Knox during the Revolutionary War

At the time of the Revolutionary War, all four Hilltowns were part of the West Manor of Rensselaerwyck. After the war ended (1790), Rensselaerville was created from part of the Town of Watervliet and contained what is now Berne, Knox, Rensselaerville, and most of Westerlo. The Hilltown area was either sparsely settled or wilderness at the time of the Revolution. Thus it is difficult for towns to lay claim to home-grown revolutionary war heroes.

Many Revolutionary War veterans came to the area to make use of the "Free Land" promoted by the Rensselaerwyck Patroon, not realizing that they were leasing the land and would never be able to own it. Most town lists include veterans who were born in and fought in militias from other states, but who later settled in the Hilltowns. Below are sources of veterans that Knox claims as her own:

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From the Knox Sesquicentennial Booklet (1972) chapter: Knox at War

History records that Knox has always responded patriotically to the country's need in time of War.

Captain Benjamin Fowler, Lt. Henry Dennison (Denison), Capt. Elisha Williams, and James Dyer served in the Revolutionary War and rest in silent majesty at High Point Cemetery. James Dyer has the distinction of having been an orderly to General George Washington. Colonel Asa Abbot's resting place is in a small plot found at the Robert Whipple farm. Amos Torrey, Silas Blodgett, and John Saddlemire also served in this war and are buried in the Knox Cemetery.

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June 1, 1840 Census of Pensioners in Knox, Albany County, New York
Name Age Head of family, with whom residing

• Mary Dennison 81 Amos Crary (Mary Gallup was the wife of Henry Denison and mother-in-law of Amos Crary)
  
• Jacob Shoultes 80 Jacob Shoultes
  
• Johan Jost Deitz 79 Jacob Deitz
  

Albany county as it existed at the time of the revolution, first organized seventeen regiments of militia, under the law of 1776.

They were numbered and officered, as found to the historical records of the state, as follows:

• First regiment,-, city of Albany, first company, John Barclay, captain later spelled "Barckley." He was from Knox.

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During the War inhabitants fought on both sides of the conflict. Loyalists who supported the British left and went to Canada. Those who stayed and fought the British expected that if they won, they would either be released from their tenancy, or at the least, be allowed to purchase the land at fair market value. Instead, the new government of New York decided to honor the lease contracts of the patroons, who contributed heavily to the politicians.

Biography

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Knox area Men in the Militia

• Abott, Asa
• Barckley, John
• Blodgett, Silas
• Coates, Robert
• Denison, Henry, Lt. Buried at High Point Cemetery in Knox
• Dyer, James Buried at High Point Cemetery in Knox
• Fowler, Benjamin Capt. - buried High Point Cemetery
• Saddlemire, John
• Torrey, Amos - Buried in Knox Cemetery
• Williams, Elisha, Capt. - Buried High Point Cemetery

Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Knox:

• Brown, Andrew Buried in Old Knox Cemetery across from Saddlemire Homestead in Knox
• Clickeman, Lawrence Buried at High Point Cemetery in Knox
• Denison, Henry, Lt. Buried at High Point Cemetery in Knox - spelled Henry Dennison
• Dyer, James Buried at High Point Cemetery in Knox
• Gallup, General John Buried in Old Knox Cemetery across from Saddlemire Homestead in Knox
• Gallup, Joseph Buried at High Point Cemetery in Knox
• Stephens, Jared Buried in Old Knox Cemetery across from Saddlemire Homestead in Knox
• Todd, Paul Buried in Old Knox Cemetery across from Saddlemire Homestead in Knox

Sesquicentennial List

• Benjamin Fowler Captain 1808
• Gideon Dennison Captain 1826
• Edward P. Crary 1861

Mentioned in Pension application of Peter Young: Private John Jacob Shultes of Knox

Loyalists

• Bassler, Frederick - Joined the British

Hessian soldiers who settled in Knox

• Boettcher, Andreas - Andrew Batcher
• Clickeman, Lawrence (Lorenze Gleichman) (Laurence Clickman, Clikeman) Buried at High Point Cemetery in Knox

Sources