François Amable Monty (1736 - 1809)

Born 20 Feb 1736 in Chambly, Canada, Nouvelle-France

Ancestors

Husband of Marie Josephe (Bergevin) Bergevin dite Langevin — married 21 Jan 1760 in Chambly, Canada, Nouvelle-France

Descendants

Died 8 Feb 1809 at age 72 in Chazy, Clinton, New York, United States

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Biography

Lieutenant Francis Monty served with First Canadian Regiment, Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Francis Monty is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-251168
Rank: Lieutenant

This profile is part of the Clinton County, New York One Place Study.

Francis Monty lived
in Canada, Nouvelle-France.

François Amable Monty was born on February 20, 1736 to Jean Monty and Marie Marthe Poyer dite Lapintade.^[1] Jean Baptiste had been an immigrant from France, but Marthe came from a family which had been in the colony for several generations.

Family

On January 21, 1760, Francois married Marie Josephe “Josette” Bergevin dite Langevin (daughter of Francois Marie Bergevin dit Langevin and Marie Therese Villeneuve); he was 24, she was 17. Together they had the following children:^[2]

1. Joseph Monty (1760-1760)
2. Francois Monty (1761-1818) (see Note 1 in Research Notes section)
3. Jacques André “James” Monty (1763-1819)
4. Francois Monty (1764-1818) (see Note 1 in Research Notes section)
5. Antoine Monty (1766-)
6. Marie Madeleine “Marie Polly” Monty Lezotte (1767-1856)
7. Marie Catherine Monty Gosselin (1769-1840)
8. Placide Monty (1770-1847)
9. Jean Monty (1771-1860)^[3]
10. Cunégonde Monty (1772-?)
11. Pierre Monty (1773-?)
12. Charlotte (Charlotta) Michelle Monty (1775-?)
13. Amable "Lenfant" or Enfant Monty (possibly 1774? see Research Notes section)^[4]

Their first son, Joseph, was born on July 26, 1760 and died the next day; given that they had only been married for six months, this appears to have been a premature birth.

Military Service

War came to the Chambly area in September, 1775, when the Americans under Generals Schuyler and Montgomery led an invasion force to try and oust the British, who had conquered New France in 1763. The Americans called upon local French Canadians, who had little love for the British, to assist, and to that end, Chambly grain merchant James Livingston began organizing a local militia, which helped capture Fort Chambly on October 18, and the city of Montréal. On November 20. 1775, Livingston’s militia was officially recognized by General Montgomery as an American Regiment, and permission was granted to begin formal recruiting. On November 25, 39-year-old Francois was commissioned an ensign, and in regimental records, seems to have consistently gone by Francis (and in some early regimental records, he last name is sometimes spelled Montee).

On December 31, 1775, Livingston’s Regiment took part in the disastrous attack on Québec City, providing a diversion at the Saint-Jean Gate in the midst of a blizzard. The diversion did not work, and the Americans retreated with heavy losses, and set up a siege. On January 8, 1776, the Second Continental Congress officially recognized Livingston’s Regiment as the 1st Canadian Regiment.

In early May, 1776, British reinforcements arrived, and marched to attack. The Americans, including Livingston’s Regiment, fled in disarray, only to regroup at Sorel with reinforcements and new leadership provided by General Sullivan. On the night of June 7, 1776, Livingston’s Regiment was part of a force under General Thompson which marched towards Trois-Rivières to attack a force of British believed to number about 300-600 men. However, the British force was much larger. Thompson had convinced a local farmer to lead them to Trois-Riviéres, but the farmer instead purposely led them into a swamp, giving the British time to set up for a counter attack. When that came, the Americans fled in disarray, and many were captured. Livingston’s Regiment, for the most part, made it back to Sorel.

By June 15th, the regiment was back in Chambly, with the British following, sacking and burning the properties of those who joined the American forces as well as suspected sympathizers. Those who had joined from the Chambly area gathered their families and what possessions they could load onto the wagons, and this presumably included Francis’ family. It’s unknown (at the time of this writing) whether Francois’ brothers and sisters were affected as well. On Sunday morning, the army left the south end of Chambly as the British were entering the north end. Back across the border, they crossed by boat to Isle-aux-Noix, where the 8,000 soldiers and their refugee families were able to rest for 10 days. From there, the army moved to Isle-la-Motte, Crown Point and then Fort Ticonderoga.

The regiment, which had never recruited its full complement of men, was seriously depleted after the retreat, and so was assigned garrison duty in the Mohawk and Schoharie Valleys of upstate New York for the rest of 1776 so that it could be reorganized and re-fitted as part of the Northern Department. On December 8, 1776, Francis Monty was promoted to 1st lieutenant^[5] in Captain Jean Baptiste Allen’s (sometimes recorded as John Allin) 4th Company.

