DAR continues work on Revolutionary tombstones

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DARKE COUNTY — The Fort GreeneVille chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has already begun dedicating the memorial stones at the graves of American Revolutionary soldiers, and their efforts continue.

Memorial Day weekend, DAR members Nisonger, Helen Wright and Shirley Hughes took a road trip to Darke County cemeteries that are known to have graves of American Revolutionary soldiers. A list of soldiers was also found at the Garst Museum.

At the June DAR meeting, Regent Debbie Nisonger shared with members the graves that were observed. A lot of the grave stones, she reported, were unreadable, broken or possibly missing.

A committee was formed, due to the interest of the plight of American Revolutionary War Soldiers’ graves in Darke County, and comprised of Nisonger, Caroline Petitjean, Doris Aultman, Helen Wright, Shirley Hughes and Penny Weaver.

They had the dedication of James Wood’s new stone on Veterans Day and was planning a memorial stone dedication today [at 3:30 p.m.] for American Revolutionary War soldiers Samuel Satterley and David Harriman at the Old Castine Cemetery, with the stones provided by the U.S. government and placed at graves.

Here is a wrap-up of the stones ordered, stones replaced or stones placed as of Nov 10, this year:

• Harrison Township: James Wood (born July 4, 1761, and died Jan. 15, 1-15-1839 (Sec 1 Row 23 Grave 25) in First Universalist Cemetery, entered March 2, 1779 and discharged August 1783 (twice wounded).

• Butler Township: Samuel Satterley (born Dec 25, 1745 and died July 16, 1833) (section 26) and David Harriman (born in 1756 and died in 1845).

Satterley was born in Yarcombe Devonshire, England, and served with Capt. Thomas Helm’s Co, 2) in Col. Isreal Shreaves’ regiment.

Harriman served in Capt. Yates,’ Flying Camp (joined main Army under General Washington and marched to Valley Forge where he was discharged). He enlisted Aug.15, 1776, and served in this special group of fighters. This is a short description but there are a lot of large articles about the flying Camp and how important they were to George Washington. After the British evacuation of Boston in March 1776, General George Washington met with members of the Continental Congress to determine future military strategy. Faced with defending a huge amount of territory from potential British operations, Washington recommended forming a “flying camp,” which in the military terminology of the day referred to a mobile, strategic reserve of troops. Congress agreed and on June 3, 1776, passed a resolution “that a flying camp be immediately established in the middle colonies and that it consist of 10,000 men ….” The men recruited for the Flying Camp were to be militiamen from three colonies: 6,000 from Pennsylvania, 3,400 from Maryland, and 600 from Delaware. They were to serve until Dec. 1, 1776, unless discharged sooner by Congress, and to be paid and fed in the same manner as regular soldiers of the Continental Army. Harriman was from Maryland.

According to the DAR committee, a stone has been ordered but not set at grave yet for Christian Hershey (born Dec 13, 1757 and died Oct 12, 1854) in Adams Township in the Old Harris Creek Cemetery. His service was with Pennsylvania and he was a private. His service was with Capt. Thomas White, York County Militia.

Stone only is needed cleaned and reset, and once reset at grave, there will be a dedication for Joseph Wiley (who died July 7, 1822). Burial is in Harrison Township in- Providence Cemetery. He served in the Virginia militia. His first enlistment was with the Capt. Gilmore Militia in the summer/fall 1780 for six months, and his second VA Militia enlistment was another six months in 1781. He served mostly in South and North Carolinas).

Stone is waiting to be placed at grave of Peter Rush (born circa 1755, and died in 1819) in Harrison Township, also in the First Universalist Cemetery. The stone will be placed as ‘In Memory Of’ and placed at his wife’s grave. Original burial site is unknown on property in area of Townsend farm at Bakers Store. He for the period of June 26, 1782, to Aug 4, 1782, (in company of Light Horse in Pennsylvania).

