TRYON COUNTY PRISONERS OF WAR FEBRUARY 20, 1782

The following list of Tryon County, New York residents being held by the British was found in the Revolutionary War Rolls in the United States' National Archives by Fort Plank Historian Ken D. Johnson on June 4, 2008. Mister Johnson has been searching for this list for the past twenty-four years and has located it in the records of the First Battalion of Pennsylvania Troops, Microfilm M246, Reel 80, Jacket 2, Roll 16 [sic], pages 52-8. [Clinton Papers 7:407-9].

The following note was placed upon the list by a clerk in the War Department at some time in its processing, and it is thought that the list probably originated in the Revolutionary War Pension Application of one of the men who is listed upon the roll:

fails to Investigation shows the names on this record as of any particular Reg't! any Some were probably Citizens. 177_, Archives N.Y. page SEE Gen'l Index mil. cards

One should note that the words of the roll's author clearly suggest that all of those listed were combatants, and being held as prisoners, not hostages. Some of the men whose name appears up on this list were thought to have been 'to young to have served', but Revolutionary War Applicantions of Conrad Cramer, RWPA #R3424; Richard Shimel, RWPA #W11434; &, John D. Young, RWPA #R11964, clearly demonstrate the fact that many "boys" were used to perform duties which might normally be considered to be those of a regular soldier's. Shimel stating that . . . that Major Coapman ordered the boys to do duty in the Fort as guard when the men were taken out occasionally, a corporal or Sergeant remained to take command of the boys and old men left in the fort. . . .

The cover letter of this list explains its generation and its authorship quite sufficiently. The names are presented here verbatim in italics, as are the words of the list's author [notes added by the Fort Plank Historian are found in columns 2-5, within an endnote, or enclosed within brackets]. An asterisk (*) has been added to the names of the men who applied for Revolutionary War Pensions.

Stone arabia Tryon County

20 Febry. 1782

Inclosed we send you a list of the Prisoners taken by the Enemy from Tryon County and carried into and as far as we can learn still remaining in Canada, _ also another of those who were permitted by the Enemy to return on Parole

If it should be necessary for you to have list of the names of the Women and the small children youll be pleased to let us know that we may send it immediately. We beg your Ecellency will consider those in Captivity, and have then exchanged if possible, as many of their families are great sufferers We remain sir with a due respect

Your most obedient Servants

Andrew Finck Jun^r Commissioner for

Conspiracy __

To his Excellency

George Clinton Esq^r

Sir

Youll find in the list herewith inclosed you, three of the name of Shultys and Phillip Bellinger with two of his sons Christian and Andrew also Lieut John Zuiley who is a Brother in Law of mine and the other very near neighbours, their Families all suffering for the want of them and in particular that of Lieut Zuiley's who in the first place had a large Family of small children, and shortly before he was taken married into another which makes it very considerable I therefore beg your Excellency to do every thing in your power to bring about an Exchange for the above mentioned persons /if not for the whole/ which I will always acknowledge as a particular favour

I am Sir with perfect Esteem

Your most obedient Servant

Andrew Finck Jun^r

To his Excellency

George Clinton Esqre

Governor of the State of NYork

A List of the Mens Names who were taken Prisoner by the Enemy in Tryon County February 20^th 1782

A true Copy from the Originals as Delivered us by the Different Commanding Officers of the Reg^ts Exclusive of a Considerable number of Women & Some small Children ___

A List of the names of those Persons who were sent on their Parole to their respective places of abode in Tryon County

A True copy from the Original as Delivered us by the Different Commanding Officers of Regiments exclusive of a number of Women and a few small children

Adam Copperordle [Coppernoll] at present a soldier of  in the 1^st NYork Regt

Author's note: Maps of many of the patents and places mentioned in Revolutionary War Documents can be found on the "Mohawk Valley Maps & Sketches" page of www.fort-plank.com.

1. It is noted on page 290 of Volume 7 of The Public Papers of George Clinton that this gentleman had a brother who was taken with him. However, Willett states that Frederick's brother had escaped from the "enemy" and was serving in his corps as a lieutenant as of September 2, 1781.