Benjamin Mooers (April 1, 1758 – February 20, 1838) was a military veteran of both the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, and a politician, serving in the New York State legislature. He also served as a sheriff of Clinton County, New York in between the wars.

Early life

Benjamin Mooers was born in

Haverhill, Massachusetts Haverhill ( ) is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Haverhill is located 35 miles north of Boston on the New Hampshire border and about 17 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The population was 67,787 at the 2020 United States Cen ...

to Abigail and Benjamin Mooers on April 1, 1758. In 1773 Mooers started an apprenticeship under John White, a merchant and importer in Haverhill. He worked with White until the Revolutionary War began, when Mooers enlisted as a volunteer in the Continental Army.

Later life

In 1783 he settled in the vicinity of

Plattsburgh, New York Plattsburgh ( moh, Tsi ietsénhtha) is a city in, and the seat of, Clinton County, New York, United States, situated on the north-western shore of Lake Champlain. The population was 19,841 at the 2020 census. The population of the surrounding ...

, a frontier settlement at the time. Mooers was the sheriff of Clinton County and a presidential elector in

1808 Events January–March * January 1 ** The importation of slaves into the United States is banned, as the 1807 Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves takes effect; African slaves continue to be imported into Cuba, and until the island ab ...

. During the War of 1812, Mooers returned to military service. He was commissioned as a general in the New York Militia, commanding troops at the

Battle of Plattsburgh The Battle of Plattsburgh, also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain, ended the final British invasion of the northern states of the United States during the War of 1812. An army under Lieutenant General Sir George Prévost and a naval squadro ...

, on September 11, 1814. After the war, he was elected and served as a member of the New York legislature. Mooers died on February 20, 1838, and was buried at Riverside Cemetery.

Occupation

Chief Purchaser

In addition to his high-status among military operations, Benjamin Mooers' was known as a landowner in the areas surrounding the Champlain Valley. To the extent that he became known as the Chief Purchaser in the late 1780s. According to accounts of refugees who met with Mooers, he owned large masses of land for which he paid considerably low for. A large amount of the land owned by Mooers' was part of the Refugee Tract.

Lieutenant

Mooers' served as a lieutenant in the New York militia and the

2nd Canadian Regiment The 2nd Canadian Regiment (1776–1783), also known as Congress' Own or Hazen's Regiment, was authorized on January 20, 1776, as an Extra Continental regiment and raised in the province of Quebec for service with the American Continental Arm ...

under his maternal uncle, Moses Hazen, during the American Revolutionary War.

Power of Attorney

Based on his status in the Champlain Valley, Mooers was given powers of attorney by many Canadian Refugees. These powers were delegated to him due to his ownership of nearly 40% of the refugee tract.

War General

Benjamin Mooers served as a major general in the War of 1812. During this time, he directed troops to defend the United States Against Britain.

Presidential Elector

He served on the board of individuals who were designed to elect the president during the election on 1808.

References

1812 In The North Country
ref> {{DEFAULTSORT:Mooers, Benjamin 1758 births 1838 deaths American militia generals People from Haverhill, Massachusetts Members of the New York State Assembly 1808 United States presidential electors New York (state) Democratic-Republicans Military personnel from Massachusetts