My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: A Summary--and one American Loyalist

So here's what I have learned:

--There are 21 ancestors in my family tree who saw battle during the American Revolution, plus four who were active in different capacities, what DAR indicates as "Patriotic Service".  

Total number of Revolutionary War Patriots: 25

--Four other ancestors are problematic, with conflicting information or misinformation about their military service. This will fuel future research projects.

--Eight other ancestors who I previously believed were involved in or fought in the Revolutionary War have no record of military involvement during the time period.

--My ancestor NATHAN EDSON II fought at the Battle of Lexington & Concord, at the very start of the war.

--My ancestor MICHAEL STUMP II fought at the Battle of Yorktown, at the very end of the war.

--Three ancestors fought in both the French & Indian war, AND the Revolutionary War: 

NATHAN EDSON II (Massachusetts)

ELEAZER SLASON (New York

STEPHEN GALE II (New Hampshire)

ONE LOYALIST

--There was only one American Loyalist in my family tree.  Captain WILLIAM RIDDLE was born about 1740 on the Flatt River in Orange County, North Carolina, and married HARRIET "HAPPY "ROBERTS.  WILLIAM RIDDLE was a Melungeon, of mixed African, Native American and European ancestry. In 1774, while he was living in Montgomery County, Virginia, he served in Lord Dunmore's War, and was on the pay list of Capt HERBERT, his surname spelled RIDDELL. He fought alongside MICAJER/MICAJAH BUNCH (also Melungeon)  at the battle of Point Pleasant on October 10, 1774. They were also defendants in a lawsuit with their commanding officer, Captain WILLIAM HERBERT.

There was a court record from Montgomery County, Virginia from November of 1780, a "Petition of JAMES ROBERTS, JESSE MEEKS & WILLIAM RIDDLE; they are received as members of the community as long as they behave as Good Citizens" ( They were Loyalists/Tories and apparently had been causing trouble).

On April 20, 1781, Colonel BENJAMIN CLEVELAND was kidnapped by Tories in North Carolina. Captain WILLIAM RIDDLE was the leader of the gang who kidnapped him. The kidnapping (in retaliation for CLEVELAND's frequent hanging of Tories) was not successful in the end. Captain WILLIAM RIDDLE was captured, imprisoned and tried in May 1781 in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.  He was  hanged as a traitor, on "Tory Oak" on the Wilkesboro County Courthouse lawn,  along with four others, possibly including his son MOSES.  His wife HAPPY witnessed the hanging. There are several published accounts of CLEVELAND's kidnapping and the hanging of WILLIAM RIDDLE.

Tory Oak, Wilkesboro, North Carolina

This has been a fabulous research project!  I'm very glad I had the opportunity to dive deeply into my favorite era of American history. 

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2026

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Four Ancestors Who Are Problematic, and Eight Who Have No Records

Colonial Homestead

Source: Library of Congress

While researching those ancestors in my family tree who actually saw battle during the Revolutionary War, I discovered  four ancestors in my family tree that gave me significant problems regarding proof of their service.  Plus there were eight ancestors for whom I could find no records at all. 

ANCESTORS IN THE LINEAGE OF MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER RB MARTINE WHO ARE PROBLEMATIC

THOMAS SAUNDERS/SANDERS was born about 1735 in Goochland or Cumberland County, Virginia, the son of JAMES SAUNDERS Sr & ANN PATTISON of Goochland (later Albemarle) County, Virginia. JAMES SAUNDERS Sr migrated (along with some of his sons) to Orange County, North Carolina, where he established a grist mill. THOMAS SAUNDERS did not accompany his father to North Carolina. He was married to MARY POLLY MITCHELL in about 1758 in Albemarle County, Virginia; she was likely the daughter of ARCHELAUS MITCHELL & ANN REED of Albemarle County (as per DNA evidence). THOMAS SAUNDERS lived in Buckingham County, Virginia (formed from Albemarle) from 1773 until his removal to Davidson County, Tennessee in about 1800, as per land deeds. THOMAS SAUNDERS died 28 Nov 1812 in Davidson County, Tennessee, and left a will. Unfortunately THOMAS SAUNDERS & wife MARY MITCHELL have been  listed in DAR records, but with records showing that they died in Bute County, North Carolina.  This is clearly incorrect, since the couple never lived in North Carolina (although his father & several brother did).  There is also no indication that THOMAS SAUNDERS fought in the Revolutionary War. He may have fought in the French & Indian War, but so far I have found  no records.

