Rachel Covenhoven (F)
(26. Jan. 1817 - ), #106240
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=4th cousin 3 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=6th great-granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Rachel Covenhoven was also known as Rachel Crownover. Rachel Covenhoven was born on 26. Jan. 1817. She was the daughter of Daniel Covenhoven and Mary Coy. Rachel Covenhoven married Joe Slack.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Rebecca Covenhoven (F)
(27. Mar. 1761 - ), #2846
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=3rd cousin 5 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=4th great-granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Rebecca Covenhoven was born on 27. Mar. 1761. She was the daughter of Daniel Covenhoven and Helena Taylor. Rebecca Covenhoven married John N. Wardell.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Rebecca Covenhoven (F)
#391359

     Rebecca Covenhoven married John Searle Harris, son of Daniel Harris and Dorothy Rude, on 24. Jan. 1794.

Last Edited=3 Dec 2005

Richard Covenhoven (M)
(c 1853 - ), #361676
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     Richard Covenhoven was born c 1853 at Ohio. He was the son of Jesse Covenhoven and Mary (Unknown).

Last Edited=3 Dec 2005

Robert Covenhoven (M)
(7. Dec. 1755 - 29. Oct. 1846), #139190
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=3rd cousin 5 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=4th great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Robert Covenhoven was also known as Robert Crownover. Robert Covenhoven was born on 7. Dec. 1755 at Monmouth County, New Jersey. He was the son of Albert Covenhoven and Sarah Wyckoff. Robert Covenhoven served as a scout and guide. In 1776 he joined the army under Washington and fought at Trenton and Princeton in Capt. Cookson Long's Company, Col. James Potters regiment, Northumberland County Militia. He married Mercy Kelsey Cutter on 22. Feb. 1778. Robert Covenhoven died on 29. Oct. 1845 at Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, at age 89. He died on 29. Oct. 1846 at Mifflin, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, at age 90. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery, Northumberland, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.

History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvanisa. Edited by John F. Meginness, Chicago, Ill. brown, Runk & Co., Publishers 1892 Pages 117, 118, 119, 241
"Robert became distinguished as a guide, spy, and Indian killer. Soon after coming to the valley Albert Covenhoven lost all his effects by a sudden freshet in the creek, and the family were reduced to great distress. On the breaking out of the Revolution, Robert joined the Continental army, but late in 1777 he returned home on account of the expiration of his enlistment and at once took an active part in aiding to protect the frontier. The neigbors of the Covenhovens were the Thomsons, Wychoffs, Van Camps, Van Nests, etc. All of these, save the first mentioned, were of Hollandish descent."
Otzinachson: A History of the West Branch Valley by J. F. Meginness, (John of Lancaster) A Reprint of the 1889 Edition Gateway Press, Inc. Baltimore 1991 "Late in the year 1777, Robert Covenhoven returned to the West Branch from the Continental army, his term of enlistment having expired. His extensive knowledge of the country, the character, habits, and disposition of the Indians, acquired whilst serving with surveying parties, was of great service, and he was disposed to make good use of it for the benefit of the settlement. An old man named Wyckoff, who appears to have been an uncle to the Covenhovens, also settled about Loyalsock. He was a tanner by trade and soon erected a rude tannery and commenced making leather for the settlement. One day in the summer of 1778, the Covenhoven boys were mowing in a meadow and the old man Wyckoff was at work in his tannery. A dog suddenly commenced barking and exhibited great symptoms of alarm; he would run towards the woods, snuff the air, and return. The boys were satisfied that Indians were lurking near. They took their rifles and warned the old man to leave; this he at first refused to do, alleging that there was no danger. They finally induced him to go with them; they had not proceeded far till one of them hissed the dog when he bounded into the bushes and seized an Indian by the leg where he was lying concealed. He rose immediately and shot the faithful animal. The whites, who were in all six in number, immediately jumped to trees--the Indians did the same and firing commenced. Wyckoff, who was very much humpbacked, got behind a tree that was too small to hide all of his person. Fortunately for him, another small tree stood between him and the Indians, as they fired at him,their bullets struck this tree and made the bark fly around Robert Covenhoven,who was near. He yelled at the old man to stand up straight, or he would be hit. As Robert was loading his rifle, his ramrod was shot in two, but luckily he had a wiper, with which he rammed down the bullet. Just at this moment, he observed an Indian stealthily creeping around to get a fair shot at old Wyckoff; watching him closely, till he attempted to crawl over a log, he fired and shot him through the body. He sprang in the air, gave a tremendous yell, and fell. His comrades rushed up and bore him off, when the whites made away as rapidly as possible. He appeared to be the chief or commander of the party, and no doubt it was lucky for the whites that he was shot............. After this nearly all the inhabitants fled to the river and forted themselves at various points. This took place in the summer of 1778.

The immigrants from New Jersey, who had come up that spring and winter, set off again as rapidly as they could travel to their old homes......... A number of horses had strayed away, and were supposed to have gone to LoyalSock. Captain Berry was ordered to take a company of twelve men and look after them. Robert Covenhoven, his two brothers James and Thomas, and his uncle, William Wyckoff were in the expedition. They proceeded to Loyal Sock where, it appears, they separated. Peter Shoefelt, Wm. Wyckoff, and a man named Thompson, went above the creek, towards Williamsport, to Thompson's house, for the purpose of saving some of his property. The remainder of the party continued up the creek. They proceeded cautiously through the narrows, but saw no signs of Indians. Not finding the horses, it was concluded to return. Covenhoven was suspicious that Indians were about and advised Capt. Berry not to return by the path they had come, as he feared an ambuscade. Berry thought there was no danger and paid but little attention to him, who still insisted on taking another route over the mountain. Berry at length accused him of cowardice, an being needlessly alarmed. This irritated him very much, but he insisted no more, and going to his brothers, communicated to them his fears that they would be attacked by the enemy and probably all killed. He requested them to keep a sharp lookout and if the flash of a gun were seen, to jump to trees immediately. They travel on without an molestation till they came to the narrows, and true to Covenhoven's expectation, were suddenly fired upon by a party of savages in ambush. Most of the party, including the reckless Capt. Berry, were shot down. James was shot through the shoulder and disabled. He cried to Robert that he was wounded and could do nothing, who immediately told him to run across the creek and he would try to cover his retreat. He succeeded in getting to the opposite side, when a ball struck him on the back part of the head, and he fell back on the edge of the creek dead. Robert ran for his life and jumped into an old treetop, where he loaded his rifle. He had not bee there many minutes till a big savage came and stood on a log within a few feet of where he lay, looking all around and up the hill. He watched his eye, and was prepared to shoot the minute he was discovered, and then run for his life. Had the Indian but cast eye down to his feet, he would have beheld Covenhoven. He soon ran back over the creek, where they were scalping the killed. The shrieks of the wounded and the yells of the savages were terrible. Covenhoven soon crawled out of the tree top and worked his way up the mountain. An open spot of ground was before him, which he dared not cross, for fear of being seen and pursued. Coming to where an old tree had been blown out of root, he lay down in the hole and remained there until dark, when he started across

