Schoharie men want war-hero memorial

The Daily Star ^ | 7-27-2007 | Patricia Breakey

[Pharmboy]

Two Middleburgh men are on a mission to commemorate a local hero and re-create a historic landmark.

Former Middleburgh Mayor Gary Hayes and Jay Lawyer are seeking legislative funding to restore the Middle Fort and build a monument to Revolutionary War hero Timothy Murphy.

Hayes and Lawyer have collected letters of support from all the towns and villages in Schoharie County and the Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor Commission and have contacted Assemblyman Peter Lopez, state Sen. James Seward, U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty and Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Hayes said Murphy is credited with firing the single shot that ended the Battle of Saratoga and, in doing so, changed the course of the American Revolution.

Over the years, Murphy became an American folk hero whose story was told in a song by Ray Charles, "The Continental Soldier," and in a popular 1953 novel, "The Rifleman."

Hayes said there have been several attempts over the years to properly honor Murphy, beginning in 1819, the year after he died, when the state Legislature voted to erect a monument to him.

"Sadly, this never came to fruition, and in 1910, Murphy’s own descendents purchased a monument and placed it in the Middleburgh Cemetery," Hayes said.

On Jan. 30, 1889, the state Assembly appropriated funds for the Middle Fort, which Murphy helped defend, and a monument to commemorate his exploits, but again, nothing happened, Hayes said.

"It’s been over 100 years since the Assembly passed the original legislation, and we thought it was time to try again," Hayes said.

Hayes said his interest in the project is to preserve the area’s history and promote Schoharie County as a destination for tourism.

"When you go down south, you are always seeing Civil War sites," Hayes said. "I think we should be celebrating our history up here in the north and showcase the Revolutionary War sites."

Lawyer said his interest is partially prompted by the fact he is a direct descendent of Murphy, although only one of many.

Murphy had five sons and four daughters by his first wife, Peggy, and several years after she died in 1807, he married Mary Robertson and had four more sons.

Hayes said the Middle Fort has all but vanished, with only an outline of the walls still visible looking down on the site from a nearby cliff.

"We can rebuild a replica of the Middle Fort," he said. "When you have a dream, you are only limited by your imagination."

[the OlLine Rebel]

Sorry this is late (away on weekend), but isn’t this the man buried at the “Old Stone Fort”, i.e., a church with LOTS of just any-old collections with it?

My husband and I had a trip up to NY last year, and we included Freeman’s Farm/Bemis Heights in our trip and on the way to PA stopped at the “Old Stone Fort” church/farm recreation.

I just don’t recall if it was Tim Murphy (Fraser’s killer) or 1 of the men who allegedly found John Andre at West Point. It’s a medium-sized obelisk near 1 of the front-entrance corners of the church building. I have pix, but they’re at home. ;-)

[Pharmboy]

It may very well be Murphy:

Murphy was buried there (Fultonham) next to his first wife. In 1872, he was reinterred at Middleburgh cemetery. Although the State Legislature voted to erect monument to Murphy in 1819, none was built until some of his descendants purchased one to be placed in the cemetery in 1910. In 1913, the Ancient Order of Hibernians placed a marker commemorating Murphy at the Saratoga Battlefield, and the state put up its own marker there in 1929.

The three that intercepted Major Andre got lucky, and their motivations for their blockade has come into question (perhaps to rob persons?) At any rate, they were all local folks from an area about 100 miles from Schoharie County.

Your trip sounds like a good one...

[the OlLine Rebel]

No RevWar this year - well, maybe close. Supposed to see some F&I fort in west PA this year. ;-)