Adam Happal

The men above are dressed in a uniform similar to what Happal would have worn.

National Park Service/Dan U.

Quick Facts

Significance:

Adam was an enlisted soldier in the Continental Army. His story, though recorded in short, illustrates the contributions of working class people during the American Revolution.

Date of Birth:

Circa 1743

Date of Death:

August 11, 1836

Not much about the life of Adam Happal is known. Happal was born around 1743, making him approximately 35 years old at the time of the Siege of 1777 at Fort Schuyler, an event he wittnessed and participated in as a soldier in the 3rd NY Regiment. 

Happal was married to a woman named Alice and died on August 11, 1836. He was age 75 when deposed on April 3, 1818 in order to claim his soldiers' pension. Former Captain Leonard Bleeker of the 3rd NY Regiment conducted the interview. 

Happal stated that he first served in Captain Christopher P. Yates' Company of the First New York Regiment and took part in the Siege of Quebec. In the spring of 1777, he enlisted as a private in Captain Aaron Aorson's Company of the Third New York Regiment and served till the expiration of the war. His file contains an April 2, 1818 letter signed by Lieutenant Colonel Marinus Willett in which Willett states that he does not recall Happal, but does remember him serving faithfully in Captian Aaron Aorson's Company of the 3rd NY Regiment. Captain Leonard Bleecker of the Third New York Regiment states that he is sure that Happal was within Fort Stanwix during the August, 1777 Siege and that Happal was able to relate many of the events which occurned in 1779 under command of General Sullivan.

Of his deposition interview came the following facts:

1st. Captain James Gregg, and a Sergeant of his being shot, tomahawked, and scalped: the former being found five hours after the affair happen'd when he was brought in by a party of the Garrison, (who went in search of him) by four men upon a large piece of Bark - and survivd many years

2ndly. Lieut John Spoor and twenty men with him on a fatigue party being cut off by some Indians within a mile of the Garrison -

3rd. Coll Willett's leaving the Fort at night to appraze General Gates at Saratoga with the State of the Garrison & the position of the Beseegers.

4. The affect of the explosion of a Shell, upon Mrs McCarty Wife of one of my Soldiers. Taking out of her Buttock a piece of flesh as large as a Man's fist and her being safely delivered of a Child the night after

5th The entrance into the Fort (while we were besieged) of Hanyost Herkimer Schuyler, A Tory who had join'd the Enemy and who with two others while in a plundering Party at German Flats who was taken Prisoner by General Arnold, who had been detached by General Gates to relieve the Garrison, and which said Schuyler which was to apprize Coll Gansevoort of Arnolds approach, while the two men taken with him were detain'd as Hostages, for the faithful performance of his Conduct

6th The defeat of Genl Herkimer

7. The Sortie made from the Fort, under Coll Willett (in which I was a Volunteer) in Consequence of Schuylers arrival to divert the attention of the Enemy & then to facilitate the March of General Herkimer, for our relief In this affair he mentions a Lieutenant

8th The arrival of Genl Arnold with about [ an unreadable word ] after we had been besiged twenty days The Preec Singleton of the British Army, who was wounded in Herkimers defeat, and taken Prisoner by Coll Willett in the above Sortie - Likewise the attempt of Genl St Ledger the British Commander, to cut off our retreat on our return to the Garrison, after we had destroy'd an Indian Camp, and taken a number of Prisoners, Muskets, Indian Colors, Blankets &c - How we fac'd about to repel the Enemy, and did oblige him to retreat; and our safe arrival into the Fort - One man only being Slightly wounded

8th The Arrival of Genl Arnold after we had been besieged twenty days - The precipitate Retreat of Genl St Ledger. His leaving his own Tent standing [smudge] and most of his Camp Equipage - Our pursuit of him down Wood - Creek - Our taking four brass Field Pieces, which in their flight they threw into the Creek

NOTE: The above was taken from the New York Revolutionary War Pension Records, file RWPA #R4584