Valley Forge Stories

Many people encamped at Valley Forge and each has a unique story to tell. We hope to share with you some pieces on the individuals who gave up everything to join General Washington and fight for our independence.

by Henry Pei

Jonathan Clark was the oldest son of John Clark and Ann Clark, born August 1, 1750, in Albemarle County, Virginia. The next child was George Rogers Clark, who just happened to be on his way early in 1778 to take Kaskaskia and the Northwest Territory while Jonathan was at the Valley Forge Encampment. In fact, five of Jonathan’s six brothers also served as officers in the American Revolutionary War. The youngest, William, born in 1770, later joined Meriwether Lewis for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Prior to the Revolutionary War, Jonathan Clark worked as an attorney and a businessman.

In 1776 Jonathan Clark was commissioned a Captain of the 8^th Virginia Regiment. He already had some experience leading troops against the royal governor of Virginia in the Gunpowder Affair of April 1775. He was present at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, showing great leadership and valor in battle. As a result, he was promoted to the rank of Major on January 10, 1778, at Valley Forge. After the encampment, Clark fought at Monmouth and later played a crucial role at the battle of Paulus Hook (1779), serving as a commander in a highly successful raid.

The victory at Paulus Hook was a huge morale booster for the Americans. Major Clark was commended for his actions and received several letters of praise. On May 10, 1779, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel for his competence and bravery. Lt. Col. Clark was then ordered to march to South Carolina to aid in the Siege of Charleston where the Americans were hopelessly outnumbered and surrounded by British forces. On the orders of General Lincoln, Clark surrendered on May 12, 1780 and was taken prisoner. He was paroled in 1781 and formally released on May 1, 1783.

Jonathan Clark married Sarah Hite in 1782; they had seven children. After the end of the Revolutionary War, he was appointed to the position of Major General of the Virginia militia. Clark moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1802 to join several members of his family, including his brother George Rogers Clark, who was then a well-known military hero on the western front. Applying himself, Jonathan Clark acquired a great deal of land and a considerable amount of wealth. He resided at his home in Jefferson County, Kentucky, until he passed away peacefully on November 25, 1811. Jonathan Clark was a courageous military leader who played an integral role in the war effort.

Sources:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7404016/jonathan-clark

https://www.fold3.com/image/23197639

https://archive.org/details/franheitmanreg00bernrich/page/156/mode/2up?q=clark

https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/default.cfm

https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Jonathan_Clark_(soldier)

https://www.paulushook.org/battle

https://www.nps.gov/articles/siege-of-charleston-1780.htm

https://www.nps.gov/people/george-rogers-clark.htm

https://scrcexhibits.omeka.net/exhibits/show/sihistory/settlement/revolution

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=162011

Pictures:

https://images.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2008/194/7404016_121596042576.jpg

Pictured: Jonathan Clark’s home, “Trough Spring”, which still stands today.

https://www.hmdb.org/Photos5/555/Photo555944.jpg?1292020101600PM

Managing the war effort was no small feat. Usually, Revolutionary War leaders had a few trusted advisors to assist them in their work, known as Aides de Camp. Aides de Camp were the helpers of a high-ranking officer and were usually educated and very dedicated to their work. These men were quite talented and played a vital role in the war effort. Without Aides de Camp, the generals would not able been able to manage and maintain the army. Even though some of these Aides de Camp may be lesser known, the role they played in the Revolutionary War was undeniably significant. One example of an Aide de Camp was Matthew Clarkson.

Matthew Clarkson was born on October 17, 1758, in New York City, New York. He had two wives: Mary Rutherford and Sarah Cornell (not at the same time). He enlisted in the Continental Army in Long Island and later served as an Aide de Camp to Benedict Arnold. Clarkson was present at the Battle of Saratoga, where the Americans scored a major victory over the British with the help of Benedict Arnold. Furthermore, Matthew Clarkson was present at the Valley Forge encampment and took his loyalty oath at Valley Forge’s Artillery Park in May of 1778.

Later, he served under General Benjamin Lincoln with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Matthew Clarkson was taken prisoner in 1780. He was also present at many major battles such as the Siege of Savannah and the Battle of Charleston. After the end of the Revolutionary War, General Lincoln became the Secretary of War, and Clarkson was his assistant. Clarkson was an abolitionist and was very active politically. He even ran for the U.S Senate in 1802.

