Robert Covenhoven (1755 - 1846)

Born 7 Dec 1755 in Monmouth, New Jersey

Ancestors

Husband of Mercy Kelsey (Cutter) Covenhoven — married 22 Feb 1778 in Lycoming, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 29 Oct 1846 at age 90 in Mifflin, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Benjamin Abbott-Scott [send private message]

Biography

Private Robert Covenhoven served with Northumberland County Militia, Pennsylvania Militia during the American Revolution.

Robert Covenhoven is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A026778.

Robert Covenhoven performed Patriotic Service in Pennsylvania in the American Revolution.

Robert Covenhoven was much employed in his youth as an axe man and a hunter to surveyors of land in the valleys that were tributary to the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna. Robert Covenhoven joined Washington's Army in New Jersey and took part in the battles of Trenton and Princeton, when the Revolution broke out. He returned home in spring 1776 to protect the defenseless frontier where his home was. In spring 1778 murders of settlers caused the need to evacuate Fort Muncy, and go to refuge in Sunbury. Only Covenhoven was willing to carry the word to the settlers.

The Big Runaway July 1778. ^[1]

There were 12-13 notches on his black hunting knife each representing an Indian killed by him. His gun was an old flintlock with a barrel six-foot long. This would have been similar to the gun Daniel Boone carried into Kentucky. Covenhoven told his great-grandson W H Sanderson that his gun never misfired when it was needed. ^[2]

Capt. Cookson Long's Co of the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Co: James Potter, list of privates included Robert Covenhoven, Peter Wyckoff, Joseph Wyckoff.

Will of, abstracted

Robert Covenhoven's will in Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania Will Book B page 11 dated 6-12-1843 and probated 2-10-1846 as seen on ^[3]: of Mifflin Twp. In it he arranged for burial and headstone for himself and wife (with provisions should she survive him)...my three daughters to shares alike- Nancy Pfouts, Creasy Crane, and Maria Crane (error in transcription as this appears should be "Antes")..my sons William and James (who is deceased, then to his children)...my three grandchildren Robert Crane, Robert Pfouts and Robert Covenhoven each $200. Exe. grandson Robert Crane and son-in-law George Crane.

Census Record

At 1835 Census of Pensioners Robert Covenhoven's name appears in Jersey Shore, Mifflin Twp., Lycoming Co., PA age 85, with a large family. His house at Level Corner mentioned in an 1812 in an advert of Walter Potts.

Revolutionary War Service

Covenhoven, Robert - Pennsylvania #11905, Northumberland now Lycoming County in the State of Pennsylvania was a private in the Company commanded by Capt. Cookiny (sp? probably refers to Cookson Long?) of the Regiment commanded by Col. Murray in the Penna Troops for two years. Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of $80 per annum on 4 March 1831. Certificate of Pension filed 15 July 1833 and sent to A V Parsons, Jersey Shore, PA. Arrears to 4 March 1833 $160.00 plus semi-??? allowance ending September 1833 $80.00 - total $200. Revolutionary Claim Act 7 June 1832. Recorded by D Brown, clerk; Book E, Vol 5 page 9. ^[4] State of Pennsylvania, County of Lycoming - on the 5th day September Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Seth Chapman and his associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting, Robert "Crownover" a resident of Mifflin Twp. in the County of Lycoming, State of Pennsylvania aged seventy-six years, who being duly sworn as according to law doth upon his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed 7 June 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and services as herein stated - in the autumn of 1776 he volunteered in the Rifle Company commanded by Capt. Cookson Long in the Regiment commanded by Col. James Murray of the United States Troops of Pennsylvania. He was then living at Fort Muncy in Northumberland Co. He marched to Philadelphia and thence to Trenton in the State of New Jersey, thence to Princeton where they fought and defeated the Hessians under the command of General Washington about the 25th December 1776. He then marched to Princeton where they took 300 Hessian prisoners, he then marched to Shank (sp?) Mills near the mouth of Millstone River near to which place they took from the enemy 300 wagons laden with plunder and sp? Forage, thence they marched to Morristown where Washington stopped and ordered the volunteers to march to Piscataque Short Hills whence he the said applicant marched under the command of the said Capt. Long and Col. Murray and remained there until they were discharged having been in actual service four months. He then volunteered (rank of Sergeant according to list by Capt. Hepburn in August 1778) in the Company of Capt. William Hepburn in the Battalion of Col. Hunter in the spring of 1778 for the purpose of protecting the inhabitants from the depredation of the hostile Indians. He the said applicant being fully acquainted with the surrounding country and the locations, strength and mode of warfare of the Indians. He was appointed by Capt. Hepburn as leader of the scouting and spying parties that were constantly on alert and watching the movements of the enemy (when the intelligence of the massacre at Wyoming reached the troops stationed at Sunbury Col. Hunter who had the command at said place issued orders to Capt. Hepburn to repair to Sunbury, the said applicant carried said express to Antises (sp?) Fort and they then repaired to Sunbury. They there rec'd reinforcements from the eastern counties and returned to Muncy to build a garrison. Col. Broadhead came to their assistance from Fort Pitt and then the militia were drafted and taken from them. He the said applicant was contracted (sp?) by Col. Broadhead as a guide to all scouting parties, expresses and etc. That he frequently guided scouting parties to Jenkies (sp?) Fort and also to the Fort at Wyoming and carried express from said places to Col. Hartley who succeeded Col. Broadhead at Fort Muncy. After Col. Hartley had completed the fortifications at Muncy he rec'd orders from Col. Hunter to march to Tioga County for the purposes of heading Butler who was carrying off the plunder from Wyoming. He the said applicant guided the troops under the command of Col. Hartley to said point where they met the enemy and took from them all their cattle and plunder and bought them back to Wyoming. He the said applicant, was then sent (at the peril of his life) with an express to the Fort at Muncy, to appraise them of a party of Indians that were then - or had pursued Col. Hartley to Wyoming and were then in the neighborhood. That he was then sent from the Fort at Muncy to Sunbury with an express requesting an immediate reinforcement to defend the county and that he again returned to Fort Muncy with information in reply.

