DAVID FREEMOYER (FREEMYER)

Revolutionary War Pension File: Number R20173

State Of Ohio

County Of Washington

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated towit. That in May 1778 affiant was residing in Albany county, then a frontier county of the state of New York on a creek called Cobleskill, a branch of the Schoharie River, when a party of Indians consisting of Mohawk's, Seneca's and Anaquaqua's besides some Tories, principally from the Unandilla and Anaquaqua settlements of Indians on the north branch of the Susquehanna River, having penetrated into the settlement, where affiant lived. Capt. Christopher Brown of the militia with his whole company was ordered out, of which affiant was one, (he, affiant, having been enrolled on this occasion for the first time). A company of continental troops, was also detailed and sent from Fort Clinton which was situated on Schoharie River about nine miles from the settlement in which affiant lived, to go against the Indians, which company was commanded by a Capt. Patrick. Capt. Patrick's company joined affiant's company at the house of George Warner who resided on Cobleskill aforesaid, 31st day of May of said year 1778.

Just before the junction of the two companies, Indians had been seen running across the fields backwards and forwards, which was done no doubt for the purpose of decoying affiant's company into the woods, where the Indians would be lying in ambush for them, as it afterwards proved to be the case, for as soon Capt. Patrick's company arrived, the officers sent out three men as scouts & when but a very little way in the woods, they were fired on by one of them shot through the body. Nevertheless being so near to the house, he got in and afterward recovered.

Affiant states that as soon as they heard the guns fired, they all ran in great haste out in pursuit of the enemy, being entirely ignorant of their number and met the scouts in the edge of the woods returning and a parcel of the enemy in close pursuit. Affiant states that they immediately encountered the fire of the enemy who kept firing and retreating for at least a mile, until they fell back upon their main body, who was commanded by Colonel Brandt. Affiant states that they were in such hot pursuit of the Indians that they were precipitated upon the main body of them, before they were aware of it, who were lying in ambush behind a small knoll, of some 200-300 yards in length and about 4 feet in height. A singular freak of nature this, if natural; but being on a level gravelly spot of ground and of such equal height and width and withall, so straight from one end to the other, that affiant thinks it was the work of some ancient race of people long since extinct and at present unknown to the world (if ever) thrown up for defense in some of their wars with hostile forces.

This knoll or ridge was covered with timber, but not so large as the timber on the ground surrounding, owing probably to the fact, that the knoll was not so rich. There was no ditch on either side, but on the side the Indians lay the surface of the earth near the knoll seemed to affiant, when viewing the ground since the battle, to be somewhat lower than the opposite side. Behind the knoll the Indians had driven stakes into the ground, fastened a stick across the top, on which they had put pieces of blankets and stuck a hat or cap thereon, in order to deceive affiant's party. An excellent device too, as affiant states, that many in their zeal to destroy the enemy, and not being able to distinguish well for the smoke occasioned by the firing, were deceived and fired at the supposed bodies of the Indians, while the real Indians were lying or stooped below their imaginary men and firing upon affiant's party.

As soon as Capt. Patrick (who was in advance of his men and a brave officer) discovered the situation of the enemy, he directed his men who had fixed bayonets on their muskets to charge upon the enemy, but before his order could be executed, he was shot dead and one of his lieutenants was killed at the same instant. The death of Capt. Patrick and his lieutenant so damped the ardor of the Americans and the enemy was found to be so much superior in numbers being about 300 or 350, while that of the Americans was only about 200, Capt. Brown, ordered a retreat and they retreated with great precipitation to Fort Clinton before spoken of. The enemy only made prisoner the ensign belonging to Captain Patrick's company, who they kept about two years before he was exchanged, when he returned home and reported that the enemy in this engagement was 350 strong and had lost 36 killed. Affiant states that affiant's party lost 21 men killed including officers and had 9 wounded. That the enemy laid waste the whole settlement on Cobleskill, by burning houses, barns, stables and shooting such horses, as they could not conveniently catch to take away with them.

That he remained voluntarily in the service of the United States until in September or October (he thinks) of said year, when he was sent from Fort Clinton in a company of rangers, about 32 in number and placed under command of a Captain John Ditz, and attached to a regiment commanded by Col. Butler, sent on an expedition against the towns of the Unandilla and Anaquaqua Indians. That the Indians had left their towns when Col. Butler arrived, leaving only 2 very old squaws, who affiant's party left in a hut together with some provision to sustain them, until they might be taken away, or provided for, by the tribe to which they belonged. Col. Butler, burnt all their buildings, save the one just spoken of, and destroyed their orchard and a large quantity of corn, after which they returned to Fort Clinton again, where affiant remained in the service stationed in Fort Clinton until the latter end of June 1779, under Capt. Brown aforesaid Lieutenant Borst and Ensign Nicholas Warner.

