pliny moore papers-captain job wrights company 1782

[1] Pliny Moore (b. Sheffield, Mass., 1759; d. Champlain, N. Y. 1822). Private, Captain Henry O'Hara's company in Colonel Cornelius D. Wynkoop's regiment. (Letters). Private in 1st regiment, New York line, Colonel Goose Van Schaick. (N. Y. in Rev., 1:24). Deputy of Colonel Peter Van Ness, assistant commissary of purchases in 1779. (Clinton Papers, V:223). Lieutenant and adjutant in Colonel Marinus Willett's regiment of regular levies, Captain Job Wright's company. (Commission and N. Y. in Rev., I:87). Lieutenant and adjutant in Major Elias Van Bunschoten, Jr's independent corps. (Commission and mms. return, 1784.). Captain in Lieutenant Colonel Philip Van Alstyne's regiment of Columbia County militia. (Commission and Council of Appt., 1:98).

[2] Superior letters have been brought down to the level of the line and indicated by an apostrophe.

[3] It is probable that some of the names attached to this Petition for Redress are not signatures because of the curious spelling of known names, most of which are found in the list of "not identified" on pages 94 to 96 of New York in the Revolution, vol. I.

Pliny Moore and his Revolutionary Army Experience

            Pliny Moore was born in 1759 and would have been 18 years old in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed. At this time, he was living in Spencertown, New York. With war brewing, Pliny contemplated enlisting in the military as early as 1775. A friend, John Fellows, Jr., wrote to him on December 26, 1775, from the Camp at Dorchester: “If you dont list as I have been informed you had a great mind to if you will stay till spring I will list with you if it is very cold ”

            Pliny enlisted in the army in April of 1776 when he was still 17. A letter dated April 24, 1776, from a friend reads: “I hear you have Listed into the Continental Service to go to Quebec. I believe that I shant go with you this summer.” Pliny received other letters, probably from family or friends in Spencertown, on July 7 and 28, 1776, when he was in Captain O’Hara’s Company[1] (in Colonel Cornelius D. Wynkoop’s regiment) at Tye [Ticonderoga], Crown Point and Fort George, New York. During this period, he contracted small pox.   Pliny was also a Private in the First Regiment, New York Line, under Colonel Goose Van Schaick.

            In 1778, Pliny’s enlistment was complete and he went home. In 1779, he became a Deputy of Colonel Peter Van Ness, Assistant Commissary of Purchases.[2]   A November 10, 1780, Certificate by Major John McKinstry showed that Pliny proceeded to Albany to join his company. Also around this time, it was written that he reported for military duty but was not needed.[3]

            In June of 1781, Pliny enlisted in Colonel Marinus Willett’s Regiment of Regular Levies, which was part of Captain Job Wright’s Company. He was a Lieutenant and Adjutant in this regiment. His commission was dated July 24, 1782.[4]   He may have served mostly in the Mohawk Valley.   A letter from his friend Elisha Pratt, 3d, dated October 13, 1781, stated: “When I read the Characters of Gen’l Starks and his Aid-Decamp and at the same time am informed that you are a Member of his Honorable Family...”   Also among Pliny’s papers is a Remonstrance to Brig. General. Stark, Oct. 5, 1781. Another letter, dated September 20, 1781, was addressed to Lieutenant More in Col. McKinster’s Regiment in Saratoga.

            It was also written that Pliny was a Lieutenant and Adjutant in Major Elias Van Bunschoten, Jr.’s Independent Corps, whose commission was also dated July 24, 1782.

            In February of 1783, Pliny was still in Colonel Marinus Willett’s Regiment where he was in a forced march to Oswego. By the summer of 1783, Pliny was stationed at Fort Rensselaer (later called Fort Plain) when George Washington visited. Hugh McLellan wrote a long article about Pliny’s experiences during the July 4 celebrations. His article was based on a letter written by Pliny to the publishers of a newspaper about this experience.

            Finally, Pliny may have been a Captain (#7) in Lieutenant-colonel Philip Van Alstyne’s regiment of Columbia County Militia. This commission was dated September 13, 1786, as Hugh wrote later.

            Hugh wrote a summary of Pliny Moore’s military record in his Moorsfield Press publication about Job Wright’s Company:

PLINY MOORE'S MILITARY RECORD.

            Private, Captain Henry O'Hara's company (in Colonel Cornelius D. Wynkoop’s regiment). See note, p. 14; also Fernow, N. Y. in Rev. I, p. 101.

