Re: The House of Seeber

From: The Journal of Christopher Seeber, born 1812, the son of Adolph Seeber by Sally Yates, and a grandson of Lt. William Seeber and Elizabeth Schenerrin. Christopher Seeber, in the 83rd year of his age began this account of events pertaining to his own life and of some about which his people told him. This work was, unfortunately, cut off by his death on Aug.26, 1895, at Waucoma, Iowa.

Courtesy of Mrs. B. I. Bright, 305 5th St. N.W. Mason City, Iowa.

I was born in the town of Canajohari, Montgomery County, New York, in the middle of the month of May 16, 1812. Having long contemplated giving a history of my ancestors on both my father's and my mother's side, I now, in the eighty-third year of my age commence the task. What I write is wholly from my recollection of events that took place during the Revolutionary War, which were related to me by the actors. I write it for another purpose and that is, that my children and grandchildren and great grandchildren may know what their ancestors suffered during the seven year's war; another reason for my writing it is that my descendants may grow to be men and women, that they may be lovers of country and that they may throw off all partisanship in politics, and substitute for politics, patriotism and love of country. That a change is gradually and finally coming in which the form of our government will be changed, I firmly believe. Fifty year's close observation has led me to this conclusion, and if the change does come, my prayer to God is that it will be a government " of the people, for the people and by the people" with no intermingling of politicians.

My grandmother on my mother's side was Maria Frey, who was married to my grandfather, C. P. Yates, prior to the Revolutionary War. Grandfather Yates was a lawyer by profession, and one of the prominent characters in Tryon County, with county embraced at that time, all the territory of the State of New York, between Schenectady and the Lakes Erie and Ontario. It was named Tryon, in honor of the last colonial governor of the State of New York, and afterwards was changed and named for Richard Montgomery who fell at the siege of Quebec.

Early at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, grandfather Yates raised a company of rangers and marched under the command of Benedict Arnold to assist General Montgomery who had laid siege to Quebec. Their march was through the states of New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine and such privation as these men suffered would scarcely be believed or endured by any of the present generation. What I am about to relate is taken from the daily record kept by grandfather Yates during the Revolutionary War. When Arnold's command had arrived within fifteen or twenty miles of the French settlement on the St. Lawrence River, their provisions were exhausted. Well do I remember reading in grandfather Yates journal, an account of the last breakfast they ate before assistance arrived. Every scrap of leather, even to their cartridge boxes which were roasted before the fire, and that with the marrow taken from the bones of dead horses that had been slain, was their breakfast. Eight men were chosen to go through the French settlements for provisions and such help as the French could furnish. After five weary days and nights, assistance was brought them and they were able to reach the St. Lawrence, cross the river and take part in the siege. Quebec, as all historians know fell, and with it fell two of the finest officers of the opposing forces. General Wolf, commander of the British forces, fell in the early part of the action and did not survive the defeat of his army. General Molcolm fell near the close of the action wounded by various musket balls and while the lamp of life was burning out, the cry came: " They fly; they fly." He raised his head and asked, " Who flies?" The answer was, " The enemy, the fort is ours." Then came his last exclamation: "Then I die in peace."

