Johanne Eberhard Wager

Thomas' father Everhardt: On 20 June 1765, Everhardt leased land from Stephen VanRensselaer near Troy, New York. Stephen VanRensselaer later served in the American Revolutionary Army. Everhardt, after serving with Burgoyne's army, went to Ft. St. John's, Québec, where he was joined by his son Thomas on 14 June 1784, in Peter's Corps, King's Royal Regiment. He was an invalid in Yamachiche, Québec (1781-1784). On 31 May 1784, he and his son Thomas left to settle in Fredericksburgh Township, Lennox and Addington County, Ontario. Am not sure when another son William joined them in Fredericksburgh, but believe it was in 1784. Thomas & Polly had 13 children, one of whom is not mentioned in Wager histories, but I have proved through baptism that Lany Wager who married Charles B. Hart, my gt.-gt-grandparents, was indeed their youngest daughter Magdalena (again), born 03 November 1811. Her daughter Lydia Margaret Hart was named after Lany's 2 elder sisters. Citations » Eberhart came to America with his parents 12 Oct 1738. He was known here as Johann Ephraim Wagar and settled first in Dutchess county , then Rensselaer Dyck, where he took lease June 20 1775 from Stephen Van Rensalaer near present day Troy, New York, U.S.A.

Eberhardt was loyal to the British Crown during the War of Independence in America and therefore classed as a Tory or Loyalist. Offical military records in the Public Archives of Canada indicate that Eberhardt was serving with Lieut. Col. John Peter's Queen's Loyal Ranger's, 16 Aug 1777 (P AC Reel #C-1475 Vol. 167 Pg. 17) age 45. All loyalist corps at this period in time would have been issued uniforms consisting of green coats with red facings; if they got uniforms at all as many men did not.(also see below regarding uniform colors)

This unit was part of the 1500 men at the Battle of Bennington on the 16 Aug 1777, one of the bloodiest battles of the entire war. After the two day battle; of which the British lost; they recorded losses of 1220 killed, wouned or captured. The survivors straggled back to Fort Mille r, 35 miles from Bennington. There on the 20 August Peter's finds 23 of his men are asking for a transfer to Capt. Samuel McKay's Loyal Volunteer's. Peter's gave them the choice of serving under him or prison, they all chose prison. Burgoyne, Commander in chief ordered the men sent to McKay's unit. It is very possible that Eberhardt was one of these men as he is next shown serving in McKay's Loyal Volunteers 22 Aug 1777 as a private. (PAC Reel #C-1475 Vol 167 Pg17 & 109) Also to support this is that Jacob Weegar was already serving in this unit therefore giving a blood connection for the move. During Aug and the first of Sept, the unit was conducting foraging raids and moving supplies from Ticonderoga to the front. This unit would also have played some role in the Battle of Freeman's Farm on the 19 sept 1777 in which they had to retreat. In the final major battle of the campagn at Bemis Heights on the 7 O ct 1777 they recieved there final defeat. On the 14 Oct 1777 Burgoyne is about to surrender and orders the loyalists to escape under the direction of Peter's to Montreal. Samuel McKay dies shortly after there arrival in Montreal from wounds, and command is given to Captain Robert Leake who attached the Volunteers to the 1st Batt'n Kings Royal Regiment of New York; altought they where not considered an offical part at this time. During the winter of 1777-78 they were employed doing garrison duty or working on fortifications for the defence of Montreal. During the Summer of 1778 the men improved the defences at Fort Oswegatchie and built the new fort on Carleton Island called Fort Haldimand; and spending the winter of 1778-79 in Sorel. On May 23 1779 Leake is given permission to disband the Volunteers and creates Leake's Independent Company still attached as before to the 1st Batt'n. Eberhardt was part of the muster taken at Sorel 3 Jun 1779. (PAC Reel #C-1475 Vol 167 Pg 319 & 378). They were to be Quartered at Lachine with no women or children near as the company was to be very mobile. In Sept. 79 the company along with some British regulars arrived at Carleton Island to begin a campaign in the Mohawk Valley. On the 15 Oct 1779 they arrived at Oswego only to find the rebels had been forewarned and with the season getting late returned to Carleton Island.

