Robert Casey (1756 - 1841)

Born 8 Mar 1756 in London, England

Husband of Rebecca (Pearce) Casey — married 10 Mar 1787 in Florida, Montgomery, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 20 Aug 1841 at age 85 in Florida, Montgomery, New York, United States

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Biography

Robert Casey was a soldier during the Revolutionary War. He became a sergeant, though in later years people in Montgomery County called him "Captain Casey." He lived in NYC for a short time in his youth, and was sent to college in Boston. While there, he participated in the Boston Tea Party, according to family tradition, and an obituary of his granddaughter. He was mainly stationed along the Hudson River during the War, and he eventually learned of his parents' deaths, both of which occurred during the Revolution. He was sick once, and was nursed back to health by a kind young girl named Rebecca Pierce, the woman who he, many years later, sought out, and married. Her father owned a farm in Florida, Montgomery County; Robert Casey bought an adjoining farm, and lived out the rest of his long life there.

In 1790, Robert Casey lived in the Town of Mohawk, Montgomery County (Florida was not yet established.) He had one male (another of my sources says two) over 16 [himself & ??], two under 16 [David & Samuel], and two females [Rebecca & ??] in his household. From the records of Onondaga County, dated 1792: "Casey, Robert, of Mohawk Town, farmer, Late Soldier 1st Regt., transfers to David McMaster of Mohawk Town. Acknowledged before Judge Fisher in Montgomery Co., Date, November 5 [1792]." Also "Casey, Robert, of Florida Town, farmer, and wife Rebecah, transfer to John LeFever of Hurley Town, Lot 85 - Marcellus. Date, December 3 [1795]."

From the Schoharie Republican of 1841, where his death notice appears: he died "after a severe illness of four months and fourteen days, age 86 years. Mr. Casey was a soldier through the Revolutionary War, holding the office of Orderly Sergeant during the whole period. He was in most of the Great Engagements under Washington and was with Gates at the taking of the Burgoyne." Robert Casey is found on the 1788 Tax List for the Mohawk District (this will later become Florida, Montgomery County) New York. He is listed after David & James McMaster (he served with the former in the Revolutionary War, and named his oldest son David McMaster Casey), and before David Beverly and James Hallady. Robert Casey was taxed 0 British pounds, 2 shillings, 3 pence. In comparison, James McMaster was taxed over 15 shillings, and David McMaster over one pound. Robert Casey's tax was lower than average for the district. See "The Mohawk," vol. 4, nos. 2 & 3. Also in the district are many other relatives, including Ephraim Pierce (taxed 13 shillings), Tunis Swart (also taxed 13 shillings and next to E. Pierce), Derick Van Vechten (taxed 1-4-3) and Alexander Doorn (taxed 10 shillings 3 pence).

For his service in the American Revolution, Robert Casey received Lot 85 in the Town of Marcellus ("No. 9") in Onondaga County, New York. See "The Balloting Book and Other Documents, Townships in the Military Tract," p. 123. There were 100 lots listed for Marcellus. According to "Connolly's Original Return," p. 81, found in the same source, "Robert Casey, sergeant" was in the Third Company, First Regiment of NY Troops in the Revolution, and received 600 acres of land in the military district. His Captain in this regiment was Benjimin Hicks, and the lieutenant was Henry Swartwout (they received 1800 and 1200 acres, respectively). In "The Balloting Book," p. 27, one finds a listing for "Casey, Robert, sergeant" in the First New York Regiment. On 8 July 1790, he received Lot 85, Township 9 - 600 acres. On p. 157 of that source, it is found that "Casey, Robert, sergeant" was a Patentee, whose patent was delivered to "Michael Connolly, for R. Casey". See "Onondaga's Centennial: Gleanings of a Century" by Dwight Hall Bruce for a description of the Central New York Military Tract.

Lot No. 85 (Robert Casy's grant from 8 July 1790) is now in the southwest part of the Town of Skaneateles (taken off of Marcellus in 1830). It's just west of Skaneateles Lake, and a creek runs E-W through the land. By 1859, two roads ran E-W through the property, and there were 11 houses on the land.

