Battle of Brooklyn Chapter Sons of the American Revolution
The Green-Wood Cemetery - Greenwood Heights
From Revolutionary Battlefield to National Historic Landmark
Robert Benson | SAR Patriot # P-113539
1739 - 1823
- Lieutenant Colonel, Continental Army
- Aide-de-Camp to Gov. George Clinton
- Member, Sons of Liberty
- New York Statesman
Early Life
Robert Benson was born on October 30, 1739, in New York City, the eldest son of Robert Benson, Sr. (1715–1762) and Tryntje "Catherine" Van Bosum Benson. He was one of three brothers, along with Hendrickus ("Henry") Benson (1741–1823) and Egbert Benson (1746–1833). The Benson family was of Dutch ancestry and descended from some of the earliest settlers of New Amsterdam.
Although little is known about Robert's early education, he was clearly well educated. His younger brother Egbert attended the Collegiate Preparatory School operated by the Dutch Reformed Church before graduating from King's College (now Columbia University). It is believed that Robert and Henry received a similar education, including instruction in the Dutch language and Reformed Catechism.
The Benson family lived on Cherry Street in lower Manhattan before relocating to the corner of William Street and Maiden Lane in 1770. Following the British occupation of New York City in 1776, Robert went into exile while his widowed mother sought refuge in Dutchess County with his brother Egbert.
Revolutionary War Service
Robert Benson embraced the patriot cause early in the Revolutionary movement, becoming an active member of New York's leading revolutionary organizations.
He served in numerous patriotic and governmental roles, including:
- Founding member of the Sons of Liberty
- Member of the Committee of Sixty
- Member of the Committee of One Hundred
- Secretary of the New York Committee of Safety
- Delegate to the New York Provincial Congress
- Clerk of the New York State Senate (1777)
These revolutionary committees included many of New York's leading patriots, among them John Jay, John Lamb, Hercules Mulligan, Alexander McDougall, Comfort Sands, and John Morin Scott.
There is also evidence that Benson may have briefly served as a First Lieutenant in the New York Militia under Capt. Peter Berton, before Berton declared his loyalty to the Crown.
In 1777, Benson was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army, serving for the remainder of the war as Aide-de-Camp and Military Secretary to Governor and Major General George Clinton. His duties placed him at the center of New York's military and political leadership, and much of his surviving correspondence documents communications with Continental officers and government officials on Governor Clinton's behalf.
On Evacuation Day, November 25, 1783, when General George Washington triumphantly reentered New York City after the British evacuation, Governor Clinton rode at Washington's right hand while Lt. Col. Robert Benson rode at Washiington's left—a fitting recognition of his years of faithful service.
Statesman
Following the Revolution, Benson continued his career in public service, building upon the administrative experience he had gained during the war. His years as secretary, clerk, and military aide made him one of New York's most trusted public officials during the state's formative years.
Family
The Benson family produced several distinguished patriots.
- Egbert Benson (1746–1833) became one of New York's foremost jurists and is regarded as a Founding Father. He served in the Continental Congress, represented New York at the Annapolis Convention alongside Alexander Hamilton, later served as a U.S. Representative, and held numerous judicial and public offices.
- Capt. Hendrickus ("Henry") Benson (1741–1823) commanded the armed sloop Hudson during the Revolution. In 1776, he and Capt. Matthew Cook were ordered by the New York Convention to sink two ships and two brigs in the Hudson River near Fort Lee to obstruct British naval movements. Although little is known of his later life, he never married and likely remained active in maritime pursuits.
Legacy
Lt. Col. Robert Benson played a vital but often overlooked role in the American Revolution. While others commanded troops on the battlefield, Benson helped guide New York's revolutionary government through its most difficult years, serving as a trusted secretary, military aide, and confidant to Governor George Clinton. His administrative leadership and dedication to the patriot cause made him one of New York's indispensable Revolutionary War statesmen.
Henry Gibson | SAR Patriot # P-350882
1751 - 1852
- Private, 1st New Hampshire Continental Regiment
Early Life
Little is known about Henry Gibson's early life or parentage. He was born in 1751, probably in Orange or Ulster County, New York, and may have descended from one of the early Scottish or Scots-Irish families who settled the Hudson Valley. His surname occasionally appears in historical records as Gipson.
Although documentation of his youth is scarce, Gibson spent most of his life in Orange County, where he would later raise his family and become one of New York's longest-lived Revolutionary War veterans.
Revolutionary War Service
Henry Gibson enlisted in the Continental Army in May 1780 at Canterbury, New Hampshire, joining the 1st New Hampshire Regiment under Col. Joseph Cilley and Capt. Moody Dustin. He later served under Col. Henry Dearborn.
During the final years of the Revolution, Gibson served with the Continental Army in the Hudson Highlands, where large numbers of American troops were stationed at West Point, New Windsor Cantonment, and Newburgh.