American Revolutionary War graves currently on DAR’s list to place stone or plaque at grave:

• Harrison Township – Old Friendship Cemetery (4 1/2 miles west New Madison) William Brodrick (born Feb. 25/26, 1760 and died Feb 11, 1835) Born in Orange County, New York, he was a private in the New Jersey Militia and had enlisted Sept. 1, 1776. He served two months in Capt. Soward’s New Jersey Company and enlisted again June 1777, and served one month in Capt. John Halbert’s Co., Colonel Aaron Hankinson’s New Jersey Regiment in October 1777, and detached from his company at Crooked Billet and placed in Capt. James Brodrick’s Co., Colonel Oliver Spencer’s Continental Regiment, and marched to Germantown (battle). He was discharged Dec. 10, 1777, as an orderly sergeant. Brodrick volunteered April 1, 1778, at Valley Forge; served three months with Capt. James Brodrick Co. May/June 1778; marched across the Delaware above Trenton New Jersey, Battle of Monmouth; was injured and returned home latter June 1778.

• Liberty Township – St. John Cemetery, Palestine, is where George Stephens is buried (Section 1 Row 17 Grave 12). The soldier, who served in Pennsylvania, is buried in Palestine Cemetery on the north side. A boulder is set at the head and also a smaller one at the foot of his grave. Initials G. S. are cut in the head stone, perhaps by some of the family, according to information given by a great-grandson, Lee Woods, Palestine. George Grimes (born 1753 and died Dec. 27, 1838) was also buried here.

• Richland Township – Beamsville Cemetery, George Beam is buried in Section 1 Row 24 Grave 1).

• Twin Township -Ithaca Cemetery. William Walker is believed to be in Ithaca Cemetery. He died in 1833 at the age of 75. He served in Virginia for a total of eight months.

• Twin Township – Gordon Cemetery (Section 1 row 11 grave/plot 31) is where William Michael is buried. Born in June 1755, he died in October 1855). Michael served years 1776-77 as a Virginia Hussein soldier.

• Wayne Township – Versailles/Greenlawn Cemetery. Richard Brandon’s stone is reportedly worn and needs a flag holder. He served in Pennsylvania. He was born Feb. 28, 1751, and died Oct. 20, 1835 in Darke County.

Wayne Township – Greenlawn??? Cemetery. Zachariah Hole served in Virginia. He was born around 1752 in Passaic Valley, New Jersey. Death is posted as May 31, 1822, in Darke County.

• Van Buren Township – Abbottsville Cemetery, William Byers (born July 5, 1764 and died Nov 24, 1834), served in the Virginia Militia as a private. He volunteered in the spring of 1781 with Capt. David Mays Co. which company was in Colonel Cloyd’s Regiment three months (guarded two Tory prisoners); volunteered second time for a total of five months, late June/early July 1781-late November/early December 1781, Capt. Galway’s Co. in Colonel Samuel Lewis’ Regiment (seige at Yorktown and was guard to Cornwallis’ Army prisoners). He entered service in 1781 as a private, serving two terms of enlistment totaling eight months-at battle of Yorktown, it is indicated by circumstantial evidence only. In his estate filed in the Darke County Probate Court with bond dated Nov.24, 1834, it is shown that William Byers owned lots 1 and 2 in the plat of Abbottsville. The plot of the Old Abbottsville Cemetery adjoins the town plat of Abbottsville on its north side. Byers filed his declaration for a pension on Nov. 18, 1833, as a resident of Darke County, age 69 years. He stated he entered the service in 1781 as a resident of Botetourt County, Virginia, as a private, serving two terms of enlistment totaling eight months. He was at the Battle of Yorktown. After leaving the service, he lived in Botetourt County for about two years, moving to Montgomery County, Virginia, where he lived for 10 years. He then removed to the Powell Valley of Virginia where he lived eight or nine years and from there to Gallia County for two years, Ross County, for two years; and then to Preble County, where he lived for about 25 years. His last move was to Darke County where he lived until his death.

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