Before we begin our fireworks display for this Fourth of July – let’s think back to our country’s beginnings and the many men who fought for our independence.  Many of us can trace our roots back to a Revolutionary War veteran – and those that can’t most likely have one in your line – you just haven’t found him yet!  As a tribute to all these men I have pictures of the plaques from the Old Mud Meeting House cemetery in Mercer County, Kentucky, dedicated to the Revolutionary War veterans buried there.

Abraham Banta, Pvt 2 BN York County, General Mercer’s PA Militia, Revolutionary War, 1745-1793.

Peter Luyster, Private, Somerset County, New Jersey Militia, Colonel Van Dyck’s Regiment, Revolutionary War, May 31, 1761 – January 5, 1830.

Lawrence DeMott, Private, Somerset County Militia, Colonel Quick’s 2nd New Jersey Regiment, Revolutionary War, October 14, 1719 – May 14, 1800

Daniel Coovert, Private, Captain Baird’s Company, Monmouth, New Jersey Militia, Revolutionary War, June 1758 – December 1848

James Westervelt, Corporal, Colonel John Freer’s 4th and 5th Regiments, Duchess County, New York, Militia, Revolutionary War, August 15, 1755 – June 1, 1826, Brooklyn Heights

Cornelius O. Vanarsdall, Private, Colonel Vroom’s New Jersey Regiment, Revolutionary War, November 14, 1760 – February 24, 1843, Spy

Cornelius A. Vanarsdall, 1st Lieutenant, Colonel Vroom’s New Jersey Regiment, Revolutionary War, July 5, 1748 – January 5, 1840, Millstone, Monmouth, Springfield

Abraham Banta, Private, 2 Bn York County, General Mercer’s Pennsylvania Militia, Revolutionary War, 1745-1793

Thomas Kyle, Private, General Putnam’s Brigade, Pennsylvania Line, Revolutionary War, 1757-1846, Bunker Hill, Trenton, Germantown

Peter Huff, Private, Colonel Taylor’s Regiment, New Jersey Lint, Revolutionary War, March 10, 1756 – November 11, 1840, Monmouth, Springfield

Peter DeMott, Private, Colonel Quick’s New Jersey Line, Revolutionary War, April 14, 1758 – October 15, 1832

John Comingore, Private, Colonel Vanarsdall’s Regiment, Pennsylvania Line, Revolutionary War, September 16, 1749 – October 6, 1845

Henry Comingore, Private, Colonel Vanarsdall’s Regiment, Pennsylvania Line, Revolutionary War, September 16, 1749 – January 29, 1836, Yorktown

Samuel Brewer, Private, Colonel Vance’s Regiment, Pennsylvania Line, Revolutionary War, 1757 – January 31, 1835, Spy and Scout

Daniel Brewer, Private, Molyan’s Dragoons, Pennsylvania Line, Revolutionary War, July 5, 1719 – January 15, 1791

Gerardus Ryker, Ensign, Colonel Dey’s Regiment, New Jersey State Troops, Revolutionary War, November 16, 1740 – September 15, 1781

Francis Adams, Trumpeter, Colonel Washington’s Regiment, Virginia Line, Revolutionary War, 1751 – January 11, 1837, Yorktown

In memory of John Demaree, Private, Jefferson County Militia, Revolutionary War, 1762 – May 14, 1839

Thomas Gaunt, Sargent, Captain Kincaid’s Company, Illinois Regiment, Revolutionary War, December 17, 1842 – August 19, 1782

James Stagg, Captain, New Jersey Militia, Revolutionary War, September 18, 1738 – May 3, 1826

John Moore, Private, Captain Harrod’s Company, Illinois Regiment, Revolutionary War, 1757 – June 26, 1836, Kaskaskia, Vincennes

Barney Smock, Private, Pennsylvania Militia, Revolutionary War, October 5, 1738 – September 1812

Samuel Moore, Private, Captain Prather’s Company, Kentucky Militia, Revolutionary War, 1759 – August 8, 1780

In memory of John Banta, Sr., Drummer, Captain Campbell’s Company, 2 BN, York County, Regiment, Revolutionary War, March 15, 1757 – October 7, 1815

Thomas Moore, Captain, General Clark’s Virginia Regiment, Revolutionary War, 1754 – February 25, 1835, Kaskaskia, Vincennes

Simon Wan Arsdale, Major, 4 BN York County, Pennsylvania Militia, Revolutionary War, December 6, 1746 – 1802

Can you imagine the stories these men could tell?  There was a drummer, a trumpeter.  Some of these men were at Yorktown at the end of the war, some at Bunker Hill, Germantown, Trenton,Vincennes, Kaskaskia.   Samuel Brewer was a spy and scout!

Daniel Brewer, 1718-1791, Private, Pennsylvania Militia

In memory of Peter Vanderveer, 1760 New Jersey – March 12, 1823 Kentucky, Private, New Jersey Militia, Revolutionary War

In memory of Jacob Sortore, 1730 New Jersey – 1824 Kentucky, Private, Alarm at Raritan, Revolutionary War

John Smock, 1739 New Jersey – 1812 Kentucky, Private, York County Militia, Revolutionary War, A leader at Old Mud Meetinghouse

In memory of Simeon Moore, 1734 Maryland – 1814 Kentucky, Battle of Kaskaskia, Revolutionary War

In memory of Francis Montfort, 1746 New Jersey – 1825 Kentucky, Private, York County Militia, Revolutionary War

In memory of Samuel Britton, 1754 New Jersey – 1834 Kentucky, Private, New Jersey Artillery, Revolutionary War, 1776

In memory of Samuel Banta, 1753 New Jersey – 1833 Kentucky, Private, Scout, Revolutionary War, 1776

Let us ever remember why the revolution was fought – for our rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  Let Freedom ring!