A Few of My Military Ancestors and Relatives

As part of my Veterans Day / Remembrance Day tribute, I'd like to list some information on a few of my ancestors and relations who served in the military.

Donald R. Andrus, 5th cousin3 times removed. Born April 19, 1917 in New York. Served in the United States Army from February 21, 1950 to August 31, 1975. Served in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. Died in Coos Bay, Coos County, Oregon on May 10, 2001. Buried at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California.

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Charles Gordon Dence, 3rd cousin 3 times removed. Born April 11, 1916 in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. Served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from October 30, 1942 to March 12, 1945. Died March 29, 1991 in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. Burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
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Jonathan Everett, 6th great-grandfather(Jonathan Everett, Daniel Everett, Pedda Everett, Ira Austin, William Dence Austin, John Ralph Austin, Alfred Austin Sr., A.J. Austin, Jacqueline Austin). Born August 3, 1717 in Dedham, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Married Jemima Mann September 5, 1744. Fought in the American Revolution specifically at one of the very first battles of the War:

“He was a minute man from Wrentham, in Oliver Pond's Company, which marched on the Lexington alarm of April 19, 1775; and he also served in the same company from September to December of that year.” (Everett, Edward Franklin, Descendants of Richard Everett of Dedham, MA, (Boston, MA: 1902 (privately published)), p. 50.)

Jonathan Everett died in Wrentham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts on December 15, 1796.

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Edward George Henneberg, great uncle. Born August 8, 1923 in the Bronx, Bronx County, New York. Served in the United States Army, enlisted March 4, 1943 during World War II. Died February 14, 2004 in Sparta, Alleghany County, North Carolina.

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Cornelius Putman, 2nd cousin 5 times removed. Born April 25, 1841 in South Valley, Cattaraugus County, New York.

“During the War of the Rebellion, he enlisted in Company I of the 152 New York regiment (infantry), and served his country for three years as a soldier. He participated in the following engagements while in the service: Battles of the Wilderness, Bald Knob, Beans Station, Petersburg, Rocky Faced Ridge, Vicksburg and Gettysburg. After his term of enlistment expired, and having received honorable discharge from the army, returned to his home in Otsego, New York.” (Putman, George W., Genealogy of David Putman and His Descendants (Private publication, 1916), copied owned by Thomas MacEntee, Chicago, IL, p. 10-11.)

Married Nancy L. Burnette on March 13, 1866. Death date and location unknown.

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Francis Cornelius Putman, 1st cousin, 8 times removed. Born May 4, 1752 in Mohawk, Herkimer County, New York.

“ . . .a soldier of the Revolution, who was a member of a mixed company of Mohawk Indians and Dutch farmers, and who became Captain of his company by reason of having, with two companions, captured a company of British soldiers who were making a raid by night to procure cattle for beef supplies for Burgoyne's army. The three men hid in a tree at the bars of the field where the cattle were pastured." (Source unknown – based on Family Lore (of the descendants of Thomas Borne) written by Jim Burns.)

Francis was a Lieutenant in the Revolution, serving under Captains Jacob Gardinier and Harmanus Mabie, and Col. Frederick Fischer; he was in the battle of Oriskany, at the taking of Burgoyne, and in the battles of Stone Arabia and Johnstown; length of service was about three months.

Married Maria Hansen Fonda on December 28, 1777 at Caughnawaga, Montgomery County, New York. After the Revolution, he and wife Maria ran a hotel in Tribes Hill for fifty-six years. He received a pension in 1832. Died November 23, 1834 at Tribes Hill, Montgomery County, New York.

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Peter Putman, 1st cousin, 6 times removed. Born September 4, 1834 at Cayuga County, New York.

"On July 15, 1861, after the opening of the Civil War, we enlisted in the 5th IA regiment (infantry), Co. C. and went to the front. After his term of enlistment expired and having passed through all the dangers of war, he reenlisted at Larkinsburg, Ala., in 1864, and remained in the service until the last battle was fought and the Confederate army surrendered. The following are a part of the engagements in which he participated during his service in the Rebellion: The battles of Corinth, Miss, New Madrid, Miss., Hamburg, Miss., Iuka, Tenn., Yazoo Pass, Miss., Champion Hill, Siege of Vicksburg, Nashville, Tenn., Selma, Ala., Montgomery, Ga., and Macon, Ga., where they had three battles on Wilson's raid and also a battle at Franklin, Tenn." (Genealogy of David Putman and His Descendants, p. 40-41.)

Married Alice S. Teague on February 17, 1866 at Fairbank, Buchanan County, Iowa. Death date and location unknown.

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Kenneth Von Ronn, cousin 1 time removed. Born September 29, 1984 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Served as a Sergeant in the Army, Company D, 101 St. Cavalry, Newburgh, New York, assigned to the 69th Infantry Regiment of the Army National Guard in Manhattan, known as the Fighting 69th. Died on January 6, 2005 in Baghdad, Iraq. Burial at Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Liberty, New York.

© 2010, copyright Thomas MacEntee

My Minuteman Ancestors

Today is the 233rd anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Just before dawn, the British troops attempted to find and destroy military supplies that had been stored by the Massachusetts military. Unbeknown to them, the Minutemen had received intelligence of the impending attack which allowed them to not only move the supplies to safety, but also to meet the British at the Lexington Commons just before dawn.

