Benjamin Mooers (April 1, 1758 – February 20, 1838) was a military veteran of both the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, and a politician, serving in the New York State legislature. He also served as a sheriff of

Clinton County, New York Clinton County is a county in the north-easternmost corner of the state of New York, in the United States and bordered by the Canadian province of Quebec. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 79,843. Its county seat is the ci ...

in between the wars.

Early life

Benjamin Mooers was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts to Abigail and Benjamin Mooers on April 1, 1758. In 1773 Mooers started an apprenticeship under John White, a merchant and importer in Haverhill. He worked with White until the Revolutionary War began, when Mooers enlisted as a volunteer in the Continental Army.

Later life

In 1783 he settled in the vicinity of Plattsburgh, New York, a frontier settlement at the time. Mooers was the sheriff of

Clinton County Clinton County may refer to: *Counties named for George Clinton, first and third Governor of New York, and later the fourth Vice President of the United States: **Clinton County, New York ** Clinton County, Ohio *Counties named for DeWitt Clinton, ...

and a

presidential elector The United States Electoral College is the group of presidential electors required by the Constitution to form every four years for the sole purpose of appointing the president and vice president. Each state and the District of Columbia app ...

1808 Events January–March * January 1 ** The importation of slaves into the United States is banned, as the 1807 Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves takes effect; African slaves continue to be imported into Cuba, and until the island ab ...

. During the War of 1812, Mooers returned to military service. He was commissioned as a general in the New York Militia, commanding troops at the Battle of Plattsburgh, on September 11, 1814. After the war, he was elected and served as a member of the New York legislature. Mooers died on February 20, 1838, and was buried at Riverside Cemetery.

Occupation

Chief Purchaser

In addition to his high-status among military operations, Benjamin Mooers' was known as a landowner in the areas surrounding the Champlain Valley. To the extent that he became known as the Chief Purchaser in the late 1780s. According to accounts of refugees who met with Mooers, he owned large masses of land for which he paid considerably low for. A large amount of the land owned by Mooers' was part of the

Refugee Tract The Refugee Tract is an area of land in Ohio, United States granted to people from British Canada who left home prior to July 4, 1776, stayed in the US until November 25, 1783 continuously, and aided the revolutionary cause. Location The Refuge ...

Lieutenant

Mooers' served as a lieutenant in the New York militia and the

2nd Canadian Regiment The 2nd Canadian Regiment (1776–1783), also known as Congress' Own or Hazen's Regiment, was authorized on January 20, 1776, as an Extra Continental regiment and raised in the province of Quebec for service with the American Continental Army ...

under his maternal uncle,

Moses Hazen Moses Hazen (June 1, 1733 – February 5, 1803) was a brigadier general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, he saw action in the French and Indian War with Rogers' Rang ...

, during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

Power of Attorney

Based on his status in the Champlain Valley, Mooers was given powers of attorney by many Canadian Refugees. These powers were delegated to him due to his ownership of nearly 40% of the refugee tract.

War General

Benjamin Mooers served as a major general in the War of 1812. During this time, he directed troops to defend the United States Against Britain.

Presidential Elector

He served on the board of individuals who were designed to elect the president during the election on 1808.

References

1812 In The North Country
ref> {{DEFAULTSORT:Mooers, Benjamin 1758 births 1838 deaths American militia generals People from Haverhill, Massachusetts Members of the New York State Assembly 1808 United States presidential electors New York (state) Democratic-Republicans Military personnel from Massachusetts