My Abraham Livingston connection and the War for Independence

It is so important to know where we come from, the forces, events and ideas that helped shape our worlds and the people we come from. This notion has been a strong theme in my life, I feel compelled and almost responsible to know my people and their stories. I have big feelings about my people and love them for the things they did and the sacrifices they made. "My people" made me and I promise I will not forget.

On to today's story, I want to share the stories about the Livingston family. This story centers around the war for Independence and my ancestor Captain Abraham Livingston. Abraham  was born about October 1753  in New York, United States and we have record of his christening 03 October 1753 in the Reformed Dutch Church, New York, New York. He was born to the wealthy and affluent father who was a merchant and trader, John Livingston and Catarina Ten Brock, the daughter of Col Dirck Ten Broeck and Margarita Cuyler. Catarina must have had very high opinions (and gives us a peak into her character) as it is said of his mother, Catarina,

" ...she never spoke the English language. A description of the ceremonious visits the children of the family paid their grandmother is still repeated among the descendants. On New Year's, the only day of the year on which the grandchildren were permitted to visit her apartments, they came with the greatest delight, mingled with awe. The low curtsy was made, and their greetings spoken in Dutch taught them for the occasion."

Catryna Ten Broeck Livingston, portrait of her childhood

By 1765, Abraham was about 12 years old and the family had moved to Montreal Canada most certainly for his father John Livingston to pursue his business of trader and merchant. Having been raised by a strict Dutch mother, he had to have been fluent in the Dutch language, and being American knew English, but the family also lived in French Canada for a number of years, so it is probable that Abraham was knowledgeable in the French language as well. So a linguist? Probably. We also know that Abraham was employed as a clerk for Mr Oakes of Ermintinoex in the Indian territory as a fur trader just prior to the outbreak of the war.

Abraham was about 22 years old when his older brother, Col James Livingston, raised a regiment named the 1st Canadian Regiment in September 1775 to fight for the cause of freedom for a fledgling nation. Abraham was named a captain in his brother's regiment and fought alongside his 2 older brothers, Lt Col Richard Livingston and Col James Livingston in the Battle Of Quebec in 1775. This war was fought on December 31, 1775, between American Continental Army forces and the British defenders of Quebec City early in the American Revolutionary War. The battle was the first major defeat of the war for the Americans, and it came with heavy losses. General Richard Montgomery was killed, Benedict Arnold was wounded, and Daniel Morgan and more than 400 men were taken prisoner. The city's garrison, a motley assortment of regular troops and militia led by Quebec's provincial governor, General Guy Carleton, suffered a small number of casualties.

American forces are shattered in fierce street fighting during the Battle of Quebec.

What a tragic engagement for Abraham to have been involved in to begin his military service in the war for Independence.
It must have been especially difficult as Abraham, Richard and James were all related to the fallen General Richard Montgomery through the marriage of Richard to the brother's cousin, Janet Livingston.
What did George Washington say of Richard Montgomery's passing?

Phillip Schuyler and General George Washington were devastated upon hearing of Montgomery's death. Schuyler believed that without Montgomery, victory in Canada was not possible. He wrote to Congress and Washington that "My amiable friend, the gallant Montgomery, is no more; the brave Arnold is wounded; and we have met a severe check, in an unsuccessful attempt on Quebec, May Heaven be graciously pleased that the misfortune may terminate here."Washington wrote to Schuyler, "In the death of this gentleman, America has sustained a heavy loss, as he had approved himself a steady friend to her rights and of ability to render her the most essential services." Congress reacted to Montgomery's death by trying to keep the loss as quiet as possible. They feared the news would lower the morale of the troops and civilians.

We next see the Livingston brothers in both The Battles of Saratoga (September 19 and October 7, 1777) which marked the climax of the Saratoga campaign, giving a decisive victory to the Americans over the British in the American Revolutionary War. It was a major turning point for the American cause.
British General John Burgoyne led a large invasion army southward from Canada in the Champlain Valley, hoping to meet a similar British force marching northward from New York City and another British force marching eastward from Lake Ontario; the southern and western forces never arrived, and Burgoyne was surrounded by American forces in upstate New York. He fought two small battles to break out which took place 18 days apart on the same ground, 9 miles (14 km) south of Saratoga, New York. They both failed. He later served as Captain in the New York Levies.(only found one reference to this, needs more research)

I read that Abraham was involved in The Battle of Monmouth which was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. I will need to do further research to see what regiment he fought in, I found evidence that he served in the New York Levies as a captain and maybe that was his involvement. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court House (modern Freehold Borough). It is also known as the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse.

Next we see Abraham at The Battle of Rhode Island (also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill and the Battle of Newport) took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and militia forces under the command of General John Sullivan were withdrawing to the northern part of Aquidneck Island after abandoning their siege of Newport, Rhode Island when the British forces in Newport sortied, supported by recently arrived Royal Navy ships, and attacked the retreating Americans. The battle ended inconclusively, but afterwards Continental forces withdrew to the mainland, leaving Aquidneck Island in British hands.

The battle was the first attempt at cooperation between French and American forces following France's entry into the war as an American ally. Operations against Newport were planned in conjunction with a French fleet and troops, but they were frustrated in part by difficult relations between the commanders, as well as by a storm that damaged both French and British fleets shortly before joint operations were to begin.

Abraham Livingston served in the army until right about the time the war ended 1781 for about 6  years. He must have witnessed horrible things and done things he might not have wanted to do that always accompany war, and for him to be involved in so many battles without serious injury or death also speaks to Abraham's strength and character.

I never see note or documentation from the government any compensation for Abraham's service, I do see Abraham's heirs petitioning for back pay. I'm not sure what the outcome of this action was. This is not to say he was never compensated, I just can not find evidence of it. I do however know that Abraham's brother, Col James Livingston , was given thousands of acres of land for his service to the cause.

additional documentation from Jane Vanderhayden of Abraham's involvement in the war date 2 March 1799

document showing Captain Abraham Livingston allegiance, service and actions in the Revolutionary war
dated February 1799.

After Abraham's service in the war, he married 13 Feb 1782 in Rensselear, New York to Mara Bradt Peebles, the daughter of Thomas Peebles and Elizabeth Bradt. After the war he removed and settled at Stillwater, near the siege of Fort Erie. Abraham and Maria would go on to have 8 children, 6 daughters and 2 sons. Of the 2 sons, Thomas died young from drowning and John Peebles married but did not have any children. We see then that the Livingston name, for this line, going forward dies with his sons and daughters. Abraham and Maria had the following children:

1) Elizabeth Livingston Hubbard (1782-1807)
2) Angelica Livingston (abt 1785-____) died young
3) Catharine Livingston Mather (1787-1855)
4) Rosanna Livingston Schuyler (1790-1857)
5) John Peebles Livingston (1792-1852)
6) Maria Livingston O'Donnell (1795-1867)
7) Jane Livingston Williams (1797-1844)
8) Thomas Livingston (1800-1809) drowned at the age of 9

 Abraham died relatively young at the age of 49 on  03 July 1802, New York, United States and his grave stone is located in the Stillwater Union Cemetery, in Stillwater, Saratoga, New York. He left a large family with the youngest only 2 years old at his passing.

.Although the Livingston name disappears going forward from my family tree with this great man, I still feel the Livingston blood in me and feel pride for the part they played in gaining our Nation's freedom.

Thank you Abraham for what you did for our country and for our family.