On December 19, 1776, two of Francis’ sons, 15-year-old Francis Jr. and 13-year-old Jacques were enlisted in Capt. Abraham Livingston’s company of the 1st Canadian (Abraham was the brother of Col. James Livingston who commanded the regiment).^[6]

In late summer, 1777, Livingston’s Regiment was moved to the Hudson River Valley in response to the British invasion under Gen. Burgoyne. The British marched due south from Lake Champlain, trying to reach Albany, but the Americans met them at Saratoga, and fought two battles there. In the first engagement on September 19th, the Battle of Freeman’s Farm, Livingston’s Regiment was temporarily attached to Learned’s Brigade, and was initially held in reserve as a part of Gen. Gates’ right wing, but was dispatched with three other regiments from the Brigade to reinforce Gen. Arnold’s position in the center of the American left, arriving towards the end of fighting at about 5:30 in the evening, just in time to cover the retreat of Poor’s Brigade as the made their way back to their fortified camps on the heights overlooking the area of the battle.

On October 7, the second of the Saratoga battles, the Battle of Bemis Heights was fought. Learned’s Brigade (including Livingston’s Regiment) was in the center of a strong American force. Early skirmishing on both the left and right blunted the British advance, and they retreated in a fairly unorganized manner back to their fortified lines, anchored by two redoubts. The Americans then went on the offensive. Learned’s Brigade tried several times to break a line of German grenadiers, but were pushed back. Unexpectedly, Arnold, who had been relieved of command after the first battle, appeared on the battlefield, unwilling to sit the engagement out. He had led first a charge of Poor’s Brigade on the left, then appeared in front of Learned’s Brigade. The Brigade, with Livingston’s Regiment as part of it, pushed the Germans back, took several of their artillery pieces, and charged between the two redoubts, exposing the rear on the one commanded by Hessian Lt. Colonel Heinrich von Breymann. They chased the Hessians away and found Breymann dead. Arnold was shot in the melee and fell with a broken leg.

It is unclear whether Francis took part either of the Saratoga battles. The available order of battle shows both Francis Jr. and Jacques fought in it, but Allen’s Company appears to have had few members present, and Francis Sr. is not listed among them.^[7] Sullivan & Martin, which state that Francis had been made a 2nd Lieutenant in December 1776, notes that on November 20, 1777 he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.^[8]

After Saratoga, Livingston’s Regiment marched back to Albany, and by December were in Johnstown. In February, 1778, they were back in Albany, having been sent there as part of preparations that were being made for another attempt to invade Canada. While at Albany, Inspector General Thomas Conway inspected the Regiment, with satisfactory results.

In July 1778, Washington ordered Livingston’s Regiment to join Brig. Gen. James Varnum’s Brigade, and they marched the 163 miles to Providence, Rhode Island. For most of the campaign, the regiment was stationed at Bristol, but did get involved in some of the skirmishes. On August 29th, Francis was wounded in action by a musket ball in the left thigh at the Battle of Quaker Hill.^[9][10]

Capt. Allen left the service on September 18, 1778. Records show that Francis signed pay rolls for both the 4th Company and the 2nd Company, and it is possible that he moved to the 2nd.

The situation with the British was at a stalemate, and the 1st Canadian and a number of other regiments were kept there to keep the British contained though 1779. They spent most of their time around Bristol and Freetown, until November 1779, when the 1st Canadian was ordered to New Jersey and attached to Gen. John Stark’s Brigade at Hartford.

By December, they’d reached Morristown, New Jersey and started building log cabins for their winter quarters. On December 17, Livingston’s Regiment was detached and moved to Gen. Edward Hand’s Brigade, and built their cabins at Jockey Hollow. The winter at Morristown turned out to be one of the hardest of the whole war, even worse than Valley Forge, and saw 21 separate snowstorms hit the area.

