Grave Dedication of Private Elias Cady
Merritt Cemetery
Granby, New York
July 3, 2016
Merritt Cemetery
Granby, New York
July 3, 2016
The only debt that we can never repay is that which is owed to our brave military veterans. Today we pay our respects and mark the grave of Private Elias Cady who served in the Revolutionary war. Elias along with his brothers Elijah, Elisha, & David served in Capt. John Davis’s company of Whiting’s regiment as a Private in the 17th Albany County Militia during the Revolutionary War. Elias’s oldest brother Ebenezer, also served as a Captain in the 17th Albany County Militia and brothers Eleazer, Elias, and John are also known to have served. From various pension application records it appears that Capt. John Davis’ Company served doing guard duty primarily in the frontier area along the Mohawk River in upper New York State.
In May or June, 1778, the company commanded by Capt. John Davis defended the Cherry Valley frontier and marched in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Waterman accompanied by another Regiment under Col. Van Alstyne to Albany where after remaining a few days. They then proceeded to Johnstown where they were stationed about a month and thence were ordered to Cherry Valley where they erected a picket fort and remained until they were relieved by other troops a few weeks previous to the Destruction of Cherry valley by the British and Indians under Brant and Butler.
On or about the 1st of May, 1780 the company of Captain John Davis served at New Concord, Albany County and thence marched by the way of Albany to Schoharie where men were billeted out on various scouts in different places. At the end of this service they marched back to Albany where they were dismissed and returned home on or about the 13th of June.
May 8, 1780 - Elias Cady was one of 19 men named in a document entitled “Marching Orders, May 8, 1780”. This document was addressed to Capt. John Davis and signed by Col. W. B. WHITING, of the 17th Albany County Militia. Elias Cady is identified as one of those militiamen ordered to march to Johnstown [NY] and there await further orders
Elias was born 7 November, 1752 and lived in what is now Columbia County [then Albany] county] where he & his six brothers and sister grew up. He farmed in the New Concord area from about 1762 to 1809 He then moved to Charleston / Burtonville, Montgomery County and lived there until about 1837 when he apparently moved to Granby, Oswego County, New York where he died November 10, 1838, age 86.
Posterity can never estimate the sacrifice and sufferings of the patriots of the Revolution who are deserving of our thanks. Joseph Plumb Martin, a private in the 8th Connecticut Continental Line wrote of his experiences. In one passage he tells of marching for many long miles in the cold and rain with a sprained ankle. “When the column finally turned into a wood for the night it was so wet that he was unable to light a fire. He and his companions were “forced by necessity, to lay down and sleep if we could with three others of our constant companions, Fatigue Hunger and Cold”. Like Joseph Plumb Martin, men like Elias Cady also suffered great hardships so that we can live today in freedom. It is said that we die three times; first when our body expires, next when we are buried and finally when our names are last spoken. We therefore place this Sons of the American Revolution marker to thank, remember and honor Elias Cady for his service and for his sacrifice and for all that he gave to a grateful nation so that his memory can live on.
Robert J. Gang III
President Syracuse Chapter ESSSAR
