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 VIRGINIA IS 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

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: ALBERT CAMPBELL, 2nd New York Militia, of Clarkstown, Rockland County, New York

ALBERT CAMPBELL was born about 1748 in Clarkstown, Orange County, New York, the son of WILLIAM CAMPBELL II and GEERTJE STEPHENSEN.  WILLIAM was the son of an immigrant from the Isle of Man; both men married wives who were descended from  early Dutch settlers in the colony of New York. Orange County would later be known as Rockland County by 1798.  Because the family lived in an area with many Dutch settlers, their  surname was often phonetically spelled "CAMMEL" in records.  

ALBERT married, in about 1772, CATHARINA VAN HOUTEN.  The births & baptisms of their five children can be found in the records of the Tappan and also Clarkstown Dutch Reformed churches. 

During the Revolutionary War, ALBERT CAMPBELL/CAMMEL served as a Private in the 2nd Orange County Militia, in GILBERT COOPER's Regiment, under Captain ONDERDONK, and also in HAYS Regiment under Captain JOHANNES BELL.  The 2nd Militia was actively involved in defending the Hudson River against British incursions  with frequent skirmishes at Haverstraw, Nyak and Piermont.  ALBERT's  three brothers, WILLIAM (III), STEPHEN & LUKAS CAMPBELL/CAMMEL also served in the same regiment(s).  ALBERT's last recorded paydate for the Militia was 23 February 1786. 

By the 1790 census, ALBERT CAMPBELL/CAMMEL was living in Haverstraw, Orange County, New York, near his three brothers, and his father.

On the 12 August 1794 his father WILLIAM CAMPBELL/CAMMEL II wrote his will; he lists his children as WILLIAM, STEPHEN, ALBERT, LUKAS and MARY KEMPE.  ALBERT CAMPBELL was listed in the will as his executor.  The will was brought to court 4 January 1799.

That is the last known record found for ALBERT CAMPBELL/CAMMEL.  He was not listed in the 1800 census.  His brother WILLIAM  CAMPBELL (III) is listed in the 1831 Revolutionary War Pension roll for Clarkstown, Rockland County, New York, 4 March 1831.  

ALBERT CAMPBELL/ CAMMEL likely died before 1800 in Orange County, New York. 

ALBERT CAMPBELL/CAMMELL is in the lineage of my maternal grandfather RB MARTINE.

 **ALBERT CAMPBELL of Clarkstown is NOT the same person as " ALBERT OLIVER CAMPBELL", a Loyalist, who emigrated to Nova Scotia Canada in 1783 from NYC, lived Shelburne, Nova Scotia  on May 2, 1784, and migrated to Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 1796. See my blogpost here for documentation. **

Sources:

-New York in the Revolution by Berthold Fernow p 338

-History of Rockland County, New York by Rev David Cole p 64

-Abstracts of Wills of Rockland County by Minnie Cowen p 13

-1790 Census of Haverstraw, Orange New York

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2026

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: 1st Lieutenant THOMAS MILLER, of Goochland County Virginia

LaVallee Plantation, Goochland County, Virginia

THOMAS MILLER  was born 20 March 1754 in Goochland County, Virginia.  He was the son of WILLIAM MILLER and MARY HEATH, who were wed 16 January 1741 in Northumberland County, Virginia, at her parents' home, and settled in Goochland County.  WILLIAM MILLER was appointed sheriff of Goochland in 1741.

THOMAS would follow in his father's footsteps; he also became deputy sheriff, then sheriff of Goochland County. Eventually he became an attorney, and also was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. He was a very wealthy and well-educated man. By the end of his life he owned numerous plantations in Goochland, Spotsylvania, and King William County.  The Library of Virginia holds a large collection of THOMAS MILLER's papers.

During the Revolutionary War, at age 23, THOMAS MILLER served in the 1st Division of the Virginia Militia, Goochland County,  from 1777 until 1781, with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. I was unable to find out whether he ever saw battle. 