By April 1780, they were still in the Morristown area, at Camp Mendham. At some point prior, Francis evidently had been sent on an espionage assignment into Canada for Gen. Schuyler, and while he was gone, a Captain from another company mustered two of Francis’ sons without his permission. The two sons are not specifically named, but the fact that he refers back to the beginning, and only refers to bringing two sons with them, these are probably Francis Jr. and Jacques. Francis then wrote a letter to Gen. Washington (the letter survives in Washington’s archives) appealing for redress:^[11]

May it please your Excellency Camp Mendham April 29th 1780

Conceiving you to be The Father of the Army, and knowing the Justness, that Ever Reigns, in your Breast, is what Induces me to Apply to your Excellency for Redress in a Cause wherin I Conceive myself much Injured. Your Excellency must know that five years ago I Enterd this Service in Cannada as a Lieutenant that on our being Repulsed I was obliged to Quit the Country and Happily Brought my Family with me and having Two Sons thought I could not Employ them Better than Employ them in the Service of a Country whose Cause I had Espoused, accordingly I Engaged them to Serve in the Regiment to which I Belongd as Volunteers or whilst I Continued in the Service they not being of age I made their Inlistment myself, the Country having occasion to send some one into Cannada with Letters and to gain Intelligence I was Employed by General Schuyler for occasion went and Fortunately Succeeded and on my Return was surprised to find my children were musterd in my absence for During the Warr, by a Captain with whom they have signed no Inlistment. Therefore Humbly beg your Excellency will give me, or order the Col. to give me a Certificate to the Contrary, that In Case any accident should Happen to me, my children, may have it in their power to be Free, and Enjoy that Liberty they Have So Gloriously Contended for, and the Favor will be Ever Thankfully acknowledged by your Excellencys most Obedt Hble Servant

francis Monty Lt

George Washington’s papers do not include a reply, so it is unclear if or how the matter was eventually resolved.

On June 30, 1780, Livingston’s Regiment was ordered to post in Clove, New Jersey, and a month later, on July 31st, they were ordered to take up position in the redoubts at Stony Point and Verplanck’s Point, taking their orders now from General Arnold at West Point. Two months later, General Arnold began plotting with British spy Major John André to defect and provide the enemy with troop and armament information for the Stony Point, West Point and Verplanck’s Point emplacements. André had been smuggled ashore on September 21st from the British sloop HMS Venture, which then anchored in Haverstraw Bay, to meet with Arnold.

Livingston’s regiment fired on the Venture on 22nd, began firing, hitting the sloop six times. Though there wasn’t much damage, the vessel moved away from the shore, cutting off André’s escape, and he instead tried to head overland. He was subsequently captured, almost by accident, by an American patrol, who found on his person a number of incriminating documents from Arnold, including a couple of reports which Livingston himself had made to the General. Eventually, when word of André’s capture finally reached Arnold, and the General realized that his cover had been blown, he quickly fled, and made it to the Venture.

By October, disease and desertion had taken its toll on the 1st Canadian, and the regiment was down to a mere 118 officers and men. In a bigger reorganization of the Continental Army, it was decided to eliminate the 1st Canadian. Members who had enlisted in New York were to be transferred to a New York regiment, and those from New Jersey were to go to one of that state’s regiments. The Canadians who had stuck with Livingston since the beginning would be absorbed into Colonel Moses Hazen’s 2nd Canadian Regiment. James All the consolidations were supposed to become official on January 1, 1781, and Livingston’s Regiment was relieved of its post on Christmas Day.

With the deactivation of the 1st Canadian, Francis Monty officially retired as a First Lieutenant (discharge date of January 21, 1781^[12]). However, several of his sons were transferred to Hazen’s Regiment, including young Jean. It was likely because of them that even though he was no longer an officer, Francis continued to serve with Hazen’s as a volunteer for about a year. According to Sullivan and Martin, “The Montys served in three companies: John, Claud and Joseph in Capt. Olivie's 3rd Company; Francis Sr., Francis Jr., and Jacques in Capt. Gosselin's 7th Company; Enfant Amable (volunteer), and Jachet(?) (Volunteer) in Capt. Selin's 8th Company.^[13]

By January 1, 1782, he was listed in the regimental records as no longer with the unit.

As a result of his service as an officer, Francis became an Original Member of the New York Society of the Cincinnati.^[14]

Post-War Refugee Settlement

Francis’ younger brother Joseph Antoine Monty had left Québec in 1774 and had settled near Chazy, New York (he possibly joined the Army as well in 1776). After the war, Francis settled initially on Joseph’s Chazy farm.^[15]

Because of his injury at the Battle of Quaker Hill, Francis was awarded a pension as well as an additional bounty of 200 acres of land (Warrant #1393) issued on January 22, 1790, and assigned by Francis to Benjamin Mooers.^[16]

Francis died on February 8, 1809 at the age of 73 at Chazy.

