Biographies from Troy Military Banners
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a weekly series that will appear in print every Sunday until Veterans Day. Each week, five military members featured on a Troy Military Banner will be highlighted.
1. Col. Albert Pawling, Patriot Army
Col. Albert Pawling was born on April 22, 1750 in Marbletown, NY. At the age of 25, he joined the Patriot army, serving as a junior officer under
Gen. Richard Montgomery during the Battle of Quebec in 1775. A year later, he was appointed Brigade Major under Gen. George Clinton of New York until he became aide- de- camp on the staff of Gen. George Washington. Following the Battle of Monmouth in 1778, he received a personal commendation for valor from the General. In 1780, he rose up to the rank of colonel and commanded a regiment of swiss soldiers, known as ‘ Pawling’s Levies’, who guarded forts in Ulster and Orange Counties in Upstate New York for the remainder of the war.
In 1789, Col. Pawling moved to Troy, where he established a business with Col. Abraham Ten Eyck. He later became active in the community, spearheading the building of the first Rensselaer County Courthouse and Jail, the First Presbyterian Church, promoted the construction of a turnpike road from Troy to Schenectady that led to increased western trade, and helped secure Troy’s place as the County seat for the newly established Rensselaer County. For his civic efforts, the people elected him the first Sheriff of Rensselaer County. After Troy’s incorporation as a village, Col. Pawling served many terms as a Village Trustee, later serving as Village President. On April 15, 1816, three days after Troy was chartered as a city, Col. Pawling, was appointed the first Mayor of the City of Troy, a position he held until 1820. During his retirement, Col. Pawling remained active, serving on various community boards. He was one of the organizers for the visit to Troy by the Marquis de Lafayette in 1824.
Col. Pawling died at the age of 88 on November 10, 1837. He was buried in Old Mount Ida Cemetery, on Albia Road, later renamed Pawling Avenue in 1867. The entire community mourned the death of their first mayor, who was remembered as a father to the Village and City of Troy.
Col. Albert Pawling’s Banner is located on the traffic island at the intersection of Pawling Avenue and Congress Street. His banner can be seen from Pawling Park, where a seven foot bronze statue has been erected in his honor.
2. John G. Morrison, U.S. Navy, U.S. Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient
John G. Morrison was born in Ireland November 3,
1842. On
April 25,
1861 Morrison enlisted in the Union Army at Lansingburgh N.Y. On June 1, 1861 he was mustered into “A” Company NY 30th Infantry.
Serving as Coxswain on board the U. S. S. Carondelet, Morrison was commended for meritorious conduct in general and especially for his heroic conduct and his inspiring example to the crew in the engagement with the rebel ram Arkansas, Yazoo River, 15 July 1862. When the Carondelet was badly cut up, several of her crew killed, many wounded and others almost suffocated from the effects of escaped steam, Morrison was the leader when boarders were called on deck, and the first to return to the guns and give the ram a broadside as she passed. His presence of mind in time of battle or trial is reported as always conspicuous and encouraging. He received the “Medal of Honor” for exceptional bravery during this engagement. Morrison died on June 9 1897 in New York City.
John Morrison kept a diary and it was transcribed. It is available on line:
https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/30thInf/30thInf_Diary_Morrison.htm
For additional information on the Congressional Medal of Honor please click on this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor
Morrison’s banner is located at 531 Fifth Ave.
3. President Chester A. Arthur, U.S. Army
Chester A. Arthur was born in Fairfield, Vermont, but his family soon moved to upstate NY. In 1844 his family moved to Lansingburgh, where they resided on First Avenue, near a Baptist Church that Arthur’s abolitionist father, the Reverend William Arthur preached. Arthur attended Lansingburgh Academy on 114th Street (which now houses the Lansing burgh Branch of the Troy Library). At 15 he enrolled in the Lyceum, a preparatory school for Union College, which he would go on to attend. At the beginning of the Civil War he was appointed Brigadier- General and served for three years, but never saw combat. When James Garfield, a Republican, was elected president, Arthur washis running mate. A short time into his presidency Garfield was assassinated and died, word of which reached Arthur in Albany on July 2, 1881. Arthur moved into the White House and served as the 21st president until 1885.
Arthur is remembered by historians for his push to reform tariffs, instituting an official Navy, and a notable lack of corruption during an era of corrupt administrations.
President Chester’s banner is located at 621 First Ave.
4. Howard Adams, U. S. Army
Howard Adams enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 1, 1917. in
Schenect -ady and entered World
War I at age
17. He served as a private first class in Company D
105th Infantry in France and Belgium, fighting on the Hindenburg Line, in the Battle of the Selle and in the 1015th Brigade attack on the Knoll.
Not yet 20 years old, Adams was discharged April 1, 1919, and came home to Lansingburgh, where he raised a family and never talked about his service.
Adams’ banner is located at 528 5th Ave.
5. David Butler, Continental Army
The Van Rensselaer Chapter DAR has sponsored Rev. David Butler D.D., who was the first rector of Trinity Church in Lansingburgh and St. Paul’s Church in Troy.
David Butler was born July 19,1762 in Harwinton, Litchfield County Connecticut, USA. David Butler enlisted as Private 6/4/1777 for 3 years in Capt. Robert Warner’s company, 3rd CT Regiment. By 1780 he had been appointed Corporal. In 1782 he is listed as Corporal in Capt. Robert Warner’s Company 1st CT Regiment. In 1783 he seems to have been a Colonel in 1st CT Regiment. That regiment was re- designated as the Connecticut Brigade on June 15, 1783 and re- assigned to the Main Continental Army. The regiment was di s - banded at West Point, NY on November 15, 1783.
After his service in the Revolutionary War, the Rev. David Butler D.D. was ordained deacon and priest by Bishop Samuel Seabury, the first bishop of the Episcopal Church. He married and moved to Troy, NY where he became the first rector of Trinity Church in Lansingburgh, he also served at St. Paul’s Church, Troy, N.Y. Those life events occurred not necessarily in that order. He died at 80 on July 11, 1842 in Troy, NY and is buried in Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery in Lansingburgh.
Butler’s banner is located at 585 4th Ave.