MOHAWK VALLEY LOYALIST CLAIMS
Claims 932, 948-50, 967, 969
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932. Simon Swartz, late of Tyron Co.
Claimt. Says:
He was in Sir J. first Battn. at Montreal. Gave in Claim to Major Guy, his
commanding officer, before the Regt. was disbanded. There was an order in the
Regt. for them to give their claims. Is a Nat. of A------; lived in Tryon Co.;
joined Sir John at Oswego. Came thro the woods with 50 or 60 men under Agitant
Miller. Thinks in 76. Served till end of War. Produces his Discharge Which says
he had served 6 yrs. & 1/2.
His mother came from New York in 83. His father, Henry had a House and 2 Lots of
Land in New York. He died in New York Govt. He never came within the Lines. On
his death this place came to his mother. He has now an elder Bro. In ye States
and a Sister married to Capt. Grass. Household furniture at Bowmans Creek, at
Capt. Grass House, belonging to his mother taken by the Rebels.
Capt. Grass Says.
Henry Swarts died without a Will, so that the mother ed. have nothing but for
Life in the Premises.
The eldest son is in ye Colonies. The mother came within the Lines, New York, in
June 83 & from thence to Canada. She was at Sorell in 83. Says the mother would
not come in before the House & builds. were burnt, 2 Tenements, stable & shop, 2
Lots worth 200.
The mother had effects at Witnesses house which were sold at vendue. Thinks to
amt. of £50 York. They were taken with witnesses effects & sold at vendue, about
the year 80.
The Father had provided for the eldest son in his life time. Told the rest of the
children to be easy. What was left should belong to them. There is only a brother
& sister left, besides ye eldest. The effects at Witnesses house had belonged to
the old man.
948. Garnet Dingman, late of Albany Co.
Claimt. was at Cataraqui in 83.
Nat. of A. Lived at Warenbush on the Mohawk. Joined the Brit in 81. Served in Sir
Johns 2nd Batal., to the end of the war.
Had 160 acres on the Susquehana. No deed: took it 4 yrs. bef. ye War. Cleared 20
acres. Went from thence to Warensbush, after the Indians had been on the
Susquehana. Took 50 acres there; was 2 yrs. there. Must have been in 78. When he
came into Canada in 81. Left a stock at Warensbush, 2 horses, 2 cows, 5 sheep, 10
hogs, utensils, furniture. All taken from his wife after he went away.
John Woodcock, Wits.:
Knew Claimts. Place on Susquehana, had Considerable Clearance, had settled 3
years before ye War. Went to Warrens bush. When he went away in 81 he left his
stock in Witness Custody, a Mare & Colt, 1 Cow 1 Heifer, 5 Hogs, 7 Sheep.
His furniture was taken from his House. His Wife was Stript of every thing. The
Stock was taken from Wits. house.
949. John Woodcock, late of Albany Co.
Claimt. was at St. Johns in 83. Came to Canada, May, 83. Never was within the
Lines during the War. Lived on the Susquehana. Moved to Warrins bush in 1779,
there continued till 81.
Had assisted Loyalists to get away. He had a Son, Bros. Son in Law in the Kings Army.
Was turned off from Warrens bush in 81. Produces order for his Departure as being
an Enemy to the States, Signed G. Putnam, in 81.
Had 400 acres on Susquehana, on the East Branch of Susquehana under York Govnt.,
bought of Banyard £40 per 100 acres, says he pd. for them. Cleared 40 acres. Lost
some Cattle at Susquehana, 1 ox, 1 Heif., 2 Sheep, 2 Hogs, taken by the Kings
Party. Lost some furniture then.
Took a Lease in 79 for 6 yrs. at Warrns bush, paying 1-3 part of Produce, was
driven from this in 81, lost Horse, 12 Sheep, Grain gathered & grain in the ground.
Eve Pinset, Wits.:
Knew his Place at Susquehana, 40 acres Clear. He helped Loyalists with
Provisions. Had a good Stock at Susquehana.
John Cornelius, Wits.:
Knew Claimt. Farm held under Banyard, 20 Clear. Had a good Stock. He supported
Loyalists & Spies & Scouts.
Garret Dingman, Wits.:
Claimt. Had a large Stock then. Was reckoned a Loyalist. Was driven off on acct.
of his Loyalty.
950. Owen McGrath, late of Tyron Co.
Claimt. says he was at Oswego in 83. Is a nat. of Am. Lived at Tyron, joined in
80, served till end of War.
Had Possession of some Land with a Lease, had 2 Cows, 1 Mare & Colt, 6 Sheep,
utensils, grain in the ground. After he went away all was taken from ye family.
John Woodcock, Wits.:
Heard Claimts. effects were taken after he left his Place.
967. Claim of Alexr. White, late of Tryon Co.
Claimt. says he left New York in the Summer 83, later end of Aug., arrived at
Quebec in Septr., staid there 3 days, then went to Sorell, staid there all the
Fall & the ensuing Winter.
Is a native of Ireland. Settled in America 27 years ago, lived in Tryon Co. when
the Rebellion broke out, had then the office of Sheriff of Tryon Co. He opposed
the meeting of rebel Committees. Took up some of the Persons who met & Confined
them. As Sheriff he published a Proclamation sent by Govr. Tryon against the
meeting of Committees, &c. He published this Proclamation in the County Court, in
Consequence of which he was attacked by an armed mob, his house beset, till he
was relieved by Sir John Johnson. Then went to Canada.
