnstown by Lieutenant William Wallace. He was the guide who evidently piloted the Tryon County militia detachment, under the command of Major Rowley, to take up their position in the rear of and attack Ross’s force from behind while Col. Willett made the frontal attack. Willett’s men were defeated but Rowley’s soldiers made such a stubborn attack against three times their number that the enemy fled when Willett returned to the attack. It would seem from Wallace’s narrative that the victory was entirely due to the regulars and local militia under Major Rowley, who was severely wounded. The date of the Johnstown battle was October 25, 1781.

Col. Willett’s force numbered only 416 men and Ross had over 700. Hence Willett resorted to the strategy of an attack in the front and rear at the same time. His forces were evidently about evenly divided, giving about 200 men under Willett and 200 under Rowley. The latter had 60 Massachusetts regulars and about 150 Tryon County militia. Willett attacked Ross in front, evidently before Rowley got up.

Greatly outnumbered, Willett’s men were driven back to Johnstown shortly after which Rowley attacked Ross in the rear with great success and when Willett returned to the fight the enemy fled to the woods and the American victory of Johnstown was complete. After Willett was reinforced in Johnstown village by a party of Tryon militia, it is evident that over half of his force, which then numbered 500, were Mohawk Valley militiamen.

Lieut. Wallace’s account is a most interesting document relative to this important valley campaign and it is seemingly the best description of the Johnstown Battle that has come under the notice of the editor of this work (James F. Morrison). It was originally published in the Mohawk Valley Democrat of Fonda, and is here reprinted in full, as follows:

MOHAWK VALLEY DEMOCRAT, JULY 10, 1913
“Col. Willett, having sent Rowley on with the militia to come in the rear of Ross, continued his march with the state troops on the main road through the village of Johnstown to the Hall farm, where Ross had arrived a little before. When Willett advanced, Ross fell, back a short distance in the woods (and) formed an ambush. Willett’s advance guard advanced in the woods while Willett formed his men on the Field, with his field piece for battle. His advance was repulsed with some loss. Ross ordered his men to leave their knapsacks where the ambush was formed and formed his men for battle. (He) advanced up to Willett on the field with his whole force (and) attacked him very furious. In a few minutes, Willett’s men retreated and run in confusion to the village of Johnstown (and) left their field piece with the enemy. (The enemy) pursued Willett’s men until near the village of Johnstown, about one mile. Ross *** (did not know) the militia was in his rear (and) expected he had defeated all the forces Willett had collected, so Major Rowley came on them unexpectantly, while some were as much as a mile apart looking for plunder. Willett and Ross had commenced their engagement about one o’clock. Rowley attacked Ross about two o’clock.
“Lieut. William Wallace , who brought on the Tryon County militia, (had been) appointed by Col. Willett as a pilot under the command of Major Rowley of Massachusetts. This detachment was sent from Col. Willett (over) the road leading to the river on the hill south of the village (of Johnstown) and crossed the creek near where Nicholas Yost’s mill is and went onward till some distance above the Hall creek, when, coming near or by the clear lands they discovered the enemy in different places on the Hall farm.
“The enemy soon formed some of their men. Rowley’s men advanced, fired on the enemy, (and) the enemy immediately advanced with some of their men to the right of Rowley along or near the Hall creek. Rowley ordered Wallace to meet them. Some of the men volunteered (and) they run to meet them. Wallace told the men not to fire till he told them, but one of his men fired and killed the officer (who) marched forward. When they fired from both parties, the enemy’s detachment run. Rowley found the enemy collected (in) considerable force and stood. (He) then received a ball through the ankle. He was carried back and the enemy then retreated back of a fence where they were soon routed to another place where hey made a stand. The enemy, having left some men with a field piece they had taken from Willett, they were also attacked by some militiamen. They abandoned it, the ammunition was blown up (and) the field piece was no more used that day. The militiamen left the cannon and fell on the enemy (and) generally routed the enemy; but in some part of the scrimmaging (the enemy) drove the militia back. None of the militia left the field, they continued to prevent Ross from uniting his men together and, about sunset, Ross’s men had all left the field and the militia gained a complete victory. About this time Willett returned from the village of Johnstown. The militiamen brought (in) about 40 prisoners, picked forth from scattered men of Ross’s men - probably not above two or three taken together.
“Willett, when he fell back to the village, received about 100 of the Tryon County militia. Why this delay of Willett was is difficult to know—from two to six o’clock. (He had) a much superior force in the village to Rowley, after he was joined with 100 militiamen.
After Major Rowley was wounded, it is difficult to know, who was commander. Some privates, where small parties met, assumed command. The officers, wherever they were, did their duty—no confusion or none left the field until the enemy was completely drove from the field.
“Thus, for a second time, the militia of Tryon County defeated the enemy with a very inferior number. At Oriskany, the enemy were two to one in a battle of about five hours, were completely drove back (and) left Herkimer unmolested to make biers (litters) and carry their wounded off. With Ross left, then 250 (American soldiers) drove Ross from the field with seven or 800 men—like bulldogs, ‘hold fast or die with the holt’.” - James F. Morrison; From the Tryon County Militia Gen Web Site

