A bronze plaque, the gift of Quassaick Chapter D.A.R., has been placed on the east gate of Little Britain cemetery. It reads, “Revolutionary Soldiers Buried Here.”
Some years ago, Mr. Robert O. Thompson compiled lists of Revolutionary soldiers in the cemeteries of this area. Some of his lists appear in a clipping at the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands.
The Little Britain list is as follows:
· John Beaty, Ulster Co. Militia, 3rd Regiment. Died April 17, 1840 aged 89
· James Bell, Ulster Co. Militia (Land Bounty Rights) 2nd Regt. Died 1805 aged 61 years.
· Thomas Bell, Ulster Co. Militia, 4th Reg. Died Nov. 7, 1847 aged 81 yrs.
· James Boyd, Ulster Co. Militia, 2nd Reg. died Oct. 10, 1840 aged 81 yrs.
· Robert Boyd of New Windsor, Orange Co. Militia, 4th Regt.; Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt. Died Oct. 29, 1804 aged 70 yrs.
· Samuel Boyd, The Line 5th Regt. Died March 27, 1801 aged 67 yrs.
· James Burnet, Lieut. Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt. Died Dec. 23, 1807 aged 75 yrs.
· Patrick Burnet, Orange Co. Militia, 4th Regt.; Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt. Died March 27, 1825, aged 75 years.
· Robert Burnet, Lieut. The Line Artillery, 2nd Regt. Last original member of the Order of the Cincinnati. Last surviving officer of the Revolution who bid Washington farewell at Fraunces’ Tavern. Commanded the rear guard of the army upon its entrance to New York. In a letter to Gen. Greene dated Newburgh 6th February 1782, Washington speaks of him as Major Burnet. See Lossing’s Field Book of the Revolution. Died Nov. 29, 1854 aged 92 years.
· John Cook, Ulster Co. Militia, 2nd Regt. Died Nov. 6, 1782 aged 26 yrs.
· Thomas Cook, The Line, 3rd Regt., Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt. Died March 29, 1812 aged 63 yrs.
· James Humphrey, Capt. The Line 3rd Regt., Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt., Ulster County Militia (Land Bounty Rights) 3rd Regt. Died July 5, 1793 aged 78 yrs.
· James McClaughry, Col. Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt. Died Aug. 18, 1780, aged 67 years.
· Thomas McDowell, Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt. Died Dec. 3, 1806, aged 62.
· Charles Martin, Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt. Died Jan. 23, 1817 aged 64 years. Native County Down, Ireland.
· John Morrison Esq. Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt. Died July 22, 1815, aged 62 yrs.
· Samuel Sly, The Line 3rd Regt., Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt. Died Feb. 28, 1843 aged 87 Yrs.
· Alexander Stewart, Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt. Died Jan. 26, 1820 aged 64 yrs.
· William Telford, Capt. (Tilford) Ulster Co. Militia (Land Bounty Rights) 2nd Regt. Born in Newtown Stuart in shire of Galloway, North Britain, Mar. 14, 1740. Died Oct. 4, 1805.
· James, son of William and Ester Telford who lost his life by a fall from a horse while in the service of his country in the late Revolution, April 17, 1781, aged 13 years.
· Robert Waugh, Orange Co. Militia 4th Regt., Ulster Co. Militia 3rd Regt., Ulster Co. Militia (Land Bounty Rights) 2nd Regt. Died Dec. 4, 1816 aged 79 years.
ADDENDA
By Margaret V. S. Wallace
A few bits of information can well be added concerning the men of the above list.
John Beaty was related to the Clintons and probably lived near them, tho this is not certain. Beattie Road was named for some one or more of that family.
The Bells lived on Maple Ave. where the Davidsons lived until M.T.A. dislodged them.
One family of Boyds lived down a long lane off Drury Lane. Goldsmiths lived there later. The buildings burned some years ago. It is land owned by M.T.A. Another family of Boyds lived on the road that was later called Week Road, across the road from the James Clinton property.
James Burnet was a son of the first settle Robert Burnet. He had the east half of his father’s farm. The Nadas family lives there now. None of the Burnet house still stands. At the end of his life, James Burnet let his son Robert have his farm, and bought where the Wolfs own now on Station Road.
Patrick Burnet lived on The Square. The Square was prominent in early days, but is hard to find now. Square Hill Road is part of one boundary and Silver Stream Road is part of another. The Thruway and Stewart Field both blotted out parts of The Square.
Lieut. Robert Burnet was son of James Burnet. By 1804 he had acquired both halves of his grandfather’s farm, part from his father James and part from his uncle John. He built the large grambrel-roof house where Mr. Anthony Congelosi lives now.
John Cook lived on what is now the Wolf farm. Thomas Cook lived across the road on what is now Geysen property.
