Roster of Tryon County Militia known to have fought at the Battle of Oriskany — A list of 457 names, as compared with 250 on the Oriskany battlefield monument.
[Photo: The Oriskany Roster as it appears on the Oriskany Battlefield Monument.]
The original Oriskany Roster appeared on the Oriskany Battlefield Monument. It is reproduced herewith in an engraving. It later appeared in Simms' Frontiersmen of New York. Both of these rosters, in the main, were the work of Jeptha R. Simms, the historian of Fort Plain. The two lists numbered about 250 names.
In the summer of 1924, the Editor of the "History of the Mohawk Valley — Gateway to the West", made an effort to enlarge the Oriskany Roster. The list was published in several Mohawk Valley newspapers, with a request for additional names. From time to time, such names were sent the Editor until the Oriskany Roster, as published here numbers 455 names, nearly double the number on the Oriskany Battlefield Monument and in Simms' Frontiersmen. We now know over half of the Revolutionary American soldiers who marched to Oriskany, as no chroniclers of the time give the number at more than 900, and it was probably about 850.
The Editor wishes to express his thanks to all who aided him in enlarging this valuable Oriskany Roster, which is published complete only in this work. Thanks are especially due to the Utica Observer-Dispatch, Little Falls Times, Little Falls Journal and Courier, Fort Plain Standard and Amsterdam Recorder which published the roster and the request for additional names. Acknowledgments are particularly due to Mrs. W. T. Van Dusen of Fonda, and Mrs. Delight A. R. Keller of Little Falls, who were unusually zealous in increasing our roll of Oriskany fighters. Mrs. Van Dusen contributed about 90 of the new names sent in. Care was taken to see that the Oriskany service of these Revolutionary veterans was properly accredited, and the additional names were mainly contributed by Daughters of the American Revolution.
It is probable that a number of the names here given are those of men who were wounded and perhaps some were made prisoner. The list was compiled too long after the event to be complete as to casualties.
Christopher P. Yates says that 144 Tryon County Militia were slain at Oriskany, and this is probably a low figure. This list gives the names of 109 men who were killed in "the bloodiest battle of the Revolution", where the slain on the American side numbered one man out of five, and the wounded probably fully as many. The names of the killed would be remembered much longer than those who were wounded. Fully half of the American combatants were "down" or prisoners at the end of the battle.
The locality designations given are those of present townships, wherever possible. Thus "Mohawk" stands for present Mohawk township, Montgomery County and not for the village of Mohawk in Herkimer County. Where township residences were not obtainable the regimental membership or old Tryon County district residence of the soldier is given. In many instances it has been impossible to identify the exact locality from which the soldier came, although we are reasonably sure of his Revolutionary residence. It is also probable that in several instances an individual is duplicated. However, the roster represents a conscientious effort to obtain as large an authentic list of American soldiers who were at Oriskany as it was possible to obtain.
The Oriskany roster as it stands today follows: K. stands for "killed"; W. for "wounded"; P. for "prisoner".
- Arndt, Abram, Minden
- Alter, Jacob, Minden
- Ayer, Frederick, Schuyler (K)
- Bailey, Lieut. Joseph
- Barndt, Sergt. Christian, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Baun, John George, Palatine Regt. (K)
- Becker, Hendrick
- Bellinger, Adam, Manheim
- Bellinger, Col. Peter, German Flats
- Bellinger, Lieut. Col. Frederick, German Flats (P)
- Bellinger, John (later Col.) son of Col. Peter Bellinger, German Flats
- Bellinger, Wilhelm P.
