Major Watson's American Revolution Service

This man was a veteran of both the American Revolution and the War of 1812 and was captured in both wars.  he is buried in the Hebron-Linn Cemetery in Hebron, Illinois, the only known American Revolution veteran buried in McHenry County, Illinois.

Despite his first name, major, he is listed as a private.  (Too bad he wasn't a major then he would have been Major Major Watson.)

He is listed as enlisting on March 11, 1777, and deserted September 7, 1777.  He joined again in March 5, 1778 and was taken prisoner at Fort Stanwix in July 1779 and never exchanged until the end of the war.

I doubt that his desertion is of the type we usually consider desertion.

--Cooter

Fort Stanwix, N.Y.-- Part 1

From the National Park Service.

Back in 2014, I wrote about a Revolutionary War and War of 1812 veteran by the name of Major Watson who is buried in McHenry County, Illinois.  He is the only known Revolutionary War veteran buried in McHenry County.  Major Watson was at Fort Stanwix.

Fort Stanwix National Monument in New York was built to protect the Oneida Carrying Place, a six-mile portage connecting the Mohawk River and Wood Creek.  This was a vital link when one was traveling from the ocean to the Great Lakes.  Rome, New York, was built over it.

It is known as the fort that never surrendered.  While under the command of Colonel Peter Gansevoort, Americans fought off a prolonged siege in 1777 by British, German, Loyalist, Canadians and Indians.

--DaCoot

First New York Regiment-- Part 5: 1779 Operations in Central New York and Major Watson's Capture

In the spring of 1779, the 1st NY marched west along the Mohawk River and returned again to Fort Schuyler where they relieved Col. Peter Gansevoort's 3rd NY Regiment.  Much of 1779 was spent campaigning against the Iroquois Indian settlements in the area.

This was in the central New York and Finger Lakes region and in response to British and their allied Indian attacks on American settlements in the Mohawk and Schoharie valleys.

On April 18, 1779, the regiment attacked the British garrison at Oswegatchee, west of Fort Ontario, but failed.  On April 21st, Goose Van Schaick led a successful expedition against the Onondaga Indian settlements.

During the rest of the summer, Tory and Indian forces attacked the garrison at Fort Schuyler, capturing several soldiers of the 1st NY including Lt. William Scudder, later reported as a prisoner of war in Canada.  This would most likely be when Major Watson was captured and also held in Canada.

--DaCoot

First New York Regiment-- Part 4

In May 1778, the regiment marched south to Valley Forge in Pennsylvania to join Washington and were placed under the command of Brigadier-General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.

On June 28, 1778, they met British General Clinton's army retreating across Jersey country to New York City.  A rear guard action between the two armies became known as the Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey.  The First NY served on the American left in the action.  Here, Captain Joseph McCracken had his left arm shot away by a British cannonball.

He was promoted to major and on May 29th was transferred to the 4th New York regiment.

The 1st spent the rest of 1778 encamped at White Plains and Peekskill on the Hudson River.

--Cooter

First New York Regiment-- Part 3

On November 21, 1776, Captain Joseph McCracken was placed in command of the First Company of the First Regiment.  In December of that year, some contingents of the First participated in Washington's Crossing of the Delaware River to attack the Hessians at Trenton.

In 1777, the regiment did garrison duty at Albany and Fort Schuyler in New York.    During August of 1777, the First New York accompanied General Benedict Arnold for the relief of Fort Schuyler.  After the British withdrew from their planned attack on the fort, six companies remained to reinforce the garrison.

That fall, 24 men were detached as General Philip Schuyler's "Guards" where they remained for five years.

In November 1777, the regiment was finally reunited to go into winter quarters at Schenectady, New York.

--Cooter

The Revolutionary War's First New York Regiment

From 1st New York McCracken's Co. 1775 site and Wikipedia.

After coming across this regiment as being the one McHenry County's Major Watson (his first name, not rank) served in during the American Revolution, I did some more research on it.

The 1st New York Regiment was authorized 25 May 1775 and organized in new York City from June to July under the command of Colonel Alexander McDougall.  Their enlistment ended 31 December 1775.  The second 1st New York Regiment was organized 19 January 1776, again under McDougall.

It participated in the invasion of Canada, Battle of Valcour Island, Battle of Saratoga, Battle of Monmouth, the Sullivan Expedition and the Battle of Yorktown.

They were furloughed 2 June 1783 at Newburgh, New York and disbanded 15 November 1783.

From Wikipedia.

--Cooter

McHenry County's Major Watson: Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Veteran

From the Village of Hebron, Illinois, site.

Continued from April 26, 2014.

In the War of 1812, Major Watson enlisted again and was captured at Ogdensburg, NY,  and held a prisoner in a prisoner ship off Chatham, England, until 1815.  He was discharged at Baltimore and was ill for eleven months before he returned home to St. Lawrence in New York.

