Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy Birthday America!

On our nation's birthday, take the time to reflect on those of your ancestors who served in the Continental Army, local militias or offered aid and comfort to the patriot cause as non-combatants. I  put together a list of my own, at the risk of missing someone, here goes!

Captain Edward Prall, MD: signer of the Bush Declaration in 1775, served on various committees for Harford Co., MD, served with Smallwood's Maryland Regiment at Long Island, captured there, served with 1st Maryland Line in Southern Campaign. [unmarried brother of ancestor Cornelius Prall]

John Faucett, PA: served on Pennsylvania - Northern Virginia - Ohio frontier with Pennsylvania militia as "ranger and spy," briefly assigned to Virginia Regulars.

Holden Rhodes, RI: privateer [our naval forces], prize master aboard sloops Joseph and Satisfaction, spent   about 16 months as a POW at Britain's Forten Prison.

Seth Mahurin/Hurin, NJ: signed Articles of Association of the Freeholders & Inhabitants of Pequannock in the County of Morris, sent supplies to the Continental Army at Morristown Encampment, winter 1779-80.

John St. John, NY: Scofield's West Chester Militia of the 4th Regiment, New York Line.

John Simmons, Sr., NY: His tavern at Wall & Nassau Sts. in NYC was a patriot gathering place, served in the provisional 2nd Regiment of NY Troops. [DAR Patriot Index adds 5th & 6th NY Regiments, Duchess Co. Militia.] [Sons William and John, Jr. also served.]

John Simmons, Jr., NY: Onderdonk's Clarkstown Militia assigned to Hays' NY Regiment [1778-80], Bowman's Co., Col. Weissenfel's Regiment of NY Levies [1781-82]

Amos Singletary, MA: Sutton's representative in the Provincial Congress for 4 years.

Peter Jennison, MA: Growl's Militia Co., Col. Learned's Regiment at Lexington [19 April 1775]

General Thomas Sumter, SC: "The Gamecock," South Carolina partisan leader. [brother to ancestor Anna Sumter Land]

On the "distant cousin" side of the ledger:

General Nathanael Greene, RI: Quartermaster General of the Continental Army, assigned commander of Southern Army after Gates' disaster at Camden.

General Benedict Arnold, CT: with Ethan Allen, captured Fort Ticonderoga, wounded and captured during invasion of Quebec, Canada, hero of the Battle of Saratoga [received crippling wound in left leg] - at this point, possibly on of the greatest American military heroes on record. [Then things took a nosedive, culminating with his treasonous act of selling the plans of West Point to the British.]

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