Revolutionary Patriots
Our Patriots
Forty Revolutionary War Patriots are interred in the oldest part of historic Head of Christiana Church’s Cemetery in an area called the Revolutionary War Memorial Garden. These brave men who fought for their country’s freedom and independence were:
John Alexander (b. 1714 Cecil County, MD, d. 1802, same)
He was a Marylander but served with a Pennsylvania Regiment. Cecil County abuts Chester County, PA and New Castle County, DE.
Capt. Walter Alexander (b. 1753 Cecil County, MD, died 1780)
He served with Col. Richardson’s Company, Maryland militia. He was Amos’ son.
David Barr
He signed the Oath of Fidelity before Judge Amos Alexander in Elkton, Cecil County, MD.
Pvt. Richard Bennett (d. 17 January 1777)
He enlisted in December of 1776 in Enoch Anderson’s Company; he was dead 13 months later.
Major James Black (b. 1731, d. 30 October 1794)
He served with Delaware’s 2nd Regiment.
Pvt. Thomas Bradley (b. 1761, d. 1828)
He served in Capt. Joseph Shomo’s 4th Infantry.
Pvt. Jacob Casho (b. Jacques Cacheaux 1750 "Alsace Region" France, d. 18 March 1825)
He served in Capt. Jacob Weideman’s 7th Company in Pennsylvania’s 3rd Battalion. Casho Mill Road is named after his family.
Pvt. Benjamin Cowan (b. 1756 Cecil County, MD, d. 1826, same)
He served with Virginia’s 3rd and 4th Regiments.
William Crawford (b. 1759, d. 26 January 1846)
He served as a fifer with Virginia’s 5th Regiment.
Pvt. Levi Davis (b. 1755, d. 31 January 1810)
He served with Pennsylvania’s 2nd Regiment on the Continental Line.
Pvt. Samuel Davis (b. 1760, d. 5 February 1811)
He mustered into Robert Kirkwood’s Company, 1st Delaware Regiment on 16th Jan 1776. Served one year. Brother of Levi Davis.
John Evans (b. 1760, d. 23 Aug 1828)
He was of Welsh descent; he served in the 2nd & 4th Delaware Artillery Regiments.
Pvt. James Garrett (b. 1750, d. 1803)
He fought with the 5th Chester County Battalion, 8th Company, under a favored son of Cecil County, Captain Johnston, whose descendants still live in the area.
Col. George Gillespie (b. 1722, d. 17 Aug 1796)
He fought in the French & Indian War; signed the Oath of Fidelity. Son of the second permanent pastor of Head of Christiana Church, Reverend George Gillespie (b. 1683 Scotland, d. 1760); father of George Gillespie.
Pvt. George Gillespie (b. 9 Oct 1753, d. 31 May 1831)
Son of Col. George Gillespie. He fought with Lt. Thomas Rankin’s company.
Cpl. John Gillespy
His military record is still under research. He died at the age of 64 and his tombstone is subsided. (Possible older brother of Pvt. George? His surname is spelled “Gillespy” on his tombstone. Per AGBI (American Genealogical Biographical Index), Vol 62. Pg. 522, Ref. # {813}:40, 48, 1141, 1204, 1268, John was born between 1750-1759. He served with a Delaware Regiment.)
Pvt. James Hamilton (b. 1755, d. 2 Apr 1806)
He served in Col. Thomas Cooch’s Company.
Capt. Thomas Holland (b. 1740, d 12 Dec 1832)
He was the adjutant for the 1st Delaware Regiment which saw battle at Germantown on 4 October 1777.
Jacob Houston (d. 20 Jan 1790)
He was a Delaware “House Holder” and applied for a War pension and Land Warrant. Still researching his service.
William Howard (b. 13 Aug 1764, Cecil County, MD, d. 13 April 1821, same)
He served in Captain Walter Alexander’s Company.
Dr. James Jones was born in Newark, Delaware on the 6th of April, 1756.
Commissioned as an officer, he served as a physician and battle surgeon with the 4th and 6th Pennsylvania Regiments. He was a member of the Delaware Society of Cincinnatus. He died in Kent County, DE on the 29th of Apr 1830.
Sgt. John Jordan (b. 1760 Ireland, d. 1811)
He was in Capt. Jaquette’s Company of the 1st Delaware Regiment and fought at the Battles of Bunker’s Hill, Ticonderoga, Bennington, Monmouth & White Plains.
Pvt. Andrew Kerr (b. 1740, d. 21 March 1823)
He was a son of Scottish immigrants, Samuel & Mary Kerr. His Newark home built in 1805 is on the National Register of Historic Places. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Kerr_House.
Pvt. Thomas Kirkwood (b. 1750, d. 1837)
His relationship to Robert Kirkwood is unknown.
John Leech (b. 1722 Ireland, d. 1812 at age 90)
We are still researching his service.
Pvt. William McClelland
McClellandville, just north of Newark, on Route 896 is named for his family. We are still looking into his exact service.
Reverend John McCreary (b. 1732, d. 18 January 1800)
He was the pastor of the HOC Presbyterian Church and a material supplier and supporter of the Revolutionary cause.
Frederick Mingling (b. Friederich Mengerling 1754, Germany, d. 19 Dec. 1832, in Newark Delaware)
He arrived in Philadelphia in 1773, possibly started out as an indentured servant.
Pvt. John Mitchell (b. 1742, d. 1802)
He served in Col. William’s Regiment in the Southern theater.
John Murphy (b. 1734, Ireland, d. 1825 at age 91)
He signed an Oath of Fidelity before Justice Bryan.
2nd Lt. Thomas Rankin
He joined in 1780 and served with a Delaware Regiment.
George Russel (b. 1737, d. 1818)
He also served in Delaware 2nd Regiment.
Alexander Steele (b. 1738, d. 1783)
He served in Virginia’s 3rd Regiment.
Allen Steel (b. 1750, d. 25 Dec 1848)
He fought in Delaware’s 2nd Militia under Capt. Carson.
Sgt. Alexander Thompson
Continental Troops, 2nd Regiment, Artillery.
John Waggoner (b. 1754, d. 1794 Cecil County, MD)
He signed the Oath of Allegiance to the State of Maryland before Justice Amos Alexander. His grave is in HOC Cemetery.
Dr. George Wallace (d. 17 May 1796)
A physician and field surgeon, he served with his father-in-law, Major James Black.
John Whann (b. 22 Nov 1761, d. 4 Apr. 1826 in Strickersville, Chester Co., PA)
He served in Delaware’s 2nd Militia in Capt. Cousins’ Company.
William Whann (b. 21 Nov 1763, d. 15 Mar 1829 in London Britain Twp., Chester Co., PA)
He served with his brother John in Capt. Cousins’ Company.
Have a Question?
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