That the fort was commanded by Col. Peter Vrooman. Affiant was employed in guarding the fort aforesaid, which contained as well women and children, who had taken refuge there from the savage ferocity of the enemy, as soldiers for the protection of the fort and the inhabitants generally. Affiant being at that time amazingly fleet and a good marksman, as well as woodsman for one of his years, was frequently while in the service sent out as a spy or scout to range the country round about, which he performed faithfully, sometimes skirmishing with small parties of Indians, the relation of which would swell this narrative to too great a length to admit of insertion. That affiant was discharged about the last of June 1779, after having served about one year and about one month, but whether he received a discharge or not he does not now recollect. Affiant in this thirteen months service, knew, in addition to the officers already named, Col. Seeley, Capt. Hagar, and Lieutenants John Lawyer, John Baker and Ditts or Ditz, the 5 last named, were militia officers, as affiant believes. The names or number of any continental or militia regiment with which he served he does not now recollect, but believes the regiment commanded by Col. Butler was called the 4th Pennsylvania regiment.

That an expedition being meditated against the six nations of Indians, affiant volunteered for the campaign immediately after his discharge in the latter part of June 1779 aforesaid, and was sent under a Capt. or Major Parr of the continental troops, who commanded a company of rangers, and was marched from Fort Clinton aforesaid and joined Col. Butler's regiment at what was then called the middle fort on the Scoharie River, and marched by way of Cobleskill creek, thence through cherry valley to Otsego lake, at which place they were joined by General Clinton, with a large body of the American army, finding the water too low to float their boats down to Tioga point. General Clinton ordered a dam erected across the mouth of the lake, which caused the water soon to raise to the height of the dam, and having everything in readiness they opened a passage through the dam for the water to flow, which raised the river so as to enable them to embark and float down to Tioga point, at which place in a few days they were joined by General Sullivan the commander in chief of the expedition. The two divisions then united and marched up what was called the Cayuga or western branch of the Susquehanna River, which led them immediately into the Indian country.

That after having routed a few small bodies of the enemy, while on their march, they found the main body of the enemy collected near new town well fortified, composed of Indians and Tories, who they defeated and routed after a somewhat obstinate resistance on the part of the enemy, who escaped across the Cayoga River, and made for the lake of that name. That General Sullivan, with his army pursued the enemy to the Cayuga lake, where General Sullivan detached a Lieutenant Boyd with this affiant and some 18 or 20 men including two friendly Indians, who went as pilots, and sent them in the night across the river at its outlet from the lake to ascertain, if the enemy were not lying in ambush in a large cedar swamp on the opposite side for the purpose of attacking General Sullivan's army as they crossed the river.

Their orders were to cross over, (which they did, on rafts made of cedar poles, tied together with leatherwood bark) and examine the banks along. If the enemy were not discovered, they were then to penetrate the swamp and go through, which was not more than from one quarter to a half mile wide, and to go to a certain high knob, which was a quarter of a mile or more beyond the swamp, upon which knowl the detachment was to lie concealed on the next day, and watch the movements of the enemy, in case any were there, and the succeeding night they were to return to General Sullivan's camp. Affiant states, that they crossed as aforesaid, in the night, examined the banks, made no discoveries of the enemy, passed through the swamp also without making any, and passed on to the high knob before spoken of, where they remained until the next morning, all the next day, and the next night, (as Lieutenant Boyd refused to return the second night as he was ordered to do) until the second morning after they had crossed the river, when the unfortunate Boyd determined to return to Sullivan.