- Bell, Capt. George Henry, Fall Hill (W)
- Bell, Jacob, German Flats Regt. (K)
- Bell, Nicholas, Fall Hill
- Bell, Joseph, Fall Hill (K)
- Bellinger, Lieut. John, Palatine (K)
- Bellinger, John, German Flats
- Bigbread, Capt. John, Palatine (W)
- Biddleman, Adam, Manheim
- Bauder, Melchert, Palatine
- Boyer, John, Remesnyderbush
- Bowman, Capt. Jacob, Canajoharie (K)
- Blauvelt, Maj. (supposed murdered), Mohawk
- Bellinger, Adam
- Bellington, James, Palatine Regt. (K)
- Bliven, Maj. John, Florida, Mohawk committee (K)
- Bellinger, John Frederick, German Flats Regt. (K)
- Billington, Samuel, Palatine Committee of Safety (K)
- Billington, ————, Palatine
- Bargy, Peter, Frankfort
- Brodbeck, Capt. Johann
- Brooks, Naome
- Bush, George, Springfield
- Clapsaddle, Major Enos (K)
- Cox, Col. Ebenezer, Minden, Canajoharie committee (K)
- Campbell, Major Samuel, Cherry Valley, Canajoharie committee
- Clyde, Maj. Samuel, Cherry Valley, Canajoharie committee (K)
- Campbell, Lieut. Robert, Cherry Valley (K)
- Christman, Frederick, Herkimer
- Covenhoven, Abraham, Glen (twin brother of Isaac)
- Covenhoven (now Conover), Isaac, Glen
- Covenhoven, Cornelles, Glen
- Covenhoven, Jacob, Glen, a boy of sixteen
- Covenhoven, John, Glen
- Covenhoven (Conover) Peter (W)
- Casler, Jacob, Minden
- Clemens, Jacob
- Comb, Sergt. Uriel, Palatine Regt. (K)
- Cone, Samuel
- Copeman, Capt. Abram, Canajoharie
- Casler, John, Minden
- Casler, Adam, Minden
- Casselman (Kesselman), John, Manheim
- Clock, John I., St. Johnsville
- Cook, John, Palatine (W)
- Coppernoll, Richard, Minden
- Cox, William, Minden
- Crouse, Robert, Minden (K)
- Crouse, George, Minden
- Clemens, Jacob, Schuyler
- Cunningham, Andrew, Amsterdam (K)
- Collier, Jacob, Florida
- Copeman, Capt. Adam, Canajoharie
- Chawgo, Jacob, St. Johnsville (K)
- Countryman, John
- Davis, Daniel, Manheim
- Davis, Capt. John James, Mohawk (K)
- Davis, Martinus, Mohawk (K)
- Davy, Capt. Thomas, Springfield (K)
- DeGraff, Maj. Isaac, Mohawk (K)
- Dickson, James
- Diefendorf, Sergt. John Jacob, Minden
- Diefendorf, Capt. Henry, Minden (K)
- Diefendorf, Capt. Jacob, Florida
- Diefendorf, Johann (John), Minden
- Dillenbeck, Capt. Andrew, Palatine (K)
- Dunckel, Francis, Freysbush
- Dygert, Peter, Palatine
- Dunckel, Han (John) Peter, Minden
- Dunckel, Han Garret, Minden
- Dunckel, Han Nicholas, Minden
- Davis, Benjamin, Mohawk (K)
- Dockstader, John, German Flats
- Dygert, John, Palatine Committee of Safety (K)
- Dygert, Capt. William, German Flats
- Demuth, Capt. Marx, Deerfield [Scout, sent to Fort Stanwix by Gen. Herkimer]
- DeGraff, Nicholas, Amsterdam
- Degraff, Capt. Immanuel, Amsterdam
- Deygart, Capt. John, Palatine Regt., Palatine Committee of Safety (K)
- Dygert, Peter S., German Flats
- Dygert, George, German Flats
- Dorn, Peter, Johnstown
- Dunlap, ————
- Dunlap, ————
- Dunlap, ———— (three brothers of Lieut. John Dunlap)
- Dunlap, Lieut. John, Cherry Valley
- Eisenlord, Maj. John, Palatine (secretary Tryon County committee) (K)
- Empie, Jacob, Palatine
- Elwood, Isaac (W)
- Edic, Jacob, Sr., German Flats
- Ehle, William, Palatine
- Ehle, Peter (P)
- Everson, Adam
- Eyer, Friedrich
- Eysler, John, Remesnyderbush
- Frey, Maj. John, Palatine, Palatine committee (W. & P.)
