Washington County OhArchives Military Records.....Nye, Ichabod March 6, 1835
Revwar - Pension 
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Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com November 10, 2009, 3:38 pm

Ichabod Nye Pension Application, #S9444
“State of  Ohio, Washington County}
“On this 6th day of March, 1835, personally appeared before our Court of Common
Pleas in and for the county of Washington and state of Ohio, Ichabod Nye, resident
of Marietta County and state aforesaid, aged 72 years, who being first duly sworn
according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to
obtain the benefits…etc”

“Declaration: That he served nine months as a private soldier in the Continental
Establishment of the Army during the years of 1779 and 1780. that he entered the
service the 14th July, 1779, and was discharged the 14th April, 1780 in the 3rd
Massachusetts regiment commanded by Col. John Graton, and in a company commanded by
one Prichard, Capt.-Lieut., and as this fact will appear (as he presumes) on the
rolls in the War Office, he does not deem it necessary to state the further on this
part of service.”

“And he further declares, that he served as a soldier in a regiment of state troops
of Massachusetts, at Saratoga, commencing about the middle of August, 1781, and
ending the middle of November, composing a campaign of three months. This regiment
was organized by one lieutenant colonel and one major, and eight companies of men.
It was divided for duty; 4 companies were stationed at Saratoga, under the
lieutenant colonel, and 4 companies under the major was sent up the Mohawk River.
This regiment of men were drawn from the militia of the counties of Hampshire and
Worcester, by voluntary engagements, by being apportioned to the several towns in
those counties, and the towns enlisted and paid the men for service and the officers
took the field, on a routine of duty from among the militia.”

“This part of the regiment to which applicant belonged was quartered on the ground
in barracks, where Gen’l. Burgoyne made the treaty to surrender his army to Gen’l
Gates, October 17, 1777. The business and employment of the corps was to scout and
reconnoiter the country around, and Gen’l Stark commanded at this station. A small
corps of men were stationed at this place, when we arrived under one Capt. Grey,
garrisoned in some small huts and block house, pallisaded on or near the bank of a
creek on which Gen’l. Schuyler had mills erected, called Fishkill Creek. Applicant
has forgotten entirely, the name of the colonel and one of the captains with whom he
served; the other three were Shaddock, Strong, and King. With the colonel the
applicant formed very little acquaintance, he never knew him previous to that time,
nor since. The major’s name he has also forgotten, him he never saw. The battalion
to which applicant belonged was discharged about the middle of November 1781, by a
general order read upon the parade, at the evening rollcall. With this division of
troops, there was no battles fought, or any skirmishing took place during the
campaign. A party of refugees (Tories) of some fifteen or sixteen, were made
prisoners, by one of our scouts, and one of their number was condemned by a Court
Martial, as a spy, & hung on a bluff or high ground, near Gen’l Schuyler’s house at
this post.”

“Some time in the month of September, a battle was fought with that portion of the
regiment which went up the Mohawk with a party of Indians and Tories in which it was
said, was well contested. In consequence of this and some other reports relative to
the enemy in that quarter, a reinforcement was sent up from below, one regiment of
Continentals under Col. Benjamin Tupper, and one of state troops from New York under
Col. McKinster and Gen’l Starling to command, at that post; but soon after the news
arrived of the capture of the British Army in Virginia, these regiments retired to
Albany, and in November the campaign broke up.”

“The applicant further states that when he entered service he was a resident of the
town of Hadley, County of Hampshire, and state of Massachusetts. That he contracted
for this service as a soldier in the army in both the aforesaid cases, with the
selectmen of the said town, aforesaid; and that in the care of the Continental
service, he was to receive the pay and wages which, as other soldiers received in
the regiment where he should serve, with the addition of two hundred dollars in
Continental bills as a bounty to encourage the enlistment of the ?precinct? In the
second case, (of the state troops) he was to be paid by (or was insurable for the
payment) the said selectmen themselves.”

“Applicant further states that he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of
no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service…etc”

Questions by the Court

Where, and in what year were you born?
In Tolland, State of Connecticut, Dec. 21st, 1762.
Have you any record of your age?
I have no authentic record, but always was informed that this was the correct date.

Where were you living when called into service, and where have you lived since the
Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
I have stated in the body of this declaration where I lived when called into
service. After the Revolution, I lived in Chesterfield, county of Hampshire, Mass,
until June 1788, and then came to Marietta, and resided here ever since. 

Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so, by whom was it given,
and what has become of it?
I received a written discharge from the Continental Regiment, by Robert Oliver,
Major, and it was sent on to Boston, to the War or Treasury Department to procure my
bounty of two hundred dollars, Continental bills. From the state regiment of troops,
I have stated how I was discharged in the body of this declaration. 

I mention the names of John Clark, Caleb Emerson who can testify to my character and
reputation. Sworn to and subscribed this 6th day of March, 1835. Ichabod Nye.”

