benezer⁵ Landers (Thomas⁴, Ebenezer³, Thomas^2-1) born 8 Nov. 1758, died at Bainbridge, Chenango County, NY 14 Feb. 1846 (his widow’s deposition, dated 9 Jun 1849 - National Archives - Pension record W 21,551).

He married at Lenox, MA 13 July 1780 Olive Osborne (by the Rev. Mr. Munson, Presbyterian Minister - ibid.).

In a deposition, dated 9 Oct. 1833, Ebenezer Landers related that "I enlisted in the forepart of June 1776 for 11 months in Capt. Ivel Dickinson’s Company of Infantry, Mass. State Troops, Col. Elmore’s Regt. At the time I enlisted I resided with my father in the town of Lenox, Berkshire Co., Mass. I joined my company at Pittsfield; marched to Albany, then to New Lebanon and back to Albany. Then to Ft. Dayton on the Mohawk River, opposite Ft. Herkimer. We went through Schenectady and then up the Mohawk River - two companies only at the fort, the rest went to Ft. Stanwix - until 9 May 1777, when I was discharged. I was home about two weeks and then enlisted about the middle of June 1777, with Capt Aaron Rowley’s Co. of infantry, for six months, then resided at Lenox. Capt. Rowley lived in Richmond. I was born in the town of Warren, Litchfield Co., Conn. 8 Nov. 1758; record of my age in my possession from my father’s bible record. I was two years old, I am informed by my father, when I moved to Stockbridge where I resided twelve years and then to Lenox, until I moved to Bainbridge, afsd, 15 years ago last March" (this deposition in the pension record accompanied by an affidavit signed by Judge Levi Bigelow, of the Chenango Co. Common Pleas Court, 20 May 1833, who two days earlier had made a similar affidavit for Ebenezer’s brother, Joseph Landers).

In the 1790 Census Ebenezer Landers is listed at Harpersfield Town, Montgomery County, as the head of a family of 1 male over 16, two under 16 and two females. Joseph and Isaiah Landers also are listed as living in the same township. Taken in conjunction with the fact that Thomas⁴ Landers in his will, dated 24 Jan. 1798, gave to his four sons: "Ebenezer, Joseph, Isaiah and John one piece of land in the Town of Jerico in the County of Tioga, on the West side of the Susquehana River [New York]" furnishes strong evidence that these brothers (or at least the first three of them) are the men listed in the 1790 census. There is a Harpersville, situated about four miles down the Susquehanna from Afton (formerly Jericho) and some five miles further up the river lies Bainbridge.¹

Olive Landers of Bainbridge, Chenango County, "aged ninety", deposed 9 Oct. 1849 that she was married in Lenox to Ebenezer Landers; that he died at Bainbridge 14 Feb. 1846; that she was his widow. Signed by mark. (op. cit.). Solomon Landers deposed same day that "Ebenezer Landers, his father, was always said to have been married at Lenox... That the eldest child of Ebenezer and Olive Landers, above said, was Polly Pollard who is reputed to have been born about 1782 and who died several years since. That the next child was Thomas Landers, who resides about a mile away, reputed to be about 65 years of age. That the next child was Stephen, who resides about one mile from sd deponent, reputed to be about 63 years of age." (ibid., Pension record W 21,551).

1. For those who wish to search for further data it should be noted that Tioga County was established (county seat Oswego) from Montgomery County (county seat Fonda) in 1791. Jericho (Afton) and Bainbridge were in Tioga County until 1798, and afterwards in Chenango County (county seat Norwich). Deeds or probates for these people may also be found at Binghamton, Broome County (est. 1806), or Utica, Onieda County.

[Lydia B. (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean, "Thomas¹ Landers of Sandwich, Mass.," NEHGR 124:276-278]

