William de Mott: Fifer in the American Revolution

It was in June or July of 1779 that 10-year-old William de Mott enlisted in the Continental Army at West Point, New York. Given his age, and likely inclination, he became a fifer in the 8th Company, commanded by Captain Joseph Thomas, in the Second Regiment of Artillery, commanded by Colonel John Lamb of the Continental Line. He served for four years and was discharged in June or July of 1783.

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A few years ago, I was working with a client who promised her mother that she would try to get into the Daughters of the Revolution (DAR). For the last three years I have been on and off again working on my client’s family tree.

I can safely say that I have discovered a number of Revolutionary War Patriots in her ancestry. In fact, there are eight altogether.

Three of her Patriots―Petrus Van Etten, William Hallenbeck and Jurry Van Loan―placed their signatures on what is commonly called the Coxsackie Declaration.

The Coxsackie Declaration was signed the 17th day of May 1775 by 225 “Freeholders and Inhabitants of the District of Cocksackie in the County of Albany.” It was almost identical to the text of the Association document signed in New York City on April 29, 1775, and transmitted to all the counties in New York State for the respective signatures of their local Freeholders and Inhabitants. Completed Association lists were to be returned to New York City by July 15 of that year.

The text of the Coxsackie Declaration was quite clear; it required all the Freeholders and Inhabitants (only men of legal age and no slaves) to choose a side. By signing the document, the individual indicated that he was in agreement with the actions of the Continental Congress and became universally known as a Patriot. The names of those who chose not to sign were listed on a separate paper and were thereafter known as Tories.

The Coxsackie Declaration read:

“PERSUADED that the Salvation of the Rights and Liberties of America, depends, under God, on the firm Union of its inhabitants, in a vigorous prosecution of the Measures necessary for its Safety, and convinced of the necessity of preventing the Anarchy and Confusion which attend a Dissolution of the Powers of the Government:

THAT the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Coxsackie District in the County of Albany, being greatly alarmed at the avowed Design of the Ministry to raise a Revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody Scene acting in the Massachusetts-Bay: DO in the most solemn Manner resolve never to become Slaves; and do also associate under all the Ties of Religion, Honour, and Love to our Country, to adopt and endeavor to carry into Execution whatever Measures may be rendered by the Continental Congress, or resolved upon by our provisional Convention for the purpose of preserving our Constitution and opposing the Execution of several arbitrary and oppressive Acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America on constitutional principles (which we most ardently desire) can be obtained; and that we will, in all Things, follow the advice of our general Committee, respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good Order, and the safety of Individuals and private property.”

The Coxsackie Declaration is currently held at the Albany Institute of History and Art, the only original Association document from New York State to have survived from the American Revolution.

The Daughters of the Revolution has long supported the notion that the men who signed the Association documents are true Patriots.

My client also has a number of Patriots who served in the 11th Regiment of the Albany Militia during the American Revolution. This Regiment was drawn from the men who lived in the Districts of Coxsackie and the Groote Imbocht, basically from the Albany/Greene border in the north, south to the Ulster County border and as far west as the area known as Greenville today.

The 11th Regiment was commanded by Colonel Anthony Van Bergen and was comprised of five Companies. The 1st Company was commanded by Captain Thomas Houghtaling, the 2nd Company by Captain Philip Bronk (later Captain Myndert Van Schaick), the 3rd Company by Captain Samuel Van Vechten (later Captain Benjamin DuBois), the 4th Company by Captain John A. Whitbeck and the 5th Company by Captain David Abeel.

Each of these captains would be located in strategic locations within the district and would know firsthand which men would be eligible to serve in the militia.

My client’s ancestors―Arend Van Dyke, who served in the 1st Company and Henry Brandow who served in the 4th Company―are also considered eligible Patriots for admission to the DAR.

Stephen Van Dyke, Arend’s father, was born in 1726 in Columbia County. He married Eytie Van Loan at the Zion Lutheran Church in Loonenburg (now Athens) on August 28, 1752. His name appears in the DAR database as a proven Patriot, although I still need to identify the appropriate source documents.

Johannes Jurry Richtmeyer, another ancestor, served in the 15th Regiment of Albany County Militia. This Regiment was commanded by Colonel Peter Vroman and was comprised of companies of militia from what is today Schoharie County. His service has also been proven in the DAR database.

I discovered the Patriot past of William de Mott recently, much to my surprise. His statement that he joined the Continental Line at West Point in June or July of 1779 appears in his sworn statement given in the Court of Common Pleas in Greene County on the 18th day of June, 1818. At this time, William was about fifty years old and a resident of the Town of Catskill.

The search for additional information on William and his family has proven to be challenging. The chance discovery of his Revolutionary War pension packet has allowed me to discover much more about William than I had thought possible.