Addenda to the declaration of Ichabod Nye
“The discrepancy of the amount of service was owing to my not having any means of
ascertaining the exact time when, or how long I was in the militia service, in the
year of 1781. I well recollect that I was in the field 12 or 14 days before the
colonel or the captain of the company in which I was finally arranged, came up and
took the field. I was under the command of Capt. Shaddock from Albany and Saratoga
and for some time, in the beginning of service. The troops of this division were all
discharged at one and the same time, by a general order read on parade at the
evening roll call.”

“I proceed to give a detailed account of the nine months as charged in my
declaration, to show if possible, that I am the person whose name is borne on the
books, in the war department.”

“Early in July 1779, the town of Hadley was called upon for to furnish six men, to
fill up the regiments then in service, which had been reduced by the effects of the
war. The confederated government at this time had not the means to enlist or pay men
for service in the Army. I accordingly, contracted with the selectmen of the town to
perform this tour of service for nine months. I was promised to receive the wages
and rations that the troops then in service were allowed, together with a bounty of
two hundred dollars from the state of Massachusetts, on producing the certificate of
service having been performed by me; but was bound however to furnish arms, ____?,
clothing & blanket for and during the service. On these conditions on the 4th day of
July 1779, I passed muster for the tour at South Hadley before one Goodman, the
Mustermaster for that quarter. I was then in my seventeenth year of age, was
measured and recorded to be five feet and ten inches in height. The 13th of the same
month, I marched in company with Francis Trayner, Ebenezer Pomeroy, Seymour Helsey,
Medad Noble, and one Smith for Springfield. We arrived at that place on the 14th;
some days after we were conducted into the army, at West Point, by one Capt. Nixon,
of Nixon’s Regiment, and General Nixon’s brigade where we were assigned over to Col.
Graton’s regiment, excepting F. Traynor, he was taken into another regiment (of
which I do not remember.)”

“Nixon’s brigade then was laying about 4 miles southerly of West Point, in the woods
on the road from New York to Fishkill, in the high ground, about one mile above
Continental Village (so-called), consisting of three regiments, Greaton’s, Putnam’s,
and Nixon’s. Colonel Alden’s regiment, which had formerly been annexed to it, had
been mostly destroyed at the North and nevermore joined the brigade. The month of
August was spent in guarding the bases in the highland and fitting the new levies
for more practical service. Headquarters were at West Point. The enemy’s advance lay
at King’s Ferry; and here I would remark that during this year 1779 very little
fighting was done. I know of none, save that of General Wayne, and taking the
fortress of Stoney Point from the enemy, and that of Colonel Thompson being taken
the March following at Yong’s house, above the Plains.”

“Sometime about the first of September Nixon’s brigade moved out from the highland
to Northcastle,  where we were joined by General Glover’s, which had come on from
Rhode Island, and General Robert How took the command of the division, during the
fall of that campaign. This division made several movements in that quarter of the
country, during the fall chiefly at, or in the neighborhood of the Groton River to
watch the enemy and Cow Boys (or thieves) in these parts, of which it was infested.
Nothing very remarkable took place, excepting the scarcity of bread, for the supply
of the troops of this division. West Point was the object of the enemy at this time,
and it was necessary that that garrison should be supplied with stores.
Consequently, we in the country had to do with little; as early as the 17th of
October. The regiment was at one time, eight days without bread! ‘This!’ I thought,
‘was suffering,’ but this was only the beginning of sorrow.”

“In November, Col. Hazen’s regiment joined our brigade, which had been during the
summer, into the Connecticut Valley, to the border of the lower Canady, for what
purpose, no one could divine, save himself. The season was spent without any good to
the public service, at any rate, our guarding duty during this campaign was
intolerably hard and fatiguing. The enemy evacuated their position at King’s Ferry,
about the first of December and Nixon’s brigade took a position near to Fishkill
Village. Glover’s brigade and the Congress regiment crossed the Hudson; and left
this brigade to guard the works at Verplanck’s Point (which the enemy had burned).
It was the last of December before we took winter quarters. Greaton’s regiment took
the huts, built by one Col. Howe, a little below and west of Continental Village.
Putnam’s and Nixon’s regiments took the huts built by the brigade the year previous,
in the highlands above. The soldiery now consisted of three divisions of men; those
who had engaged for and during the war, those who had enlisted for three years, and
those of nine months. The clothing and dress of the troops now made a singular
appearance, when paraded. “During-the-war” men were dressed in a new uniform
(brought from France), the three-years men, in their old tattered uniforms (some
nearly naked) and the nine-months men in their country dress, which they had
furnished themselves with, but much worn and not much better than those of 3-years
men.”

