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British Surrender at Saratoga: October 17, 1777

Gates believes Burgoyne will soon launch an attack
On October 17, 1777, British and German troops under British general John Burgoyne surrendered to American general Horatio Gates, turning the tide of the Revolutionary War in the Americans’ favor.

In the summer of 1777, Burgoyne commenced his plan to lead his army down from Canada through upstate New York to meet up in Albany with other British troops moving in from the south and west. By doing so, he hoped to isolate New England and prevent it from presenting a united war effort with the other colonies.

However, near Saratoga the Americans had dug in, hoping to stall Burgoyne’s progress. On September 19, Burgoyne launched an attack, known as the Battle of Freeman’s Farm. Though at battle’s end the British commanded the field, they suffered much higher losses than the Americans, who outnumbered the British by several thousand and were also receiving a constant stream of new militia troops.

Burgoyne decided not to immediately attack the Americans again, perhaps waiting for word of the movements of fellow British general Henry Clinton. Finally, with supplies running low, Burgoyne began his attack in the Battle of Bemis Heights on October 7. This time it was the Americans who were victorious, led to success in large part by General Benedict Arnold, who, though previously dismissed by Gates, returned to the battlefield to rally the troops.

Terms of Surrender between Gates and Burgoyne at Saratoga

Burgoyne realized that at this point his two options were to retreat or surrender. He originally planned to retreat but discovered his path had been blocked by a contingent of Americans. Reluctantly, he agreed to surrender. After some back and forth between Burgoyne and Gates as to the terms, Burgoyne finally surrendered his army on October 17

Under the fairly generous terms of surrender, the British and Germans were to give up their weapons to their own officers after leaving camp. Then the troops were to march to Boston, where they were to return to England and never again fight in the war. (Congress, however, would later renege on this part of the agreement, and the troops remained prisoners of war for years.)

The American victory at Saratoga proved a pivotal event in the war. The victory led the French to openly side with the Americans a few months later, providing crucial funds, supplies, weapons, troops, and naval support.

Did you have any ancestors who fought in the Battles of Saratoga? Tell us about it! If you want to learn more about the battles and subsequent surrender, start a search on Fold3.

139 Comments

  1. Jim Dane says:

    Yes, my ancestor was at the Battle at Saratoga!
    His name, Joshua Dean(Virginia) in Morgan’s Rifle Regiment, of Col.Daniel Morgan.
    It is interesting that Joshua was given a 5 month furlough or 5 months off. Maybe this was a reward for him doing so well, or he was injured (no note of this in service record), or his family needed him…
    If you may know, please write me.
    Thanks, Jim Dane

    • Delbert Ritchhart says:

      Jim: I have a Joshua Dean, b. 1750 in Virginia, d. 1801 in S.C. Married, I believe, to Tabatha Mays. If this is the same Joshua as yours, I would appreciate your sharing the source of the information regarding his service in the Revolutionary War and particular the details you shared about the Battle at Saratoga. Thanks very much.

      Del Ritchhart, San Diego

    • cheryle says:

      I am curious about yur lastname. Did it evolve from Dean to Dane? Many misspelings back them that are reflected in changes now.

  2. Karin Toole says:

    My ancestor Ensign Edward Kingman served from Jan. 1, 1777 to Sept. 26, 1777 in Capt. Ephraim Burr’s (4th) Co., Col. John Bailey’s Regt. and was killed at Saratoga Sept. 26, 1777.

  3. M Day says:

    Yes, my ancestor was Col. Jacob Wright, 1758-1844. He participated in the Battle of Bennington.
    He was one of the guard which escorted prisoner Burgoyne to Cambridge.

    • Scjerry says:

      Any connection to Robert Wright from Cambridge who fought at Bunker Hill. His father
      was Dr.John (Fessenden) Wright. my 4th and 5th gr. gf.

    • Linda Mahoney says:

      My ancestor was killed at the Battle of Bennington, he would go into battle barefoot try on boots of the enemy he killed. By the second person’s boots he tried on he was killed! Very strange!
      He was Capt. Thomas Comstock 1739-1777. Came from CT and moved to VT.

  4. Sylvia Burkhalter says:

    My great grandfather x5, Robert Carpenter, was killed in battle on October 7, 1777 at the 2nd Battle of Bemis Heights, Saratoga. This was in the same action which Benedict Arnold had his leg broken when his horse was shot and fell with him. Robert was a corporal in the 8th Massachusetts Infantry commanded by Capt. Keith in Col. Michael Jackson’s regiment. He left behind a 2 year old son who was his namesake. Thank goodness. I’m very proud to be the direct descendent of an American patriot.

  5. Rita K says:

    My ancestor, Russell Chamberlain was a private in Capt Warren’s Co and Col Bailey’s regiment at Saratoga. I visited the Battlefield a couple of weeks ago and the ranger described the battles for me. Then I was able to sign a guest book as the descendant of one of the soldiers. Fortunately he survived the Battle and his 3 years of service and eventually collected a pension, the details of which I found on Fold 3.

    • Margaret Rotti says:

      My great-great grandfather was Russell Chamberlain, born Dec. 4, 1799 in Williamstown, MA. His parents are listed as David and Susan, of New England. I have been trying for over 20 years to find information on his parents and grandparents. The only other place I have found the names David and Russell Chamberlain linked together is in the will of John Chamberlain of Thetford, Vt, mentioned as his grandsons in his will of 26 April 1799, which was proved 26 April 1802 (Orange Co. Probate, I., 167) I would be grateful for any other further information or links.

    • Rita K says:

      My search for more information on Russell Chamberlain has been frustrating. While I know certain things, proof is elusive. He married Louisa and had several children, including a son Russell, who was apparently in the War of 1812, I would like to know more about your Russell to see if there is a connection.

    • Margaret Rotti says:

      My Russell (b. Dec 4,1799, d. Dec 16, 1875), married Catherine Henderson (b. Feb 24, 1797, d. May 24,1884). His parents were listed as David and Susan of New England in the Williamstown, MA V.R. Their children were Julia, Catherine, Susan, Frances and David.

    • Margaret Rotti says:

      I forgot to list Henry as one of Russell and Catherine Chamberlain’s children on my last reply.

    • Cheryl McDonald says:

      i am descended from William Chamberlain (1619-1706) and Rebecca Addington (1625-1692) and their daughter Sarah (1655-1735) of Billerica, MA. i have not traced Sarah’s siblings but there seems to be a lot of documentation of the residents of Billerica because it was a site of witch trials. Rebecca died in the Cambridge prison, acused of being a witch. She died before coming to trial.

      This William Chamberlain is the ancestor of General Chamberlain of Maine, who was at Gettysburg’s Little Round Top.

    • Rita K says:

      I have not been able to successfully identify his parents, but one source suggests that he was born in Connecticut. He enlisted in Great Barrington and married in Sheffield, MA. So far no other trace of him there. He was in Saratoga county after the war and ended up in Western New York where he died. Probably very poor and so was not recorded in official records. Hope someday to find out where he was from and who his family was.

    • Cheryl McDonald says:

      There is a group refered to as WCGS that has done DNA research and testing to confirm the inter-relationship betwen the earliest Chamberlains coming to America. if you have done DNA testing you may be able to link to other Chamberlains. i found the following reference . [Editor’s Note: For further discussion of William’s wife’s name and the possibility of an additional marriage please read the article, “Comments on CAA 1902 Annual Report,” in Spring 2007 issue of the Chamberlain Key.] there is a possibility that in Chamberlain Key that you may find hints for research.

  6. T Lyon says:

    My ggggg grandfather fought in this battle as part of the Green Mountain Boys. So proud of his part of history.

    • Thaddeus Eugene Hughes says:

      The Green Mountain Boys are still active. I was in Vermont when an engineering unit returned home from Iraq. The whole countryside had turned out to greet them. Well, they deserved it. GOD bless America!

  7. Alan Smith says:

    My ancestor Pvt Allen Graves fought at Saratoga, was at Valley Forge, and continued in service until the war’s end. His service at both appeared in his pension app. He also fought in the French and Indian War. His commanding officers were also Bailey and Warren.

  8. Sue Swenson says:

    My ancestor was Oliver Boardman. He was present at the surrender and wrote a journal.

  9. Janis Noonan says:

    My ancestor was a Hessian soldier who was a POW from the battle at Saratoga but went AWOL on the march towards Boston. He stayed in Connecticut, married and his great grandson was the personal physician for Teddy Roosevelt–Capt. George Augustus Lung, MD.

    • Brenda Bergen says:

      My ancestor, Leonhard Kratz was also a Hessian soldier who fought with Burgoyne and was taken prisoner. He utlimately escaped, and journeyed to Kentucky with his new bride. They were attacked by Indians at Riddells fort and separated, then reunited in Detroit. After many trials and tribulations they bought land in Essex County, Ontario and started a family…name changed to Scratch by an English teacher. An incredible story of survival!

  10. Jeff Burden says:

    Yes my Grandfather Col. James Burden, served the papers on and to Benjamin Chew for treason. by order of the United States Contential Congress . Chew was arrested and taken back to Virginia for trial, but before he could be tried the War ended and he was released.

