Part of the joy of researching is being able to connect your ancestors to historic events.  Michelle’s Revolutionary War ancestors include the following from New York State: Stephen Clapp, James Edie, John McMillan, John Morrison, John Morrison 2, John Morrison 3, Isaac Oviatt and James Small.

Stephen Clapp – Born August 10, 1752 in Connecticut, died May 3, 1829 in Salem, Washington County, New York, son of Samuel and Lucy (Dwelley) Clapp. He married in Shrewsbury to Catharine, daughter of Paul Wheeler.

He was of English descent and served in the War of the Revolution, during which he rose to the rank of Major. Major Clapp settled three miles southwest of the village of Salem, in the hamlet now known as Rexleigh, where he bought a large tract of land and built his home and a number of mills, and the place was called Clapp’s Mills in his honor. At the close, drew a pension of $20 a month during the remainder of his life. Major Clapp was also a Mayflower descendant.

James Edie – Born 1737 at Kinross, Scotland; died November 9, 1819 at Cambridge, Washington County, New York. Married 1764 at Scotland to Jane Miller.

James Edie was a Private in the 16^th Regiment Albany County Militia, New York.

John McMillan – Born 1736 at Scotland; died July 17, 1812 at Salem, Washington County, New York. Married 1754 at Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland to Mary Arnott.

John McMillan enrolled himself in Col. Webster’s regiment of militia, county of Charlotte (Washington) New York land bounty rights men. To quote a letter from the adjutant general of the army at Washington, D.C., touching upon the military record of our ancestor: “The name of John McMillan appears (without remarks relative to his service) on an undated abstract of certificates delivered to Colonel Webster’s regiment of militia county of Charlotte (Washington) New York, which abstract shows that certificate number 9080 was delivered to him.” The name of John McMillan is on page 168 in the “Salem Book” in the list of those doing service during the Revolution. His name also appears in “New York in the Revolution,” page 239, and he was given a grant of land in Washington Co., N.Y., by the general government in consideration of his services; lot 297 of Turner’s patent being credited to him in the records on file in the capital in Albany, N.Y.

John Morrison – Born March 8, 1699/00 near Belfast, Ireland; died March 15, 1783 at Montgomery, Orange County, New York. Married 1722 at Belfast, Ireland to Prudence Gwyn.

When John Morrison was 73 years old, he signed “The Pledge of Association,” pledging support to the Continental Congress and the Provincial Convention, and resistance to British oppression. See “Manuscripts and Relics, Washington’s Headquarters, Newburgh, New York, Catalogue No. 46,” and Ruttenber’s History of Orange County, p.62. He is listed in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Patriot Index (1966) for Patriotic Service in New York.

John Morrison 2– Son of above. Born May 10, 1730 at Belfast, Ireland; died July 15, 1790 at Montgomery, Orange County, New York. Married 1750 at Belfast, Ireland to Elizabeth Scott.

John Morrison signed “The Pledge of Association,” pledging his support to the Continental Congress and the Provincial Convention, and resistance to British oppression. The original manuscript is in a frame in Room F, Washington’s Headquarters, Newburgh, New York, Catalogue No. 46.

He served as a private in the Second Regiment Ulster County Militia. See “New York in the Revolution,” page 193. He also served as a private in the Sixteenth Regiment Albany County Militia (Land Bounty Rights). See New York in the Revolution,” page 237. He is listed in the DAR Patriot Index (1966) for serving as a private in the Revolutionary War and for Patriotic Service in New York.

John Morrison 3 – Son of John Morrison 2. Born about January 1753 at North Ireland; died July 22, 1815 at Goshen, Orange County, New York. Married February 14, 1768 at Newburgh, Orange County, New York to Jane Storey.

John Morrison signed “The Pledge of Association.” See Ruttenber’s History of Orange County, page 67. He also served as a private in the Sixteenth Regiment, Albany County Militia (Land Bounty Rights). See “New York in the Revolution,” page 237. He is also listed in the DAR Patriot Index for serving as a private in New York.

Isaac Oviatt – Born September 29, 1734 at New Milford, Connecticut; died May 10, 1814 at Cambridge, Washington County, New York. Married 1768 at Dummerston, Vermont to Ester Willson.

Isaac Oviatt was captured by Indians and held prisoner nearly a year. He was a Private in the 16th Regiment of the Albany County Militia in N.Y. State during the Revolutionary War. He is listed in the DAR Patriots Index as well as New York in the Revolution.

James Small – Born 1749 at Scotland; died August 13, 1827 at Cambridge, Washington County, New York. Married about 1776 at Cambridge, Washington County, New York to Ann Beveridge.

James Small came to America in 1774 from Glasgow, Scotland. He served as a private in the Sixteenth Regiment, Albany County Militia. He’s listed in “New York in the Revolution.” and is also listed in the DAR Patriot Index (1966) for serving as a private in New York.

From Genealogy of the Robertson, Small and Related Families by Archibald Robertson Small, M.D., (Albert Garrett Small, Indianapolis, 1907), page 166: “I remember my father telling me that his grandmother [Ann Beveridge Small] at one time had to retreat to the cellar because she feared being attacked by a party of Indians that demanded food. When General Burgoyne and his troops went from Saratoga to Bennington, they captured my great-grandfather [James Small] and took him with them for the purpose of having him show them the way. He escaped from them at a place called Oak Hill, and returned home.