Leake's company is divided between Sorel and Coteau Du Lac for the winter of 1779-1780; employed improving the fortifications. In May of 1780 the 1st Batt'n, Leake's company and various other regulars formed at Lachine for another raid into the Mohawk valley. During the raid they rescused 143 men women and children, and 30 black slaves. Vast quantities of flour , bread, corn and other provisions were seized or burned. In all 120 houses and or mills were burned while the men appropriated arms and cash, killed cattle and stole horses prior to returning to Lachine.

On July 30 1780 the 2nd Batt'n of the Kings Royal Regiment of New York was raised and Leake's company was attached to it, though as before not officially. Leake's company was now stationed between Carleton Island on garrison duty or Coteau Du Lac on engineering duties. In the fall of 1780 the 2nd Batt'n conducts a raid into the Mohawk valley but it appears that E berhardt was not on this raid, but employed at engineering duty at Cote au Du Lac. In yet another muster taken 7 Feb 1781 Eberhardt is shown as serving in Leake's company 2nd Batt'n King' Royal Regiment of New York at St. John,s (PAC Reel #C-1475 Vol 167 Pg 251)having probably wintered there.

While in St. John's; Eberhardt gave testimony on the 23 Feb 1781: in the courtmartial of Jerimiah & Garseham French. An extract of the testimony is shown below "He was with Garseham French in the woods, near Albany for a month, or six weeks during the summer of 1777, and all that time never knew him to rob, plunder any friend of the Government, but assisted him to disarm many of the rebels and take away their effects. (PAC Reel #C-1475 Vol 1 67 Pg 278)

In Oct 1781 4 companies of the 2nd Batt'n Leake's company, 34th and 84 th Regiments and 3 companies of Butler's Rangers made yet another raid in to the Mohawk Valley arriving at Oswego 10 Oct 1781 and returning to Carleton Island 6 Nov 1781. Eberhard's son Thomas enlisted 25 August 1781 and would have been on this campaign and returned with the company to Carleton Island. On the 12 Nov 1781 Leake's Independent Company was offically absorbed into the 2nd Batt'n while at the same time Jessup's Loyal Rangers were officially formed. Each member had the choice of serving with the new Jessup's Rangers or the 2nd Batt'n; Eberhardt chose the Rangers. During 1781 the Rangers were employed at garrison duty, guarding border acess points and assisting refugees heading north. They were normally station ed at the 2 blockhouses on the Yamaska River, at Riviere Du Chene, Isle aux Noix and the blockhouse on North Hero Island in Lake Champlain. During the winter of 1781-82 some of the Rangers were also at Verchenes.

On the 2 Jan 1782 Haldimand approved new uniforms for the corps; probably the red with blue facings as described below. Eberhardt indicates he was an invalid at some period during this year at Macheche a parish across the St. Lawerence from Lachine; since there was a large outbreak of measles and smallpox in late 1782 in this area it is reasonable to assume th at this is what Eberhardt was suffering from. At a muster taken 1 Jan 19 83 at Rivere Du Chene he is shown as part of Jessup's Loyal Rangers 9th Co, captained by John Walden Meyers. he is listed as a private standing 5' 6" tall and with 5 years and 6 months service. (PAC Reel #C-1475 V ol 166 Pg 248 and Vol 168 Pg 71; also Rolls of Provisional Corps By Mary Beacock Fryer, Library Call # 971.024 Fry) The Loyal Rangers were billeted around St. Johns and Vercheres during 1783. Eberhardt moved his family to this area prior to 24 Dec 1783, when he was discharged and remained there till the spring of 1784. It appears that the family split over the war; Eberhardt and his son Thomas were already in Canada, Christina would very likely have been married at this time and out of the home. Eberhardt's daughter Hannah came to Canada: this left the three youngest children and his wife in the U.S.A. Family lore states that his son William came to Canada at a later date. Now at the age of 52 everything he had previously worked and fought for were lost.