His military service included:
- Enlisted in the 1st New Hampshire Continental Regiment in May 1780.
- Served under Col. Joseph Cilley, Capt. Moody Dustin, and later Col. Henry Dearborn.
- Stationed with Continental forces defending the Hudson River Valley.
- Honorably discharged in 1783 at Dobbs Ferry, New York, just across the Hudson River from his home in Orange County.
According to his Revolutionary War pension testimony, Gibson enlisted in New Hampshire but spent much of his service with the Continental Army encamped in the Hudson Valley.
Family
Following the war, Gibson returned to Orange County and married Phebe Brock on September 11, 1791, in Ulster County, New York.
The couple had at least four documented children:
- John Gibson (b. 1792)
- Maria Gibson (b. 1793)
- David Gibson (b. 1795)
- Benjamin Gibson, identified in Henry's Revolutionary War pension affidavit
Late in life, Gibson lived with his granddaughter Harriet, Benjamin's daughter, who appears with him in the 1850 United States Census when Henry was ninety-eight years old. Census records place him in Orange County continuously from 1800 through 1850.
Final Years
Henry Gibson achieved distinction as one of the oldest surviving veterans of the American Revolution. On February 22, 1852, at 101 years of age, he traveled nearly 60 miles down the Hudson River to New York City to participate in George Washington's Birthday celebration.
The remarkable journey attracted widespread newspaper coverage, including reports in the Brooklyn Eagle. After returning home to Monroe, New York, Gibson died only a few weeks later on April 15, 1852, at the age of 101.
Death & Burial
Following his death, Gibson's remains were brought to New York City by United States veterans, where they lay in state before being escorted to Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.
His funeral became one of the largest public tributes ever held for a Revolutionary War veteran in New York.
- Escorted by an honor guard composed primarily of War of 1812 veterans and members of the New York State Militia.
- Several surviving Revolutionary War veterans were reported to have attended.
- More than 5,000 mourners participated in the funeral procession.
- His granddaughter Harriet attended the services, and an unnamed son learned of his father's death only after reading newspaper accounts in New York City.
Henry Gibson was laid to rest with full military honors at Green-Wood Cemetery. Of the more than sixty Revolutionary War veterans and patriots buried there, only Henry Gibson and David Davis (1754–1858), 1st New York Regiment, lived to be over one hundred years of age.
Legacy
Henry Gibson's extraordinary longevity made him a living link to the American Revolution. His appearance at New York City's Washington's Birthday celebration in 1852 captured the imagination of the public, and his funeral drew thousands who gathered to honor one of the last surviving soldiers of the War for Independence. Today, he remains one of Green-Wood Cemetery's most remarkable Revolutionary War veterans.
Dr. John Greenwood | SAR Patriot # P-350838
1760 - 1819
- Fifer, Fife Major, Continental Army
- Massachusetts Militia Soldier
- Privateer Sailor
- Pioneer Dentist
Early Life
John Greenwood was born on May 17, 1760, in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Dr. Isaac Greenwood, Jr. (1730–1803) and Mary Jans Greenwood (1726–1820). His father was a skilled dentist, artisan, ivory carver, and maker of mathematical and scientific instruments, producing instruments for Benjamin Franklin.
As a young boy, Greenwood witnessed many of the events that fueled the American Revolution. At just ten years old, he was deeply affected by the Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770. One of those killed, Samuel Maverick, had been his father's apprentice and lived in the Greenwood household, making the tragedy deeply personal.
In 1773, at age thirteen, Greenwood was sent to apprentice with his uncle John, a cabinetmaker in Falmouth (now Portland, Maine). Before leaving Boston, he witnessed both the Boston Tea Party and the public tarring and feathering of British officials. During this period, he discovered a discarded fife, repaired it himself, and taught himself to play by imitating British military musicians marching through Boston's streets.
Revolutionary War Service
When news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord reached Maine in 1775, Greenwood immediately returned to Boston. Carrying a sword on his back and his fife in hand, the fifteen-year-old walked more than 100 miles, supporting himself by playing music in taverns and town squares along the way.
On May 3, 1775, he enlisted in the 26th Massachusetts Regiment (later redesignated the 15th Continental Regiment) under Col. John Paterson in Capt. Theodore Bliss's Company. His musical talent earned him promotion to Fife Major.
During his Continental Army service, Greenwood:
- Served at the Battle of Bunker Hill and witnessed its aftermath.
- Participated in the Siege of Boston.
- Took part in the Quebec Campaign.
- Served in frontier skirmishes against British and Native American forces.
- Fought in the Battle of Trenton.
- Was honorably discharged on December 27, 1776, after twenty months of service, declining an offer of promotion to Ensign.
In 1778, he returned to military service for three months with the Massachusetts Militia, serving under Gen. William Heath in Lt. Col. Symmes' detachment of guards.
Privateer Service
After leaving the Continental Army, Greenwood spent two years as a cod fisherman before joining the growing fleet of American privateers, often called "Washington's Navy."