the hills and reached Wallis' Fort in safety, and reported to the garrison the melancholy fate of the expedition. His brother Thomas, with several others, was taken prisoner and carried into captivity. He returned after the war. The other party, Shoefelt, Wyckoff and Thompson, hitched their horses when they came to Thompson's house, for they appeared to have been riding, and went in and commenced cooking their dinner. The Indians, having been quietly observing the movements of the two parties, sent a party to capture them. When they came in sight the horses snorted and gave the alarm. Seizing their rifles, they attempted to run for the woods, but the Indians were too quick and firing a volley, killed Thompson and Shoefelt and shot Wyckoff through the shoulder, wounding him severely. He was taken prisoner and returned after a captivity of two years. A story is related in connection with this tragical affair, but with how much truth I cannot say, that when Wyckoff was taken prisoner, he was quite bald-headed, but when returned from captivity, he had a fine head of hair. Page 225 Robert Covenhoven was among the party which carried young Capt. James Brady back to Sunbury after he was scalped. Page 247 Covenhoven as a Spy In 1779, an approaching body of British and Indians was rumored, and it was determined to send an active man, well acquainted with all the paths and defiles, to see what intelligence he could glean of their movements. Robert Covenhoven, who was then acting as a guide and scout for the garrison, being an expert woodsman, was selected for the dangerous task. He started alone, preferring no company, as he thought he could better elude observation thanif accompanied by several men, who might not obey his instructions. Purposely avoiding all the Indian paths, he shaped his course through the wilderness, towards the headwaters of Lycoming Creek, and traveling all night, soon arrived in the vicinity of the enemy's camp. Secreting himself in a secure position, he lay, during the day, and heard several hundred shots, from which he judged that they were cleaning their guns. Being satisfied, that a large body was about to advance, he started back over the rugged mountains, hungry and fatigued, and made as rapid progress as the nature of his path would admit. Striking an Indian path near Loyal Sock, it forcibly occurred to him that he might meet Indians if continued in it, and stepping out behind a tree to rest himself, had been there but a few minutes till two Indians rapidly passed him, humming a tune as they went. Had he continued on without stopping, they would have met him. When he arrived at the settlements, he gave the alarm, and the terrified women and children were hastily put in boats, and sent down to Fort Augusta, under his charge. Fort Meninger, at the mouth of Warrior Run, was abandoned, and intelligence sent up to Freeland's Fort, to make preparations to leave as soon as possible....... Page 188 There were fortifications in West Branch Valley. It is true that they scarcely merited the name, with the exception of one or two, and were destitute of cannon, but thy served admirable purposes at that time. The settlers were forced to abandon their rude cabins, their little fields of grain, and seek refuge within these enclosures from the scalping knife of the savage. The women and children remained in the forts, whilst the men, in armed companies, would venture to their fields and houses, and cut their crops. Those who refused to seek the forts generally paid for their rashness with their lives. Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Vol. VIII Capt. Hepburn's Co., Northumberland County, Pa. lists at Sunbury Aug. 9, 1778 Sgt. Robert Covenhoven Privates Joseph Wyckoff, James Covenhoven, John Covenhoven, Albert Covenhoven Capt. Cookson Long's Co. lists on Dec. 31, 1776 Robert Covenhoven James Covenhoven Peter Wyckoff Joseph Wyckoff Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series,Vol. 19, p. 561. lists Robert Crownover of Muncy Township, Northumberland Co., as paying taxes in 1783 and 1784 on one horse and one cow and in 1785 on two horses and two cows. The same source, Turbutt Township, lists a William Wyckoff as paying taxes on 330 acres, five horses and six cows., in 1785 Same source, Muncy Township, lists Peter Wicoff as paying taxes on 200 acres, four horses, and five cows. Joseph Wicoff paid taxes on one horse and one cow, and an Isaac Wicoff also paid taxes of one pound and five shillings. Biographical Annals of deceased Residents of the West Branch Valley of the Susquehanna by J. f. Meginness, Williamsport, Pa; gazette and bulletin Printing house, 1889 "He grew to manhood in New Jersey, and when so many of the natives of that State emigrated to the West Branch Valley, before the commencement of the Indian troubles, his father was among them, bringing with him, a daughter, named Isabella and at least three sons. The family of Robert Covenhoven, with their relatives, settled on the Loyalsock and commenced making improvements. At first Robert was employed as a hunter and axeman to the surveyors of land in the valleys of the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna. The familiarity thus acquired with all the paths of the wilderness at that time rendered his service eminently useful as a scout and guide to the military parties of the Revolution. At the call of his country in 1776, he joined the campaigns under General Washington. He was at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. His younger brother had also enlisted, but his father took his place and the General, with his characteristic kindness, permitted the boy to return and protect his mother. In the autumn of 1777, Job Chilloway, a friendly Indian, had given intimation tht a powerful descent of maraunding Indians might be expected before long on the head waters of the Susquehanna. Near the close of that seas on the Indians killed a settler by the name of Saltsman, on the Sinnemahoning, and Daniel Jones at the mouth of the Tangascootac. Mr. Covenhoven married Miss Mercy Kelsey Cutter, February 22, 1778. Very little is know of the family of Miss Cutter but that they were natives of New Jersey there seems to be no doubt. She was captured by the Hessians near Trenton, robbed of her silver shoe buckles, partly denuded of her clothing, and tied to a tree. In this condition she was found by Mr. Covenhoven, who was a soldier in the American army, and released. This was his first introduction to Miss Cutter, and the friendship formed on this occasion finally ripened into love, which resulted in marriage. Robert was the principal guide to Colonel Harley when he made his famous march up Lycoming Creek in September, 1778. The expedition was sent out for the purpose of destroying Indian villages on the head waters of the North Branch and its tributaries. It consisted of about 200 men and started from Fort Muncy, September 21st. The march was tedious and perilous. The great swamp below Williamsport retarded their movements very much. They had several fights with Indians before they reached Tioga Point, and killed a number of them. After inflicting great damage on the savages by destroying their towns and cornfields, the expedition descended the North Branch to Wyoming. They had a severe battle near Wyalusing, but succeeded in defeating the enemy. The expedition suffered much from fatigue and scarcity of provisions but got through with the loss of but few men. In 1796, a Mr. Williamson, of New York, agent for Sir William Pulteney, opened a rough wagon road from Newberry to Painted Post, and Mr. Covenhoven was chosen to superintend the work. Soon after peace had been restored by the last treaty at Fort Stanwix in 1784, and the disputed territory between Lycoming and Pine Creeks had been purchased and brought into market, he commenced looking around for a suitable location to estaablish a farm. He finally fixed on a tract situated in Level Corner, on the river, three miles East of Jersey Shore, and called "Conquest," which he purchased from James Hepburn and Mary, his wife, for 310 pounds, 15s, 8d. The deed was made August 11, 1790, and was acknowledged the same day. It may be found recorded in Deed book E, volume 5 page 141, Lycoming County, and as it recites some important facts, and extract is given. In 1832 he applied through James Gamble, Esq, then a young attorney at Jersey Shore, and received a pension from the Government for his services as a soldier and scout during the Revolution. It amounted to about one hundred dollars per annum. Robert was 90 years of age when he died in 1846, and was buried in the cemetery of the Presbyterian church, Northumberland. A Hero of the Revolution In the abandoned graveyard of the old Presbyterian church Northumberland, Pa., stand a plain, upright marble tombstone, bearing this inscription: In Memory of ROBERT COVENHOVEN, who was Born December 7, 1775 And departed this Life October 29th, 1846, Aged 90 years, 10 months & 22 Days He was an active Partisan Guide of the Revolutionary Army. Covenhoven whose name was changed in modern days to Crownover, was of Hollandish descent, and was born in Monmouth county, N. J. About 1772 he came with his parents, several brothers and a sister, and settled near the mouth of Loyalsock Creek. It was then in Berks county, but the same year Northumberland county was erected, which embraced the site of their settlement. It is now in the center of Lycoming county. The family of young Covenhoven suffered much at the hands of the savages. He became a noted spy, guide and frontiersman, and participated in the thrilling scenes of the Big Runaway in 1778. The full story of his life and adventures would fill a volume. In an abandoned, dilapidated, and desecrated old graveyard, on Fourth Street, in the city of Williamsport, could be seen a few years ago a plain headstone, with this inscription: Sacred to the memory of MERCY K. CUTTER,, Wife of Robert Covenhoven. Born January 19, 1755 And Departed this Life November 27, 1843, Aged 88 years, 10 months, and 8 days.

The remains of the Revolutionary hero and his wife like forty miles apart. She died nearly three years before her husband at their home in what is now Platt township, Lycoming county. Soon after, her husband, borne down by the weight of years, went to live with a daughter near Northumberland, and there he died, as stated above, and was buried. This explains how they came to be buried in separate places. Another singular fact may be stated in connection with this historical couple. The ground in which the ashes of Covenhoven's wife now mingle, was deeded March 26, 1776, by Amariah Sutton for a burial place "forever" for the early settlers and their descendants. This was three months before the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed. The deed is on record at Williamsport. The ground was afterwards consecrated by the blood of half a dozen or more men, women and children cruelly slain by the savages within a few yards of the spot where they were laid. For three-quarters of a century it was used as a burial ground, and hundreds of early settlers there found a resting place. But civilization has desecrated the sacred ground, and the wishes of the donor, who was also buried there, have been disregarded. It is one of the oldest graveyards in Northern Pennsylvania with a recorded title; but that makes no difference to the present generation. They care but little for the memories of the pioneers, and less for the sacredness of the ground in which they are buried. JOHN OF LANCASTER, Williamsport." This is from Egle's Historical and Genealogical Notes and Queries pages 118-119, which Shiela McCord sent me many years ago.




Robert Covenhoven was much employed in his youth as an axeman and a hunter to surveyors of land in the valleys that were tributary to the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna. Robert Covenhoven joined Washington's Army in New Jersey and took part in the battles of Trenton and Princeton, when the Revolution broke out. He returned home in spring 1776 to protect the defenceless frontier where his home was. In spring 1778 murders of settlers caused the need to evacuate Fort Muncy, and go to refuge in Sunbury. Only Covenhoven was willing to carry the word to the settlers. There were 12-13 notches on his black hunting knife each representing an Indian killed by him. His gun was an old flintlock with a barrel six-foot long. This would have been similar to the gun Daniel Boone carried into Kentucky. Covenhoven told his great-grandson W H Sanderson that his gun never misfired when it was needed. Ref. article in Williamsport Sun-Gazette 27 March 1999, page 14. Capt Cookson Long's Co of the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Co: James Potter, list of privates included Robert Covenhoven, Peter Wyckoff, Joseph Wyckoff.

