01/17/2026
Our friends at Johnson Hall have some great Johnstown history to share with you today! Go check it out!
On Saturday, January 17th, Johnson Hall will commemorate Philip Schuyler’s 1776 raid on Johnstown— an opening act of aggression in what would prove to be a long and bloody conflict in the Mohawk valley. But what led to this raid?
The violence of the Revolution had already reared its head in Johnstown in the summer of 1775, when an armed mob attempted to seize Sheriff Alexander White over the arrest of one John Fonda. When White took refuge at Johnson Hall, the rebels demanded that he be handed over or they would extract him by force. Despite their threats, the situation resulted in a stand-off, as the gathered assailants had neither the troops nor artillery to face the Hall fortifications and artillery, nor the reported 400 heavily armed tenants that Sir John could mobilized to defend it.
In early January of 1776, Major General Schuyler in Albany was busy assisting Henry Knox transport his famed train of artillery across the Hudson River. As soon as that was complete, however, Schuyler turned his attention westward. On the 13th, he began gathering forces for the raid— three days later they were on their way. In a letter to the Continental Congress, Schuyler explained that “. . . perhaps I shall something exceed the Tories in Number; whom we are informed are about seven hundred, they have Cannon, we have none and we have a very small Quantity of I hope however to give a good account of them.”
On the evening of January 16th, a Mohawk delegation from Fort Hunter, led by Tiaohrhèn:sere’ (Little Abraham), met with Schuyler near Schenectady. This large force of soldiers was concerning to the Mohawks, as it was in direct violation of the treaty agreed at Albany in 1775, affirming Mohawk neutrality and that no military forces would make incursions into the valley. Schuyler maintained that the militia intended no harm to the Mohawks, but only were there to deal with Sir John. It was agreed that Mohawk delegation could function as protected mediators during negotiations. A letter was also sent to Sir John, demanding his presence the following day.
On the 17th Schuyler’s forces progressed westward, meeting Sir John near the location of present-day Amsterdam. Schuyler demanded that Johnson relinquish his entire armament and persuade area Loyalists to do the same. Initially defiant, Sir John rejected the order, to which Schuyler delivered the chilling threat that resistance in arms would be met with “Force without distinction.”
Sir John was allowed a day to consider the options, while Schuyler continued his advance. By this point, Schuyler’s militia had grown to 3,000 men, including nearly 1000 men of the Tryon County militia under Colonel Nicolas Herkimer. Now only four miles outside of Johnstown, this army would prove to be the largest American force ever to be assembled in the Mohawk Valley during the Revolutionary War.
On January 19th, facing overwhelming danger to his family and community, Sir John acquiesced. Schuyler marched his forces to Johnson Hall to confiscate all the armaments there. At the insistence of the Mohawk delegates, Schuyler agreed that Sir John be allowed to remain in his home under a condition that he not to take up arms or organize any resistance to the Revolutionary government. In the meantime, Schuyler sent out smaller parties to round up other reported Loyalists in the area for arrest.
The following day, local Loyalists were ordered to William Street, and in front of a line of American troops outside the courthouse, grounded their weapons. Further arrests followed. Two men in particular, accused of disloyalty to the rebellion by a neighbor, were interrogated by Schuyler who “tried by every means in my power to make them confess…” to no avail.
Ultimately, a dozen residents were abducted from Johnstown during the raid, including six of the leading Scottish tenants, and a further half-dozen English, Dutch, and German community members, with orders that they be sent to Pennsylvania for imprisonment.
Join us this Saturday at 10:30am to witness a recreation of the raid, and learn more about Loyalist resistance in the Mohawk valley. Following the event, Johnson Hall and its grounds will be open for living history demonstrations and interpretation until 2:30pm. Check out our event page, or call us at 518-762-8712 for more information!
