I thought I'd focus on the stories of ancestors [direct and collateral] for awhile. I'm going to try to take the surnames alphabetically. That brings a "collateral cousin" up first.
ARNOLD: My direct Arnold descent is through the immigrant, William [1587-1675] and his daughter Joanna [1616-1693], who married Zachariah Rhodes. Joanna's elder brother was governor of Rhodes Island and passed his given name on for several generations. Gov. Arnold's great-great-grandson was a pharmacist, merchant trader and gained a reputation as a superb military leader early in the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, the officer's ego and vanity frequently got in his way. Although Horatio Gates received the credit for the American victory a Saratoga in 1777, it was Arnold who turned the tide and received a serious leg wound. He was appointed military governor of Philadelphia while he recuperated. Arnold was court-martialed and received a reprimand from Gen. Washington, who later offered him a field command. Arnold chose the job of commandant of West Point. Gen. Arnold, with the help of his Loyalist- sympathizing wife, Peggy Shippen, negotiated with British spy, Maj. John Andre to turn over West Point to the enemy. The plot was discovered, Andre was captured and hanged, but Arnold escaped. Gen. Arnold was given a Loyalist command in the British Army. The proud name of Benedict Arnold was terminated in the American line. Now how many of us can have a military hero and traitor wrapped up in one package!?
No comments:
Post a Comment