Serving under Captain Joseph Thomas in Colonel John Lamb’s Artillery Regiment placed young William at West Point in the Highlands Department in New York. Colonel Lamb was the artillery commander at West Point in 1779 and 1780.

William de Mott was most certainly stationed at West Point when American General Benedict Arnold was put in command of this strategic fortification on the bluffs overlooking the Hudson River, just forty miles north of British-held New York City. He would have been an eyewitness to the events that unfolded when Arnold’s treason was discovered and English Major John André was found with the plans of West Point upon his person and subsequently hung as a spy.

On August 28, 1781, Lamb’s Regiment of Artillery was reassigned to the main army and marched south for the Yorktown Campaign. According to William’s own statement, he was one of the 225 men from Lamb’s Regiment who were present at the Siege of Yorktown in the fall of 1781.

The American forces were led by General George Washington in command of 8,000 regular troops and 3,100 militia. America’s ally, France, was by his side with 7,800 to 8,800 regular troops and 29 war ships under the command of the Comte de Rochambeau.

They faced off against the British Army, 9,000 strong, including Hessian mercenaries, commanded by English General Lord Cornwallis. Cornwallis’ forces were backed into a corner on the Yorktown Peninsula, with no escape.

William, as a fifer in the regiment, played an important role in the battles that raged from September 29 until the British surrendered on October 19. Males younger than 16 and older than 50 were deemed to be either too young or too old to fight and filled the role of musicians that were attached to the army’s many companies.

The fife, with its high, shrill sound and the drum, with its low tone, could be heard by the soldiers in the battlefield, despite the din of cannon fire, muskets and shouting that surrounded the men on the ground. The musicians kept order on the battlefield, conveying signals and directing troop movements with their tunes.

Specific songs, like Cease Fire, would signal to the soldiers on the field to stop fighting and at the end of a battle they would play Parley to indicate to the opposing forces that a surrender or peace talk was being sought.

Musicians would also play in camp to regulate the daily army life. Every task that was needed in camp was signaled by the fife and drum, from when to wake up, to when to eat and when to perform camp chores. Musicians would also play while the army marched, regulating the pace of the soldier’s step.

I wonder whether William was present when English General Cornwallis sent his emissary to surrender his sword to General Washington. Reportedly, Cornwallis was too ill to do the task himself. When the sword was initially presented to the French commander, he deferred to George Washington, who, in turn deferred to his subordinate. Washington was not going to accept Cornwallis’ sword from anyone other than Cornwallis himself.

The Americans captured 8,000 British troops, 214 artillery pieces, thousands of muskets, 24 transport ships and innumerable wagons and horses. The American Revolution was effectively over, although skirmishes would continue for the next year.

On August 24, 1782, Lamb’s Regiment was reassigned to the Highlands Department and William marched home to the Hudson Valley. In the summer of 1783 William, along with his company was discharged.

Nothing is known of William’s parents or siblings at this time. Where William went after he was discharged is unknown, however he must have been apprenticed to a shoemaker, as this was his profession at the time he made his second statement in front of the Court of Common Pleas in Catskill on May 30, 1820.

William had been awarded a pension of $8 a month effective June 18, 1818, based upon his sworn statement in 1818. Fearing fraudulent statements, the Federal Government decided to amend the previous pension legislation, requiring all pensioners to prove that they were indigent and in need of government support.

Assessors Moses I. Cantine, Thomas R. Barker and Benjamin Haxtun estimated that the personal property of William De Mott was only $38.35. He owned no real estate.

Included in his possessions was one cow worth $15, one pig worth $2, one spinning wheel, six chairs, three pots, one tea kettle, table and chairs, pails, tubs and barrels, and various cooking utensils. William also indicated that he had one chest of clothes valued at $15 and a set of shoemaker tools worth $2.

William explained that he was asking for his pension to continue because his eyesight was failing and he had rheumatism in his right shoulder, which affected his ability to ply his trade. He was unable to support his wife, Betsy, and his children who still lived at home, James, aged 16, Caty, aged 14, Ann, aged 12, Maria, aged 9, Peter, aged 6 and Eave, aged 2.

Not mentioned in his pension application are William’s older children, William, born in 1795, Geti, born in 1797 and Margaret, born in 1801, all in Germantown, Columbia County.

William died July 22, 1833, in Athens, NY, however neither the location of his burial, nor that of his wife, Elizabeth, has been found. The search continues to flesh out the life of this Patriot and his family. Elizabeth has been called Elizabeth Rockefeller, Elisabeth Kohl and Elisabeth Gill in the baptismal records of her children, so additional research on her is also needed.

But, at the end of the day, that is what makes genealogical research so much fun!

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Signers of the Coxsackie Declaration

Note: During Colonial times many people could not read nor write. They would "make their mark" by writing an "X" and another literate person would add their first name to the left of their mark and their last name to the right.

John Schuneman V.D.S.