Killing Walter N. Butler

“Willett then withdrew to German Flats, a position between Butler’s scattered troops and their boats, which had been left at Oneida Creek. At the Flats, Willett was joined by 60 Oneidas and waited for Butler to make his move. Two days passed; clearly, Butler had given up on his boats and, Willett guessed, was heading overland to Oswego. With 400 men, Willett set off after him at forced march, in part through heavy snow. He first encountered a detachment of 40 soldiers and Indians. After attacking them, Willett reached the main body of Butler’ troops, who, exhausted and demoralized, fled. Willett his own men spent, pursued.

At last, at Canada Creek, Butler made a stand. He was fatally wounded in the fight, and 20 of his men were killed.” – Alan Axelrod

The Christman’s that may have been involved in this pursuit were:

0102 Nicholas Christman (b.abt.1732) 4th Regiment
0103 Jacob Christman (b.1741) 4th Regiment
0105 John Christman (b.abt.1747) 4th Regiment
0201 John Christman (b.abt.1740) 1st Regiment
0203 Johann Jacob (b.1744) 2nd Regiment
0206 Nicholas Christman (b.abt.1755) Ranger (Palatine)
0303 John Christman (b.abt.1752) 4th Regiment
0304 Nicholas Christman (b.abt 17550 N.Y.Line
0302 Frederick Christman (b.1748) N.Y.Line

Walter N. Butler was killed very near to the 1728 Christman land purchase. The following is the most detailed account of the pursuit and outcome.

“After the defeat of the expedition led by Major Ross, aided by Walter N. Butler, and which fell upon the lower valley on the 24th of October, like an avalanche of lava, burning and destroying every thing in its course, the enemy retreated in a northerly direction through Jersyfield. Col. Willett having ordered the destruction of their batteaux, left at the Oneida lake, arrived at the German Flats by forced marches, in order to intercept Ross’s retreat on the west Canada creek, unless he should return to Buck’s island on the St. Lawrence river. On the morning of the 29th Willett with four hundred of his best troops with sixty Oneida warriors, provisioned for five days, started in a northerly direction from Fort Dayton along the West Canada creek. The first day’s march of the Americans through a snow storm was severe, and at night they camped in a thick forest on the Royal Grant.

Here Col. Willett. having ascertained during the night, by means of his scouts, the locality, position and force of the enemy, remained until the next morning when he started well prepared to give battle to the foe, determined to inflict a justly merited and suitable chastisement upon the marauders; but Ross being, equally alert, and quite as anxious to avoid the action as his opponent was to bring it on, and being well advised of the proximity of his antagonist, was in full retreat as early as the Americans had started in the pursuit, and it was not until afternoon that Willett came up with a party of the enemy’s rear. A smart skirmish ensued, when several of the enemy were killed and taken prisoners, among the latter was a Tory, Lieutenant John Rykeman, and the remainder fled. The Americans overtook the main body of Ross’s party soon after, when a running fight was kept up between the pursuers and pursued until the latter crossed the creek late in the day. Butler succeeded in rallying his men and made a stand on the west bank, when a brisk action took place between the parties on opposite sides of the creek, during which the enemy had about twenty men killed, and among them was Walter N. Butler. The death of this officer was followed by the immediate and confused flight of his men, and Willett pursued his terror stricken foes until compelled to desist by darkness and the fatigue of his men, who had been on foot all day and more than half the time fighting. The enemy continued the retreat all night and marched thirty miles before they made a halt.

Col. Willett says, “strange as it may appear, it is nevertheless true, that notwithstanding the enemy had been four days in the wilderness, with only half a pound of horse- flesh per man per day, yet in this famished condition they trotted thirty miles before they stopped. Many of them, indeed, fell a sacrifice to such treatment.” The British had six hundred and seventy men in this expedition, which closed the active offensive operations of the enemy at the north for the year.

