My Patriot, One of Many
By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams
Since we celebrate our great country’s birthday this week, I spent a bit of time today looking up my great-great-great-great-grandfather’s Revolutionary War service. As we celebrate our independence, I couldn’t help but think about Grandpa Jeremiah Dupree.
Grandpa Jeremiah was born November 16, 1754, in Brunswick County, Virginia, which became Greensville County in 1780. He entered the service in Greensville County in 1777 as a Volunteer and was Ensign of the Company. His commanding officer was Captain William Peterson.
Apparently, Grandpa went in and out of service. When he left, he was replaced by his brother, Cordell Dupree. It seems that they swapped places with one another from time to time. Terms of service were only three months. I suppose they thought the war wouldn’t last long. I have no clue and I am no historian. In 1780, Grandpa volunteered once again and entered the service within the same county.
Guilford Courthouse and Yorktown
On March 15, 1781, Grandpa was at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse,located today in Greensboro, North Carolina. His commanding officer was none other than General Nathaniel Greene. He was severely wounded in this battle and was sent home to recuperate. After a three-month convalescence period, he volunteered yet again and joined a company led by Captain Turner Bynum and was marched to Yorktown, Virginia. Present in the battle here were the Generals, George Washington, Anthony Wayne, and Benjamin Lincoln. He was discharged from the Army around the tenth or eleventh of October in 1781, due to illness, thus he wasn’t present for the surrender of the British troops.
I didn’t know any of this as a child, or even as a young adult. It wasn’t until late 1999 or early 2000 that I began to seek my ancestral roots. Let me tell you, the things I have learned have been mind-boggling. I am very proud of my ancestors, but I can tell you that not all of the stories are pleasant. This is to tell you that when you begin your genealogical search, you need to be prepared for both the good and the bad, because you will, inevitably, learn some not so pleasant things in your research.
Standard-Bearer
One interesting thing about Grandpa Jeremiah is that family lore said he had been the standard-bearer at Yorktown. Apparently, he really was the standard-bearer, but it was at Guilford Courthouse, not Yorktown. Court records in which he was trying to get his pension show testimonies not only by Grandpa, but by others who witnessed him refusing to let go of the standard even though he was gravely wounded.
That pension? Well, he never got it from what I can tell. Even though witnesses were brought in who testified that they knew him and knew his comings and goings and that he had, indeed, been wounded, and even though Grandpa personally testified, they denied his pension due to lack of proof. His first hearing was in 1833, the last was in 1852. Grandpa Jeremiah died on September 8, 1838. It was his son, Ira E. Dupree, executor of his estate, who through his power of attorney, tried to obtain any benefits owed his father’s estate for his years of service.
Thank You
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| From Cowpens Battlefield, South Carolina |
As we celebrate our nation’s two-hundred-forty-second birthday, let’s remember all the Jeremiah’s who volunteered to fight for our beloved country back then and who have continued to step up to fight for our freedom. Let’s remember all those who stayed at home and held things together so that we might be the land of the free and the home of the brave. Let’s all stand and cheer and maybe even shed a tear as we remember all those who have served through our entire history. We are free today because of men and women who bravely said, Here am I . . . send me. (Isaiah 6:8)
Do you have an ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War? If you think you do, contact your local DAR, SAR, or CAR chapter and tell them what you know. They won’t do all the work for you, but they will help you find the proofs you need. And share with us about your ancestor.
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1 Comment
Hi, I’m Debra
Jesus Follower, wife, BoyMom, DD, author, blogger, musician, southern cook, amateur genealogist, amateur artist, living life with an accent on Southern.
The Conversation
Great recount of Jeremiah's actions. Sorry to hear our government's history of not supporting those who served goes back a long way. Happy Independence Day after!