Johannes Reinhart

Harold Miller, who runs the Berne Historical Project website, wrote the following article in Dec. 2007 and submitted it to the "Altamont Enterprise" newspaper and several genealogical websites:

"Carol Clemens, of Hilton Head, SC, proudly announces that she is the first to have successfully provided documentation acceptable to the Daughters of the American Revolution on the Revolutionary War service of her Berne ancestor Johannes Reinhardt.

Johannes Reinhart, the son of George Freidrich Reinhart and Catharine Frolich, was born Sept. 16, 1759 in the Switzkill Valley, Beaver Dam (now Berne), NY. According to his Revolutionary War Pension Records (#S42235) Johannes, (who was also listed as John Rynehart), enlisted as a private in May 1777 and was discharged on May 9, 1780. He served in Captain Henry Tiebout's Company in Colonel Peter Gansevoort's New York Continental Regiment. Johannes was part of the garrison at Fort Schuyler (Fort Stanwix) in August of 1777 and served in the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign in 1779 against the Iroquois. In 1818 he was issued a pension for his service and was granted $8 per month.

Reinhardt's first wife, Sara Schaeffer, died less than two years after their marriage without issue. His second wife was Margaret Dietz with whom he had eleven children. They lived on a farm in the Switzkill valley. He died on January 12, 1844 at about 85 years of age. Johannes Reinhardt's ancestor number assigned by the DAR is A204610.

Dozens of descendants of Johannes Reinhardt still live in the Hilltowns. Among those eligible for membership in the DAR or the Sons of the American Revolution, based on his patriotic service, are families with the following surnames: Quay, Milner, Tallman, Unser, Deitz, Wideman, Furman, Stempel, Sand, Clickman, Willsie, Vincent, Blodgett, Shufelt, Northrup, Zimmer, Cook, Briggs, Snyder, Michaels, Arnold, Truax, Schoonmaker, Carl, Tompkins, Slingerland, and Bivins. The genealogy of these and hundreds of other Hilltown families can be found on the Berne Historical Project web site at www.BerneHistory.org. "

Additional information:

Johannes Reinhart farmed as a tennant farmer in the Switzkill Valley, Beaverdam (now Berne). He was also a weaver, in possession of a loom in his Revolutionary War pension application. In June 7, 1832, the United States Government passed into law an act authorizing lifetime pensions to any individual who could prove a total of at least six months of military service during war. Due to the loss of many crucial Revolutionary War Records in the War of 1812, and the attrition of other critical papers which were considered the sole property of the individual officers who produced them, it became necessary for each and every person applying for benefits to carefully review his memory and attest to the facts of his service under oath in an open court. Witnesses were also required to verify the facts presented by the deponents in their sworn accounts. This testamony of Johannes Reinhart (also listed as John Rynehart) was taken from the National Archives Revolutionary War Pension Records – Mircrofilm Roll 683

Record Number S42235 as transcribed by Carol Clemens:

(His wife was Margaret, age 56; his invalid daughter was Catherine; the 14 year old son was Adam; the 5 year old granddaughter was Lydia, whose mother is thought to have died in childbirth.)

"State of New York

Albany County

Court of Common Pleas

June Term

           On the 15th day of June 1820 personally appeared in open court (being a court of record for said county having a seal and empowered to hear, try, and determine according to law all actions real, personal, or mixed arising in said county and keeping a record of this proceedings) Johannes Reinhart aged 60 years resident in Berne in said county who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows in Capt. Henry Dekout’s (1) company of Infantry Col. Peter Gansvoort’s Regiment of the York line that the date of his original declaration was the 7th of May 1818 and was the number of his Pension Certificate 3598.

           And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United State on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled an Act to Provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United State in the Revolutionary War passed the 18th day of March 1818 and I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts in trust or debts due to me  nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto amended and by me subscribed.

           Schedule of my whole estate and income consists of Eighty Eight acres of leased land but no title for it neither lease or deed the said land being subject to the annual rent of 10 bushels wheat one day riding with a team and four fat fowls and holde by the proprietor of the soil as security for the payment of five hundred dollars back rent now due on said premises.  The land tilled and improved by my son who has a family and a part of the produce allowed me toward the support of myself and family which consists of a wife who is infirm, a daughter thirty four years of age who has been an invalid from her infancy and unable to perform any labours. A son fourteen and a granddaughter age five who has lost her mother.  I am unable to labour on the farm being lame in both shoulders but occasionally work in the loom.  My personal property consists of 3 cows, one bull, two horned cattle 2 years old with two at one year old, two calves, two sheep, three small hogs and four pigs. One loom and implements for weaving and 6 chairs and (...?...) four mixed (...?...) two iron pots, one iron griddle and one pair andirons, 3 knives, 3 forks, 6 spoons one pewter basin, 2 earthen plates.  One equal half part of a two horse waggon, a part of a set horse harness for old (...?...) mill one table, one chest, 3 hoes,  one chain, one trammel few articles of old furniture, and one  neck yoke of horses.  The whole debt I am owing exclusive of rents due as aforesaid amount to one hundred fifty five dollars and the whole demands and accounts  have come to the amount of fifty eight dollars and seventy five cents.  (Signed) Johannes Reinhart

           Sworn to and declared in open court the 15th day of June 1820 before Hy A. Williams, Dpy Clk.

           I Henry Truax, clerk of the court of common pleas in and for the county of Albany do hereby certify that the forgoing oath and the schedule therein annexed are truly copied from the record of said court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is one hundred twenty dollars and  five cents.

           In testimony whereof I have herein set my hand and affixed the seal of said court on this 15th day of June 1820. 

           (signed) Henry Truax, Clerk"

End Notes

1. Captain Henry Tiebout’s Company (Seventh) in Colonel Peter Gansevoort’s New York Continental Regiment (Third Regiment). John enlisted as a private on the 8th May 1777 and was discharged on 9 May 1780. John would have been part of the garrison at Fort Schuyler (Fort Stanwix) in August of 1777. John would have also been in the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign in 1779 against the Iroquois.