13 Revolutionary War soldiers with Wilcox County connections identified

Revolutionary War soldier Hugh Gaston

Americans across the country will celebrate Independence Day tomorrow – July 4 – with barbecues, fireworks, parades and other events as our nation marks 243 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This famous document was signed during what we now call the American Revolutionary War, which ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

An estimated 200,000 men served in the American army and militias during the Revolutionary War, and more than a few of these men have ties to Wilcox County. Using research made available by the Alabama Society of Soldiers of the American Revolution, I was able to find at least 13 Revolutionary War soldiers with Wilcox County connections, but there were no doubt others who have been lost in the fog of time.

Wilcox County Revolutionary War soldier Matthew Albritton was born in North Carolina in 1756 and went on to serve as a private in North Carolina during the war. He eventually moved to Wilcox County, where he died. The date that he died and his exact place of burial remain unknown.

James Bonner was born in Ireland in 1753 and immigrated to South Carolina in 1767. He later served as a soldier in South Carolina during the war before moving to Wilcox County, where he died on Nov. 1, 1825. He is buried in the Old Hamburg Cemetery.

Dempsey Carroll’s birthdate and birthplace are unknown, but it is known that he served as a private in the North Carolina Militia during the war. He eventually moved to Wilcox County and died there in 1841. The site of his grave is currently unknown.

George Christian was born in Virginia in 1762, and he served as a private in Virginia during the war. He eventually moved to Wilcox County, where he died in either 1831 or 1832. The site of his grave is also currently unknown.

George Fluker was born in Northumberland County, Virginia on April 19, 1759 and he served as a sergeant in North Carolina during the war. (Other sources say he served as a private in the South Carolina Militia.) He eventually moved to Wilcox County, where he died at Boiling Springs on Aug. 30, 1839. He was buried in a family cemetery at Boiling Springs, but records indicate that the grave markers for he and his wife, Elizabeth, were later moved to the Gastonburg Cemetery.

Hugh Gaston was born in March 12, 1751 in Pennsylvania (or New Jersey) and served as a soldier and quartermaster in the South Carolina Militia. He and his family moved in 1825 to Wilcox County, where he died on Oct. 11, 1836. He was buried in the Shell Creek Cemetery and some records indicate that his grave was later moved to the Gastonburg Cemetery.

Peter Kelly is another Revolutionary War soldier who died in Wilcox County, but little else is known about him. When and where he was born is unknown as is his date of death and grave location. However, it is known that he served as a private in the South Carolina Continental Line, which suffered heavy losses during the Siege of Charleston.

Joseph King was born in South Carolina, but his date of birth is unknown. He served as a regimental chaplain during the war and eventually moved to Wilcox County. He died in Wilcox County in May 1826, but the location of his grave is currently unknown.

Cato Lee was born in Virginia in 1759 (or 1757) and he served as a private in the North Carolina Militia. After the war, he moved to Wilcox County and died at Snow Hill on Sept. 26, 1836. He is buried in the Snow Hill Cemetery.

Right Rice was born in North Carolina in 1758 and served as a private during the war. He later moved to Wilcox County, where he died in 1835. His place of burial is currently unknown.

William Strothers was born in 1750, but his place of birth is unknown. He served as a soldier in South Carolina during the war and later moved to Wilcox County. He died and was buried at Lower Peach Tree in 1822, but the exact location of his grave is unknown.

John Wilkinson’s birthdate and birthplace are unknown, but it is known that he served as a private in the Virginia Militia during the war. He later moved to Wilcox County, where he died and was buried in 1834. The exact location of his grave is also unknown.

Last, but not least, we have John Young, who was born in County Antrim in Northern Ireland in 1757 (some sources say 1750 and 1747). He arrived in South Carolina in 1767 and went on to serve as captain of a militia company in Augusta, Virginia during the war. He later moved to Wilcox County, where he died in 1840. He’s buried in the Old Hamburg Cemetery.

In the end, if anyone in the reading audience has any more information about the Revolutionary War soldiers listed above, please let me hear from you. It would be nice to fill in some of the blanks regarding these men. With that said, I hope all of you have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July holiday.