*REVOLUTIONARY WAR VET∼In 1775, Gerrit signed the Articles of Association at New Marlboro, Ulster, NY, agreeing to boycott British goods due to the rising crisis over taxation. Gerrit enlisted in the army when the Revolutionary War broke out, and soon became a player in some of the most significant events of the conflict.
The exact details of his enlistment and records of the companies in which he served are somewhat sketchy. Life in Ulster County, NY was still a frontier existence in the 1770s, so exact records were not kept, though it was recorded that for a time he was a private in the Ulster County Militia under Capt. Uriah Drake. On May 4, 1778, he was listed as a member of his brother-in-law Capt. Jacob Conklin's company. Other than these documented details, the source for the particulars of Gerrit's military service is primarily a combination of family Bible records and Van Benschoten family oral history.
One of the most notable events of Gerrit's patriotic service was also one of his first: taking part in Gen. George Washington's famed crossing of the Delaware on the night of December 25, 1776. After aiding in the smashing victory at Trenton, Gerrit made his way north to defend the area around his home. In October 1777, as a part of the campaign that culminated with their defeat at Saratoga later that month, the British attempted to pacify the Hudson Valley on their march northward from New York City. Guarding the valley were Forts Clinton and Montgomery, the latter of which Gerrit had been assigned to garrison.
When the 2100-man British force attacked on October 6, 1777, the 600 Continentals fought with valor, but ultimately were outmanned and outgunned--but Gerrit was not willing to surrender without a fight. Tradition says he was the last American to quit the fort, but on his way out he bayoneted a Redcoat who tried to intercept him.
Gerrit and a companion then hurried down a ravine road with the British in hot pursuit. Eluding capture, he and a companion jumped off a bridge, grabbing a hold of low-hanging branches to safely swing down beneath the overpass just moments before the pursuing squad approached. They hid there until night fell, but upon emerging they crossed a portion of the day's battlefield which was still strewn with dead bodies.
Gerrit did not escape the Battle of Fort Montgomery unscathed; at some point he lost his left eye, yet he continued his military service, notably spending the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge with Gen. Washington. Later, on July 16, 1779, Gerrit participated in the taking of Stony Point, some 30 miles north of the British military stronghold at New York City. Operating under the command of Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne, Gerrit volunteered for especially risky service as a part of the advance guard making the assault on this British outpost flanking the Hudson River.
Likely because of the valor he had repeatedly displayed throughout the war, Gerrit spent time serving as a member of Washington's Life Guards. This elite corps of 180 to 250 men were charged with protecting the commander-in-chief and performing other important responsibilities. Records of individual soldiers' service in this unit were not kept because its membership fluctuated regularly.
It is known that Gerrit was a member of the Life Guards during the fall of 1780. It was during September of that year that Gen. Benedict Arnold committed his treasonous act of attempting to surrender West Point to the British for a payment of £20,000. Arnold's co-conspirator, Maj. John André, was later apprehended for his role in the plot, and in preparation for his October 2 execution, Sgt. Gerrit Van Benschoten was assigned to escort him to the gallows.
After the cession of hostilities the following year, Gerrit remained with the army at Newburgh while the particulars of the post-war peace treaty were hammered out. Gifted with a talent for music, Gerrit, a former drum major, was known to frequently sing for the officers' enjoyment, and as legend has it, he even took requests from Gen. Washington himself.
Later in life, it is said that Gerrit would pick up a flute or drumsticks and play with the vigor of a much younger man, no doubt thinking back upon the many martial adventures he had experienced in the Revolutionary War.
- Researched and written by Andrew G. Simon, great-great-great-great-great-grandson of Sgt. Gerrit Van Benschoten∼aged 77
The exact details of his enlistment and records of the companies in which he served are somewhat sketchy. Life in Ulster County, NY was still a frontier existence in the 1770s, so exact records were not kept, though it was recorded that for a time he was a private in the Ulster County Militia under Capt. Uriah Drake. On May 4, 1778, he was listed as a member of his brother-in-law Capt. Jacob Conklin's company. Other than these documented details, the source for the particulars of Gerrit's military service is primarily a combination of family Bible records and Van Benschoten family oral history.
One of the most notable events of Gerrit's patriotic service was also one of his first: taking part in Gen. George Washington's famed crossing of the Delaware on the night of December 25, 1776. After aiding in the smashing victory at Trenton, Gerrit made his way north to defend the area around his home. In October 1777, as a part of the campaign that culminated with their defeat at Saratoga later that month, the British attempted to pacify the Hudson Valley on their march northward from New York City. Guarding the valley were Forts Clinton and Montgomery, the latter of which Gerrit had been assigned to garrison.
