Revolutionary War history: Last Ohio surviving soldier buried in Noble Co.

The Marietta Times (Ohio) ^ | March 22, 2013 | Jasmine Rogers

[Pharmboy]

There are several interesting bits in this article that I thought of particular interest.

[Pharmboy]

The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list...

You know what to do if you want on...

[2banana]

I often wonder if any of these revolutionary soldiers would have fought, suffered and died if they knew what America would turn into...

[Old Sarge]

Now THAT was well worth reading!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Lived to see Civil War I.

[afraidfortherepublic]

We have at least one Revolutionary War vet buried near here, which is remarkable when you think that this part of Wisconsin was not settled until 1830-1840.

Nice story. Thanks for posting.

[Ditto]

When he passed away in 1868, Gray was 104 and the war was more than 80 years behind him...

Just think of all he saw in his life. Amazing.

[Pharmboy]

Yes...this was a little gem. There was a typo on the year he entered the RevWar, given as '1791.'

And they would not be happy with many of theings going on, but at least they would know that what they did sustained a Republic for more time than any before...

[NonValueAdded]

When 16-year-old Gray joined the war around 1791???

Perhaps 1781 because in 1791 he would have missed it by 7 years. Died in 1868 at age 104 means he was born circa 1764 and would be age 16 in 1780.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Our family patriarch

[Pharmboy]

Wow...did he fight with Morgan’s Riflemen or another group? What a wonderful item to have in the family...and is that name Dutch or German? I ask since most of the gunsmiths producing rifles like this back then were German, although the name rings Dutch to me.

[skeeter]

Most of the common soldiers who served for years in the revolution ended up not even being paid what they were promised. They had to walk home after the war ended.

They suffered and died for nothing more than the right to live in a free nation.

[Verginius Rufus]

My Revolutionary War ancestor (Virginia militia) died in 1822.

I know someone in the SAR who says his Revolutionary War ancestor was the last surviving veteran of the war--I need to tell him about John Gray and see if his ancestor died after March 29, 1868.

John Gray outlived 13 of the first 16 Presidents, including 5 who were born after Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown.

[Pharmboy]

Indeed...but there were courts set up to compensate veterans with valid discharge papers. Many were given land in the middle of NY state, in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, among others. Michigan too, I believe...

[SWAMPSNIPER]

As near as I can find Hans Jacob was a supplier, possibly rifles. Some of the sons were with George Rogers Clark, some in other units. Several were gunmakers. There were 14 kids in the 2nd generation. I descend from Benjamin. He left VA and moved to Georgia when Hans Jacob died.We are still particular about our rifles.

http://www.pacifier.com/~jmbortniak/p229.htm

[SWAMPSNIPER]

http://www.pacifier.com/~jmbortniak/p229.htm

[Inyo-Mono]

One of my Revolutionary War ancestors was also in a Virginia militia company (from what is now West Virginia) and was at Yorktown when the British surrendered. He died in 1830 and though his widow tried for years to get his soldiers pension the government turned her down.

[afraidfortherepublic]

And my RW ancestor (also Virginia Militia) died a couple of years after 1785 after he settled the division of his Kentucky lands awarded him for his service between his sons from his first marriage. His son and daughter from his 2nd marriage inherited the Virginia estate, while the older boys headed to the Kentucky frontier. 2 of the older sons married Dr. Henry Clay’s daughters (they all traveled to Kentucky together.) We might even be cousins!

[VeniVidiVici]

One of my Revolutionary War ancestors was also in a Virginia militia company

Hey, mine too! He hailed from the Pearisburg area.

[x]

So he must have been, what, 250 years old?