At 1835 Census of Pensioners Robert Covenhoven's name appears in Jersey Shore Mifflin Twp, Lycoming Co PA age 85, with a large family.
His house at Level Corner mentioned in 1812 in an advert of Walter Potts

Note: these "Pennsylvania Rifles" were made by the Henry family of Lancaster and Nazareth. Daniel Morgan's famous regiment was armed with these accurate long-distance-carrying Pensylvania Rifles. Morgan was born in Hunterdon Co, NJ where his father was employed in the Durham Furnace. Daniel Boone carried one of these rifles into the wilds of Kentucky. The official records show that the Valley of the Delaware and nearby regionsof the Susquehanna furnished more rifles, cannons, cannon balls and powder for Washignton's army than any other region of the colonies. Ref. Coman's Industrial History of the US."

Covenhoven, Robert - Pennsylvania #11905, Lycoming County in the State of Pennsylvania- was a private in the Company commanded by Capt. Cookiny (sp? probably refers to Cookson Long?) of the Regiment commanded by Col. Murray in the Penna Troops for two years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of $80 per annum on 4 March 1831. Certificate of Pension filed 15 July 1833 and sent to A V Parsons, Jersey Shore, PA. Arrears to 4 March 1833 $160.00 plus semi-??? allowance ending September 1833 $80.00 - total $200.
Revolutionary Claim Act 7 June 1832. Recorded by D Brown, clerk; Book E, Vol 5 page 9.

State of Pennsylvania, County of Lycoming - on the 5th day September Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Seth Chapman and his associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting, Robert Crownover, a resident of Mifflin Twp in the County of Lycoming, State of Pennsylvania aged seventy-six years, who being duly sworn as according to law doth upon his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed 7 June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and services as herein stated - in the autumn of 1776 he volunteered in the Rifle Company commanded by Capt.Cookson Long in the Regiment commanded by Col. James Murray of the United States Troops of Pennsylvania. He was then living at Fort Muncy in Northumberland Co. He marched to Philadelphia and thence to Trenton in the State of New Jersey, thence to Princeton where they fought and defeated the Hessians under the command of General Washington about the 25th December 1776. He then marched to Princeton where they took 300 Hessian prisoners, he then marched to Shank (sp?) Mills near the mouth of Millstone River near to which place they took from the enemy 300 wagons laden with plunder and sp? Forage, thence they marched to Morristown where Washington stopped and ordered the volunteers to march to Piscataque Short Hills whence he the said applicant marched under the command of the said Capt. Long and Col. Murray and remained there until they were discharged having been in actual service four months.
He then volunteered in the Company of Capt. William Hepburn in the Battalion of Col. Hunter in the spring of 1778 for the purpose of protecting the inhabitants from the depredation of the hostile Indians. He the said applicant being fully acquainted with the surrounding country and the locations, strength and mode of warfare of the Indians. He was appointed by Capt. Hepburn as leader of the scouting and spying parties that were constantly on alert and watching the movements of the enemy (when the intelligence of the massacre at Wyoming reached the troops stationed at Sunbury Col. Hunter who had the command at said place issued orders to Capt. Hepburn to repair to Sunbury, the said applicant carried said express to Antises (sp?) Fort and they then repaired to Sunbury. They there rec'd reinforcements from the eastern counties and returned to Muncy to build a garrison. Col. Broadhead came to their assistance from Fort Pitt and then the militia were drafted and taken from them.
He the said applicant was contracted (sp?) by Col. Broadhead as a guide to all scouting parties, expresses and etc. That he frequently guided scouting parties to Jenkies (sp?) Fort and also to the Fort at Wyoming and carried express from said places to Col. Hartley who succeeded Col. Broadhead at Fort Muncy. After Col. Hartley had completed the fortifications at Muncy he rec'd orders from Col. Hunter to march to Tioga County for the purposes of heading (sp?) Butler who was carrying off the plunder from Wyoming. He the said applicant guided the troops under the command of Col. Hartley to said point where they met the enemy and took from them all their cattle and plunder and bought them back to Wyoming.
He the said applicant, was then sent (at the peril of his life) with an express to the Fort at Muncy, to appraise them of a party of Indians that were then - or had pursued Col. Hartley to Wyoming and were then in the neighbourhood. That he was then sent from the Fort at Muncy to Sunbury with an express requesting an immediate reinforcement to defend the county and that he again returned to Fort Muncy with information in reply.

He then returned to Sunbury and met Col. Hartley with the troops there, that a re-enforcement was dispatched and led by the said applicant to Fort Muncy. He the said applicant was out with the scouting parties etc at various times afterwards - at one time his party were (sic "where") every man was killed but himself and that he alone escaped the massacre.
In 1779, Col. Hartley left Fort Muncy and joined in Gen. Sullivan's Company. The fort was left in the care of Capt. Hepburn and the said applicant remained with Capt. Hepburn to defend the fort and protect the inhabitants against the savages with a small body of men. They rec'd intelligence of a superior force coming upon them and were compelled to retreat carrying with them the defenseless inhabitants to the fort at Sunbury. He was this in actual service in the state troops of Pennsylvania for a term exceeding two years.

And in answers to inquires prepared by the Secretary of War the said applicant saith as follows:
Question1 - Where and in what year were you born? Answer - he was born near Princeton in the State of New Jersey, the Year of Our Lord - 1755.
Question 2 - Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? Answer - the record of my age is in my father's Bible but I have not got it, my brother has it.
Question 3 - Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live? Answer - in Northumberland County in the State of Pennsylvania and have lived there since in Lycoming County and state ever since the Revolutionary War.
Question 4 - Where were you called into service? Answer - he volunteered.
Question 5 - State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served…continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service. Answer - I can state no more fully than the foregoing declaration which I have made.
Question 6 - Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and, if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? Answer - he rec'd a discharge from Gen. Washington at the expiration of the first four months service, he never rec'd any other and that is now lost.
Question 7 - State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and the belief of your services as a soldier in the revolution. Answer - I am known to the Rev'd John H Grier, the clergyman of the society to which I belong; to Samuel Stewart, Esq who is my neighbour, to Henry Antes/ Antis and also to Henry Hill whose deposition is hereto attached taken before Simon Schuler, Esq of the ???of ??? wit. and hereto attached.
Following here are two or three sentences apparently by a court clerk which are impossible to read -"he freely relinquishes any " and the words "sworn" day "and year." Signed: Rob't Covenhoven. (his signature in full)

A 2nd declaration was made by Robert Covenhoven on 3 April 1833 - this one only two pages in length and with the same details of his service as the four-page declaration detailed above)

Document from the Treasury Dept, Second Comptroller's Office dated 24 December 1838: Sir, under the Act of the 6th April 1838 entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States, Robert Covenhoven, a pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia, PA Agency, a the rate of $80 per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department from the 4th of Sept 1837 to the 4th March 1838. Respectfully Yours, Albion K Parris (sp???), Comptroller. cc. to the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.

Following in the file are various inquires for his service and/or pension record: Mr G A Barber of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society in either 1938 or 1958; Mr Frank Tade of Sacramento CA in 1936; Mrs E L Florence W Coates of Boulder CO in 1915; Hon Peter G Ten Eyke of the House of Representatives in 1913.

Document: Invalid Pension Certificate 12,574 (very faint on film) Act June 1831, Vol ??page 78..

Within the confines of Piatt lived for many years the celebrated Robert Covenhoven, whose name is associated with many of the most stirring events in our colonial history, and to whom frequent reference has been made. He' was of Hollandish descent and was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, December 17, 1755. His father was named Albert and with his wife, three sons, and two daughters came to the West Branch and settled at Loyalsock in 1772. On the breaking out of the Revolution Robert entered the army and was present at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. In the spring of 1777 he returned home and came actively engaged in the defense of the frontier. As a scout he excelled and had many narrow escapes from the savages. He accompanied Colonel Hartley on his memorable expedition up Lycoming creek and across the country to Tioga Point, where they destroyed "Queen Esther's Palace," Covenhoven himself applying the torch. He was bold, fearless, and active, and thoroughly acquainted with the wiles of Indian warfare. Such qualifications peculiarly fitted him for the duties of a spy and scout, and as he never shrank from the post of danger, his services were constantly in demand. His family suffered greatly at the hands of the Indians and at least one brother was killed.

