From the beginning, settlers of Rochester depended on their muskets for hunting, “varmint” killing, and protection. During the “French Wars” when Britain and France fought for dominance in the new world, men from Rochester are believed to have been called upon to serve. The colonial government put “heavy demands on the towns of the old colony”. One known expedition (previously written about) was to Acadia, Nova Scotia to remove the people there because the British thought they were secretly aiding the French.
In 1774, Rochester’s Town Meeting voted a variety of directives in preparation for possible action against England. They included the assembly and training of militia and the selection of officers to be in command of militia companies.
Many of the men from Rochester who fought in the Revolution were in locally created militia companies which were assigned at times to join with the regular army for specific missions. This meant they would be mustered for an “alarm” or specific event and then mustered out when it ended. After which, they might be called upon again.
This means that the number of muster cards available online for each soldier differs. While some have multiple ones, others like William Sherman, mentioned previously, had only one. When he was called up in 1775, he was 49 (which was old in the 1700’s) and perhaps that’s why there is no other sign of participation.
For many but not all of Rochester’s militia men, their fighting part of the war ended when the battles moved south from New York and Pennsylvania.
By Connie Eshbach