- Finck, Corp. Christian, Palatine Regt. (K)
- Finster, John, Schuyler (New Petersburg)
- Fisher, Col. Frederick, Mohawk regiment and Mohawk Committee (name also spelled Visscher) (W)
- Fisher, Harmon, Mohawk
- Fisher, Capt. John, Mohawk
- Fonda, Lt.-Col. Adam, Mohawk, Mohawk committee
- Fox, Capt. Christopher P., Palatine (K)
- Fox, Capt. Christopher W., Palatine, Palatine committee (W)
- Fox, Peter, Palatine
- Fox, William, Palatine
- Fox, Charles, Palatine
- Fox, Christopher, Palatine,
- Fox, Philip, Palatine, brother of Captain Christopher W. Fox
- Fox, Frederick, Palatine
- Flock, John, Lt. Col. Campbell's battalion of Minute Men
- Flint, Cornelius, Canajoharie
- Flint, Adam, Canajoharie
- Flint, Alexander, Canajoharie
- Flint, Robert, Canajoharie
- Flint, John, Canajoharie
- Folts, Lieut. Jacob, Frankfort
- Folts, Peter, Frankfort
- Folts, Conrad, Frankfort (W)
- Failing, Jacob, Canajoharie (K)
- Failing, Henry, Canajoharie (W)
- Failing, Henry N. Canajoharie
- Fralick, Valentine, Palatine
- Fonda, Jelles, Mohawk
- Fonda, Adam, Mohawk, Mohawk committee
- Frank, Adam
- Franks, Andrew, Mohawk (W)
- Frank, John, Mohawk Regt.
- Gago, George, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Gardinier, Capt. Jacob, Glen (W)
- Gardinier, Lieut. Samuel, Glen (W)
- Garlock, Elias (W)
- Garlock, Sergt. Charles, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Garter, John, Manheim (teamster)
- Garter, John, Jr., Manheim, teamster
- Getman, Capt. Frederick, Palatine
- Grant, Lieut. Petrus, Amsterdam (K)
- Geortner, Peter, Minden
- Geortner, George, Canajoharie
- Gray, Nicholas, Palatine (K)
- Gray, Lieut. Samuel, Herkimer
- Graves, Capt. ———— (K)
- Gremps, John (15 years old), Palatine
- Gros, Capt. Lawrence, Minden
- Gray, Silas, Florida
- Grinnall, Lieut. James, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Groot, Lieut. Petrus, Amsterdam (W)
- Hahn, Conrad, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Horning, Lieut. Dedrick, Jr.
- Horning, Adam
- Horning, George
- Horning, John
- Horning, Lanert
- [All sons of Dedrick Horning, Sr., a resident first of the Canajoharie district and later of Stone Arabia]
- Hand, Marcus
- Harter, John A., German Flats
- Hufnagel (Hufnail), Christian
- Harter, Henry, German Flats
- Heath, Lieut. Nathaniel, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Herkimer, Gen. Nicholas, Danube, member Canajoharie committee (K)
- Herkimer, Capt. George, Fort Herkimer, member German Flats committee
- Herkimer, Joseph (nephew of Gen. Herkimer)
- Herkimer, Hendrick, German Flats.
- Helmer, Capt. Frederick, German Flats, German Flats committee (K)
- Helmer, Lieut. George, Herkimer (W)
- Helmer, John Adam, German Flats [Sent to fort by Gen. Herkimer; a famous scout.]