Starting with only 75 men at Lexington, the Minutemen were able to muster up close to 4,000 men by the end of the day and drove the British troops back to Boston. As a tribute to these men, who took part in "The Shot Heard Around The World," I offer up a glimpse into the lives of a few of my ancestors involved with the American Revolutionary War.

Frederick Visscher (3rd Cousin, 8 Times Removed)

Frederick Visscher(1) was born on February 21, 1741 in Albany, New York, the son of Harmon Frerickse Visscher(2) and Catharientje Brouwer(3). He served in the Tryon (later Albany) county militia and later served under Gen. Herkimer at the Battle of Oriskany. Visscher commanded an entire regiment during this battle which has often been called one of the bloodiest battles of the entire American Revolutionary War. Taking place on August 6, 1777, the militia with its 800 menu fought against 450 men made up of British troops and Seneca and Mohawk Indians. By days end, Gen. Herkimer would die of his wounds at Oriskany and the patriots would lose 465 men.(4)

After the war, Visscher was injured in a battle against Mohawk Indians fighting with the British led by Sir John Johnson on May 21, 1780. The details are quite gruesome as told by Jeptha R. Simms in his book The Frontiersmen of New York:

As the enemy ascended the stairs, Col. Visscher discharged a pistol he held in his hand, and calling for quarters, threw it behind him in token of submission. An Indian running up, struck him a blow on the head with a tomahawk, which brought him to the floor. He fell upon his face, and the Indian took two crown scalps from his head, which, no doubt, entitled him to a double reward, then giving him a gash in the back of the neck, he turned him and attempted to cut his throat, which was only prevented by his cravat, the knife penetrating just through the skin.(5)

Visscher was later appointed brigadier-general by Governor George Clinton on February 6, 1787. In June, 1782, on the occasion of General Washington's visit to Schenectady and at a dinner given in his honor, Colonel Visscher was, at the personal request of Washington, seated at his right hand.(6)

Frederick Visscher married Gazena DeGraff(7) on May 22, 1768 at Schenectady, New York. Frederick died in Schenectady on June 8, 1809.

Jonathan Everett (6th Great-Grandfather)

Jonathan Everett(8) was born on August 3, 1717 in Dedham, Massachusetts, the son of Richard Everett(9) and Mary Fuller(10). Jonathan answered the first alarm call in Lexington on April 19, 1775.(11) Everett was married to Jemima Mann(12) on September 5, 1844. She was born December 21, 1722, the daughter of Peletiah Mann(13) and Jemima Farrington(14).

Jonathan's son David Everett(15), born May 23, 1752 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, also served as a minuteman with his father at Lexington on April 19, 1775.(16)

Jonathan Everett died on December 15, 1796 at Wrentham, Massachusetts.

Wigglesworth Messenger (husband of my 5th great grand-aunt)

While not really an ancestor, who could resist not discussing someone with the first name of "Wigglesworth"? He was born on December 16, 1743(17), the son of Ebeneezer Messenger(18) and Rebecca Sweetzer(19). He was married on August 15, 1765 to Jemima Everett(20), daughter of Jonathan Everett and Jemima Mann.

Wigglesworth Messenger served as 1st Lieutenant in Capt. Oliver Pond's company which answered on the alarm of April 19, 1775 at Lexington, Massachusetts. He also served as a Private in Capt. Lemuel Kollock's company, Col. Wheelock's regiment marching from Wrentham to Warwick, Rhode Island on the alarm of December 8, 1776.(21)


Notes:

(1) Reynolds, Cuyler, Hudson and Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911), Vol II., pp 806-808.

(2) Id.

(3) Id.

(4) Gavin K. Watt, Rebellion in the Mohawk Valley, (Toronto, Canada: Dundurn, 2002), pp. 316-320.

(5) Simms, Jeptha R., The Frontiersmen of New York, (Albany, New York: 1883), Vol II, p. 327.

(6) Hudson and Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs, Vol II., pp 806-808.

(7) Id.

(8) Everett, Edward Franklin, Descendants of Richard Everett of Dedham, Massachusetts, (Boston, Massachusetts: 1902 (privately published)), p. 49.

(9) Id., pp. 29, 36

(10) Id., p. 37

(11) Id., p. 50. He was a minute man from Wrentham, in Oliver Pond's Company, which marched on the Lexington alarm of April 19, 1775; and he also served in the same company from September to December of that year.

(12) Mann, George S., Mann memorial, a record of the Mann family in America : genealogy of the descendants of Richard Man of Scituate, Mass., (Boston, Massachusetts: Press of David Clapp & Son, 1884), p. 22.

(13) Id.

(14) Id.

(15) Descendants of Richard Everett of Dedham, Massachusetts, p. 50.

(16) Id.

(17) Id.

(18) Id.

(19) Id.

(20) Id.

(21) Secretary of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, Vol. I-XVII. (Boston, MA, USA: Wright and Potter Printing Co., 1896), Vol. X, p 702.

Any American Revolution Ancestors?

This Satuday, April 18th, is the 333rd anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord which marked the commencement of the Revolutionary War.

I recently knocked down a brick wall this week and found about six generations of Everetts in Massachsetts going back to about 1630. Many of the Everetts were Minute Men and responded to the alarm sounded at Lexington and Concord.

I'll be posting a brief biographical sketch of these men. Perhaps you'll join me and let us all in on your "revolutionary" ancestors.

Photo: The Minute Man, a statue by Daniel Chester French erected in 1875 in Concord, Massachusetts.