After grandfather Yates returned he was commissioned as Major in command of the second regiment of New York troops. My children will forgive me if I make some mistakes in regard to dates because events crowd so fast upon my memory I do not know but that I will overlook them. The British government having failed to sever certain southern states, next turned their attention to securing the British crown, the great State of New York. Three separate companies were organized and placed under the command of the veteran Gen. Burgoyne. Sir Henry Clinton commanded in the city of New York; Sir John Johnson commanded the English forces, the tories and the Indians, with headquarters at Oswego, New York. Burgoyne, who commanded the central forces, intended to march to Albany, New York, but the Government had established Fort Orange on Lake Champlain and ordered Maj. Yates to take command of the fort. The correspondence which took place between the commanding officers at Fort George and Gen. Skuyler of Albany, shows that Burgoyne's intent was to guard the rear of his army and leave nothing behind the line of his march. Near the head waters of the Mohawk River, west of Utica, our Government had erected a fort and put the same in command of Col. Peter Ganesvort. I now drop the thread of my tale, temporarily, and call up other stirring events, which for the time being, had great influence in the State of New York. Prior to the Revolution, Sir William Johnson had been appointed by the English government as Superintendent of Indian affairs in that state. His headquarters were at Johnstown, in my native county. He then having no children of his own, brought with him his two nephews, sons of two brothers, Sir John Johnson and Guy Johnson, to assist in taking charge of Indian affairs. Another character now suggests itself to me who perhaps wielded a greater influence over the several tribes of Indians in New York than any other person living, and this was no less personage than Joseph Brandt, an educated Indian and Gallant warrior. Sir William Johnson, in order to strengthen himself with the various Indian tribes married a sister of Brandt, and at the time of his death there were four or five children survived. Joseph Brandt by his great influence as a warrior and orator soon united all the tribes west of Albany and by common consent of the chiefs of the different tribes he was proclaimed chief of the whole. In speaking of Sir William Johnson, I will say here that my grandmother Yates and Sir William were members of the same church vis: the Church of England, and we have now in our family possession the sermon prayer book used by that church, which was presented to my grandmother by Sir William Johnson himself. I must here relate another of the circumstances which took place and created at the time, quite a sensation among the settlers in the vicinity of Johnstown, it was this: Sir William Johnson was in receipt yearly of vast amounts of supplies, for himself and family personally as well as for Indian nations. When the supplies reached Johnstown there was a great gathering of chiefs to see what each tribe would get. Among the supplies was a number of elegant suits of clothes such as are worn by all titled people of England on great days. The chief who owned the land lying west of Johnstown, being chief of the Mohawks, whose name I have forgotten, was very crafty, but not crafty enough for Sir William. Among Sir William's outfit was a splendid suit of clothes almost covered with gold and silver to be worn only on state occasions. Mr. Chief discovered this suit and took a great fancy to it and wished to possess it and in a few days he called upon Sir William and in his language said," Me dream." Sir William asked him, " Well, what did you dream?" " Me dream that my white brother gave me fine suit of clothes covered with gold." Now it was a rule among the Indians that when they dreamed they got a great present from a white person, the present must come no matter how costly. Sir William gave him the costly suit, but shortly after that the chief appeared before Sir William clad in the very suit when Sir William spoke and said, " I dreamed too." " What did the white brother dream?" Sir William replied, " I dreamed that you gave me all the land west of Johnstown and bordering on the Mohawk River." The chief spoke and said " My brother shall have it." Sir William sent his surveyors out and from a certain point they traveled four miles west, running the lines and setting the stakes, then south five miles, to the Mohawk then down the river four miles, thence to the place of beginning, covering a tract of land twenty miles square. The chief found himself out-generaled and made the grant all in proper form with this reply, " Indian dream no more, white man dream too much for Indian.

As above stated, Joseph Brandt united all the tribes of Indians in Western New York and was chosen chief. At that time there were seven distinct tribes and no movement was made except by the order of Brandt personally. In one of the raids made on the settlers in the Valley of the Mohawk, is the harvest of the year 1777 directed by Guy Johnson, the main object was to get possession of the colonial possessions of Johnstown and vicinity. Now it will scarcely be believed that the majority of the settlers in that part of the country were tories and a very few Whigs were among them. Guy Johnson made his raid from the north with tories and Indians and perhaps a few British soldiers. Our militia was soon called together and marched to Johnstown to receive them. A battle was fought and Guy Johnson's forces were defeated and were compelled to retreat. An incident here occurred that I must mention although it strictly belongs to another part of my history. During the height of the battle while our troops were sheltered in a wood a short distance from the fight, a tory would present himself from behind a rock, fire on our people and then fall back where he was safe. The attention of my grandfather Seeber was called to this tory. He lay ready for him and when he next presented himself again to fire, grandfather Seeber's musket rang out and Mr. Tory fell, shot through the breast. After the enemy had retired, our soldiers gathered up the dead and wounded. They found lying, still alive one of the neighbors, John Bell, a brother-in-law of my grandfather Seeber. They sent for grandfather to go see him, that he could live but for a little while. Grandfather's reply was: " I hope soon to see all tories lying where he does."