Robert Covenhoven married Miss Mercy Kelsey Cutter, February 22, 1778. This was soon after his. return from the campaign in New Jersey. Soon after peace was restored he purchased a tract of land in Level Corner of James Hepburn for £310 15s 8d. It was called "Conquest." The deed was made August 11, 1790. Hepburn had acquired the land by pre-emption warrant dated September 3, 1785, and on being surveyed it was found to contain 191 acres and sixty-seven perches. Here Covenhoven and wife lived and reared their family of eight children, three sons and five daughters. Mrs. Covenhoven died, November 27, 1,843, aged eighty-eight years, ten months, and eight days, and was buried in the old cemetery on West Fourth street, Williamsport. He did not long survive the death of his wife. Borne down by the weight of years and the infirmities of age, he soon went to live with his daughter, Mrs. Nancy Pfouts, near Northumberland, where he died, October 29, 1846, aged ninety years, ten months, and twenty-two days, and was buried in the Presbyterian burial ground in Northumberland. It is now an open common, but the headstone of the veteran soldier and scout stands as firm and erect as a sentinel on the post of danger.

George Crane, a son-in-law, was the executor of the will of Robert Covenhoven, dated March 27, 1843, and he sold the farm to William Covenhoven, the only Surviving son, for $5,500. He afterwards sold it to William McGinness and moved to Loyalsock, where he died. The farm was afterward sold to John D. Cowden. It now belongs to Jesse B. Carpenter and is in excellent condition.

Before the veteran died the spelling of his name underwent a change, and was written Crownover. By this name the members of his family were known. Many descendants still survive and some of them reside at Loyalsock and in Williamsport. An excellent oil painting of the veteran, now owned by George L. Sanderson, a grandson, shows him to have been a man possessing a powerful and well knit 'frame, with abroad forehead and a countenance indicative of firmness and courage. Mr. Sanderson also possesses several relies which belonged to him, among them being a scalping knife, with his initials, " R. C.," cut on the handle, a pocket compass, and an old fashioned pistol with flint lock. The knife was made from an old file, is symmetrical in its proportions, and on the back are nine notches, which, probably is the record of the number of savages slain. The old hunters and scouts kept their records in this way. The knife is susceptible of a keen edge, has a neat wooden handle, and is a formidable looking weapon.

Robert Covenhoven,
Revolutionary Scout
And Other Dutch Settlers in the
West Branch Valley
BY C. WARREN GUTELIUS

Presented before the Society September 8, 1944 The subject on which your speaker is to address our Historical Society tonight brings to my mind and to the minds of some other folks in the audience recollections of the old church graveyards in my native town, Northumberland, of which there were four or five, and all of which, as I recall, were in existence less than fifty years ago. I remember that on one occasion, when an uncle living in the middle West came to Northumberland to visit his sister, my mother, after he had been welcomed and had sat down for a late supper, told the family circle how the conductor on the train coming from Harrisburg to Northumberland, as he took up the uncle's ticket, exclaimed, "Ha! ha! You are going to one of our old Pennsylvania towns where the dogs run around snatching bones out of the graveyards !"

This comment may have been a considerable exaggeration, still it is only too true that these early denominational graveyards, not only in Northumberland, but in many another town and city in the older settled part of the country the Eastern Seaboardin the course of time became forgotten and neglected. This, of course, has been due to the fact that the nearest relatives and descendants of persons interred in these graveyards went to other and distant parts of the country to reside, and, for the most part, descendants after several generations are not so interested in seeing that the graves of their ancestors are kept in good order.

In the absence of perpetual care arrangements such as we have for modern community cemeteries, it is not surprising that in many of these old churchyard cemeteries the markers became corroded and shabby, were nicked and broken by vandals, many sagged from their original upright positions, and the graves were covered by a wild and motley overgrowth.

The old church graveyard in Northumberland which I best recall, because it was the largest and most conspicuous, and consequently the most inviting to rambling, curious children, was the one that had been attached to the Old School Presbyterian Church on King Street at Church Avenue, or alley, as it was then called, and it was because the church stood there that this narrow thoroughfare was given its name. The graveyard was exposed to both King and Third Streets, and, as John F. Meginness refers to it in his very excellent History of the West Branch Valley, it was indeed and truly "a Common", for children often tripped in to play hide and seek among the tombstones, emerging with plenty of Spanish needles protruding from their stockings, adults in their cups at night would meander into its dismal precincts to recover their equilibrium before rambling home, and even straying livestock occasionally would graze in and out among and over the tombstones, only to find to their dumb sorrow that a neglected graveyard may be a very scanty field in which to search for fodder.

Whenever I think of Thomas Gray's famous Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, wherein he soliloquizes on the vanity of much of our human strivings, I cannot help but recall this old Presbyterian burial ground in Northumberland as it still existed back in my boyhood days. However, unlike the English churchyard in which Gray sat and meditated, where, it seems, none but the remains of those of lowly and simple achievements rested, in this old Northumberland graveyard there were the remains of a number of persons who had distinguished themselves in conspicuous ways in the service of our infant nation, and were known for their deeds throughout Pennsylvania, or at least all through the West Branch and the North Branch valleys.

Among these graves was that of a patriot who, when barely more than a youth, rendered a vital service to the inhabitants of this part of the country during the trying days of the Revolution, and especially during those years of the Tory and Indian invasions of the West Branch and North Branch valleys, occasioning the Great Runaway of the settlers.

This was the grave of Robert Covenhoven. Years ago when the old graveyard was finally abandoned by the proper legal procedures to provide lots for the erection of homes on King Street, the grave marker, and maybe what were left of the remains of Robert Covenhoven, along with those of other pioneers interred there, were removed to Riverview Cemetery, and today the marker for Covenhoven stands within a few feet of the old cannon mounted on the G. A. R. plot. The inscription, which is almost obliterated, reads as follows:

          In memory of
     ROBERT CROWNOVER
     Who was born December 7th,
               1755,
     And departed this life October 29th,
               1846,
     Aged 90 Years, 10 Months & 22 Days.
     He was an Active Partisan Guide
     of the Revolutionary Army.

The difference between the name as it appears on the old marker, and that commonly given to the same man by several outstanding historians of this section of Pennsylvania, will be explained later. Incidentally, let me say that practically all of the information regarding Robert Covenhoven presented in this paper is gleaned from the History of the West BrcAch Valley by John F. Meginness, that comprehensive collection of sectional historical lore commonly known by the title 'Otzinachson' the legendary name of the river, which, among other chroniclers, was occasionally used by the famous Indian interpreter, Conrad Weiser, in his journal.

Whenever we think of early Dutch settlers and their communities in America, we naturally think of New Amsterdam, the Hudson River Valley, Long Island, and northern New Jersey, where the first immigrants from Holland located in the early days. This section of the country converging on our modern metropolis of New York, has given a number of prominent figures of Dutch descent to the nation, the most outstanding of whom have been members of two distinct branches of the Roosevelt family. But we have not heard nor read so much about the further migrations of these people from the Low Countries or their descendants, who in groups early pushed onward and settled in other parts of the country. Such, for instance, was the group of Holland folk who came from the community in central New Jersey to the frontier country of the West Branch several years prior to the beginning of the War for Independence. Among these families were the ovenhovens, Wyckoffs, Van Camps, Van Nests, and others.

Their homes in New Jersey had been at Drie Hook, meaning Three Corners, so called because of the peculiar arrangement of the roads in that vicinity, and near the Hollands Brook, which issued from the Cushetunk Mountain, and was so called because from the living spring, which was its source, to the spot where it falls into the South Branch near the head of the Raritan River, its banks were occupied by Hollanders. More than a century had elapsed since the surrender of the New Netherlands to the British, but the inhabitants in this section still maintained with characteristic steadfastness the customs and usages of their fathers. The language of the law courts was English, but that of the home, of social intercourse, and of the church, was still "Low Dutch". At this time the wonderful fertility of "the Shemokem country" was attracting attention, and considerable numbers of the ScotchIrish, who also had settlements in New Jersey, were already in this section. So it was only natural that people of the Holland groups should also be looking for "greener pastures" in this so favorably mentioned section of Pennsylvania.

In regard to the Covenhovens, all the branches of the family were descended from Wolfert Gerrisse Van Kouwenhoven, who immigrated to the New Netherlands in 1630. His son, Gerrit, was known as Gerrit Wolfertsen, and his son, William, as William Gerritsen. They all lived on Long Island. William Gerritsen had six sons: William, Peter, Cornelius, Albert, Jacob and John. These all removed to Monmouth County, New Jersey, except William, whose sons, however, followed their uncles thither. It was Albert Covenhoven, his three sons, James, Thomas, and Robert, and daughter, Isabella, who came to the West Branch Valley, and settled near the mouth of Loyalsock Creek. Albert Covenhoven had married a sister of Peter and William Wyckoff, who, with their families, had also come to the West Branch Valley and located in the same neighborhood. As Meginness makes no mention of the wife in this part of the country, we assume that she had died before the migration was made.