Furthermore, Clarkson kept serving in the military, overseeing a portion of the state militia, and bearing the rank of Major General. Clarkson had many important achievements such as serving as the President of the New York City Hospital and serving as the President of the Bank of New York. Clarkson also grew wealthy off investments and land speculating. Land speculation is when a wealthy individual buys large portions of land for a cheap price and resells them to others for a markup. Clarkson generously gave away much of his wealth through acts of philanthropy.

Matthew Clarkson died on April 25, 1825, in New York City, New York. He had a town named after him in 1819 (Clarkson, New York). Matthew Clarkson is a shining example of a brave man who played a significant role in the fight for liberty and freedom.

Sources:

https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Matthew_Clarkson

https://valleyforgemusterroll.org/soldier-details/

https://www.nps.gov/vafo/learn/historyculture/washingtonsaidesdecamp.htm

https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A211601

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19528227/matthew-clarkson

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/saratoga

https://images.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2007/144/19528227_118015397217.jpg

https://images.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2010/123/19528227_127298753200.jpg

Valley Forge Muster Roll Volunteer Attends Native American Grave Marking and Remembrance Ceremony

On Sunday, October 23, 2022, in the misty rain, Private Adam Sobuck of the Nehantic tribe was honored in Lyme, Connecticut for his service in the Revolutionary War. A full grave marking ceremony was held to celebrate his service. Valley Forge Muster Roll Volunteer Susan Rosone and her daughter, Bessie, attended the ceremony on behalf of the Muster Roll and the Valley Forge Park Alliance.

Adam Sobuck joined the 1^st Connecticut regiment on January 1, 1777, and unfortunately, he died on January 15, 1777, at the age of 19. Adam’s relative, Private William Sobuck also enlisted in the same regiment on January 14, 1777 and went on to camp at Valley Forge with General George Washington. Service runs in the family as William’s father, William Sobuck, died in the French Indian War in 1759. It is estimated that at least seven of the Nehantic tribe members died in the French Indian War, and six Nehantics gave their lives in the Revolutionary War.

Adam’s grave wasn’t found until the new property owner, Beth Avery, noticed a gravestone almost flat to the ground in 2015. She worked with the Lyme cemetery committee to right the stone and began researching who may have been buried there. The town records simply stated, “Indian Grave”, mistakenly saying it contained a child who died at age nine. Once the gravestone was righted and the name could be read, Beth began researching but could initially find nothing on this “Adam Sobock”. She realized that there were various spellings of his surname, Sobuck being the most common. This led to her amazing discovery of Adam Sobuck’s war record through the National Archives, and that he was a member of the Nehantic tribe. With this information, Beth did more research and realized Adam had a relative, William, who also fought in the Revolutionary War. Further digging led her to the Valley Forge Muster Roll where she was thrilled to discover that William Sobuck encamped at Valley Forge. Had Adam Sobuck survived, he too would have gone on to encamp at Valley Forge. Eventually, Beth was put in touch with a local archaeologist who happened to serve as an advisor to the Nehantic Native Nation. He came out to the grave and was able to confirm that the burial site belonged to Adam.

Susan, from the Valley Forge Muster Roll, was honored to attend this ceremony for Adam which included group prayer, native American music that featured a piece from 1777, a rifle salute, and a smudging. Susan also proudly presented a Muster Roll Certificate for William Sobuck to the Nehantic Tribal Chief Ray Tatten. Members of the DAR and SAR made presentations, as well. Also included were Nansemond Indian Patriots, the only Native American chapter of SAR.

Keeping history alive is so important. The Nehantic tribe of Lyme, CT was declared extinct in 1870, however, there are still a small number of members. One important descendant of the Sobucks was Mercy Anne Nonesuch (1822-1915), whose mother was a Sobuck. She served as a cultural mentor, was known for her skillful beadwork and doll making, and her photographic portrait resides at the Smithsonian. We are honored to have been a part of this ceremony to mark Adam’s grave and to recognize William’s service at Valley Forge.

There was proof that the Nehantics served in every American-fought war, dating back to 1637, except for the Mexican War. We encourage Native Americans to explore their history to see if their ancestors encamped at Valley Forge. We at the Valley Forge Muster Roll are happy to help!