JONATHAN SCOFIELD II born 27 November, 1748 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, was the son of JONATHAN SCOFIELD I & RACHEL LOUNSBURY. He  married JEMIMA FINCH on 17 March 1772 in Fairfield County. This is a case where there appears to be two men of the same name from the same area.  There is no doubt that both fought in the Revolutionary War; it's just impossible to pinpoint which of the two is my ancestor!  What is known: They both had rank of Private, and both died young.  One enlistment notice is for Captain WATERBURY's regiment 13 January 1777 in Stamford, Fairfield County.  A second enlistment notice occurred on 18 May 1777 in  Capt SILVANUS BROWN's 8th Connecticut Regiment under Col JOHN CHANDLER from Fairfield County. This regiment was at Valley Forge by winter of 1777. The Valley Forge Pvt JOHN SCOFIELD from Fairfield County was hospitalized from Nov 1777-Jan 1778, and died in hospital January 11, 1778 at Valley Forge.  Other records show that JONATHAN SCOFIELD II, my ancestor,  of Stamford may have died sometime after 1783. Here is a probate record from Stamford: SCOFIELD, JONATHAN, late of Stamford, June 4, 1799, REYNOLDS FINCH SCOFIELD, a son of decedent, made choice of SELLECK SCOFIELD to be his guardian, page 495. SOURCE: Abstracts of Stamford Probate Records - Book One compiled by Spencer P. Mead.  (REYNOLDS FINCH SCOFIELD is my ancestor;  SELLECK SCOFIELD is his uncle).  The probate record seems to suggest that JONATHAN SCOFIELD II was alive as late as 1799! 

ANCESTORS IN THE LINEAGE OF MY MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER RUBY BOLTON BROWN MARTINE WHO ARE PROBLEMATIC

DANIEL BOLTON Sr was born 1 July 1747 in Reading, Middlesex, Massachusetts, the son of WILLIAM BOLTON II & MARY NURSE.  By the time the Revolutionary War broke out, DANIEL was living in Hallowell, Lincoln County, Massachusetts (later Maine). He married (likely as 2nd wife) RELIANCE PRATT HOVEY, the widow of EBENEZER HOVEY,  who served in the Continental Army under Col JOSEPH NORTH, and who died 18 August 1777 in Hallowell.  DANIEL BOLTON & RELIANCE PRATT HOVEY were wed on 19 November 1778.  DANIEL enlisted in Capt TIMOTHY FOSTER's Company,  Maj LITHGO's Detachment, Sep 1 1779-Nov 1779, spending 2 months defending the frontiers of Lincoln County. After the war, DANIEL BOLTON Sr lived in York County, Maine, and then possibly Cumberland County Maine.  He definitely fought in the Revolutionary War. My problem is that I can't prove that he was actually the father of my ancestor DANIEL BOLTON who was born 1794 in Windham, Cumberland, Maine, and who married THANKFUL MORTON. This DANIEL BOLTON was a joiner & ship's carpenter who later had a business in Westbrook, Cumberland, Maine.

