Col. Jacob Klock's Regiment

Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys

By Lou D. MacWethy, noted author of many historical articles about families and the area as well as the owner of the St. Johnsville Enterprise & News. His granddaughter, Peg Davis, has permitted articles by her grandfather to be used on the Fort Klock web site.

Col. Jacob Klock's Regiment
Second Tryon County Militia in the Revolution

In presenting the names of the men in Col. Jacob Klock's Regiment a word of explanation seems necessary in order to avoid confusion and outline the exact scope of the work. It should be borne in mind that this work is confined to but one of the five regiments in Tryon county. In collecting the names the editor has frequently received names which belong to other regiments and these are of course so classified and will be treated at a future time.

In 1772 Sir William Johnson divided Tryon county into five districts after the county was set off from the county of Albany. The districts were as follows: Mohawk, the eastern portions east of "The Noses"; the Palatine district on the south side and occupying the same breadth as the Palatine, extending south to the Pennsylvania line; the Kingsland district, that portion on the north side of the river west of the Palatine district and the German Flatts district which was on the south side of the river extending from Little Falls to Fort Stanwix and south to the Pennsylvania line.

The Tryon county committee apparently followed this general division at first but after the death of General Herkimer who was in the Canajoharie district after the Kingsland and German Flatts regiments were consolidated and a fifth regiment created embracing cherry Valley and the section adjacent under Col. Harper. Roberts New York in the Revolution gives the division as follows:

There were also separate divisions as Battalion of Minute Men under Col. Samuel Clyde; Associated Exempts, Capt Jelles Fonda and three organizations of rangers under Capts. John Wynn, Christian Getman and John Kassellmann.

This work is confined to Col. Klock's Regiment only and is taken largely from New York in the Revolution, a state publication which was issued in 1904. The list of names is from state pay rolls sent in by Col. .Jacob Klock and is undoubtedly correct as to those in the regiment subsequent to 1780 when the state government first began to function. Prior to that and especially at the battle of Oriskany when the entire man power of the valley was under arms there were no returns made for the reason that the battle was fought before there was a state government. The only records of those engaged in that battle are those gleaned from pension papers, private papers and family tradition. This has been a work of years and has been engaged in by historians for many years back. The present work is the first attempt to treat the subject by regiments and is far from complete. Recourse has been had to the Oriskany roster of names, as well as Greene's "Gateway to the West" which contains the best roster yet published. We are also indebted to many family historians who have collaborated liberally in preparing this list. We know that we have fallen way short and that many of those not marked were in the battle of Oriskany. We can only hope that in the fulness of time additional evidence may come to light whereby these men may receive the honor they deserve.

In recording the names as prepared from state pay rolls undoubtedly many repetitions occur. The nature of the service called for many short time services and consequent duplicate pay rolls. The carelessness of army clerks in recording names coupled with the apparent indifference of the men themselves in the matter of spelling often led to duplication of one individual. But on the other hand there were so many of the same name that it is impossible to attempt correction,f or fear of robbing some individual. But on the other hand there were so many of the same name that it is impossible to attempt correction,f or fear of robbing some individual of the honor to which he is entitled. The difficulty will be appreciated when we point out that there were during the war three Major Foxes, all bearing nearly the same Christian name, tow of them being named Christopher and one Christian. Three distinct and separate George Nellises were engaged and there seems to have been at least five Jacob Klocks, all separated individuals. As for Timmerman and Zimmerman, Crouse and Krouse, Failing and Phelan, Dillenbeck and Tillebagh and others there is seemingly a hopeless maze. And yet each of these is capable of separation and in the course of time it is reasonable to expect that many of the heroes will receive just recognition.

In giving the roster of Klock's Regiment the editor is indebted to so many sources that proper acknowledgment by individual name is avoided for fear of omission, but the editor wishes to convey his appreciation to all who have assisted and without such aid frankly admits the task would not even be attempted. The work should not rest here and it is to be hoped that any additional information will be forwarded in order that corrections and additions may be added for a future edition.

From an e-mail message: "I noticed an apparent ommison from the members of the Second Battalion - Palatine, under Col. Clock and Lt. Col. Peter Waggoner:, that of 1st. Lt. John Williams at page 530/531 of Simms "Frontiersmen of New York": 6th Company. Capt. Nicholas Rechter 1st Lieut., John Williams. Signed: Ross Williams"

Webmasters comment: "Articles are presented as written. There are many lists from the Klock Regiment, and all are slightly different. New people are being found every day."