After the war-- and likely after receiving his education--THOMAS MILLER married CONSTANCE MASSIE on 28 December 1786 in Goochland. She was the daughter of Captain NATHANIEL MASSIE and ELIZABETH "BETSEY" WATKINS (see previous post). THOMAS and CONSTANCE settled on a plantation in Goochland and called it "LaVallee".   He was frequently referred to as "Mr THOMAS MILLER" or "THOMAS MILLER, gentleman" in records.  By the end of his life he owned numerous plantations besides LaVallee, according to his estate inventory: Woodville,  Slab City (?) and Byrd, all in Goochland; Wormley House and Manskin Lodge in King William County, and Prospect Hill in Spotsylvania County. 

In 2010, when I finally found a way to enlarge all the pages of his estate inventory so that I could read them, I was shocked to find that at the end of his life, THOMAS MILLER owned 159 slaves, all listed by name in the inventory, along with the plantations that they lived upon--which  I transcribed  in  a blog post. You can read their names here. 

THOMAS MILLER wrote his will on the 23 of April 1819.  In it, he states that all of his plantations should be sold, with the exception of Woodville and LaVallee. No slaves were mentioned in the will, but were named in the estate inventory.

THOMAS MILLER, gentleman, died 7 May 1819, at LaVallee Plantation, and was buried there. His wife CONSTANCE was alive and enumerated in the 1820 census.  While I do not have her exact death date, she likely is buried at LaVallee.

1st Lieutenant THOMAS MILLER is in the lineage of my maternal grandfather RB MARTINE.

Sources:

-DAR Patriot Index + website

-The Douglas Register

-Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War by Joseph Thomas McAllister

-Library of Virginia

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2026

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Captain NATHANIEL MASSIE Sr of Goochland County, Virginia

Captain NATHANIEL MASSIE Sr was born 02 August 1727 in New Kent County, Virginia.  He was the son of CHARLES MASSIE and ANN MACON of New Kent County.  While I have not yet ascertained exactly when he moved to Goochland County, it was likely shortly after 1756, when he married his first wife, whose name is unknown.  His parents remained in New Kent County. 

NATHANIEL was living in Goochland County when he married as his 2nd wife ELIZABETH "BETSY" WATKINS on 2 January 1772, as per The Douglas Register marriage records.  She died before August 1776, when NATHANIEL married his 3rd wife, ANN CLARK, on 24 August 1776.  He had children with all three of his wives.

During the Revolutionary War NATHANIEL MASSIE Sr served in the 1st Division,Virginia Militia, Goochland County, from  18 Dec 1776 until 22 Sept 1777, with a rank of Captain, as per a pay voucher.  Some sources show him with a rank of Major, but DAR website only lists the above mentioned period of service, and rank of Captain. I could not find any evidence that he ever saw any type of battle during his time with the 1st Division of the Virginia Militia. After the war, he received a Revolutionary War Land Bounty Grant, and acquired lands in Kentucky, which he bequeathed to his sons THOMAS and NATHANIEL Jr. 

Captain NATHANIEL MASSIE Sr's eldest son NATHANIEL MASSIE Jr also fought in the Revolutionary war; he was sent at age 17 to serve as a substitute for either his father or another family member,  likely in the 1st Virginia Militia, with rank of Private.  NATHANIEL MASSIE Jr later settled in Kentucky, on the  lands his father had bequeathed to him, and went from there to Ohio, where he founded the settlement of Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio. In some sources he is listed as "General" NATHANIEL MASSIE Jr--although I could not find any records at all to explain this rank!  It was certainly not bestowed upon him during his service in the Revolutionary War. 

Captain NATHANIEL MASSIE Sr wrote his will on 16 December 1801 in Goochland County, Virginia.  In it he names his sons NATHANIEL & THOMAS " all my lands in Kentucky"; daughters MARY ROBARDS,  ELIZABETH MASSIE, CONSTANCE MILLER; son GIDEON; with bequests to his six youngest daughters "I had by my last wife": REBECKY, NANCY, SARAH, PATSY, CHARLOTTE and GINNEY MASSIE. 

Unfortunately I don't have an actual copy of the will.  NATHANIEL MASSIE Sr was a very wealthy plantation owner, and likely owned many slaves.  Their names are not included in the abstracted version of the will. 

Captain NATHANIEL MASSIE Sr died before  19 July 1802, when his will was proved in court.

I have not been able to find his gravesite or the name of his plantation in Goochland.