Declaring that there were no Indians there, as they had had scouts out all the day before, who had not been able to make any discoveries of them. Two scouts had been out, but the enemy had not left the swamp, into which the scouts did not penetrate, and of course, they had made no discoveries. Against this rash proposition of the lieutenant, affiant declares every man (he believes), remonstrated urging upon him the danger of returning by day in case any of the enemy should be lying in wait because if they had left a force sufficient to annoy General Sullivan in crossing the river, it must be a large party, and of course much superior to the lieutenants detachment, and in that event being between them and our crossing we must certainly be destroyed; but all in vain, the ill fated lieutenant, declared that there were no Indians there, and having determined to return that morning, no entreaty availed to shake him from his purpose, so about 8 o'clock the lieutenant started with the detachment to the swamp, where they commenced marching buy single file. This affiant and one Timothy Murphy in front, Lieutenant Boyd in the rear, when they had passed greater part of the swamp along a path leading through; the enemy lying in ambush for affiant's party (having discovered their trail no doubt the day before and expecting their return) commenced firing upon their rear and instantaneously thereafter fired all along the two lines they had formed on each side of the path extending beyond affiant and Murphy, at the same time closing the extremes of the two lines, whereby the whole detachment were entirely surrounded and hemmed in by the enemy. Affiant and Murphy upon the first fire of the enemy in front, dropped and lay flat on the ground, to avoid the effects of their fire, and so continued to lay until the firing had nearly cease, when they sprang to their feet and fortunately for affiant and Murphy the morning was foggy, and amidst the fog and smoke occasioned by the firing of the enemy in front, affiant and Murphy were enabled to escape through the line of the enemy unhurt, running against and knocking over several Indians, as they broke through their lines.

Affiant and Murphy kept together and holding a consultation as they ran, agreed to run around the Cayuga lake, although a distance of about ninety two miles, to reach General Sullivan again. As Murphy declared (which affiant knew well to be true) that it was out of the question to attempt an escape by recrossing the river again, as the enemy would certainly be upon them before they could reach the shore. Affiant and Murphy ran about four or five miles, when they were overtaken by five large dogs, the Indians had set after them. Three of these dogs were very severe and would take hold in an instant, the other two would not bite, but would follow and bay them. Two of these dogs ran up to Murphy and seized and lacerated him much, before he could kill them, which he succeeded in doing with his tomahawk.

While Murphy was engaged with the two dogs, affiant was engaged with the 3rd dog, who had seized affiant just at the time the others had seized Murphy, but affiant was not so well prepared by far, for the fight as his companion was, although affiant had but one to contend with, while his companion had two; for affiant had lost his tomahawk at the time he fell down to avoid the fire of the Indians in the swamp and he and Murphy thought it most prudent and had agreed, when they discovered the dogs coming after them, not to shoot the dogs for fear some of the Indians, who they were certain were near them, might come upon them while their guns were empty and excepting his rifle affiant had no weapon to defend himself with, other than a very thin case knife ground sharp at the point, affiant having sometime before lost his butcher knife.

The dog first seized affiant by the fleshy part of the thigh, in front, and near his crotch. Affiant struck at him with his knife and occasionally with his fist but did not hurt the dog materially, he eventually succeeded in disengaging the dog's hold of his thigh, however, not until he had torn it considerably. The dog next seized affiant by the side of the leg and sunk one of his tushes deep into his leg just by the side of the bone; after loosing the dogs hold of the leg, he seized affiant by the throat and held on, until from the loss of wind occasioned by affiant choking him severely, he was compelled to let go, when he dropped to the ground on his fore feet and stood close by affiant an instant, gasping for breath. In this situation, affiant made an underhanded thrust at the dogs flank, which struck low and penetrated into the intestines, when affiant making a considerable effort (considering his exhausted state) and ripped the dog open across to the back bone and let out his entrails notwithstanding this, the dog made another spring at affiant's neck, but from exhaustion and the wound just given him, only sprang high enough to reach affiant's breast, upon which he inflicted a wound of some three or four inches in length, when he fell down and died. Just at this instant Murphy having finished the two that had attacked him, came to affiant's assistance. Glad would affiant have been, after he was in contact with the dog, to have been able to shoot him The consequence of the enemy coming upon him and he with an empty gun, he would willingly have resigned; but then it was too late, he could not disengage himself from the dog, and his knife was too weak in the blade, that he was afraid to make a heavy plunge, for fear it would break, and sorely indeed did he repent not shooting the dog while it had been in his power.