It is well known to all historians that the three armies organized for the recovery of the state and city of New York were commanded by the ablest British officers. Sir Henry Clinton, finding it impossible to make any further headway up the Hudson (then called North River) set himself to work through officers to gain possession of the forts near Albany, then under the command of Benedict Arnold. It is also known as a matter of history Arnold's treason was discovered by three militia men who took Maj. Andre and searched him and found in is possession, papers that revealed the plot. Burgoyne, in the meantime, started with his forces and the first obstacle that claimed his attention was Fort Orange, commanded by grandfather Yates. Owing to the small forces left to defend the fort, Maj. Yates was obliged to evacuate after destroying everything that could not be removed. Burgoyne then had nothing to contend with until he reached the plains of Saratoga, where he was met by Gen. Horatio Gates and defeated. Sir John Johnson, having stationed himself before Fort Ganesvort at the head of the waters of the Mohawk, laid siege to the fort and would have captured it but for the defeat of Burgoyne's army. The forces of Sir John Johnson consisted of Tories, Indians and regulars of the British Army. Gen. Herkimer immediately called up four regiments of state militia to check the raid of Sir John Johnson and to save the fort if possible. I think the army of Herkimer left the valley of the Mohawk not far from Utica or between Utica and Little Falls, took up the line of their march direct, met with no enemy until about the 6th of August 1777 within 5 miles of the fort. Before resuming the march on the morning of that fatal day, Gen. Herkimer called a counsel of war and suggested to the officers in command of the different regiments that they throw out flanking parties to protect them from the sudden attack. This suggestion was overruled by the counsel and he was even charged with cowardice for not pushing through and saving the fort and our men who were in it. He allowed himself to be overruled and gave the order for march. For a number of miles the line of march lay through a ravine with heavy timber on both sides and in this place Sir John Johnson had set most of his forces and occupied the side hills for one mile. Our soldiers unknowingly were caught in this trap, they were suddenly attacked by the Indians, each one yelling his war whoop. They rushed down upon them and cut them off the brigade, destroying all the provisions of the army. The greater part of the Brigade was then hemmed in on all sides with a continual fire of muskets cutting them down by an almost invisible foe. Gen. Herkimer fell in the early part of the battle wounded. He ordered his saddle to be taken from his horse, and placed on a small hillock, took out his pipe and lit it to have a smoke while at the same time he gave some orders to the militia, such as he could, but our forces were soon scattered, it was almost impossible to get the company together in line. It was not long before every field officer was shot down, either killed or wounded and the Captain and officers of all the companies were fighting from behind trees. The Indians adopted their old mode of warfare, that is to expose some part of the body from behind a tree to attract attention of our soldiers and then when they fired and before they had a chance to reload, they would rush out and tomahawk them on the spot. During this mode of fighting our loss was fearful. Then by common consent of the militia Jacob Seeber, an uncle of my father, was put in charge of what was left and he was afterwards known as Capt. Seeber, although he was only a private in the company. He immediately changed the mode of defense by putting two men behind each tree and as soon as an Indian presented himself, one would fire and the Indian not knowing the change of affairs, would rush out to meet certain death on the spot. I will say and take it from the best authority, what kept our militia from being all massacred, was Col. Willett who was in command of Fort Ganesvoort. He made a sortie that opened the fort, and marched up with all the available men numbering about 100 to make an attack and to destroy Sir John Johnson's camp. That sortie of Col. Willett undoubtedly saved the army. He was in a fair way to destroy the whole when rangers were sent calling all troops back to the fort in order to save the British camp. Sir John Johnson's army would was largely in excess of our militia with a fair prospect of capturing our army. Thus it was a mystery for a long time why the enemy suddenly left the field. This movement was afterwards explained by the sortie of Col. Willett. The battle being over our militia gathered together the wounded and buried the dead, then retreated to the head waters of the Mohawk where the wounded were cared for. I cannot say whether it was at Little Falls or at Utica where they found a surgeon who undertook to amputate the limb of Gen. Herkimer. Because the surgeon was unskilled, the Gen. died from the loss of blood.

To show the strong religious feelings of most of our soldiers, while this surgeon and his assistants were at work Gen. Herkimer called for his Bible and during the amputation he read the nineteenth Psalm, to the soldiers collected about him. The retreat of Herkimer's Brigade left the field open to Sir John Johnson and his forces, with nothing to hinder them from marching direct to Albany, and in order to check the forward movement our Government sent out two strong regiments of regulars to raise the siege on the fort. Sir John Johnson learning of the advance of our army broke up his camp, taking with him his sick and wounded soldier prisioners with the intent of making the best of his way to Oswego and from there to the St. Lawrence. Maj. John Frey, an uncle on my mother's side was a prisoner, and because he was severely wounded, both legs being all but shot to pieces, he was taken to Oswego, probably through the influence of his brother who was Colonel in the British army. Our wounded prisoners were laid in flat boats and started for Montreal, this being the first militia station of the British where surgical assistance could be obtained. The suffering of these soldiers during this trip was fearful, especially of Col. Frey, who lay on his back, unable to help himself except with his arms, and frequently begged Col. Frey, his brother, to do something for him but only met with refusal. After lying in this condition for five days, with no water to drink, except what he could get by taking off his shoe and holding it over the side of the boat and getting some water in it. This was the sum and substance of his sustenance for that length of time. However he lived to who reach Montreal where the best surgical care was obtained and eventually he recovered and was exchanged and reached his home in Freysbush, N. Y. Although he could not mount his horse without assistance, when once mounted, I have seen him time and again, ride fearlessly, for he was an excellent horseman.