In a letter posted in Kingston and dated 14 July 1789, to Lord Dorchester, Governor of the Colonies, he states he is a Serjant (Note: this does not agree with the records above, yet he repeats it again in another record below, maybe he got a promotion to Sargent in the intrem) in the Loyal Rangers, (PAC Upper Canada Land Petitions "W" Bundle RG1, L3, Vol 547)

On the 10 Apr 1784 he and his family began assembling at Lachine with the other Loyalists awaiting transportation up river by bateau. Due to the ice not leaving the St. Lawerence river till late, they did not leave till 31 May, but then began there voyage up river to there crown lands, arriving at Cataraqui #3. Other than native Indians and a few fur traders this land was totally unsettled. They would start a new life with nothing other than the supplies issued by the British Government. This would have included but would not have been limited to the following items: A heavy short handled ship's axe A clumsy hatchet A tent A spade and hoe A plough and cow for every 2 families A tool kit consisting of chisels, augers, drawknife, pick axe, and sickle for every 5 families

Due to his loyality, Eberhardt was entitled to 750 free acres of crown land, he recieved 100 acres located at Cataraqui #3 Mecklenburg or Midland District, west half of lot 15 Conc 6 when lots were drawn 17 sept 1784 (P AO RG 01 Series a IV Vol 9 Page 029)

The winter of 1787 -88 was terrible and one that went down in loyalist history as The Hungry Year. Even the game ran out, for after the drought many deer starved in the woods. Few people actually died of starvation, but many died of dieases complicated by poor health owing to the lack of proper food.

In Montreal on the 26 Feb 1788, has Jeptha Hawley claim his losses due the the war since he is unable to attend due to financial problems. His losses are listed as: A farm and good house with 200 acres of leased land; 40 acres improved... ...65 Pds 3 cows................................................................... ..................................15 Pds 1 yoke of oxen................................................ ..........................................20 Pds 1 yoke of steers............................................. ...........................................10 Pds 2 heifers.....................................................................................................5 Pds 3 calves a year old............................. .........................................................3 Pds 2 shillings 18 head of sheep........................................................................................18 Pds A weaving loom................................. .........................................................4 Pds A plough and tackling........................... .......................................................5 Pds 7 Bushels sowing of wheat......................... ................................................20 Pds 2 Bushels sowing of rye.......................... .....................................................1 Pd 2 acres of corn................................ ............................................................5 Pds 1 ox yoke and chain......................................................................................1 Pd 2 Iron wedges and batalings........................................................................0 Pds 10 shillings 2 axes..................................... .................................................................1 Pd 3 Scythes...................................................................................................1 Pd 10 shillings 2 Iron kettles.............................. ...............................................................1 Pd 10 shillings 1 hand saw, 2 chisels and 2 augers..............................................................0 Pds 15 shillings A suit of clothes.............................................................................................9 Pds 8 hogs...........................................................................................................8 Pds A chain, trammel tongs and shovel..................................................................1 Pd 5 shillings 4 tons of english hay.............................. ........................................................12 Pds 2 Guns............................................................................................................2 Pds 1 horse saddle and bridle...................................................................................1 Pd A iron shod hay wagon.....................................................................................8 Pds Total Loss N.Y. Curry. ................. .......................................................202 Pds 17 Shillings

In support of Eberhart's claim Mr. Hawley gives the following evidence: "Evidence on the claim of Eberhardt Wegar, late of Fitstown, Albany County, N.Y. Province. Says clamit, lives in Fredericksburg and unable to procure money to bring him down. Produces his Power of Att'y. to act for him. Says he knew the clamit in Macheche from 1782 to 1783. he sent a claim to Coll. Cuyler in 1783. He was quartered there as an invalid. he claims the above losses and produces affidavit of Thomas Wegar that the charges made by Aberhard Wegar are just and true." (abstracted from PAC Reel #B-1163 V ol 33 Pg 71 and Reel #b-2189 Bundle 16) In a decsion handed down on war losses, on the 20 May 1788 Eberhardt recieved only 72 Pounds of the claimed 112 Pounds 8 Shillings lost. (PAC Reel # B-1169 Vol 64 Pg 369) The conversion from N. Y Currency to British Sterling may account for the difference between 202 Pounds claimed earlier and the 112 Pounds used in the final descsion.

