Anybody else's ancestor's fight in the American Revolution -> present day conflicts?

[Headshot zod]

Today, Memorial Day and Veteran's Day I always try to think of the members of my family and others who have fought and died, but who's service often gets forgotten because time has past.



I have about 8 direct ancestors that fought in the American Revolution. 1 with my actual last name (Edward Ainsworth). I have had a number of ancestral cousins that fought (brothers, cousins of the direct 8). Darius and Perley Ainsworth (who had no children) died at the hands of the British as P. O. W's.



I've actually been to Edward's grave up in Woodstock Connecticut and Rev. Laban Ainsworth's grave up in Jaffries New Hampshire. I mention Rev. Laban Ainsworth as his church is still in existence (got pics). Laban as a child had some illness that crippled his arm. During the revolution he ran buckets of gun powder to the canoneers with "his good arm". He holds the record for being a pastor. His pastorate lasted 76 years and ended I think when he died at 100.



Hopefully in the future, the great-great-great-great-great-grandchildren of todays service men and women won't be forgotten.

 

[TowPro]

Not what you were looking for, but my family started when 4 brothers came over as hessian soldiers to fight for the british. The were promised free farms once they won the war. The war ended, and 3 moved to an area north of Gettysburg PA and farmed. Another time I discovered our last name on a solder that fought for Texas in the civil war.

 

[Headshot zod]

Thats fine, I've never run into anyone descended from the Hessians. A few tories here an there. That's neat. Hessian mailing list



and that Texas soldier. Get the last name, go to one of the free genealogy sties. You may be able to find his original ancestor and that ancestor might be yours as well.

 

[RandyHamilton]

Great GrandFather

Jackson Shadday, originally from Orange County North Carolina. Fought in the Civil War in an Indiana Infantry regiment. My brother and I refer to him as pegleg Jack (kinda tongue in cheek). His father, who is pretty much the Patriarch of the Shaddy and Shadday clan fought in the War for Independence from Britian. Grandfather lost a lung from Mustard Gas in the trenches of WWI. Uncle was a waist gunner in B-17's flying over ocupied Europe.

 

[JApol]

I was just getting out of the Persian Gulf with the USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) and heading for Cape Town South Africa. We were less than 1 day from crossing the equator I was dreaming of nice beaches with a beer in my hand when the Commanding Officer of the ship comes over the loud speakers talking about an airplane that has flown into the WTC. I remember thinking " Why are they making a deal out of that?" There was no mention of an airliner by him. About 40 minutes later I get up and head to the galley to get some dinner. I get my tray of what they called food, as I step into the eating area I see the second airliner hit. I almost droppd my tray right there. 36 hours later we were in range of tagets in Afganistan.



Fast forward to Oct 10, 2001.



We can see the lights ot Pakistani coastal lights just over the horizon. From what I can see there are about 5-6 ships in a perfect straight line and I am on #3 from the back. The last ship in the line starts to fire off tommahawk cruise missiles. Every ship in that line fired off 5-6 Tommahawks each into Afganistan.

 

[Carlsummers]

My 4th GGF was a Colonel in the American army during the Revolutionary War. His father-in-law was a Colonel in the British army during that time. My 3rd GGF died in Mexico, where he was part of the SC Palmetto Infantry that fought during the Mexican War. My 2nd GGF (and 3 of his sons) were part of the Florida 2nd Calvary during the War of Northern Agression.

 

[Carlsummers]

I do not wish to hijack this thread, but as a side note, I find it rather sad that with all the attention to Independence Day (July 4), I could find no mention in the News Media of the bloodiest battle in American history. On July 1,2,3 1863, 51,112 men either died, were wounded or were missing at Gettysburg. 51,112 men that were so dedicated to their cause (either breaking the union apart or keeping it together) that they participated in a wholesale slaughter of each other. I personally said a little prayer, asking that those 51,112 lives found eternal peace and rest. Bless our troops... no matter why they were fighting, no matter for whose independence... ...