            Private in First Regiment, New York Line, Colonel Goose Van Schaick. (Roberts, N. Y. in Rev., I, p. 24).

            Deputy of Colonel Peter Van Ness, Assistant Commissary of Purchases, in 1779. (Clinton Papers, v, p. 223).

            Lieutenant and Adjutant in Colonel Marinus Willett's regiment of Regular Levies, Capt. Job Wright's company. (Commission dated 24 July 1782; and Roberts, N. Y. in Rev., I, p. 87).

            Lieutenant and Adjutant in Major Elias Van Bunschoten, Jr's Independent Corps. (Commission dated 24 July 1782, and manuscript “Return of the New York State Battallion Commanded by Major Elias Van Bunschoten who are Retiring from Service”, dated Schenectady, 9 January 1784).

            Captain in Lieutenant-colonel Philip Van Alstyne’s regiment of Columbia County Militia. (Commission and Council of Appt., I, p. 98). [Hugh wrote "dated Sept. 13, 1786"].

            An extensive summary was compiled by Hugh McLellan of Pliny Moore’s published military service.   Note that some of the information is not correct.

Military Records of Pliny Moore:

(From the SAR. Mass. Hist. Memoranda, Best. 1897)

Pliny Moore, Sheffield........1759-1822

Drummer in Canadian expedition, and at Quebec, in 1775. [Not correct - DSP]

Lieutenant, Capt. (Job) Wright’s Co., Gen. Williett’s [Willett’s] Reg, and Adjutant;

Battles at Yorktown, Va., and elsewhere [Error: Hugh wrote: ‘not so’]

1778

(From the Mass. Soldiers & Sailors in the War of Rev. Bost. Vol. X, 931)

Moore, Pliny.

Private, Capt. Joshua Whitney’s Co., Col. Josiah Whitney’s Regt.; service from July 31, 1778, to Sept. 14, 1778, 1 mo, 18 days, at Rhode Island, Roll dated Worcester.   [Very Questionable - DSP]

Unknown Date

(N. Y. in the Revolution, Vol 1, p. 24)

Pliny Moore,

Private in 1st Regiment of the Line, Col. Goose VanSchaick.

1782

(Same, p. 87)

Also in NY in Rev. by Fernow, Albany 1887, p 260, 539)

Lieut. & Adj. in Col. M. Willett’s Reg. of Levies raised 1782.

Lieut: July 24, 1782.

Adj: Nov. 7, 1782.

Commissions of Pliny Moore:

1782

July 24, 1782. Lieut. Independ. Corps, Elias Van Bunschotten Jr.

July 24, 1782. Lieut. Regular Levies, M. Willett Lieut. Maj. Col. Command.

1786

Sept. 13, 1786. Capt. #7 of a Co. in the Reg. of Militia in the County of Columbia. Philip Van Alstyne, Lieut. Col. Comm.

Letters concerning Pliny Moore’s military enlistment:

1775

Dec. 26. John Fellows Jr. Camp at Dorchester, to Pliny Moore Spencertown. “If you dont list as I have been informed you had a great mind to if you will stay till spring I will list with you if it is very cold ”

1776

Letter Apl. 24, 1776. “I hear you have listed into the Continental Service to go to Quebec. I believe that I shant go with you this summer.”

I shall expect a letter from you before you march as I hear it out till next Monday.

Letters written to him from Spencertown, July 7, & 28, 1776 are addressed to Mr. Pliny Moor, in Capt. O. Harrows or Oharrows Company, at Tye [Ticonderoga], Crown Point & at fort George.

1780

Nov. 10, 1780 Certificate of John McKinstry Maj, that PM had proceeded to Albany to join his Company.

1781

Letter from Elisha Pratt, 3d, dated Oct. 13, 1781 says: “When I read the Characters of Gen’l Starks and his Aid-Decamp and at the same time am informed that you are a Member of his Honorable Family...” and among his papers is a Remonstrance to Brig. Genl. Stark, Oct. 5, 1781.

Letter Sept. 20, 1781 addressed to Lieut. More in Col. McKinster’s Reg’t — Saratoga.

[1] Fernow, N. Y. in Rev. I, p. 101

[2] Clinton Papers, v, p. 223

[3] Pliny Moore, Allen Everest, page 4.

[4] Roberts, N. Y. in Rev., I, p. 87