New York Colonial Muster Rolls: 1664-1775

New York Colonial Muster Rolls: 1664-1775, as found in the second annual report of the State Historian of the State of New York, transmitted to the legislature, February 22, 1897.


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APPENDIX "H"

MUSTER ROLLS AND MILITARY COMMISSIONS ISSUED FOR THE COLONY OF NEW YORK BETWEEN THE YEARS 1664 AND 1760--COVERING THE PERIOD OF THE CAPTURE OF NEW NETHERLANDS BY THE ENGLISH (SEPT. 1664), THE RECAPTURE OF NEW YORK BY THE DUTCH (AUG. 1673), THE RESORATION OF NEW YORK TO THE ENGLISH BY THE DUTCH (FEBRUARY AND MARCH 1674); THE ENGLISH REVOLUTION OF 1688; THE WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE, 1689; THE UNSUCCESSFUL EXPEDIDITION AGAINST CANADA, 1689-1690; QUEEN ANNE'S WAR AND THE SECOND UNSUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION AGAINST CANADA 1709-1711; WAR OF THE "AUSTRIAN SUCCESSION" BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE 1744, CONCLUDED BY THE PEACE OF 1748; AND THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR FROM 1754 INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF LAKE GEORGE, SEPT. 8, 1755. THESE MUSTER ROLLS PRACTICALLY END WITH THE DEATH OF GEORGE II.

The subjoined military records taken from the Colonial Archives in the possession of our State Library represent military services of officers and men, covering a period of nearly one hundred years of the history of the province of New York.

In addition to the New York troops several rolls of militiamen who were stationed in New Jersey during the years 1673 and 1715 have been placed in the collection, for the reason that they form part of the Colonial Military Records of New York.

The records of the time of the Prince of Orange, Queen Anne, George I and George II, are particularly full and satisfactory.

Those rolls that cover the years from 1687 to 1690 would indicate that for the population of that time the standard of patriotism was commendably high.

War had been declared between France and England, and France had determined upon a policy of invasion of New York and New England, with the ultimate intention of acquiring territory that she might capture.

January, 1689, Chevalier de Callieres Bonnevue, Governor of Montreal, conceived a project for the invasion and conquest of New York. He intended to make Albany his objective point, and with a force of two thousand men, he proposed to take the route by the way of the Richelieu River to Lake Champlain, thence by the "Carrying Place" to the Hudson River, thence to Albany, which was called Orange in honor of the Prince of Orange who at that time was ruling England. Albany had a population as large as Montreal. The Chevalier was convinced that he would have but little difficulty in obtaining possession of Albany. This city once in his possession, he proposed to seize all the boats, barks and canoes available and embark down the Hudson River to attack the capital of the province "Manathe" (New York City). Success to him meant the governorship of New York. Although his plan was approved by the French King and was put into execution, the expedition which Frontenac engineered, proceeded no further than Schenectady, which was burned and its inhabitants massacred in February 8-9, 1690.

Rolls will also be found covering the English expeditions to Canada in 1709-1710 and again in 1746.

Transcripts have also been made of the rolls of the troops raised during the French and Indian War, involving the Battle of Lake George which was fought September 8th, 1755. The descriptive rolls of the years 1758-59 will be particularly interesting to military students, showing but very slight variation from the descriptive military rolls of today.

A dash - indicates that copy is illegible.

New York Colonial Muster Rolls, 1664-1775


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