David French

Benjamin married Charlotte Miller about 1798. Charlotte was born about 1780 in South Argyle, Washington Co., NY; died on 11 May 1851 in Putnam, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1776 - A Revolutionary Solider

David married Susanna Blair about 1775 in South Argyle, Washington Co., NY. Susanna (daughter of Colonel John Blair and Sarah Kelso) was born on 22 Apr 1748 in Pelham, Hampshire Co., MA; died about 1813 in South Argyle, Washington Co., NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sampson married Sarah Clement. Sarah was born in 1721; died after 1757. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Moved to from Pelham, MA to Cambridge, NY in the 1760s, and resided on Lot 47, which consisted of 180 acres bounded by "Blair's Brook." Member and probably one of the founders of the Coila Presbyterian Church and held many town offices including Selectman. In 1777, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in the 16th Albany County, NY Regiment and served throughout the war and afterward.

Col. John Blair
The following thoughts about Col. Blair were written by his descendant, Thomas R. Sparrow.

My fourth great-grandfather was Col. John Blair. His wife's name was Sarah _______. Many Blair researchers have guessed that her maiden name was Kelso as John and Sarah named their second son Hugh Kelso Blair. But, Sarah's maiden name is not proven.

Family tradition had it that Col. John was an officer in the British Army who came to this country in 1776, switched sides, and fought against the British as an American militia officer. In our family we always assumed this to be true and assumed that his family followed him here from England after the war.

In February of 1998, I was in the Vermont Historical Society library and was using the LDS Ancestral Files. I don't know what caused me to do it (because I wasn't researching Blairs at the time), but I did a search on John Blair. Much to my surprise I found a John Blair in Massachusetts in the 1740s. He was married to Sarah Kelso and Sarah and John had all of the children I knew the family to have had, on all the correct birthdates, and all (save one) born in Pelham, Massachusetts. The LDS records showed the son, John Jr., being born in Donegal Co., Ireland.

The library had a copy of the Vital Records of Pelham, Massachusetts. I went to it and looked up Blair births. I found the right number of Blairs being born to John and Sarah on the right birth dates, but the book said the given names weren't known because the page in the original was torn. Some fragments of names were there. The "m" where "William" was supposed to be. The "beth" where "Elizabeth" was supposed to be. The "na" where "Susanna" was supposed to be, and, the "h" where "Dinah" was supposed to be. The only given name listed was "Kelso" in front the "Blair" for their fifth child and their second son, Hugh Kelso Blair.

The Pelham Town Birth records showed a son being born to Sarah and John on February 25, 1754, the same date the LDS record show John Jr. being born in Donegal.

There are other references to John Blair in Pelham records. He is shown as having held a number of town offices including tithing man in 1745 (in charge of making sure everyone got to church and stayed awake while there), surveyor for the west end in 1757, a member of the committee to provide for a school master in 1757, a fence viewer in 1759, a selectman in 1753 and again in 1756, and constable in 1753.

He was compensated one pound, 18 shillings, and two pence for services in the French and Indian Wars as an enlisted man. He paid three pounds, 14 shillings for Pew Number 13 in the Pelham church.

The marriages of a number of John and Sarah's children are recorded in the Pelham town records.

In 1761 the colony of New York granted 31,500 acres as the Cambridge Patent in Albany County. John Blair was among a number of Pelham citizens to take an interest in the newly developing territory. The family moved from Pelham to the area of Salem/Cambridge, NY. sometime in the 1760s and were probably there by 1763. They show up as founding members of the Presbyterian Church there in 1764.

John was made a Colonel in the Albany County, New York Militia during the Revolutionary War. Col. John is listed in New York State in the Revolution thusly ... page 130 - "Albany Co. Milita, 16th Regiment, Col John Blair, Col. Louis VanWoert."

The original commission of his Colonelcy is in the Fort Ticonderoga Museum in Fort Ticonderoga, New York. It was granted April 4, 1778 and passed the Secretary's office July 4, 1778 signed by then New York Governor, George W. Clinton.

Col. John's sword and a "day book" he is said to have kept are also in the Fort Ticonderoga Museum. The "day book" clearly was an artifact of the Blair family as James Blair (the son of John Jr.) and Orlando Blair (the son of James) have inscribed their names in its pages. A mystery surrounds the account of the passage from Gravesend to Quebec. Who was the author? Could it, as family tradition believed, have been Col. John?

If the Pelham Birth Records are correct, and if that John Blair and Col. Blair are one and the same that would mean that Sarah and John went back and forth between America and England several times. Clearly they were among the first settlers of Pelham in the 1740s. If John Jr. was, in fact, born in Donegal, then they had to go back to England for some reason in the mid-1750s and Sarah had to have given birth to John Jr. while they were there. Where were the other children, who would have been 10, 9, 8, 6, 4, and 2, at the time? Did they go, too?

Then John and Sarah would have had to come back to Pelham and have three more children, then move to Cambridge and have their last two children. And, if the writer of the daybook was Col. John, this means that he went back to England sometime prior to April of 1776 at age 56, that he was somehow commissioned into the British Army, and that he sailed back to Quebec arriving sometime in June of 1776. What happened to him then? And how did he go from the British Army to a Colonelcy in the Albany County, New York Militia?

I don't think the above scenario is very plausible.

I believe it is more likely that John Jr. was born in Pelham. I also think it is likely that someone other than Col. John was the writer of the log. He never would have been elected to the Albany County Committee and to the position of second colonel in May of 1776 if he hadn't been present at the meeting -- and, especially if he was out in the mid-Atlantic at the time with twenty British soliders under his command.

The writer could have been John Jr. who was born in Pelham and who may have been sent to England for a formal education. The writer could also have been a British relative, perhaps a nephew, of Col. John. The book could have belonged to some unrelated British officer and could have somehow fallen into Col. John's hands.

Each time I answer a question I am handed several more. But, the whole experience of genealogy is endlessly fascinating to me.

If only it were possible to travel through time ...

Col. John was obviously into politics as some of the documents presented here indicate. Read, for example, some of the public papers of George Clinton. These hint at Col. Blair's involvement with Ira Allen's effort to get some of the counties in New York to join Vermont. They also suggest that Col. Blair was less than enthusiastic about his military responsibilities.

He died in Cambridge in 1789. It is thought that he is buried in the Turnpike Cemetery south of Cambridge, but no marker remains.







The Day Book
Excerpts from "Col. John Blair's Day Book" which is in the Fort Ticonderoga Museum, Fort Ticonderoga, New York.

An Account of My Passage from Gravesend to Quebec

A portion of the daybook traces the writer's journey from Gravesend, England to Quebec in the year 1776. The writer was an officer in the British Army and had 20 soliders in his command.

The writer left Gravesend on April 30, 1776. The last entry in the log is June 25, 1776 ... almost two months after leaving England. According to the writer, the average speed during the crossing was between two and six knots per hour. However, sometimes they were forced back by the winds. Such was the case on Wednesday, May 29th when he wrote, " ... Since this bad weather we have been put back 70 miles to the east." He also told of fog so thick "we can't see the length of the ship."

Here is the entry from Sunday the 26th. "We had very bad weather last night. It has been so all day today. The wind northwest. The sea runs over the vessel. There have been some terrible squalls attended with heavy showers of rain. We are all in bad spirits as we can't amuse ourselves at cards or reading as the hatches are all shut down and we are quite in darkness."

Tuesday the 28th. "These 24 hours past have been worse than all the rest. We can't get to our victuals as the sea runs into the kitchen. We are all well but very low spirited. There is a brig in sight. Wind as yesterday. The sky is quite cloudy."
Sunday May 19th. "After passing a very bad night and finding myself in a dangerous situation attended with a delirium my good friend Mr. Watson prevailed on me to take a dose of St. James's powder which I consented to do with a great deal of reluctance. It operated from 7 o'clock this morning until 9 o'clock. Then I fell into a prespiration until (illegible) o'clock being no way relieved. Mr. Watson prepared me a blister of mustard which he clapped to the soles of my feet. It brought me into my senses in a short time and rose very well. They tell me that it is a fine day. They gave chase to an American schooner until 1 o'clock and then bore away. There is a ship in sight which they take to be Boush (the name of the captain of another ship which they had previously met). Wind ENE"

In the log the writer describes "islands of ice which were monsterous," tells of seeing the sea "covered for miles and miles with all kinds of birds," and of encountering "an American scow not far from us ... we placed every sailor to his gun and my 20 soliders on deck and got them to load ... and when she perceived that we were well manned and armed she sailed off." The writer also remarked about "some very fine birds called penguins. They are prettier than peacocks."

John Blair, Justice of the Peace

There are several statements by John Blair, Justice of the Peace in the Day Book. One of these is set forth below. This is handwriting that is quite different then the handwriting in the account of the ocean crossing.

"Albany County
"The voluntary examination of Elles Sherman Single woman of the township of Cambridge in the county aforesaid taken on oath before me John Blair one of the justices of the peace for the said county the twenty and second day of October 1779 who said that she is now pregnant with child which child is likely to be born a bastard and chargeable to the District of Cambridge and John Shearman of the said township labour is the father of said child."

Dealing with Indians

There are several pages which appear to be a draft of a letter as portions are scratched out.The handwriting is similar to the handwriting in the account of the ocean voyage.

"I had a meeting with the chiefs yesterday the purport of their Counsel was that they were informed that the general has sent provisions to all the Villagers for the warriors familys during the Campaign there are four from this Village who go down on purpose to know whether it be true or not, they hope they may be treated as well as any other of the Villages, they say that they would go to war with a light heart in case that their families would be supported in their absence as they say it is very distressing to them to have their families in Campaign, that in case the general thinks proper to support their families during the Campaign they should be very glad to have the provisions here before they left the Village to hinder their families from following them"

The Public Letters of George Clinton

The following are letters found inThe Public Papers of George Clinton. Clinton was Governor of New York during the American Revolution.

No. 2873
The Field Officers of Van Woert's Regiment
Submit a Grievance

Cambridge, May 6th 1780

To his Excellency George Clinton Esqr. Gov'r &c. &c.

Sir, It is with the deepest Concern that we find ourselves urged by necessity to Represent to your Excellency upon what a Scene of past misfortunes has made our present Grievance.

Prior to which Grievance we would beg Leave with the most profound respect to Submit to your Excellency's Consideration the following Introductive reasons: Since the time of our return home, after being drove off by the Enemy, we have been under Standing Orders to repair upon the Shortest notice to the frontiers; these Orders we have Punctually Obeyed, Chearfully exerting ourselves upon every appearance of danger; not even upon Such occasions regarding the most pressing calls of necessity to continue at home to provide for our families.

We have likewise borne our proportion in Publick Drafts for Campaine Service, in Detachments, and in Taxation with the other parts of the State. All which assistance we readily afforded, tho distressing in our broken Circumstances. So that the Product of these years past has been nothing less than an unabated Struggle betwixt the Enemy, and Domestick necessity.

In the month of April past we received Orders to List and Equip every thirty-fifth man for the Ensuing Campaine to be posted as frontier Guards, than which nothing could be more to our minds. It was, therefore, Cordially Complied with, and Speedily Executed, hoping by this means to relieve ourselves from the Insupportable burden of Detachments.

But now, Contrary to our Expectation, and what we consider as a Grievance, we are ordered to raise one Eighth part of our Militia, and to provide them with Arms, Ammunition, and Provision; to take post upon the frontiers, and to be continued by Relieving. Now, tho we think it most Necessary that the Frontiers be well guarded, as Some of the Inhabitants are already moving, and we must Soon if not defended, to the now Interior parts of the State will upon a few removes more become the frontier, yet in our present Situation, we are able neither to Raise nor Equip them.
As to Arms they might be provided, but for Amunition it is out of our Power to procure; for tho an Article of the Act for Regulating the Militia Points out how Amunition is to be obtained, yet we are altogether unable to Purchase it.
As to Provision, it is Absolutely out of our Power to to Victual ourselves upon the frontiers, and leave Sufficient to Support our families at home. This Sir is our Grievance for the Consideration and redress of which we most humbly Implore your Excellency.

That your Excellency may long Enjoy the peacable Government of this State, is for what we shall ever pray.

Lewis Van Woert Colonel; John Blair Lt. Colonel; Jam's Ashton Major

No. 3003

Certificates of Good Behavior for
Captain John Mckillop

Cambridge District, March 6th 1780

The Depositions of Leut. Andrew Thomson, James McKillips, and Thomas Stark, relative to a conversation that happen'd about ye beginning of November last between Capt. John McKillips & John Dunlop.

Lieut. Thomson deposeth that he cannot remember to have heard Capt. John McKillips calling John Blair (of the Sixteenth Regiment Albany County Militia) or Major James Ashton, Rogues at the affores'd Conversation.

James McK. Deposeth that heath not heard Capt. John McKillips call Coll. John Blair or Major Ashton afors'd Rogues or any other thing worse than their own names at s'd Conversation.

Thom's Stark Deposeth that at said Conversation he hath not heard, as he remembers, the words rogue or rogues mentioned at all, and said Deponent farth say not.

Duly Sworn before me the Day & year above written.

Edw. Rigg
White Creek June the 21 1780

I Dow hearby Sartify that Capt. John McCallips is a Trow frand [true friend] to the Countrey and to my knowledg has in Defens of Con [country] aver axerted him salf, sins he wos a nofaser [an officer] in the millishay as [ms. obscure] we know; to houm Et may Consarn:
Alex'r Webster, Colo.
Joseph McCraken, Mgr.
George Gillmore, Capt.
William Brown, Capt.
Gershom Woodworth, Left.
Edward Long, Capt.
Andrew Thomson, Liet.
Hugh Thomson, Ensign
John McClung, Lt.

Cambredg 1780 June the 22: to whome it may consern: that Johen Meckcelp has Ben a capten in my Regement from the Beginning of our contest and so on and it has allwase Ben my apenyoun from hes Behavear thet he is a good wege [Whig] and frend of our contere, and am of the same appenyoun still.

Leavis Vanwoert, Colonel

Peter Yates, Coll.

No. 3647

John Younglove's Letter Covering
Proceedings in Vermont

Cambridge, 18 April 1781

Honired Sir, I take the Liberty to enclose you a paper which accidentally fell into my hand yesterday but without the design of some of our people who now take the lead here about matters relitive to s'd paper. Mr. Ira Allen & others has bean taken much pains threw the different destricts around us; the People or many of them are in grate disorder; they have had many meetings on the subject of joining the people of the Grants. A Convention of Committees from different destricts meats here today on the subject. A trustee from hear has just returned home from over the mountain. I have bean at but one of the meetings & then advised the people to be cairful of their conduct. I am told that Mr. Whitesid & Col. Blair are much in favor of the plan & as near as I can find about one hundred more of the others also. You will pleas, sir, not to let this came abroad, for if our people should find that I am buisy agains the plan, it would be high treason & cost me some troble as they are very zealos. A line of direction by the bearer, James Colter, wold much oblige, sire, your very humble servant.

John Younglove
To Robert Yates, Esqr.

No. 3780

John Younglove's Complaint
Regarding Conditions in Vermont

- Governor Clinton Replies

Cambridge, 20th June 1781

May it Pleas Your Excellency, I received your Excelencys Letter on the eavening of the very day the Pretended Convention met. I had just been warning them of their danger & after receiving your Excelencys Letter, Repeated it again. Informing them of the Letter & even went so far as to warn them to disperce & make no father atemts, telling them they Might yet expect Mercy; they still percisted. I also went to the Committee from Vermont had one hour's conference. Desired them to desist & make no more Disturbance, As we had troble anuff; matters still went on; the first convention fel (?) at was the final Abolishment of their alegiance to the State of New York. Then on Articles of Union with Vermont; then sat up advertisements for a day of meating of the people. The gratest part that met voted in favor of the articles; then proceeded to the Election of Members of Assembley to set at Vermont. Mr. Whitesid & one Coldwell Were chosen & have taken their seats. As your Excelency Directed me to make returns of their proceedings as soon as I cold get coppeys of their papers, I proceeded to Poughkipsey & found your Excellency was gone to the Highlands (to my grate sorrow); however, I left My papers with the Atturney General to be forwarded to your Excelency. I have (as well as others) strove to keep the people to their aleagiance but many have swarved. We are now as near as I can gess about half & half almost at swordspoints. Col. Blair promised the Vermonters he would pruve true to them & as yet has bean so; he has not regarded the General orders he has received from time to time this spring; once he called his Captains together & ordered them to Class the Men, in order to Rais the 20th, at the same time told them it was not worth while to Regard the orders, for we were going to join Vermont; however, some of the People Raised the men & he would nither receive or forward them; these things and many more I am Ready to prove. At two different times I have in person called on Major Ashton to act in his office and take the Command as Blair would not. He always said he was willing but he had no people. I told him I was well asured there was two thirds would obey him, Yet he wold never make the attempt. So that we are now in the Greatest confution. those that still adheairs to their alegiance, has resolved never to submit until It is the order of Congress. Their is also grate devision in Vermont so that unless some speady relief is granted, we in all probability shall have mornful times. The Barer, Fenner Palmer, one of the Justices of the District of Hosack, is now wateing to give your Excelency a much more perticular account than what I can do in writing. If you Excelency would favor me with some direction for our future conduct It might be of Enfinate service here. I have the honor to be Your Exelencys humble serv't.
John Younglove
To his Exelency George Clinckton Esq.
N.B. We have In company with this Petitioned the Legislature for Relief.

Governor Clinton's Reply
Sir, I rec'd your Letter of the 20th ulto. previous to which I had the Papers you formerly transmitted me with such others as I had Rec'd respect'g the conduct of the People of the Grants and other misguided subjects of the State in your vicinity, before the Legislature. Their present Session however is so near it experation that having their attention engaged with matters of the greatest public importance I am in Doubt whether they will no do anything conclusive and effectual in this business. If they do I will apprize you of it immediately after rising. If they do not I can only advise you to persevere & encourage a firm and steady alegiance to this State, avoiding altercation whcih might interrupt an exertion agt the Common Enemy, patiently waiting for a Period which I firmly hope is not far distant when we shall be in a situation to extend just authority & Jurisdiction of our State over all its subjects.
Pokeepsie 29 June 1781

John married Sarah Kelso on 12 Nov 1742 in Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of Hugh Kelso) was born about 1723 in Worcester, MA (???); died on 20 Dec 1807 in Putnam, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]