PATRIOT WEEK! A Roundup Of Patriots

Finishing off Patriot Week 2016 with a roster of Patriots I have in my family tree. Most were included on the DAR register for Patriotic Service. I have a lot of Quakers in my ancestry, living in the Colonies during the Revolution. Some make the list for their aiding of the troops or providing supplies. None fought.  Other ancestors have only slight mention, being listed as nothing more than "Private", length of service and other information unknown. Still others are not recognized DAR or SAR patriots, but I have begun to find documentation that they participated.

As I bring my Finding Faulkner series to a close, a new area of research has opened up with so many founding families in my lineage. I will focus next on these men, their families, and lives. I hope to have new, exciting information for next year's Patriot Week!

Today, July 2, is the anniversary of the day the resolution to sever ties with Brittan was approved.

"Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

John Adams imagined an America where this day would be celebrated forever more:

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.—I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

Well, we know that didn't happen - but to honor Mr. Adams vision, I will close with a roster of ordinary men, my ancestors, who participated in creating these united states we live in today; a democracy not a monarchy.

A Happy Independence Day to you all!

With thanks:

William Ashby (Maryland) 1744 - 1803

Samuel Beach (Connecticut) 1759 - UNK 

Oliver Burt (Massachusetts) 1738 - 1807

Samuel Faulkner (New York) 1740 - 1811

Jonathan Hays (Maryland) 1729 - 1793

Thomas Loveland (Connecticut) 1726 - 1811

Thomas Potwine Jr (Connecticut) 1756 - 1824

Thomas Terrell (Virginia) 1736 - 1804

Mathias Wisner (Maryland) 1745 - 1821

©2016 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

PATRIOT WEEK! Elijah Twining (1741 ~ 1802)

Why my grandmother never used Elijah Twining for one of her supplemental patriots, I will never know. The Twining family was her passion. Her middle name was Twining. Her mother was a Twining. By far her biggest genealogy file was the Twining research file. But, Elijah was never added to her roster of DAR patriots.

Elijah Twining had roots in America long before the Revolutionary War. His 3rd great grandfather, Stephen Hopkins, became enamored with the New World since his first arrival at Jamestown in 1610. The rest is, very much, history.

Elijah Twining was born November 4th, 1741 in Eastham, Massachusetts Colony, to William Twining and Apphia Lewis. He married Lois Rogers in October of 1762. The couple had 10 children, 7 grew to adulthood.

Elijah's official part in the war was a small one, but he remained very much in service to his community and his country. He enlisted as a private in Lieutenant Samuel Knowles's Co. of Maj. Zenas Winslow's regiment of the Massachusetts Militia from September 6th to September 13th, 1778 where he was on alarms at Bedford and Falmouth. He was actively the Eastham town constable during this time and was put into special service as a commissioned officer of the State treasurer to collect a wartime tax from the town "for defraying the public charge".

Elijah Twining is a registered patriot with both the DAR and the SAR. DAR #A117523, SAR #P-332783

I am descended from Elijah and Lois's son Lewis. My lineage is as follows:

Elijah Twining (1741 - 1802) m. Lois Rogers (1744 - 1815)
i. Lewis Twining Sr (1777 - 1821) m. Jennett Smith (1780 - 1827)
i. Edward Wolcott Twining (1814 - 1897) m. Priscilla Bickford Ashby (1817 - 1911)
i. Jesse Louis Twining (1850 - 1933) m. Flora Dell Rowley (1857 - 1932)
i. Carrie Elizabeth Twining (1881 - 1969) m. Irving Augustus Potwin (1878 - 1938)
i. Elizabeth Twining Potwin (1904 - 1985) - my grandmother


Elijah Twining died October 2nd, 1802. He is buried in the Twining Cemetery in Tolland, Massachusetts.

©2016 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

PATRIOT WEEK! Joseph Rowley (1750 ~ 1837)

Joseph Rowley. Joseph L. Rowley? Joseph Langrill Rowley? My grandmother's supplemental patriot. There seems to be a bit of confusion, however. The DAR had two Joseph Rowley's, the SAR has four. My grandmother's paperwork lists this particular patriot Joseph Langrill Rowley, but the official DAR record lists him as just Joseph Rowley. There is another patriot listed as Joseph Langrill Rowley, a seaman, not the same as the subject of this sketch, or my ancestor. The SAR list makes even less sense. They have three Joseph Rowley's with similar birth years and death dates. And, Joseph Langrill Rowley, the seaman.

