Wednesday, July 4, 2012

--Independence Day and American Patriots--

It is Independence Day and I can't help but to recall the wonderful family gatherings we had on this day as a child.  My parents and the five of us younger kids would often find ourselves at Aunt Joyce and Uncle Bob Wetzel's for a day of picnicking and game playing.  Particularly vivid is 1976 and the Bicentennial.  I remember being glued to the television to witness the celebrations that where happening around the country, Valley Forge, Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York.  Remembering the wagon train that set out from each state to head to Valley Forge--the organizers from Michigan had stopped at my elementary school and had all of us sign our names on a long scroll that they would take with them, so our names would be present at the celebration. Above is an image of President Gerald R. Ford, also a Michiganian, at Valley Forge that day.



Since that time, I have learned the names of 12 of my ancestors that fought on the side of Independence during the American Revolution.  So today, I would like to pause and honor these patriots: 

  • Elihu Allen of  Vermont, Captain Nathaniel Smiths Company and Captain James Brookings Company.
  • Andrew Balsley of New York, Captain Robert McKeans Company. 

  • John Bees(e) of New Jersey, Captain William Bond's Company. 

  • Edward Slocum Burling of New York, “Fighting Quaker Slocum Burling” of the Westchester County Malitia. 
  • Gideon Dunham of Connecticut, 5th Connecticut Line.

  • Nathaniel Grinnell of Rhode Island, Captain Daniel Vaughn's Company.

  • Thomas Galusha of New York and Massachusetts, Captain Eleaser Curtiss Company, Captain Isaac Bostick's Company, and Captain John Warner's Company. 

  • Levi Hickox of Massachusetts, Captain Lebbeus Ball’s Company. 
           
  • Eldad Holcomb of Massachusetts, Captain Samuel Thrall's Company.

  • Alexander McCreery of New York, Captain Humphrey's Company.

  • Jeremiah Reams [see also REEMS] of North Carolina, Colonel Allen Jones Regimen

  • Josiah Risdon of Vermont, Captain Nathaniel Smith's Company and Captain Tehan Noble's Company.