WALTER N. BUTLER’S DEATH.

According to the most authentic tradition we now have of Butler’s death, derived from Major Thornton, late of Schenectady, who was a captain under Col. Willett, in the pursuit of Ross and Butler, on their retreat from Johnstown, there seems to be a somewhat different version given to this affair, than that heretofore published. Thornton stated that Ross and Butler, with their party, encamped on Butler’s ridge in the town of Norway, on the night before the Americans overtook them, having traversed the forest from Mayfield the day before. That Col. Willett was fearful the enemy had escaped him in consequence of his having made the detour to Fort Dayton, or that they might have gone a more northern route than the one usually taken, to reach the Black river or Oneida lake. A light autumnal Snow had fallen during the night. Thornton was sent out from Willett’s encampment as early in the morning as objects were visible, with a few men and among them was an artilleryman, for the purpose of’ reconnoitering and finding the enemy’s trail, if there was one to be found. The party separated into files of two for the purpose of examination, moving towards the West Canada creek. The artilleryman was with Capt. Thornton, and they had been sometime afoot without discovering any traces of the enemy, when they began to fear they were not on the right course; they continued on, however, until they reached Butler’s ridge, when, from their examinations, they were satisfied there had been an encampment the night before, although the snow on the ground rendered the question somewhat doubtful.

Having communicated this fact to Col. Willett, Thornton and his companion struck what they supposed was the enemy’s trail, and continued their course in pursuit, little expecting to find the enemy near at hand. It was not long, however, before they heard voices, and looking in the direction of this noise they saw a small scouting party, who had probably been on the lookout for Willett, coming up in a direction partly from their rear. Thornton and his comrade avoided this party by hiding in the underbrush. After this scout had passed them long enough to allow an advance with safety, as they believed, they struck the fresh trail and continued the pursuit cautiously, expecting every moment to be overtaken by Willett’s advanced guard in force.

The artilleryman was soon killed, by a volley from a thicket in advance; and when hit by the ball he jumped two or three feet into the air. Willett’s forces followed the enemy to the creek, the southerly bank being covered with large hemlock trees and a thick undergrowth. A heavy, dense fog hung over the creek, when the American advance got into it for the purpose of crossing, which being suddenly lifted by the wind, exposed them to the enemy on the opposite bank, who gave them so warm and unlooked-for a reception that they retired momentarily up the creek bank, behind the trees and into the bush, having some of the party killed and wounded. The fog again settled upon the creek and the parties fired four or five rounds, each at the other, quite at random, as they could not see across the stream at the time. The enemy’s fire slackened, and the Americans then went over and found Butler and five of the enemy dead on the bank of the creek. Thornton stated he was among the first who reached the opposite bank, but an Indian was the first of their party who went to the spot where Butler lay dead, near a tree, and looking at him a moment turned and told Thornton who it was. Thornton examined the lifeless body; the hat, with a gold band around it, was then on the head; he pulled it off, saw the bullet hole in the head, and no other wound or fracture about it. When Thornton started on the expedition he wore a thin pair of summer pantaloons, which were pretty much gone when he reached the creek. The Indian pulled off Butler’s pants at Thornton’s request, and the latter put them on. Major Thornton was confident no one knew or could tell who it was that killed Butler, he being dead before any of his pursuers found him.
The enemy were pursued by Col. Willett, until hunger and want of provisions compelled him to retrace his steps. On their return to the creek crossing, our people heard the cry of a child near the wayside; some of them went in search of it and found a female infant near a large fallen elm tree, which had been abandoned by its stricken and toil-worn mother to a far different fate from that which awaited it. The child was brought away from its cold and comfortless cradle by some hungered and weary rebel, whose heart may have been sorely riven more than once by the hand of its father. Thornton also stated that Willett’s forces had a smart brush with the enemy at Black Creek, in the pursuit out.
After Willett’s forces recrossed the Canada creek, they turned off in the direction of Mount’s place in Jerseyfield, to bury some of their dead. [The land of the Christman 1728 purchase] At this time the party had a British sub-officer, a prisoner, who seems to have been abandoned to the tender mercies of the Indians. This man was a tory and had formerly lived in the valley. Anticipating his fate, he inquired of the American officers whether they intended to allow the Indians to massacre him. No direct answer was given to the inquiry, and the officer disappeared before the troops reached Fort Dayton.