STEPHEN GALE II  was born 8 June 1736 in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, the son of STEPHEN GALE I and EDNAH LITTLE. His father died at age 36, and his mother married twice after, 1st to JACOB ELA and then EBENEZER GAGE.   STEPHEN GALE II may have fought in the French & Indian War in 1757, and ended up in New Hampshire before 1770 (no records so far). He married 1st to PHEBE PIPER in 1770 in Sanbornton, Strafford County, New Hampshire; and 2nd to MEHITABLE PLUMER, as per DAR records and the  dates of the birth records of their children. According to certain local New Hampshire history books, STEPHEN was one of the first men to scale the walls at Fort Ticonderoga on May 10 1775, and was promoted to the rank of Major for his gallantry. Was he one of the Green Mountain Boys under ETHAN ALLEN & BENEDICT ARNOLD? There doesn't seem to be a record of him fighting with ETHAN ALLEN.  And here's another problem: A different STEPHEN GALE who married SUSANNA FLANDERS and who died  10 September 1813 in Laconia,  Belknap (formed from Strafford) County, New Hampshire is purportedly the private  who scaled the walls at Fort Ticonderoga and was promoted to Major. I now strongly suspect that my ancestor was not the man of this name who at Fort Ticonderoga.  I do know that he was a town Selectman for Sanbornton for many years.  In his will,  my ancestor STEPHEN GALE II names his wife PHEBE, two daughters EDNAH & ELIZABETH, and indicates that his "daughter MEHITABLE GALE (daughter of MEHITABEL PLUMER) to have as much and in the same manner as my two other daughters".  This leads me to believe that he was not actually married in 1776 to MEHITABLE PLUMER (no marriage record has been found), and that their daughter MEHITABLE GALE was illegiitmate. STEPHEN PLUMER II died 9 July 1815 in Sanbornton, Strafford (now Belknap) County, New Hampshire.  More research to come!

LIST OF MY ANCESTORS FOR WHOM NO REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS COULD BE FOUND

-GABRIEL PALMER m ABIGAIL LOUNSBURY; lived Fairfield Co Connecticut & Dutchess Co New York; died bf 1820

-DAVID BRUTON Sr m 1st Unknown; 2nd SUSANNA; died 1816 Spartanburg, South Carolina. Two of his brothers fought in the Rev War; he did not.

-JACOB SHERRILL  m 1st MARGARET LOWRANCE, 2nd SARAH SALLY MASSEY; d 8 March 1831 Lincoln Co North Carolina. His father &  brothers fought in the Rev War in NC, but apparently he did not. 

-ROBERT SCOTT m GRACE; born in  Virginia, migrated to Pulaski Co Kentucky; died abt 1835 Connorsville, Fayette, Indiana; local genealogies & histories indicate that he fought in the Rev War in Virginia. But I can't verify. Too many with the name Robert Scott!

-NICHOLAS JONES born Bertie County North Carolina; married MARTHA PATSY MOORE, daughter of ARTHUR MOORE; migrated to Madison & Pulaski County Kentucky, then Tennessee; died bef 1830 in or near Fayetteville, Lincoln County Tennessee.

-JACOB HUBER  Sr may have been a German Immigrant; m 2nd MAGDALEN; died 18 October 1803,  Berlin, Somerset, Pennsylvania. Only one child named in his will, son WILHELM/WILLIAM HUBER 

-JOHANN JACOB KEFFER German Immigrant, m ANNA MARIA NASS; died June 1802 Berlin, Somerset, Pennsylvania. His wife & some of his children migrated to Ontario, Canada

-FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER m MARIA ELZABETH BEYERLE, died 27 February 1830 Frederick County, Maryland. No records.

Have a great day! 

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2026

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Four with Patriotic Service Designation from the DAR

 

While researching those ancestors in my family tree who actually saw battle during the Revolutionary War, I discovered that three ancestors in my family tree are listed by DAR for their patriotic service, not military service. One ancestor is not listed in the DAR, but did sign the Oath of Allegiance, according to historical references.

ANCESTORS IN THE LINEAGE OF MY MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER RUBY BOLTON BROWN MARTINE WITH PATRIOTIC SERVICE DESIGNATION

ANDREW JEWETT son of JOSEPH JEWETT & ANNA WIGGIN,  was born 28 October 1750 Stratham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. He married about 1776 MARY "MOLLY" PIPER, then 2nd to LYDIA MORRISON inabout 1796.   He died 11 February 1819 in Sanbornton, Belknap County, New Hampshire. DAR indicates he signed the Association Test (Oath of Allegiance) proposing to defend the Colonies from the British in 1776; was appointed with four others to the Committee of Safety in 1777, and was a Selectman for several years in Sanbornton.