According to the Sons of the American Revolution, many veterans came to Wisconsin because their $8 a month pension made them rich in the area as that was often the only money seen on the frontier.  Therefore, the old men were greatly welcomed by relatives.

Major Watson died March 16, 1840, aged 100 years, 3 months and 16 days.  The death took place at the home of a daughter, Clarissa, Mrs. Daniel Downs in southern Wisconsin.

The Hebron-Linn Cemetery is just south of the Wisconsin border in Illinois.

Who's have Thought a Revolutionary War Veteran Buried in McHenry County.  --Cooter

Why It takes So Long To Do These Blogs: Majpr Watson and Margaret Rice

I have been writing about McHenry County's Major Watson, Revolutionary War veteran as of last week and from the article that served as the basis for the original posts, I found the Village of Hebron had a link with his history.  I found out he served in the First New York Regiment and did research on it, primarily from the 1st New York McCracken's Co, 1777 which besides the excellent history of the regiment had a thumbnail sketch on Watson's service in the war.

Then, I did research on Major Watson's War of 1812 service which led to research on the capture of Ogdensburg, NY, and Sackets Harbor, NY, where he was born in 1740.  He was captured at Ogdensburg and in the War of 1812 blog, I found mention of him as a prisoner in Montreal.  The Hebron article mentioned he was held prisoner in a prison hulk ship at Chatham, England which kled me to an interesting book "Prisoner of the British" where the author was held in a prison hulk in Chatham, England.  Maybe this man met Major Watson on it.  That led to a Wikipedia list of prison hulks and Dartmoor Prison.

Then, yesterday, I decided to go back to a 2012 article on the Titanic Trail;  I did two posts.  It mentioned a Margaret Rice who sailed from Queenstown, Ireland, (now Cobh), who died along with her five young sons.  That involved more research on her and her family.  A memorial stone was placed in Cobh for her story and another in Spokane, Washington, her destination.  Then, there were three other deaths of people with Spokane ties.  Had to research that as well.

No Wonder It takes So Long.  --DaCoot

Major Watson, Revolutionary War Soldier, Buried in McHenry County-- Part 2

He was born November 18, 1737 in Sackets Harbor, New York. This town is on the state's far western border and played a significant role in the War of 1812. Definitely the colonial frontier at the time.

As a young man, he was captured by Indians and made to "Run the Gauntlet" where he had to run between two lines of Indians who tried to strike him down with war clubs and tomahawks. He later was befriended by a chief before making his escape with the help of a fur trader.

During the Revolutionary War, he served under generals Washington and Lafayette. At the Battle of Monmouth, he was in the First New York under the famed Colonel Goose Van Schalk.

He was later captured at Fort Stanwix by Indians and held prisoner for the duration of the war in Montreal.

I have never heard of Fort Stanwix so will have to do further research on the battle.

--Cooter

Major Watson, Revolutionary War Veteran, Buried in McHenry County-- Part 1

From the Village of Hebron, Illinois, website.

Major Watson is believed to be the only Revolutionary War veteran buried in McHenry County at Hebron's Linn-Hebron Cemetery. However, Watson lived most of his life in New York state and only came to the Midwest in the last three years of his life, and even then, living in southern Wisconsin.

The Linn-Hebron Cemetery is just over the Illinois-Wisconsin stateline from Wisconsin.

Major Watson was also one of the last survivors of the war for American Independence, dying in 1840 at the age of 100.

He is also a veteran of two wars, the War of 1812 as well, (so I will have to mention him in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog) and was captured in both, spending most of the time in prison. He was captured by Indians twice, once before the Revolution.

Quite An Interesting Life For the Major.  Cooter

Revolutionary War Veteran Honored in McHenry -- Part 1: Major Watson

From the April 7, 2014, Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Illinois, "Revolutionary Honor: Sons of the American Revolution honor vet buried at Hebron cemetery" by Joseph Bustos. //// The re-enactors stood in Revolutionary War uniforms and about 35 people were at the entrance to Linn-Hebron Cemetery. They were there to honor the only-known American Revolution veteran buried in McHenry County. //// Major Watson served under General George Washington and General Marquis de Lafayette. //// Members of the Illinois Society of Sons of the American Revolution paid to have the plaque placed there, noting the cemetery as the site of Watson's grave. //// Too Bad He Wasn't a Major in Rank. Then He Could Have Been Major Major Watson.

Major Watson, Revolutionary War Veteran

Today, while researching Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery, I came across a site listing Revolutionary War veterans buried in Illinois by county. I looked those of Lake County, where I live, and found the name of Major Watson who was captured by Indians, made to run the gauntlet, at the Battle of Monmouth, captured in the War of 1812 and lived to be a hundred.

I had four entries on him this date on my http://roaddogsroadlog.blogspot.com blog.

Interesting Story. --Cooter