- Helmer, Philip, Manheim
- Henner, Peter, Palatine Regt. (K)
- Hess, Johannes, German Flats (W)
- House, Lieut. John Joseph, Minden
- Hunt, Lieut. Abel (supposed), Florida (K)
- Hunt, Timothy, Florida
- Hawn, Conrad, Herkimer (K)
- Hiller, ————, Fairfield, shot from a tree-top (K)
- Huyck, John, Palatine
- Hand, Marcus, Florida
- Hall, William, Glen
- Hill, Nicholas
- Hiller, Ensign Jacob, German Flats Regt. (K)
- Hansen, Henry, Mohawk
- Helmer, Lieut. George, Herkimer (W)
- House, Lieut. Christian, St. Johnsville
- House, Conrad, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Hoover, Jacob, Manheim
- Hoover, Capt. John, Manheim
- Hunt, Peter, German Flats Regt. (K)
- Iser, Corp. Frederick, German Flats Regt. (K)
- Jackson, Joseph, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Jones, Judah
- Kaufman, ————, Manheim
- Keller, John, Manheim (W)
- Keller, Henry, Manheim, both sons of Johannis Keller of Rhemensnyderbush, present town of Manheim
- Kellar, Jacob A., Minden
- Kessler, Adam
- Kessler, Jacob
- Keyser, Capt. John, Manheim
- Keyser, John, Manheim
- Keyser, Corporal Michael, Manheim
- Keyser, Henry, Manheim
- Keyser, Barnard, Manheim, the four foregoing sons of Capt. John Keyser
- Klock, Jacob I., Palatine
- Klepsaddle, Maj. Enos, German Flats (K)
- Kilts, Conrad, Palatine
- Kilts, Peter, Palatine
- Keller, Andrew, Palatine
- Keller, Jacob, Palatine
- Keller, Solomon, Palatine
- Klock, Adam (Lieut. of Exempts, so he must have been over 60 years old), Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Klock, John, St. Johnsville
- Klock, Col. Jacob G., St. Johnsville, member of Palatine committee
- Klepsaddle, Jacob, German Flats
- Loucks, Lieut. Peter, Palatine
- Loucks, William, Stone Arabia (W)
- Lampman, Henry, Palatine Regt. (K)
- Lapper, Jacob, Palatine Regt. (K)
- Levy, Michael, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Lintner, George, Minden
- Lighthall, ————, Palatine
- Lighthall, George, Palatine
- Longshore, Solomon, Canajoharie
- Louns, Henry, Canajoharie
- Lighthall, Francis, Ephratah (P)
- Lighthall, Nicholas, German Flats
- Leonardson, John, Glen
- Lonas, John, Rensselaer County
- Louis, Atyataronghta, Oneida Indian officer with the rank of Lt. Col., generally called Col. Louis
- McMaster, Lieut. Daniel, Florida
- Moyer, Jacob, Fairfield [found with his throat cut] (K)
- McMaster, Hugh, Florida (W)
- Markell, William, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Marlett, John, Mohawk
- Martin, Philip, Mohawk (W)
- Martinus (Mereness), Corp., Wm., Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Mathias, Hendrick, Canajoharie (K)
- Miller, Adam, Glen
- Miller, Jelles, Minden
- Miller, John P., Minden
- Miller, Henry, Minden
- Murray, David, Florida
- McMaster, Lieut. David, Florida
- Markell, Jacob, Springfield (K)
- Merckley, William, Palatine (K)
- Myers, Jacob, German Flats
- Myers, Joseph, Herkimer
- Mowers, Conrad, supposed Danube
- Mowers, ————
- Mowers, ————, brothers
- Moyer, Ludwick, Manheim
- Nellis, Philip, Palatine (W)
- Nellis, Christian, Palatine
- Nellis, John D., Palatine
- Nellis, Joseph, Oppenheim
- Nelson, Paul, Manheim
- Nestell, Peter, Palatine
- Neuman, Joseph, Manheim
- Newkirk, John, Florida
- Newkirk, Garret, son of John, Florida
- Paris, Hon. Isaac (murdered), Palatine Committee of Safety (K)
- Paris, Peter, son of Isaac, Palatine (K)
- Petry, Dr. William, Fort Herkimer Committee of Safety (W)
- Peeler, Jacob
- Petry, Lieut. Dederick Marcus, German Flats, German Flats committee (K)
- Petry, John Marks, German Flats
- Pettingall, John, Mohawk Regt. (K)
- Pettingell, Capt. Samuel, Florida
- Phillips, James, Mohawk Regt. (K)
- Putman, Ensign Richard, Johnstown
- Putman, Martinus, Johnstown (K)
- Putnam, Lieut. Victor C.