He then returned to Sunbury and met Col. Hartley with the troops there, that a re-enforcement was dispatched and led by the said applicant to Fort Muncy. He the said applicant was out with the scouting parties etc. at various times afterwards - at one time his party were (sic "where") every man was killed but himself and that he alone escaped the massacre. In 1779, Col. Hartley left Fort Muncy and joined in Gen. Sullivan's Company. The fort was left in the care of Capt. Hepburn and the said applicant remained with Capt. Hepburn to defend the fort and protect the inhabitants against the savages with a small body of men. They rec'd intelligence of a superior force coming upon them and were compelled to retreat carrying with them the defenseless inhabitants to the fort at Sunbury. He was this in actual service in the state troops of Pennsylvania for a term exceeding two years.

And in answers to inquires prepared by the Secretary of War the said applicant saith as follows: Question1 - Where and in what year were you born? Answer - he was born near Princeton in the State of New Jersey, the Year of Our Lord - 1755. Question 2 - Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? Answer - the record of my age is in my father's Bible but I have not got it, my brother has it. Question 3 - Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live? Answer - in Northumberland County in the State of Pennsylvania and have lived there since in Lycoming County and state ever since the Revolutionary War. Question 4 - Where were you called into service? Answer - he volunteered. Question 5 - State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served…continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service. Answer - I can state no more fully than the foregoing declaration which I have made. Question 6 - Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and, if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? Answer - he rec'd a discharge from Gen. Washington at the expiration of the first four months service, he never rec'd any other and that is now lost. Question 7 - State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and the belief of your services as a soldier in the revolution. Answer - I am known to the Reverend John H Grier, the clergyman of the society to which I belong; to Samuel Stewart, Esq. who is my neighbour, to Henry Antes/ Antis and also to Henry Hill whose deposition is hereto attached taken before Simon Schuler, Esq. of the ???of ??? wit. and hereto attached. Following here are two or three sentences apparently by a court clerk which are impossible to read -"he freely relinquishes any " and the words "sworn" day "and year." Signed: Robert Covenhoven. (his signature in full) Note: A 2nd declaration was made by Robert Covenhoven on 3 April 1833 - this one only two pages in length and with the same details of his service as the four-page declaration detailed above) ^[5][6]

Death & Obituary Notices

"Robert Covenhoven aged 90 yr, 11 months, 22 days died 29 Oct 1846 at residence of his son-in-law L Pfoutz in Point Twp, Northumberland." ^[7] "On the 29th ult at the residence of his son-in-law L Pfoutz in Point Twp., Mr Robert Covenhoven a Revolutionary soldier aged 90 year, 11 months, 22 days." ^[8] NOTE: Robert was buried in Riverview Cemetery according to Film 531279, but was he re-interred at Wildwood later?

Object

File: http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=fc6f645e-9dc8-4652-a4d4-ae790ae7ac3e&tid=7380564&pid=642

Format: jpg

Title: Robert Covenhoven (1755-1846) Gravesite

Sources

1. ↑ https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-great-runaway.html
2. ↑ Article in Williamsport Sun-Gazette 27 March 1999, page 14.
3. ↑ GS film 856834
4. ↑ GS Film 970665.
5. ↑ GS Film 970665.
6. ↑ Brief Historical Account https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/174855934?cid=mem_copy Erie Pennsylvania Library
7. ↑ Obit in Muncy Luminary
8. ↑ Obit in Sunbury American and Shamokin Journal 14 Nov 1846.

• DAR patriot A026778 Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/), "Record of Robert Covenhoven", Ancestor # A026778.
• Source: S-1058807471 Repository: #R-1374859915 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Page: Ancestry Family Tree Data: Text: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/7380564/family

• Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14753891, citing Riverview Cemetery, Northumberland, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania ,USA. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com, memorial page for Robert Covenhoven (7 Dec 1755–29 Oct 1846), Find a Grave Memorial no. 14753891, citing Riverview Cemetery, Northumberland, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA

• Repository: R-1374859915 Name: Ancestry.com

Acknowledgements

• Covenhoven-71 was created by Benjamin Abbott-Scott through the import of Abbott-Scott Family Tree.ged on Jul 31, 2015.
• Updates to bio by Beryl Meehan [[Meehan-411] 9 Feb 2018.