  11. My ancestor George Bartels a Brunswick German soldier surrendered at the Battle of Saratoga but later escaped during the forced march to Virginia and lived out his life in Lancaster Pa but fathered many children who later Pioneered Ohio. The family later changed their name to Bortel.I researched the family thoroughly and wrote a book about the Hessian Soldier, George Herman Heinrich Bartels who was born in the City of Brunswick Germany.

  12. Dwight Mac Kerron says:

    The Stoughton (Mass.) Historical Society has transcribed and published the diary of Militia Pvt./Corp. Ezra Tilden, who was at Ticonderoga-Fort Independence in the summer of 1976 and at Saratoga in 1777. He did not see combat there, but wrote such entries as, “P.M. as I was going toward Saratoga to meet our regiment to carry them provisions I saw Gen Arnold’s horse that was the day before shot under him and several dead and naked men I saw that day that were killed that day in the battle that day before., and now I have just heard that the regulars are fled, are gone and Gen Burgoyne’s markee with all their markees are I hear left standing and they are more now it is supposed toward Ticonderoga again. Our men have this this morning been into Burgoyne’s tent. Some deserters 30 or more they say came in to us last night or this morning and some of them say that they walked three or four miles with Burgoyne last night in the woods, “

  13. My 4 times great grandfather, Benjamin Jennings, also served with Morgan’s Riflemen. My husband and I were in upstate New York and visited the battlefield park on the 238th anniversary of the first battle. What fortunate timing as we were able to visit with several British and American re-enactors and learned so much about the battle.

  14. Denise says:

    My 5x great grandfather William McConnell served in the 1st New York Battalion and fought at Saratoga as well as Monmouth and Yorktown with the surrender of Cornwallis. Exciting stuff!!

  15. Michael Shuman says:

    My 5th greatgrandfather was George Conrad Schumann. He was a Rifleman in the Riedesel Regiment, one of the Brunswickers from Germany. He was captured at Breymann’s redoubt and imprisoned at Fishkill N.Y. He escaped from there and eventually settled around Clarence N.Y.

  16. David cazalet says:

    Lt. Col. Frederick Weissenfels, then a major, had been with Burr at Quebec, then Saratoga. He was serving with the New York Levies. He was active until New York ordered a reduction in force. He was at Valley Forge. At Monmouth he and General Philip Schuler lead a bayonet charge that assisted Washington in rallying the army after Gen. Charles Lee’s debacle. Later, he was called up again to protect New York’s northern border from British and Indian incursions along with Marrius Willet, later Sheriff of New York City. He died penniless in New Orleans in 1806. Three of his sons also fought in the Revolution: Charles, Peter, and John.

  17. John Cahoon says:

    My ancestor Seward Poland was there

  18. Ronald L. Mihills says:

    My 4th great grandfather, Private Moses Miles (Mighill/Mihills) served in Capt. Frederick Bell’s Company, Lt. Col. George Reid’s Regiment, 2nd NH Line. Capt. Bell was injured during the 16 Sept. 1777 Battle of Stillwater and died 9 Oct. 1777. Private Miles was at the 19 Sept. 1777 Battle of Freeman’s Farm and the 17 Oct. 1777 surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga. Private Miles spent the winter of 1777 at Valley Forge, PA with Washington’s Army.

  19. Cheryl McDonald says:

    Does any one know if there were any artillery corps at Saratoga? And what were they, please? Were there any units that were at Ticonderoga at Saratoga?

    • Jon K Shidler says:

      The only artillery specifically listed in the American Order of Battle on p 372, Appendix D of John Luzader, Saratoga: A Military History, Savas Beattie, LLC, New York and El Dorado Hills, CA, 2006, is Stevens’ Independent Brigade of Artillery under Maj. Ebenezer Stevens. My impression is that there was other artillery, but it is lumped with the foot soldiers and riflemen, etc in the listing of brigades.

    • Cheryl McDonald says:

      Thank you Jon.
      I had not been able to confirm that My ancestor William Loudon participated at Saratoga. Drum Major William Loudon served under Lt Nathaniel Donnell in Stevens Corps. These two men served together from Ticonderoga 1776 thru to the end of the war in 1783. Drum Major William Loudon wintered at Jockey Hollow 1779-1780 and then served as Drum Major twice at West Point during 1780. In the pension records, Oliver Stetson, who also served in Stevens Corps, testified that because William, a Scotsman, spoke fluent French, William was able to procure provisions for the Corps from the locals in upstate New York.

  20. Nancy says:

    I have ancestors on both sides of this conflict.

    Samuel Proctor was with Capt. Lane, Col. Alden at Saratoga. He saw action at Bemis Heights. Later in the war he was taken captive during the Cherry Valley Massacre and held prisoner by the Iroquois for almost a year.

    My German ancestor was a surgeon with Burgoyne’s German troops on the other side of the battle. After being taken prisoner he was paroled. He then came to the German settlement on the coast of Maine where he took a wife and settled.

  21. Sylvia says:

    Ancestry claims my 4th g. grandfather was a “mercenary” from the Duchy of Brunswick fighting in the Revolutionary War, but they don’t mention any of those names. I also found out these weren’t mercenaries – they were conscripted by their duke/ruler and their “services” were sold to the British to line the pockets of these German dukes. See “The 30 Years War”, by Peter H. Wilson.

    Interesting what you learn by reading a book to get the other point of view.

    Another interesting note: the image they sent me had my 4th g. grandfather’s name on it, and I attached it to him. Now I look up that attached record, and it’s been changed to an index card with a completely different name on it. Hmm-m-m-m. What is the truth, and who is perpetuating it?

  22. Susan Williams says:

    My ancestor Moses Chaplin was at the battle Saratoga. He was with
    Captain Rand’s Company in Col Daniel Moore’s Regiment. He was 17 years old and from Rindge NH. He enlisted for a month in Exeter NH and I believe his regiment traveled with Gen Whipple to Saratoga in response to calls for more volunteers

  23. Susan Mowry says:

    My 5x great grandfather, Ephraim Woodworth (Sr.) was a Captain of the local militia, the 4th NY of the 13th Regiment and fought in the battles in that area. His house and barn which were located just south of the roads to Bemis Heights and Ballston were used by Gen. Gates as headquarters and hospital. Second Lieutenant Thomas Hunt, my 4x great grandfather, was married to Jerusha Woodworth (Ephraim’s daughter) and he fought in all the battles around that area and later served under Col. Frederick Weisesenfels.

    • Dave Freeman says:

      Hi Susan,

      Capt. Ephraim is my 3rd Cousin 8x Removed, we share Thomas Rogers as a common ancestor. Please see my post on 10/9/15.

      Thanks Dave

  24. Meriwether C. Schmid says:

    My ancestor, 1st Lt. Basil Prather served in Morgan’s Rifles under Capt Van Swearingen. Capt Swearingen was wounded and captured during the Battle of Freeman’s Farm leaving Lt. Basil Prather in command of the unit. This information was gleaned from the agent at the Battle of Saratoga Museum who had research material.

    • Kay L. Baldwin says:

      RE: Meriwether C. Schmid
      October 3, 2015 at 10:35 am
      My ancestor, 1st Lt. Basil Prather served in Morgan’s Rifles under Capt Van Swearingen. Capt Swearingen was wounded and captured during the Battle of Freeman’s Farm leaving Lt. Basil Prather in command of the unit. This information was gleaned from the agent at the Battle of Saratoga Museum who had research material.

      *****I Have a Basil Prather in my ancestry but the records are somewhat inconsistent. Do you have more info regarding him?

      Mine was born abt 1740 or 1742. And was married to a Chlorinda Robertson. I believe he was born in Maryland.

    • Meriwether C. Schmid says:

      Kay Baldwin – Hi ! My Basil Prather was born 3 May 1751 in Prince George Co., Maryland. He was the son of Thomas Prather (1704-1785) and Elizabeth Clagett (b. abt1708) He married Frances Meriwether in Louisville, Ky. He died in Louisville Jan 1803. Hope this helps. Meriwether

  25. Karen Allen Shreve says:

    Our GGGG grandfater is Ethan Allen. Green Mountain Boys from Vermont.

  26. Kent George says:

    I have found that my 4th great grandfather, Gideon George and his son Gideon George, Jr. both fought in the second battle of Saratoga. They were in Drake’s Regiment of the NH Militia and fought under Gen. Ebenezer Learned at Bemis Heights. Fascinating history to be directly related to a Revolutionary War hero!

  27. Mildred Clough says:

    My 4th great grandfather lived near the battlefield and walked with neighbors to watch the battle. His town accused him of being a Loyalist but then decided that if they only watched and didn’t fight it was okay.

  28. Merle Kimball says:

    My great-great-great grandfather, Jesse Graves, was a member of the Green Mountain Boys and fought at the battle of Hubbardton, VT. He was captured there by the British and taken to Fort Ticonderoga. He was supposedly under the command of Seth Warner.
    Jesse died as a British prisoner of war. The only evidence of what happened to him is in his son’s Nathaniel Graves’s pension record. I have been unable to find any other documentation. I am descended from his first son, William, who also fought in the Revolutionary War as an Indian Scout based at Castleton, VT.
    Would love to hear if someone else had documentation regarding the militia at the Battle of Hubbardton.

