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I am interested to know how many here have ancestors that fought in the revolutionary war. I have several ancestors that were Officers and enlisted personnel that fought in that war. Love to hear from others. What state etc.
I am interested to know how many here have ancestors that fought in the revolutionary war. I have several ancestors that were Officers and enlisted personnel that fought in that war. Love to hear from others. What state etc.
My wife has several. I think everyone with colonial ancestry probably is descended from someone who fought on either side.
I have a 6th great grandfather on my paternal side who was from Switzerland and immigrated to PA in 1769, served in the Revolutionary War for 7 years as a bugler and fifer and also George Washington's barber. After the war, he moved to Ohio.
On my maternal side, I have 5th and 6th great grandfathers (father and son) in my Reiff branch from PA (the elder's father was of Swiss/German origin and immigrated in 1717) who served, though this was unusual because they were Mennonites who are pacifists and also opposed the revolution. But they served in the Pennsylvania reserves so may not have seen any action. Plus, they may have converted to Mennonites after the war though, I'm still a bit unclear on when they converted.
Another 5th and 6th great grandfathers father/son pair from my Cobb/Cobbs branch were from Virginia. The father was a Colonel and is believed to have been in his 50s or 60s when he served! His grandfather and great grandfather had immigrated from England in the 1630s so they were well established Virginians by the revolution.
In another Virginia branch, the Smiths, my 6th great grandfather was also a Colonel. I'm still unclear whether he was born in Virginia or immigrated.
Back to PA, another 5th great grandfather from my Rorer branch served (his father was from Switzerland and immigrated in 1740). I have his pension application which details his service.
All fought for the Revolution.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BJW50
My wife has several. I think everyone with colonial ancestry probably is descended from someone who fought on either side.
I'm not sure I'd say everyone - most people, yes. But a minority of people may have descended from pacifists like the Mennonites I mentioned above. If this is their only colonial ancestry or their entire ancestry (such as many practising Amish and Mennonites of today), they may not necessarily have any ancestors who served. Though some did, especially in the reserves, it was certainly not encouraged among their communities since the vast majority of them opposed it. In fact, my 1st cousin 7 times removed was a Mennonite bishop who was excommunicated for his vocal support of the Revolutionary War and started this movement: Funkite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It was a very controversial issue for pacifists who also took their vows to the British government very seriously - most of them being Swiss/German immigrants or sons of immigrants who naturalized as British citizens in the colony.
The progenitor of my father's family came to Salem Colony in Massachusets in 1630 at the age of 11, and he and at least one son served in the militia during Prince Phillips's War, then the large family he started spread out in Massachusets and Connecticut over the next couple of generations, and thence into New York just before the Revolutionary War.
At that time the family split its loyalties, with some members serving the Revolution, including one of my direct ancestors, who joined the New York Militia, while other members stayed loyal to King George and fled to Nova Scotia to avoid the conflict. That's a story that doesn't often get told.
Then along came the War of 1812 and another ancestor served in the military. I just found his pension records, when he collected $8/month for his service.
Mine were all in Virginia militia units for the most part stationed in the Western counties of our original commonwealth in what's now West Virginia and Kentucky. Some were fighting for the British immediately prior to the revolution against the Indians in Lord Dunmore's War and just switched sides with their militia units right after they got back and the colony declared its independence. In both the revolution and the War of 1812 they only fought Indian tribes allied with the British out on the frontier as they were all too far West to encounter any red coats. Some were buddies of Daniel Boone and my 5x great grandfather was captured along with Boone during the war but escaped and made his way back to Boonesboro. He later testified against Boone during a trial after he was released, claiming that Boone had sold out the settlers in exchange for his freedom. They were there during the great siege of 1778 when the Indians tried to wait them out, unsuccessfully.
My gggg-grandfather was at Valley Forge and crossed the Delaware with Washington.
Initially I thought it odd that the man was born in 1756 but was only 4 greats away from my generation. Further investigation revealed that he was 60 when he married my gggg-grandmother (she was 24). They went on to have 8 kids, on top of the 10 kids he had by his first wife
Let's see.
5th ggfather was a cabin boy aboard a British warship, jumped ship and joined the colonists. Was with Washington at Valley Forge and lost some toes to frostbite.
His wife's father and brothers were killed at the Wyoming Valley massacre.
A different 5th ggfather, was hanged by General Cleveland as a tory. His father-in-law (6th ggrandfather) and eldest son may have been hanged alongside him.
There are a few lines I haven't gotten that far back on yet so who knows what else I'll find.
Quite a few on my mother's side because they settled in Massachusetts in the early 1600s and by the Revolution had spread out into CT, NH, VT and some still in MA. I had one family who were Royalists and they gave up their land and fled to Canada after the war. I didn't have anyone famous, just men who went to war and fought.
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Relatives in the Revolutionary War