Fortunately, the harvest in the fall 1788 was good and something like propersity began to be evident. In a letter posted in Kingston to Lord Dorchester, dated 14 Jul 1789, he requests his remaining crown lands as follows: The memorial of Averhardt Weager late a Serjant in the Loyal Rangers, humbly herewith (unreadable) that your Lordship's memorialist being by his Majesty's instructions entitled to five hundred and fifty acres of land for himself and family consisting of a wife and six children; as also two hundred acres agreeable to your Lordship's instructions from the Deputy Surveyor General in 1787; of which he has drawn only one hundred acres as yet. Your Lordship's memoriaslist humbly prays that the remaining six hundred and fifty acres may be assigned to him in any place not already located in the District of Mecklenburgh, and your memoriaslist as in duty bound will ever pray. Signed Averhardt Weager (From Upper Canada Land Petitions "w" Bundle Misc. Rg 1, L3, Vol 547) It appears that Eberhardt died prior to recieving his full grant as his son Thomas makes a similiar request in 1797.

From the (Langhorn Register 1787-1814 "Marriage Register for St. Paul's Church" we find Eberhart's second marriage record as follows Ebhart Weger, St. Warburg's Fredricksburg, widower, and Elisabet Keller, of same (Fredricksburg) spinster 19 Aug 1792. Witnessed by Katreen Young, Elisha Young, & Moses Foster.

Eberhardt died the 10 March 1796 (Langhorn Register 1787-181 4) North Fredricksburg Twsp. Lennox & Addington Co. Ontario Twsp.; age 64 years his grave unknown. His wife Elizabet died 6 Feb 1796.

The Uniform worn by Royal Regiment of N.Y. This Loyalist Regiment was also called the Queen's Loyal Americans, or the Royal Regiment of New York, but was best known as the "Royal Greens" by the Americans, who particularly hated the men on account of their inhumanity when in the field. It was raised in 1776 by Sir John Johnson of New York, from among the Tories of Tryon County, N. Y., and among Canadians. The number of enlisted men varied from time to time, for in 1777, at Fort Schuyler, the entire regiment consisted of but one hundred and thirty-eight men. Their uniform of green and white, as shown in the drawing, was the dress adopted by the British Government for all Loyalist or Provincial commands in 1776. The facings at first were to be of white, green or blue cloth, but later orange, red or black was added as the commanding officers chose. The buttons of pewter were stamped with the Crown and the letters " R. P." for "Royal Provincial." Their leggings were of brown cloth to the knee. The belts of buff leather were the same as in the regular British service. The hats of coarse felt were laced or bound with white tape. As in the British Line, the drummers reversed the colors of the dress, wearing white coats with green waistcoats and breeches. The light infantry company wore small wings of green cloth on their shoulders, laced with white, J. F. Pringle, in his Lunenburgh or the old Eastern District ( 1890, p. 183), says: "On the first formation of the corps the uniform may have been green, but it was certainly scarlet at a subsequent period. The uniform worn by Lieut. Jeremiah French, of the second battalion, is still in existence, carefully preserved by his granddaughter, Mrs. Knight, now living at Cornwall. The coat is of scarlet cloth, with blue faci ngs and gold lace, a small epaulette of gold fringe on each shoulder. The buttons are gilt, with the letters and words 'K. R. R. New York' stamped on them. The dress waistcoat is scarlet, with gilt buttons. The undress waistcoat and breeches are of white cloth. The suit requires only the cocked hat, stockings, boots and buckled shoes, and crimson sash, to be complete." The Royal Greens Johnson's Royal Regiment of New York, 177 6 [SOURCE: Uniforms of the Armies in the War of the American Revolution, 1775-1783. Lt. Charles M. Lefferts. Limited Edition of 500. New York York Historic al Society. New York, NY. 1926.]