In the war of 1776, The American Revolution, Abraham Roosa was a private soldier in the Second New York Regiment, Continental Line, Also in Col. Albert Pawling's Regiment of new York Levies, and in the 2nd Regiment of Ulster County, New York, also a Sergeant in Col. Hathrom's Regiment of New York Militia.

His son, Isaac A. Roosa was commissioned as Ensign in the 4th New York line, Nov. 21st. 1776, and a Lieutenant in the same Regiment, Nov. 9th, 1777. Resigned Jan. 22nd, 1778. Was Lieutenant in the exempts of Hanover, Ulster County, New York, Sept. 30,1778.

In the War of 1812, David Roosa, son of Isaac A. Roosa, was in Captain John Bogart's Company of Col. Bevier's Regiment, New York Militia from Sept. 5th , to December 18th, 1814.

Aldert Heyman Roosa, Born in Holland in 1621, came to this country from Gelderland, Holland, on Wall (Waal) River, five miles west of Brommel (Bommel), April 15th, 1660 with his wife Wyntge Areins and eight children, born in Holland in 1622, on the ship "Spotted Cow" in command of Captain Peter Lucas and settled in Wilt Wyck of Esopus, now Kingston, Ulster County, N.Y. He was a wealthy man and brought much property from Holland. He speedily achieved an influential position in the early making of Kingston. In all he appears as leader and director of events. On May 5th, 1661, he was appointed Commissioner of Wilt Wyck and took the oath of office 16th of May. Peter Stuyvesant in behalf of the Mighty Lords, the stated General and the Lord Directors of the United Netherlands, granted Wilt Wyck it's first charter and Aldert Heyman Roosa was appointed Magistrate and therein designated an intelligent person. On the 11th of October, 1662, Roosa was commissioned to proceed to New Amsterdam to obtain 100 pounds of powder and 200 pounds of lead for the protection of the settlement. On April 7th, 1663, Roosa reported to Governor Stuyvesant that the savages were getting troublesome and suggested that the gifts promised them in the Treaty of 1660 be sent to them at once and a few soldiers and munitions of war to protect the settlement also be sent. The warning was not heeded and his earnest requests were not complied with and on the 7th day of June, 1663, the Indians attacked the New Village and Wilt Wyck. At Wilt Wyck they killed eighteen persons and took ten prisoners, burning twelve houses. New Village was burned to the ground. Out of seventy-eight inhabitants sixty-five were killed or taken prisoner. Roosa with twelve others escaped to Wilt Wyck. Of these nine were severely wounded. On July 26th an expedition two hundred strong started out to look for the Indians. Of this number 145 were inhabitants, leaving 36 soldiers in the garrison, but they failed to find the Indians. After burning 200 acres of corn and 100 pits of beans, they returned to Wilt Wyck.

On September 3rd a second expedition started out, besides the troops, the expedition included seven citizens of Wilt Wyck, of whom Roosa was one. The Indians were found on the Shawangumh Kill, twenty-eight miles from Wilt Wyck. The Indians were attacked. Their Chief and fourteen warriors, four white woman and three children were killed and twenty-three prisoners were rescued, among whom were Roosa's two little girls, Elizabeth and Anita. The white women and children were killed in a crossfire in the battle.

After the Dutch had surrendered to the English in 1664, the English soldiers were sent to Wilt Wyck to replace the Dutch officials. In protest against the indignities put on the Dutch settlement by the English soldiers, Aldert Heyman Roosa, in 1667, led the revolt against the military authorities. For this Roosa was tried before one of the King Justices and was sentenced to be banished from the Colony for life and fined 100 bushels of wheat. It was afterwards proved that the trial was prejudiced and the English Captain was suspended (Captain Broadhead) and Roosa was returned. An outburst of the same spirit which threw off the oppression yoke in 1776 and carried this country triumphal through the Revolution. April 7th, 1670, he was appointed Overseer of Hurley and Marbletown and October 25th, 1671, by an order of Governor Loveler, Roosa was appointed Commissioner for Kingston. On the 7th day of August, 1673, twenty-three Dutch warships with 1600 soldiers entered New York Bay, and on the 9th the Dutch flag floated over Manhattan and Colonel Anthony Colve was made Governor and on October 6th, 1673, Aldert Heyman Roosa was appointed captain over Hurley and Marbletown by Colve and described as captain Aldert who had been prominent in the Revolt of 1667. Captain Roosa died at Hurley, February 27th, 1679.
 
 

Head of the Roosa Family
 
 
 

The head of the Roosa family in this country was Aldert Heyman Roosa, born in Holland, in 1621. Came to this country April 1660 on the ship called "The Spotted Cow", with his wife Weynt je Arie, born in Holland 1622, with eight children, ages 17, 15, 14, 9, 8, 7, 4, and 2, respectively, and settled in Wiltwick, now Kingston, Ulster County.

History says Roosa was a wealthy man and brought many goods from Holland, became one of three first Magistrates, and laid out the town of Hurley, and was the leader and director of events. December 25th, 1660, he and his wife participated in the Lord's Supper in the Dutch Church at Wiltwick, and in the spring of 1661, guaranteed to pay Dominie Hyman Bloom a salary as pastor. As the destruction of the town of Hurley by the Indians, June 7th, 1663, two of the Roosa children with 43 others including women and children were stolen by the Indians. This capture can be found in the History of the War in Ulster County. He died in 1679.

Jan Aldert Roosa, born in Holland, 1651, married Willegard W. VanBuren, born in Holland, 1653. He was a son of Aldert Heyman Roosa and Wyntge Ariens.

Aldert Jansen Roosa, born in Ulster County, 1676, married Rebecca Schepmoes, born 1687, son of Jan Aldert Roosa and Willegard W. Schepmoes.

Abraham Roosa, born March 18, 1718, married Elizabeth Rutson, born 1719, daughter of Col. Jacob Rutson, son of Aldert Jansen Roosa and Rebecca Schepmoes.

Isaac A. Roosa, born April 21st, 1751, married Catherine De La Montanye, born 1752, died 1809. Son of Abraham Roosa and Elizabeth Rutson, died 1803.

David Roosa, born October 25th, 1783, married Henrietta Osterhought, born 1784. Son of Isaac A. Roosa and Catherine De La Montanye, he died March 26th, 1846.
Abraham Roosa, born August 1st, 1810, died August 24th, 1879. Married Abigail C. Minard, born March 4th, 1814, died January 1st, 1835. Son of David Roosa and Henrietta Osterhought.

William M. Roosa, born in Ulster County, New York, youngest son of Abraham Roosa and Abigail Minard, married Mary Elizabeth Paulding, December 19th, 1878.

The other children of David Roosa and Henrietta Osterhought were Isaac Roosa, Luke Roosa, Henry Roosa (who was a twin of Abraham Roosa), John Roosa, Peter Roosa, and two daughters, Catherine Roosa and Harriett Roosa.