Capt. David Cochran (1765-1836) and Peru, NY militia face the British

From A collection of articles based on local history by J. Warren Harkness (Peru, N.Y.: Quaker Union Society, 1966) --

In 1814, when the British invaded the county, David Cochran and a Peru militia of whom he was chosen Captain, performed very efficient service in the defense of Plattsburgh. 

It is stated in the history of Clinton County that these Peru men under the command of Captain Cochran were the first to meet the foe. This encounter is said to have taken place on the 6th of Sept., five days before the battle, about four miles north of Plattsburgh. When on the llth a detachment of British succeeded in fording the river near Pike's cantonment they found the militia on the south bank ready to meet them. Of course, they retreated before the superior numbers of the trained British regulars but kept up an incessant firing from behind the large pines which covered the Plattsburgh plains and thus greatly annoyed the enemy. Instead of retreating towards the forts they went in the direction of Peru and the British, not knowing the way or supposing that the main body of Americans was before them, were thus led away from the forts which they had crossed the river on purpose to attack. About three miles from the river on the road toward Peru stands a small stone house on the west side of the road. In front of that house the British column stopped and an officer was about to enter, perhaps to inquire the way to Plattsburgh, when as he stood on the steps he was struck by a ball from a field piece which had been planted by the Americans in the road on a little hill about half a mile further south. About that time, it was discovered that they had "got too far from Canada" and began a hasty retreat towards the river. This was an opportunity for Captain Cochran and his men, and they availed themselves of it. Running from tree to tree, they kept up a rattling fire which caused many a Briton to bite the dust, 

"Behold the hedges and the ditches
And the trees and every stump
In their homespun shirts and breeches
See the Yankees farmers jump." 

It is said that Captain Cochran was a very prominent one in this fight, being known by his broad-brimmed hat and sheep's gray suit, but while that might indicate that he was a Quaker, such was not the case unless he joined "the meeting" after he left the hill. Positive proof exists that in the year 1802 when he sold his farm to David Hoag, the Cochran family were called "world's people" and the fact that he was a "bloody man of war" in 1814 indicates that he never became one of the Society of Friends. The exact date of his death is unknown, but the REPUBLICAN's worthy correspondent "scribe" says that in 1836 the old Captain was living but very feeble and probably died soon after. He is believed to have been buried in the little graveyard near the present residence of George Everett, his grave being very near the spot where the old blockhouse formerly stood.

Capt. David Cochran was my 4xg-grandfather on my father's paternal side.

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker

Capt. David Cochran and the War of 1812

From The History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York (Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1880) --

Nearly every one who could shoulder a musket took part in the war. Some of those who responded to the requisition made upon the militia by the officer in command at Plattsburgh were David Cochran, captain; Elisha Button, lieutenant; Lucius Elderkin, orderly sergeant; Peter Haff, Abraham Haff, Elvey Ketchum, Isaac Ketchum, Ezra Stewart, Solomon Stewart, Allen Everest, Zelotis Bemas, Brinton Anson, Amos Anson, Jeremiah Hays, Asa Cochran, Nathaniel Cochran, Gardner Button, and others.

Capt. Cochran, with his men, was among the first to report to Gen. Macomb at Plattsburgh for duty, in September, 1814, when that place was threatened by a superior force of well-trained soldiery. On Tuesday, September 6th, his company, with others, was ordered out on the Beckmantown road to tear up the bridges and render the approach to Plattsburgh in that direction as difficult as possible. At a stream about four miles from Plattsburgh, while busy tearing up a bridge, nearly all of his men having their arms stacked, they were suddenly fired upon by a large body of troops, under the command of Gen. Willington, who came through the woods and around a bend in the road just beyond them. With great presence of mind, Capt. Cochran ordered his men to form into line of battle and return the fire of the enemy. It was at this point that the fight began for the defense of Plattsburgh, and the troops from Peru have the honor of having first met the foe. Not one of them was killed or wounded, and after having given battle an orderly retreat was commenced towards Plattsburgh, the men loading and firing on the march as Willington followed with his detachment of Sir John Prevost's army, numbering 6000 men. The company continued to perform patriotic and useful service during the war, and were not formally discharged until 1815.

Captain David Cochran (1765-1836) was my g-g-g-g-grandfather.

Copyright © 2011 by Kevin W. Walker

Happy St. Patrick's Day for Real

I am over fifty years old, and thanks to genealogy this is the first St. Patrick's Day that I know uncategorically I have some Irish ancestry.  The same is true for my wife.  For her, the link to the green is through her Baggotts.  For me it is through both my Porters and Cochrans.

Copyright © 2011 by Kevin W. Walker

Amanuensis Monday: Capt. Edward Everett (1739 - 1815)

From Descendants of Richard Everett of Dedham, Mass. (Boston, Mass. : T.R. Marvin & Son Printers, 1902) by Edward Franklin Everett --

Capt. Edward5 Everett (Edward4, John3, John2, Richard1), born Dec. 9, 1739, at Dedham,  Mass.; died about 1815, at Peru, N. Y.; married , 1762, at Milton, Mass., Ruth Field, of Milton, died at Peru, N. Y., between 1807 and 1815.

They were both received into the Secoud Church of Dedham, Dec. 25, 1763, and after their removal to New York, are reported as being Quakers. He was a land surveyor, and about 1769 removed from Stoughton to Rumney, N. H. He was one of a committee, in 1779, to settle the town lines of Rumney, and in 1785 was a town assessor. In 1781-2, he removed to New Holderness, and represented that town in the Legislature of 1782. In 1786, he crossed Vermont and Lake Champlain to that part of Plattsburg, N. Y., which was set off, in 1793, as Peru, when he was elected the first supervisor of the town, and re-elected three times. His name appears, May 3, 1757, as private on the muster roll of Stephen Miller's company, in Col. Miller's regiment, of Stoughton. He was captain, from Rumney, N. H., in Col. Bedel's regiment of New Hampshire Rangers, in 1776, in the expedition to Canada; was taken a prisoner, at the Cedars, May 19, 1776, and later released.

Children:
134. i. George, b. Oct. 26, 1763.
ii. Persis, b. Jan. 20, 1767.
iii. Hannah, b. July 2, 1769; d.___ at Peru, N. Y.; m. 1st, Robert Whitcomb, of Peru, d. about 1805; m. 2d, Eleazer Nichols.
135. iv. Edward, b.___
136. v. Robert, b.___
vi. Susan, b.___ ;d.___ at Peru, N. Y.; m. Capt. David Cochran, of Peru.
vii. Ruth, b.___ ;m. Elisha Green, of Peru.
viii. Polly, b.___ ;d.___ at Peru; m. John Stafford.
137. ix. David Allen, b. May 23, 1786.

-- Susan Everett and David Cochran were my g-g-g-g-grandparents.  That makes Captain Edward Everett and his wife Ruth Field my g-g-g-g-g-grandparents.  This is the maternal line behind my g-g-grandmother Phoebe Cochran (Ward) Chesley.

The interesting thing here is that the Everetts were said to be of Quaker persuasion.  Their daughter Susan married Capt. David Cochran, which one source said was mistaken for being a Quaker by the way he dressed.  Capt. Cochran was famously the leader of the local militia that fought the British in the Battle of Plattsburgh during the War of 1812.

Copyright © 2011 by Kevin W. Walker