  29. Susan Barrett says:

    also had a great (several times back) grandfather who fought at the battle of Bennington. He lived in Poultney, VT with his wife and many children. He was away when she had to flee because of a feared attack. Can someone correct me or were there soldiers part of the Green Mountain boys. You know how stories by family get convoluted.

  30. Arthur Maroney says:

    I just finished a book by Nathaniel Philbrick on Bunker Hill and he tells about how much the final assault on Boston was effected by the Battle of Saratoga. The patriots were running dangerously low on gunpowder and lacked artillery needed for the assault. A supply came from the powder and artillery confiscated from the Battle of Saratoga and transported by water and over land. It’s a GREAT read.

    • Dwight Mac Kerron says:

      I think you are mixing up some dates here. Saratoga happened more than a year AFTER the Brits had left Boston. Cannon did get sledded down from Ticonderoga by Henry Knox back in 75/76, after Arnold and Ethan Allen captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point, both being lightly defended at the time.

  31. Michelle Kee says:

    My 5 great grandfather, Jacob Yaple, was a sharpshooter at Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered. He served as a private in Col. Wynkoop’s Regiment, Capt. Pawling’s Company, and Capt. Swart’s Company. He also served with General Sullivan against the Indians in NY. He owned a Revolutionary War gun marked “Christ Oerter”, Christ Spring, 1774.
    This is according to “The Yaple Family in America” by Doris Yaple Giest & Roland Yaple. pg 294

    • Arlen Clark says:

      I have a 4ggf named Jacob Yaple too, same person.

    • Michelle Kee says:

      If he was married to Maria Dumond, then yes the same person. Jacob was a popular name in the family and everyone in the USA with the name Yaple/Yaples/Yeaple are related to each other through Jacob’s father Phillip Henry Yaple who is the only one known to have brought the name to the US.

  32. Joe L Field says:

    Three cousins in the Connecticut militia fought in the battle of Bennington. Their father, Moses Field, was using a hoe to cultivate his corn field. . He could hear the cannon and rifle fire and became so upset that he had to stop and return to his house. The next day he got word that all three were well. The cousins liked and respected Benedict Arnold and told how he ran onto the field, directing and encouraging them to stay in the battle.

  33. Sean Patchin says:

    My great grandfather x4, James McNish, a Scotch-Irish immigrant from Northern Ireland. He helped build a fort near New Perth, NY, to defend against and was wounded in the neck on or about 13 October 1777 in the Second Battle of Saratoga (Battle of Bemis Heights).

  34. Willard H. Davis, Jr. says:

    My ancestor, Peter Able Bonse, was a Hessian (Brunswicker) who fought with the British at Saratoga. He deserted in the Mass. Berkshires, married a Mahican lady (Anglicanized name “Lydia”). They settled in Oxford, Worcester, Mass, had their first child there in 1779, had 9 more children there and became productive citizens in their community. Peter became a naturalized citizen in 1812.

  35. Jon K Shidler says:

    I MAY have had an ancestor at Saratoga. I have a g-g-g-g-grandfather named Johannes Steinhoff or John Stinehof, who Settled in Canada near Niagara Falls in 1782. There seem to have been a Johan and a Johannes Steinhoff among the “Hessian” troops under Burgoyne’s command. One Steinhoff is believed to have been in a Grenadier Battalion commanded by Lt Col Heinrich von Breymann, part of a regiment of Brunswickers under the overall command of Maj Gen Friederich von Riedesel, though it is unclear whether Steinhoff was actually from Brunswick; the other was in a group from Hesse-Hanau, perhaps the Erbprinz Regiment under General von Gall.
    Johannes Steinhoff in the Brunswick regiment disappeared at “Sharon” (probably Sharon, Connecticut, a small town near the New York State border) on 21 Nov 1778. It is tempting to speculate that he may have made his way from there to Newton Twp, Sussex Co, NJ (a distance of perhaps 80 miles), where our ancestor named Johannes Steinhoff is thought to have lived before moving to Canada.
    So, did John Steinhoff of Upper Canada come from New Jersey? Or did one of the mercenaries who fought for the British travel to Canada and take up farming? The problem with the same person being all three—the New Jersey resident, a mercenary, and a Canadian Loyalist—is that there is a 1774 New Jersey tax record that John “Stinehuff” had 10 acres and two “horses and/or cattle”. That would be three years before the Battle of Saratoga. The Germans that fought at Saratoga were transported from Europe to Quebec and marched down to Saratoga from there. If the New Jersey Steinhoff was involved in that campaign he would seemingly have had to return to Europe first.
    The problem is further complicated by Steinhoff’s grandson, Joseph Elson, who wrote in 1864:
    “. . . my father John Elson as I have been informed was one of the Germen leageon that was hiered by the British government to come to America for to try and put down the rebellion then going on there this leagon ten thousand in number was raised in and near Hesson Casel in Germany and they were called Hessons and at the close of the war the greater part of them settled in Upper Canada around York and near Niagara falls up Chipawa creek they were among those who were call United Empire Loyalists . . .”
    I have found 2 documents giving John Elson’s age. According to one he would have been 8 at the time of Saratoga, according to the other, 12. Did Joseph somehow attach a story to his father that really belonged to his mother’s father?

    • Sylvia says:

      I, too, have a 4rh g. grandfather who may have fought for the British in the Revolutionary War. He was from the Duchy of Brunswick, which is today a part of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), but if the record Ancestry threw up is correct, he came back home about 2 years after he arrived in Quebec. I attached the image of the passenger list to his profile, but in wanting to go back to look at it again, I discovered Ancestry had substituted it with an index card, which is lacking a lot of information that was on the image.

      Supposedly, he arrived in Quebec some time in 1778. If he fought in the Battle of Saratoga, his commanding officer would have been von Riedesel. After he got back home, he married Catrine Riewesel/Rievesel/Riebesel. Linguistically, these two names are very different, but it is still a possibility that the commanding officer and Catrine were related, though small.

      I’ve been reading Peter H Wilson’s, “The 30 Years War” (an exceptionally good author on European history, I might add), in which he gives great attention to the history of the culture of the Holy Roman Empire over a 250 yr. period. In there, I discovered these “Hessian mercenaries” were not all Hessians, and definitely not mercenaries, by today’s definition. As I said previously, my 4th great grandfather was from Brunswick, that is, from an area that in tribal times, was occupied by the Anglos, and east of them, by the Saxons.

      The erbprinzes (ancient nobility/royalty) of this area were close cousins to King Georg of England (he was of the House of Hannover). The rulers of these duchies had a habit of selling the services of their soldiers, and pocketing the money. These soldiers were conscripted, they did not volunteer for these duties.

      By the late 1700’s, their people were pretty tired of the spilling of their sons and husbands blood on foreign soil, so these dukes were making more effort at protecting their soldiers. In their deal with King Georg, he was to pay the soldiers directly, and then pay the dukes certain monies on top of that. The German soldiers were to be commanded only by their ducal designated commanding officers, not by British officers. So it is erroneous to say these soldiers were commanded by any British officer, though the British and German commanders did work together on their battle plans. (Please note the fact that one British officer struck out on his own anyway, to the loss of his whole unit. George Custer did the very same thing in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, to the same end, a century later. Such actions are the result of arrogance and pride – greed for glory, but that was the order of the day. The Germans were far more disciplined in their plans and actions.)

      The German soldiers who became sick and/or injured were also to be tended to by German doctors, not British doctors, and all loss of life, for any reason, and/or sick/injured soldier was to be monetarily compensated for – to the dukes, not the soldiers’ families. Here I have to ask, how do you put a price on the life of a human being?

      I might also add that most of these greedy dukes were disenfranchised not long after the Revolutionary War.

  36. Jonathan Daniels says:

    My 3X great grandfather, James Westurn, joined the British Army in 1776 at the age of 16. He was sent to Ireland, from there sailed to Quebec where he joined Burgoyne’s army. He was captured at Saratoga and was taken to the Boston area. After several months as a prisoner he wrote that he “walked away” and ended up in Vermont. He settled there, married and even joined the Continental Army toward the end of the war and his widow was granted a pension from that service.

  37. Margaret A. Doty says:

    I believe that Benedict Arnold is a relative of my Mother’s family. Her name was Pierson. I don’t know much more about it, but would love to learn.

  38. marilynne j. miller, brown says:

    My first American Ancestor was Jean Jacques Bonnett. His son Samuel Baxter Bonnett was in the American military. His son Peter Bonnett was listed as a spy for the Americans. I am not sure of any of their specific ranks or battles they may have participated in. If that information is available I would appreciate any help . Thank you. MJMBrown

  39. MLMartin says:

    My 6th great grandfather, William Colstton, was a teenage cook in Burgoyns army, after they surrendered he was taken to Massachusetts and later released, he eventually settled in Vermont.

