The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-26
(NorE AL

HISTORY OF TRINITY CHURCH, IN PETITION FROM
A DESCENDANT OF A REVOLUTIONARY OFFICER.
To the Honorable the Common Council of the City of
Nor York.
The undersigned respectfully joins in the prayer
of many of his fellow-citizens to your honorable
body asking for the repeal of the ordinance of the
late Common Council, relative to the extension Of
Albany street through Trinity churchyard.
In support of his petition, the undersigned begs
leave to present the following facts connected with
our Revolutionary history.
Among the earliest Of the patriotic spirits who
marched from their homes to defend the city of
New York against the armies of Great Britain in
l776, were the regiments contributed by the c0un-
ties of York and Lancaster, in Pennsylvania. They
were composed almost entirely of young men, the
majority of them of German descent, and animated
by the hatred of oppression, and enthusiasm in the
of freedom, which distinguishes their race at
the present day.
Five regiments marched from the county Of York
to New Jersey in July, 1776 and of these two were
detached to form part of the flying camp
corps OF 10000 men, voted by Congress on June 3,
l776. These two regiments were stationed in the
vicinity of the city of New York. A portion Of
them killed taken prisoners at the battle Of
Brooklyn Heights, and the balance either fell the
field of battle at the taking Of Fort Washington
the 10th of November, l776, or were captured on
that disastrous occasion, and marched down to the
city. Here they, in common with thousands OF
their fellow patriots, suffered unheard of cruelty in
the prisons and sugar houses of New York.
The regiment of Col. Michael Swope, consisting
of eight companies, suffered severely at Fort Wash
ngton. Death on the field, or by wounds or from
the horrors Of the prisons left but few to return to
the green hills of the Codorns.
Ensign and Adjutant Barnitz, of this regiment,
then but eighteen years old, fell ut Fort Washing
ton with musket ball in each leg. Being carried
to the city prisons with the survivors of his reg
ment, he was soon afterwards removed to more COM
Portable quarters in the old house formerly standing
at No. Bowery, in consequence of the severity OF
his wounds aud at the intercession of an old family
FRIEND Maior-General William Alexander-Lord
Stirling, who then also prisoner, having been
shortly before captured on Long Island. Adlutant
Barnitz here lay with unhealed wounds r Afteen
months but during that time he was not sable
to the still greater sufcrin9s of his companions In
arms, and with the help Of the noblehearted omcer
just mentioned he was enabled to alleviate their
captivity, and to for their remains when Dead
Being generally of the Luthern faith, the grave
ward of that denomination, adjoining Trinity Church,
(subseaUently the site OF Grace Church,) would
have been their appropriate place of burial but the
church had been destroyed in the confiagration
which occurred shortly after the occupation of the
city by the British amy and the burial ground was
unprotected.
4 successful effort was therefore made to obtain a
place Of sepuiture in Trinity Churchyard. Adju-
tant Barnitz was attached to Captain Christian
Stakes company, OF Swope's regiment, composed
of young men OF the best families of the town OF
York.. To these more particularly, as being his
more immediate comIadce such care as he could at
ford was Given.
OF this company. the following were buried In the
nOrthw cstcrn portion Of the grounds, at that time
bordering on the water yiz.:--Sergeant Peter Haak
Sergeant John Hinks, prvates Hugh Dobbns, Hen
~. Hof, David Parker, and probably one or two
Others. Captain Mc(artor (of Col. Richard McMas-
ters regiment from the same county, died Of wounds