The Death of Christopher Thomas Servos—Part II
Two very different stories of the same event.
My 4th-great-granduncle Christopher Thomas Servos, born June 17th 1721 in Neu Weid, Germany of Serbian descent. He was killed by Continental soldiers of the American Revolution in June of 1778 at his home near Lutheranville, New York.
During the particularly vicious partisan warfare in Western New York, members of this family (the name then known both as “Servos” and “Service”) served on both sides during the American Revolution.
Jack Peltier, a fellow family researcher, provided me with two accounts of the death of Christopher from both the Loyalist and Patriot view (see Part I).
Part II: The account of his death from the Continental Soldier’s point of view.
“The people of Schoharie had long suspected Service—who remained with his family entirely exposed to the enemy—of clandestinely affording them assistance etc.”
From the commencement of the border difficulties, Service had greatly aided the enemies of his country, by sheltering and victualing them, in numerous instances. He was comparatively wealthy, for the times, owning a well-stocked farm and a gristmill.”
“When the Tories and Indians from Canada were on their way to destroy the settlements, they always found a home at his house, from whence, after recruiting, they sallied forth on their missions of death. Several attempts were made to take him before the Schoharie committee, previous to his joining Brant in his expedition against Cobbleskill. etc.”
“Capt. Long and his companions then directed their steps to the dwelling of Service. On arriving near, proper caution was taken to prevent his escape, and Murphy and Elerson were deputed to arrest him. They found the Tory back of his house, making a harrow.”
“On the approach of the two friends, Mrs. Service, suspecting the object of their visit, came out and stood near them, when they informed her husband the nature of their visit. Service called them d-d rebels, and retreating a few steps, he seized an axe and aimed a blow at the head of Murphy.”
“But the man who could guard against surprise from the wily Indian, was not to fall thus ignobly. Elerson, who stood a few feet from his companion, as he assured the author, told Murphy to shoot the d – d rascal.”
“The wife of Service, seeing the determined look of Murphy, caught hold of his arm and besought him not to fire. He gently pushed her aside, and patting her on the shoulder said, ‘Mother, he never will sleep with you again’.”
“In another instant, the unerring bullet from his rifle had penetrated the Tory’s heart. Capt. Long and his men now advanced to the house, in which was found forty loaves of fresh bread, proving that some notice had already reached there, of Smith’s intended visit.”
[Source: History of Schoharie County, Jeptha R. Simms - 1845, Chapter 9, provided by Jack W. Peltier]
Christopher Thomas Servos is of the family of my paternal great-grandmother Jane Elizabeth Serviss, wife of Silas Boardman.
It is instructive to view the different narratives of the same event—an early version of “spin.”
Both versions of the story are fascinating though this one was a little more florid – I love the “But the man who could guard against surprise from the wily Indian, was not to fall thus ignobly.” as well as “The wife of Service, seeing the determined look of Murphy, caught hold of his arm and besought him not to fire. He gently pushed her aside, and patting her on the shoulder said, ‘Mother, he never will sleep with you again’.”
Somehow the slow moving pace of the actions don’t fit what must have been a violent encounter – but the perspectives are brilliantly opposed. Thanks so much for sharing them
Bill: I suspect there were embellishments of the story on both sides. I owe a great debt of gratitude to Jack Peltier, a Canadian and member of a group of descendants of Loyalist families who relocated to Canada after the Revolution.
The Serviss family of my great-grandmother re-entered the US and settled near LaCrosse WI, where Jane Elizabeth Serviss met & married my great-grandfather Silas Boardman. They later divorced and she mattied a man 18 years her junior…moved to Portland OR where she lived until 1920.
I found your blog while searching for my own ancestors. Christopher Thomas Servos is my 7th great grandfather. My relation to him is from his granddaughter Magdalene (who saw him killed) and married John Whitmore (another very interesting story – his parents were killed and he and his brothers and sisters were captured by Indians. He was later rescued by Daniel Servos, the son of Christopher Thomas.) I’d love to see what other research you have on this family and share what I have. The stories that you have shared really bring the history alive. What interesting stories we have found about our ancestors!
Thomas servos was my gggg grandfather .
This was an interesting site to find. Christpher Thomas Servos was my GGGGG-grandfather. Jack Peltier also has helped me. He was very kind in helping me to find Christopher’s daughter Anna Magdalena Servos who married Peter Caine, Cain, Kane (depending on where you read about it). I also got copies of Peter and Magdalena going to Canada and gaining administration over Christopher Thomas’s property later after he died. I still have a lot of questions about this time period. Where was C. T. Servos buried, where was his wife buried and where was Magdalena Buried? I know where Peter Kane was buried but Magdalena moved on and lived with a daughter in Erie, Pa. It is all very facinating. If anyone has information I would love to share. leave a post here and we can trade emails.