Hackaliah Carhart Sr. (127) was born 30 jan 1755 in Rye, Westchester, New York, United States.
The following is an excerpt from "Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Thomas Carhart, of Cornwall, England" by Mary E. (Carhart) Dusenbury, pp. 98-99.
Before Hackaliah reached the age of eighteen he had adopted the religious faith of the Quakers.
On the breaking out of the American Revolution, he professed allegiance to the Mother Country, though his religious scruples prevented him from voluntarily entering into warfare on either side. Notwithstanding this he was drafted into the American Army in his 19th year.
On learning this fact, he, with nine others of his own age, who had also been drafted, procured a boat and sought refuge on a British ship, commanded by Lord Howe, then lying in Long Island Sound.
On arriving on board, quite contrary to the expectations of inexperienced youth, they were required to enlist for the war. Seven of the number yielded after a short time, but the subject of this sketch and two others stubbornly refused, and were placed in irons in the hold of the ship on short allowance.
They remained in this situation until they were nearly starved, and had become covered with vermin; when Lieut. Carr, of the 17th Light Dragoons, became interested in their sufferings, and urged them to submit. Under his influence they yielded, and Hackaliah became his private secretary. After a few months he was transferred, and made Quartermaster of the "Queen's Rangers," under Col. R. G. Simcoe, and Brig. Gen. James De Lancy, "the famous partisan chief of the 'Neutral Ground,' and the ever active Col. of De Lancy's Light-Horse."
"The Queen's Rangers" were styled "The First American Regiment," and the officers ranked with those of the established army. They wore high caps, and were termed "Hussars."
On Friday, Nov. 13, 1779, the house of Col. Thomas Thomas, of Rye Woods, was surprised, and the Col. captured by a party of the "Rangers" under the command of Lieut. Col. Simcoe. During the attack, one man was killed, and another, Thomas Carpenter, came near losing his life, being stabbed in many places by the soldiers' bayonets while hidden under a bed. This man's life was saved by the interposition of Quartermaster Carhart, who accompanied the party of "Rangers," on this occasion.
He was also of the party who captured Gen. Silliman, at Stratford, Conn. The Federalists retaliate by capturing Judge Jones, of Hempstead, L.I., and an exchange was made in the middle of L.I. Sound opposite Huntington.
Hackaliah held the position of Quartermaster to the end of the war, and being disabled and lamed for life, by the falling of his horse upon him -- the pummel of the saddle being pressed into his thigh -- he was put upon the half-pay list for life.
The writer has heard him affirm many times that "he never drew a sword or fired a musket."
He married in 1784, and took up his residence on King St., West Greenwich, Conn., about 3 1/2 miles from Portchester, N. Y. Here he lived, reared a family, and died in 1837. Of the house in which he lived only a ragged outline of the foundation remains, marked by small heaps of stone, the standing remnants of two broad-based stone chimneys, pieces of broken window and door-frames, patches of plaster and scraps of iron.
The old home was built before the Revolution. It was an old style, double house, a broad hall in the centre, one story and a half high, and built of heavy oak timbers. It had an ample yard in front, shaded by rows of noble trees, and was altogether such a home as the great-grandfathers of this generation were proud to call their own.
Hackaliah was of fine personal appearance, being over six feet in height, of clear complexion, with brilliant hazel eyes, having a military carriage, and great dignity of manner. He was a great reader, and possessed of good intellectual ability, and though of limited education, one whose judgment and opinions were sought and valued by his friends and neighbors.
In the latter part of his life, he became very feeble from the effects of his wound, and the writer well remembers him, seated in his great arm-chair on the old stoop, with his Bible and books around him, seeking to render less tedious the weary days of age and feebleness.
He adhered through life to the faith of the Quakers, and was an uncompromising opposer of slavery.
He died in his eighty-third year, and was buried beside his mother and child Mary, the only one that did not survive him, in his own orchard, near the southern fence of Sherwood's road, and about 250 feet east from the line of King street.
Plain unmarked stones, as was the custom among Quakers, were placed at the graves. The next owner of the farm removed these stones, thus gaining a few more square feet of land for cultivation.
It is with pleasure that these facts are now recorded in such a way as to mark definitely a place still sacred in the memory of his descendants.
Hackaliah married Margaret Anderson (538) on 2 Apr 1785. Margaret was born 19 Nov 1760 in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States to Isaac and Hannah (Purdy) Anderson.
Hackaliah and Margaret had the following children:
- Mary Carhart (539) - born 9 Jun 1786 in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. She died at the age of 10 in 1796.
- Hackaliah Carhart Jr. (540) - born 30 May 1788 in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. He died 10 Aug 1876 in Glenville, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States.
- Guilelma Springat Penn Carhart (541) - born 20 Aug 1791 in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. She died at the age of 53 on 17 May 1845 and was buried in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. She was buried in Anderson Cemetery, West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States.
- Alfred Carhart (542) - born 9 Mar 1793 in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. He died 27 Sep 1885 in Peekskill, Westchester, New York, United States
- Hannah Anderson Carhart (543) - born 22 Mar 1795 in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. She died 13 Nov 1877 in Mamaroneck, Westchester, New York, United States.
- Isaac Anderson Carhart (578) - born 3 Dec 1796 in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. He died 6 Mar 1847 in Binghamton, Broome, New York, United States.
- Joshua Carhart (544) - born 28 Sep 1798 in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. He died 29 Nov 1876 and was buried in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States.
- Margaret Carhart (545) - born 11 Dec 1800 in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States
- Elizabeth Carhart (546) - born 7 Feb 1803 in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. She died 22 May 1860.
Hackaliah died at the age of 82 in Jun 1837 in West Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. Margaret died at the age of 84 on 1 Feb 1845 in Connecticut, United States. They were buried in Anderson Cemetery, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States.