Hi,
Let me correct that, okay? Jane McCrea was engaged at the time of her death on
July 26 or 27, 1777. It is understood, and I have no reason to think otherwise,
that it was to a David Jones, who was a Loyalist in Jessup's corps, and serving
with Gen. Burgoyne. Jones was a resident of the region, living in Albany County
in what is now the Town of Northumberland in Saratoga County, right up the road
from where Jane McCrea lived with her brother, John McCrea (who was,
incidentally, a Patriot officer in the Albany County Militia).

Duncan Campbell of Inverawe was wounded at Ticonderoga in 1758 and died at Fort
Edward. He was buried (his last, burial that is) in the Fort Edward Union Free
Cemetery next to Jane. Unfortunately, the idea has arisen that they were
engaged. Jane was born in 1753 and would have been 4 years old when Duncan
Campbell was killed.

Joe Cutshall-King

Daniel Martin wrote:

> I'm sorry for being so dramatic.  He is buried right next to Jane McCrea and
> both graves are enclosed behind a black iron fence and gate.  She was
> engaged to someone named Duncan Campbell at the time of her death.
>
> Daniel Martin
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Joseph Cutshall-King <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, December 16, 2002 10:20 AM
> Subject: Re: Jane McCrea - Ft. Edward
>
> > Duncan Campbell was indeed wounded at Ticonderoga but died at Fort Edward.
> His
> > first burial place was the graveyard for the French and Indian War
> military
> > fortification called "Fort Edward" from which today's town and village
> derive
> > their names. That graveyard is now known as the State Street Cemetery.
> > Campbell's remains were exhumed and reburied in the Fort Edward Union Free
> > Cemetery, where Jane's McCrea's remains are now.
> >
> > Am confused by your statement "that his neighbor behind the iron gate in
> Fort
> > Edward/ Hudson Falls was engaged to a Duncan Campbell." Who do you mean?
> >
> > Joe Cutshall-King
> > Washington County Historian
> > Washington County Municipal Center
> > 383 Broadway
> > Fort Edward, NY 12828
> > Tel.: 518-746-2178
> > Fax: 518-746-2219
> > E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > HOME:
> > PO Box 154
> > 693 County Route 49
> > Cossayuna, NY 12823
> >
> > Bus. Tel./FAX: 518-692-0022
> > E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > Daniel Martin wrote:
> >
> > > First, from everything I read, Campbell was wounded at Ti, but died at
> Fort
> > > Edward.  I also read he was moved, as well, by relatives (the
> Gilchrists)
> > > who opened his lead coffin to view his remains.  I also find it
> interesting,
> > > that his neighbor behind the iron gate in Fort Edward/ Hudson Falls was
> > > engaged to a Duncan Campbell.  I've always wondered if this was a
> relative
> > > to the Inverawe Campell of Fort Ti fame.
> > >
> > > I am not a professional historian, but I have suspected for awhile that
> this
> > > type of thing was going to start.
> > >
> > > For those in Albany and those who are followers of French and Indian War
> > > lore, you may recall that there has been a controversy for almost 100
> years
> > > as to where Lord Howe, who was killed in 1758 the day before the battle
> at
> > > Ti,  is buried.  Some contend he was buried at Trout Brook in Ti due to
> the
> > > finding of a rude grave marker in the 1890's but most accounts say he is
> > > buried  under the steps of St. Peter's in Albany on State Street.
> Someone
> > > is buried there.  I wonder, since he was a member of the royal family if
> > > someday someone will want to do a DNA on those remains.  I think it will
> go
> > > on and on and on and on and....well, you get the picture.
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Daniel H. Weiskotten <[log in to unmask]>
> > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 9:38 PM
> > > Subject: Re: Jane McCrea - Ft. Edward
> > >
> > > > Two things:
> > > >
> > > > First.  Congratulations to Phil Lord, on your retirement.  I cannot
> > > express
> > > > the gratitude for all your help, and the pleasure it has been to have
> > > > worked with you.  Now go enjoy that kayak, but stay out of Labrador
> Pond
> > > > where the muck lies only inches below the surface and is the
> consistancy
> > > of
> > > > putrid chololate pudding (my experience in kayaking, when I turtled
> and
> > > > nearly drowned in it).
> > > >
> > > > Second.  I will say that David Starbuck is one who will do it right,
> and
> > > > for the right reasons, with historical inquiry behind what he does.
> Too
> > > > many people think that all that scientists do is dig up and study
> Indians,
> > > > but most of us in the field know that this is simply not the case, but
> > > yes,
> > > > this examination would show that we do have an interest in Human
> history,
> > > > even of our own kind.
> > > >
> > > > Abe Lincoln, George Washington, and a slew of presidents have been dug
> up
> > > > at least once and wondered at and poked by the curious for various
> > > > reasons.  Word is that observers were shocked when they found that
> > > > Lincoln's skin had turned black.  Some say it was due to the
> particular
> > > > pickling process they used, others divine revelation.
> > > >
> > > > As for Jane McCrea, her body has been dug up more than once already.
> She
> > > > was originally buried, with Lieutenant or Colonel Van Vechten (I was
> > > unable
> > > > to find out anything more on him,) near where they were killed in
> > > > 1777.  Then about 1823 she was moved to the cemetery in Fort Edward,
> > > placed
> > > > next to the grave of Mrs. McNeil with whom she lived at the time of
> her
> > > > killing.  In 1852 her bones were exhumed again and reburied in Union
> > > > Cemetery, in Fort Edward, where she lies today.  She was placed in a
> plot
> > > > near the entrance to the cemetery, where all could see her grave and
> > > simple
> > > > marker.  Her neice, Sarah Hanna Payne, is the one who had her moved to
> > > this
> > > > final place.  Duncan Campbell's remains have a similar story, being
> first
> > > > buried at Fort Ticonderoga, then at Fort Edward in 1823, moved again
> in
> > > > 1871, and then in 1920 they were moved to the present spot right next
> to
> > > > Jane's.  I have a feeling Van Vechten was moved around alot also.
> > > >
> > > > There are many sources and facts about these events, and, as Ruthann
> > > > Messick pointed out, there is a great deal known about Jane McCrea,
> but we
> > > > all know there is even more that we do not know.  Here is an
> opportunity
> > > > not often presented to do a serious look at the remains, and not some
> > > > anecdotal poking at the bones.  Archaeology and forensic investigation
> > > > provide us with a unique and explicit way to read those pages of
> history
> > > > that were not heretofore available.
> > > >
> > > > For an recent interpretation of much of the story of Jane McCrea, take
> a
> > > > look at:
> > > > http://www.yacc-uk.freeserve.co.uk/macrae/JaneMcCrea.htm
> > > >