This is the fourth installment of a monthly recollection of events of 250 years ago in Hanover, Ulster, New York. The Precinct of Hanover was the approximate location of Joel Campbell at the time. This area is now part of the Town of Montgomery, Orange, New York.
Although the formal Declaration of Independence would not appear for another full year, the United Colonies were definitely in full rebellion in July of 1775. News of the June 27th meeting of the Continental Congress reached Hanover in July. They were to “… immediately take possession of St. John’s, Montreal, and any other parts of the country…,” of Canada!
Captain Nicholson was recruiting in Hanover. His company's beat included the precinct of New Windsor and parts of Newburgh, Hanover, and Shawangunk.
His company included the following surnames who would appear in the 1779 Tax Assessment for Hanover: Burns, Caldwell, Clarke, Douglas, Dunlap, Eager, Hannes(Haines), Herrald, Hunter, McBride, McEwan, Millar, Milspaugh, Moloy, Monterief, Morrisson, Nicholson, Parks, Patterson, Ray(Rea), Stitt, Taylor, Weeks, Welch, Wharry, Wood.
On July 13, Captain Nicholson wrote the Provincial Congress of New York:
“Agreeable to my warrant and instructions from the Provincial Congress, I have enlisted a company of seventy-two men to serve in the Continental Army, and now wait for further directions of the Congress." (Journal of the Provincial Congress of New York for July 19, 1775)
