Ancestry.com - Individual Database Search ResultsMember Login | My Account earch > Record Type > New York Military in the Revolution > Search ResultsJune 9, 2000 Search Results Database: Full Context of New York Military in the Revolution C New York in the Revolution Supplement; The Military and Naval Service The Army American Prisoners of War Previous to the battle of Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776, very few of the Americans had become Prisoners to the Enemy. One thousand were taken after that Battle; and 700 at Fort Washington, when the British came in full possession of the City of New York and its immediate vicinity. The Presbyterian and Dutch Reformed Churches of that City were the first Prisons for the captive Americans. Then other Churches, the Provoost (later the Hall of Records) Columbia College and the sugar houses in Liberty and Duane Streets were used for the same purpose. The accommodations being crowded, transport ships were used in Wallabout Bay, on the Brooklyn shore. The worst of the Prison Ships was the "Jersey". Others were:--the "Scorpion", the "Falmouth", the "Good Hope", the "Chatham" and the "Prince of Wales". While the deaths in the Prisons on shore were frequent, the mortality on the Prison Ships was far worse--as many as 15,000 in the latter case. In 1808, the bones of many of the Prisoners were given public burial in Brooklyn, by the Tammany Society of New York; and, in 1826, a monument was erected to their memory at the Wallabout. New York in the Revolution Supplement; The Military and Naval Service The Army American Prisoners of War John Beaty, Elias Boudinot, Thomas Franklin, Lewis Pintard and Abraham Skinner were Commissaries of Prisoners; and Thomas Franklin and Garret H. Van Wagenen were Deputy Commissaries. Thomas Linn was director of the Hospital, in Canada. Henry Dodge was Commissary of Prisoners' Pay. New York in the Revolution Supplement; The Military and Naval Service The Army American Prisoners of War American Prisoners were also kept in New Utrecht, Flatbush (the Bergen Homestead), Gravesend, Flatlands and New Lots--all on Long Island. These Prisoners were taken, for the most part, at Fort Washington, Fort Montgomery and Germantown. Col. Samuel B. Webb, of the Connecticut Line, himself a Prisoner, was active in making exchanges. He corresponded, at great length, with Gen. Washington and the Continental Congress on this subject. Little was done, however, because the British and American authorities could not agree upon a ratio of exchange. (See Sparks' "Life of Washington"; and the several volumes of "The Public Papers of George Clinton", already published.) Col. John Ely, also of the Connecticut Line, as a Prisoner, ministered to the wants of the Prisoners on Long Island. He was a physician, especially skilled in the treatment of small-pox. His son led a sortie, captured a British officer of equal rank and made all the arrangements for the exchange of Col. Ely. But the latter refused to leave the Prisoners; and he remained with them almost to the end of the War. New York in the Revolution Supplement; The Military and Naval Service The Army American Prisoners of War Governor Clinton was an active agent in bettering the condition of the Prisoners. He expended as follows:--Dec. 15, 1777, a certain amount to Miss Clopper for three barrels of flour to be delivered to the Prisoners in the General Hospital, in New York City; Nov. 15, 1782, £84 to Captains Ward and Drake for the use of the Prisoners in Canada; Nov. 21, 1782, £3.4. to Capt. Harper for the use of the Prisoners returning from their captivity in Canada; Mar. 26, 1783, £3.14.6 for the same purpose; July, 1783, £175 to Nicholas Covenhoven for money advanced by him to the Prisoners on Long Island; September, 1783, £300 to Colonels Allison and McClaughry, and £2000 to Col. Allison, for the same purpose; Apr. 20, 1784, £30 to Thomas Tillotson for the use of the Prisoners; and, November, 1784, £3.4. to Alexander Harper for the same purpose. New York in the Revolution Supplement; The Military and Naval Service The Army American Prisoners of War The Governor, Jan. 21, 1783, had raised £25566.17.6 on the credit of the State in this manner:-- New York in the Revolution Supplement; The Military and Naval Service The Army American Prisoners of War Any Person upon Long Island who will advance to Colo. William Allison for the Use of himself and the other Officers of this State Prisoners of War the Sum of Five hundred Pounds in specie shall be repaid as soon as conveniently may be; for which the Faith of the State is hereby pledged--Given under my Hand at Kingston this 20th June 1780 New York in the Revolution Supplement; The Military and Naval Service The Army American Prisoners of War Geo. Clinton. New York in the Revolution Supplement; The Military and Naval Service The Army American Prisoners of War Received I September 1780 of Mr. Rem Cowenhoven the Sum of Three Hundred and Eleaven Pounds in Gold and Silver--in part of the Within draft New York in the Revolution Supplement; The Military and Naval Service The Army American Prisoners of War Wm. Allison Colo. N. Y. Militia. New York in the Revolution Supplement; The Military and Naval Service The Army American Prisoners of War [Indorsed] Recd. April 13th 1785. from Gerard Bancker Treasr. three hundred and eighty two pounds nineteen Shillings in full for the principal and Interest of this Note. Copyright © 1998-2000, MyFamily.com Inc. and its subsidiaries.