1743 Pennsylvania

January 8, 1743- Ezekial Potts is born to David Potts and Ann Roberts in Germantown, Pennsylvania. He would serve as a private in the 5th Virginia Regiment in 1776.

(Ezekiel Potts is my 5th great grand uncle.)

The French & Indian War (1755-1763)

Twenty years before the American Revolution, France and Britain's struggle for North America sparked the first world war. Called the French and Indian War, it would change the face of America, especially for the American Indians and the colonists.

France's influence in North America was tied to the fur trade -- they set up trading posts in Canada and around the Great Lakes, and maintained relationships with the native Indians. Meanwhile, British colonists settled along the Atlantic coast -- pushing the American Indians further inward. In the 1750's, France and Britain were both building empires, and came to blows over the land between their American settlements -- the Ohio River Valley. However, the Indians also called this land home, and they would play a valuable role in the war by tipping the balance of power in favor of one of the European empires.

British policies that came out of French and Indian War like taxation and land treaties would spark the American Revolution. Meanwhile, the war would also provide a training ground for one of the United States' greatest leaders -- George Washington.

1758 Virginia

June 24, 1758- Ezekiel Potts marries Elizabeth Worrall Mead in Fairfax County, Virginia. The marriage was accomplished contrary to Friends discipline, and in consequence, they were disowned on October 28, 1758.
By the will of his father, David Potts, Ezekial inherited an undivided half interest in the homestead farm and mill.
Ezekial Potts later served as a private in the Revolutionary War, Captain Burgess Ball's 5th Virginia Regiment. (D.A.R. RECORDS 12804 AND 127512.)

(Ezekiel Potts is my 5th great grand uncle. Our common ancestors are David Potts and Ann Roberts.)

1765 Virginia

March 4, 1765- Anthony Conard is born to John Conard and Elizabeth Potts Conard in Loudoun County, Virginia.

(Anthony Conard is my 4th great grand uncle. Our common ancestors are John Kunders Conard and Elizabeth Potts. John Conard was a private in the Virginia militia.)

1774 Treaty

September 1774- Lord Dunmore signs peace treaties with the Delaware and Six Nations of the Iroquois at Pittsburgh.

1774 Virginia

October 10, 1774- At the confluence of the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, the point of land known by the Wyandotte Indians as "tu-endie-wie," or "the point between two waters," the bloody, day-long Battle of Point Pleasant was fought.
Colonel Andrew Lewis led his force of 1,100 Virginia militiamen into the Little Kanawha valley. The presence of such a large British force in native lands convinced Shawnee Cheiftain Cornstalk that he should form a large war party.
Cornstalk attacked Lewis and they engaged in a bloody battle characterized by the succession of individual hand-to-hand combats. At times Cornstalk and his braves held the upper hand, but eventually the firepower of the backwoodsmen proved superior on the then heavily forested battlefield. At the end, 230 Indians were killed or wounded and more than 50 Virginians had lost their lives, including Colonel Charles Lewis, brother of the commanding officer.
The Shawnee were forced northward to the villages across the Ohio River.

The Shawnee, Mingo and Delaware later signed the Treaty of Camp Charlotte (near present-day Chillicothe, Ohio), in which they pledged to allow free navigation on the Ohio River, to return all captives and release their claims to the lands south and east of the Ohio (the first time that the actual residents of the area had made such an agreement).
Considered a landmark in frontier history, some believed the battle to be the first of the American Revolution. This action broke the power of the ancient Americans in the Ohio Valley and quelled a general Indian war on the frontier. Significantly, it also prevented an alliance between the British and Indians, one which could very possibly have caused the Revolution to have a different outcome, altering the entire history of the U.S. In addition, the ensuing peace with the Indians enabled western Virginians to return across the Allegheny Mountains to aid Revolutionary forces.

1775 Virginia

1775- Loudoun County has largest militia in Virginia.

1775 The Colonies

1775- American Revolutionaries gain control of each of the thirteen colonial governments, set up the Second Continental Congress and form a Continental Army.

1775 Massachusetts

April 19, 1775- The Battles of Lexington and Concord are fought in Middletown County, Province of Massachusetts Bay.
The battles mark the outbreak of open armed conflict between the kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in the mainland of British North America.