Rev BENJAMIN BUTLER was born 6 April 1729 in Windham, Connecticut, the son of MALACHI BUTLER & JEMIMA DAGGETT of Edgartown, Dukes County, Massachusetts (Martha's Vineyard), then Connecticut.   BENJAMIN attended Harvard University, attaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1752, then a Masters degree in 1758, and was ordained as a minister. He married DORCAS ABBOTT on 17 April 1754 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts. After his ordination, he became  Reverend for Nottingham, Rockingham, New Hampshire at the town's Congregational  church for a period of twelve years, and continued to live in Nottingham afterward. He was a Civil Magistrate until his death in 1804. During the Revolutionary War period he was commissioned as a Captain in the local Militia, but never saw battle and was more involved in finding gunpowder,  supplies and enlisting men, as a Civil Magistrate.  An excellent biography is available through the book (now FamilySearch database) Colonial Collegians. Rev BENJAMIN BUTLER died 29 December 1804 in Nottingham, Rockingham, New Hampshire. 

IGNATIOUS BUTLER b 1755 MONONGALIA COUNTY VIRGINIAIS NOT THE SON OF  REV BENAMIN BUTLER OF NOTTINGHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE

ANCESTORS IN THE LINEAGE OF MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER R B MARTINE WITH PATRIOTIC SERVICE DESIGNATION

ROBERT PETER MOSELEY  was born 14 Feb 1731 in Henrico County, Virginia, the son of ROBERT LIGON MOSELEY & SARAH RACHEL TAYLOR.   He married MARY MAGDALAINE GUERRANT on 23 September 1756 in Powhatan County, Virginia.  His plantation, Willow Lake, was located in Buckingham County, Virginia. During the Revolutionary War, ROBERT PETER MOSELEY  provided supplies for the Continental Army, as per DAR records.  ROBERT PETER MOSELEY died 30 January 1804 at Willow Lake Plantation. He is not the same person as Lt ROBERT MOSELEY who served in Kentucky.  There were several of this name who served in the Revolutionary War.

JEREMIAH MARTINE  was born 1734 in Tarrytown, Westchester, New York, the son of JEAN/JOHN MARTINE II and EVA AEFJE MABIE.  He married RACHEL BAREE/BARET abt 1760 in Tarrytown, likely at the Dutch Reformed Church at Sleepy Hollow. When the Revolutionary War broke out, JEREMIAH was living in Haverstraw, Orange (later Rockland) County, New York.  He signed the Association Test/Oath of Allegiance proposing to defend the Colonies from the British in 1776, along with his brother JOHN MARTINE III (married RACHEL VAIL).  Several of JOHN MARTINE III's sons fought in the Revolution.  There are no DAR records for JEREMIAH MARTINE,  but their participation is noted in several local histories. 

Have a great day! 

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2026

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Captain MICHAEL STUMP II of Hardy County Virginia: Battle of Yorktown

 

Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown by John Trumbull

Of all my Revolutionary War Patriot ancestors, Captain MICHAEL STUMP II is the most familiar to me. His family is very well documented in what was originally Hampshire, then Hardy County, Virginia,  now West Virginia.  

MICHAEL II , born 8 April 1744, was the son of MICHAEL STUMP I and ANNA CATHERINE NEFF, the children of German immigrants, who migrated from Pennsylvania down the "Old Wagon Road" to settle before 1748 in what what was then Augusta County, Virginia.  A book by John Clements Fitzpatrick on the writings of a young GEORGE WASHINGTON, who was a surveyor at that time, indicates that "In the spring of 1748 GEORGE WASHINGTON accompanied  a surveying party into the S. Fork & S. branch valleys; They surveyed for Lord FAIRFAX, and  WASHINGTON kept a record of this.  He found settlers in Lower S Fork valley and made survey for MICHAEL  STUMP (Sr)".  There are indications in other sources that MICHAEL STUMP I hosted GEORGE WASHINGTON and the other surveyors at his homestead.