  40. Judith Tiger says:

    British Surrender at Saratoga: October 17, 1777

    October 1, 2015 by Trevor | 49 Comments

  41. Judith Tiger says:

    Since the Dutch Tiger brothers, uncles, brothers, cousins made their sailing vessels and in the 1600s sailed into what is now the East River. .(my ex husbands relatives) at what is now The Delaware Water Gap, New Jersey Some took up farming and dealing (stealing by paying very little in exchange for meaningful land)to the Indians of that area and across the river what is now New York..which the Dutch founded.
    The name Tiger is not a Dutch name which had many folks confused…..however there were around six sailing vessels.don’t know for sure and they named their boats, one was Tiger, so the men on their boat took the name of their boat so everyone would know who they were and where they came from ie Holland as far as I know. There is a family bible which I had actually held and tried to read. My sister-in-law, now deceased used to take it to school in Pompton Plains, NJ for show and tell. It is her cousin in Florida who know is in possession of this historical book. We don’t know about their military service, if any. Half of the Tiger sailing vessel was discovered in the New York East River, half burned and half ok but unusable. Also the anchor stamped TIGER or Tiger was discovered when the digging began for the Twin Towers Memorial. If anyone knows more about this historical group,
    you can send an email to [email protected].
    From the little I have gathered, those Tigers and other early settlers always had 10 children to work the farm land that they developed…so we know most of them in NJwere farmers.
    The 10 children many times dwindled to 8 or even 6 or 7 due to accidents and disease. My father-law-Paul McCollum Tiger, Sr.( “married to Estele Ellett, a family of later settlers but was one of the poor relatives connected to the Vanderbilts”), was the last of the 10 children families. He had four chldren, Paul McCollum Tiger, Jr. (my ex) Peter Tiger, Pamela Tiger and James Tiger. We live in the San Jose area of CA. Peter and wife Barbera live in NY or NJ just at the border James lives in AZ and sadly, Pamela just past away year. They were raised in Pompton Plains, N.J.
    I am Judith E. Sawer (originally Sauer) from Clifton, NJ and Erskine lakes (Historical Ringwood Borough) Married Paul Tiger, Jr. in the Catholic Church in Midvale or Haskell, NJ
    Paul Tiger, Jr. lives with his wife outside of San Jose, CA
    and I live in Cupertino,CA We have three sons,
    Paul M. Tiger 3rd, in Beleveder, CA, David Alan Tiger, San Jose, CA and Jon Eric Tiger, Cupertino, CA.
    If anyone has information on any of the Tigers, please let us know. Wow, all that from a sailing vessel from Holland to
    the Delaware Water Gap as it is known today or the East River in New York as it is known today. Remember this land was occupied only by Indians and the Tigers and whatever other Dutch sailing vessels in that sailing party were the first white settlers.

  42. Judith Tiger says:

    My only historical knowledge of the Tigers and their sailing vessel from Holland named so after the tough and enduring animals is above. If anyone has any information to add,
    please contact me at the above email address. Thank you.
    Judith E. Tiger. I am 78 yrs. old, born at St. Joseph’s RC Church in Paterson, NJ

  43. Robert "Bob" Caldwell says:

    Hi! My g/g/g/g/g-father Robert Caldwell UEL (b.ca 1735, Co. Antrim, Ireland; d. 1825, New Carlisle, Qc,CAN) fought in The Battle of Saratoga 1777. He farmed in White Ck / New Perth, Charlotte Co. NY Province (now Salem, Washington Co. NYS) from 1766-67 on Turners Patent 1764. He initially joined the Patriots until he conveniently “jumped ship” with his farm-hand Prince (who was killed in The Battle) and taking his bullock team also. After the Battle, he was imprisoned for 18 months (where I DNK ??) for refusing to swear allegiance to The 13 Colonies. Upon his release he returned to his farm & family [spouse Sarah H. Todd & 4 chn – John Todd (my g/g/g/g-f), James, Robert, Elizabeth & Andrew Todd) and proceeded to canvas his neighbours if they were prepared to have him as a member of the community. Only One Neighbour by the name of “Mad” More/Moore (who is known to have shot at his own son who had joined the British) threatened to kill him if he stayed. Hence, Robert walked off his farm in 1779 & headed for Canada, where he and his family resided in a refugee camp for the next 5 yrs (looks like nothings changed in 276 yrs!!). In 1784 he was rewarded & occupied his allocation of farmland at New Carlisle, He even sent his son to reclaim his farm in Salem but found that it had been sold by ” a fire sale” to a William Mathew, who threatened with his life if he did not get off the property. As a result he sought compensation for his property, buildings & cattle at the Halifax Claims, but to no avail.

    Bob Caldwell (G/g/g-son of Charles Campbell C.- b.1812, New Carlisle, d.1879, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, the son of John Todd C, and who just somehow happened to bob-up & marry in Sydney, NSW, Australia in 1842, with not one detail of his background on their marriage certificate. It has taken his “Australian Caldwell Descendants” over 150 yrs to discover it. Very inconsiderate of him, don’t you think?)

    P.S My research “brickwall” since I commenced in 2010, has been to find/discover/recover/whatever where my g/g/g/g/g-f Robert was exactly born &/or married and hence lead to who his and Sarah’s parents were hopefully? A Big Ask but any help/hint would be greatly appreciated., “Like Us All” did I hear you say?

  44. William A. Quigley says:

    I am a direct descendant of Samuel Worthen, born 26 April 1739 in Hampstead, New Hampshire. He died 10 Jul 1815 in Weare, New Hampshire. Samuel served in the War of the Revolution. He was a member of the company of Minute Men, commanded by Captain Jonathan Atwood of Weare, New Hampshire, which marched on the Lexington alarm of April 1775. On July 11, 1775, he enlisted in Captain John Parker’s company, Colonel Timothy Bedel’s regiment, which was raised to take part in Montgomery’s invasion of Canada. He signed the Association Test at Weare, New Hampshire on June 6, 1776 and served that year on the Weare Committee of Safety. In December of 1776, he served in the Army of New York and took part in the campaign against General Burgoyne in 1777, serving in Captain Peter Clark’s company, Colonel Daniel Moore’s regiment of New Hampshire Militia.

  45. Mary Sullivan says:

    My several times great grandfather is in this picture. Prescott-the one where you can see just his head. I have a book of Art of the Nation’s Capitol and he is listed in this picture.

  46. VIRGINIA (""FLOYD"") PEIFFER says:

    I CAN HONESTLY SAY I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL RELATIVES WHO FOUGHT IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR….THE FLOYD’S FOUGHT FOR THEIR FREEDOM AND THE FREEDOM OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY..SOME OF MY RELATIVES WENT INTO GOVERNMENT JOBS LIKE GOVERNOR IN NEW YORK FOR ONE…ALL THE PEOPLE OF THAT WAR SHOULD BE HONORED JUST AS MUCH AS EVERY HERO OR FREEDOM FIGHTER OF THAT TIME…TO THOSE I SALUTE YOU ALL…

  47. James Edward Barber says:

    My 4th Great Grandfather Wright Spalding was a Continental soldier at Saratoga.

    An extract from my family history book:

    On 16 April, 1776, at the age of 19 years, Wright Spalding joined the cause for freedom. Signing on as a Private, Wright joined Ashley’s Regiment of Militia or the 1st Berkshire County Militia Regiment of the Massachusetts Line that was called up in July of 1777. They served at Fort Edward as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. From there the regiment joined the forces of Gen. Horatio Gates in opposition to British General John Burgoyne in New York. They also served in General Patterson’s Brigade. The regiment dis-banded on 18 October, 1777 due to the surrender of Burgoyne’s Army. In his own writing, Wright wrote that he served in the war for five years (he likely may have joined the Continental Army in 1777). Research documents show his separation from the Army was on 31 December, 1779 with 3½ years of service. On 22 May, 1819 Wright was placed on the military retirement rolls while residing in Saranac, Clinton, New York.

  48. Ron Brelsford says:

    Georg Friedrich BODE, my 5th great grandfather, was an Ensign in the Regiment von Riedesel, Colonel von Speth’s Company.
    He was captured at Saratoga in October 1777 and marched with other captives to Winter Hill, Massachusetts. They remained there until November 1778 when the captives were marched to Albemarle Barracks, Charlottesville, Virginia finally arriving there in January 1779. A muster roll taken at Albemarle Barracks on 14 September 1779 lists “Friedrich Bode”.
    On 1 October 1782, Friedrich enlisted in Captain Anthony Selin’s Company of Moses Hazen’s 2nd Canadian Regiment (Congress’s Own Regiment) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania thus fighting for the American cause. Several certificates of back pay and other accounts were issued at the end of the Revolution by Major Richard Lloyd, an agent of Selin’s, to George Bodey.
    Friedrich settled in Rockingham County, Virginia where he remained until his death in 1818.
    Additional information on Friedrich Bode (Bodey) can be found in the “Journal of the Johannes Schwalm Historical Association, Vollume 7, Number 3, 2003, pp70-71”.

  49. John Hess says:

    My 4th great grandfather was a Brunswick soldier with General Reidesel at the battles of Saratoga. He was captured and took off in Frederick Maryland while being moved to Charlottesville, Virginia. He stayed in America and since he never returned to Brunswick the Duke didn’t receive money for his service. This got him labeled as a deserter. His name was Carl Hesse now Hess. There is a list of Brunswick soldiers who stayed in America in a book called Brunswick Troops in North America 1776-1783. Index of All Soldiers Who Remained in North America by Claus Reuter. Copies can be purchased or found in some libraries. A website called World Cat will list the libraries closest to you which have a copy of the book. There is also a website that has a list of some of the troops that remained in America, but I am not sure of the website anymore.