Research Notes

1. Children #2 and #4 as listed in the PRDH record are both named Francois, with no other names included. These seem represent the same son. Both have the same death dates, and other sources^[17] make it clear that the one with the 1764 birth year, is the "Junior" who served as a Private in the Continental Army. From the pension records, we know that Private Francis Monty Jr. was the eldest son of Francois Sr. Therefore it is likely that there was actually only one person and that the original record was confused.
2. Jean does not appear in the PRDH record, and as far as research has shown, no baptismal records exist for him. Yet there is ample other evidence that he was indeed a son of Francis Sr. There is, however, uncertainty as to his birth year; see Jean's profile for details.
3. There appears to have been a son referred to variously as Enfant, Lenfant or Amable in various sources, including Continental Army service records, yet does not appear in the PRDH record. The New York Land Records reference shows that these names refer to the same person. Given the Enfant name, it is probable that he was the youngest son in the family. However, Sullivan and Martin, in listing out the lands given in the Refugee Tract, lists separately an Amable and an Enfant, suggesting that one of the other brothers also carried the Amable name.

Sources

1. ↑ PRDH; Baptism Record PRDH: Le Programme de recherche en démographie historique (membership): Acte: 107356
2. ↑ PRDH; Couple PRDH: Le Programme de recherche en démographie historique (membership): Famille: 36183 Monty - Bergevin dite Langevin
3. ↑ Note, Jean is missing from PRDH family record cited above, but his lineage is documented elsewhere, including in the Congressional Record, H.R. 580, 36th Congress, 1st Session, April 6, 1860
4. ↑ Note, Amable is missing from PRDH record, but his lineage is documented elsewhere, including in a record of land transfer in New York Land Records, 1630-1975
5. ↑ Note: Sullivan & Martin give the 18th and incorrectly state he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, but it is clear from regimental muster rolls that he was appointed as 1st Lieutenant
6. ↑ New York State Archives
7. ↑ New York State Archives
8. ↑ Sullivan and Martin
9. ↑ Sullivan and Martin
10. ↑ Pension Records
11. ↑ George Washington Papers
12. ↑ Sullivan and Martin
13. ↑ Sullivan and Martin
14. ↑ New York State Society of the Cincinnati
15. ↑ Sullivan and Martin
16. ↑ Pension Records
17. ↑ Including Find A Grave Memorial #162246629 tree

See Also:

• George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence: Francis Monty to George Washington, April 29, 1780. 1780. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mgw423420/. (Accessed December 02, 2017.)
• Heitman, Francis Bernard, Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution, 1892: Nichols, Killam & Maffitt. Pg 297. (Available as a free Google eBook)
• "New York Land Records, 1630-1975," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9W2-5Z8J?cc=2078654&wc=M7HT-438%3A358134801%2C358552101 : 22 May 2014), Clinton > Deeds 1788-1804 vol A-B:161-162 > image 88 of 578; county courthouses, New York.
• New York State Archives, Board of Regents, by Berthold Fernow; New York in the Revolution; Weeds, Parsons and Company (Albany NY 1877) as compiled by Saratoga County Heritage Hunters and presented as part of the web document Left Wing of Continental Army under General Arnold, Saratoga County NYGenWeb page, accessed 30 December 2017
• The New York State Society of the Cincinnati, List of Original Officers. http://www.nycincinnati.org/NYOfficers.htm#M Accessed January 2, 2018.
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt.1393-200, for Francis Monty, New York
• Université de Montréal, Demography Department, Programme de recherche en démographie historique / Research Programme in Historical Demography (PRDH)
• Sullivan, Nell Jane Barnett, and David Kendall Martin. A History of the Town of Chazy Clinton County, New York. Burlington, VT: George Little Press, Inc., 1970.
• 1790 United States Federal Census; Champlain, NY
• 1800 United States Federal Census; Champlain, NY
• Canadian Genealogy Index, 1600s-1900s; 1760 Marriage
• New York, Genealogical Records, 1675-1920; Champlain
• North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000; Francis Monty, Lake Champlain
• Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968; Chambly, Baptism and Marriage
• Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890
• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed Aug 25, 2017), "Record of Francis Monty", Ancestor # A079113.
• Refugee Land Grants

• For Further Reading
• Fantastic blog post on Fort Chambly and some excellent history of Francois
• Lacroix, Patrick: Diverse North Country: Canadians of Clinton County. Adirondack Almanac, April 24, 2017. https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2017/04/canadians-clinton-county-ny.html
• Moses Hazen Bio
• James Livingston Bio
• 1st Canadian Regiment
• 2nd Canadian Regiment
• Battle of Rhode Island, including Turkey Hill, where Lt. Monty was wounded.
• Everest, Allan. Moses Hazen and the Canadian Refugees in the American Revolution. Syracuse University Press, 1977:123, 127