- Phillips, Cornelius, Florida (K)
- Price, Adam, Canajoharie (W)
- Pickard, Nicholas, Canajoharie
- Pickert, Bartholomew, Manheim
- Petrie, Sergt. Nicholas, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Petry, John, Herkimer, German Flats committee (K)
- Petry, Joseph, Herkimer (W)
- Petry, Lieut. Hans Yost, Herkimer (K)
- Pickard, Adolph, Canajoharie (W)
- Pickard, John, Canajoharie (W)
- Piper, Sergt. Andrew
- Pritchard, Nicholas, Minden
- Putman, Ludowick, Mohawk
- Putman, Victor
- Quackenbush, Lieut. Abm. D., Glen
- Radnor, Jacob, Minden (W)
- Raysnor, George, Minden (K)
- Rasbach, Friedrich, Herkimer
- Rasbach, Marx, Kingsland
- Rasbell, Frederick, Palatine (W)
- Ratenhower, Godfrey, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Rechtor, Capt. Nicholas, Ephratah (W)
- Renckel, Lawrence, German Flats Regt. (K)
- Riebsom, Maths., Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Ritter, Jacob, Fairfield (K)
- Ritter, ————, Fairfield. [Suffrenus Casselman, a tory, boasted of having cut Ritter's throat.] (K)
- Ritter, Sergt. Johs., Palatine Regt. (K)
- Ritter, Henry, Manheim
- Rother, John, Minden
- Roof, Johannes, Fort Stanwix; afterwards captain of exempts at Canajoharie
- Roof, John, a son (Col. of militia after the war)
- Rose, Willard
- Saltsman, John (W)
- Sammons, Sampson, Mohawk Committee of Safety
- Sammons, Thomas, Mohawk
- Sammons, Jacob, Mohawk
- Scholl (Shull), Lieut. Johan Jost, Stone Arabia
- Shoemaker, Rudolph, Canajoharie
- Sitts, Peter, Palatine
- Snook, Capt. William
- Sharrar, Christian, Herkimer (K)
- Sharrar, ————, a school teacher, Remesnyderbush
- Staring, Hendrick, Schuyler
- Shoemaker, Thomas, Herkimer
- Siebert, Rudolph
- Shults, George, Stone Arabia
- Shaull, Henry, Herkimer
- Shimmel, ————, Herkimer
- Sanders, Henry, Minden
- Shafer, William (W)
- Seeber, Major William H., Minden, Canajoharie district committee (K)
- Seeber, Capt. Jacob, Minden (K)
- Seeber, Suffrenus, Canajoharie (K)
- Schultz (Shults), Johann, Stone Arabia
- Seeber, Adolph, Jr., Minden
- Seber, Henry, Mohawk (W)
- Sparks, Pearl, Canajoharie (W)
- Spencer, Thomas (Oneida Indian) (K)
- Spore, John
- Stevens, Frederick
- Seeber, Audolph, sons of William S., Minden (K)
- Seeber, James, Canajoharie (K)
- Seeber, Henry, Canajoharie (W)
- Seeber, Lieut. John, Canajoharie
- Spencer, Henry (interpreter), an Oneida (K)
- Schell, Christian, Schellsbush
- Schuyler, William, Florida
- Schuyler, Philip, German Flats Regt. (K)
- Serviss, Christian, Florida
- Serviss, George, Florida
- Shoemaker, Major Han Yost (John Joseph)
- Smith, George, Palatine
- Smith, Henry
- Swarts, Lieut. Jeremiah, Mohawk
- Sillenbeck, John G.
- Small, Capt. Jacob, German Flats Regt. (K)
- Shults, John, Palatine
- Shults, George, Stone Arabia
- Sommer, Peter
- Steinway, Sergt. Arnold, German Flats (K)
- Sulbach, Garret, Palatine Regt. (W)
- Stevens, Amasa, Mohawk
- Stowitts, Philip G. P., Root
- Snell, Frederick, Snellsbush (K)
- Snell, Joseph, Snellsbush (now Manheim) (K)
- Snell, Jacob, Snellsbush (K)
- Snell, Jacob F., Palatine Regt. (K)
- Snell, Suffrenus, Snellsbush (K)
- Snell, Peter, Snellsbush
- Snell, George, Snellsbush
- Snell, John, Stone Arabia (K)
- Snell, John, Jun., a fifer, Stone Arabia (K)
- Snell, Jacob, a committeeman, Stone Arabia (K)
- Sponable, John, Palatine (P)
- Stephens, Fred, German Flats Regt. (K)
- Sitts, Henry
- Suts (Suits), John I.