Griffin Greene, Paymaster

A look at some behind-the-scenes roles that were crucial to the war effort

By Rachael Pei

Money is a powerful motivator. For the soldiers at Valley Forge, even though pay was sporadic due to inflation/money shortages [1], it played a part in encouraging them to enlist and dampening mutinies or desertions. Paymasters—the people in charge of paying troops their wages—were therefore vital in sustaining the Continental army. One such officer at the encampment was Griffin Greene, cousin of the famed Major General Nathanael Greene.

Griffin was born on February 16, 1749, in Warwick, Rhode Island [2]. He married Sarah Greene and they had four children [3]. In 1775 he enlisted as a commissary to Rhode Island troops [3, 4]. Commissaries’ main duties were obtaining and distributing food and supplies to soldiers. In 1777 he became the paymaster of the 1^st Rhode Island regiment (commanded by his brother-in-law, Colonel Christopher Greene) and held this role while the army was at Valley Forge [3].

When Nathanael Greene was appointed to Quartermaster General in 1778, Griffin became one of his deputies [3]. Griffin and Nathanael were quite close: “Among the earliest attachments of the general’s life, was one formed with a cousin of the name of Griffin Greene. And to the close of their lives, the affectionate regard in which they held each other, was nearly proverbial” [5]. During the war, they frequently wrote to each other about occurrences or struggles they experienced [6]. Quartermasters were responsible for distributing provisions to troops, so the pair occasionally discussed prices of goods or purchasing strategies in their letters as well [6].

After he was discharged in 1783 [4], Griffin became one of the first settlers of Marietta, Ohio. He served in various governmental roles there, including justice of the peace, revenue collector, judge, and postmaster [3]. Griffin was later chosen as a director of the Ohio Company of Associates after the death of James Mitchell Varnum in 1789 [3]. As an additional note of interest, Meriwether Lewis (best known for his leadership in the Lewis and Clark Expedition) met with Griffin while in Marietta before he started his westward trek [3].

Griffin died in June 1804 while serving as Marietta’s postmaster and was buried in Mound Cemetery [3, 4, 7]. Described as “a man of intelligent aspect, quick apprehension, and a ready, vigorous application of his mind to any subject before him” [3], Griffin Greene reminds us of people in lesser-known roles that were just as important to the war effort as those involved in battlefield maneuvers.

Sources:

allthingsliberty.com/2021/05/the-predicament-we-are-in-how-paperwork-saved-the-continental-army/
services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A046940
military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Griffin_Greene
www.fold3.com/image/615878684?xid=1022&_ga=2.138142512.1601066315.1633727132-1850433631.1619110538
Johnson, W.: Sketches of the Life and Correspondence of Nathanael Greene, Vol. I, A. E. Miller, Charleston, South Carolina (1822), pg. 128
finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/00290/#folder_1#1
founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-10-02-0243

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/GriffinGreene.jpg/180px-GriffinGreene.jpg

Maria Appolonia (Abigail) Hartman Rice

A glimpse into the life of an honorable Revolutionary War nurse

By Rachael Pei

The stories of women in the Revolutionary War, particularly those who were not wives of famous military leaders, are often overshadowed by accounts of male soldiers’ courageous feats in the battlefield. However, these women played a critical role in the war effort, serving as laundresses, seamstresses, cooks, or nurses for the army. One such woman, Maria Appolonia (Abigail, for short) Hartman Rice was a well-known nurse at Yellow Springs Hospital, where many of the Valley Forge soldiers stricken with disease were treated. Her story deepens our understanding of the civilians’ experiences during the war.

According to family records, Abigail was born in Germany on September 4, 1742. When she was seven years old, she arrived in Philadelphia on the Royal Union ship on August 15, 1750. Her family settled in Pikeland, PA, (located in the upper part of Chester County). They regularly made the 13-mile journey to attend St. Augustine’s Lutheran Church in Trappe, which involved traveling over bridle paths on horseback and crossing the Schuylkill River. The pastor there was Henry Muhlenberg, the main founder of Lutheranism in North America and father to Brigadier General John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, whose 1^st Virginia Brigade also camped at Valley Forge.

When Abigail was 16, she married Zachariah Rice and gave birth to their first child two years later. In her lifetime, she had an incredible total of 21 children with Zachariah, 17 of whom lived to adulthood.

