Isaac Mason

Birth: Apr. 4, 1767
Death: Jan. 30, 1856

Revolutionary War
New York Regt

Note: Birth & Death dates are from Unknown transcribed source.

Burial:
Drakesville Cemetery
Drakesville
Davis County
Iowa, USA


"In May of 1781, Isaac enlisted as a private in Captain Garret Putman's Company in Colonel Marinus Willett's Regiment of New York State Levies while living at Johnstown. Isaac, with his brother Jeremiah, were stationed at Fort Johnstown. In the first part of October a party of twelve men of the King's Royal Regiment of New York under John Cook attacked Fort Johnstown. A sentry on duty after being fired at returned the fire and Cook was hit in the knee. Isaac, with the rest of the garrison, quickly turned out to defend the fort but the enemy had already fled. Cook with a few others were later captured.

On October 24th, Major John Ross and Captain Walter Butler with 607 men were in the Mohawk Valley burning and killing. Colonel Willett at Fort Rensselaer, on learning of this invasion, sent messengers to Forts Clyde, Paris and Plank for additional troops while he would gather what troops that could be spared from the fort and go in pursuit of the enemy. In the morning of October 25th, Colonel Willett and his men left Fort Rensselaer in pursuit of the enemy. Colonel Willett and his men crossed the Mohawk River to Caughnawaga and from there they marched to Johnstown. The garrison informed Colonel Willett that the enemy were encamped near Johnson's Hall and Isaac and Jeremiah left Fort Johnstown under Colonel Willett and they marched to the enemy's encampment near Johnson's Hall. On arrival of Willett and his men at the enemy's encampment, a fierce battle soon raged. The battle ended with the coming of darkness and with the enemy retreating. Isaac now learned that his brother John was wounded and his brother-in-law William Scarborough was killed. Isaac and Jeremiah returned to Fort Johnstown where they were stationed.

Isaac was discharged on January 1, 1782. In January of 1782, Isaac enlisted as a private in Captain John Wemple's Company (Fourth Company) in Colonel Frederick Visscher's Regiment of Tryon County Militia (Third Regiment). Isaac again was stationed at Fort Johnstown. Once on a scout under Captain Wemple they found a family killed and scalped and they buried them. Isaac served under Captain Wemple until the end of the war.

Isaac enlisted as a private at Sodus Point, New York on June 14, 1813 in Captain Hull's Company and he was discharged on July 8, 1813.

Isaac was born on April 4, 1767 in Somerset, New Jersey and he died on January 30, 1856 in Davis County, Iowa. He is buried in the Macey's Mound Cemetery southwest of Drakesville, Iowa. Isaac married Anna Clarke on June 28, 1792 at Johnstown. Anna died in 1846 in Van Buren County, Iowa. Isaac married Margaret White on September 30, 1847.

On May 31, 1976, two stone memorials were dedicated to Isaac Mason, Sr. and his son Isaac Jr. The stone memorials were placed in a park in Drakesville, Isaac is the only Revolutionary War Veteran buried in Davis County, Iowa. I am very thankful to Mr. Arnold Wilkerson of Ashland, Oregon who is a descendant of Isaac Mason for sending me the information on Isaac's burial and the dedication of the stone memorial plus other family information.
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Isaac Mason, Pension No. W18479, Vernon, Penn., April 13, 1833, Col. Frederick's Visscher's Regt. of Tryon Co. Militia.

"That he entered the service of the United States in the year that Cornwallis surrendered as a volunteer together with his father and two brothers. Our house and property had been burnt by the Indians & Tories sometime previously, he enrolled himself in Captain Putnam's Company of New York Militia. Wm Wallace was Lieutenant and on the 1st May entered the service, at Johnstown, in the garrison or stone fort, being the County Jail fitted up for that purpose. Major Little was called the garrison Major, and resided in the fort. Col. Vader who resided near Johnstown also commanded, there was also a Major Scouten. Col. Willett had the chief command, he commanded the forces from Fort Stanwix to Schenectady. We performed constant duty on guard and on Scouts. On the 22d day of October which date he marked on a tree & saw many years after. The whole force of the Country was called out under Col. Willett to oppose Major Ross and Captain Butler and a party of British and Indians, there were somewhere about 400, men of all descriptions under Col. Willett, we left garrison in search of the enemy, leaving Eleven old men to take care of the Fort, we missed the enemy, who took a road by Tripes Hill and surprised the town and garrison, and attacked it, but were repulsed with the cannon, the force under Col. Willett, came up, about 8 rods of them under fire, and then fired, charged and broke their lines, they retreated, formed again, broke our line and took our cannon, Lieutenant Wallace commanded, the youngest of us, among whom deponant was, we formed in the line, the cannon was retook, the British retreated and were pursued about 8 miles. We took about 40 prisoners, Lieut Wallace commanded 49 person, most of whom were under 16 yrs of age, several of whom were killed."

Isaac is in error as to his enlistment in Col. Willett's Regt. Only Isaac's brother John is listed on the Company Muster Roll for Capt. Garret Putnam's company in Col. Willett's Regt. John was wounded in the left side at the Battle of Johnstown (Pension No. W18479 N.Y.). Jeremiah Mason Sr. served as a private in Capt. Jellis Fonda's Company of Exempts in Col. Visscher's Regt. William Wallace was serving in this same Company and regiment and this is probably the same company that Isaac and Jeremiah Jr. was serving in as they were under 16 years of age. Their brother-in-law William Scarborough who was in Putnam's Company with John Mason was killed in the Battle of Johnstown. William Wallace signed affidavits in both Isaac and Jeremiah's pensions and stated that he saw them engage in said battle and that he gave them orders. Isaac's description of the battle is close to Col. Willett's description of the battle."
from Ancestry