- Terwilliger, James, Johnstown
- Thum, Adam, St. Johnsville
- Tewahangaraghkan, Capt. Han Yerry, Indian officer
- Thompson, Henry, Glen
- Thornton, James, Florida
- Timerman, Conrad, Manheim
- Timerman, Lieut. Henry, Manheim (W)
- Timerman, Jacob, St. Johnsville
- Timerman, William, Manheim
- Tuthill, Corp. Stephen, Mohawk (K)
- Vedder, Henry
- Van Alstyne, Philip, Canajoharie
- Van Alstyne, Lieut. Martin C., Canajoharie
- Van Alstine, Martin G., Canajoharie
- Van Deusen, George, Canajoharie
- Van Slyke, Maj. Harmanus, Palatine, Palatine committee (K)
- Van Slyke, Nicholas, a fifer, Palatine (K)
- Van Horne, Henry, Florida
- Van Slyke, ————, Canajoharie
- Van Antwerp, John, Glen (K)
- Van Epps, Charles, Glen
- Van Epps, Evert, Sergeant and Paymaster, Glen (W)
- Van Horne, Cornelius, Glen
- Van Slyck, Jacobus, Manheim
- Van Horne, Henry, Glen
- Van Evera, Capt. Rymier, Glen
- Van Evera, John, Glen
- Van Horne, Abram, Florida [later sheriff of Montgomery county; founder Van Hornesville]
- Van Eps, Jan (John), Hoffmans Ferry [13 years old, one of a number of volunteers from Schenectady city and township, who marched to join Herkimer's army. He helped carry the wounded General Herkimer to a seat at the trunk of the beech tree].
- Van Driesen, Peter, Schenectady [Volunteer in Palatine Regiment]
- Van Vechten, Major Anthony, Palatine Regt., Palatine Committee
- Van Vechten, Derrick
- Vatterly, Henry, Canajoharie Regt. (K)
- Veeder, Abram, Mohawk
- Vrooman, Hendrick, Mohawk
- Veeder, Hendrick
- Visger, John, Manheim
- Wagner, Lieut. Col. Peter, Palatine, Palatine committee
- Wagner, Lieut, Peter, Palatine
- Wagner, George, Palatine (W)
- Wagner, John, Palatine (sons of Lieut. Col. Peter Wagner)
- Wagner, Jacob, Minden
- Wagner, John, Canajoharie
- Wormuth, ————, Palatine
- Weaver, George J., German Flats
- Weaver, George M., German Flats
- Walrath, Garret, Minden (P)
- Walter, George, Palatine (W)
- Wemple, Capt. Johannes B., Mohawk
- Westerman, Peter, Minden (K)
- Walrath, Lt. Col. Heinrich, German Flats Regt.
- Wohlever, John, Fort Herkimer (K)
- Wohlever, Richard, Fort Herkimer
- Wohlever, Peter, Fort Herkimer
- Wohlever, Abram, Fort Herkimer
- Walrath, Lieut. Henry, Herkimer (P)
- Weaver, Jacob, German Flats
- Weaver, Peter James, German Flats
- Widrick, Michael, Schuyler
- Walrath, Jacob, Palatine
- Walrath, Henry, Herkimer (P)
- Walrath, Nicholas, Palatine (W)
- Windecker, Frederick, Manheim
- Windecker, Nicholas, Manheim
- Wright, Jacob, Canajoharie (W)
- Yates, Capt. Robert, supposed Root
- Yerdon, John, Canajoharie
- Yerdon, Nicholas, supposed Minden (W)
- Young, Peter Warren, Florida
- Young, Richard, Minden
- Younglove, Moses, surgeon, Stone Arabia (P)
- Youker, Jacob, Oppenheim (P)
- Young, Godfrey, Canajoharie (W)
- Zoller, Andrew, Minden (P)
- Zoller, Jacob (K)