Immediately after the conclusion of the fight, Murphy discovered standing at a small distance and pointed out to affiant, Captain Yoke, a friendly Indian of the Stockbridge tribe, who had went out as one of the pilots on this excursion. Simultaneously, with discovering Capt. Yoke, affiant and Murphy discovered about 40 naked Indians, within 50 yards of them, all with tomahawks in their hands, affiant thinks, not a rifle amongst them, having left them to make the better speed, no doubt, expecting to find affiant and those they pursued, with no guns, or empty if any, when they would be able, with the assistance of their dogs to deprive us of, or take our scalps. Here had affiant and Murphy not been wounded and fresh as when the race commenced, the Indians would have paid dearly for their temerity, in leaving their guns behind, but situated as affiant and Murphy were, wounded much by the dogs they had killed, already much fatigued, by running and their fight with the dogs, and having a great way to travel before they could reach camp, and withal two dogs and about 40 Indians close at their heels, prudence forbid any other course for them to pursue, but, to seek safety in flight and reach the army they had left with all possible speed. Affiant and Murphy therefore instantly, on discovering the Indian so close, put off at top of their speed and ran on, followed by the dogs and Indians, about 15 miles, as affiant supposes, from where they had had the encounter with the dogs. When affiant and Murphy believing the Indians to be some distance behind, had leisure and shot the remaining two dogs. To this place affiant thinks the enemy pursued him and his companion and gave up further pursuit.

Affiant and Murphy went on until in the night sometime, when being much fatigued, they slept out of the path to one side to rest, and to observe if any of the enemy passed. After sitting and resting sometime, they discovered Capt. Yoke passing along, who they had not seen before, since the time they started when the Indians were so close upon them. They knowing it to be Yoke, hailed him and from that time went on in company all three together to where they had left General Sullivan encamped, which they reached the next morning about 8 o'clock. When they arrived, General Sullivan had with his whole army crossed the river. Whereupon affiant, Murphy and their Indian ally constructed a log raft immediately, crossed the river and over took the army, just as they were engaged in collecting for burial the bodies of the scouts killed the previous morning and putting together the body of Lieutenant Boyd, which the enemy had severed in five pieces. The head cut off, the body then split in twain and then each half cut into again. Here affiant and Murphy had their wounds dressed, for the first time after their infliction, except the wound on the side of affiant's leg, which gave affiant so much pain in travelling the day before that he was compelled to do something if possible to relieve it. Which he done by killing a striped squirrel and putting the brains of the squirrel on the wound and fastening them on with the skin thereof. Affiant's wounds were so bad and disabled him so much that he was placed on a packhorse and rode for 6 days. In due time General Sullivan reached the Indian settlements on the Genisee River, but finding no enemy to contend with, he destroyed all their buildings, orchards, gardens and their immense crops of corn. After which General Sullivan returned by the same route again to the Susquehanna River, thence down the same to Harrisburg, PA. Thence to Easton, PA where affiant and such of the rangers as were yet living were discharged and ordered to return to Fort Clinton again. Where they arrived about the last of October 1779, making in all which he served this tour four months.

Affiant did not receive any written discharge for this tour that he remembers of. A letter was sent by them to Col. Vrooman who was in command at Fort Clinton, stating the particulars of the expedition, and that the rangers (of which affiant was one) had acquitted themselves well. In this campaign affiant knew Generals Sullivan, Clinton and Maxwell, Col. Butler, Major Parr, Lieutenant Boyd and many other officers whose names he has now forgotten.

That about the first of may 1780, affiant still residing in Albany county, New York, enlisted under Capt. Cannon or Kennon for the term of one year and was attached to a regiment commanded by the said Col. Peter Vrooman and stationed at the middle fort on the Schoharie River, that affiant was appointed and served as orderly sergeant of the company to which he was attached during the whole term of his enlistment. That he served during the season of 1780 and until the expiration of his tour in May 1781, mostly as a ranger, generally having command of scouting parties. Sent out to scour the country, for the protection of the fort and safety of the settlement.

That sometime in the fall of the year 1780 a large body of British, Indians and Tories, from Niagara, under command of Sir John Johnson, penetrated the country, meditating an attack on the middle fort, it being the strongest and of most consequence to the enemy to possess. The enemy marched by the upper fort without molesting it, which they could easily have taken, as that fort was weak, being only a picket fort, with two small pieces of artillery. As soon as the enemy passed the fort, the garrison perceiving it to be the object of the enemy to take either the middle or lower fort by surprise, they fired off one of their pieces of artillery to alarm the middle fort, which was only about four miles off. This gun they heard very plainly at the middle fort, and immediately Col. Vrooman sent out a detachment of about 100 riflemen of whom affiant was one, under command of Capt. Woolsey of the continental or state troops, but who just happened, there by accident (as affiant believes) he not belonging to the fort.

