Northumberland County, Military Records of the 12th PA militia File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Contributed by Dorothy Mack, 17821 South Airport Way, Manteca, CA 95337. RMack49418@aol.com Transcribed May 30, 1998 by Larry DeFrance, 657 North Warren, Helena, MT 59601. Larry@ns.helenet.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. "History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, Embraced in the Counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder In The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." In Two Volumes, Vol 1 Philadelphia: EVERTS, PECK & RICHARDS 1886, pp 97-99 The Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line, of which four companies were from Northumberland County and the others from Northampton County, was raised by authority of Congress, and among the last acts of the convention which had assembled in Philadelphia, to form a State Constitution, was the choice of its field officers, from its members, on September 28, 1776. William Cook, delegate from Northumberland, was made Colonel; Neigal Gray, who, after the war, moved to White Deer township, Union County, and died there in 1786, was made lieutenant-colonel; and James Crawford, delegate from Northumberland County, was chosen major. Peter Withington was the first captain, appointed by the Council of Safety on October, and three days later, with the field officers, took the qualification directed by the convention. On the same day (October 4th) Nichlolas Miller and Hawkins Boone were appointed captains; Thomas Brandon and Hananiah Lincoln, first lieutenants; and Robert King and James Williams second lieutenants. It was resolved that the commissions of the captains and subalterns should be dated October October 1st. On the 14th of October, John Brady and Major John Harris, both of Northumberland County, were appointed captains; Christopher Gettig, first lieutenant; and Francis Allison, sergeant. (Col. Records, vol. X. P. 756; Archives (Second Series), vol. X. P 759.) The regiment went immediately into active service. Being composed mainly of good riflemen, large drafts were made upon it for picket and skirmish duty. A portion, under Boone, was sent into the northern army, and assisted in the capture of Burgoyne. At Brandywine, the regiment lost heavily in officers and men, and at Germantown; so that after the wintering at Valley Forge, the field officers were mustered out, the supernumerary line officers discharged into the Third and Sixth Regiments, which arrangement went int effect July 1, 1777. Captains John Brady and Hawkins Boone, Lieutenants Dougherty and Robert King were ordered home by General Washington to assist Colonel Hartley in protecting the West Valley. Captain Brady, of whom we shall have more to say later in this chapter, was killed by Indian scouts near the town of Muncy, April 11, 1779, and Captain Boone fell near Fort Freeland on the 29th of July, in the same year, while Dougherty also lost his life in the defence of the frontier after passing safely through the hard campaigns of the Continental army. Their names will reappear in this history. Following is a partial roster of the Twelfth Regiment, with some remarks inserted by Mr. John Blair Linn: Colonel: William Cook, of Northumberland, commissioned October 2,1776. Lieutenant-Colonel: Neigal Gray, of Northampton County; he moved to Buffalo Valley after the war. Major: James Crawford, commissioned October 8, 1776; afterwards justice of the peace in Lycoming County, where he died. Adjutant: Thomas Hanson. Paymasters: Robert Levers; Thomas Dungan, appointed April 29, 1777. Quartermaster: George Vaughn. Surgeon: Dr. Andrew Ledlie, of Easton. Surgeon's Mate: Aaron Woodruff. Captains Peter Withington, commissioned October 1, 1776; took sick in Philadelphia in December, 1776; sent home to Reading, where he died May 11, 1777; his widow, Eve, survived him over fifty years, and died in Mifflinburg. Nicholas Miller, appointed October 4, 1776, from Northumberland County; died in 179-, in Northampton County. Hawkins Boone, appointed October 4, 1776; killed at Fort Freeland, July 28, 1779. John Brady, appointed October 14, 1776; badly wounded at battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777; killed by the Indians, April 11, 1779. John Harris, appointed October 14, 1776. Rev. Henry McKinley, of Carlisle, appointed October 16, 1776. Alexander Patterson, of Northampton County. William Work, appointed October 16, 1776. Lieutenants Thomas Brandon, appointed October 4, 1776. Hananiah Lincoln, appointed October 4, 1776; he was a sergeant in Captain George Nagel's company, Colonel William Thompson's regiment, 1775-1776; resigned after the battle of Brandywine, and went to Daniel Boone's settlement in Kentucky; he followed Boone to Missouri, where he died. Christopher Getting, appointed October 14, 1776, from Sunbury; wounded at Piscataway, N.J., May 11, 1777; taken prisoner, and had his leg amputated; justice of the peace many years afterward at Sunbury; his descendants reside near Bellefonte. John Reily, appointed October 16, 1776; promoted captain, May 20, 1777; mustered out of service November 8, 1788. Stephen Chambers, Esq, appointed October 16, 1776; promoted captain; one of the council of censors in 1788; delegate to the Federal Convention December 12, 1787; wounded in a duel with Dr. Jacob Rieger on Monday, May 11, 1789; died on Saturday, 16th, at his house in Lancaster. William McElhatton, appointed October 16, 1776; wounded at Bonhamtown, N.J., in right shoulder; disabled, and transferred to the Invalid Corps July 1, 1779; died April 26, 1807. John Henderson, appointed October 16, 1776. William Sayre, appointed October 16, 1776. Second Lieutenants Robert King, October 4, 1776; promoted lieutenant Third Pennsylvania May 20, 1777; left out of service June 28, 1779. James Williamson, October 4, 1776. Edward McCabe, October 16, 1776. John Hays, October 16, 1776. Samuel Quinn, October 16, 1776. John Boyd, of Northumberland, promoted lieutenant in Third Pennsylvania June 18, 1778; Died February 13, 1832. William Bard, October 1, 1776. John Carothers, October 16, 1776; killed at Germantown, October 4, 1777. Robert Falconer. Ensigns Benjamin Lodge, Jr., October 16, 1776; promoted lieutenant Sixth Pennsylvania, October 11, 1777. Thomas Hamilton, October 16, 1776. William Ball Blackall, October 16, 1776; promoted lieutenant Third Pennsylvania 11th September, 1778; mustered out November 3, 1783. William Boyd, appointed October 16, 1776; killed at Brandywine, September, 11, 1777. John Stone, October 16, 1776; resigned January 8, 1777; died March, 1792. Stewart Herbert, October 16, 1776; promoted lieutenant Sixth Pennsylvania January 9, 1778. Andrew Engle, October 16, 1776; promoted lieutenant of Third Pennsylvania December 20, 1778; retired January 1, 1781. Henry Stricker, October 16,1776. John Seeley, February 8, 1777. John Armstrong, formerly sergeant; served until the end of the war, and promoted lieutenant in Captain James Moore's corps.