The creation of the Tryon County, New York militia was authorized on March 8, 1772, when the Province of New York passed a bill for the establishment of organized militia in each county in the colony. By 1776 (at the start of the American War of Independence), the Tryon County militia had in effect become an army of rebellion under the control of the Tryon County Committee of Safety. The Tryon County militia would go on to fight at the important battles of Oriskany and Johnstown (among others) during the war. Early in 1772, the Colony of New York passed a bill for the establishment of organized militia in each county. In 1775, the Tryon County militia comprised four regiments, organized according to geographical location: 1st regiment: Canajoharie District, 2nd regiment: Palatine District, 3rd regiment: Mohawk District and 4th regiment: German Flatts & Kingsland Districts. A 5th regiment from the Harpersfield area was created under the command of a local resident, Colonel John Harper on March 3, 1780.