Herkimer Home Militia Encampment

Herkimer Home State Historic Site is happy to announce the last of our official 250th programming for this season: In Defense of the Valley, Tryon County Militia Muster.

This event is scheduled for August 29th and 30th, and will mark the 250th anniversary of the formation and mustering of the Tryon County Militia in the summer of 1776. To mark this special occasion and to lead into Herkimer Home’s 250th plans for next August, we have formed a new unit based out of Herkimer Home to support our events: Captain John Winn’s Company of Tryon County Rangers comprising of many of our dedicated site volunteers, staff, and friends of the site.

Herkimer Home Militia Encampment

Officially mustered on August 28th, 1776, we will be depicting the formation and first roll call of this portion of the county’s militia forces during this event in recognition of the official wartime formation of the Tryon County Militia in defense of the Mohawk Valley. In order to provide protection to inhabitants of the frontier regions and entice them to remain in their homes provincial governments authorized the formation of several ranging companies throughout the colonies. New York called for three companies of rangers to be formed in the county of Tryon consisting each of one captain, two lieutenants, three sergeants, three corporals, and 58 privates. Under these orders each man of the ranger companies is to “furnish themselves each with a good musket of firelock, powder horn, bullet pouch and tomahawk, blanket and knapsack.” These ranging companies were intended to range the frontier territories to protect local settlers from Native American and Loyalist raiding parties as well as be used as scouts, and special work parties. The Tryon County Rangers saw local action as scouts throughout the county of Tryon and beyond and were sent as far as Fort Ticonderoga in February of 1777, to assist in building fortifications and a military bridge across Lake Champlain.

In partnership with Indian Castle Church this weekends activities will include a militia march to Herkimer Home from Indian Castle Church on Saturday morning arriving at Herkimer Home by 11am. Indian Castle Church will remain open from 8am until 6pm for public tours on Saturday. At Herkimer Home visitors will witness the official roll call and mustering of the militia at noon on Saturday, militia and artillery drilling, artillery and musket demonstrations, children’s games, loyalty oath signing and more will occur throughout both days! A special program on the difficulty of choice in the frontier territories will be hosted Saturday at 2pm.

Come join us as we mark the 250th anniversary of the raising of Tryon Counties Militia forces in defense of the Mohawk Valley at our free militia encampment weekend. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to witness the wartime history of our valley unfold firsthand. Our doors are open Saturday and Sunday from 10-4, see you soon!

Be sure to check out Herkimer Home’s Facebook page for more information.