David Hamilton’s Revolutionary War Service (7th Great Grand Uncle)

 

David enlisted with the Connecticut state troops in May 1775, reenlisted, enlisted with the Continental Army, was severely wounded at Germantown, was taken prisoner, released, returned to his company, and discharged due in Nov 1780 to his disabilities received in battle. David’s testimony, which seems to have been written with the assistance of an attorney, speaks glowingly of his service. David notes that he served as a Corporal, Sergeant, Dispatch Rider and Forage Master” and that he “saw and knew” Generals Washington, Lafayette, Lee, Pulaski, Benedict Arnold, and Wayne among others. Upon a closer read, however, it is evident that David spent most of his service marching, retreating, holding up for the winter, and recovering in hospitals. A “Forge Master” may have gathered wood and stolen chickens from civilians. In May, 1775, when David was about 18 years old, he left his home in Sharon to enlist. War had only just broken out and David enlisted early as a “private soldier” in the company of Connecticut state troops commanded by Captain William Hubbell, in a regiment commanded by Coronal Charles Webb. This tour simply included a “March to Boston.” David was stationed in Charlestown until his five-month tour concluded. He was discharged and returned home, but soon reenlisted for another five months under Captain Simeon Smith in a regiment commanded by Colonel Bradley. This regiment saw more action. They marched first to New York, then to Bergen Point, where they were stationed Until New York and Long Island were given up to the enemy.” They then retreated to Fort Lee, NJ where they remained until the British drove them out and forced a retreat across the Delaware to Trenton. The testimony is not clear as to whether David engaged the enemy at the Battles of Trenton or Princeton, but the day after the latter, David’s term expired. He was discharged and went home. On 15 Jan 1777, David enlisted for three months as a Corporal in the Army of the United Colonies (the Continental Army). He was in the company commanded by Captain Josiah Stoddard, in the Second Regiment of Light Dragoons commanded by Colonel Elisha Sheldon. Upon enlisting, his regiment lay at Whethersfield, CT for three months until the opening of the campaign in either April or May of 1777. In May, he again enlisted for 42 months as a segeant in the same company. His regiment then marched to Philadelphia where David received orders to serve under the immediate Command of General Pulaski. His regiment then marched to Brandywine where they “engaged the enemy.” They engaged again at the Battle of Germantown, PA where David was severely wounded, having been shot in the breast and wounded in the face by a broad sword (his horse was wounded as well). David submitted “certificates of surgeons” to prove permanent disability from war wounds. He was taken prisoner by the british who placed him in a hospital in Philadelphia. He remained there until the British evacuated Philadelphia, at which time they placed David on the prison-ship Enterprise and took him to New York where he was placed in another hospital (1 , 239). David was exchanged Nov 1778, rejoined his regiment in White Plains, and soon after marched to Durham, CT, where they quartered for the winter ( 8). During this month, David was promoted to Sergeant (239). In the spring of 1779, his regiment marched on to the lines above New York on the Hudson River. They “continued during the whole season” then marched to Connecticut and quartered for the winter (at either Turkey Hi ll near Windsor or in Whethersfield again). In the spring of 1780, just after Rachel (note: actually Millicent, his first wife) got pregnant with David’s first child, his regiment again marched out on the lines above New York. Unfortunately, David never fully recovered from his previous wounds and his last two years of service were spent collecting forage for his regiment since he was “too feeble to engage in active service at the lines.” His health worsened until, in late November 1780, David was discharged having served four years with the Continental Army (in addition to two 5 -month tours with the Connecticut state troops). Curiously, in order to be discharged, David had to produce two “substitutes” to take his place. He received a written discharge from said service but lost the same, amongst other papers, whilst on the Hudson River.” David “very well remembers the words thereof,” however, which he testified stated: “Sergeant David HAMILTON, of the Second Regiment of the Light Dragoons, having faithfully served from the raising of the regiment to this date, and now having procured two able-bodied men, James Beers and Lockwood Dickerson, to serve in said regiment during the war, is hereby discharged from the Army. Given under my hand, November 1780.” [Signed Elisha Sheldon, Colonel]. On 26 Jan 1809, after two testimonials and an investigation, the court agreed David was an American Revolutionary War vet and awarded him a disability pension of $133.44/year for his war services, a healthy supplement to his $96/year disability pension (1, 241). On 4 Mar 1831, David began to receive an annual pension of $133.44 for service as Sagreant in the CT militia of Light Dragoons. 2nd Continental Light Dragoons – Revolutionary War 2nd Legionary CorpsActive 1776-1783; reestablished 1978 by State of Connecticut Allegiance Continental Congress of the United States Type Dragoon Size regiment of six troops 120 men in 1780 Part of Continental Army Nickname Sheldon’s Horse Colors blue coat with buff facings

Engagements

Battle of Brandywine,

Battle of Germantown,

Battle of Yorktown.