  50. Carole says:

    My ancestor Charles Parker from Stamford, Vermont marched on alarm to Saratoga and joined General Stark there.

  51. Janet Graber says:

    My third great grandfather was, according to family lore, a member of Burgoyne’s Army. He reportedly was taken captive at Saratoga and became part of the Convention Army. Richard Spicer eventually settled in Pennsylvania and remained there for the rest of his life. His daughter Elizabeth married Adam Bowman, and they moved to Stark County, Ohio, to raise their family. Adam and Elizabeth are buried in a German Baptist Cemetery in Freeburg, Ohio, near Alliance. The family has not been able to confirm the military details. Have there been any published materials that followed the Convention Army?

  52. Edith Slavic says:

    Years after the war, my mother’s ggf owned the house in Schuylerville in which the Baroness Reidesel took refuge with her children. She later wrote a memoir about her experiences when she accompanied her husband the Baron during his service in the war here. The house has remained in the family and is still known by the family name. It is the only building remaining that bore witness to the battles there. Also, I am a Hess on my father’s side and cannot trace his side of my ancestry past my ggf.

    • Judy smith says:

      There’s a website for surnames, with my husbands last name being Smith,
      We had become stuck with his gff name and place was michigan! We wrote the linage below. Him that was brothers and sisters! From that someone
      From surnames contacted us with information and pictures going back to the
      Revolutionary War. His cousin had so much information and pages of info.
      We found out that the Tavern is still Open Its a 5 star eatery in NY. However,
      He was a royalist and hung, it took 3 attempts, he had fought in the French-Indian war.etc. and also the DNA Ancestary test is connecting me to my relatives. My courthouses were burned by Sherman in Civil War! Hope this helps. JUST remember to look back every month,

    • Melanie Shifflett Ridner Warner says:

      My husband is a Hess Family member : Would Love to talk:)

    • Melanie Shifflett Ridner Warner says:

      Edith Slavic contact us:)

    • Nancy Drew Novak says:

      I know this house well. I grew up in Schuylerville, NY. It is the Marshall House. Abram Marshall settled on this property in the year 1763 or 1764. With the advance of Burgoyne, he and his family went to Albany for safety. The house was used by the British army for a hospital. Madam Riedesel nursed wounded British officers in the cellar of the house. This house is just up the road from my family home on North Broad Street in Schuylerville. Our family house was built in 1863 or 1864 by Alanson Welch, a descendant of Joseph Welch who settled on that land between 1765 and 1770. This land was the site of British barracks. The house is still in our family.

      My family has lived in that area since the 1700s. I am a direct descendant of Charles Moore who settled in Stillwater, NY. In 1770 he married Esther Bidwell, daughter of David Bidwell who settled in Stillwater around 1762. Charles Moore and his brothers fought in the American Army at Saratoga. His sister Tryphena Moore was married to Jotham Bemus of Bemus’ Heights (sometimes spelled Bemis). My Moore ancestors were well represented at the Battle of Saratoga.

    • Keith Bemis says:

      Hello Nancy Drew Novak, I’m related to Jotham and have read the accounts of the battle’s of Saratoga and of Jotham’s family’s involvment during the battles. Tryphena Moore Bemus(Bemis) is described as Scottish of a educated and cultured nature.Jotham was from the Massachusetts based Bemis family of the original American immigrant(1640) progenitor Joseph Bemis of Watertown, MA.from Dedham,Essex UK. Jotham was looking for opportunity and traveled along the Hudson until he settled on the West side and was involved in farming,livestock and owned the tavern at Bemis Heights which was Gen. Gates original HQ. Here’s some further info of The Bemis family and Jotham
      “The Bemis History and Genealogy” by Colonel Thomas Waln-Morgan Draper,1900,
      published San Francisco, California, copies in the Library of Congress, p.
      37-40.

      “(This Branch of the family write the name Bemus, substituting the ‘u’ for the
      ‘i’; and I shall write the name as they do whilst treating of them, although
      believing it to be a corruption of the name.
      For the data on this Branch, I am almost wholly indebted to Captain Daniel
      Hazeltine Post of Jamestown, N.Y., who being a descendant himself took a great
      interest in the matter; In June 1894, he published a most interesting
      genealogical pamphlet entitled “Jotham Bemus of Bemus Heights;” and which with
      Capt. Post’s permission I make the basis of what follows, as to the
      descendants of Jotham Bemus.

      Considerable interest naturally attaches to the family which owned and
      occupied the ground chosen by General Gates, on the advice of Count Kosciusko,
      for the American defensive works against Burgoyne’s onward march in 1777; in
      view of the fact that the family name became forever associated with the
      important battles fought in the vicinity, and that members of the family took
      part in them upon the American side, literally defending their home and
      fireside.

      At the time above referred to, Jotham Bemus, his wife and six children were
      living on the west bank of the Hudson river, about four miles north of the
      village of Stillwater. He was a farmer energetic and enterprising, engaging
      in buying cattle and in other traffic, and evidently a man in easy
      circumstances. He kept the only Tavern of any note between Albany and Fort
      Edward, as Lossing relates in his “Field Book of the Revolution” Vo.. I. p.
      45. According to the English M.S.S. in the N.Y. State Library p. 827. he was
      in 1774 a Justice of the Peace.

      He was born about 1738, and at the time of the Burgoyne campaign about 40
      years old. He is described as of stout build and of a vigorous and determined
      character. From Charles Neilson’s account of Burgoyne’s campaign, published
      in 1844 p. 289. he states that Bemus’s house was the only frame dwelling
      included within the military operations at the Heights, it being on the road
      from Albany to Whitehall.

      At the time of the Battle of Saratoga, Sep. 19, 1777, the family had been
      residents of the vicinity for at least seventeen years, for the Calendar of
      Land Papers, N.Y. State Library 164. Sept. 9, 1763. p. 325. records, that in
      1760, the families of Bemus, Griffith and Park, were occupying land in this
      region.

      In the Battles occuring near the Heights, Jotham Bemus and three of his sons
      undoubtedly took part. This was always been a family tradition and much
      evidence exists to prove its truth. William Marvin of North East Pa., a
      descendant of Jotham Bemus, writes (in 1894) that he has heard William Bemus,
      son of Jotham senior, relate his army experiences. Jotham Bemis jr., the
      first child of Jotham sen., certainly was in the American Army as shown by the
      Archives of New York Vol. I. p. 250 viz:

      “Bemus Jotham, Corpl. Rhode Island Regt., Jeremiah Olney, Lt. Col. Commanding,
      enlisted in Col. Van Schaick’s for 1 year ’76. Served 6 yrs. 1 month, 10
      days. Discharged by General Washington Jan. 15, 1783. A.P. 17-62. Town of
      Saratoga, badge of merit.”

      William Bemus, the second child of Jotham Bemus, sen. was a member of Captain
      Ephraim Woodworths Company, the 4th in the 13th Regiment, Saratoga District,
      commanded by Colonel van Veghten, who was on Genrl. Gates staff. Captain
      Woodworth was a neighbor of the Bemus’s, his house about half a mile back of
      theirs being used by Genrl. Gates as headquarters, after he left the Bemus
      house. Col. John McCrea at one time commanded the Saratoga Regiment, the
      tragic fate of whose sister Jane McCrea, formed a leading incident of the
      Burgoyne campaign. See N.Y. Archives Vol. I. p. p. 271 and 322.

      That the third son, John, also took part in the struggle is evident from the
      following extract from his obituary notice published in the Saratoga Sentinel
      Sept. 15, 1829. “Though young he was in the American service at the capture
      of Burgoyne, as a teamster.”

      The home of Jotham Bemus was used as Headquarters by Genrl. Gates for a time.
      With the extension of the American fortifications after the first battle,
      Genrl. Gates moved on to the Heights and into Captain Ephraim Woodworth’s
      house. Genrl. Lincoln, after the battle of the 19th used the Bemus house as
      headquaters. The fate of the house is established by a letter from the Rev.
      S. Hawley Adams of Jamestown, N.Y. printed in Stones “Burgoyne Ballads,” in
      which he says: “My grandmother, Salley Bemus Crawford, (daughter of Jotham
      Bemus Sen.) was born at Bemus Heights May 1768. ***she has spent hours in
      telling me of Burgoyne and his army, which she saw; ” of the burning of her
      father’s house by the British, and of the sufferings of the family for a time,
      while they were wintering in a barn–Burgoyne having destroyed all their
      buildings and crops.” Though no mention of the destruction of the house
      appears in any of the accounts of the battles, it is evident that it was
      burned in some foray of the enemy after it had been abandoned by Genrls. Gates
      and Lincoln as headquarters. It was on the extreme flank of the American
      lines, and probably more or less unprotected after the first days of fighting,
      the troops being massed at some distance from the river, near Fort Neilson.