In "New York in the Revolution, vol. 1," p. 219, is a listing of the members of "Colonel Cornelius D. Wynkoop's Regiment" of NY troops. The Captains listed were Robert McKean, Henry O'Mara, Jacob Seeber, Cornelius Van Santvoort, Samuel Van Vighten, Gerret S. Veeder, Herman Vosburgh, and John H. Wendell. "Casey Robert" as well as "Chaddock Thomas" are listed among the Enlisted Men. In that same source, p. 19, are listed the men of "The Line - First Regiment," and "Casey James, Casey John," and "Casey Robert" are all listed. In 1810, the Montgomery County census [possibly Johnston Township?] listed "Robert Case," who then had in his household one male under 10 [Robert Jr.], one aged from 10-15 [James], two from 16-25 [Samuel and Ephraim, probably], and one over 45 [himself]. He had three females under 10 [Sophia, Mary, Lydia], one from 10-15 [Esther], three from 16-25 [Jemima, Rebecca, Sarah], and one from 26-45 [Rebecca, his wife]. One son is missing - this is probably David, the oldest, who would have been 23 at the time. Living near Robert Casey were the Van Vlack, Thomson, Right, Veusel, Orval?, ***, Davenport, McKinnie, McGie, Merrill, Somes, and Rowland families. In 1810, David Casey may already have been in Canada.

Sources

• Robert Casey's inventory was filed on 21 December 1841 in the Montgomery County Court; James Casey was his executor. Wm. A. Milmine and John H. Van Derveer were the appraisers; the appraisal was performed on 3 December 1841. It included one brown horse, one bay horse ($60 each), one old horse, three red cows ($8 each), seventeen sheep ($17), one sleigh, half of fanning mill, hay supposed 6 ton, oats in the straw 100 bush., pease nine bushels, spring wheat 6 bush, barley 12 bush., buckwheat 3 bush., corn 5 bush., 6 knives & forks cups sausers &c., straw 4 load, rakes forks shovels plow harness &c., one lumber waggon, one sett double harness, log chain & wheelbarrow, three iron wedges axe & beetle rings, grind stone, one brush sythe & one sythe & sneath, chees press cultivator, whip saw tar bucket old iron & barrels, clock, beaureau closset, one desk, nine winsor chairs, three old chairs, one carpet, two tables, one chest, one chair & old desk, twelve tin pans, two large pots, one old brass kettle, one pail brass kettle, church & wash tub, one half of a plow, scotch dragg?, pully blocks & rope, fifty bushels potatoes. Under "Widdow Right of Dower" was listed one red cow, 10 sheep, wheels verb? loom six chairs two stoves two beds & bedding six knives & forks six cups & saucers six spoons one table pork of two hogs half of beef &c &c. According to "Mohawk Valley Families," Compendium, p. 537, Robert Casey was a witness to the will of David McMaster, Revolutionary Veteran, for whom his eldest son was named. His will was dated 17 March 1798, and was probated 15 October 1800; the deceased lived in the Town of Florida, and had a wife Esther; David was his eldest son. Hugh McMaster and David Deming were the other witnesses to the will. His wife was the executrix. David, Hugh, James, Robert, and Thomas McMaster were members of the Tryon County Militia during the Revolution. One of the witnesses to his February 1837 will was John Sterling Jr., who lived in Galway, Saratoga County, NY by 8 November 1841, when he gave a deposition in the Montgomery County Surrogate's Court. At the time the other witness, Jay Cady, still lived in Florida, NY.