When the 2100-man British force attacked on October 6, 1777, the 600 Continentals fought with valor, but ultimately were outmanned and outgunned--but Gerrit was not willing to surrender without a fight. Tradition says he was the last American to quit the fort, but on his way out he bayoneted a Redcoat who tried to intercept him.
Gerrit and a companion then hurried down a ravine road with the British in hot pursuit. Eluding capture, he and a companion jumped off a bridge, grabbing a hold of low-hanging branches to safely swing down beneath the overpass just moments before the pursuing squad approached. They hid there until night fell, but upon emerging they crossed a portion of the day's battlefield which was still strewn with dead bodies.
Gerrit did not escape the Battle of Fort Montgomery unscathed; at some point he lost his left eye, yet he continued his military service, notably spending the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge with Gen. Washington. Later, on July 16, 1779, Gerrit participated in the taking of Stony Point, some 30 miles north of the British military stronghold at New York City. Operating under the command of Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne, Gerrit volunteered for especially risky service as a part of the advance guard making the assault on this British outpost flanking the Hudson River.
Likely because of the valor he had repeatedly displayed throughout the war, Gerrit spent time serving as a member of Washington's Life Guards. This elite corps of 180 to 250 men were charged with protecting the commander-in-chief and performing other important responsibilities. Records of individual soldiers' service in this unit were not kept because its membership fluctuated regularly.
It is known that Gerrit was a member of the Life Guards during the fall of 1780. It was during September of that year that Gen. Benedict Arnold committed his treasonous act of attempting to surrender West Point to the British for a payment of £20,000. Arnold's co-conspirator, Maj. John André, was later apprehended for his role in the plot, and in preparation for his October 2 execution, Sgt. Gerrit Van Benschoten was assigned to escort him to the gallows.
After the cession of hostilities the following year, Gerrit remained with the army at Newburgh while the particulars of the post-war peace treaty were hammered out. Gifted with a talent for music, Gerrit, a former drum major, was known to frequently sing for the officers' enjoyment, and as legend has it, he even took requests from Gen. Washington himself.
Later in life, it is said that Gerrit would pick up a flute or drumsticks and play with the vigor of a much younger man, no doubt thinking back upon the many martial adventures he had experienced in the Revolutionary War.
- Researched and written by Andrew G. Simon, great-great-great-great-great-grandson of Sgt. Gerrit Van Benschoten∼aged 77
*REVOLUTIONARY WAR VET∼In 1775, Gerrit signed the Articles of Association at New Marlboro, Ulster, NY, agreeing to boycott British goods due to the rising crisis over taxation. Gerrit enlisted in the army when the Revolutionary War broke out, and soon became a player in some of the most significant events of the conflict.
The exact details of his enlistment and records of the companies in which he served are somewhat sketchy. Life in Ulster County, NY was still a frontier existence in the 1770s, so exact records were not kept, though it was recorded that for a time he was a private in the Ulster County Militia under Capt. Uriah Drake. On May 4, 1778, he was listed as a member of his brother-in-law Capt. Jacob Conklin's company. Other than these documented details, the source for the particulars of Gerrit's military service is primarily a combination of family Bible records and Van Benschoten family oral history.
One of the most notable events of Gerrit's patriotic service was also one of his first: taking part in Gen. George Washington's famed crossing of the Delaware on the night of December 25, 1776. After aiding in the smashing victory at Trenton, Gerrit made his way north to defend the area around his home. In October 1777, as a part of the campaign that culminated with their defeat at Saratoga later that month, the British attempted to pacify the Hudson Valley on their march northward from New York City. Guarding the valley were Forts Clinton and Montgomery, the latter of which Gerrit had been assigned to garrison.
When the 2100-man British force attacked on October 6, 1777, the 600 Continentals fought with valor, but ultimately were outmanned and outgunned--but Gerrit was not willing to surrender without a fight. Tradition says he was the last American to quit the fort, but on his way out he bayoneted a Redcoat who tried to intercept him.
Gerrit and a companion then hurried down a ravine road with the British in hot pursuit. Eluding capture, he and a companion jumped off a bridge, grabbing a hold of low-hanging branches to safely swing down beneath the overpass just moments before the pursuing squad approached. They hid there until night fell, but upon emerging they crossed a portion of the day's battlefield which was still strewn with dead bodies.
Gerrit did not escape the Battle of Fort Montgomery unscathed; at some point he lost his left eye, yet he continued his military service, notably spending the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge with Gen. Washington. Later, on July 16, 1779, Gerrit participated in the taking of Stony Point, some 30 miles north of the British military stronghold at New York City. Operating under the command of Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne, Gerrit volunteered for especially risky service as a part of the advance guard making the assault on this British outpost flanking the Hudson River.
