David Tryon

     David Tryon was born in 1762 at Fishkill, Dutchess Co, New York.¹ He was the son of Daniel Tryon and Ellenor Vaughan. David Tryon married Elizabeth Lewis, daughter of Timothy Lewis and Sarah Austin, on 9 June 1783 at Congregational Church, Ashfield, Franklin Co, Massachusetts; David Tryon and Elisabeth Lewis, both of “Shafsbury New-State,” June 9, 1783. Intention not recorded.^2,3 David Tryon married Anna Bullis, daughter of Joseph Bullis and Lydia Johnson, between 1815 and 1827; Anna was named as his wife in David's pension records. We know that on 11 Nov 1827, William Tryon, then of Hinchenbrooke, Quebec, sold land in Sabrevois to Joshua Bullis, Anna's son.¹ David Tryon died on 11 February 1836 at Alburgh, Grand Isle Co, Vermont; Death date was given on his final payment voucher received from the General Accounting Office for his service pension.^1,4
     On 18 Dec 1822, there was a Protest by Leon Lalanne, Notary, against David Tryon, put forth at the request of Stephen Hix Salls. Supposedly, on the 2nd day of November past, agreement was reached and deed given to Stephen Hix Salls for land on the north side of the "highway", from Taylor's Mills to the River Richelieu, which is opposite of Lot #15 in the Fourth Concession of Noyan. Stephen Hix Salls was ready to accept all terms and David Tryon replied, "I am sick and unable to attend to any business this day", so the notary offered to execute the Title at David's house, and he made the same reply. Stephen insisted he be reimbursed for all damages and expenses as a result of the delay. Isaac French and Peter Williams were witnesses. In "order that the said David might not pretend and plead ignornace hereof an authentic copy of these presents has been left with him."⁵ According to David Tryon's sworn statement on 20 Feb 1835, he was "born in a place then called Fishkill in the state of New York...in the year A.D. 1762". In March 1780, David was residing at Shaftsbury, Vermont where he enlisted for nine months service in the military under Captain William Hutchins in Colonel Ebenezer Allen's Regiment. They "marched to Pittsford where they built a picket fort and scouted from place to place to protect the inhabitants from Indians, Tories and and British...". He served nine months and was discharged.
According to his own story, he removed to New Fairfield, Connecticut for a short time after his service. His name appears on the 1782 list of Freeman at Shaftsbury. By 1783/4 David Tryon was of Clarenceville, Quebec, but it is possible his wife Elizabeth remained for a time in Vermont or Ashfield, MA while he prepared for their lives in Quebec. Many documents concerning the Tryons are located within the files of Leon Lalanne, a notary for the area.
It appears he was ill in 1835 as several notarial documents show he was taking care of land he held. In 1835 there were two transactions to Henry Salls concerning the land granted him in Hereford. On 2 Jan 1836, only a month before his death, he appointed Henry Salls attorney for the land there. On 8 Jan 1836, he appointed Albert Chapman as attorney for the land he had previously purchased from Samuel Wells in Farnham (original sale from Wells was passed before Samuel Gale, notary of Farnham - no date mentioned).
David Tryon's pension application on 20 Feb 1835 says he is a resident of Alburgh, Vermont, however, I find it very unlikely that he ever lived there. I would assume he made a statement to that effect so that he might be able to draw a pension, which he did. I don't believe he ever left Quebec, however, as of this writing (1990) no gravestone has ever been located nor any record of his death, other than the date given by his widow on later pension papers.
Phineas Smith of Alburgh testified 20 Feb 1835 that he personally knew of David Tryon's service during the Revolutionary War in the year 1780. Richard Latin of Franklin, Vermont also testified on that same day that he was personally acquainted with David Tryon. A statement dated 17 May 1836, taken at Alburgh, Vermont, signed by William Ford, states that David Tryon died 11 Feb 1836, and he "helped lay him out, sat up with his corpse, and helped bury him". No gravestone has ever been located for David Tryon.^1,6