The original form of this family name was Kouwenhoven. Some descendents living in New Jersey during the latter part of the last century were still writing their names Cowenhoven. Colloquially, the "Jersey Dutch" were in the habit of changing the final "n" to "r", and pronouncing the word Kou'wenhover, with the accent on the first syllable. From this transition was easy to Cownover, which in Pennsylvania became Crownover, and in New Jersey, Conover, the form that came to be used almost universally in that State.

The several variations in the spelling of this surname offers a striking example of the odd changes that have taken place in the spelling and pronunciation of family names in the course of generations, and in the transition from one section of the country to anotherespecially names of several syllables. In the case of this name Covenhoven, there was such an unusual variation taken in the forms of the name that Meginness makes a special note of it in his history. To those persons with a fancy for delving into the nomenclature of the species, this name Covenhoven should offer an enchanting field for inquiry. Robert Covenhoven had eight children, and it is likely that two or three of them were living in this section at the time of his death in 1846, and that they authorized the inscription appearing on his tombstone. The name Crownover, instead of Covenhoven appears on this marker, and so it is altogether likely that the former was the name by which he was known in his generation. But, as mentioned before, Meginness and other sectional historians for some particular reason chose to use for the name of this courageous pioneer the form of Covenhoven, and so that is the name a lesser historian employs in the account of his exploits.

Albert Covenhoven and his family came to the Loyalsock about the year 1772, but hardly had they gotten settled in their new frontier home until they lost practically all of their effects by a sudden flood from the creek, and the family was reduced to great distress. At first Robert Covenhoven was employed as a hunter and axeman by the surveyors who were busily engaged in surveying the lands that had just come into the market. The knowledge thus acquired of the devious paths of the wilderness afterwards rendered his services eminently useful as a guide and scout to the military parties of the Revolution. It is needless to say that the graduate of such a school was fearless and intrepid, that he was alert in the wiles of Indian warfare, and necessarily had to possess a rugged constitution.

Early in the Revolution Robert Covenhoven went to New Jersey, and entered the patriot Army under General Washington. He participated in the battles of Trenton and Princeton. In the spring of 1717 he returned to the Loyalsock, where his services were more needed for the defense of the frontier than on the more thickly populated seaboard, for the new settlers were becoming apprehensive under frequent rumors of an intensive Indian invasion. A younger brother, either James or Thomas, had also enlisted in the Continental Army, and was also released to come back to the frontier shortly before Robert's return.

But Robert Covenhoven's experience as a young Continental in New Jersey was not without an important romantic incident. Mercy Kelsey Cutter, a Trenton maiden, had been captured by the Hessians, stripped of much of her clothing and accessories, including her silver shoe buckles, and left tied to a tree. In this situation she was found by Covenhoven and promptly released. His gallantry and the maiden's gratitude resulted in such a strong attachment that it ripened into genuine love. Whether she came along up to the Loyalsock with him when he returned for his enlistment, or whether he went back to Trenton to fetch her later, it is not stated, but anyhow they were married somewhere on February 22, 1778. We are indebted to Mr. Godcharles for the particulars of this important episode in the life of Robert Covenhoven, as it is related in one of his Daily Stories of Pennsylvania History published some years ago.

The young man returned none too soon to render his invaluable services to the settlers on the threatened frontier, although his first efforts ended in utter futility. Realizing that drastic action would have to be taken to protect the settlements, he with some others, including Lieut. William King, whose wife and two young daughters were then living in Northumberland, went ahead with the building of a stout stockade near the mouth of Lycoming Creek. It covered maybe half an acre, and was also located near what later became the intersection of Fourth and Stevens Streets in Williamsport. The evacuation of the inhabitants of the valley occurred before the completion of the structure, and nothing but tradition remains to tell us of the last feeble effort put forth to save the first citizens of what was to become Williamsport, then a small settlement known as Jaysburg, from destruction.

It was to this stockade that a party of settlers from as far down the West Branch as Northumberland were making their way by wagon as rapidly as possible on June 10, 1778, when they were set upon by a band of Indians in ambush within a short distance of their intended haven, and most of the party were killed outright or scalped, including the wife of William King, who had left Northumberland reluctantly, taking with her the two young daughters. She died in the woods a few hours after being scalped, and the two children were carried into captivity. After the close of the war William King recovered both of these daughters in Canada, but not without considerable traveling and difficulty.

This precipitate flight of settlers from the lower regions of the North and West Branch valleys to the frontier stockade up the valley of the West Branch was occasioned by rumors of a descent by the Tories and Indians on the North Branch, which had aroused fears for the safety of Northumberland. Settlers in Northumberland who were up the West Branch, strange to say, really thought their families would be safer in the stockades and forts upstream than below, and they sent or came down for themthis in spite of the continual rumors that the upper West Branch Valley was likely to be invaded at any time. But such, it seems, was frequently the desperation of our neglected frontier ancestors in those days of the Revolution "that really tried men's souls". When the only real security lay in going down the main stream of the Susquehanna, as the settlers were to realize a few weeks later when they were to participate in the Great Runaway, they left the end of one hazardous valley only to ascend another equally or even more fraught with danger.

The danger to the valley in that summer of 1778 soon became so great that a panic seized the inhabitants, and nearly all of them about Muncy fled to Brady's Fort. Those above, and up to Lycoming Creek, took refuge at Wallis' Fort. The inhabitants of Penn's Valley gathered to Potter's Fort. Those below the Muncy Hills, to Chillisquaque, were assembled at Freeland's and Boone's forts, and at Fort Augusta. Those in White Deer and Buffalo valleys fled to the river, fortifying themselves at various points to make a stand for as long as they could hold out. Not realizing that great danger lurked in the West Branch Valley, and that another phase of the war was about to descend upon the frontier country with exceeding barbarity, many new immigrants from New Jersey had come up to this section in the previous winter and spring, but with the first sallies of the Indians and Tories on the settlements, not being so well rooted nor having so many interests at stake in the new soil as those who had come into the valley from New Jersey a few years previously, set off again as rapidly as they could travel to their old homes.

Colonel Hepburn, afterwards Judge Hepburn, was stationed for a while at Muncy Fort, and commanded it. Colonel Hosterman, Captain Reynolds, Captain Berry, and others, were sent up from Fort Augusta soon afterwards to assist in protecting the frontier.

On the intelligence of the critical situation reaching Colonel Hunter at Fort Augusta, he became greatly alarmed for the safety of those who remained above Fort Muncy, and he sent word to Colonel Hepburn to order them to abandon the country and retire below. He did this, he stated, because there was not a sufficiency of troops to guard the whole frontier, and the Congress had taken no action to furnish him with men and supplies. Colonel Hepburn had considerable trouble to get a messenger to carry the order up to Colonel Antes, so panicstricken were the people on account of the ravages of the enemy. At length our Robert Covenhoven and a young millwright of the neighborhood in the employ of Andrew Culbertson, whose name, by the way, ought to be known, volunteered their services and started on the dangerous mission. They crossed the river, ascended Bald Eagle Mountain, and kept along the summit until they came to the gap opposite Antes Fort. They then cautiously descended at the head of Nippenose Bottom and proceeded to the fort. It was in the evening, and as they neared the fort the report of a rifle rang upon their ears. A girl had gone outside to milk a cow, and an Indian lying in ambush fired upon her. The ball passed through her clothes between her limbs and she escaped unharmed. The young men reached the fort without being attacked, the orders were passed on up to the Horn's Fort, and preparations were made for the flight. Great excitement prevailed among the settlers. Canoes were collected, rafts hastily constructed, and every available craft that would float was pressed into service, and wives, children and goods were placed on board to be floated down the river to a place of safety. It is said that in many instances household utensils and articles of value that could not be removed, on account of the scanty means of transportation, were hurriedly buried by the owners. When they returned a few years later they were generally found to be in fair condition. It was indeed a sudden as well as an exciting flight. The inhabitants were fleeing from their primitive homes to escape the merciless foe, and leaving their cattle and ripening crops behind.

Robert Covenhoven had returned from his mission, and was now engaged in aiding the flight of the settlers in every possible way. In an account of the runaway written some years later, he thus describes the scene on the West Branch:

"I took my own family to Sunbury, and came back in a keelboat to secure my furniture. Just as I rounded a point above Derrstown, now Lewisburg, I met the whole convoy from all the forts above. Such a sight I never saw in my life. Boats, canoes, hogtroughs, rafts hastily made of dry sticks, every sort of floating article, had been put in requisition, and were crowded with women, children, and plunder. There were several hundred people in all. Whenever any obstruction occurred at any shoal or riple, the women would leap out into the water and put their shoulders to the boat or raft and launch it again into deep water. The men of the settlements came down in single file on each side of the river to guard the women and children. The whole convoy arrived safely at Sunbury, leaving the entire range of farms along the West Branch to the ravages of the Indians."