I have copies of his muster rolls from the 1st New York Regiment. He was a member of "Captain Benjamin Hicks's Company" (No. 3) from at least 1780-1783; he was in Cornelius Wynkoop's Regiment at the outset of the war, in 1776, and from 1777-1779 he was in Captain Robert McKeen's Company (No. 7), 1st New York Battallion. He was a private in 1778, a corporal from 1777-1780, and a sergeant after 1781. Robert Casey first enlisted as a Private in Capt. Robert McKean's Company, in Col. Cornelius D. Wynkoop's Regiment "of Forces of the United Colonies raised in and for the defense of the Colony of New York" sometime in 1775 or 1776. He remained in Capt. McKean's Company when it was transferred to Col. Goose Van Schaick's Regiment (1st Battallion, NY forces) sometime before 21 November 1776. Robert Casey was a Corporal by 5 June 1777 (perhaps by 2 February 1777) in Capt. McKeen's Company, as shown through a Muster Roll with that date. His term of enlistment was "During War" and the Muster Roll covered 21 November 1776 - 5 June 1777. From June-October 1777 (roll dated 4 October) Corpl. Casey's unit was at Fort Schuyler, New York. In October and November 1777 (roll dated 14 November) the unit was at Schnectady, New York. Robert Casey was still a Corporal in this, Capt. Robert McKeen's Co., 1st Batt'n of NY Forces under Col. Van Schaick, in a muster roll dated at Schnectady, 17 March 1778. He was appointed to (renewed at?) this position in the company on 2 February 1778. In July 1778, Corporal Casey was "Sick absent" but was paid "7 1/3 dollars" for the month of July, or 2 pounds, 18 shillings, 8 pence. His unit was the same, but was then designated as "Company No. 7, commanded by Lt. Sherwood, 1st NY Reg't." It may be that he was nursed back to health at this time by Rebecca Pearce. In January and February 1778 (roll dated 9 February) he was at Schnectady, New York. In April 1778 (roll dated 5 May 1778) Corpl. Casey was at Chester County, Pennsylvania. He was still in Capt. Robert McKeen's Company/No. 7 at this time. Interestingly, in May 1778 (roll dated 9 June) he was "Sick present" and in June 1778 (roll dated 6 July) he was "Sick Valley Forge" indicating that he was with General Washington's army at this time. In July 1778 (roll dated 6 August) he was at White Plains, and was "Sick at downingtown." In August 1778 (roll dated 4 September 1778), Corpl. Casey's company was at Camp White Plains (NY), and he was "Sick at Downing Town." On 9 September 1778 Corporal Casey was "Sick at MorrisTown New Jersey State" while his company (No. 7) was at Camp White Plains [NY]. In September 1778 (roll dated 7 October) his company was at Peekskill, New York. Corpl. Casey was then "Sick at Morristown [N.J.]". In October 1778 (roll dated 1 November) Corpl. Casey's unit was at Peek's Kill [NY] - he was no longer recorded as being sick at this time. In November and December 1778 (roll dated 11 January 1779) Corpl. Casey was at Ft. Schuyler, New York. In a roll dated 31 March 1779 at Ft. Schuyler, New York, Robert Casey was a Corporal in Capt. Nicholas Van Rensselaer's Company, 1st Battalion of NY Forces, commanded by Col. Goose Van Schaick. He was "On comd at Onida" and was present in the company from January-March 1779. Robert Casey's name appeared on a Return of that company, 1st Continental Batallion, dated at Fort Schuyler, NY on 19 May 1779. A note on the return indicates that "This company was designated at various times as Capt. Robert McKeen's and Capt. Nicholas Van Renseelaer's Company, and Company No. 7." His unit's paymaster was Jeremiah Van Ransselaer. In October-December [no year given - perhaps 1780 or '81], Robert Casey, Corpl., received $14.60. For August-October 1780, he was a Corporal, and received $22. His Muster Rolls indicate that as a Sergeant, Robert Casey was in the 3rd Company, 1st New York Regiment of Foot, in March, April, August, and September 1782 (rolls dated 5 April, 12 May, 7 Sept, and 16 October 1782). For February & March 1783, Robert Casey, Sergeant, received $20 in pay. The Revolutionary War came to an end at this time. His file in the National Archives containing his precious illustrated Family Record is # W22739. "Casey, Robert. Rebecca." James Voorhees, Judge of Montgomery County, certified in a record found in this file that "I am acquanted with the within named declarant [Rebecca Casey] and that she is aged and infirm and is unable to attend Court. Florida April 11, 1843." His family record was made by William Murray, and was copied from "an old family Bible belonging to. . . Robert Casey, which has since been destroyed." In order to take advantage of an Act passed by Congress on 15 May 1828, dealing with veterans' pensions,

Robert Casey wrote a statement now in his file at the National Archives, Washington D.C. He wrote that "I Robert Casey of the town of Florida in the County of Montgomery in the State of New York do hereby declare that I enlisted in the Continental line of the army of the revolution for and during the war and continued in its service until its termination at which period I was a sergeant in Captain Benjamin Hick's Company in the first regiment of the New York line. And I also declare that I afterwards received a certificate for the reward of Eighty Dollars to which I was entitled under a resol(?) of Congress passed the 15th of May 1778. And I further declare that I was not on the fifteenth day of March 1828 on the pension list of the United States." Signing the document were Robert Casey, in the presence of Elijah McK Glen. Daniel McKinney also signed the document, declaring that he appeared before Andrew Johnson, Commissioner to take Affadavits in Montgomery County. McKinney stated that Robert Casey was indeed a sergeant in the army, signed 28 June 1828. George D. Jaques in turn swore that he was Clerk of Montgomery County, and that Andrew Johnson was a Commissioner.