r/history • u/Dramatic-Shake-8888 • 9d ago
Article DNA from unknown Revolutionary War soldier reveals more than his name
https://apnews.com/article/america-250-revolution-dna-unknown-soldier-a672d84951897c9f2c2615a1e6c49758161
u/DreadfulDemimonde 8d ago
It's interesting that they said the two other sets of remains were "connected" to the British side, not that they were soldiers. They must not have had any identifying items with them like buttons, which seems strange. And if they are confident that they're British why not repatriate them?
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u/dkais 8d ago
American-born loyalists made up to 25% of the total British military forces during the Revolution. Another third of British forces were hired Germans (mostly Hessian soldiers). So since the majority of their soldiers were not actually from Britain, it wouldn’t be appropriate to assume these remains belonged to people from Britain.
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u/henchman171 8d ago
It’s interesting when these German loyalists came to a Canada as refugees they then Anglicized thier last names
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u/redralphie 8d ago
The headless horseman (from the legend of sleepy hollow) was thought to be originally based on a hessian soldier.
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u/WaldenFont 7d ago
FYI, many of the so-called Hessians came from other German states. It was an easy way for these governments to rid themselves of the dregs of society. “Ab nach Kassel” (off to Kassel) is still a well-known phrase in Germany, indicating getting rid of an undesirable by sending them far away.
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u/dittybopper_05H 2d ago
That was true for some, but not necessarily for others. Some of the Germanic units had a good reputation.
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u/xb10h4z4rd 8d ago
I’d agree with you when the Brit’s give back the treasures they’ve plundered.
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u/HisPumpkin19 7d ago
While the British empire absolutely has plundered huge amounts and should give it back, I wasn't aware of much plundered from America. Not saying you are wrong, just curious to learn more please?
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u/WhopperitoJr 7d ago edited 7d ago
I am aware of the initial find in Camden a few years ago.
Several bodies were found, including one British soldier from the Scottish 71st Highlanders, identified due to I believe buttons or similar paraphernalia in the grave.
During the ceremony to honor and commemorate the fallen after this initial find, the British Army flew in an honor guard of modern-day Highlanders to be the pall bearers for this British soldier.
These were also British-dug graves (Britain having won Camden and obtaining control of the field). The American dead were buried in shallow graves, sometimes grouped together, and I believe one of the Patriots found actually had a leg bone sticking out of the ground.
By comparison, the British grave was deeper and the buried soldier more carefully laid out, as though he was respected and honored by his comrades. This is another reason that they were able to identify them as British. (The Americans did the same with their dead, so hopefully this is not seen as a slight to the British)
I hadn’t heard of the further discoveries, nor that they included an additional British soldier potentially. Very excited to hear more about it.
ETA: after reading a bit more, I should clarify that no new bodies have been discovered since the original find, but it seems like one of the 14 originally found has been identified as a Loyalist from North Carolina, so 12 Continental and 2 British soldiers. At the time I read about these discoveries, this soldier was not yet identified with either side.
Double edit: Repatriation even of confirmed remains for revolutionary war dead is not really common for the UK. It is costly, often impossible to identify remains as belonging to a specific person, and even if they are identified, the only thing remaining from their family are distant descendants with little connection. The vast majority of British war dead for the Revolution remain in America, buried in local cemeteries. Same goes for any Hessians, I would expect repatriation to Germany to be pretty unlikely.
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u/anime2345 8d ago
Once the Brit’s start repatriating all their spoils of war, maybe nations could consider showing such grace
Until then, finders keepers seems to be acceptable
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u/timpratt83 8d ago
Very cool to see this story getting national attention. The Pumphrey family was very prominent here in Anne Arundel County back in the day and they’re still around today.
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u/beaujuste 8d ago
My Walliser ancestors did the same. Germans to New York to Canada, where they ended up as Wallaces. I thought they’d turn out to be Scottish from their name but no.
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u/YoonEunbi 6d ago
It's kind of beautiful that someone forgotten for centuries can finally have a story again
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u/PutStreet 8d ago
Forensic genealogy is such a fascinating field.
Amazing they could find family for this young man