As soon as possible after the mass flight small bands of armed men cautiously ventured up the river to secure cattle, horses and other effects that had been left behind. They found small bands of Indians engaged in pillage and destruction, and at night the sky was reddened by the lurid glare caused by burning cabins, barns and outhouses. The beautiful valley was a sickening scene of desolation. But the Indians did not tarry for long on the West Branch. Soon after the runaway their attention was diverted to the memorable descent upon Wyoming, which took place on the following July third, and they hastened from the valley to be present at that awful massacre.

At the same time the Covenhovens and other Dutch families came from New Jersey, a Scotchman by the name of John Thomson and his wife, who lived closed to the Dutch settlements in that colony, and were particular friends of the Wyckoff family, also came to the West Branch country and located in the same neighborhood. On the same day that the party from Northumberland were on their wayto Robert Covenhoven's stockadeJune 10, 1788 and met with almost complete massacre within a short distance of the new structure, John Thomson, with his wife and child, and as many personal belongings as they could hastily collect, made their way to Wallis' Fort, seven miles away. Here he found several of his friends and neighbors who had preceded him to this place of refuge.

The weather was rainy, and the scouts sent out could discover no signs of the enemy. The canny Scot began to regret that he had so hastily abandoned his possessions. He determined to make an effort to bring off his cattle. An opportunity occurred when Captain Berry was sent out with a small company to look after some horses that had been stolen by Indians, and were said to be some distance up the Loyalsock. Two men, who had found refuge at the fort, were willing to assist in Thomson's endeavor. One was Peter Shufelt, another Dutch settler, and the other was William Wyckoff, a lad of sixteen.

These three men, likely mounted on Thomson's horses, separated from Captain Berry's company at the crossing of the Loyalsock, and went on to Thomson's place. Here they found everything apparently as it had been left, and tying their horses near the door, went into the house. It was now long past noon, and they were hungry. Accordingly they at once set about preparing a meal. But suddenly the horses snorted with alarm, and, rushing to the door, they saw Indians approaching from the barn, where they had been lying in ambush. The men seized their rifles and ran for the woods; but the Indians rushed upon them with terrific yells, firing as they came, and Peter Shufelt fell mortally wounded. Thomson immediately stopped and returned the fire. But this endeavor to save his friend resulted in the loss of his own life. Some of the Indians had reserved their fire for this opportunity, and now delivered it with telling effect. A bullet from this second volley passed through his powder horn, which burned at his side as he laid adying. William Wyckoff succeeded in reaching the woods, but was severely wounded, and finally captured at the end of a skirmish.

We have mentioned this incident because it was Robert Covenhoven who brought Thomson's distracted widow and her small boy down the river with other refugees to tarry at Fort Augusta. She had been Juda Bodine, a girl of French Huguenot extraction, whose ancestors had settled on Staten Island. How long she remained in Sunbury is not known, but she availed herself of an early opportunity to set her face again toward the home of her youth. Her little boy was too small to make the journey on foot and too large to be carried in arms. The horses had been lost the day of her husband's death. She succeeded in securing a little wagon suitable for the purpose, and in it she placed her child, a copy of the Bible that had been particularly cherished by her husband, and such slight articles of apparel as she had been able to bring with her from Loyalsock. This cart she pulled, through storm and sunshine, the whole two hundred and fifty miles, over the mountains and across the streams, through "The Beech Woods" to Easton, and then over the Jersey Hills to her home.

Of such stuff were many of our ancestors made. Oh, why! oh, why! do so many of us in this day fuss and fume about trifles?

But to go back to Captain Berry's company of men that set out from Fort Wallis to look for the stolen horses: Robert Covenhoven's brothers, James and Thomas, were in the party, as well as Peter Wyckoff, father of the boy captured at Thomson's, two other sons, Cornelius and Joseph Wyckoff, and Peter's brother, William. Besides these there was a friendly Indian, known as Captain Sharpshins, a Negro, and others to the number of twelve. For some reason, probably because of information received at the fort after their departure, a messenger was dispatched after them to advise an immediate return. The messenger was Robert Covenhoven. But Captain Berry refused to acknowledge Colonel Hepburn's authority, and persisted in going forward. This being the case, and so many of his relatives being in the expedition, Robert Covenhoven determined to go along as guide.

The party proceeded cautiously through the narrows, and so on up the creek, searching in vain for the horses, until they thought they had gone far enough. They then determined to retrace their steps, and accordingly set out again down the creek. Robert Covenhoven believed that there were Indians in the vicinity, and advised a return by a safer, though more difficult, route through the woods, and over the mountain, in order to avoid the danger of an ambuscade. But Captain Berry thought there was no danger, and paid little attention to his warning. He insisted until Berry impatiently said he was needlessly alarmed, and accused him of cowardice. This irritated him and he insisted no more. He went privately, however, to his brothers and communicated to them his fears that they would be attacked, and that if so they would probably all be killed. He urged them to keep a sharp lookout, and if the flash of a gun was seen, to spring immediately to the protection of some friendly tree.

They traveled on without molestation until they again reached the narrows, where they were suddenly fired upon by a band of Indians in ambush. Some of the party, including the reckless Captain Berry, were shot down. Robert Covenhoven, however, and a few others escaped, and returned to the fort to report the fate of the expedition. His brother, Thomas, Peter Wyckoff, his son, Cornelius, and the Negro were made prisoners. The Negro was afterward burned alive in the presence of the other prisoners, who did not know whether or not they would meet the same fate. Joseph Wyckoff, another son of Peter, was also captured about the same time. He was taken off while rolling logs in a sawmill near the settlement. All of these captives, including young William Wyckoff taken at Thomson's, were eventually returned to their people. William married his cousin, Isabella Covenhoven, several years after the close of the war.

A week or so before the events just narrated, the Covenhoven brothers, including Robert, and their uncle, the elder William Wyckoff, came near being killed by stealthy Indians right near their homes. This was when the settlers were still sticking to their regular work, and hoping against hope that the worst would not happen, although the more prudent ones were on the alert. The uncle had a rude tannery on the Loyalsock, and made leather for the settlement. On this particular day he was at work in his tannery, and the three nephews were mowing in an adjacent meadow. Their dog suddenly commenced barking, and exhibited great symptoms of alarm. He would run toward the woods, sniff the air, and return. The Covenhovens were confident that Indians were near, and, seizing their rifles, called to the older man to accompany them to some place of greater security. At first he refused, alleging that there was no danger, but at last yielded to their persuasions and went with them. They had not proceeded far when one of them hissed to the dog, which at once bounded into the bushes and seized by the leg an Indian who was hiding there. He jumped up and shot the animal. A couple of other settlers had joined the Covenhovens, and they all immediately jumped to trees. The Indians, who had been lying in ambush, did the same, and the firing began. Wyckoff, who was very much humpbacked, got behind a tree that was too small to hide all of his person. Fortunately for him another small tree stood between him and the Indians, and, as they fired at him, their bullets struck this tree, and made the bark fly around Robert Covenhoven, who was near. He yelled to the uncle to stand up straight or he would be hit. As he was loading his rifle his ramrod was shot in two, but luckily he had a wiper, with which he rammed down the bullet. Just at this moment he observed an Indian steathily creeping around to get a good shot at his uncle. Watching him closely until he attempted to crawl over a log, he fired and shot him right through the body. The Indian sprang into the air, gave a tremendous yell, and fell dead. His comrades rushed up and bore him off, and the Covenhoven party made away as rapidly as possible. The dead Indian had appeared to be the leader of the party, and had not the spirit been taken out of the others by his death; all of the white men in the fray might have been worsted in the encounter.

As the Indians continued to be very troublesome, it soon became apparent to the military authorities that some offensive operations would have to be undertaken against the relentless foe, or the inhabitants, would be in imminent danger all the time. With this object in view, Colonel Thomas Hartley, in the autumn of 1778, planned an expedition to Tioga Point, on the headwaters of the North Branch, to destroy some of their villages and break up their places of rendezvous. Robert Covenhoven was in the expedition, and did his share in making it highly successful. In the closing years of his life he frequently took pleasure in relating a story about an artifice he and a comrade, Robert King, used to capture a party of Indians who were working a loaded boat up the North Branch from the depredations committed at Wyoming. The party in the boat outnumbered them, but the prize was too tempting to be resisted. King remained in the bushes and kept up a prodigious whooping and shouting to his imaginary comrades to come on. Covenhoven rushed out with his gun in hand and ordered the Indians to surrender, which they did, and they permitted themselves to be secured without remonstrance. King made his appearance, and the two, forcing the prisoners by threats to assist them, arrived at some point along the river where a number of officers and soldiers of the Continental Army were stationed, and the Continentals cheated the poor Provincials out of their share of the plunder.