Theunis Van Vechten

James Barker

Henry Van Bergen

John L. Bronck

Jacob X Hallenbeck

William X Hallenbeck

Anthony Van Bergen

John A Whitbeck

Samuel Van Vechten

Pieteer Conyne

Thomas Hoghtelen

Michael X Collyer

Francis Salisbry Jr.

Johannes X Jansen

Lambert Van Valkenburgh

Casper Hollenbeck

Myndert V. Schaick

William Van Bergen

Casperse Hallenbeck

Peter Bronck

Leonard Bronck

Abraham Hallenbeck

Peter X Vanette

Wilhelmus Vandenburg

John Vanette

Wessel Salisbury

Carperse Halenbeck

John Groog

Abraham Salisbury

Reychert Van den Berk

Richard Johnson

John Vosburgh

Richard X Vandenberg

Henry Wabber

Arout Van Schaick

Jacob Van Loon

Jacob Hallenbeck

A. Doonhalten

Ebenezer Stanton

William Brandow Jr.

Edward Groom

Haedirick X Schram

Clement Overbagh

Benjamin van Gerdener

Frederick Schram

William Jones

Reuben Stanton

Reuben van der Berk

Wilhelme Sammon

Jno Moore X John

John X Goes

Cornelius Connine

Richard Ten X Broeck

John X Hallenbeck

John X Munday

James Donney

Joseph Groom

Albert Van Loon

Joachim X Ryal

David Rose

Gererdus Neukirk

Matthias X Hallenbeck

Storm Prosa

Christian Blodaar

John Persaly

Burent Albartsen

Benjamin Cornelius Dubois

Benjam Dubois

Henry Irison

Nikasas Yare

Matthias Van Con Jan

Caspar Pare

John Romear

BenjaminX Essex

John van Steinburg

Gared Peresen

John C. Claus

Jeremiah X Steenbergh

John X Wall

James X White

John X Snyder

Nicholas Van Loon

Martin Hallenbeck

John V. Schake

John W. Bught

Nickolas V. Schake

Peter Van Burgan

John Parree

Isaac X Collyer

Jacob X Livingston

Thomas X Templar

Joseph Nesbit

William Groom

Henry Knoll

Isaac Witbeck

William Wells

Samuel Stogles Salisbury

Hendrick X Smith

William X Smith

George Rosa

Martin G. van Bergen

Wilhelmus X Dederick

Jary Van Loon

Johan Wesdernich

Solomon Schut

Nicholas V. Scake

Dirk Van Veghten

John X Vosburgh

Frederick Dederick

Johan Niew

J. Wood

Wilhelmus X Oorbagh

Laurance Dubois

John Van Housen

William X Klauw

Jon Spoor

Johannis Sousa

Petrus Van Loon

Albertus Van Loon

John Rouge

Pet X Schram

Dirck Spoor

Andres X Eaghler

William X Cudney

Frederick Scheck

John Bronck

John Van Loon

Casper Hallenbeck

Matthias X Boom

Pete X Janson

John H Schurmerhorn

Hugh Denniston

Laurence Winney

Stephen Haight

Thomas Garnett

John Ellis

John X Lampman

Mod. Van Sand

Henry Oothoudt

Samuel Allen

Abraham Camer

Wilhelmus Lampman

Herman X Becker

Casper Hallenbeck

Nicholas Van Loon

Robert Thomas

Jacob X Shoup

Peter Van Loon Jr

Abraham Van Loon

Hendrick X Rose

William Rea

Philip Conyne

Reychert van den Berk

John X Schrader

Arent X Cooss

Philip Conine Jr

John van den Berk

Peter Conine

Jam. Hearn

Benjamin Smith

Peter Smith

John X Curby

Francis Salisbury

Cornelius Dubois

John Dubois

Thouny D. van Veghten

Cornelius Schermerhorn

Jacob Egbertsen Jun.

Thomas Fish

Peter Bogardus

Thomas Aston

Johannes X Brandow

John Casper X Van Hoefer

Thomas Burdick

Arent X Fedder

Peter Soufer

William Schutt

Jacob X Cook

Coenrad Flaake

Coenraet X Hoghtaline

Richard X Houghtaline

Baltus Van Slyk

Jeremiah X Conine

Peter Van Slyk

Philip Bronck

Martin V. Bargen

Petrus X Brandow

Jacob Van Vechten

Abraham Salisbury

Heiybartus Dubois

Benjamin Dubois

William X Brandow

Gysbort Oosterhoudt

Garret P. X Steenbergh

Egbert Bogardus

Johannes X Van Garde

John Person

Johannis Conyn

Nicholas X Planke

Abraham Van Garde

Jam. C. Van Waganen

Richard Conways

John Taylor

Goefrie Brandow

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Sylvia is a Hudson Valley historian, genealogist and lecturer with more than 30 years’ experience. She is also the president of the Cairo Historical Society. You may contact her at sylvia@northriverresearch.com.

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