      The site of the Bemus house is now marked by a stone tablet bearing the
      following inscription:
      _____________________
      |SARATOGA, 1777 |
      | ————————- |
      | The Site of |
      | |
      |BEMUS’S TAVERN |
      | ———————– |
      | The gift of |
      |Giles B. Slocum |
      |_____________________|

      The Bemus Heights Farm is now the property of the Hon. James B. Jermain of
      Albany, N.Y.

      Jotham Bemus, Sen. who was born about 1738, died, it is believed about 1786,
      at the age of 48 years. This date is thought too early by some of the family.
      His first wife was Tryphena Moore, who was of Scotch descent. She was a woman
      of much refinement and culture. His 2nd wife’s name is unknown.”

    • Nancy Drew Novak says:

      Thank you to Keith for your information on the Bemis (Bemus) family. The only information I had was from the book, Andrw Moore and his Descendants by Horace L. Moore which was published in 1903. In that book it states that Jotham and Tryphena had four children: (1) Jotham who was a corporal in Lieutenant Colonel Jeremiah Olney’s Regiment of Rhode Island troops; enlisted in Col. Van Schaick’s Regiment for one year in 1776. He served 6 years, 1 month and 10 days; was discharged by Washington , Jan 15, 1783. In 1805 he bought land in the
      township of Hamburg, Erie County, NY. He was one of the first grand jury that met west of the Genesee River, in 1803, at Batavia, NY. He was in The War of 1812 and died from sickness contracted there. He married Asenath Andress and had four daughters- Lydia, Tryphena, Annie and Sallie. (2) William Bemus , b. Feb. 25, 1762; d. at Bemus Point, Chautauqua County, NY, Jan. 20, 1830. He married Mary Prendergast, Jan. 29, 1782. She was born in Pauling, Dutchess County, NY March 13, 1760 and died July 11, 1845. The family settled at Bemus Point in 1806. They had 7 children. (3) John Bemus born in 1763 at Bemus Heights, died without issue – no other information given. (4) Sally Bemus was born May 6, 1768. She. married Daniel Crawford, Saratoga Springs, March 22, 1789; died June 8, 1865 at Evansville, Ind. She is buried at Saratoga Springs, beside her husband. He died 1839, aged 75 years. They had 8 children. This is all the information I have from this book.

      The comment about Tryphena being Scottish was quite interesting. I have done extensive research on all branches of my mother’s family. All go back to England. They came to America in the 1600s. I am a direct descendant of 17 founders of the Colony of Connecticut, all from England. ( You know how all the original settlers married each other because there were few families.) I suppose it is possible, but I wonder where the Scottish is coming from.

    • Valerie E. Jones says:

      I am a descendant of the Hess family from the Mohawk Valley. Is this the same family?

      Valerie Jones

  53. Werner von Bischhoffshausen says:

    My 5th great grandfather (Wilhelm von Bischhausen) was a lieutenant of the Hessian Crownprince-Regiment and was taken prisoner in Saratoga, together with General Riedesel and many other officers. After he was released, he went back to Germany and died there in 1790. His son Gustav Carl, my 4th great grandfather, born 1783, emigrated to Chile in 1852.

  54. David Combies says:

    My 4th great grandfather, Daniel Prince, was on the British side. Marching back to Boston he dropped out in western Massachusetts and became a farmer. He married Mary Packard. Their first child, Mehitable Prince, married Amos Parsons, son of Lemuel Parsons who fought on the American side.

    • Hazel White says:

      Is this Daniel Prince who lived in TN. and also a Rev. Peter Prince married a Sarah Parsons. this Peter Prince had a sister ,Mary who m. Lewis Lane and settled Hamilton Co, IL. Sarah Parsons father may be a William Parsons who lived Cravens Co. N, C. . There is mentioned in family history a Daniel and a Joel Prince.

      We have never been able to find the link that gave Rev. Peter Prince’s father and mother. would very much appreciate any inf. on this family. Send ans. to the e-mail above.

    • Dave Combies says:

      No, I don’t think this Daniel Prince ever left Massachusetts after he settled there. He is in the census reports starting with 1790.

  55. Ron Snderlandu says:

    Had B Arnold been killed there, & he came close, there would be statues, towns & schools named after him all over the country.

    • Christopher Pine says:

      As I recall there is a statue at Saratoga — but it is of just his boot, as he was wounded in the leg, and he is merely eluded to on the inscription… See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot_Monument

    • Ken Crocker says:

      Ron, You and author Kenneth Roberts would be in complete agreement on that matter. Arnold came close to buying it during the American attack on Quebec which would have had same result.

    • Lynda says:

      B Arnold is my 4th cousin 6X removed… while I certainly donʻt condone what he did I was delighted to finally be able to prove a family story I heard thru all my growing up years…

    • TO ALL YOU IN SOME WAY RELATED TO A RELATIVE WHO WAS ON THE BRITISH SIDE OR A RELATIVE WHO WAS AGAINST THE AMERICAN SIDE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THE FOLLOWING..
      IN OUR FAMILY HISTORY IN EVERYONE THERE IS A RELATIVE WHO IS ON THE BAD SIDE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER..
      FOR ME I KNOW EVERYONE KNOWS “”PRETTY BOY FLOYD”‘ MY RELATIVE. HIS INTENSION FOR WHAT HE DID WAS TO BE A ROBIN HOOD.. ROB FROM THE RICH AND GIVE TO THE POOR. MANY FARMERS WOULD HAVE LOST THEIR FARMS DUE TO BANKS FORECLOSING ON THEIR LAND..,BUT IN REALITY IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW AND EVERYONE KNEW IT…
      BUT TO LYNDA THOUGH BENEDICT ARNOLD IS RELATED TO YOU DON’T BE ASHAMED BUT BE THANKFUL YOU ARE PART OF HISTORY AS WELL AS ANYONE YOU HAS A RELATIVE AGAINST THE LAW FOR RIGHT BUT FOR UNKNOWN REASONS TO THEM..
      BE HAPPY TO BE RELATED TO SOMEONE AND YOUR FUTURE RELATIVES CAN BE HAPPY TO BE PART OF.

    • Lynda says:

      Thank you for your reply, Virginia… but to be clear, I am not ashamed of this ancestral connection. I donʻt agree with what he did but in learning about Benedict I have a better idea of why he did it…

    • Cheryl McDonald says:

      My ancestor lived in Norwich, CT at the same time as Benedict Arnold. Do you have any information of the militia that he commanded? From oral history William Loudon and his bother-in-law Elijah Yeomans served together in the militia, but have not found any documentation to confirm this. William and Elijah may also have served with maternal cousins, Downer.

    • Lynda says:

      No, Iʻm sorry… I donʻt…

    • GR Gordon says:

      Lynda — Have you read “Defiant Brides” by Nancy Rubin Stewart? It is a double biography of Peggy Shippen (Mrs. Benedict Arnold) and Lucy Flucker (Mrs. Henry Knox). There is a very dramatic description of the unraveling of the West Point plot, Arnold’s escape and the way Peggy handled the aftermath.
      http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15798776-defiant-brides

    • Lynda says:

      No, I havenʻt… thank you for recommending it… it sounds very interesting… will have to check it out…

  56. Steve Hollands says:

    Hello, My name is Steve Hollands and I too my have an ancestor who may have fought at the battle of Saratoga. I have read that the 3rd Westchester County Militia under Col. Samuel Drake may have been at Saratoga. Does anyone know if they were there? If so then my 6th Great-Grandfather,CALEB HALL may served at the battle of Saratoga.

  57. John Maus says:

    My 4th great grandfather, William “Tankard” Maus was driving a team of horses to deliver a wagon load of supplies to the British the day before the Battle of Saratoga. Militia troops intercepted the delivery, scared the horsess, and Tankard escaped on foot during the confusion. He was working for his benefactor, Henry Van Schaack, from Kinderhook. Henry V S had bought Tankard back from captivity with the Indians for a silver tankard, hence the name. Tankard’s parents and three siblings were believed to have been kiiled at the Fort Seybert massacre in Virginia, now West Virginia, during the French and Indians War on April 28, 1758.

  58. Jack M Baskin says:

    My Great (5) Grandfather was a Minuteman and after Bunker Hill he was with Gen. Arnold chasing Burgoyne which lead to his surrender.

  59. Roslyn says:

    Are there names for the German troops who were held captive?

    • Margaret Rotti says:

      There is a good book, “Brunswick Troops in North America 1776-1783” by Claus Reuter (subtitled “Index of all Soldiers who Remained in North America”), published by Heritage Books, Inc. 1999. My ggg grandfather was Johann Hintersass, from Windersheim, who disappeared after being a prisoner of war, and turned up in Williamstown, MA, where records show he had changed his name to John Henderson. He settled in Williamstown, married to Hester Wright, daughter of Miles and silence Wright.

  60. Roslyn says:

    We’re there names for the Germans who were held captive?

    • Gloria says:

      I have a partial list of the German Soldiers

    • Roslyn says:

      Any Starkey or Hamon names? Thanks

    • Roslyn says:

      Any Harmon’s or Starkeys? I know my Dunns were active in the RW and JohnDunn fought “on the frontiers”, but that is about all.