“By this time, January 7, 1780, instead of rest and better fare in winter quarters,
our labours  and suffering had but just begun. The men, who enlisted for three
years, their term of service had begun to expire, and were discharged daily from
service. It was necessary to keep up the guards and detachments, as heretofore. On
the last day of duty I had followed the regiment into quarters, from a tour of duty
of seven days at King’s Ferry, (and the night previous, laying out in a snow storm
in the break?wood), I had anticipated some rest and quiet, but not so. The next
evening was notified for command, of 30-days tour. Next morning I marched with a
detachment of 4 companies to Northcastle under the command of William Shepherd,
Colonel, where we relieved a like command, which had been on the enemy’s lines. I
was with others, quartered in an open old building, with a fireplace in its center.
During the night a storm of snow commenced, and continued until every passway and
avenue was blocked up, literally. In this situation we were without provisions,
without fuel except to be cut and drawn by hand, through the snowbanks. Instead of
the storm abating in its violence, it increased by the cold winds.”

“Exertion or starvation was before us. A detachment of 50 men were ordered out to
force their way to Bedford, where a quantity of pork was stored; I was on this
command. One day was spent to reach that place, 4 miles. The next day in the evening
we returned to our station, with about 15 or 20 lbs. of meat by each man. Two days
after, I was again detached to search for flour in the country mills. After a hard
day’s work, we brought home some, and in this way we subsisted 2 weeks or more, when
we moved our station to Yong’s house above the White Plains in hope to find better
supply, but it was the same thing, the mills were all frozen up and could not grind.
I was detached again, for another expedition, to Col. Phillips Mill’s, but found no
flour or meal there, but scraped the mills and ground a little by clearing away the
snow and ice.”

“On the first of February we were relieved by a detachment under Lieut. Col.
Tompson; and we returned to our regiment in huts. Here we found rest for about 10
days, to care for a condition among the troops (the ‘itch’). So destitute was the
hospital during the fall and forepart of the winter that a remedy was not to be
obtained until this time, for one man. The first of March, I was again detached for
the old station, (the lines so-called), Yong’s house. At evening, after we marched,
we met a part of Thompson’s troops retreating with two wounded officers along.
Thompson had suffered himself to be surprised by the enemy’s Horse and Light
Infantry from New York. By his incredulity the most of two companies of his men were
killed and taken prisoner, to the City. The month of March was expended in very
alive watching and marchings to and from on the enemy’s lines, to take those who
were employed to feed the enemy with beef and fresh meat and etc, in the City of New
York. Yong’s house was burned when Thompson was taken.”

“This month having passed away, the detachment was again relieved by another, and we
again returned to our cantonments. By this time the greater part of the men who had
engaged for 3 years were discharged from service and of course the duty increased.
The second day after I arrived at our station, was ordered on command of 4 days to
West Point to assist in preparing the chains to be stretched across the Hudson which
had been taken up the fall previous. The river was frozen to cross until the 11th of
April, we crossed in boats. On the 11th I was discharged with my comrades. We took
our way home by subsisting on the charity of the inhabitants, by begging.”

Ichabod Nye died November 27, 1840, and his widow’s name was not given.

On Nov. 2, 1842, a letter was written to A. F. Nye, who was listed as living in
Marietta, Ohio. No relationship given.

Additional Comments:
From: “Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution,” Vol. 11,
pg. 587:
Nye, Ichabod, Hadley. Descriptive list of men raised in Hampshire Co. to serve in
the Continental Army for the term of 9 months, agreeable to resolve of June 9, 1779,
as returned by Noah Goodman, Superintendent; Capt. Cook's co., Col. Porter's regt.;
age, 16 yrs.; stature, 5 ft. 11 in.; complexion, black; hair, black; engaged for
town of Hadley; also, list of men returned as received of Noah Goodman,
Superintendent for Hampshire Co., by Justin Ely, Commissioner, dated Springfield;
also, list of men returned as received of Justin Ely, Commissioner, by Capt. James
Cooper, at Springfield, July 19, 1779; also, Col. Greaton's (3d) regt.; entered
service July 14, 1779; discharged April 14, 1780; term, 9 months; also, Private,
Capt. Oliver Coney's co., Col. Sears's regt.; marched Aug. 12, 1781; discharged Nov.
15, 1781; service, 3 mos. 10 days, including travel (146 miles) home; regiment
raised to reinforce Continental Army for 3 months; roll sworn to at Ware. 
Nye, Ichabod, Rochester. Private, Capt. Edward Hammond's co. of Minutemen, Col.
Theophilus Cotton's regt., which marched in response to the alarm of April 19, 1775;
service from April 20 to April 26, 1775, 7 days; also, Capt. Edward Hammond's co.,
Col. Theophilus Cotton's regt.; muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775; enlisted May 1,
1775; service, 3 mos. 8 days; also, company return dated Oct. 7, 1775; also, order
for bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated Roxbury, Nov. 11, 1775.

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