Jacques André Monty (1763 - 1819)

Born 26 Jan 1763 in Chambly, Province of Québec

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 9 Jul 1819 at age 56 in Peru, Clinton, New York, USA

Biography

James Monty served with Second Canadian Regiment, Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Jacques André Monty was born 26 Jan 1763 and baptized three days later at Chambly, Province of Québec.^[1] He was the son of Francois Monty and Josette Bergevin.^[1] He passed away in 1819 at the age of 58.

When the Americans entered New France in September 1775 to attempt to drive the British out, many French Canadians joined the cause. Congress authorized General Montgomery to raise a regiment of French Canadians under Colonel Livingston (known as the 1st Canadian Regiment), and Jacques' father Francois joined in November 1775. After the British reinforced their positions in May, 1776, the Americans were forced to retreat back to New York, and the French Canadians who joined the American regiment had to leave or face severe retributions. Thus most of the families of the soldiers in the regiment packed up, including the family of Francois Monty, abandoned their estates, and moved south with the retreating Army. Unlike the army of today, during this era it was common for a soldier's family to move with the regiment.

Military Service

On December 19, 1776, Jacques was enlisted as a Private at the age of 13 in Capt. Abraham Livingston's regiment of Col. James Livingston's 1st Canadian Regiment of the Continental Army. Older brother Francis Jr. enlisted at the same time in the same Company. Father Francis was by then serving as a Lieutenant in another company of the same regiment. As member of the regiment, he is documented as having taken part in the Battle of Saratoga.^[2]

After Livingston's Regiment was disbanded in December, 1780, those soldiers continuing their service, including Jacques, were transferred to Moses Hazen's 2nd Canadian Regiment (also known as "Congress' Own Regiment").

Hazen's regiment was present and active in the Battle of Yorktown, which led to the British General Cornwallis' surrender, effectively ending the war. The regiment was then assigned to guard prisoners of war until the Treaty of Paris in 1783 brought peace. The unit was disbanded and Jacques was discharged in 1783 after 7 years of service. His brothers Francois Jr., Joseph, Amable, and Placide, and John also served.

In Army records, Jacques is sometimes listed as Jaques, James or even Jack.^[3]

After the war, as part of his pension, Jacques was granted tracts of land in the town of Chazy, in Clinton County, New York. The grants he received in March 1855 and May 1856 caused confusion on the part of the Commissioner of Pensions, and based on his receiving the land, the Commissioner denied the application from brother John Monty, believing that the two were the same person. This was discussed in depth in the congressional record when John appealed, eventually successfully.^[4]

Family

James married Anne Taylor of Peekskill, New York, and together they had three sons, Christopher, James and Matthew.

James Monty died at the age of 58 in the town of Peru, Clinton County, New York.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Québec, registres paroissiaux catholiques, 1621-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G99S-6942?i=396&wc=9RL4-N38%3A13629001%2C13629002%2C13704301&cc=1321742 : 28 Nov 2017), Chambly > Saint-Joseph-de-Chambly > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1727-1765 > image 397 of 430; Archives Nationales du Quebec (National Archives of Quebec), Montreal.
2. ↑ Left Wing of Continental Army under General Arnold, Saratoga County NYGenWeb page, accessed 30 December 2017
3. ↑ H.R. 580, 36th Congress, 1st Session, April 6, 1860
4. ↑ H.R. 580, 36th Congress, 1st Session, April 6, 1860
5. ↑ Death notice in Plattsburgh Republican, July 17, 1819

• 1810 United States Federal Census; Plattsburgh, NY
• American Revolutionary War Rejected Pensions; Plattsburgh, NY, He died before the passage of the act.
• New York, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890; Plattsburgh
• New York, Genealogical Records, 1675-1920; Clinton County
• New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999; Clinton County
• Registres paroissiaux et Actes d’état civil du Québec (Collection Drouin), 1621 à 1967; Chambly
• U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s; McCORKLE, MRS. ELYZABETH S. "Canadian and Nova Scotia Refugees to New York." In National Genealogical Society Quarterly, vol. 53:2 (June 1965), pp. 116-118.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #155957997
• U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783
• Revolutionary War Pensions, New York State
• "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2DG-WKYS : 9 March 2018), Jacque Monty, 06 Apr 1779; citing 06 Apr 1779, United States, citing NARA microfilm publication M246. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1980. FHL microfilm 830,412.