Commander: Benjamin Tallmadge

 

The 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, also known as Sheldon’s Horse after Colonel Elisha Sheldon, was commissioned by the Continental Congress on December 12, 1776 and was first mustered at Wethersfield, Connecticut in March 1777 for service with the Continental Army. The regiment consisted of four troops from Connecticut, one troop each largely from Massachusetts and New Jersey, and two companies of light infantry. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Woodbridge, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Kingston, Battle of Schoharie, The Battle of The Flocky (site of the first cavalry charge on American soil), Battle of Paoli, Battle of Whitemarsh, Battle of Morrisania, Battle of Saratoga, Battle of Germantown, and the Battle of Yorktown. The unit almost never served as a whole. Usually individual troops were assigned as necessary. The regiment also performed numerous raids from whaleboats against British and Loyalist installations on Long Island. Some of the successful raids captured Fort St. George, Ft. Slongo and Lloyd’s Neck, Long Island. Elements from the unit comprised Washington’s personal bodyguard. In 1778, when Loyalist agents and a crack British commando team shadowed Washington for weeks with the intention of kidnapping him, they had to abandon the operation because, according to the British Intelligence Dispatches, “The 2nd Dragoons are (always) with him.” The 2nd Dragoons also guarded John Andre during his incarceration, trial and subsequent execution in Nyack, New York. The regiments main patrol areas during the war were in Southern Connecticut and New York, where they intercepted British supplies and fought off bands of Loyalist partisans who preyed on local citizens. This duty earned them the nickname “Watchdogs of the Highlands”. They also earned the sobriquet “Washington’s Eyes”, likely because of their spy work. Major Benjamin Tallmadge became a spy master who ran one of the most successful spy rings of the war, able to infiltrate the British military command in New York city. On January 1, 1781, the regiment was reorganized by the dismounting of two of its six troops and re-designated the 2nd Legionary Corps. The regiment was furloughed June 9, 1783 at Newburgh, New York and discharged on November 20, 1783 by proclamation of General Washington. The 2nd Light Dragoons are prominent in Colonel John Trumbull’s paintings of the American Revolution.

The regimental national colors of the 2nd was taken by Banastre Tarleton in 1779; on June 14, 2006 it was sold at auction.

Sgt Elijah Churchill awarded Badge of Military Merit

The Last surviving member of the 2nd Dragoons Lemuel Cook died 1866.

The 2nd Light Dragoons was reestablished in 1978 and is in ceremonial service to the Office of the Governor of Connecticut see [1]

http://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/states/cl-mt-02.htm

http://www.dragoons.info/ (Official web site of the Second Continental Light Dragoons)

http://www.2dragoon.org/ (Web site of The Second Regiment Light Dragoons, Tallmadge’s Troop reenactment group)

Bibliography of Continental Army Dragoons compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History

Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2nd_Continental_Light_Dragoons&oldid=511172551”

Note:

I have three birth dates for David:

1757 by his own testimony (“he was born … in 1757, as he believes, and has a record of his age at home in his family bible” (1).

18 Dec 1756 cited by DAR Patriot Index (685), The Hamilton Family (662) , and by David HAMILTON’s family bible itself (in my possession).

Note: the bible is copywrited 1828 (12).

15 Dec 1756 cited by Union Cemetery records at Ira, Cayuga, NY (111).

All evidence so far suggests that David was the son of Samuel with a possible exception. The American Genealogical Research Institute calls hi m David Hamilton Jr, however, in those days, that does not necessarily mean a father and son relationship as it was often used to distinguish a n older and young man living in the same town. In this case, I assume t hat David is being differentiated from his uncle and father in law, Dav id HAMILTON (b 1697).

 

Death: 14 MAR 1840 in Ira, Cayuga, NY

Note: The Hamilton bible (012) says he died 14 Mar 1840, but cemetery records s ay he died 12 Mar 1840 (111) and TAG claims 19 Mar 1840 (469). Beaucham p says he died in 1840 in Syracuse, but I think he was just generalizin g to a larger locality. Pension records (1c) say he died 13 Mar 1840. 6 7 2 3 4 5

Burial: Union Cemetery, Ira, Cayuga, NY 7

Census: 1810 Scipio, Cayuga, NY

Note: The image says Genoa but Scipio is written in by hand. The two are diff erent towns. I do not know what that means. Guess he could have lived i n either place. David (54) is living there with wife Rachel (41), his y oungest son Luther (19), Sabrina (3), Maria (2), and Harriet (<1). Wher e is Pamela (age 13?). 8

I SUSPECT that he is the David HAMLIN living in Otsego in 1790 and that t he census taker mispelled his name. The 1 male over 16, 2 males under 1 6, and 3 females is a perfect match and there is no “HAMIN” in Otsego i n 1800. Nor is there a David HAMILTON anywhere else in NY, CT, MA or VT .

13

DSCR: 5’7″ tall with a light complexion, dark eyes, and dark hair. 1775 14

Occupation: Farmer Sharon, Litchfield, CT 14

Residence: 1803 Catskill, Greene, NY

Note: He must have been living here when his wife Millicent died.

Event: Received pension for wounds received in battle Misc 26 JAN 1809

Event: Moved ABT 1781 , Columbia, NY

Note: He lived in Columbia Co for 4 or 5 years, Albany Co for about 20 years, T ioga Co for 5 years, and in Ira, Cayuga Co (1). 15

Event: Moved ABT 1785 , Albany, NY

Note: He lived in Columbia Co for 4 or 5 years, Albany Co for about 20 years, T ioga Co for 5 years, and in Ira, Cayuga Co (1). 15

Event: Moved ABT 1805 , Tioga, NY

Note: He lived in Columbia Co for 4 or 5 years, Albany Co for about 20 years, T ioga Co for 5 years, and in Ira, Cayuga Co (1). 15

Event: Pvt in CT State Troops. Sgt in 2nd CT Rgt Lt Dragoons Military des BET 1775 AND 1780 American Revolution (1775-1783)

Father: Samuel HAMILTON b: 9 JAN 1725

Mother: Mary HAMILTON b: 4 NOV 1729 in Colchester, New London, CT

Marriage 1 Milicent MARKS b: 17 APR 1758 in Middletown, Middlesex, CT

Married: 19 APR 1779 in Catskill, Greene, NY

Note:

The minister was probably Johannes Schuneman (1776 to 1787), who was Pa stor at Catskill and Coxsackie, and other Congregations on the west ban k of he Hudson.