This relation of the manner Butler was killed, corresponds with that given by Col.Willet in his official account of the affair. It is fully corroborated by several traditional
statements handed down from persons who were on the spot, and who saw and knew all about it. In every published account I have seen, from that of Marshall, in his Life of Washington, down to our own times, no two of them correspond in the precise statement of fact & Col. Willett could not have had any motive in withholding a full and true relation of the facts attending Butler’s death. If he had been wounded and afterwards dispatched, when discovered, by one of Willett’s men, or an Indian, why should not that fact have been officially stated by the commander of the expedition ? He had inquired into the matter; it was a subject too important to be omitted. When, therefore, the Colonel says, “he was shot dead, at once, having no time to implore for mercy,” we are called upon to pause a little before we pronounce the statement untrue. But, to use a legal phrase, how stand the impeaching witnesses? One says that Butler, in fleeing from his pursuers, swam his horse across the stream, and then turning round to them on the opposite bank, defled them. An Indian discharged his rifle at him and he fell wounded. The Indian then swam to the opposite bank, found Butler alive and able to supplicate for mercy, but who answered the supplication by burying his tomahawk in Butler’s brains. This relation assumes the improbable facts that Butler was entirely alone and unattended by any of his men, otherwise, if only wounded and capable of speech, having a horse at hand, he could and would have been carried a long distance into the wood, while the Indian, axe in hand, was swimming across the stream. Another says he was sorely wounded while standing behind a tree watching- a brisk engagement between the hostile parties, on opposite sides of the creek, and that when he fell, his troops fled in great confusion, leaving him uncared for, whether dead or alive, when they had full time to remove him, and ample means at hand to do it. The Indian then crossed the creek and finding Butler alive, shot him again, through the eye. An Indian never looses a charge of powder and ball, when his tomahawk, his never-failing and favorite weapon, will answer his purpose. And yet another says the enemy had passed the creek, when Butler stopped, dismounted from his horse, and was in the act of drinking water front a tin cup, in full view from the opposite bank, when he was fired at by two of his enemy and fell. The Indian, a Mohawk, immediately crossed the creek, and finding Butler wounded, only, ended his life with a tomahawk. – Nathaniel S. Benton

Mount’s Place – The Site of the 1728 Christman Land

Johannes Christman purchased 300 acres of land from the native Indians in 1728. The location of the site is about 3 miles north of Gray above Herkimer where the northbound Gray/Wilmurt Road intersects with Christman Road and Christman Road Spur, east, along Mounts Creek. The family must have sold it to Mr. Mount at some point during the revolution. The following is what happened to Mr. Mount’s family.

“Ohio is now bounded on the south by the north bounds of the Royal grant, east by the west bounds of Salisbury, north by the north bounds of Jerseyfield patent, and the same course continued to the east line of Russia, and west by the east bounds of Russia.

This town covers a part of Jerseyfield patent, and contains a small triangular part of Remsenburgh patent, lying northwesterly of the West Canada creek, the north bounds of Ohio, and the west bounds of Russia.

Although this town is too recent in its origin to afford any historical events under its present name, worthy of special notice, yet when its present territory formed a part of the Kingsland district during the revolution, it was the theater of one of those cold-blooded and inhuman murders and burnings so often reiterated between 1776 and 1783, as to sicken humanity by the recital of them. Complainings now avail nothing; these astounding crimes were long since perpetrated, and would before this time have been nearly forgotten, but for historical repetition, and the uncertain agency, of oral tradition in the localities where the events happened. Does it console us that retributive justice has long since adjudged the case, passed its sentence, and for many years has been and now is executing its dread decree? If it does, let us fold our arms complacently, and await the final execution of the exterminating judgment; but never forget, no, never, the probable cause nor the occasion of those providential visitations, that we may shape our course so as to avoid it similar punishment.

The sufferers name, Mount, is not found among the ninety- four persons to whom Jerseyfield Patent was granted. [Because he bought it from the Christman family] He planted himself on a handsome plane a few miles north of the south line of the patent, and a little northerly of the usual route taken by the enemy in traversing the wilderness between the Black river and lower Mohawk valley. He probably went there under the patronage of some of the proprietors, and might reasonable expect to end his days in the seclusion that miles of forest afforded him, with nothing “ to molest or make him afraid,” save the wild beasts of the wilderness. After leaving Black creek on the confines of Norway, passing over a deep clayish soil, some rather stony ground, gently unudulating, and proceeding north a few miles, the traveler will reach the plain where Mr. Mount had seated himself, and if it be in the spring season or at midsummer, he will stop and gaze with admiration at the beautiful prospect before and around him. This is the spot Chosen by Mount for his home. Ohio must then be placed in the list of towns in the county settled by whites before the revolution. The West Canada creek crosses the north- west corner of the town.

