The First Battle AFTER Yorktown - Marinus Willett's Pursiut
Marinus Willett was a Colonel in the New York State Militia during the Revolutionary War.
Willett spent most of his service in the Northern Department, including his participation in the Invasion of Quebec and Sullivan Expedition.
Willett’s most notable engagement actually took place AFTER the war had been won.
Marinus Willett
Marinus Willett was a veteran of the French and Indian War when he joined New York’s Sons of Liberty.
Willett was one of the street tufts who caused trouble for the British Officers in the years leading up to the Revolution.
When news of Lexington and Concord arrived, Marinus joined the Continental Army and prepared to fight.
The Northern Department
Over the next several years, Willett participated in most of the important battles in the North.
He joined the Invasion of Canada and assisted with the Sullivan Clinton Expedition.
By the beginning of 1781, Marinus had left the Continental Army and joined the New York Militia as a Colonel.
He went to Upstate New York where there the British were still teaming up with Native Americans to raid frontier settlements.
Willett was sent to put a stop to these raids once and for all.
Unaware of Victory
Marinus spent the spring and summer chasing the British around the New York frontier.
Come autumn, the Americans captured the main British Army at Yorktown.
Unfortunately, word traveled slow.
Six days after the Continental Army ‘won the war’ Willett engaged a larger enemy force in the Battle of Johnstown.
This fight came after the Revolutionary War should have ended, but no one on the field knew that.
The Battle of Johnstown
During the Battle of Johnston, Marinus Willett was able to out-strategize his enemy, sending half of his men on a long route around the enemy’s backside.
The Redcoats almost won the day, but the second group of American troops showed up just in time.
The British scattered and Willett again began chasing them across New York.
When word of the Victory at Yorktown arrived, both sides ceased hostilities and returned home.
Sheriff, Delegate, Mayor
After the war, Marinus played an important role in creating the new nation.
He spent the better part of a decade as Sheriff of New York City.
Additionally, he served as a Delegate to his State’s Ratification Convention where he joined the Anti-Federalists and argued vehemently against adopting the United States Constitution.
Despite this, Willett acted as an adviser to President Washington on Indian Affairs during the first Administration.
His last bit of public service was holding the office of Mayor of New York City, a chair in which he sat for two years.
Do you want to learn about other members of the NEW YORK STATE MILITIA?
Great! Try one of these stories:
Sensible But Not Very Polite - John Morin Scott’s New York City
William Wadsworth Makes Cobblestone Trendy
George Clinton Governs New York
Want to read a biography of Marinus Willett?
For an obscure Founder, Willett actually has several biographies. ‘Savior of the Mohawk Valley’ is the most recent and up to date.
Pick up a copy through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same) .
