Author: Liz Osborn
Text: NICHOLAS STONER: SERVES AS FIFER

On June 4, 1777, Nicholas enlisted as a fifer in Captain Peter
VanRensselaer's Company (Fourth Company) in Colonel James Livingston's
Continental Regiment (First Canadian Regiment) while living at Johnstown.

Nicholas was stationed at Johnstown for a few weeks and then he was
stationed at Loudon's Ferry where he transferred to Captain Timothy Hughes'
Company (Sixth Company) in Colonel Livingston's Regiment as a private.

On August 19th, Nicholas under Colonel Livingston and General Benedict
Arnold left the German Flatts on their journey to the relief of Fort
Schuyler that was besieged by the troops of Lieutenant-Colonel Barry St.
Leger. On August 22nd, on receiving word of Arnold's approach, St. Leger
and his troops retreated from the fort and headed back to Canada. Shortly
afterwards Arnold and his troops arrived at the fort with the badly needed
supplies.

In the first week of September, Nicholas under Colonel Livingston arrived
at Saratoga (now Stillwater) and joined the encamped American Army under
General Horatio Gates there. Nicholas fought in both Battles of Saratoga on
September 19th and October 7th. Nicholas also witnessed the surrendering of
General John Burgoyne and his troops on October 17th.

In December, Nicholas was stationed at Johnstown with the rest of the
regiment.

In January of 1778 until the end of March Nicholas was stationed at
Johnstown. In April and May he was stationed at Fishkill. In June he was
stationed at Peekskill and in July he was stationed at Middleton. In August
Nicholas was stationed at Warren, Rhode Island where he fought a battle on
August 25th. In September he was again stationed at Warren. In October
Nicholas was appointed fifer in Captain Hughes Company and he was stationed
at Bristol from October to December.

In January and February of 1779, Nicholas was again stationed at Bristol.
In March to May, Nicholas was stationed at Freetown. In June, Nicholas
rejoined Captain VanRensselaer's Company as a fifer and he was stationed at
Freetown from June until October. In November and December he was stationed
in Morristown, New Jersey.

In January, First Lieutenant Peter J. Vosburgh was promoted Captain in
place of VanRensselaer who had resigned. In January and February under
Captain Vosburgh, Nicholas was stationed at Morristown, New Jersey. In
April and May he was stationed at Mendham. In June to October Nicholas was
stationed Verplanck's Point.

In January, Nicholas enlisted as a fifer in Captain Samuel T. Pell's
Company (Fourth Company) in Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt's Regiment of
Continentals (Second New York) and he was stationed at Fort Herkimer until
July. In August and September he was stationed at Pumton.

In October, Nicholas with the entire regiment were engaged in the Yorktown,
Virginia campaign. Nicholas witnessed the surrendering of Lord Cornwallis
on October 19th. In November and December he was stationed at Pumton.

Nicholas served under Captain Pell and Colonel Van Cortlandt until he was
discharged on May 21, 1783 at the New Windsor Cantonment, New York.

On November 9, 1783, Nicholas enlisted as a private in Captain Peter B.
Tearce's Company of Light Infantry in Colonel Marinus Willett's Regiment of
New York State Levies. Nicholas was discharged on December 31, 1783.

Nicholas also served as a private in Captain Jellis Fonda's Company of
Associate Exempts in Colonel Frederick Visscher's Regiment of Tyron County
Militia (Third Regiment) but when or how long is not known.

Shortly after the end of the war, Nicholas married Anna Mason Scarborough
the widow of William Scarborough who was killed in the Battle of Johnstown
on October 25, 1781. After forty years of marriage Anna died.

In 1813, Nicholas enlisted as a Fife Major in Captain A.P. Spencer's
Company in Colonel Melanchton Smith's Regiment. Nicholas fought in the
Battle of Plattsburg in September 1814.

After Anna died, Nicholas lived with Mrs. Polly Phye until she died.
Nicholas then married Hannah Frank the widow of Henry Frank. They were
married on April 22, 1840 at the home of Tunis VanVleet in the Town of
Johnstown by the Justice of the Peace James Hildreth.

Nicholas died on November 24, 1853 at his home in the Town of Caroga.
Charles R. Bellows furnished the coffin and the hearse that conveyed the
coffin from Caroga and Stoner was buried in Kingsborough Cemetery in
Gloversville on November 26, 1853. Several years later, Stoner's remains
were removed from the Kingsborough Cemetery and re-interred in the Prospect
Hill Cemetery.