James Livingston (American Revolution)

Infobox Military Person
name=James Livingston
lived=March 251747 – March 91832


caption=Congress Own Regiment
"
nickname=
placeofbirth=Chambly, Quebec
placeofdeath=Saratoga, New York
branch=Army
serviceyears= Continental Army: 1775-1781
rank=Colonel
unit=Congress Own Regiment (the 1st)
commands=
battles=Battle of Fort Chambly
Battle of Quebec (1775)
Battle of Saratoga
awards=
relations=
laterwork=Colonel James Livingston (March 27, 1747 – March 9, 1832) was an American colonist living in Quebec who fought on the U.S. side of the American Revolutionary War, leading his 1st Canadian Regiment of the Continental Army.

He was born 27 Mar 1747, son of John Livingston and Catherine Ten Broeck. Catherine was the sister of General Abraham Ten Broeck. John was the son of Robert Livingston the Younger and Margaretta Schuyler. Margaretta was the daughter of Col. Pieter Schuyler, the first mayor of Albany.

James Livingston was an American living in Quebec even before the 1759 invasion; his father had come to Montréal in 1747.

American Revolutionary War

On November 20, 1775, James Livingston was made colonel of the 1st Canadian Regiment he had raised and was with Richard Montgomery when that general fell at Quebec, 1775. He participated in the capture of Fort Chambly 18 August 1775, the Battle of Quebec (1775), relief of Fort Stanwix in August 1777 and both Battle of Saratoga.

He will convince Philippe Schuyler that Quebeckers will actually help the American. After Moses Hazen had convinced him that they would not. 300 Quebeckers will help him take fort Chambly. This action brought Moses Hazen on the American side

James Livingston served in Brigadier General Ebenezer Learned's brigade from Jul 1777 to Oct 1777. [ [http://www.nps.gov/sara/ The Saratoga National Historical Park web site] ]

The 1st Canadian Regiment was combined with the 1st New York Regiment in Albany New York in 1777. Both will served under Learned at Saratoga. In reference about Saratoga the Canadian regiment will be sometime called the 1st New York Regiment.

James Livingston was in command of Verplanck's Point in Sep 1780 and fired on the British sloop of war,"Vulture", forcing that vessel to retreat southwards. This was the ship that brought Major John Andre to meet with General Benedict Arnold. This firing brought about the circumstances that resulted in the capture and execution of Andre.

He retired from the Continental Army on January 1, 1781. He was granted 3500 acres of land including the land where Tyre, New York is today in recognition of his service.

Family

James married Elizabeth Simpson of Montreal; they had at least two sons, Edward and Richard Montgomery (named after the general Richard Montgomery out of respect) and one daughter, Catharine (1789-1871) who married Henry Brevoort Henry. Another daughter, Margaret Livingston Cady, married Daniel Cady and together they had Elizabeth Cady Stanton among other children. James settled after the war in Saratoga where he died at age 85 in 1832.

James Livingston is related to Richard Montgomery by Montgomery's wife who is a Livingston but she is not the sister of James.

James Livingston is the descendant of Robert R. Livingston "The Nephew"; not to be confuse with the many other Robert R. Livingstons. The originator of the name came in America and built two branch of the Livingston family. James is from the branch of the "Nephew" of the originator of the family name.

Robert R. Livingston who signed the American Constitution is not in his branch but is a relative. This Robert is the 5th of 6th generation of people all named Robert Livingston.

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyfulton/military/livingstonA.html James Livingston a forgotten hero]
* [http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=36577&query=James%20AND%20Livingston James influence on Philip Shuyler]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nysarato/batlla.htm#livjam James Livingston Biography]
* [http://www.nps.gov/archive/colo/Ythanout/Canadians.htm James Livingston regiment at Verplanck's Point against the Vulture]
* [http://morrisonspensions.org/livingston.html Mentions James Livingstons land grants in the middle of page (search for James)]
* [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyseneca/tyre.htm Mentioned in the history of Tyre, New York]