Fife Major Alexander McKay

John McKay served in the New York, 1st but authorized as the 2nd Regiment with the rank of, Fife Major in the American Revolution. In the beginning of the formation they were assigned to the Northern and Canadian Campaigns.

Then in 1778, they served in various parts of General Washington's Continental Army Line; including as a portion of the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade during the military actions around Philadelphia and Monmouth, and as New York Brigade soldiers as well. He was among those who spent that famous harsh winter with Washington at Valley Forge and crossed the Delaware to attack Trenton.

By the latter half of that year they had been officially reassigned to the Northern Department and on November 4, 1778 they were ordered to relieve the 3rd NY and garrison Fort Schuyler.

Officially in early of 1781, the 3rd NY Regiment was consolidated into the 1st NY Regiment (as five New York regiments were consolidated into two for the remainder of the war). The combined NY Regiments took part in the Siege of Yorktown in October of 1781. The New York Light Infantry companies made up part of the force that successfully attacked Redoubt Number 10, which helped bring about the British surrender. After Yorktown, the New York troops went into winter quarters at Pomton, New Jersey.

In the spring of 1782, the two New York regiments went into final quarters at New Windsor, New York, serving in garrison at West Point, New York, overlooking NYC until its disbandment. When the British Army evacuated New York City as a result of negotiations between George Washington and Sir Guy Carleton. At which time Colonel Jackson had immediate command of the 800-man column that marched into New York City on November 25, 1783, under General Washington, to formally take possession of the city for the United States.

The duty of Fife Major was given to a trained soldier who would pass his skills to non-combatants, namely boys who generally did not fight.

https://mckaystevens.us/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I304&tree=1

https://www.americanwars.org/ny-american-revolution/new-york-line-f...

https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/rev/New_York_In_The_Revolution...

https://archive.org/details/newyorkinrevolut00newy/page/24/mode/2up