Johannes Youngblood was born September 30, 1729, a son of Johannes Jungblut and Anna Maria Kaffenut.  His birthplace is unknown.  The Jungbluts, along with two other immigrant families, purchased 800 acres of wilderness from a New York City land speculator.  Their property was west of the village of Montgomery at present-day Orange County.  The Youngbloods, Buchstabers and Sinsibaughs were among the first settlers in that area.  When they arrived, there was no time to build a proper cabin.  The families excavated a resting place in the side of a gravelly hill and overwintered there.

In 1761, Johannes Youngblood married 18-year-old Catharina Buchstaber.  She was a daughter of Jacob Buchstaber, one of the original three settlers.  They were the parents of eleven children:  seven daughters and four sons.  Two children did not survive to adulthood.

When America declared its’ independence from Great Britain, Youngblood, along with most of his neighbors, signed up to serve with the local militia, the Second Ulster County Regiment.  He did not apply for a pension, but the narrative of others describe the type of service that the men of this regiment experienced.

The regiment provided support for Forts Montgomery and Clinton, where they overlooked the Hudson River.  After the forts fell to the British in 1777, they were called upon periodically to march to the southern and western regions of the county in response to alarms on the frontier.  Tories and their Indian allies found those outlying communities an easy target and a way to create a distraction for the militia units.  This prevented their providing support for the Continental Army.  Various companies were called to serve a few days at a time.  They marched to a remote area and remained a few days until the threats subsided, and returned.  This resulted in numerous skirmishes with small groups.  In 1779, a company of Ulster Militia was massacred at Minisink, when they lost the element of surprise while attacking a much larger British force.

Following the war, Youngblood continued his life as a successful farmer.  In 1799, he prepared his Last Will and Testament.  He divided several parcels of land among his three oldest sons.  He arranged for his youngest son to receive 300 pounds when he reached adulthood.  He divided his personal property equally among his seven daughters.  In addition, he provided 30 pounds for each of his three youngest daughters.  This was to be equivalent to an amount the older four had previously received.  He instructed his oldest sons to provide for their mother and to continue to raise his other children.

William Youngblood died May 5, 1802.  He was laid to rest in the cemetery adjacent to the Brick Reformed Church.  Catharina Buchstaber Youngblood died September 3, 1807.  His many descendants lived in the area for generations. 

References:

1.  Eager, Samuel W.:  Outline History of Orange County New York, Pg. 259.

2.  Hughes, James:  Surveyor, Farm Map of the Town of Crawford, Orange County, New York, 1863.

3.  New York.  Surrogate's Court (Orange County).  Probate Place: Orange, New York.  New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, Probate Records, 1787-1916.  Index to Surrogate's Records, 1787-1941.

4.  Palatine Families of New York and New Jersey, Pg. 134-135.

5.  Roberts, James A.:  New York in the Revolution, Pg. 261.

6.  Ruttenber, E. M., and L. H. Clark:  History of Orange County New York, Pg. 171, 372.