Rensselaer County
Loyalist Soldiers
This page was last updated 14 May 2005
Bernard C. Young has kindly contributed these Loyalist muster rolls of 1778. When I asked Bernard if "Batteau" meant boat (in French French, bateau), Bernard replied, "Re the term Batteau Men, you are correct; inasmuch as [British General John] Burgoyne's army had been unable to find supplies during his side-trip toward Bennington [in Bennington Co, VT], he was forced to form companies of boatmen who could bring supplies from Ticonderoga [between Lake Champlain and Lake George, in the northeastern corner of what is now Warren Co, NY] down through Lake George and on to Stillwater [now in Saratoga Co NY], where the army was. This was dangerous duty; many were killed..., including Captain Samuel McKay. These lists represent the men who, I presume, survived."To learn more about your Loyalist ancestors, you are invited to visit the United Empire Loyalists (UEL) website.

Loyalist Muster Rolls of 1778

"LIST OF CAPTAIN H. MUNRO'S COMPANY, SOREL, OCTOBER 11, 1778."

Jacob Weger Sergeant
Adam Best "
Henry Deal "
Samuel Dittler Adj.
Peter Deal Corporal
John Ham "
John Selfrage "

PRIVATES
Jacob Best
Frederick Swarthfiger
James Brown
Frederick Wearing
George Fingel
Ludovic Bonstil
Jonas Simmon (s)
John Best
John Buckous
Simeon Couns
John Sholties
John Calder
Adam Deal
Gilbert Brusie
John Buckous, Sr.
Jacob Cole
Christopher Brusie
David Harkman
John Munk
Pumfry Matthew
Peter Palac
Matthew Prust (Brust)
John Dittler
John Wilson
Robert Clark
Robert Smith
Stephen Smith
Jacob Smith

Hugh MunroCap't.
William FraserLieut.
Ens. John Peters not present

Source: NAC, WO 28/10, Reel B-2867, p.58

Original source: "A LIST OF CAPTAIN HUGH MUNRO'S COMPANY OF BATTEAU MEN,
authorised by Simon Fraser at Saratoga on 16 August 1777.
Hugh Munro, Captain, William Fraser, Lieut., Donald Fraser, Lieut."

Captain Munro was a Lieutenant in Jessup's Loyal American Corps who settled in
the Canadian province of New Brunswick after the war
and died at Bathurst, New Brunswick before 1850.

The following is a list of Batteau Men, also authorised by Simon Fraser under the same date:

"A LIST OF CAPTAIN WILKINSON'S COMPANY, 11th October, 1778"

John Carscallion Sergeant
William Burstead "
David Dulmage "
James Carscallion Corporal
Alexander McDougal "
Andrew Emory "
George Sullivan Drummer

Luke Carscallion
George Carscallion
Valentine Detler
Jacob Detler
Peter Miller
Donald McGilvery
William Nicolson
Jacob Luck
Henry Plass (Ploss?)
John Cornelius
Peter Plass
John Kneir
William Coonrod
John Hough
Ludwick Snyder
Henry Dick
Henry Johnson Pero Finnix (?)
David Coons
Jacob Coons
Christopher Cachbalt
Powles James
John Gardenier
Abraham Heliger
Thomas Comer
Harkles Cronkrite
Jacob Best
John Cronkrite
Jacob Jack, servant.

{Signed} R. Wilkinson, Cap't.
. Isaac Mann, Lieut.
. Harmon Best, Ens.

Source: NAC, WO 28/10, Reel B-2867, page 62

Many of the men listed in these Batteau companies were
from the East Manor of Rensselaer and likely were part of
Pfister's or McKay's Corps at Bennington before being
broken up on 16 August 1777 and re-formed at Stillwater.


Send comments or suggestions to:
Debby Masterson

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