MICHAEL STUMP II married SARAH HUGHES, daughter of THOMAS HUGHES,  in 1763 in Hampshire County, Virginia. In 1765, his father MICHAEL STUMP I deeded to his son MICHAEL I a parcel of land, about 400 acres, where MICHAEL I was to live for the rest of his life.

Much has been written about Captain MICHAEL STUMP II's military career. Here is an excerpt from a book "The Stumps, Descent of the Four Michaels" by Paul Hardman, (Charleston WV: 1940)

"He (MICHAEL STUMP II) enlisted in Lord DUNMORE's War (1774) and after the Battle of Point Pleasant and the peace treaty with the Indians, returned to Hampshire County. It was also noted that he was stationed at newly built Fort Culbertson in present day Summers County, WV. In September 1774, he was at the Battle of Point Pleasant. After his return home, he was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel in the Virginia Militia, with the responsibility of organizing and training new recruits in the Romney area. 

"In response to a call from Governor THOMAS JEFFERSON, MICHAEL II resigned his militia commission in 1781 and enlisted a company of light infantry (Continental Army) and led them to Fredericksburg, where they were absorbed into General WEEDEN's Army. MICHAEL II was commissioned a Captain in General WEEDEN's army. He participated in the siege of Yorktown and was present for the British surrender. Captain STUMP and his company were discharged in New Kent County,  Virginia in May 1781. On April 3, 1782, a claim was presented to the court in Orange County on their behalf. "

After the war, Captain MICHAEL STUMP II served as Justice of the Peace for Hampshire (later Hardy) County Virginia  in 1782 and 1784.  

In 1783 MICHAEL II  was named in the will of his mother, ANNA CATHERINE (NEFF) STUMP.  However, ANNA  did not pass away until 1795. There are numerous court records concerning this will as she excluded her son GEORGE STUMP, who had contested the 1767 will of his father. 

MICHAEL STUMP II died 2 June 1799, likely intestate.  His estate was assessed and sold 12 June 1799. Slaves were not listed in his estate (although his father's will refers to several ).

No gravestone has been found for MICHAEL STUMP II. It is likely that he was buried on his homestead. 

The original homestead of his father MICHAEL STUMP I,  near Moorefield, West Virginia, is  listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  A log cabin was built in 1783 on that location  by LEONARD STUMP, brother of MICHAEL STUMP II.  It was saved from disrepair by the Buhl family in the 1990s, and is the oldest structure in West Virginia. 

The surname is sometimes spelled "STUMPF" in records

 MICHAEL STUMP II is in the lineage of my paternal grandmother MINTTIE MAE BRUTON HUBER

SOURCES:

-DAR Patriot Index

-Historical Register of Virginia in the Revolution

-Michael Stump Sr of Virginia 1709-1768 by Thurman Stump publ 1975

-The Stumps: Descent of the Four Michaels by Paul Hardeman publ 1940

-Pioneer Families of West Virginia by Pinkney W Sunburn publ 1912

-The Border Settlers of Northwestern Virginia 1768-1795 by Lucullus McWhorter publ 1915

-The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscripts by John Clements Fitzpatrick publ 1931

Have a great day! 

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2026

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War : Captain WILLIAM B SHERRILL of Rowan/Burke County, North Carolina: Battle of Kings Mountain

Battle of Kings Mountain by Robert Wilson

 Captain WILLIAM B SHERRILL was born 1 May 1723 in Cecil County, Maryland, the son of ADAM SHERRILL Sr and ELIZABETH CORZINE.  Before 1743, the SHERRILL family had migrated to (possibly) Chester County, Pennsylvania, then down the "Old Wagon Road" to Augusta County, Virginia.  WILLIAM SHERRILL married AGNES WHITE on 12 April 1743 in Augusta County, Virginia. 

