Replies

I also have a great uncle who served in WW1 and was killed in action. He is buried in the US Cemetery at Bony, France. Some 30 years ago when I was stationed in West Germany my mother (he was her uncle0 and father came for a visit and we decided to visit his grave. I was stunned to learn he had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, no one in the family ever talked about it. When I asked my mother she said, “Oh yeah, I had heard he was awarded some medal.”

Thanks for sharing. I had a similar experience with my family history. My mother was born in Canada, and never really knew much about her side of the family. After she passed, I went to Ontario province to see what records I could find. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I discovered that I had both Loyalists and Patriots in my family. My 5th great-grandfather was a Lieutenant in a NY State militia. He's listed in the DAR Patriot Index. The Canadian connection came when a son, who had also served in the same militia unit, moved to Canada after the war, and married the daughter of a Loyalist. Because of his move, he was written out of his father's Will.

The Loyalists were originally from NY State, and more than likely moved to Canada when the war broke out. I often wonder if the young man had fallen in love with the Loyalist daughter while they were still in NY, then gave it all up after the war, to go to Canada and marry the girl of his dreams. Nice story, but no proof. Both families were from Duchess County, NY, so it's definitely a possibility.