Ebenezer Landers’ full Pension deposition:
I enlisted in the fore part of June 1776 for eleven months in Capt. Joel Dickison’s Company of infantry Massachusetts States Troops. In Col. Elmor’s Regiment. Eli Brown was Lieut of the Company. Palmer Cady was adjutant. Capt. Brown lived in Pitsfield Berkshire County. Col. Elmore lived (I think) in Sheffield same County. At the time I enlisted I resided with my father in the Town of Lenox Berkshire County Massachusets. I joined my company at Pittsfield aforesaid. From thence we marched to Albany then to New Lebanon & to Albany where I & the company joined the regiment, & where we staid. We staid at Albany till about the fore part of August according to my best recollection. I know we had green corn there & then we marched (the whole regiment to Fort Dayton on the Mohawk River opposite Fort Herkimer. We went thro Schenectady & then up the Mohawk River. I continued in the service at said fort (It being a picket fort) at fatigue duty, throwing up embarkments & standing gaurd. Two companies of the Regiment only were stationed at this Fort. The rest of the regiment went on to Fort Stanwix on the Mohawk. Col. Elmore went on to Fort Stanwix with the rest of the Regiment. I continued in said service at said Fort untill the Twenty ninth day of may 1777, when I was honorably discharged by a written discharge, & in the hand writing of my Capt. the same original discharge being hereto annexed, when I was discharged, there was no officers at the Fort above the rank of Captain. I overstaid my time a few days waiting to be relieved by new Troops, which came on to our relief under Col. Gansewood a short time before was discharged, on receiving my discharge I returned home. I staid about Two weeks & then about the middle of June 1777 I enlisted in Capt Aaron Rowley’s company of Infantry for the term of six months. I then resided in Lenox aforesaid. Capt. Rowley lived in Richmond Berkshire County aforesaid. I joined the Company at Richmond. The company marched from Richmond a short time after I enlisted to Albany. From thence up the North River to Troy. Then to Halfmoon Point & then to Stillwater. Then to Saratoga. Then to Fort Miller. Then to Fort Edward, then to Fort William Henry on Lake George. We staid there about two weeks. At this place was Genl. Pattison’s Brigade. Also Gen. Larned’s. I think Gen. Schuyler was in command at this place. We then were ordered to destroy the Fort and retreat. We blew up the Fort & burned two vessels one on the stocks & one launched tho not finished. We then went back down to Kingsbury a little above Fort Edward 3 or 4 miles, where we had a little skirmish with the Indians. We had 19 killed & a number wounded some mortally. Eleven of them were scalped. We formed in the woods as was understood. 36 of the Indians killed. The Indians attacked the Picket guard & we went to relieve them. The guard had retreated about half a mile, where we met them. We then drove the Indians. The action lasted about 3 hours. While we lay at Kingsbury, we had attached to us a company of Indians of the Stockbridge, Schaglecoke & Mohegan tribes, commanded by Capt. Nimham & a joke. A part of these Indians brought in one day 14 prisoners mostly British officers. It was said these prisoners were decepted as follows. The British there occupied Fort Ann. The Indians went near the Fort & one of them Jacob Mompi, his hands besmeared with blood went directly to the Fort after having placed his men in ambush. He told the officers who were marching round the Fort that he had killed a great bear, & that he could not bring it in. The British supposed he was one of their friendly Indians. They went with him for the bear. He led them into the ambuscade, & they were all taken. So much for the story. I know that the Indians brought in the prisoners. In about a week after our set-to with the Indians, we retreated from Kingsbury to Fort Edward & from thence to Fort Miller, & from thence to Saratoga. While we were at Fort Edward on our retreat Miss Mc Crea & Sue _____ were killed by the Indians. I saw their mangled bodies & assisted in their burial. The next day or the day but one we went to Saratoga, & from thence to Stillwater, at this place Gen. Gates took the command, we then advanced upon Burgoyne’s army at a place below Saratoga I should think about 5 miles. I was engaged Genl Arnold in storming & taking a Hessian Breastwork. Arnold directed us not to fire untill he expressly ordered. We marched up within 5 or 6 rods. They were pouring in upon us with their cannon. Arnold ordered fire, & then rush on with the Bayonet, which we did & took the battery. We then went on to Saratoga where I was when Burgoyne surrendered. Immediately after the surrender I went as a guard to the prisoners to Pittsfield Berkshire County Mass & continued there as such guard untill the end of my term of enlistment & was then honorably discharged. No written discharge was given.

In the last of August or forepart of September 1778 an alarm came that the British & Indians were coming down from the North towards Albany. I then volunteered under Capt. Stephen Newel, who lived in the same town with me in Lenox aforesaid. We marched from Lenox direct to Stillwater & from thence to near Saratoga. We were then informed that they (the enemy) had gone back & I returned home. I was in the service at this time about Seven weeks according to the best of my recollection.

In the fall (I think in October 1779) there was an alarm that the British & Indians were cutting off the inhabitants on the Onion River & on the frontiers. I then volunteered & went on horseback to Bennington Vermont. There were about fifty of us, we did not organize into a regular company. From Bennington we went to Shaftsbury, we then learned that the enemy had retreated & we returned home. I was then out on this alarm about four weeks, as near as I can recollect. I think it was in the summer of 1779 about the middle I volunteered to go to Kinderhook to take the Tories. I was under Capt William Walker who lived in Lenox aforesaid & who now lives there I believe & has been a judge of probats of Berkshire County. We went from Lenox to Spencetown & then to Kinderhook. The Tories had fled to a swamp near Kline Hill Creek. We surrounded the swamp & took about fifty five of them and marched them to Kinderhook. I was one who guarded them there for about 10 days. We then marched to Albany & put them in a jail. I then returned home. I was absent from home in this service about seven weeks, as near as I can recollect.

I was born in the Town of Warren County of Litchfield State of Connecticut on the 8th day of November 1758. I have a record of my age which is now in my possession taken from my father’s family record. I have always had it in my possession since I left my Father’s house. I was as I am informed by my parents & believe 2 years old when I removed to Stockbridge Berkshire Co where I resided 12 years & then removed to Lenox aforesaid where I resided untill I removed to Bainbridge aforesaid 45 Years last march where I have lived ever since & where I now reside. I am acquainted with John C Clark and Levi Bigelow Esquire both of Bainbridge aforesaid, who can testify as to my character, as to their belief of my age & as to the general belief in the neighborhood as to my having been a Volunteer in the Revolution. As to a discharge I answer as above stated. [National Archives - Pension record W 21,551 - declaration of Ebenezer Landers dated 9 Oct 1832]

Also have birth as 3 Nov 1758 in Sharon, Litchfield, CT. [Descendants of William Kirby]

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