One of the most noteworthy feats performed by Robert Covenhoven occurred during the following summer1779. As the rumors of an approaching body of British, Tories and Indians from the north accumulated again, it was finally determined by Colonel Hepburn, then in command at Fort Muncy, to send a man who was well acquainted with the path and defiles of the mountains to ascertain and report their movements. Covenhoven was selected for this dangerous mission. He preferred no company, as he thought he could better elude observation if alone. Avoiding all the Indian paths, he directed his course through the wilderness towards the headwaters of Lycoming Creek, and by traveling at night he soon arrived in the vicinity of the enemy's camp. The difficulty of making such a journey at that time can readily be imagined, as it lay over rugged hills, through dark and gloomy ravines, and almost impenetrable thickets in many places. Secreting himself in a secure position, during the daytime he was able to observe the movements of the enemy. At intervals he heard shots, amounting to several hundred, which led him to believe that they were cleaning their guns in preparation for another general assault on the frontier settlements and forts, likely intending to descend Lycoming Creek by the Sheshequin war path. Satisfied that this would be very soon, he hastened to retrace his steps over the rugged hills and through the thickets, hungry and fatigued. He made as rapid progress as the nature of the country would permit. Striking an Indian path near Loyalsock, it suddenly occurred to him that he might meet Indians if he continued to travel in that direction. He stepped to one side and hid behind a large tree to rest for a short time. He had been there but a few minutes when two Indians passed by, but fortunately they did not spy him and an encounter was avoided.

When Covenhoven reached Fort Muncy and laid before Colonel Hepburn the true facts of the situation, the commander immediately started preparations for the evacuation of the fort, as the approaching forces were evidently too formidable to be resisted. The women and children at the fort were hastily placed in boats and sent down the river to Fort Augusta under the care of Covenhoven. Warnings were relayed to the garrisons of other forts in the valley, but in several instances the warnings were not heeded. Very soon Fort Muncy was taken and destroyed, but without the dire destruction of lives and capture of settlers such as occurred at Fort Freeland, where some wiseacres, who thought Covenhoven was magnifying the danger, influenced the inmates to remain there.

Soon after peace had been restored by the last treaty at Fort Stanwix in 1784, and the disputed territory between Lycoming and Pine creeks had been purchased and brought into market, Robert Covenhoven commenced looking around for a suitable piece of land to be developed into a farm. He finally fixed on a tract situated in Level Corner, on the river three miles east of Jersey Shore, and called "Conquest", which he purchased from James Hepburn and Mary Hepburn, his wife. Here the Covenhovens lived for many years, and it was on this farm that most of their family of eight children were born and raised. Many members of this Society recall the very excellent account of the building of the old Williamson Road from the West Branch up through the Genesee country in New York State, presented in an address by Rev. Kline D'A. Engle several years ago. Robert Covenhoven likely had much to do with the motley and obstreperous lot of German peasants brought from Europe as contract laborers to build this road, because in 1796 he was engaged to superintend the construction work on at least a section of the thoroughfare.

As late as 1832, when he was seventyseven years old, Robert Covenhoven applied for a pension from the Government, through the medium of James Gamble, Esq., then a young attorney in Jersey Shore, in recognition of his arduous services as a soldier and scout per annum. It would seem that the old scout never asked for any particular recognition from his country until he arrived at quite an old age, and then maybe his finances were such that it was necessary for him to do so. Mrs. Covenhoven died November 27, 1843, and her remains were buried in the old Williamsport Cemetery on Fourth Street. Before the end of the century her grave was completely obliterated.

Borne down by the weight of years, Robert Covenhoven did not long survive the passing of his wife. Soon afterwards he went to reside with his daughter Nancy, married to Leonard Pfouts, who, according to Meginness, lived in what was known as Pfouts Valley, somewhere across the river from Northumberland. Just where this valley was located, your speaker has been unable to ascertain. Maybe someone will be able to enlighten us on the matter. Anyhow, it could not have been far from Northumberland, and when Robert Covenhoven died in 1846, his remains likely were interred in the old Presbyterian graveyard in Northumberland because it was one of the most accessible cemeteries.

Last Edited=5 Mar 2008

Roelof Covenhoven (M)
(8. Sep. 1703 - ), #443
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=1st cousin 7 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=2nd great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Roelof Covenhoven was also known as Ruliff Albertse Covenhoven. He was also known as Roelof Cowenhoven. He was also known as Roelof Albertse Couwenhoven. He was also known as Roelof Van Kouwenhoven. Roelof Covenhoven was born on 6. Sep. 1703 at Pleasant Valley, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Roelof Covenhoven was born on 8. Sep. 1703 at Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey. He was the son of Albert Covenhoven and Neeltje Roelofse Schenck. Roelof Covenhoven married Annetje Strycker, daughter of Jan Pieterse Stryker and Margaretta Schenck.

Last Edited=14 Mar 2008

Roelof Covenhoven (M)
(1. Mar. 1712 - 1746), #1151
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=1st cousin 7 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=2nd great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Roelof Covenhoven was also known as Rulif Jacobsen Couwenhoven. He was also known as Ruliph Couenhoven. He was also known as Rulif Covenhoven. He was also known as Ruleph Van Kouwenhoven. Roelof Covenhoven was born on 1. Mar. 1712 at Monmouth County, New Jersey. He was the son of Jacob Willemse Van Kouwenhoven and Sara Schenck. Roelof Covenhoven was baptized on 22. Mar. 1713. He married Jannetje Hendrickson, daughter of Daniel Hendrickson and Catherine Van Dyck, on 12. Aug. 1741 at Dutch Reformed Church, Freehold-Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Roelof Covenhoven died in 1746 at Monmouth County, New Jersey. Letters of Administration on his estate were granted Oct 24, 1746, to Peter Covenhoven, William Hendrickson, and Teunis De Nyse on 24. Oct. 1746. The Inventory of Roelof Covenhoven was taken The inventory of his estate was made on Nov 17, 1746 and amounted to l439:12:4 3/4. The inventory was taken by Nicholas Johnson, Elias Golden, and John Taylor on 17. Nov. 1746. On 20. Dec. 1746 On Dec 20, 1746, his widow Jannetje, declined to administer, the witnesses being Cornelius and Mary Lane.

Last Edited=14 Mar 2008

Roelof Covenhoven (M)
(8. Nov. 1747 - ), #2908
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=2nd cousin 6 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=3rd great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Roelof Covenhoven was also known as Ruleph Conover. Roelof Covenhoven was born on 8. Nov. 1747. He was the son of Gerret Covenhoven and Neeltje Schenck. Roelof Covenhoven married Anna Schenck, daughter of Garret Schenck and Neeltje Voorhees, on 22. Jun. 1773 at Dutch Reformed Church, Freehold-Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Roelof Covenhoven (M)
(21. Aug. 1752 - ), #2978
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=2nd cousin 6 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=3rd great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Roelof Covenhoven was baptized on 21. Aug. 1752 at Dutch Reformed Church, Freehold-Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey. He was the son of Peter Covenhoven and Catherine Schenck.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Roelof Covenhoven (M)
(20. Aug. 1765 - 20. Oct. 1823), #2125
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=3rd cousin 5 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=4th great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Roelof Covenhoven was also known as Ruliff Covenhoven. He was also known as Rulof Conover. He was also known as Rulif Couwenhoven. He was also known as Roelif Covenhoven. He was also known as Rulif Conover. Roelof Covenhoven was born on 20. Aug. 1765. He was the son of Cornelius Covenhoven and Jannetje Denyse. Roelof Covenhoven was born on 30. Aug. 1765. He was baptized on 15. Sep. 1765. He married Sarah Vanderveer, daughter of Garret Vanderveer and Jane Voorhees, on 12. Jan. 1789. Roelof Covenhoven died on 20. Oct. 1823 at age 58.