This detachment were to go, with all possible speed to the upper fort, to ascertain the cause of the alarm, and then act as circumstances might require. As they were proceeding along in haste by a route not usually traveled, affiant voluntarily took the place of one Jacob Franks who was placed as a flank, guard on the left of the company. Franks was an intimate and particular friend of affiant and affiant knowing him to be unwell took his place on the left as aforesaid. While they were passing through a large pasture, in which the cattle and horses belonging to the fort were usually pastured (this pasture was very large and considerably grownup with willows and other bushes, growing about in bunches). Affiant proceeding expeditiously and cautiously along, discovered in front of him 5 or 6 Indians running very closely together in the same direction affiant was moving. Affiant took deliberate aim and fired at the bunch, for they were running as before stated in very close order and affiant noticed immediately after, that his shot produced considerable confusion among the squad. Affiant does not therefore doubt, that he killed one of them, as it was the only gun fired at the enemy there, and an Indian, was found a few days afterward lying dead with a rifle and knapsack at a spring near where affiant fired.

As soon as affiant fired (as was his duty) he ran in and joined his company, by the time the enemy made their appearance in sight and so numerous were they, that Capt. Woolsey ordered a retreat to the fort, which was effected without any loss, although the enemy closely pursued firing many shots at them, but fortunately none took effect. The enemy then invested the fort and threw three bombs at it, one of them only falling into it, which however done no particular injury. Sir John Johnson then sent two men with a flag of truce, it was supposed to summon the fort to surrender, and contrary to the order of Col. Vrooman (whose valor the men in the fort placed but little reliance upon). The man bearing the flag was shot when about 140 yards of the fort by Timothy Murphy the same person, with whom affiant had suffered so much, in the unfortunate expedition under Lieutenant Boyd. The other person ran back, without attempting to proceed further with the flag. The enemy succeeded only in killing one man in the fort, this was a Samuel Rennels or Reynolds, who went on top of, one of the buildings in the fort, and there foolishly and indecently exposed his hind parts to the enemy in contempt of them, and there remained contrary to the demonition of those in the fort, until one of the enemy under cover of some sprouts, put up from bushes and saplings, that had been previously cut off, crept near enough to shoot and fired at him, the ball just breaking the skin across above one of his eyebrows. This stunned Reynolds and he fell off the house, on the pavement or some stone below on his head and broke his neck.

It was afterwards said that Sir John Johnson having discovered Reynolds contempt of them, with a spyglass, gave a guinea, half johannes or some gold coin to an expert marksman to shoot Reynolds, which was accomplished in the manner before related. But for the truth of this story affiant cannot vouch. Col. Vrooman, then commenced firing at the enemy, who were some 400 - 500 yards off, with some small brass cannon, when the enemy marched off, not however without getting a good warming before they left the neighborhood. Seeing the route they took and knowing that the enemy had to head a long and deep ravine after leaving the fort, the road passing very near the same place back again after heading the ravine. Captain Woolsey aforesaid with about 100 rifle men including affiant was dispatched to a certain place, from which the enemy could be much annoyed without endangering Capt. Woolsey's men.

This was an elevated spot of ground, on which had been erected a block house (but at this time not in use) which commanded the road on the opposite side of the deep ravine, by which road the enemy must off necessity pass, and where it would be impossible for them to cross the ravine to drive Capt. Woolsey from his position and impracticable to return by the road, being one and a 1/4 miles. This place Capt. Woolsey and his men reached in time, from which they fired three rounds at the enemy, when they retreated to the fort again, as the enemy instantly started a large detachment, back by the way of the road to dislodge them, which detachment Capt. Woolsey did not think it prudent to wait for. They followed Capt. Woolsey to the fort but on firing a cannon shot at them they again retired. In this engagement across the ravine, affiant believes they killed many of the enemy, as on viewing the ground soon afterwards he seen much blood in and about the road and a very large fresh dug grave, near by, where they had buried their dead, but what number they killed affiant did not know, as they did not open the grave.

DAVID FREEMOYER (FREEMYER)

Revolutionary War Pension File: Number R20173

State Of Ohio

County Of Washington

That in the year 1781, affiant still residing at Albany county in the state of New York, in the month of May, volunteered under Col. Vrooman for a term of eight months and served as orderly sergeant in a company commanded by Capt. Christopher Brown and was stationed at the middle fort on the Schoharie River, that he served principally as a ranger, having generally when out, (as in the last year) command of a parcel of scouts. That sometime in the year 1781 (affiant thinks it was) the time affiant cannot now recollect, affiant was in an engagement under Col. Willet, with the enemy under command of Col. Brandt who had taken a number of whites prisoner, on tripes hill, a place not far from the Mohawk River, and Col. Willet with about 400 men had been sent in pursuit of Brandt, who he surprised and defeated at a place, called Turlock or Turlach, on a water emptying into the Mohawk River, killing many of the enemy, number not now known. But before Col. Willet succeeded in recapturing the prisoners, the enemy had put them to death. In this engagement affiant received a slight wound on the left side, just above the hip by a rifle ball.