The Records of the Annual Hench and Drumgold Reunion relates Abigail’s encounter with George Washington, after the Battle of the Clouds was prematurely terminated by a torrential downpour on September 16, 1777: General Washington and the rain-soaked Continental soldiers were heading toward nearby Yellow Springs when the military leader stopped at the Rice home to ask for something to drink. Abigail reportedly prepared a “flip,” a common drink at the time made with water, sugar, rum and spice. She also agreed to let Brigadier General Anthony Wayne’s soldiers camp on the Rice family’s property that night.

A few months later, during the Valley Forge encampment, Yellow Springs (originally a health spa village boasting various mineral springs) gained new significance as the site of the only hospital commissioned by the Continental Congress during the war. At Valley Forge, disease was a major killer, causing an estimated 2,000 deaths—more than any single battle in the war. Due to the rapid spread of sicknesses like typhoid, pneumonia, dysentery, and typhus at the encampment, the Yellow Springs hospital, being only 10 miles away, was a relatively close refuge to house sick soldiers to avoid the spread of disease. Zachariah, Abigail’s husband, helped with the hospital’s construction. The building, known as Washington Hall, was completed in January 1778. Approximately 1,300 soldiers were treated there during the encampment.

The environment inside was likely very different from the sanitary hospital settings we are familiar with today. Not much was known about proper medical practice, leading to risky operations, such as amputations. The concept that specific germs are the direct cause of certain diseases (germ theory) had not been developed yet, so hygiene was not often the top priority. Furthermore, soap and medical supplies were not always available due to supply shortages.

Abigail was described in the Records of the Annual Hench and Drumgold Reunion as a “stout, well-built woman, warmhearted, and ready to lend a helping hand” (p. 81), visiting the hospital many times to bring food and delicacies for the sick or wounded soldiers. As her visits became more frequent, she started tending to the soldiers, and eventually became a nurse there. Revolutionary War nurses were in charge of keeping the hospital clean, as well as caring for and feeding the patients; however, unlike their present-day counterparts, they did not typically administer medical treatments.

While caring for the sick at Yellow Springs, Abigail unfortunately contracted typhoid fever. She died on November 6, 1789, (aged 47 years old) and was buried at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Chester Springs (a 15-minute drive from present-day Valley Forge Park). Her original grave marker is no longer there, but it read, “Some have children, some have none, here lies the mother of twenty-one.” At her funeral, all 17 of her surviving children walked in the procession to her grave. An attendee reportedly commented that it was the first and possibly last time such a sight would be seen at that church.

Ultimately, Abigail’s story endures as a tribute to the women who served outside of the glory of the spotlight, yet whose roles were crucial in our nation’s fight for freedom.

Sources:

https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2009/247/39650856_125219915454.jpg

Pictured: Abigail’s new (second) headstone, located at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ.

Pictured: The remains of Washington Hall, located at Historic Yellow Springs (a 17-minute drive away from Valley Forge National Historical Park). The building was no longer used as a hospital after 1781, and two separate fires in 1902 and 1962 left it in ruins.
The plaque reads “Revolutionary War Hospital.”

Polly Cooper

A woman whose story embodies the kindness, courage, and indomitable spirit of the Oneidas

By Rachael Pei

Native American allies played an important role in America’s victory in the Revolutionary War. A notable example was the Oneida Nation, which was part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (also known as the Iroquois Confederacy). They fought alongside American troops, as well as providing scouts, spies, and couriers in the war effort. One of the most prominent Oneida figures was Polly Cooper, who is most well-known for her contributions at the Valley Forge encampment.

In April 1778, when American soldiers were dealing with harsh conditions at Valley Forge, Oneida Chief Skenandoah (or Oskanondonha) sent Polly Cooper and 40-50 warriors to help the troops. After walking over 400 miles from central New York, the delegation arrived at the encampment in May, bringing with them hundreds of baskets of white corn. Unlike the sweet corn sold at grocery stores today, white corn needs to be dehulled and roasted before it can be consumed safely. The soldiers were so starved that they tried to eat the corn raw, but Polly stopped them and taught them how to properly prepare it.

When other members of the Oneida delegation began to leave Valley Forge, Polly stayed behind to care for sick soldiers, teaching people at the encampment about various nutritious/medicinal foods, including a soup made from hulled white corn. During her time at Valley Forge, Polly refused to accept pay for her help, though she did receive a black shawl from Martha Washington and other soldiers’ wives as a gesture of appreciation. The shawl has become an important historical relic, passed down and cared for by her descendants.