James Humphrey was a son of John Humphrey, the earliest settler on the Andrew Johnson patent. He inherited the northwest corner of the Humphrey tract, where the Bells owned later. Finally he lived on some land that had belonged to his father-in-law James McClaughry,
James McClaughry was sent here from Philadelphia when a young boy. His father had died, and when his mother was dying she sent word for John McClaughry to come get him, which he did, the two riding back on the same horse. So far, we have not found his relationship to the other McClaughrys of this area. At the battle of Fort Montgomery, he and his father-in-law James Humphrey fought back to back against the attackers. One of the enemy said they could not kill such brave men, took them prisoner, and sent them to a prison ship in New York. James McClaughry’s first wife was Catherine Clinton, who died young of small pox which she contracted on a visit to New York. His farm was near the Clinton farm on the corner of the roads now named Shaw and Bull. His second wife was Agnes Humphrey, who faithfully took food to her father and husband in prison in New York.
Thomas McDowell was a son of Matthew McDowell, who came over on the George and Anne and bought land on the John Johnston patent. His house still stands, down a long lane off South Jackson Ave. It is owned by McDowells who do not claim relationship to the first McDowells.
Charles Martin lived somewhere in the western part of the town, perhaps on Ridge Road. Wherever it was, M.T.A. has obliterated it.
John Morrison Esq. we think is the Morrison who built the Morrison tavern and distillery. The two chimneys still stand, just west of Rock Tavern post office.
Samuel Sly lived on New Road, once known as the Montgomery Road. The house still stands, a lovely home, “The Sly place.” Samuel Sly was of that family if not of that house. We hope it can escape the M.T.A. bulldozers.
Alexander Stewart may have lived in the Lake Road area. His son James bought from Francis Crawford and ran a tavern on the corner of Station Road, then called the Salisbury Road, and Little Britain Road. This property was bought from a later owner and became the parsonage of the Little Britain church.
Major Telford, called Captain in this list, ran a tavern on Little Britain Road. Part of the original home, probably just the basement, still stands. The Orange County Historical Society has been able to have it saved, by renting if from M.T.A. because of its historical significance. Hessian troops were kept here over night and boy soldiers, Alexander Clinton, Robert Burnet and others guarded them while the guards in charge of the prisoners could have a warm sleep. A Hessian woman died during the night and was buried in the yard.
Who can supply information about Robert Waugh? Where did he live? Possibly on Drury Lane.
There were other Little Britain men who fought in the Revolution, but are buried in various places.
In the McClaughry cemetery, unfenced and unkept, out in a field on the farm where the Alsdorfs lived recently, there are three graves to note: John Finley, Orange County Militia 4th Regt., Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt. Died Aug. 12 1790 in his 52 yr.
George Ingles. The Levies (Pawling) died Dec. 28, 1813, aged 68 yrs.
Alexander Trimble. Quarter Master, Ulster Co. Militia 2nd Regt., Chairman Committee of Safety, Precinct of Hanover, Died Aug. 5, 1785 in the 58th yr. of life.
John Finley lived on the Ridge. He married Elizabeth McClaughry, daughter of Patrick McClaughry, which explains why he is buried in the McClaughry cemetery. His grandson, James B. Finley built the lovely home lately owned by Mrs. Anne Snead Deane, and now demolished by M.T.A. bulldozers.
George Ingles and Alexander Trimble both had McClaughry connections by marriage.
In the Mulliner cemetery on Little Britain Road across from the north end of Bull Road, there are buried Matthew M. DuBois, Capt. Ulster C. Militia 2nd Regt. Died April 20, 1817, and Edward Falls 1745-Jan. 21, 1776, 2nd Lieut. 2nd Regiment, N.Y. Continental Line. Both Matthew DuBois and Edward Falls were related by marriage to Mulliners. Edward Falls owned the famous tavern, the Falls House.
It is said that Little Britain furnished more soldiers, percentagewise, to the Revolutionary War than any other community.
The Belknaps should be mentioned “All were patriots” as the bronze plaque on the Isaac Belknap house says. Jacob Mills, cordwainer, was in the militia, and made shoes for soldiers between battles.
John McClaughry died in service.
Gen. James Clinton was buried in the Clinton family cemetery and his body later removed to Woodlawn cemetery6.
Gen. and Gov. George Clinton is buried in Kingston. He was in charge of Fort Montgomery, and had assigned his brother James to Fort Clinton, across the creek. As first governor of the state of New York, and the governor who served longer than any other, he is buried at the then state capital, Kingston.
It is known that many were buried in the Clinton cemetery on a hilltop near Bull Road, but the stones have been removed, and there is no record of the graves. All six Denniston sons were in the Militia. George is said to be buried in the Clinton cemetery, and perhaps others. Patrick McClaughry fought in the war, but it is not known where he was buried, perhaps in the McClaughry cemetery, perhaps near the Little Britain church, which he built.
And many more – Humphreys, James Hamilton and many others. We salute them all.
All of these notes are as nearly correct as possible without a long search, and that might turn up little. Please send corrections and additions to Margaret V.S. Wallace, Little Britain, Rock Tavern, N.Y. 12575.
Created by Elizabeth Finley Frasier
March 3, 2012