That sometime in October of said year 1781 the country was penetrated by a large body of British, Indians and Tories, commanded (affiant thinks) by a Major Ross; that they commenced hostilities on the Mohawk River, whence an express was immediately sent from Col. Willet, the commander of Fort Plain, on the Mohawk River, to Col. Vrooman who had in command the three forts on the Schoharie River for assistance. That detachments were and rendezvoused at the middle fort and were marched (affiant being one of the number) under Capt. John Titts, Ditts or Ditz to Fort Plain; where they joined Colonel Willet, who marched on in quest of the enemy and come in contact with them at a place known by the name of Johnstown. Affiant states that when they discovered the enemy, they were engaged in killing and destroying cattle, that a sharp skirmish ensued, which continued a considerable time. Col. Willet gained a partial victory over the enemy and night coming on they retreated and marched up to the top of a very high ridge and encamped.

That Col. Willet encamped at Johnstown and early on the following morning marched in pursuit of the enemy, when after pursuing them affiant thinks about 12 miles they overtook them, with whom they had a considerable skirmish, in which several of the enemy were killed and wounded. Some of Col. Willetis men were also wounded, but none killed. The enemy retreated and Col. Willet ordered Capt. Titts or Ditts, with his company of rifle men, to which affiant was attached on this excursion, together with 50 or 60 friendly Indians, of the Oneida tribe, commanded by Col. Lovey, an Indian officer of the same tribe, to pursue the enemy at least to Canada Creek. With the expectation of being able to annoy them in crossing said creek, which they did and overtook part of the enemy while they were making their way over the creek, the crossing of which was attended with some difficulty, as the water was at that time rather deep to ford. That affiant's party fired on the enemy several times and killed a number of them, the amount affiant cannot now recollect, if he ever knew. But amongst the slain affiant thinks there was a Major Butler, who had taken an active part in the British service against the frontiers of New York, and who had signalized himself for his savage barbarity. That affiant was then marched back to fort plain and thence to the middle fort again.

That after having been at the middle fort affiant thinks but a few days, a party of the enemy near 200 strong, were discovered near the upper fort, who had killed several families, that affiant with about 30 rangers and 10 to 12 militia were sent from the middle fort, to the upper fort, at which place affiant with the rangers aforesaid, were attached to Col. Woolsey's company of riflemen, and with a company of militia commanded by Capt. Jacob Hager, marched under command of Major Woolsey in pursuit of the enemy and overtook them at a place known at the time by the name of Harperfield, at the head of the Delaware River, where they had an engagement with the enemy of whom they killed and wounded several the number not now recollected, that of affiant's party only two were killed and seven wounded, as well as affiant recollects. That affiant was marched to the middle fort again, where he was discharged sometime in January 1782 after having served his term of eight months as orderly sergeant the time for which he volunteered. Whether affiant received any written discharge from the service for this last tour he does not now recollect.

That affiant knew in the last campaign, Majors Woolsey, Vonalstine, and Tygart and Captains Woolsey, Capt. and Lieut. Loop, Col. Willet, Col. Peterey (or Peteree), Major Fader, Captain Pateree and a Lieutenant of the same name besides others whose names affiant has now forgotten.

That sometime in may 1782 affiant still continuing to reside in Albany county, New York, enlisted under Capt. Stenbrough or a Capt. of some such name, for a term of nine months. That affiant with 27 others constituting a part of a rifle company was attached to a part of a company of state or continental troops, commanded by Capt. Harrison, and was again stationed at the middle fort on the Schoharie River under command of Col. Peter Vrooman, at which fort were also stationed 2 companies of militia commanded by Capt. David Baker and John Ceiley.

That affiant was appointed and served as orderly sergeant of the company to which he was attached during this nine months tour. That affiant served principally as a ranger having frequently command (as theretofore) of scouting parties, which induced affiant and others to believe that a body of Indians were encamped in some place not far distant. That some of the scouts from Fort Clinton, ascertained that this party of Indians were in camp on the top of a ridge, near Cobleskill creek and immediately informed Col. Vrooman of the fact. Whereupon Col. Vrooman ordered affiant to select a few of the best men in the fort and go by night and ascertain if possible the strength of the enemy. That in obedience to this command affiant chose Abraham Baker, Henry Hagar, William Mackindice and Adam Folk, men in whose bravery and skill in Indian warfare; affiant thought he could confide.