Are you confused? I sure am!

Here's what I know. Joseph Rowley was born in Colchester, Connecticut May 13th, 1750. He married Hannah Loveland, his second wife, maybe, between 1779 and 1785. He died in Victor, Ontario Co, New York December 23rd, 1835.

Private Joseph Rowley enlisted October 1st, 1775 in Col Simon's regiment, Capt Amos Rathburn's company, Major Jacob Hyde's detachment, of the Massachusetts Militia. He marched to Lake George than on to Ticonderoga. In 1776 he was in the same service under Col Ashley. Between 1778 and 1780 he frequently volunteered to go out on scouting service after Indians and Tories. Joseph Rowley was injured in an undisclosed accident.

DAR #A099328 and SAR #P-282473 seem to make the most sense. That is the patriot my grandmother is associated with. (And me too, actually)

The Fold3 memorial page for Joseph Rowley clearly has the two men combined. Not helping. The SAR applications available on Ancestry are also a variety of misinformation.

Looks like I've got myself  a project!!** But for now, here is what I have:

I am descended from Joseph Rowley and Hannah Loveland through their son Joseph. My lineage is as follows:

Joseph Rowley (1750 - 1837) m. Hannah Loveland (1760 - UNK)
i. Joseph Rowley (1788 - 1853) m. Anna Beach (1790 - 1863)
i. Rossiter Clark Rowley (1818 -1912) m. Rhoda Ann Vredenburg (1818 -1890)
i. Flora Dell Rowley (1857 - 1932) m. Jesse Louis Twining (1850 - 1933)
i. Carrie Elizabeth Twining (1881 - 1969) m. Irving Augustus Potwin (1878 - 1938)
i. Elizabeth Twining Potwin (1904 - 1985) - my grandmother


I have reason to suspect that Joseph is descended from Edward Fuller, the Mayflower Compact signer. The research on this man will continue!

**'project' update: you can read about how I sorted this all out here.

©2016 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

PATRIOT WEEK! Thomas Wilson Jr. (1740 ~ 1824)

Thomas Wilson Jr started it all. At least for my family. My grandmother's mother dabbled in genealogy and family history, so I assume my grandmother grew up fed on family stories. I'm unclear as to when my grandmother became a serious enthusiast, but I believe it was her quest to join the DAR that turned her hobby into an obsession.

Thomas Wilson Jr was her gateway ancestor.

My grandmother was granted acceptance into the DAR October 13th, 1954. Thomas Wilson Jr. was her entry into what would become her quest, passion, and purpose for the remainder of her life.

Thomas Wilson Jr. (DAR #A127842 - SAR #P-322192) was a Private in the American Revolution under the command of Captain George Richard Byrd. He enlisted in the 4th Company, Frederick Detachment, of the 4th Maryland Battalion on May 5th, 1782.

Born April 5th, 1740 in what was then Maryland Colony, to Scotch-Irish parents, Thomas spent his early years farming the family's land.

On June 17th, 1776 Thomas married Elizabeth Hays (or Hayes) a woman 15 years his junior. He then spent several more years on the farm before heeding the call to pick up a rifle and fight. Thomas left behind his young bride and two small sons.

I am descended from Thomas and Elizabeth's daughter Elizabeth. My lineage is as follows:

Thomas Wilson (1740 - 1824) m. Elizabeth Hays (1755 - 1824)
i. Elizabeth Wilson (1791 - 1850) m. Jesse Ashby (1789 - 1879)
i. Priscilla Bickford Ashby (1817 - 1911) m. Edward Wolcott Twining (1814 - 1897)
i. Jesse Louis Twining (1850 - 1933) m. Flora Dell Rowley (1857 - 1932)
i. Carrie Elizabeth Twining (1881 - 1969) m. Irving Augustus Potwin (1878 - 1938)
i. Elizabeth Twining Potwin (1904 - 1985) - my grandmother

In 1792 Thomas again felt the call to duty and re-joined the army commanding a company under General "Mad Anthony" Wayne. Ultimately attaining the rank of captain, and becoming somewhat of a local war hero due to his skirmishes with the Indians.

Thomas is buried in Wilson Cemetery in Altamont, Maryland near his homestead, Wilson Farm, which is catalogued in the Maryland Historical Trust - State Historic Sites inventory.

©2016 Anne Faulkner ~ AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved