Deeply Rooted
by Admin
URL: http://www.northerncatskillshistory.com/Writing_History/200_Documents/Simms%20History/11%20Enemy%20moving.pdf
Title: History of Schoharie County and Boarder Wars of New York by Jeptha Simms
Date:
Detail: See Cherry Valley source booklet for complete content
Excerpt: Page 340 – The following particulars were narrated to the author in 1841, by Moses Nelson, then a resident of Otsego county.
by Admin
by Admin
Author: Valeria L. Nelson
Title: Account of Moses Nelson, Cherry Valley Massacre (NY)
Date: 03 October 1913
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note: this account is recorded in a cookbook
Had 4 half-brothers named Dunlap, all in the service of their country.
11 November 1778 – Cherry Valley (Otsego Co, NY) destroyed. Hid with widowed mother on Lady Hill, east of the village (age 14).
March 1779 (20 March 1779 – s24) – enlisted for 10 month term on Hudson River rendezvousing at Fish Hill (Private under Captain John Denny, Batteau services – s24).
Around January 1780 – returned to Cherry Valley to live with his mother.
24 April 1780 (s24) – captured by indians, mother killed.
18 days later – arrived in Canada, Niagara (about 12 May 1780). Adopted as indian (Stockbridge). Sold into forestry service of British.
Spring 1782 – taken with prisoners to rebuild Ft. Oswego.
Winter 1782-83 – remained at Ft. Oswego.
Spring 1783 – peace proclaimed. Returned via Ticonderoga and Ft. Edward. Visited Montreal, was paid for labor done in British service.
NOTE: webroots. org – 24 April 1780, 79 indians and 2 tories completely destroyed the village, killing 8 [one being Moses’ widowed mother] and capturing 14 [one being Moses].
Washington visited Cherry Valley in fall of 1783.
by Admin
Author: John Sawyer
Title: History of Cherry Valley, from 1740 to 1898
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1898
Page Numbers:
URL: www.myrevolutionarywar.com/battles
The Battle of Cherry Valley, NY (massacre)
Cherry Valley is between Albany and Utica, NY.
About 300 residents, excellent social standing, superior education.
About 6 houses and a church.
Fort built in cemetery, near church, in summer of 1778.
Colonel Ichabod Allen, commander of fort.
11 November 1778 – massacre – 500 indians (Senecas, who were the wildest and most ferocious of “The Six Nations”) and 200 Tories. 48 killed, 16 were soldiers of the garrison. 30-40 captives taken.
12 November 1778 – Continental troops arrived 2 hours after enemy left down the valley.
by Admin
Author: John Sawyer
Title: History of Cherry Valley, from 1740 to 1898
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1898
Page Numbers:
URL:
Excerpts regarding: Moses Nelson and widow Dunlop
Page 8
CHAPTER II – THE EARLY DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION
Page 15
On the hill at the upper end of the valley, in a direct line from the Fort stood the log house of Col. Samuel Campbell, on the site of the residence now occupied as a summer home by his great-great-grand-children; a half mile to the east and on the same level was the house and shop of James Moore, the blacksmith of the settlement, on the lands now owned by Elisha Flint, and North of him lived a Nelson family. About the same distance to the North of Col. Campbell’s was the home of his father-in-law, Matthew Cannon (disputed); while at an equal distance to the West, was the home of John Campbell, now the summer home of the writer. The present Jackson Millson farm was then occupied by James Campbell.
Page 41
… longer in the burning building, when he bethought himself of a cellar door close up to which grew a field of hemp. Creeping through this he was fortunate enough to escape through the hemp unperceived by the Indians, who continued dancing, yelling and shooting around the house until it was burned to the ground. Then they continued on their way, happy in the thought that the bones of the supposed victim were buried in the ashes of his dwelling.
The peace of the settlement was undisturbed during the following year and confidence was beginning to return to the settlers, when, without warning, on the 24th. of April, 1780, a party of seventy-nine Indians and two tories descended on the ill-fated settlement. Eight of the settlers were killed and fourteen carried into captivity, and the settlement was this time completely wiped out of existance; the Fort, church and the few buildings left after the first incursion being burned to the ground. Thus in a few hours were the results of the labors and struggles of nearly forty years destroyed; the valley returned again into the undisputed possession of the beasts and the birds, and Cherry Valley, a few years before, the largest and most prominent of the Frontier settlements of New York, was but a name.
by Admin
The Battle of Cherry Valley, NY (Massacre) – November 10, 1778
NOTE: see separate document titled S171 for the complete document
Americans Commanded by Col. Ichabod Alden
Forces – 250; Killed – 70*; Wounded – ; Captured 33
British Commanded by Walter Butler & Chief Joseph Brant
Forces 700; Killed – ; Wounded – ; Captured –
Conclusion: British Victory
[this record doesn’t speak specifically of Moses Nelson, his family, his mother’s slaughter, or his capture. It does provide detailed record of others, though]