That affiant with his party set out on this expedition directly after dark, having about 10 miles to travel, in order to reach the camp of the enemy, being directed by Col. Vrooman to return the same night if possible. After having traveled some 2 or 3 miles, affiant and his party missed their way by reason of the darkness of the night and were obliged to lay by till the next morning, when they resumed their march and reached the place at which the enemy were encamped about 9 o'clock. Affiant and his party came within a few steps of the camp of the Indians before they discovered any sign, in consequence of a rise of ground. That before their campfires, there was a great parcel of meat, stuck round about on spears or sticks roasting, and not an Indian there. They had gone down the hill some distance to an old waste field to gather (as affiant supposes) rasp or black berries. On discovering the enemy's camp affiant's chosen few immediately deserted him and fled to a man.

Affiant feeling himself bound to comply with the orders received from his Col., or at all events not to return until he had made some further effort to discover the strength of the enemy, went off some small distance from the encampment, and lay concealed in some bush near a place, where he supposed the Indians would pass in returning to their camp, by the way of an old trail. After being there a little while, affiant heard some noise in the leaves and looked behind, or rather to one side and discovered an Indian alone, approaching very near affiant, and making towards the camp, but coming from a different quarter from which affiant expected and entirely to one side of the trail, he came very near before affiant discovered him. Affiant being but poorly concealed and knowing from the direction of the camp, for which the Indian was evidently making, that he would certainly pass within a few feet of affiant and that it would be, impossible for him to remain undiscovered to the Indian. Affiant therefore instantly determined to shoot him, as the best and perhaps only means of escape, although the danger and great hazard to his life attended him either way, as the main body of the Indians, must in all probability be very near, as (before stated) they had left their meat roasting before their fires, to which they would of course soon return. Affiant rose from his squatting position to his feet unperceived by the Indian, as the Indian was coming up a little rise within 18 or 20 feet of affiant, about half the length of his body being exposed to affiant. Affiant shot him through the breast; the Indian fell and was dead in an instant. Affiant seeing that the Indian had a beautiful English tusee, such as (from information affiant received) the English were in the habit of presenting to the chief warriors and captains of their savage allies, to stimulate them to greater action, in their murderous and predatory, incursions, upon the whites, determined to make himself master of that. From the circumstance of his having his gun and of his having so many silver ornaments, about him, affiant is confident he was an Indian chief and probably the commander of the party. One of the principal silver ornaments, affiant also took a fancy to, being a large one that bound his hair growing immediately on the crown of his head, being cylindrical and so fastened that it was not easily disengaged from the hair, affiant with his knife severed it from the Indian's head hair and all together with a little of the skin, which was accidental affiant being in great haste. Affiant put off at full speed in the direction to the fort and when he had run about 300 yards or more, he heard the Indians setting their dogs on his trail, that he ran on until the first crossing of a small stream on his route, that empties into Cobleskill, after crossing which he heard the dogs at some distance back coming on his trail. When he came to the 2nd crossing of said stream, he ran up some distance in the stream to prevent them following him further.

After he left the stream, he ran up a bottom about two miles, when he took to a ridge, at this time he heard the dogs again, and supposing them to be on his trail, (it somewhat alarmed him; recollecting well his former scrape with dogs) but which affiant afterwards learned was the trail of his deserting companions, the dogs at the 2nd crossing aforesaid, taking theirs and at this place affiant passing near thereto and hearing the dogs was deceived and the better to enable 'affiant to escape the Indians and dogs. Affiant pulled off his clothes, except pantaloons and moccasins and threw them behind a log and then ran on until he reached the fort, where he arrived safely and sometime before his comrades arrived, who reported affiant dead, as they were within hearing of affiant's fire at the Indian aforesaid and supposed that it was affiant that was shot at.

It was purposely kept secret from them, that affiant had reached the fort, for the purpose of seeing what tale they would tell, and on being asked what had become of their leader, replied "that the damned fool was dead". That they had discovered the enemy's camp and that Freemoyer would not leave there with them. And before they were out of hearing, they heard the report of a rifle and they were certain he was dead. After they had finished their tale and at the expense of affiant as they supposed, affiant left his concealment, much to their astonishment and chagrin.