A rehearsal of the murder of the two sons of Mr. Mount in Jerseyfield, would be but little more than the naked statement of the fact that the father and mother having gone to the Little Falls with grain to be ground, returned home and found their sons dead in the barn, their scalps taken, and the little negro boy alive anxiously awaiting his master’s return. Mr. Mount came from New Jersey. He must have been in Jerseyfield some years when his sons were killed, for he had made considerable improvements, built a house and barn, planted an apple orchard, and gathered around him farm stock and utensils. His secluded position rendered it quite certain, being about twenty miles from the German settlements on the river, that neither he nor his sons participated in the conflict going on between the crown and the colonies, by any aggressive acts against the former, and if he had at any time previously been visited by any of the strolling actors in the bloody drama then being performed, he did not indulge in offensive language, as he seems not to have then been molested.

Mr. Mount’s buildings were not at this time destroyed, but they were afterwards burned by some one. A mill on Mill creek, a few miles north of Graysville, was burned when the young Mounts were killed. No one can now fix a time when this affair happened, but some of the men -with Col. Willett, stated they dug potatoes at Mount’s place when they returned from pursuing Ross in 1782. Mr. Mount, it is said, made all haste to reach a place of safety, and never again returned to Jerseyfield.

Another version has been given me of this Indian murder, by a gentleman who was employed as a surveyor on the tract in 1808, and had gathered his information from persons then living near the Mount farm. From this relation the family consisted of Mr. Mount, his wife, daughter, two sons and a negro boy. Two Indians had been lurking about the place several days, but had not made any hostile demonstrations, as the young men had taken their loaded rifles with them when they left the house, but on the day they were killed and scalped in the barn, they had neglected this precaution. When the report of firearms was heard in the house, the rest of the family fled to the woods and made their way to Little Falls as fast as they could. Mr. Mount did not see his wife and daughter, after leaving his house, until they met at Little Falls. The Indians, my informant says, burned Mount’s buildings when they found the family had left the place.

According to this statement the family must have been prodigiously frightened. It is not improbable, nay, it is quite certain, that there were other white families settled in the town near the place called Ohio City, before the revolution.

Mr. David Thorp moved on to the Mount farm soon after the war and lived there many years. His son, David Thorp, was a member of the assembly from the county in 1832.” - Nathaniel S. Benton

Simms’ Account of the Killing of Walter N. Butler

“After the enemy had passed West Canada creek, Walter Butler lingered behind, unconscious of being within reach of American rifles, and having dismounted, be was in the act of drinking water from a tin cup, as he was discovered by Daniel Otendorf, and Anthony, a Mohawk sachem, both well known in the valley. The two, who were a scout in advance of Willett’s army, readily recognized the tory chieftain, and both fired upon him. He fell, and the Indian, casting off his blanket and upon it his rifle, dashed through the stream, tomahawk in hand, to him. He was lying with one elbow upon the ground, the hand supporting his aching head, and as his foe approached, he raised the other hand imploringly and cried, “Spare me - give me quarters I” Remembering the onslaught at Cherry Valley, and the part the suppliant had there acted amid the unheeded prayers of weeping mothers and orphan children, the Indian replied, “ Me give you Sherry Falley quarters! “—burying, with the words, his keen-edged tomahawk in his brain. At the moment he fell, Col. Willett and several of his officers arrived upon the bank of the creek. Informed by Olendorf of Butler’s proximity, he instantly forded the stream, attended by Col. And. Gray of Stone Arabia, and John Brower of the Mohawk valley, on foot: the two latter walking together to stem the current. They reached the spot just as Anthony raised his knife to perform the last act in the tragedy. Seeing his chief he asked him if he should do it, making a circular motion around the bleeding head. The red colonel asked Willett if he should be scalped, who replied, “ He belongs to your party, Col. Lewis.”

An approving look was sufficient, and the reeking scalp-lock was torn off, in the presence of those witnesses, as the victim lay quivering in death. Such was the fall of Walter Butler.- Daniel and Peter Olendorf – From Jeptha Simms

Return To The Table Of Contents