How many of my ancestors on my grandfather Seeber's side were in this battle it would be difficult to state but according to the record I now have, I give the names of such as I know; Maj. William Seeber, Capt. Jacob Seeber, Adolph Seeber Sr., Adolph Seeber, Jr., Rudolph Seeber, the three latter were slain in this battle. After the battle of Oriskany, grandfather Yates having been commissioner Major of the second regiment of New York troops was detailed and acted during the balance of the Revolution as State Commissaries Agent. That he was a man who commanded universal respect all over the state, I judge from the fact that Freysbush was a grant of land from the English Government to the Frey family, extending for two miles wide on the Mohawk river, seven or eight miles south. The Frey family, especially the tory part, took possessions in the valley of the Mohawk and this tract. They took up arms in favor of the English government. Their property was about to be confiscated, but through the influence of Col. Yates, who went and took possession of the farms, and held them during the war and finally prevailed upon the legislature of the state to restore the property under certain conditions. Of course grandfather Yates selected five hundred acres which he took to himself, where he lived after the war was over and where he finally died. Now the only Frey living on the north side of the Mohawk and outside of Freysburg was Maj. John Frey spoken of above. He was a pensioner of the United States after the passage of the first pension act and drew yearly 100# New York currency, which is equal to $250.00 of our money. He lived to a good old age, upwards of eighty, when he died. One of the remarkable traits of his character was that he could never bear to associate with any of the rest of the family on account of the course they took in the Revolution.

I might relate a good many instances as I have them from my ancestors during this part of the war but I will say that with the exception of Maj. Frey, not one of the entire Frey family ever prospered. They were shunned by all Whigs, despised by their neighbors and must have eked out a miserable existence. I will say another thing right here, that I heard from old settlers, and it is this: the whole northern part of Montgomery County, and especially in the vicinity of Johnstown was very well settled on the banks of the Mohawk and the farmers were prosperous, but strange it may seem, three fourths of them allied themselves with the British Government, keeping the British officers posted on every movement that was made. I will mention another circumstance, during an Indian raid made in that part of the country by Indians and Tories, every Whig's houses, buildings and grain was destroyed while not one of the Tories possessions were molested. This led our folks to believe that there were leaders among them who directed the destruction of property and future evidence proved this to be the case. The Whig faction, after their property had been destroyed were so incensed against their neighbors that it was with the utmost difficulty that they would be persueded not to retaliate, and in a good many instances, having sworn vengeance on Tories, a good many of their possessions were laid in ashes. Grandmother Yates under the pension act of 1831drew a pension of $500.00 per year for Grandfather Yates' services in the Revolution.

The papers for the application of pension were made out at my father's house. I was then a young man. Among the old settlers gathered there to witness and take acknowledgment of the papers was Judge Diefendorf, a resident in the eastern part of Montgomery County. The papers being executed properly, the conversation naturally fell back on the Revolutionary War. Henry Seeber, a brother to Grandfather Seeber was present and he recited a great many instances of his experience, among which was a raid made by the Indians and Tories in the valley of the Mohawk, directly after the wheat was all cut and in the shock about to be threshed, and a bountiful crop to all appearances. The Indians made their appearance, burning everything up and down the valley of the Mohawk, and within a mile of the Fort Plain. Not satisfied with destroying the grain and building, the Indians killed and scalped defenseless children and taking prisoner several aged ladies. Uncle Henry Seeber was in the fort at the time on account of being partially crippled. After the Indians had done all the mischief they could, he took a few friends with him and went out to see what they could find. The first body they came to, about a mile from the fort, was a lad about 9 years old, scalped and apparently dead. Upon examination he was found to be alive and was shouldered and carried to the fort where he was cared for by the good mother in the fort who dressed his wounds and cleansed his naked head and finally brought him through. During the relation of this Judge Diefendorf raised his hand to his head and took off his wig and said, " I am that boy." Of course while Uncle Henry was relating this they pretended not to know each other and was told in this way to make a strong impression on us young people.