The place where affiant killed the Indian was afterwards, always called and known, while affiant lived in the county, by the name of Freemoyer's battle ground. Affiant served nine months as orderly sergeant. The time, for which he enlisted and received a discharge from Col. Peter Vrooman, which he has long since lost. He neglecting to take care of it as well as all other discharges he received in the service, as he considered them of no value to him whatever. That his last tour, completed affiant's service in the revolutionary struggle and made in all, which he served the United States:

1st. Tour as a private one year and one month

2nd. Tour as a private four months

3rd. Tour as orderly sergeant one year

4th. Tour as orderly sergeant eight months

5th. Tour as orderly sergeant nine months

And in all as a private one year and five months, and two years and five months as orderly sergeant.

That from the great lapse of time and consequent loss of memory, affiant does not recollect the number or names of any continental or militia regiments with which he served. Thinks the regiment in which he was placed under Col. Willet was called the 9th York Regiment, but of this is not certain.

Affiant states that he was born in the state of New York, in the county of Albany the 28th day of February 1761 and has a record of his age, that after the revolutionary war he resided in the county of Albany in the state of New York until the year 1810, when affiant removed to Washington county, state of Ohio, and when on a division of the same he fell in Monroe, near the county line, and that in the fall of 1833 he moved over the line into Washington county aforesaid where he now resides. That he has no documentary evidence by which he can prove his services and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure (unless at an expense that he is illy able to encounter) who can testify to his service.

That he is acquainted with the Reverend Charles W. Talbott, Bernard Hubbard, Aaron Price, William Hall, Anthony Sheets, David Price, Samuel T. Dorff esquire and others of his neighborhood, who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services in the revolution. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity but the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

We Charles W. Talbott a clergyman residing in Washington county state of Ohio and William Clutter in the same county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Freymoyer who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding declaration that we believe him to be years old in last past. That he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Charles W. Talbott, Clergyman

And I the said justice do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the several interrogatories prescribed by the war department; that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states; and I the said justice further certify that it appears to me that Charles W. Talbott, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the county of Washington and state aforesaid and that William Clutter who has also signed the same is a resident in the said county and state aforesaid and is a creditable person and that their statement is entitled to credit; and I the said justice do further certify that after having personally examined the body of the above named applicant that he bares scars corresponding with those stated in his declaration to have been received in the revolutionary war, strongly evidencing the truth of those statements and I the said justice do further certify that the above named applicant resides some 32 or 33 miles from the courthouse of his said county and from old age and bodily infirmity he the said applicant is unable to travel to the court house of his county aforesaid given under my hand and seal in and for said county of Washington and state of Ohio the day and year first above written.

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The State of Ohio

Washington County

I, George Dunlevy, clerk of the court of common pleas within and for said county, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding before Thomas Ferguson, a justice of the peace in and for Newport township in said county, in the matter of the application of David Freemoyer for a pension, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be the signature of said justice of the peace, is genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunder set my seal of said court, at Marietta in said county, this sixteenth day of August, anyo domini one thousand and eight hundred and thirty four.

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Apr Third raid on Cherry Valley. 79 Indians and two tories burn the deserted fort, and all buildings still standing - the town ceases to exist. May 21 Sir John Johnson raids the valley. His force burns every building except the church in Caughnawaga. Legend has it that Sir John returns to Johnson Hall to recover the family silver he had buried there prior to his flight to Canada. July A force of Mohawks and Senecas burn the Oneida castle. The Oneidas finally pay the price for siding with the Americans at Oriskany and for their continuing support of the rebel cause. The Oneidas flee to Fort Stanwix for protection. Oct The Burning of The Valleys.A two pronged raiding force sweeps down into the Mohawk and Scoharie Valleys. Sir John Johnson leads a force from Oswego; Maj. Christopher Carleton's party comes south from Fort. St. Johns. 02 Johnson's raiding force leaves Oswego. His troops consist of men from the 8th, 34th, and 84th regiments, his Royal Greens, Rangers,Artillery and Indians totaling about 600 men. 17 Johnson's raiders arrive outside the walls of the Upper Fort at Scoharie. They burn outlying farms, then swing around the fort to attack the next defense - the Middle Fort. The severely under garrisoned Middle Fort faces a seige; according to legend, Johnson sends out a parley flag to demand surrender. The flag bearer is fired upon by frontiersman Timothy Murphy. This happens three times. The legend concludes that Johnson finds the resistance too strong, and abandons the seige.