David Hobby was born 18 December 1743 at Westchester County, New York, a son of Joseph Hobby and Sarah Knapp.  He married Sarah Knapp, of Connecticut, 26 March 1761.  Sarah was born 1743 at Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut.  They had the following children:  Sarah, Jonathan, David, and Lydia.

In 1775, David Hobby was a First Lieutenant at North Castle, Westchester County, East Company, New York.  In 1780, he was promoted to Major in Colonel Thomas’ 2nd Regiment in the Westchester County, New York, Militia.  He is later reported as a Lieutenant Colonel at Westchester County, in the New York Council of Appointments.  His name appears in the U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls of 1775-1783, as a Major, in Van Rensselaer’s New York Regiment. 

In George Washington’s Papers, David Hobby is mentioned in the General Order, dated 6 June 1776.  In this entry it is stated by General Washington, Mr. George Edgel who was assigned to Captain Hobby’s Company, Colonel Ritzema’s Regiment, received a General Court Martial for “…leaving his guard, getting drunk, and damning the Officer of the guard.”  He was found guilty and was to receive thirty-nine lashes.  There was no recorded comment from Major Hobby in regards to this incident.

In Washington’s Papers, David Hobby was mentioned to have been a prisoner of war from 3 September to 22 October 1781.  This is confirmed in New York in the Revolution.   David Hobby’s name does appear on the prisoner rolls.  Additionally, his son, Jonathan, also appears in the Roll, below David Hobby’s name.  The prisons in New York ranged from sugar houses, dissenting churches, Columbia College and certain hospitals.  Some ships were converted to prisons.  Generally the ships were for naval prisoners, but occasionally, soldiers would be held on them.  Prisoners would experience brutal treatment, including inadequate clothing and protection from the elements, minimal food, no medical attention, and even death.

Colonel David Hobby died 27 February 1812 at North Castle, Westchester County, New York and was buried at the Middle Point Rural Cemetery, Banksville, New York.   Sarah Knapp Hobby died 22 July 1822 at North Castle, Westchester, New York.  She was buried at the Middle Point Rural Cemetery.

References

1. North American Family Histories, 1500-2000, Vol. 110, Pg. 77.

2. American Revolutionary History of North Castle.

3. Archives of the State of New York.  Volume 15.  Pg. 304-500, 543, 547.

4. History of Saratoga County New York.  Everts and Ensign.  Philadelphia. Pg. 199, 438.  Sylvester, Nathaniel B.  1878. 

5. The Nicholas Knapp Genealogy, by Alfred A. Knapp, Pg. 23.

6. Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of New York, 1783-1821, Vol. 1, Pg. 364.

7. American Prisoners of the Revolution.  Dandridge, Danske.

8. New York in the Revolution, Oliver A Quayle. Albany.  Pg 42.  Knight, Erastus C.  1901.