I have heard another incident told by the old soldier himself in my father's house, his name I have forgotten. He was in the battle of Saratoga and was fearfully wounded, a musket ball passed through his right eye and came out at the back of his neck. The old veteran said that while our soldiers were gathering the wounded at eleven o'clock at night they came to where he was laying on his face, turned him over and took a look at him and said, " There is no use of moving this soldier, for he is already dead and left." Fortunately for the old soldier they turned him on his back and before midnight a shower of rain came which revived him and after managing to get on his knees and hands, he started for the fort which was one and one quarter miles distant and just as day dawned sentries discovered him, not knowing whether he was man or animal, and going to meet him, took the old veteran, carried him to camp where he was properly cared for and finally recovered. This old soldier, I have talked with frequently. Were I physically able, I might relate many instances as I have them from the actors themselves during the Revolutionary War but my age and my infirmities which now oppress me tell me that I must be brief. Possibly I have said above that Grandfather Yates was a man of considerable influence throughout the state of New York for according to one of the oldest papers that I have found among the records of the Revolution was a resolution passed by the aldermen of the city of Albany granting him the freedom of the city. What called up that paper I am unable to state. I will say that it bore the date of the eleventh year of the reign of George III King of Great Britain, it also bore the seal of the city of Albany which was nothing more nor less than a bear.

The origin of the Yates family I have never been able to determine, but I have concluded they must have been of English descent and think the name was originally Gates instead of Yates. There were three brothers, two of whom settled on the Hudson River between Albany and New York City. They also paid a yearly visit to my father's house, that being the general place of gathering of the veterans. Their visits were very different from the visits made now-a-days. They usually stayed from ten to twelve days, in fact I have known in my day during the holidays our visitors numbered as high as thirteen. I have been permitted to examine the coat of arms supposed to belong to the family of Yates, which was simply a common gate and in line with the fence posts stood a sheaf of wheat, showing that they were farmers, from that alone I concluded that the name must originally have been Gates and that it was changed emigrating America. Gen. Gates who commanded our army at the battle of Saratoga was of English descent. I am unable to say at what time prior to the Revolution grandfather Seeber and some of his brothers emigrated to America from Bremen. They settled in the valley of the Mohawk, five miles from where Fort Plain was afterwards located, and nine miles north of Cherry Valley. After the breaking out of the war and after raids were made by the Indians in the valley of the Mohawk, often times when the signal gun was fired from Fort Plain my grandfather Seeber would gather up a few articles of clothing and start for the fort through heavy timber. Frequently in the night time when the Tories and Indians came upon them suddenly and they had not time to get under the guns of the fort, they would camp on the east part of their farm in a deep ravine and live there for a number of days until the danger had passed. Often my father pointed out to me this ravine on the farm which was eventually willed to him. The last raid made by the Indians through the south part of Montgomery County and the west part of Schorrie County was under the command of one of the most infamous Tories ever known in the vicinity of Montgomery County. His name was Simon Gurty. As soon as the news reached Fort Plain, of this raid, the militia were assembled. The Indians and Tories were then twenty miles south of the fort where it appeared they camped one night, having with them a great amount of plunder besides twenty prisoners. Grandfather Seeber and the officers gathered together not far from one hundred men and they at once commenced their march expecting to reach the Indian camp at the dawn of day, which they did, halting the little army and forming them into two parallel lines, a certain distance apart. Two men were chosen to go to the Indian camp and attract their attention. It was some time before the Indians spied them. The squaws were preparing breakfast. As soon as they spied them the war-whoop was sounded and chase given by all the Indians in the camp while these two men led them between the lines already formed. The Indians were well received by the soldiers and many of them fell. Finding they were outnumbered they returned to the camp while our militia men gave chase and completely routed their camp, took all plunder and released twenty-three prisoners. The only loss sustained by our people was an officer by the name of McVean who was carried twenty miles to the fort and kept there until transportation could be furnished to send him to Albany for treatment. Often I have heard my mother tell of herself and a few comrades sitting in the shade of the fort fanning the wounded officer and keeping his lips moistened with water. What became of this officer I never learned. I think this was the last action grandfather Seeber was ever engaged in. He lived to be upwards of eighty years and died on the place that he bought before the outbreak of the war. He was a very strong religious man, always made it a practice to ride on horseback every Sabbath to Fort Plain to hear a German preacher. At times when the weather was too bad both winter and summer all the children and grandchildren were gathered together in his homestead where regular service was held. This service was very simple being in the German language and consisted first of singing, second, a prayer read by him, third, singing again, and fourth, a sermon read. No doubt you will think it a strange mode of carrying on war when men, women and children after being scalped were killed. It was charged against George III as one of the greatest sins of war that the officers of the Canadian Government together with the Tories caused a premium of $.25 to be paid to each Indian that produced a human scalp. This charge was made and continued to be made till years after the war closed and was never denied officially. Now one word more in regard to that portion of the people who took sides with the English Government against their own. But very few of them ever prospered.

Copied September 5, 1951

Chicago, Illinois

Transcribed 7/24/98

By Marcia Seeber Alary

I made every attempt to transcribed this exactly as it appeared in the original version. I made no spelling, grammar or punctuation corrections.