Land Records show that the extended SHERRILL family then migrated farther south to Rowan County, North Carolina.  WILLIAM SHERRILL received a land grant 5 October 1751; his father ADAM SHERRILL Sr also acquired land, according to Land Deed records.   WILLIAM's sons MOSES, JACOB, WILLIAM and JOSHUA WHITE SHERRILL also purchased land or had land grants in Rowan (later Burke) County, North Carolina.

WILLIAM B SHERRILL is listed in the DAR Patriot Index file # 103445, with wife AGNES WHITE. He would have been 57 years old in 1780 at the time of the Battle of Kings Mountain.  This seems problematic to me, but the DAR and other records indicate that he was a Captain in the Lincoln County North Carolina Regiment, under Lt Col  FREDERICK HAMBRIGHT. The regiment actually passed through Sherrill's Ford, where the extended SHERRILL family lived. 

One has to wonder if WILLIAM's  son WILLIAM  born 25 September 1750 was the patriot instead.  WILLIAM Sr's two sons MOSES and JOSHUA WHITE SHERRILL also have DAR Patriot records. My ancestor, WILLIAM Sr's  son JACOB SHERRILL,  apparently did not fight in the war.  Several of my other ancestors from the BALLEW family in  Burke County, North Carolina, however, were also at the Battle of Kings Mountain. 

WILLIAM B SHERRILL died 31 December 1786 in Lincoln County North Carolina, just six years after his purported military service.  He is buried at Sherrill's Ford, in what is now Catawba County, formed from Lincoln County. 

It has been suggested that the photo below is his gravestone.

WILLIAM B SHERRILL is in the lineage of my paternal grandmother MINTTIE MAE BRUTON HUBER.  This is a **new discovery** for 2026

Sources:

-DAR Patriot Index & website

-Abstracts of Deeds of Rowan County, North Carolina by Jo White Linn

-Burke County, North Carolina Land Records 1778 Vol I by Edith Warren Huggins

-"The Known Patriots of the Battle of Kings Mountain" website

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2026

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: JOHN FELTON Sr, 9th New Hampshire Militia; The Saratoga Campaign and Surrender of Gen JOHN BURGOYNE

Surrender of Gen John Burgoyne by John Trumbull

Corporal JOHN FELTON Sr was born 9 November 1741 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, the son of JACOB FELTON and his 1st wife, SARAH BARRETT.  JOHN married on 23 January 1766 PERSIS ROGERS of Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts. The couple migrated in September 1766 to the town of Marlborough, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.  All of their nine children were born there.

JOHN FELTON enlisted first in Jun 1777 as a Private in the 9th New Hampshire Militia (Volunteers) under Col ENOCH HALE, in  Capt JAMES LEWIS' Co.  He enlisted for a 2nd tour of duty in September 1777 as a Corporal in Capt JAMES LEWIS' Co, Col DANIEL MOORE's Regiment.  The 9th New Hampshire Militia served as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign, and joining forces with General HORATIO GATES to help defeat British General JOHN BURGOYNE in northern New York.

After the war, JOHN FELTON moved his family to Montgomery County, New York (1790), Otsego County, New York (1800), and finally by 1804 Newstead, Niagra County, New York (now in Erie County).   JOHN FELTON was one of the original settlers at Newstead, which was part of the Holland Purchase in Western New York; his wife PERSIS became a founding member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Newstead in 1807. 

From there, the family moved to Clarence (Clarence Hollow), Niagra County New York. The area became part of Erie County in 1821.

According to a burial card, Corporal JOHN FELTON died in 1820 in Clarence, New York, likely during an epidemic, and is buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery (now known as Schopf Cemetery).  The cemetery apparently has been abandoned.

Corporal JOHN FELTON Sr is in the lineage of my maternal grandfather R B MARTINE.

Sources:

--DAR Patriot Index

--A Genealogical History of the Felton Family by Cyrus Felton

--History of the town of Marlborough, Cheshire County, New Hampshire by Charles Austin Bemis

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2026