Capt NATHANIEL MASSIE Sr is in the lineage of my maternal grandfather R B MARTINE

Sources:

-DAR Patriot Index + website

-A Massie Family History by Evelyn Hepworth Massie

-A Catalog of the Descendants of Thomas Watkins of Chickohomony VA by Francis Nathaniel Watkins

-St Peter's Parish Register, New Kent County Virgina

-The Douglas Register (Goochland County)

-Virginia Militia in The Revolutionary War by Joseph Thompson McAllister

-Biographical Sketches of  "General" Nathaniel Massie Jr by John McDonald

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2026

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Pvt JOHN WOFFORD Sr of Spartanburg, South Carolina: The Third Florida Expedition & The Skirmish at Alligator Creek Bridge

JOHN WOFFORD Sr was born about 1731 in Prince Georges County, Maryland, the son of ABSOLOM WOFFORD & SARAH HOSEY/HUSSEY. They were said to have had five sons who migrated from Maryland through Virginia and North Carolina,  to eventually settle in the mid-1700s in Anson/Tryon County, North Carolina,  which part eventually became the 96th District of South Carolina and then, in 1785, Spartanburg, South Carolina. 

The portion of Prince George's County, Maryland where the WOFFORDs lived became part of Frederick County in 1748, and JOHN WOFFORD Sr can be found in tax lists, courts records and land deeds in that location. After 20 years of searching, I have yet to find any records at all for his parents, who, according to family legend,  died in Rock Creek, Frederick County, Maryland. 

JOHN WOFFORD Sr  married ELEANOR in about 1760 in Frederick County, Maryland.  It has been postulated that her surname was BUSHROD--but there is really no evidence of any kind to support this as her  maiden name.

By 1770, one of JOHN's four brothers, WILLIAM WOFFORD,  had migrated to Anson/Tryon County, North Carolina, and another brother, JOSEPH WOFFORD, can be found in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. More research needs to be done, but it seems highly likely JOHN followed the same path. 

While I do not have an exact date for JOHN's arrival in the area that would become Spartanburg, South Carolina,  it is known that he purchased 300 acres of  land from JEREMIAH BENNETT on 8 July 1774, a transaction which is referenced in  land deeds from Spartanburg, dated 1797. 

JOHN WOFFORD Sr served as an enlisted man, rank of Pvt,  in the 6th Carolina Regiment (SC) of the Continental Army. He enlisted for a three month period,  June 1, 1778-Sept 11, 1778,  serving in Capt JOHN BUCHANAN's Company of Lt Col  WILLIAM HENDERSON's Regiment,  during  the ill-fated Third Florida Expedition. JOHN's brother  WILLIAM WOFFORD and one of his nephews ABSOLOM WOFFORD also served in the 6th Carolina (SC) under Lt Col WILLIAM HENDERSON, during the Third  Florida Expedition. WILLIAM WOFFORD later attained the rank of Lt Colonel in the Continental Army.   JOHN's brothers Capt JAMES WOFFORD and Capt JOSEPH WOFFORD also served in the Revolutionary War, but in different regiments and companies.  A fourth brother,  BENJAMIN WOFFORD, was a Tory and did not join the rebellion. 

The Florida Expedition was a series of attempts by the Continental Army to invade British East Florida and capture St Augustine. The expedition on 30 June 1778, under General Howe,  was the third attempt--which failed after a skirmish at Alligator Creek Bridge. British control of Florida remained intact throughout the remainder of the war.

JOHN WOFFORD did not re-enlist, and returned to civilian life in Spartanburg. He can be found on many court records, often listed as a juror in the 1780s & 1790s. He may have served as a Constable in Spartanburg sometime before 1800 (unverified by me).  

According to "The History of Spartanburg, South Carolina" by Dr J B O Landrum, JOHN WOFFORD Sr & ELEANOR had eleven children, five sons and six daughters.  His will, written in 1808 in Spartanburg, names only his youngest sons ISAAC & WILLIAM, and two slaves CYRUS & TEMPEY.  The will goes on to state:   "And in respect of the rest of my children, I have given them and each of them in my lifetime what I designed to give them." 

JOHN WOFFORD Sr died in 1813 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I have not been able to find his gravestone.

