American Freedom
With all that’s going on in the world lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about freedom. Thinking leads me down so many bunny trails…
This piece from the Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…
I recognize that my vote doesn’t have much weight in the grand scheme of things, but I do have a vote. It’s important to me to exercise that right and privilege.
I was also reminded of Paul Harvey’s “Something to Remember” about the signers of the Declaration. Have you not heard that? You need to! I’ll share it at the end of this post.
Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence, but there were thousands more who valued freedom every bit as much as the signers.
My Ancestors
I have an interest in genealogy and have researched several generations back in my family. The people alive during the American Revolution were 7 to 9 generations back from me. When you figure that the number of ancestors double every generation back you go, I calculated that at least a couple hundred people alive at that time would be my direct ancestors. I don’t have names for nearly all of them, but I do have a few.
My ancestors were immigrants, mostly coming to America in the early days of the colonies. I have to assume they came to America seeking freedom.
The American Revolution was fought against England. Some of my ancestors were indeed from England, but several from other European countries as well.
With the hardships and challenges of crossing the ocean at the time, they must have been desperate for a better life. I’m not sure I would have been brave enough to take that on.
And then, when it came right down to it, they decided freedom was worth fighting for. I don’t know if I’m that brave, either. I guess you never really know until you’re put to the test.
Here are the names and short bios of a few of my patriot grandfathers.
James Barron
James Barron was born in 1752 in Maryland. He married Jemima about 1786 and had 10 or 12 children. He died in 1848 in Georgia.
Immigration: James’ great-great-grandfather, William Barron, immigrated from England to Barbados in the mid-1600s. His great-grandfather, Joseph Barron, immigrated from Barbados to Maryland in the late-1600s.
Revolutionary War Service: Sergeant in South Carolina Provincial Troops.
Genealogy: Karla > Pallie > Ernesteen > Ernest > Elbert > Mary > Dicey > James
James Brinson
James Jesse Brinson, Sr. was born in 1730 in Virginia. He married Kezia Linton about 1755 and had 6 children. He died in 1798 in North Carolina.
Immigration: James’ grandfather, Matthew Brinson, immigrated from England in the late 1600s.
David Coble
David Coble was born about 1760 in North Carolina. He married Martha Bray and had 6 children. He died in 1842 in North Carolina.
Immigration: David’s father, George Adam Coble, immigrated from Germany in the mid-1700s.
Revolutionary War Service: Furnished supplies to the troops in North Carolina.
Genealogy: Karla > Pallie > Ernesteen > Liffa > Marshall > Milly > David > David
Cullen Connelly
Cullen Conerly was born about 1745 in North Carolina. He married Letitia Ward about 1773 and had 10 children. He died in 1812 in North Carolina.
Immigration: Cullen’s grandfather, William John Connerly, immigrated from Ireland in the early 1700s.
William Denmark
William Batchelor Denmark was born about 1737 in North Carolina. He was married 3 times and had 17 children! He died in 1808 in Georgia.
Immigration: Details are pretty sketchy, but I’ve seen some records that state his grandfather, Francis Denmark, was born in Jamestown, Virginia… which would indicate that his great-grandparents probably came from England. Maybe?
Revolutionary War Service: Craven County Militia, North Carolina.
Genealogy: Karla > Darrell > Matil > Mary > Alec > William > William > Gideon > Louisa > William
James Harward
James Harward was born in 1760 in North Carolina. He married Rosannah Barbee and had 7 children. He died in 1840 in North Carolina.
Immigration: The Harward family appears to have been in America for several generations by the time of the American Revolution. They originally came from England in the 1600s.
Jacob Kornegay
Jacob Kornegay was born in 1735 in North Carolina. He married twice and had a dozen or so children. He died about 1795 in North Carolina.
Immigration: Jacob’s father, George Kornegay, was born in Germany but immigrated to America at an early age with his family.
Frederick Rester, Jr.
George Frederick Rester, Jr. was born in 1765 in Georgia. He married Louisa Denmark and had 10 children. He died in 1830 in Mississippi.
Immigration: Frederick’s father, George Frederick Rester, Sr. came from Germany in the mid-1700s. See his father’s bio below.
Frederick Rester, Sr.
George Frederick Rester, Sr. was born in 1732 in Germany. He married Mary Margaretha Mengersdorff and had 4 children. He died in 1795 in Georgia.
Immigration: “…from Durloch, Germany sometime prior to December 7, 1755, the date of his marriage, which is the first record located of him in this country. As no records of other family members have been found, it is believed that he came alone.”
Henry Ross
Henry Ross was born about 1745 in Ireland. He married Margaret Mitchell and had 5 children. He died in 1827 in Tennessee.
John Harmon Shumaker
John Harmon Shumaker was born in 1761 in New Jersey. He married Elizabeth and had 4 or 5 children. He died in 1841 in Mississippi.
Immigration: John’s father, Johann Herbert Schumacher, was born in Germany and immigrated to American 1752.
Revolutionary War Service: Continental Line. Maryland Militia. Battle of White Plains, Maryland. North Carolina Troops. Battle of Stono.
Genealogy: Karla > Pallie > Ernesteen > Ernest > Elbert > Henry > John > John
Something to Remember
And now… Paul Harvey!
Y’all watch that, okay? And then go vote! It’s important!
One Comment
Charles Conerly
Hello very distant relative of mine. (My ancestor is listed on here). Do you know who’s the father of William John Connerley born in 1690 Ireland? That’s as far back on that lineage as I can trace myself.