1775 Maryland

1775- Colonel William Smallwood attends the Maryland Convention and advocates armed resistance to troops posted in America to enforce British tax laws.

Declaration of the Association of the Freemen of Maryland

ASSOCIATION of the FREEMEN of MARYLAND

July 26, 1775.

The long premeditated, and now avowed design of the British Government, to raise a revenue from the property of the colonists without their consent, on the gift, grant and disposition of the Commons of Great Britain; the arbitrary and vindictive statutes passed under color of punishing a riot, to subdue by Military force, and by famine, the Massachusetts Bay; the unlimited power assumed by parliament to alter the charter of that province, and the constitution of all the colonies, thereby destroying the essential securities of the lives, liberties and properties of the colonists; the commencement of hostilities by the ministerial forces, and the cruel prosecution of the War against the people of the Massachusetts Bay, followed by General Gage's proclamation, declaring almost the whole of the Inhabitants of the united colonies, by name or description, rebels and traitors are sufficient causes to arm a free people in defence of their liberty, and to justify resistance, no longer dictated by prudence merely, but by necessity, and leave no alternative but base submission or manly opposition to uncontroulable tyranny. The Congress chose the latter, and for the express purpose of securing and defending the united colonies, and preserving them in safety, against all attempts to carry the above-mentioned acts into execution by force of arms.
Resolved, that the said colonies be immediately put into a state of defence, and now supports, at the joint expense, an army to restrain the further violence, and repel the future attacks of a disappointed and exasperated enemy.
We therefore inhabitants of the Province of Maryland, firmly persuaded that it is necessary and justifiable to repel force by force, do approve of the opposition by Arms to the British troops, employed to enforce obedience to the late acts and statutes of the British parliament, for raising a revenue in America, and altering and changing the charter and constitution of the Massachusetts Bay, and for destroying the essential securities for the lives, liberties and properties of the subjects in the united colonies. And we do unite and associate, as one band, and firmly and solemnly engage and pledge ourselves to each other, and to America, that we will to the utmost of our power, promote and support the present opposition, carrying on, as well by Arms, as by the continental association, restraining our commerce.
And as in these times of public danger, and until a reconciliation with Great Britain, on constitutional principles is effected (an event we most ardently wish may soon take place) the energy of government may be greatly impaired, so that even zeal unrestrained, may be productive of anarchy and confusion; We do in like manner unite, associate, and solemly engage in maintenance of good order, and the public peace, to support the civil power in the due execution of the laws, so far as may be consistent with the present plan of opposition; and to defend with our utmost power all persons from every species of outrage to themselves or their property, and to prevent any punishment, from being inflicted on any offenders, other than such, as shall be adjudged by the civil magistrate, continental congress, our convention, council of safety, or committees of observation.

December 1775

The Association of Freemen begins recruiting troops.

First Battalion of Maryland

1776- Colonel William Smallwood organizes First Battalion of Maryland (forerunner of the Maryland Line.)

Orders from George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Elisha Sheldon

16 December 1776

Sir

The Congress having thought fit to appoint you Lieutt Colo. Commandant of a Regiment of Horse to be raised and to empower me to appoint the officers under you,reposing especial trust & confidence in you & knowing how much your honor & reputation depends upon the proper choice, I am willing you should have the Nomination of all the Officers (reserving to myself a negative of any One and all such as I shall think unfit for that service, and doubt not you will be particularly carefull in fixing upon none but Gentlemen of true spirits and of good Characters—observing at the same time that Gentlemen of Fortune and reputable Families generally make the most usefull Officers.

You are immediately to repair to the State of Connecticut and as soon as possible nominate your Officers, and send them out on the recruiting service; they are to be particularly attentive to take none into the Corps, but young light active men.

The Privates are to receive Twenty Dollars bounty, and a Suit of Cloaths on entering the Service and pay as per Schedule annexed. They are to be raised to serve during the war unless sooner discharged by Congress.