JOHN WOFFORD Sr is in the lineage of my paternal grandmother MINTTIE MAE BRUTON HUBER

Sources:

-DAR Patriot Index

-The History of Spartanburg, South Carolina by Dr JBO Landrum

-Spartanburg South Carolina Minutes of the County Court 1785-1799 by Brent Holcomb

-Spartanburg County/District South Carolina Deed Abstracts Books A-T 1785-1827 by Albert Bruce Pruitt

-This Was the Life: Excerpts From Judgement Records of Frederick Co Maryland 1748-1765 by Millard Milburn Rice

Have a great day--And Happy New Year!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2026

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Capt JOSIAH LEAKE of Goochland County, Virginia

 

JOSIAH LEAKE was born 19 March 1730 on Rocky Springs Plantation, Goochland County Virginia. He was the son of WALTER LEAKE and JUDITH MASK, and the grandson of WILLIAM LEAKE and MARY BOSTICK, who emigrated from Nottinghamshire, England in about 1685 and established Rocky Springs Plantation in what was then Henrico County, Virginia.

JOSIAH was married three times, and had children with all three wives. On 1 January 1759 he married ANN FENTON, the daughter of THOMAS FENTON of Henrico County.  ANN died before 1767,  when THOMAS FENTON wrote his will and made JOSIAH LEAKE his executor, naming JOSIAH's two daughter JUDITH (wife of Capt CHARLES WOODSON, see previous post) and LUCY LEAKE in the will.

The second marriage was to ANNE MINTER, sometime shortly after 1767. They had two sons, WALTER & JOSIAH Jr.   ANNE died in 1777.

He married a third time, to ANN FOSTER, who was a widow, sometime before 1780. They had three children, CHRISTIAN, JOHN M and SAMUEL D LEAKE.

JOSIAH LEAKE was Captain of the Virginia Militia, Goochland district, from July 1777 until May 1780. I  am uncertain whether  this unit of the Virginia Militia ever saw battle;  I have not found any records or documentation or regimental history.  JOSIAH was 47 years old and likely a widower when he enlisted.

After the Revolutionary War, JOSIAH was sued by his daughter JUDITH and her husband Capt CHARLES WOODSON. The court record from around 1785  listed slaves PHYLLIS, LUCY, SUCKEY, JUDY, JAMES, AMY, JACK & ISAAC, which CHARLES & JUDITH claimed as JUDITH's property from the estate of THOMAS FENTON, JUDITH's maternal grandfather. The lawsuit indicated  that the slaves were being withheld from JUDITH by her father JOSIAH LEAKE.

Capt JOSIAH LEAKE wrote his will 10 July 1794, which names all his children from the three marriages. His third wife is not mentioned in the will.  I have only a transcription of the will which does not include the names of his slaves.  

Capt JOSIAH LEAKE died at Rocky Springs Plantation sometime before 21 September 1795, when his will was brought to court. 

Capt JOSIAH LEAKE is in the lineage of my maternal grandfather, R B MARTINE

SOURCES:

--DAR Patriot Index

--Historical Genealogy of the Woodsons and their Connections by Henry Morton Woodson

--The Leake Family and Connecting Lines by George Warren Chappalear

--Genealogies of Virginia Families Volume II from  William & Mary College

--The Douglas Register 

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Capt CHARLES WOODSON of Cumberland County Virgina: Siege of Charleston

 Siege of Charleston by Alonzo Chappel

CHARLES WOODSON was born 30 December 1759 in Cumberland County, Virginia, the son of DRURY WOODSON and LUCY CHRISTIAN. 

When he was about eighteen years old, CHARLES enlisted in the Virginia Continental Line under Brigidier General WILLIAM WOODFORD.  He first held the rank of Sergeant Major, then Captain within this regiment. The Virginia Continental Soldiers were beginning to build winter quarters in Morristown, New Jersey, when General GEORGE WASHINGTON ordered them to march post haste to Charleston, South Carolina to reinforce the troops of General BENJAMIN LINCOLN who were already fighting there. Charleston is over 800 miles away from Morristown, so it must have been a grueling march.

While he was encamped at Charleston, but before the battle began, CHARLES WOODSON sent a letter to Miss JUDITH LEAKE,  to whom he was engaged:

Source: "Historical Genealogy of the Woodsons and their Connections" by Henry Morton Woodson p 109

A short time later,  in March of 1780, the Siege of Charleston began. The battle lasted six weeks and culminated in the total surrender of General BENJAMIN LINCOLN and over 5000 American troops.  It was a stunning defeat for the Continental Army. 

