Husband of Rebecca Sarah Gardenier (1777-1824). Son of Simeon Relyea and Osseltje (Phillips) Relyea. Grandson of Dennis Relyea and Jeanne Elizabeth (LeRoy) Relyea and Hendrick Phillips and Marritje (Oostrom) Phillips.

David fought in the Revolutionary War. He enlisted at age 17, in 1777, at Fort Constitution on the North River and fought 3 years under Captain James Craig. He also served in the Regiment of Col. Peter Gansevoort of the New York line. David was discharged in 1783, after the war, at Paramus, New Jersey at the age of 23. He had served six years during the time of the Revolutionary War. (According to DAR Lineage Books, David served as private in Capt. James Craig's company, Col. Henry Gansevoort's regiment, New York Line.)

David was the father of thirteen children with Rebecca Gardner. Their names were: John W. Ralya, Elizabeth (Ralya) Mumford, Anthony Wayne Ralya, Cassiah Nancy (Ralya) Morris, Mary Ralya, David D. Rallya, William Wilson Ralya, Rachel (Ralya) Strayer, Rebecca (Ralya) Bossard, Catherine (Ralya) Strayer, Susannah (Ralya) Miller, Esther (Ralya) Miller and Henry Ralya. David died in South Vernon, Crawford County, Pennsylvania.

David was an early pioneer of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Records as early as 1798 show him living in "Mead" Township. In 1810 and 1820, he lived in Sadsbury Township and by 1830 he was living in Vernon Township. In his later years, David became blind and he went to live with his son, David D. Rallya, in South Vernon Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1846 at age 85.

Note: David's name was changed when he joined the Army. He could not read or write and so it is believed that the Army wrote his name out as it sounded "Ralya." All descendants of David Ralya and his wife Rebecca appear to have gone by the revised spelling of Ralya or Rallya. Technically, however, the family name (or at least the name going back to David's parents and grandparents) was spelled "Relyea" or "Relje." Many of the old church records in the Dutch Reformed Church records use the spelling "Relje" back in the 1600's and 1700's in early US records.

David is definitely buried in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Most likely on or near his property in South Vernon. We were given information many years ago by the Crawford County Historical Society or Genealogy Society that there had been a record of his burial in Crawford County somewhere but the information may have been lost or is in storage with other documents from the area. Also, I was given information from the DAR that they also had a record at one point regarding his burial in Crawford County.

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Declaration of David Ralya in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832

State of Pennsylvania

Crawford Co. Penn.

On the thirtieth of June One Thousand eight hundred and thirty four, personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County State of Pennsylvania, David Ralya, a resident of Vernon Township in the County of Crawford, aforesaid, aged Seventy four years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June, 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the beginning of the year 1777, at Fort Constitution on the North River, for three years, in the company of Captain James Craig; served in the Regiment of Colonel Henry Gansevort of the New York line, under the following named officers, Viz-Lieutenant Colonel Marion Willet, Major Robert Cochran, and Lieutenant Stockwith and was discharged in 1783 after the war, at Paramus, New Jersey, having served from his first enlistment throughout the war.

"I was born in Duchess County, New York on the 30th of December 1760 -- where I resided when I entered the service. We marched from Fort Constitution to Fort Stanwick to join the Regiment, where we remained for two years under the command of Colonel Gansevort in the Fort and expeditions in the neighborhood.In 1777 we were besieged by the British, Tories and Indians for 21 days, under General St. Leger and was retrieved by General Arnold after the surrender of Burgoyne.

In 1779 we joined General James Clinton with the other regiments and marched to Lake Owego, where we remained until we dammed the Lake and raised a sufficiency of water to carry boats down to Tioga Point. We then joined General Sullivan and marched to the Gennipoo River against the Indians of The Six Nations -- at Chemug we had a considerable contest with them. We killed some and dispersed the others -- destroyed their crops and burned their villages. Previous to this engagement I was on a party of 18 with Lieut. Boyd at New Town Point Swamp. We were attacked by the Indians, sixteen were killed and only one Thomas Murphy and myself escaped. We afterwards found the remains of Lieutenant Boyd and buried him. A part of us returned to Fort Stanwick to bring the baggage; the remainder went to Tappan Bay.I was one of the guards of Major Andre at his execution in October 1780. We lay afterwards at New Brundswick, Morristown and other places as we could get provisions served when under Sullivan in Constitution, with General Hand from Pennsylvania, General Clinton from New York Line, Door (Duer) from New England, and General Maso---- (blotted) of New Jersey."

He hereby relinquishes any claim to a pension or an annuity except the present, and he hereby declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State. ---

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid His

Edw. A. Reynolds Prothy & David C. Ralya Mark.

And now June 30, 1834 the said court declares their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and is knowned to one of the Judges of the court for upwards of twentyfive years.

Certified June 30, 1834

Henry Huppen(y)