Last Edited=14 Mar 2008

Roelof Covenhoven (M)
(c 1760 - 1824), #1428
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=3rd cousin 5 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=4th great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Roelof Covenhoven was also known as Roelof Van Kouwenhoven. Roelof Covenhoven was born c 1760. He was the son of Garret Covenhoven and Sarah Traphagen. Roelof Covenhoven married Sarah Van Sicklin b 1801. Roelof Covenhoven married Elizabeth Wyckoff, daughter of George Wyckoff and Rebecca Van Cleaf, c 1802. Roelof Covenhoven died in 1824.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Roelof Covenhoven (M)
(5. Oct. 1706 - 20. Aug. 1786), #1092
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=1st cousin 7 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=2nd great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Roelof Covenhoven was also known as Roelof Cowenhoven. He was also known as Roeloff Cornelisen Couwenhoven. He was also known as Roelof Van Kouwenhoven. Roelof Covenhoven was born on 5. Oct. 1706. He was the son of Cornelis Willemse Van Kouwenhoven and Margaretta Schenck. Roelof Covenhoven married Sarah Van Voorhees, daughter of Cornelis Coerte Van Voorhees and Annetje Rapalje, on 23. Jun. 1733. Roelof Covenhoven died on 19. Aug. 1786 at age 79; tombstone. He died on 20. Aug. 1786 at age 79. He was buried c 21. Aug. 1786 at Schenck-Couvenhoven Cemetery, Pleasant Valley, Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Last Edited=14 Mar 2008

Roelof Covenhoven (M)
(c 1755 - ), #365788
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     Roelof Covenhoven was born c 1755. He was the son of (Unknown) Covenhoven. Roelof Covenhoven married Aeltje Voorhees, daughter of John Voorhees and Neeltie Vanderveer, on 1. Feb. 1775 at Dutch Reformed Church, Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Roeloff Covenhoven (M)
(c 1770 - a 1796), #3506
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=3rd cousin 5 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=4th great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Roeloff Covenhoven was also known as Ralph Conover. Roeloff Covenhoven was born c 1770. He was the son of William Covenhoven and Deborah Voorhees. Roeloff Covenhoven married Elizabeth Johnson on 17. Jun. 1778. Roeloff Covenhoven married Amy or Mary Lake on 2. Mar. 1794. Roeloff Covenhoven died a 1796.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Ruby Covenhoven (F)
(26. Aug. 1836 - 2. Apr. 1906), #132229
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=5th cousin 3 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=6th great-granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Ruby Covenhoven was born on 26. Aug. 1836 at New York. She was the daughter of Henry Covenhoven and Huldah Robbins. Ruby Covenhoven died on 2. Apr. 1906 at age 69.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Rufus Covenhoven (M)
(c 1798 - 17. Jul. 1848), #17842
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=5th cousin 5 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=4th great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Rufus Covenhoven was also known as Rufus Conover. Rufus Covenhoven was born c 1798 at Tanners Brook, Atlantic County, New Jersey. He was the son of Jesse Conover and (Unknown) (Unknown). Rufus Covenhoven married Ann Conover on 30. Nov. 1823. Rufus Covenhoven died on 17. Jul. 1848 at Tanners Brook, Atlantic County, New Jersey.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Ruleff Covenhoven (M)
(3. Feb. 1758 - c 1792), #58078
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=2nd cousin 6 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=3rd great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Ruleff Covenhoven was also known as Rulif Covenhoven. Ruleff Covenhoven was born on 3. Feb. 1758. He was the son of Peter Cowenhoven and Leah Janse Schenck. Ruleff Covenhoven was baptized on 12. Mar. 1759. He married Rachel Carr. Ruleff Covenhoven died c 1792.

Last Edited=14 Mar 2008

Ruloff Covenhoven (M)
(17. Apr. 1768 - ), #2582
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=3rd cousin 5 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=4th great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Ruloff Covenhoven was also known as Roelof Covenhoven. He was baptized on 17. Apr. 1768 at Dutch Reformed Church, Harlingen, Somerset County, New Jersey. He was the son of Jan Covenhoven and Elizabeth Van Dyn. Ruloff Covenhoven was also known as Rolif J. Covenhoven. He married Margaret Post on 1. Feb. 1800.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Rutgert Covenhoven (M)
(1750 - 5. Jan. 1809), #3616
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=2nd cousin 6 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=3rd great-grandson of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Rutgert Covenhoven was also known as Rutes Covenhoven. Rutgert Covenhoven was born in 1750 at Middlesex County, New Jersey. He was the son of Luke Covenhoven and Elizabeth Johnson. Rutgert Covenhoven married Lammetie Voorhies, daughter of Coert Van Voorhees and Petronella (Unknown), c 1769. Rutgert Covenhoven at Presbyterian Church, Cranbury, Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1778. In his will, dated Feb 17, 1807, Rutes Covenhoven of East wWindsor Township, Middlesex County, mentioned his wife Lamy, his sons David and John, and his daughters Eleanor wife of Jesse Slayback, and Elizabeth wife of John Bergen. The executors were his two sons and the witnesses were James Cook, Robert Purdy, and Andrew Rowan. He died on 5. Jan. 1809 at East Windsor Twp., Middlesex County, New Jersey. His estate was proved on 27. Jan. 1809.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Ruth Covenhoven (F)
(4. Mar. 1774 - 12. Mar. 1850), #3127
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=1st cousin 5 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=4th great-granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Ruth Covenhoven was also known as Ruth Conover. Ruth Covenhoven was born on 4. Mar. 1774 at New Jersey. She was the daughter of Hermanus Covenhoven and Phoebe Bailey. Ruth Covenhoven married Joseph Grover, son of John Grover and Elizabeth Robbins, c 1794 at Plainsboro, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Ruth Covenhoven married Joseph Grover, son of John Grover and Elizabeth Robbins, c 1795. Ruth Covenhoven married Joseph Grover, son of John Grover and Elizabeth Robbins, on 20. Feb. 1796 at Kingston, Somerset County, New Jersey. Ruth Covenhoven died on 12. Mar. 1850 at Plainsboro, Middlesex County, New Jersey, at age 76. She was buried at Penn's Neck Baptist Churchyard, Penn's Neck, Mercer County, New Jersey.
Ruth Covenhoven and Joseph Grover appeared on the census of 3. Aug. 1850 at South Brunswick Twp., Middlesex County, New Jersey; real estate value 2,000.00.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Ruth Covenhoven (F)
(c 1764 - ), #105942
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=1st cousin 6 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=3rd great-granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Ruth Covenhoven died at Maryland. She was also known as Ruth Cownover. Ruth Covenhoven was born c 1764 at New Jersey. She was the daughter of John Covenhoven and Lydia Predmore.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Saartje Covenhoven (F)
(30. Nov. 1733 - 25. Aug. 1796), #2831
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=2nd cousin 6 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=3rd great-granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Saartje Covenhoven was born on 30. Nov. 1733. She was the daughter of William Covenhoven and Antje Hendrickson. Saartje Covenhoven and Jacob Wyckoff obtained a marriage license on 7. Jan. 1754. Saartje Covenhoven died on 25. Aug. 1796 at age 62. She was buried c 26. Aug. 1796 at Old Tennent Church Cemetery, Tennent, Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Saartje Covenhoven (F)
(5. May. 1755 - 30. Mar. 1794), #1440
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=2nd cousin 6 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=3rd great-granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Saartje Covenhoven was also known as Sarah Covenhoven. She was also known as Saartje Couvenhoven. Saartje Covenhoven was born on 5. May. 1755. She was the daughter of John Covenhoven and Mary Van Dorn. Saartje Covenhoven was baptized on 15. Jun. 1755. She resided at at Monmouth County, New Jersey. She married Joris Smock, son of John Smock and Elizabeth Covenhoven, on 1. May. 1779; Joris's firt wife. Saartje Covenhoven married Joris Smock, son of John Smock and Elizabeth Covenhoven, on 4. May. 1779. Saartje Covenhoven died on 30. Mar. 1794 at age 38.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Sally Covenhoven (F)
(25. Dec. 1785 - ), #2737
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=4th cousin 4 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=5th great-granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Sally Covenhoven was also known as Sarah Conover. Sally Covenhoven was born on 25. Dec. 1785. She was the daughter of Cornelius Covenhoven and Neeltje Monfoort. Sally Covenhoven was baptized on 11. Feb. 1786 at Redding Church, New Jersey. Possibly, Sally Covenhoven married Garret Amwell Conover, son of Albert Covenhoven and Sarah Bonham, on 9. Aug. 1804 at Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Sally Covenhoven appeared on the census of 23. Jul. 1850 at with son Ralph, Rome Twp., Crawford County, Pennsylvania.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Saloma Covenhoven (F)
(c 1848 - ), #160974
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=4th cousin 3 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=6th great-granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Saloma Covenhoven was born c 1848. She was the daughter of Christopher Columbus Booth Covenhoven and Sarah Wightman.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Salome Covenhoven (F)
(21. Mar. 1848 - a 1921), #417
Pop-up Pedigree
Relationship=4th cousin 3 times removed of David Kipp Conover Jr..
Relationship=6th great-granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven.

     Salome Covenhoven was born on 21. Mar. 1848. She was the daughter of Jacob Covenhoven and Eliza Maria Conover. Salome Covenhoven died a 1921.

Last Edited=15 Oct 2006

Salome Covenhoven (F)
(1844 - 29. Jul. 1880), #341221
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     Salome Covenhoven was born in 1844 at New York. She was the daughter