Schomp

David Schomp, whose father and grandfather bore the same given name, and were noted for their military exploits and their love of good as well as fast horses, now owns and lives on the old Schomp homestead; a part of the old house is now standing. �The old Colonel,� still remembered by many now living, was often seen erect and brave on horseback at the age of 80 years, was a captain in the secret service of Washington, and before his death received a pension of $640 per year. He was for some time denied this, however, on allegation that he was only a lieutenant, and entitled to no higher pension than belonged to that grade. But this old veteran indignantly refused, saying: � I tell you I was a Captain in Washington�s Secret Service, and I�ll have a captain�s pension or none; if you search the papers at Washington you�ll find it so.� They made the search, and found the �Old Colonel� was right.

It was no mercenary motive that prompted Captain David Schomp to insist upon his demands. His rank was as dear to him as a Baronet�s title and coat of arms; to win it, he had been faithful when others were false, brave when others were cowardly; given his last crust when others hoarded and hid their abundance from starving soldiers.

Captain Schomp had crept alone through swamps and thickets, when the breaking of a twig would have brought an Indian hireling�s scalping knife upon his head; he had stolen into forts when garrisons were asleep, or marched in, in disguise, in the light of day, to learn the secrets of the enemy. He had gone on foot from the Delaware to the Hudson and back again many times, to carry dispatches from Washington at Valley Forge, to his officers at Ticonderoga and other points to the north; and now he wished to leave his true title to his descendants, to inspire them with the same steadfast patriotism that animated him�and it was no useless legacy.

Captain David Schomp�s nephew, Maj. Henry G. Schomp, was among the volunteers to put down the Whiskey Insurrection. When the Rebellion broke out the �Old Colonel�s� blood fired up in his descendants� veins. His grandson, one of Robert�s boys�and a noble boy he was�Simon Peter Schomp, was in Illinois when news came of the firing on Fort Sumter. He volunteered at once, served faithfully, and after the battle of Fort Donelson was found among the slain. A letter from the Surgeon of the Regiment to a friend in New Jersey says: �Simon P. Schomp is among the fallen; he was a brave boy, and was in the hottest of the fight. Peace to his ashes.�

From pp. 193-94 of Lequear's "Traditions of Hunterdon" (1869-70)