My son has quite a few ancestors who served in the American Revolution. Both my husband and I have a handful of Tories, who remained in the newly minted United States of America after the war plus Loyalists who gave up everything and started a new life in Canada.
However, my son also has quite a few patriots who gave active or civil service during the Revolutionary War and, with tomorrow being Veteran’s Day, I’d like to honor those who believed that a new independent nation could be created.
These patriots lived everywhere – from Campobello Island, Canada throughout New England, the Middle Atlantic colonies and the South and, collectively, they saw the birth of a new nation.
Our family proudly thanks each man for their contribution to the founding of the United States of America:
William Hay (MA), who marched to Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775 and took part in the battle where someone fired “the shot heard around the world.”
Samuel Scripture (NH) fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) on 17 June 1775.
John Stufflebean (NY) enlisted in 1775 and served as a spy in the New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania area until he and others were captured by Mohawk Indians. Before escaping, he had to run the gauntlet. Eventually, he and a couple of other men made their way to the Ohio River and safely reached Kentucky.
James Scripture (NH) fought at the second Battle of Ticonderoga in July 1776.
Robert Wilson (Campobello Island, Canada) fought in the siege of Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia, 10-29 November 1776.
Jacob Miller (PA) fought at the Battle of Brandywine on 11 September 1777 and at the Battle of Stoney Point on 16 July 1779.
Moses Woosley (VA) survived the winter of December 1777 with General Washington at Valley Forge.
Francis Sturgill (VA) served in the Montgomery County, Virginia militia throughout the war, which, at that time, was the dangerous frontier. Family lore says he also took part in the Battle of King’s Mountain on 7 October 1780.
Joses Bucknam (MA) enlisted multiple times. He was at Ticonderoga in July 1776, Fort Hill in Boston, West Point and then was captured and sent to Old Mill Prison in England. He was part of a prisoner exchange and freed in June 1781.
Matthias Williams (VA), older brother of my son’s ancestor, William (who was too young to serve), watched the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown on 19 October 1781.
In addition to those with military service, there are three men who supported the cause:
John Hash (VA) and too old to service, signed the Oath of Allegiance.
John Haskell (ME) gave civil service as a town selectman, 1777-1778, in New Gloucester, Maine (part of Massachusetts as that time).
Samuel Tarbox (ME) gave civil service as the town warden, also in New Gloucester, Maine (part of Massachusetts at that time).
Thank you for your service.