General Benjamin Mooers

Although my son, Ben, was not named after this ancestor and our last name is not quite the same, I've always felt an affinity to General Benjamin Mooers. He is the fifth great uncle of my mother-in-law, Connie. His brother Jonathan Mooers married Elizabeth Gage and Connie is descended from this line.

 General Ben was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts on 1 Apr 1758, son of Benjamin Mooers and Abigail Hazen. He entered the Revolutionary Army in June, 1776 as a private in the militia. In March, 1778 he was promoted to Ensign and by 1780 he was Lieutenant and Adjutant of the Regiment. He had participated in most of the important battles of the Revolution including Ticonderoga, Saratoga, White Plains, and he was at Yorktown when General Cornwallis surrendered.

After the war he moved to Clinton County, New York and settled in Plattsburg. He was elected to the state legislature and was appointed an Elector to choose the President and Vice-President. He stayed in the state militia and was eventually promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1811 he was promoted to Major General and commanded the state militia at the battle of Plattsburg on Sept. 11, 1814 in the War of 1812 against the British. He commanded a total of six brigades extending from Franklin to Albany counties.

He died 20 Jan 1838 and is buried in Plattsburgh, New York. His house still stands in Plattsburgh and a cannonball that came in through an open door and lodged in the wall still shows today.