William C. Keeler

William C. Keeler is the oldest relative I can find records for, in the United States. He was probably born in Delaware County, New York in 1794, which was right around the time that the county and some of the towns were being formed. That territory was settled by pioneers from Southern Connecticut. He was a resident of the town of Walton when he was drafted in the War of 1812.

He was a Private in Captain Harmon Sawyer's Delaware County Regiment of the New York Militia, and the regiment spent most of 1812 and 1813 equipping and exercising arms. On August 29th, 1814, they were ordered to New York City to defend the harbor and the city. The British never attacked New York, but it was apparently a tough assignment for enlisted men. According to Fred Tiebohl:

"Privates of the company were often young farm boys away from home for the first time. They were poorly paid, trained and often not properly led. Military court actions show that desertions were often blamed on lack of food, no money, boredom and cheap liquor. The major activities were guard duty, look-out, parade, exercise of arms and work details. Militia men on guard duty often were not given ammunition (bullets) for their rifles due to shortages and the fear they would shoot each other."

William was paid 8 dollars per month for his military service, and he was discharged 200 miles from home (*according to Helen Klass' "Portrait of Elnathan Keeler, A Union Soldier" - a book about my great-great-great-grandfather, and a book I will be quoting from heavily in the future.)

William was discharged on December 14, 1814. His service in the war entitled him to bounty land in Montgomery County New York, and he moved there with his family. He was listed in Federal and County censuses of 1840, 1845, and 1850 as living in Minden, New York, with his wife Trephena (nee Heath) and sons Nathan L., Solomon, and John W. Keeler.

I could not find any information about William's date or place of death, or where he was buried.

(Image of cutting ice near the saw mill in Walton, from dcnyhistory.)