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Joshua Gordon |
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William
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David Gordon
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David lived to a very great age and was for many years sexton of the Rockaway Presbyterian church. David also served in the Revolutionary War, and he told the following account of a march his company made to Newark from Morristown. The captain halted his company and thus addressed them "Brother soldiers, we must get to Newark tonight, and we cannot do it and march in a body. Let every man make his way as best he can, and if we get there each one of you shall have half a gill of rum for tea." "Oh, captain," roared his followers, "call it a gill, and then we can do it!" "Well, a gill it shall be, then," said the captain, "but halt when you get this side of Newark, and let us march into town as brother soldiers should, together and in order!" The march was accordingly accomplished by each "on his own hook," and the valiant captain had the pleasure of entering Newark at the head of his company in the "brother soldier" way. In the night the men were roused up and embarked in boats, and were rowed down the Passaic in perfect silence. They landed on the salt meadows and marched up to a little village, probably Bergen. The object of this expedition Dr. Tuttle inferred to have been to break up a gang of tories, some of whom were captured and carried to Morristown. The following are certified records at Trenton: "It is certified, that the records of this office show that David Gordon served as a private in the Eastern Battalion, Morris County, New Jersey Militia; also as a private in the New Jersey State Troops; also private in the First Battalion, Second Establishment; New Jersey Continental Line, and in the Sixth Company commanded by Captain Jeremiah Ballard, Third Battalion, Second Establishment; served in the Indian Campaign against the six nations in Western Pennsylvania from May to November, 1779; private in Captain Alexander Mitchell's' Company, First Regiment; detailed to Colonel Barber's New Jersey Light Infantry Battalion, and served in the Virginia Campaign from April to October, 1781; took part in the siege of Yorktown, and was present in the battle of Yorktown and surrender of Lord Cornwallis, October 19, 1781, - during the Revolutionary War." The following are the records from the War Department at Washington, DC: "The records of this office show that David Gordon enlisted July 24, 1777, as a private in Captain Jeremiah Ballard's Company, Third New Jersey Regiment, commanded by Colonel Elias Dayton, Revolutionary War, to serve three years. His name appears on the rolls from June 1777 to August 1780, without additional data." The records also show that, "David Gordon served as a private in the 5th company of foot, first New Jersey regiment, commanded by Colonel Mathias Ogden, Revolutionary War. He enlisted, date not shown, to serve during the war. His name appears on the rolls for January, 1781, to February, 1783, without additional data." The records show further that, "David Gordon enlisted, date not stated, as a private in Captain Jonathan Dayton's Company, New Jersey Regiment, commanded by Colonel Mathew Ogden, Revolutionary War, to serve during the war. He joined March 1, 1783, and his name is on the rolls for March and April, without additional data." As David Gordon was born Oct. 23, 1759, monumental record Sept. 23, it will show that he enlisted before he was 18 years of age, and continued in the service nearly six years. His father, William, was 40 years of age, and his grandfather, Joshua, in the 60's. David died July 23, 1852, the funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Barnabas King from text, 1 Peter 4th chapter 7th verse. David Gordon, born 1759, enlisted July 24, 1777, and served in the Revolutionary War nearly six years, as the records show, married while on furlough May 17, 1780, Nancy Southard, a daughter of Timothy, Jr., who lived at or near Rockaway. |