After Valley Forge, Polly continued to support the war effort by helping soldiers. In unpublished papers owned by the Oneida Indian Nation, Oneida Chief William Rockwell provides more detailed insight into her character: “When I was a boy, I used to hear my people talk about Polly Cooper’s bravery, about how she cooked and carried water to the soldiers…. Polly Cooper gave water to the enemy soldiers as well as to the men in the colonial army because she believed the war was not over water or food… Polly knew the war was about freedom in thought, to develop principles for the good of all living and the coming generations.”

In 2005, the Oneida County Historical Society inducted Polly into its Hall of Fame to recognize her honorable contributions. The Oneida Indian Nation has also commemorated Polly’s efforts through a statue that depicts her standing beside Chief Skenandoah and General George Washington. The memorial was gifted to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian and serves as a reminder of the Oneida’s generosity and friendship during the US’s fight for freedom.

Sources:

https://www.nps.gov/vafo/learn/historyculture/valleyforgewomen.htm

https://www.nps.gov/fost/learn/historyculture/the-oneida-nation-in-the-american-revolution.htm

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/polly-cooper

https://womenhistoryblog.com/2012/04/polly-cooper.html

https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/polly-cooper-oneida-heroine/

https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/the-polly-cooper-shawl-testimony-to-a-pact-of-the-revolutionary-war/

https://civileats.com/2018/04/20/an-indigenous-corn-makes-a-comeback/

https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/allies-in-war-partners-in-peace/

Pictures of the statue featuring Polly Cooper, Chief Skenandoah, and General George Washington. It can be viewed in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

Here is also a picture of her shawl.

Links to the pictures (in order):

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/polly-cooper

https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2012/04/polly-cooper.html

https://www.kophistory.org/oneidas-and-polly-cooper/

https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/the-polly-cooper-shawl-testimony-to-a-pact-of-the-revolutionary-war/

Brevet Major John Van Dyk

Brevet Major John Van Dyk: A Portrait of Uncommon Patriotism and Resilience

By Jeff Wilford

While serving at Valley Forge, Brevet Major John Van Dyk (also spelled Dyke and Dyck) was in the middle of a military career that would place him at some of the Revolutionary War’s most significant events and in the company of the luminaries of the war. A descendant of one of the original Dutch families to settle northern New Jersey, Van Dyk was born in New York City, but grew up along the banks of the Raritan River. He served in the American Revolution as an artilleryman from May 16, 1775, to its close, beginning his service as a member of the New Jersey Militia and the NYC Militia. Most of his time, however, he was attached to Colonel Thomas Proctor’s 4^th Regiment of the Continental Artillery Regiment and, later, the 2^nd Regiment of the Continental Corps of Artillery under Colonel John Lamb. While at Valley Forge, these regiments were part of Brigadier General Henry Knox’s Brigade, which encamped in the Artillery Park area.

Serving in the northern theater, Van Dyk participated in some of its most notable events. In August of 1775, he assisted Alexander Hamilton with the removal of cannons from the Battery in New York City, while being fired upon by the HMS Asia. He was involved in twelve battles, including Long Island, Harlem Heights, White Plains, Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. He was also at both of the Morristown Winter Encampments as well as Valley Forge, where he served as a lieutenant and acting adjutant.

While Van Dyk was serving at West Point, Benedict Arnold betrayed General Washington, resulting in the capture of Arnold’s accomplice, British Major John Andre. Van Dyk remained in Tappan, NY, during Andre’s trial and was one of the four Continental officers to accompany him to the gallows. Later, after receiving a furlough from General Washington to go to sea to recover from an undisclosed illness, he served as a lieutenant of marines on the brig General Reed. The ship, however, was captured by the British, and he was confined on the notorious British prison ship Jersey, eventually being released as part of a prisoner exchange. Van Dyk recorded his recollections of both accounts for posterity.

As the war ended, he was present when the British evacuated New York Harbor and was an original member of George Washington’s Society of the Cincinnati. Perhaps his final act as a soldier was in New York City as one of the eight Lafayette Guards, all friends of the Marquis and surviving original Society of Cincinnati members, as they paid tribute on horseback in a procession to honor their former general at his passing in 1834. It is said that the only favor the Marquis de Lafayette ever asked of the new American government was to install John Van Dyk as an officer in the New York City Customs House, where he served with his former colonel, John Lamb.

References: http://valleyforgemusterroll.org/references-john-van-dyk/