Was taken Prisoner on Lake Champlain & carried to Albany Goal. This was all in
75. He was the first officer in a Civil Department that was confined. He was put
in Irons, but released on Parole, to go Home. They afterwards sent him to New
England, he got away from thence & in 1777 joined Genl. Burg. a few days before
his --------------.
He was taken again on his way to Canada & carried again to Albany. He was taken
again & kept near 12 months till discharged.
Produces Certificate of his Exchange 12th Oct., 1778. After this Exchange he went
to New York. He was employed some time as Barrack Master there, continued till
the Summer before Evacuation, then went to Quebec. Now resides at Sorrell.
Produces his appointment as high Sheriff of Tryon County under the Hand & Seal of
Govr. Tryon in 1772.
Produces Letter which enclosed the Proclamation above mentd. dated Nov., 75.
Produces Certificate from Govr. Tryon that the Claimt. was high Sheriff, that he
appointed him on acct. of his Charcater & Loyalty. Speaks of his sufferings by
Imprisonmt. & in his Property & to his ardent Zeal & Loyalty.
Produces Certificates to the like effect from James Delancey, Sir John Johnson,
Col. Johnson, & to the Truth of the Facts stated in his Memorial.
Had 1,000 acres in the Provincial Patent near Fort Edward & Fort Ann. It was a
grant in the year 1763 to 26 Proprietors. It was called the Provincial Patent,
the Proprietors had been Provencial officers the War before last. Col. Calcraft
was first in the grant. The Lands had been divided in 64. The share of each proprietor was
1,000 acres, Claimant put one Tenant upon it who soon left. There was not much
done upon it. Has no acct. of Sale of it. Vals. it at 10s. pr. acre.
No. 2.Had some Land in Albany Co., purchased some Soldiers Rights, about 300
acres. Had not improved it.
Claimt. was Tenant of a Farm of Sir Wm. Johnston on the Mohawk, lived there & had
considerable personal Estate. 9 Horses, 6 Cows, 26 Sheep, 1 Bullock, Household
furniture. Vals. near 200; Grain, Hay & Barn do. 50.
Utensils. These things were all taken in the Winter, 76. Chiefly by a Mob. His
wife was driven from Home at the same time. Stript of almost everything. Left
Corn growing in the Ground to amnt. of above £100.
He had a black servant at his House at this time who was taken away by the same mob.
Produces affidt. to his having all the above Property, both real & personal by
Philip Cook sworn before a Master in Chancy in London Sep 85.
Sir John Johnson certifies to his Loyalty & that he had to his Belief the
Property stated in his Schedule.
Vals. The Annual Income at £200 Str. pr. ann. Is certain it was worth more than that.
969. Case of John McGruer, late of Tryon Co.
Claimt. Says he was at Cote du Lac in the Fall of 83. Did not come down till Xmas.
Is a nat. of Scotland. Settled in America in 1763. Lived at Johnstown, when
Rebellion broke out. Was imprisoned 9 months in 1776. Joined the Brit. Army in
1777. Was under Sir John Johnson at Fort Stanwix. Servd till end of War.
Had a Lease from Sir Wm. Johnston. Had no Deed. Had it only from year to year. It
was near Johnstown. There were 80 acres clear when he took it. He paid Rent to
Sir John. He Cleared 9 acres. He says he had agreed with Sir W. Johnston that the
Landlord would pay for the Improvmts. It was to be settled by 2 Appraisers what
should be pd.
Says he built a house with Sir Wm's Leave & Sir Wm. was To pay him when he left
it. Says it cost him £60 York.
Had a large Stock, no one in that-part had more. 13 horses, 10 Cows, 4 Oxen, 5
Heifers, 40 Sheep, 6 Hogs, Utensils, grain of different kinds. All these things
were seized in 77, & sold at Vendue .
Daniel Ross, Wits.
Knew Claimts farm. It was Sir Johns Land. A good Deal of it was clear. 100 acres
Clear. How much Claimt. had cleared Wits. does not know.
Knew his Stock. It was a large stock. The stock was on the Place when he left it.
Capt. Wm. Fraser, Wits.
Knew Clamts Farm. There was a large Clearance but Wits. does not know the terms
on which he held. There was a considerable Stock. He had a Partner of the name of
Bennet. Speaks of his Loyalty & Services.
Claimt. On being called again says his Partnership was at an end before the War
began. His Partner was concerned in the Improvements, was to have half & half in
the Farm, but Claimt. Says he himself had the largest share in the Stock. Bennet
his Partner left the farm in 1776.
Capt. Thos. Fraser, Wits.
Says he remembers Bennet went from the Farm before Claimt., but does not know
when the Partnership was at an end. There was a large Stock. Witness when he knew
the stock thought it belongd. to both.
N-b. Note. It seems as if there had been no Dissolution of Partnership & that
some of the Stock belonged to Bennet, tho Claimt. was to pay for it & it was left
in his Possession.
Claims Claims 932, 948-50, 967, and 969 were prepared by Rosemary Ibarra-Nadal. Rosemary tells
us that the surnames of the ancestors that she's researching from Montgomery Co., are:
DINGMAN, RUSS, HART, SURNEAR, MCREDMOND, VOSBURGH. If you'd like to share information with her about
any of these families, please contact her.
As our typing volunteer for these recods, Rosemary has no information about anyone listed in the
above records. For further information about
people who submitted Loyalist claims, please direct all inquiries to the appropriate county historical societies.
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