American Revolution Ancestor of James Rule Watson
Thomas Martin (Nov. 1752-Fishkill, Putnam Co. N.Y.-Jan. 12, 1833, Beekman, Dutchess Co. N.Y.)
(buried in Dutchess Co. Cemetery no longer in existence)
Thomas Martin lived with his family At Beekman, Dutchess County, New York, a co-op run by the Dutch. Thomas as well as many of the farmers was Quaker. As fighting broke out the Local revolutionist militia hung those who refused the militia including Quakers. Thomas and his two brothers joined the militia and were involved in several skirmishes. He served in the 2nd Dutchess Militia under Captain William Clark and under Ensign Bartholomew Vanderberg as companies were reformed and he wanted to stay with his brothers. As the war expanded Thomas decided to fight for the permanent Army and served the 4nd regiment of the New York Line as a 2nd sergeant in Sergeant Brinkeroff's unit throughout the war. He was smart. Rich men developed and financed regiments in order to get commissions. Thomas served with a newly designed uniform each year and drew full pay. The last year of the war he wore a solid white uniform. Alexander McDougal, Col. was his commander as the 4th Army regiment merged into the 2nd regiment and then back into the 4th regiment as units were formed and reformed. Thomas was engaged in the invasion of Canada, Philadelphia, Monmouth and Yorktown. Thomas came from Richard Higgins, founder of Wolftrap, Mass. circa 1630 and his grandfather was a Provincial Governor of New Jersey. He married Charity Hurd of Beekman (1755 of Dover, N.Y.-Dec. 24, 1823 in Beekman) ca. 1771.