Last updated: January 11, 2023
Person
William Gifford
National Park Service/Dan U.
Quick Facts
Significance:
Gifford was a young man when he joined the Continental Army. He witnessed and participated in the events surrounding the Siege of 1777. He later fought in the War of 1812.
Place of Birth:
Dutchess County, New York Colony
Date of Birth:
January 28, 1758
Place of Death:
Greenfield Township, PA
Date of Death:
August 15, 1846
Place of Burial:
Harborcreek Township, PA
Cemetery Name:
Hoag Cemetery
William Gifford was born in Dutchess County in the British Colony of New York in 1758.
When he was approximately 17 years old in 1776, when he enlisted in Captain Benjamin Hick's Company of the 1st NY Regiment for ten months. He was stationed at Fort George the at Johnstown, NY. After being discarged at Johnstown he enlisted in Captain Cornelius T. Jansen's Company of the 3rd NY Regiment for three years.
Gifford was stationed within Fort Schuyler(Stanwix) during Barry St. Leger's Siege of the fortress in August of 1777. He also participated in Sullivan's Expedition in 1779. Gifford stayed in service through April 9, 1780, just after the 1st and 3rd NY Regiments merged at Saratoga, at which point he was said to have deserted. In his pension deposition he stated he was "discharged."
The image below is from a muster record of the 1st NY Regiment taken in 1781. William Gifford's name is listed with several others as having deserted. 
Accrording to family history, William married Elizabeth Grant in about 1778 and had 11 children; Benjamin, Jabez, Joseph, Enos, Sylvanus, Remembrance, William, James, Ebenezer, Elizabeth (Betsy), and John. They were born between 1778 and 1805. He lived with his family in Luzerne, NY near Lake George. He supported his family as a farmer.
Later, during the War of 1812, he served about a year in the army and fought at the Battle of Plattsburgh. He was blinded or mostly blinded during the fight when a musket cartridge exploded in his face. Later, a grandson (Ansel) recalled leading his grandfather around on account of his poor eye-sight.
He was age 60 when deposed on May 11, 1818. At the time, his wife was suffering from congestive heart failure and he was unable to use his left side due to a stroke. Their 15 year old youngest daughter (also Elizabeth) lived with them and all of their earthly belongings were said to be worth a total of $9; including table settings for three totaled at 75¢. His most expensive belonings were three iron kettles at a total of $5. He was granted a pension of $8 a month. Witnesses to his service for his pension deposition included John Price, who stated he served with Gifford in Capt. Hick's Company in 1776, and Othaniel Preston, who stated he served with William in the 3rd NY Regiment.
In 1833, at about age 75, he again applied for a pension after moving to Pennsylvania. He stated that he was "old and wished to live where his children lived." He was again approved for a pension. The last record of Gifford is the 1840 US Census where he is listed as "blind and insane," likely suffering from dementia. He died at the age of 89 at his son James' home in Pennsylvania in 1846.
His obituary in the local newspaper read:
Another Revolutionary Veteran Gone. Died at the residence of his son James M. Gifford of Greenfield Township on the 15th. William Gifford, in the 89th year of his age, one of the few remaining patriots of revolution. He was early called, in common with his countrymen, to endure the hardships and privations incident upon the struggle for liberty. He entered the army of revolution at the age of 17, was in some important battles, he was in the Indian campaign with Gen. Sullivan, and also served 9 months in the last war with England, and was in the battle of Plattsburgh. He has lived to a good old age, and been gathered to his fathers, without a struggle, rejoicing in the hope of a blessed immortality.
Source:
- WRPA S.41580
- Myrtice Gifford Forsythe, "My Revolutionary Ancestor, William Gifford." Acessed on January 10, 2023.