Military: Revolutionary War Occupation of Chester Co., PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sandra Ferguson <ferg@intelos.net>.

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From THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA, by Futhey and Cope.


When the army (Am. forces) encamped at Valley Forge, many of the
farm-houses in this vicinity were selected by officers for their quarters.
    Col Clement Biddle was for some time at Moore Hall; Gens.. Gates and
Mifflin and Cols Davis and Ballard were quartered at the house of Moses
Coates.  They had, in addition to their attendants, a guard of 24 men.
    Officers were quartered for the winter at the house of Edward Lane, and
also at the house of Jacob Pennypacker.  The wife of the latter, nee Ann
Pawling,is said to have complained very bitterly when her store of clothing
was taken away.  As was the custom of the matrons of those days, she had
devoted the leisure hours of her life to the manufacture of quilts, blankets
and woolen goods, which were stowed away in chests for future use.  She
entreated the men to leave a portion of them, and the reply was "Madam, they
are good, warm blankets."
    A company of horse were stationed at the residence of Matthias
Pennypacker.  The orchard as used as a parade-ground and the barn as a
magazine.  The powder was kept in kegs and barrels upon the floor and the
building was surrounded by a guard continually.  It is also told of this
good Mennonite that he secreted a quantity of his neighbors' clothing in
barrels.
     A number of sick soldiers were at the house of Philip Rapp; 2 died and
were buried in the woods.
     The house of Henry Miller was converted into a commissary store.  11
surgeons also lived in it and every morning rode over to camp.  Provisions
were kept in the cellar, and in the barn were number of cattle ready to be
slaughtered.  These animals were honored with a guard.
     The Old Varley house became a hospital.  6 or 7 of the sick who were
there died, and were buried in a field a few steps to the NW of the corner
of the farm, recently occupied by George Hellerman *(1890s).
     There was a large hospital upon the farm of Joest Smith and the
soldiers placed there had smallpox and camp fever.....about 45 of them died.
     The largest hospital was erected upon some high ground in a field on
the Gwynn farm.  About 150 men are supposed to have been buried around it.
The site has all been plowed over."