    • Gloria says:

      All I have of the German soldiers is a one page list
      Habermann, Juergen Paul Birthplace Gotha age 20 A Canada 1781
      Haeberle, Johann Birthplace Grund age 26 A Yorktown 1778
      Haeberlein, Matthias Birthplace Eichstedt age 21/04 C Canada 1783
      Hommelmann, Johann Birthplace Culmbach age 32/06 Dishonerably discharged at Penobscot 1783
      Hottelmann, Hans Birthplace Bodenstedt age 43 C Canada
      Luttmann, Johann Birthplace Schwegare age 21 E
      Weber,Heinrich Birthplace Braunachweig age
      42/10 E
      Weber, Johann Birthplace Solms-Braunfels age 45/06 F
      Weber, Nicholas Birthplace Alsace age 48/07 E
      Weber, Peter Birthplace Heyl age 27/00 C Canada
      Weber, Johann Birthplace Oettlinggen age 23/00 C Canada 1783
      Weber, Jon Georg Birthplace HempenfeldNuernberg age 29/08 C Canada

      A= Deserter
      B=In the service of the American enemy
      C=Discharged when in Canada
      D=Prisoner of war
      E=Prisoner whereabouts unknown
      F=Transferred to Civil Service-possibly disability discharge
      Winterhill Camp

  61. James L Van Schaack, Jr. says:

    Love to learn more about the Van Schaack’s family involvement. Understand that after Gen. Burgoyne was captured he was taken to patriot Van Schaick family’s home on Van Schaick Island, New York, then taken to Kinderhook, New York where loyalist family Van Schaack’s toasted at dinner with, “long live the King.”
    What problems then arose. Understand the loyalist family returned to England, then returned later to New York where Peter Van Schaack wrote the Civil laws for New York.
    Please visit the homes of both Van Schaick and Van Schaack
    in New York. What history.

    • GR Gordon says:

      A very interesting book was written about the regiment commanded by Goose Van Schaick, which I think may have been based on some private papers of his that came to light back around the time of the US Bicentennial. I think this is the book I’m thinking of:
      http://www.worldcat.org/title/history-of-the-first-new-york-regiment-1775-1783/oclc/7419014

      (At the time of the Revolution, many of the American regimental records were not considered to be government property, but the private property of the individual commanders, so lots of them disappeared into people’s attics rather than into state or federal archives after the war ended.)

  62. Herschel Lambert says:

    Some where in these battles for freedom was the Father of John Lambert born 1770? although not knowing his name i have been searching for him for years, so far i have found no Lambert’s during that time?

  63. Gordon Adams says:

    My 6th great-grandfather, August Heinrich Lortz, was a baggage handler with the Brunswick Troops. He was captured at the Battle of Saratoga, and while being marched south, escaped and made his way to Maine, probably looking for the German settlement. His name was eventually anglicized to “Henry Lords.” He married Molly Stimson, daughter of Ephraim Stimson and Mary Sands about 1777 in Maine. He was christened on 1 Nov 1751 at Zellerfeld, Hannover, Prussia, making him about 26 years old at the time of his capture. He died 30 May 1830 in Prospect, Waldo County, Maine at the age of 79.

  64. Roslyn says:

    Were British troops who were imprisoned named anywhere along with Germans?

  65. Linc Walkley says:

    My ancestors in the Battle include both Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold.

    • Richard G. Leo says:

      Ethan Allen was taken prisoner at Montreal on Sept. 24, 1775 and was released in a prisoner exchange on May 3, 1778 from New York City. His brother, Capt. Ira Allen was at the Battle of Bennington and was in the Saratoga theater.

    • GR Gordon says:

      Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold — what a combination!

  66. Dwight Mac Kerron says:

    I appreciate how a goodly portion of the ancestors mentioned here were on the “other” side at the battle and how their desertions from the Convention army or other armies helped people our land. Benedict Arnold is even more of a paradox. Our guy, Ezra Tilden, mentioned in my first post was at Camp Totowa in NJ when Major Andre was hung. They could not get their rope on Arnold, but they got him. Unfortunately, our Ezra Tilden had stopped recording day-by-day details of his service that late in the war, but was copying down pages of popular songs and poems of the period. Therefore, his later diary is not nearly as informative as the one the Stoughton Mass. Historical Society has published, but he does have some decent detail of his trek to Claverick, NY in 1779. Some of his companions throughout the war were local native-Americans, which makes for another interesting study.

  67. James K Boyter says:

    To Judy Smith, post of October 5, 2015 at 1:08 am: My 2nd ggf was William B Smith born in Franklin County, GA in 1820. He lived near Chattanooga (1832) and several places in northwestern GA including Gilmer County (1860), Paulding County (1870) and dying in Douglas County GA in 1880. He was a famous American Indian trained herbal healer. Please send the ” website for surnames” and the contacts that provided you information.
    Thanks,
    Jim Boyter

  68. Michael Hingerty says:

    My 5great grandfather Joseph Staples of Virginia was with Daniel Morgan at the Battle of Saratoga. He is listed as a private on the company pay rolls for Capt. Samuel Jordan Cabell’s Co. of detached Riflemen, commanded by Col. Daniel Morgan, from August 1 to Nov. 1, 1777. Morgan’s riflemen played an important part in the battle.

    Following the battle, Capt. Cabell was promoted to major. Benjamin Taliaferro took over as captain. Joseph Staples is listed as a private on the company pay roll of Capt. Benjamin Taliaferro’s Co. of detached Riflemen, commanded by Col. Daniel Morgan, and on a 1777 pay roll “for the extra month’s pay allowed by the honorable the Continental Congress.”

    Joseph Staples was appointed Sergeant on Jan. 6, 1778 (Samuel J. Cabell’s affidavit, Nov. 26, 1783).

  69. Sharon Jerabek says:

    A distant cousin, Dana T. Murry (1853-1938), wrote a statement dated July 7, 1918, Greene, Maine, telling of his great-grandfather, John Murry of Scotland, who was “pressed into the British Ranks in the time of the Revolution and came to America with Burgoyne’s Army. John Murry did not believe that the English had any right to rule the American people and his sympathy was with the colonists.” He goes on to describe how John Murray managed to escape from British troops camped in winter quarters near Lake Champlain in Canada. He tells how John started out across the ice through the cold winter night for the Vermont shore and Liberty. About the fourth day as night fell, he discovered a light far ahead on the lake. Guided by this light he walked on and found it came from a small island on which stood a solitary home in which lived a family named Bean. They took him in and cared for him. After staying with them a few days and getting well rested, he went to Vermont, enlisted in the American Army and was in Arnold’s division at the battle of Saratoga.

    John Murray was my fourth great-grandfather. After the war John married Rachel Bixby Stevens and had a family. John’s oldest son, Amos Murry (the writer, Dana T. Murry’s grandfather), was born in Vermont, as were all of their children, including my third great-grandmother, Rachel Murray. The family later settled in the town of Leeds, Maine, where my second great-grandmother, Roxy Manning Brown was born in 1820.

  70. C. Taylor says:

    One of my Vandenberg ancestors had buildings on his farm burned by the British.

  71. Leonza Tipton says:

    Any info on Col. John Tipton or Tipton ancestors in this period?

  72. It was interesting to read all the replies. The American Rev. War was a civil war. We were fighting one another as well as the British. It was interesting to see how people changed their names for obvious reasons. My ancestor according to oral tradition, “he fought the entire Revolutinary war.” This was later proved by records. He was in the N.C. Continental Army under Col. Buncombe whose commander was Lafayette, whose commander was Washington. He then returns to S.C. and fights under Daniel Morgan and Nathanel Greene. His last battle is Eutaw Springs in S.C. His name was William Ruben Briant. He was my fourth great grandfather. He was a southern version of Robert Plum Martin. He died in the 1830’s His pension read that his networth was about 60 dollars, which included his “riflegun”. He was one of nine patriots that served in my ancestry.

  73. William Reckling says:

    My 5th great grandfather Henry Browne was with the 1st Virginia State Militia and was at Valley Forge winter 77-78.
    I would need to see the Order of Battle to state with some certainty
    His grandson Major Thomas Weldon Radcliffe was head if Co A 15th SC Infantry Regiment at Antietam the quartermaster. His son Thomas was killed in battle with the 4th SC Cavalry, in VA 1864.

  74. Gwyn Norman Crump Sr says:

    any male Hess family descendants that have Hapalog group IM-223( formerly I2b1) need to contact me to compare data. Some Hess names were changed to Hiss, Huss, Hass, Heise, and also were changed to alias names to protect their families back in Germany. Germans with the name Crump are using an alias established by Conrad Cramm who was serving in the First Hessian Regt. as an informant for Frederick the Great. The Cramm family was from the Wolfenbuttel and Hannover area around Cramme; most served the Duke of Brunswick, but some were mercenaries for the Duke of Hessen. Deserters were hung in effigy and their families property was sometimes taken.
    On another matter. Neither Gates or Arnold were responsible for the victory at Saratoga. The Polish Engineer Koscibo ? was sent by George Washington to be the planner for the Patriots. He found the initial location for the troops was too poor to be successful and prevailed in having the location moved to the one that was used. Neither Gates, Arnold, or the other General (Strickland??) were supportive, but went along with his plan. Then Colonel Morgan and his VA riflemen went out on skirmishing parties and caused much damage to the supply lines and the foragers. When the generals refused to start an attack after the first British attack failed, Morgan and his men along with some other local militia attacked the retreating British, Indian and German troops with such great success that Benedict Arnold joined them. Arnold had been banned to his tent due to his insubordination. When he heard of the success going on with Morgan, Arnold jumped on his horse and joined Morgan. At the end of the battle, Arnold and Gates claimed credit for the victory which made Morgan so angry that he resigned his Continental Army Commission and returned to VA. He did not return to the Continental Army until Gates was dishonored by his cowardice at Camden SC where Gates led his starving and sick Southern Patriot Army into a trap in the swamp where they were slaughtered. Gates did not even stay until the fighting stopped. He hopped onto his race horse and outran every other person from the battle. When the Patriot relief force from Charlotte met him between Camden and Charlotte, they started to hang him for desertion but he identified himself and said he was on the way to Hillsboro NC for help. The big problem was he was not on the road to Hillsboro, and the troops were not impressed. In fact, Gates was immediately removed from troop command in the south because no one would follow him. Some southerners thought Gates was the best General the British had. Gates left the former commander of the Southern Army he had just taken command of die in battle by not sending any help to him and his men who were being attacked by a large force. The MD and Carolina men fighting with him were falsely criticized for not fighting well when they were giving their all. ALL the troops at Kings Mountain, which was the battle that convinced the French that the natives would fight for freedom, were militia (local people who were not paid by the Continental Army) who had no Continental officers or men and no Continental arms or ammunition or cannon or Continental horses. Their lead came from Ft. Chiswell VA mines and paid for with British crown tax money. This led to the local saying “we changed British gold into lead before we sent it to them. Some of the gunpowder was produced near Morganton NC by a brave woman Grace Bowman whose husband Capt. Bowman was killed in the battle of Ramseur Mills in NC. She later married a McDowell. I had ancient kinfolk at the battle and went to school with a ggggson of Col. Campbell who had one of the 4 Ferguson rifles that had been at the battle. Ferguson had patented the breech loading design and proved it to the British Royalty by firing it over six times faster than the muzzle loaded guns. At Brandywine, the other British officers removed the rifles after Ferguson was wounded because they thought the guns were too deadly to be morally used.
    I appreciate this site having data on the various battles; however, please do not try to change historical facts by buying into the tales embellished by the rich aristocratic leaders who refused to give proper credit or support to the militia.

  75. My third great grand father, Maj. James Wilkinson, who was on Gen Gates staff drew up the documents for Gen “Johnney Bergoins surrender. He had also crossed the Delaware river in Gen Washingtons’ boat with him.

    Later he served as general in chief of the army under four presidents. His problem was all this time he was agent #13 spying for Spain.

  76. Captain Walter Thorp built my boyhood home in Connecticut in 1825. His father Eliphalet Thorp was a Captain in the Connecticut Militia spent time in the Connecticut Camps on the eastern shore of the Hudson River Highlands.

    This is where in early October 1777 the Americans fought with Sir Henry Clinton’s British Troops who were trying to connect with Burgoyne in Albany. The NY militia suffered tragic defeat at Fort Montgomery but held Sir Henry at bay while the Connecticut Miltia continued to harass the British ships as they moved north with the tide beyond Kingston NY. With the news of Saratoga the British ships returned
    to New York and the war turned in the American’s favor.

    James Fennemore Cooper’s historical novel, The Spy, took place in this viciniity and is a good read this time of year.

    DLW

  77. Alan Smith says:

    Pvt James Thompson was one of those NY militia captured at ft Montgomery and was a prisoner on the Jersey in NY harbor.

  78. Michael Martinson says:

    A 5th great grandfather of mine, England-born and New York-settled veteran of the French and Indian War, was on the losing side in the Battle of Bemis Heights, but, tasked by Burgoyne with returning the army’s pay-chest to safety before capitulation, was sent north with a force under McAlpin, avoiding capture and the Convention.

  79. Kevin Rees says:

    My ancestor Jonathan Rees was a Captain in the Pennsylvania Militia, and was at the Battle of Saratoga. I do not remember offhand what outfit.

  80. Diane Hall says:

    Judy Smith: Do you remember the url of the surname website you mentioned? I would like to try it.

  81. Edith Slavic says:

    Thrilled to read all these comments- yes, ours was the Marshall House! My mother’s mom was the youngest daughter of one of the Marshall sons that pioneered west and ended in Colorado. They are descended from Elder Brewster and share a lateral connection with Justice John Marshall, and William Whipple (a Signer).
    I am new to Fold3…..how do I contact someone who posts comment?

  82. Paul Michael Murray says:

    Thomas Murray of Westmoreland County Pennsylvania, My 5x Great Grandfather, Served with the 8th Pennsylvania Vol. Infantry.

  83. Virginia Woods Dysinger says:

    I had an ancestor Adam Woods b.1742 d.1826 son of William Woods and Susannah Wallace Woods whho was a major in charge of troups from Virginia who was at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at the seige of Yorktown, VA.

  84. Sandra Knopf says:

    My 4th Great Grandfather , William Soules fought the the British side at the battle of Saratoga.He was captured and paroled to his farm in Duchess County NY on the condition that he not again take up arms against the rebels. He, knowing that his days were numbered in NY put his family, his livestock and all the belongings he could on 2 flat boats and went up Lake Champlain to Canada where he was a Quartermaster Sargent for the British. He fulfilled both his beliefs and his oath in this way, When the war was over and the boundry was set he found that he had settled in Vermont not Canada.

  85. Dave Freeman says:

    My 5th Great Grand Uncle was John Freeman lease holder of Freeman’s Farm, owned by Philip Schuyler. His sister, my 5th Great Grand Aunt, Dorcas’s husband John Burleigh is said to have died near the Freeman house where Gen. John Burgoyne(13th Cousin 9x Removed) initially used as headquarters. Dorcas’s future husband, Mathais Rose U.E., fought with the British and was captured with Burgoyne. Gen. Simon Fraser who died during the Second Battle at Bemis Heights, was my 13th Cousin 8x Removed. John’s son, Thomas (1st Cousin 6x Removed) then 12, like Mathais, joined Jessup’s King’s Loyal Americans. John’s uncle, James Freeman(6th Great Grand Uncle) owned a farm northeast of Freeman’s Farm, on the other side of the Hudson. His sons, Elisha, Stephen, Elijah, Gideon and James(1st Cousins 7x Removed), fought with the 13th Albany Militia, under Capt. Ephraim Woodworth(3rd Cousin 8x Removed)along with his sons, Amos and Reuben(4th Cousins 7x Removed). Gen Ebenezer Learned(2nd Cousin 8x Removed) and Col. Daniel Morgan(Half 9th Cousin 9x Removed) fought along side each other at Bemis Height’s. Pvt. Francis Ingersoll(5th Great Grandfather) served under Col. Samuel Brewer, in the12th Massachusetts Regiment under Gen. Benjamin Lincoln. Gen. George Washington(5th Cousin 8x Removed) Commander of the Continental Army. John Freeman(6th Great Grandfather) father of John, Dorcas and Asa(5th Great Grandfather), brother of James, would pass away in Canada, 1796. Asa was the Hog Reeve in Worthington, Mass. about the time of the battle. I am also indirectly related to Gen. Benedict Arnold, Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, Gen Enoch Poor, and Gen. Friedrich Adolf Riedesel. The Bemus’s, Fonda’s, and Schuyler’s are also indirect relatives. Asa’s grandson, Loyal would marry Francis’s granddaughter, Elmira Eastland. There are many other’s who fought at Saratoga, or other parts of Burgoyne’s ill fated campaign that are direct and indirect relatives. No matter which side they fought for or believed in, we owe them our gratitude.

  86. Donna Freeman says:

    My husbands 6ggrandfather Gideon Freeman and his wife Eunice Ford both belonged to the New York Militia. He fought at the battle of Saratoga. It is also believed that the Freeman Farm was a direct relative of his . As the relative didn’t want to fight against the British he moved to Canada. My husbands family came to the US from England in the 1600.

    • Dave Freeman says:

      Hi Donna,

      Gideon was my 1st cousin 7x Removed. John Freeman(Freeman’s Farm) was Gideon’s 1st Cousin. The family was deeply divided in the loyalties. John and his sister Dorcas, were loyalist, and either aided or fought with the British at Saratoga. John and most of his family died from small pox in Canada, or on the way there. Gideon’s Grandfather, your husband’s and my Great Grandfather, traveled to Canada dying there in 1795. My Great Grandfather, Asa, was Gideon’s 1st Cousin. He was a patriot, and the Hog Reeve in Worthington, Massachusetts at the time. Your husband is my cousin 7th cousin 1x Removed.

      Dave Freeman

  87. Kem Farr says:

    My ancestor was Robert Simpson born abt 1753 and signed up with General Burgoynes troops on the British side. He was inducted into the British army in 1773 in Rennslaer, New York . He escaped the battle of Saratoga and was routed as a refugee around lake Champlaine for the winter to Montreal where he stayed until he was granted land in Douglastown Quebec with other soldiers for service in 1784. He had acted as a surveyor for Burgoynes army and later surveyed The towns of New Carlisle and Douglastown and died in Gaspe Quebec.