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

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