Captain CHARLES WOODSON was captured and imprisoned by the British 12 May 1780.  While paroled, he and 30 other American prisoners of war managed to escape-- and walked back to Virginia.  It was a harrowing journey, hundreds of miles;  the men were required to walk at night in order to avoid any British sympathizers.   

Shortly after CHARLES returned to his home and recuperated,  he wed JUDITH LEAKE on the 23 of September 1780 in Goochland County, Virginia. She was  the daughter of  JOSIAH LEAKE and ANN FENTON (who died a few years after JUDITH's birth).  JOSIAH was a Captain in the local Militia (see next blogpost).  

There are no indications that Captain CHARLES WOODSON ever re-enlisted after his grueling march to Charleston and his walk back to Virginia.

Upon his marriage, CHARLES' father DRURY WOODSON gave him slaves, farm implements, horses, cattle--and a substantial amount of land, "skirted by the Willis River". It was here that CHARLES and JUDITH built their home, which they named "Rosebank". They lived there for the rest of their lives.

Captain CHARLES WOODSON died 31 December 1830 at Rosebank Plantation, Cumberland County, Virginia.  I could only find a transciption of his will, dated 1 September 1829, which names wife JUDITH and their children. However, I am certain that they owed many slaves, whose names were likely included in the original will.  A court record from 1785, a lawsuit against his father-in-law JOSIAH LEAKE listed slaves PHYLLIS, LUCY, SUCKEY, JUDY, JAMES, AMY, JACK & ISAAC, which CHARLES & JUDITH claimed as JUDITH's property from the estate of THOMAS FENTON, JUDITH's maternal grandfather. The lawsuit indicated  that the slaves were being withheld from JUDITH by her father JOSIAH LEAKE.

 JUDITH LEAKE WOODSON applied for her husband's  Revolutionary War Pension, which she received on 4 March 1836.  

Capt CHARLES WOODSON is in the lineage of my maternal grandfather R B MARTINE

SOURCES:

--DAR Patriot Index

--Virginia Soldiers of 1776 by Louis Alexander Burgess

--Historical Genealogy of the Woodsons and their Connections by Henry Morton Woodson

--The Leake Family and Connecting Lines by George Warren Chappalear

--Revolutionary War Pension Application of Capt CHARLES WOODSON by wife JUDITH

Have a great day!

Betty 

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: JOSEPH BALLEW II of Burke County, North Carolina : The Battle of Kings Mountain

 

Battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina (artist unknown)

JOSEPH BALLEW II was born about 1746 in Albemarle County (later Buckingham County), Virginia, the son of JOSEPH BALLEW I and his wife DIANA, who resided in Henrico County, then Albemarle County Virginia, which part eventually became Buckingham County.  

JOSEPH BALLEW I & wife DIANA had four sons who fought in the American Revolutionary War. Three of the sons survived and their Pension Application files provide a great deal of information about their service, their family,  and their migration in the years after the Revolution.

The four sons of JOSEPH BALLEW I and DIANA who fought in the Revolutionary War were:

-Capt DAVID BALLEW of the 71st Virginia Regiment. He died of smallpox in 1777 in Winchester, Virginia, during his enlistment, as per brother ROBERT's 1836 Pension application.

-JOSEPH BALLEW II who fought in several regiments in Burke County North Carolina (see below)

-ROBERT BALLEW who joined the fight as a very young soldier aged 14, in the 71st Virginia Regiment under his brother Capt DAVID BALLEW.  After his brother's death in 1777  and when  his term of enlistment expired,  he  moved  with his parents and siblings to Burke County, North Carolina.  ROBERT re-enlisted in Burke County and served in 1778, and in 1779 as a substitute for his uncle ROBERT BALLEW, who had also migrated to Burke County, North Carolina. In 1781, ROBERT was at the Battle of Yorktown, under Capt JOHN STEWART. ROBERT BALLEW applied for his pension in 21 January 1836 in Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama, and his brother JOSEPH BALLEW II provided verification of his service. ROBERT BALLEW's  Pension Application is highly detailed and shows that he fought in many more battles & skirmishes than I've outlined here. 