Likely because of the valor he had repeatedly displayed throughout the war, Gerrit spent time serving as a member of Washington's Life Guards. This elite corps of 180 to 250 men were charged with protecting the commander-in-chief and performing other important responsibilities. Records of individual soldiers' service in this unit were not kept because its membership fluctuated regularly.
It is known that Gerrit was a member of the Life Guards during the fall of 1780. It was during September of that year that Gen. Benedict Arnold committed his treasonous act of attempting to surrender West Point to the British for a payment of £20,000. Arnold's co-conspirator, Maj. John André, was later apprehended for his role in the plot, and in preparation for his October 2 execution, Sgt. Gerrit Van Benschoten was assigned to escort him to the gallows.
After the cession of hostilities the following year, Gerrit remained with the army at Newburgh while the particulars of the post-war peace treaty were hammered out. Gifted with a talent for music, Gerrit, a former drum major, was known to frequently sing for the officers' enjoyment, and as legend has it, he even took requests from Gen. Washington himself.
Later in life, it is said that Gerrit would pick up a flute or drumsticks and play with the vigor of a much younger man, no doubt thinking back upon the many martial adventures he had experienced in the Revolutionary War.
- Researched and written by Andrew G. Simon, great-great-great-great-great-grandson of Sgt. Gerrit Van Benschoten∼aged 77
The exact details of his enlistment and records of the companies in which he served are somewhat sketchy. Life in Ulster County, NY was still a frontier existence in the 1770s, so exact records were not kept, though it was recorded that for a time he was a private in the Ulster County Militia under Capt. Uriah Drake. On May 4, 1778, he was listed as a member of his brother-in-law Capt. Jacob Conklin's company. Other than these documented details, the source for the particulars of Gerrit's military service is primarily a combination of family Bible records and Van Benschoten family oral history.
One of the most notable events of Gerrit's patriotic service was also one of his first: taking part in Gen. George Washington's famed crossing of the Delaware on the night of December 25, 1776. After aiding in the smashing victory at Trenton, Gerrit made his way north to defend the area around his home. In October 1777, as a part of the campaign that culminated with their defeat at Saratoga later that month, the British attempted to pacify the Hudson Valley on their march northward from New York City. Guarding the valley were Forts Clinton and Montgomery, the latter of which Gerrit had been assigned to garrison.
When the 2100-man British force attacked on October 6, 1777, the 600 Continentals fought with valor, but ultimately were outmanned and outgunned--but Gerrit was not willing to surrender without a fight. Tradition says he was the last American to quit the fort, but on his way out he bayoneted a Redcoat who tried to intercept him.
Gerrit and a companion then hurried down a ravine road with the British in hot pursuit. Eluding capture, he and a companion jumped off a bridge, grabbing a hold of low-hanging branches to safely swing down beneath the overpass just moments before the pursuing squad approached. They hid there until night fell, but upon emerging they crossed a portion of the day's battlefield which was still strewn with dead bodies.
Gerrit did not escape the Battle of Fort Montgomery unscathed; at some point he lost his left eye, yet he continued his military service, notably spending the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge with Gen. Washington. Later, on July 16, 1779, Gerrit participated in the taking of Stony Point, some 30 miles north of the British military stronghold at New York City. Operating under the command of Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne, Gerrit volunteered for especially risky service as a part of the advance guard making the assault on this British outpost flanking the Hudson River.
Likely because of the valor he had repeatedly displayed throughout the war, Gerrit spent time serving as a member of Washington's Life Guards. This elite corps of 180 to 250 men were charged with protecting the commander-in-chief and performing other important responsibilities. Records of individual soldiers' service in this unit were not kept because its membership fluctuated regularly.
It is known that Gerrit was a member of the Life Guards during the fall of 1780. It was during September of that year that Gen. Benedict Arnold committed his treasonous act of attempting to surrender West Point to the British for a payment of £20,000. Arnold's co-conspirator, Maj. John André, was later apprehended for his role in the plot, and in preparation for his October 2 execution, Sgt. Gerrit Van Benschoten was assigned to escort him to the gallows.
After the cession of hostilities the following year, Gerrit remained with the army at Newburgh while the particulars of the post-war peace treaty were hammered out. Gifted with a talent for music, Gerrit, a former drum major, was known to frequently sing for the officers' enjoyment, and as legend has it, he even took requests from Gen. Washington himself.
Later in life, it is said that Gerrit would pick up a flute or drumsticks and play with the vigor of a much younger man, no doubt thinking back upon the many martial adventures he had experienced in the Revolutionary War.
- Researched and written by Andrew G. Simon, great-great-great-great-great-grandson of Sgt. Gerrit Van Benschoten∼aged 77
Inscription
Military Memorial
(original stone by family non-readable)
Garritt Van Benschoten
PVT
Conklins Co
4 NY REGT
REV WAR
1756
1832
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