Each Non commissioned Officer and private is to be furnished with a good Horse, Saddle, Bridle & other Accoutrements belonging to the Horse service at the expence of the Continent—and I will recommend to Congress that the Commanding Officer be also furnished at the public expence with the same, but cannot absolutely engage it as I beleive it is not customary.
In procuring the Horses, you are to have no Stallions, Mares, White or Grey Horses, but likely serviceable Trotters of sufficient size, It is expected you will purchase them at the most reasonable rate & not upon an average to exceed One hundred Dollars per Head, carefully describing and keeping an exact account of the Cost of each Horse.

Saddles, Bridles, Carbines, Broadswords, Pistols and every other accoutrement necessary (agreable to a Pattern herewith given you, you will procure as cheap as possible.

Your Regiment is to consist of One Major, an Adjutant, Surgeon & Mate and Six Troop, to each Troop, One Captain, One Lieutenant, One Cornet (commissioned Officers) One Qr Master, Two Serjeants, Two Corporals, One Trumpeter, One Farrier & thirty four privates.

In order to enable you to defray the Expence of raising and equipping this Regiment, you are herewith furnished with a Warrant upon the Paymaster for the sum of 14,000 Dollars and a Letter to Governor Trumbull to advance you such further Sums as may be necessary on Continental account. In case of the latter failing you are to advise me of it, & if no public money is to be had in that Department from a Paymaster to be appointed, send a carefull Officer for such Sum or Sums as may be wanted.

1776 Connecticut

December 12, 1776- Sheldon's Horse, the Second Continental Light Dragoons, commissioned by Congress under the command of Colonel Elisha Sheldon at the direct recommendation of General George Washington. Washington indicated that he expected Sheldon to appoint only gentlemen of "true spirits and good character" and observed that gentlemen of fortune and of reputable families generally made the most useful officers.

The unit had volunteered for service early in 1776 but was rejected because of insufficient forage for the horses and men. The dragoons entered active service after the defeat of the Continental Army at White Plains, New York, in October 1776.

The name dragoon is derived from the carbine (the dragon) carried by Frederick the Great's medium cavalry. Lighter and shorter than a regular musket; the carbine's size made it ideal for light cavalry use. It was attached to the shoulder with a musket sling. Pistol holsters on the saddle contained two French cavalry pistols for use in close quarters, and dragoons also carried
a wooden canteen, bedroll, feed bag and picket rope.

Most of their fighting was done on foot with the horses being used primarily as transport. Dragoon mounts were generally smaller than those used by heavy cavalry. Horses had to be bay, black, chestnut or gray in color. The typical load carried by a horse could be 250 pounds, including equipment and rider.

Members of Sheldon's Horse served as personal bodyguards to General George Washington.

1778 Prince George's County, Maryland

Joining the Revolution. John Worland III, along with sons Charles and Henry, takes the Oath of Allegiance before the Honorable Thomas Clagett.
Eldest son, John Robey Worland, takes the Oath before the Honorable William Berry.

1778 Washington on Quakers

March, 1778- During the bleak, dark days at Valley Forge, General Washington issued the following orders to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr.:

Head Quarters, Valley Forge, March 20, 1778

Sir:

Sunday next, being the time on which the Quakers hold one of their general Meetings, a number of that Society will probably be attempting to go into Philadelphia. This is an intercourse that we should by all means endeavor to interrupt, as the plans settled at these meetings are of the most pernicious tendency. I would therefore have you dispose of your parties in such a Manner, as will most probably fall in with these people, and if they should, and any of them should be mounted upon Horses fit for draft or the service of light Dragoons, I desire they may be taken from them and sent over to the Qtr. Master General, any such are not to be considered as the property of the parties who may sieze them as in other cases. Communicate the above orders to any of the officers of the Continental Army who may command scouting parties upon your side of the Schuylkill.

1778 John Conard

August 22, 1778- John Conard is dismissed by the Quaker Monthly Meeting for hiring a substitute to go to war.
After his dismissal, he joined the Virginia militia.

Sheldon's Flag

The regiment flag of Sheldon's Dragoons, taken at the 1779 battle at Pound Ridge, New York, fetched $12.36 million at auction in 2006. It is the earliest surviving example of an American flag with thirteen red and white stripes. In the flag’s middle is a canton, at the center of which is a particularly striking design of a black thundercloud with wings on each side, from which gold and orange thunderbolts emanate.

Sheldon's Dragoons