- RICHARD BALLEW fought in several regiments in Burke County, North Carolina.  He applied for his Pension 24 November 1834 in Knox County, Kentucky. His younger brother PETER BALLEW, who was too young to fight at the time of the Revolution, provided verification of RICHARD's service. According RICHARD fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain under Capt EDMUND FEAR. RICHARD BALLEW's Pension Application is highly detailed and shows that he fought in many more battles & skirmishes than I've outlined here. 

JOSEPH BALLEW II appears to have arrived in Rowan County, North Carolina around 1770, and married in about  1771 ELIZABETH CONNELLY, daughter of Irish immigrants BRYAN O'CONNELLY and his wife MARY FOLEY.  JOSEPH and ELIZABETH  had at least eight children. Burke County was formed from Rowan County in 1777, and JOSEPH's parents, siblings and several other relatives arrived there shortly after the county's formation. JOSEPH's first land grant dated was 5 October 1778 and shows he was granted 320 acres on the S side of the Catawba River, adjacent to JAMES WILLIAMS.

In early 1780 JOSEPH BALLEW II enlisted in McDOWELL's Regiment, under Capt THOMAS KENNEDY;  by summer he was in the same Regiment, under Capt JAMES McFARLAND, and fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7 1780.  He enlisted again, for a third tour of duty in March of 1782, in HENRY HIGHLAND's Company of JOSEPH McDOWELL's Regiment. 

JOSEPH BALLEW II and ELIZABETH CONNELLY continued to reside in Burke County from 1780 until at least 1820, according to land deed and census records. Sometime after that,  they migrated first to Knox County Kentucky where his brother RICHARD lived, and then to Morgan County, Alabama where his brother ROBERT lived, as per his Pension Application.  JOSEPH applied for his Revolutionary War  Pension on 16 October 1832 in Shelby County, Tennessee. His application was approved.   A note in his file indicates that : "On May 3, 1845 in Little Rock Arkansas, the veteran applied for the transfer of his pension benefit from the Tennessee agency to the Arkansas agency stating that he has removed to the County of White in Arkansas where he intends to remain in order to reside with his children who have settled in said County."

If his assumed birthdate of 1746 is accurate, JOSEPH BALLEW II would have been 99 years old in 1845.  I have not found any records for his death in White County, Arkansas, nor have I found his gravestone.

JOSEPH BALLEW II is in the lineage of my paternal grandmother MINTTIE MAE BRUTON HUBER

Sources:

-Revolutionary War Soldiers of Burke County, North Carolina Vol 1 by Emmett R White

-Burke County North Carolina Land Grants 1778 Vol 1 by Edith Warren Huggins

--Revolutionary War Pension Application File of JOSEPH BALLEW II

--Revolutionary War Pension Application File of ROBERT BALLEW (see above)

--Revolutionary War Pension Application File of RICHARD BALLEW (see above)

Have a great day!

Betty 

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Sgt EBENEZER MORTON of Gorham and Standish, Maine: The Battle of Bennington, Vermont

Continental Soldier, Massachusetts

 

EBENEZER MORTON was born around 1758 in Gorham, Cumberland County, Maine, the son of THOMAS MORTON and RACHEL ELWELL. At the time, Maine was still part of Massachusetts. THOMAS,  his father, died in 1775,  lost at sea, possibly during a naval expedition to Canada at the very start of the Revolutionary War.   RACHEL, his mother, eventually remarried to a much older man from Gorham, THOMAS THOMES.

EBENEZER's first enlistment, at age 17, was in the newly formed Continental Army in Col EDMUND PHINNEY's 31st Massachusetts Regiment of Foot, under Capt WENTWORTH STUART, on 29 September 1775, for a period of one year.  His brother  JAMES MORTON was also in this regiment, enlisting 9 October 1775, under Capt HART WILLIAMS.  Two other brothers, ELISHA MORTON and DAVID MORTON also fought in the Revolution, but I haven't yet found records for them.

EBENEZER re-enlisted in the Continental Army in 1776, in Col REUBEN FOGG's Regiment, under Capt ALEXANDER McCLELLAN, for a term of 3 years, to expire December 1779. By 1777, he had been transferred to Col SAMUEL BREWER's Regiment, Capt JOSHUA JENKINS Company, which marched to Bennington, Vermont, and took part in the Battle of Bennington, which was a decisive victory for the American side. EBENEZER  was certified returned at the camp at Valley Forge, 23 January, 1778. During his tenure in the Continental Army he attained the rank of Sergeant.

Battle of Bennington, Vermont 

After his term of enlistment, Sgt EBENEZER MORTON married on 7 December 1780 at Gorham SUSANNA IRISH, the daughter of THOMAS T IRISH and DELIVERANCE SKILLING (see previous post). They would have ten children, most born in Gorham.  By 1800, the family had moved to the town of Standish, Cumberland County, Maine.   

Sgt EBENEZER MORTON died in Standish in about 1826.  I have not yet found his gravestone. Sometimes in historical references  he is referred to as "EBENEZER MORTON Jr", but I am uncertain why--his father was definitely THOMAS MORTON.  Perhaps it was to differentiate Sgt EBENEZER MORTON from his uncle, another Revolutionary War soldier.   He is often confused with his uncle 2nd Lt  EBENEZER MORTON of Falmouth, who married SARAH WHITNEY and who also later moved to Standish, dying there 17 July 1813.  

Sgt EBENEZER MORTON is in the lineage of my maternal grandmother RUBY BOLTON BROWN MARTINE

Sources:

-History of Col Edmund Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot by Charles Edwin Allen

-History of Gorham, Maine by Hugh D McLellan

-Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War 

Have a great day!

Betty 

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Sgt THOMAS T IRISH of Gorham, Maine: The Penobscot Expedition

 

Destruction of the American Fleet at Penobscot Bay

by Dominic Serres  circa 1779

THOMAS T IRISH was born 29 January 1737 in Falmouth, York County, Maine, which would later become Cumberland County, Maine. At the time he was born, Falmouth was still part of Massachusetts.  He was the son of JAMES IRISH, an immigrant from Boxford, Suffolk, England, and ELIZABETH CROADE, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts, but migrated with her family to Falmouth.  According to Falmouth records, JAMES IRISH was a butcher by trade.

On 22 July 1756, THOMAS IRISH married  DELIVERANCE SKILLINGS, the daughter of BENJAMIN SKILLINGS and MARY PRIDE.  THOMAS and DELIVERANCE had ten children, all born in Gorham.

In October 1775, THOMAS enlisted as a private in Col EDMUND PHINNEY's 31st Massachusetts Regiment of Foot, under Capt HART WILLIAMS (Continental Army) for a period of one year. Three of his brothers JOHN IRISH, JAMES IRISH and WILLIAM IRISH also enlisted in this same Regiment and Company on the same date in October 1775. Another brother JOSEPH IRISH, would enlist in a different Regiment and Company in 1776.   All of the sons of JAMES IRISH and ELIZABETH CROADE  fought in the Revolutionary War. 

THOMAS IRISH re-enlisted on 7 July 1779, with the rank of Sergeant,  in Col ALEXANDER McCLELLAN's company of JONATHAN MITCHELL's regiment of the Massachusetts Militia, supporting 44 American Naval ships during the ill-fated  Penobscot Expedition.  His brothers JOSEPH IRISH and WILLIAM IRISH also enlisted on that same date. They all survived and were mustered out to return home in September 1779 

Unfortunately I have been unable to find any information about THOMAS's occupation, or his circumstances after  the war.  His middle initial "T" may have been for the surname "THOME" or THOMES", which was the surname of a  family living in Gorham. So far,  I have not established any connection between the IRISH family and the  THOME / THOMES family. 

However, one thing that is truly remarkable about THOMAS IRISH is his longevity.  When he applied for his Revolutionary War Pension on  31 July 1832, he was 95 years old!  The pension was approved, but unfortunately THOMAS only lived a short time longer. He died on 14 August 1832, and was buried in the North Street cemetery in Gorham.  His death information was published in the newspaper,  his age being "96 years, 8 days". 

THOMAS T IRISH is in the lineage of my maternal grandmother RUBY BOLTON BROWN MARTINE.

Sources:

-DAR Patriot Index

-Descendants of James Irish by Jennie J Wright Howes 

-History of Colonel Edmund Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot by Charles Edwin Allen

-History of Gorham, Maine by Hugh D McClellan

-Publishments, Marriages, Births and Deaths from the Earlier Records of Gorham, Maine, compiled by Marquis F King 

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON of Burke County, North Carolina

 

Over the Mountain Boys

by Louis Glazman

According to his Revolutionary War Pension application, ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON was born about 1754 on the Dan River on the Virginia/North Carolina border.  When he was a young boy, his family moved to Rowan County, which part became Burke County,  North Carolina in 1777.  In his 1833 pension application statement,  he says that he lived in the same area all of his life. 

While the names of his parents have not yet been verified, there was a THOMPSON family living in Rowan/ Burke County that migrated from Pennsylvania in the 1750s. It is highly likely that ISAAC was the grandson or great grandson of JOHN THOMSON/THOMPSON born about 1680 Ulster Province, N Ireland and his wife MARGARET DAVIDSON, who were early Scotch Irish settlers in Rowan County. JOHN THOMPSON/THOMSON, son of JOHN & MARGARET, was a "side minister" in what became the Tyratira Presbyterian church in Salisbury, Rowan County.  Many members of the THOMPSON family are buried there.

When the Revolutionary War broke out in 1776, ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON was a young, unmarried man about age 22. According to his pension application, he served four terms of duty: 

In 1776, he was drafted as a militiaman, and placed in JOHN HARDIN's company, under Col CHRISTOPHER BEEKMAN, enlisted for a period of 3-6 months. They marched to Cross Creek, and were engaged in suppressing Tory activity and in conveying prisoners.

In 1777 or 1778, he served another 3 months as a militiaman in Capt THOMAS LYTLE's Company, of  McDOWELL's Regiment, stationed at Cathey's Fort on the Catawba Frontier.

In July 1780, he served under Maj JOSEPH McDOWELL and Col ISAAC SHELBY in the capture of the Loyalist Fort Anderson (Thicketty Fort) in South Carolina. He described the capture of all the Tories, including Col PATRICK MOORE. 

His last tour of duty was in the fall of 1781, in Capt THOMAS KENNEDY's company, of McDOWELL's Regiment, in the Wilmington Expedition. On their return from Wilmington, Loyalists under Capt DAVID FANNING captured ISAAC,  along with Capt KENNEDY and others. They were imprisioned, but later paroled and released.

While quite a lot of detailed information is known about ISAAC's Revolutionary War service, little is known about his family life.  After the war, he received several land grants, hundreds of acres of land, with some located  on Hunting Creek.  In 1796, he was elected Justice of the Peace of Burke County. According to census records, he never owned slaves.

ISAAC was married at least three times, and had children with each wife, as per census records (1800-1830).  If the census records are correct, he had at least 14 children.  His first wife may have been the daughter of PATRICK HENNESSEE, a neighbor on Hunting Creek (DNA evidence supports this theory).

Three of ISAAC's daughters by the 2nd wife--SARAH "SALLY,"  SUSAN & SINA THOMPSON-- all married WILSON brothers, the sons of ROBERT WILSON & SARAH "SALLY" MACKEY. 

 SINA THOMPSON WILSON and her husband MICHAEL WILSON settled in Medecino County, California by 1880. SARAH SALLY THOMPSON WILSON died before 1860, but her husband SAMUEL WILSON and their children also migrated to California, living in Sacramento by 1860, and Placer County by 1870.

In the 1830 census, at age 76,   ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON was living with his 3rd wife who was age 60-69. It appeared they had a son or grandson living with them, about age 19.  On 7 March 1833,  ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON  applied for his Revolutionary War Pension in Burke County, North Carolina. His wife was not mentioned in the application file. ISAAC did receive his pension, however.  According to the pension file, he died 9 June 1838

ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON is in the lineage of my paternal grandmother MINTTIE MAE BRUTON HUBER

Sources:

--Revolutionary War Soldiers of Western North Carolina Vol 1 by Emmet R White

--Burke County North Carolina Land Records 1778 Vol 1 by Edith Warren Huggins

--Burke County North Carolina Records 1755-1821 Vol IV by Edith Warren Huggins

--Revolutionary War Pension File of ISAAC THOMAS THOMPSON 

Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Applications Website

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2025