His wartime maritime service was filled with adventure and danger.
- Served as a midshipman and steward aboard the privateer sloop Cumberland under Capt. John Manley.
- Captured by HMS Pomona after taking a prize near Barbados.
- Avoided being impressed into the Royal Navy by secretly taking emetics supplied by the ship's surgeon, convincing British authorities he was too ill for service.
- Later sailed under Capt. David Porter, grandfather of the famous Civil War admiral.
- Survived the loss of the privateer Tartar off Port-au-Prince.
- Captured again aboard the General Lincoln by HMS Iris off the Delaware Capes.
While assisting British carpenters repairing the captured vessel, Greenwood escaped after arriving in occupied New York City. Blending into the waterfront crowds, he fled with the ship's quadrant, later selling the valuable navigational instrument after being exchanged through British Prisoner Commissary David Sproat. Returning safely to Boston, he completed the war serving aboard the privateers Aurora and Resolution.
Professional Career
Following the Revolution, Greenwood settled in New York City, where he first worked as a wood turner, merchant, and maker of mathematical instruments before entering the dental profession.
Although largely self-taught, he drew upon skills learned from his father in ivory carving and instrument making to become one of America's foremost early dentists.
His accomplishments included:
- Established one of New York City's leading dental practices.
- Advertised himself as "Dentist to His Excellency George Washington."
- Crafted dentures from hippopotamus ivory and gold, considered among the finest of the era.
- Widely credited with inventing the foot-pedal operated dental drill, an important advancement in early dentistry.
By 1800, Greenwood was widely regarded as the finest dentist practicing in New York City.
Family
John Greenwood married Elizabeth Weaver (1764–1831) on November 13, 1793, at New York City's Brick Presbyterian Church, officiated by Rev. Dr. John Rodgers.
Elizabeth was the daughter of William Weaver, who was wounded by cannon fire from HMS Asia during the 1775 capture of British artillery at Battery Park by Alexander Hamilton, Hercules Mulligan, and the Hearts of Oak Militia.
Together they had four children who survived to adulthood:
- Jane Greenwood
- Isaac John Greenwood
- Clark Greenwood
- John William Greenwood
His brothers, William Pitt Greenwood, also a dentist, and Clark Greenwood, a mechanic, later became his business partners.
The family home and dental office stood at 11–13 Park Row, near the present-day southern end of City Hall Park.
Death & Burial
Dr. John Greenwood died on November 16, 1819, at the age of 59, from complications following a stroke.
He was originally buried in the Brick Presbyterian Churchyard before being reinterred in the New York Marble Cemetery in 1856. His remains were later moved to Green-Wood Cemetery, where he rests beside his wife, Elizabeth.
Legacy
Dr. John Greenwood's life embodied the spirit of the American Revolution. As a teenage soldier, fife major, and daring privateer, he served his country both on land and at sea. In peacetime, he became one of America's pioneering dentists, earning a national reputation for his craftsmanship and innovation. Remembered as George Washington's dentist and an early inventor of the mechanical dental drill, Greenwood left a lasting legacy in both American military history and the history of dentistry.
Bazaleel Howe | SAR Patriot # P-186176
1750 - 1825
- Private, Lieutenant & Brevet Captain, Continental Army
- Commander-in-Chief's Life Guard
- Major, United States Army
Early Life
Bezaleel Howe was born on November 28, 1750, in Marlborough, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, the son of Bezaleel Howe, Sr. (1717–1751) and Ann Foster Howe (1715–1790). He was the sixth of their children and descended from some of New England's earliest "Great Migration" families.
His father, a cordwainer (shoemaker), died when Bezaleel was still an infant. In 1766, his widowed mother relocated to Hillsborough, New Hampshire, with her daughter Edith Bradford and sixteen-year-old Bezaleel. He spent his formative years there as tensions between Great Britain and the American colonies steadily increased.
Revolutionary War Service
The day after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 20, 1775, Howe enlisted as a Private in Col. George Reid's 1st New Hampshire Regiment, serving in Capt. Frohly's Company under Brig. Gen. John Sullivan. The regiment marched immediately to Cambridge, participated in the Siege of Boston, and fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
On January 1, 1776, the regiment became the 5th Continental Regiment and joined the ill-fated Canadian Campaign, fighting at the Battle of Trois-Rivières (Trois-Rivières, Quebec). Returning south, Howe fought with the main Continental Army at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, serving under Col. John Stark.
His military career continued to advance during the remainder of the Revolution.
- Enlisted as a Private in the 1st New Hampshire Regiment on April 20, 1775.
- Participated in the Siege of Boston and Battle of Bunker Hill.
- Fought in the Canadian Campaign, including the Battle of Trois-Rivières.
- Served at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton.
- Promoted to Second Lieutenant on November 8, 1776.
- Assigned to the reorganized 1st New Hampshire Continental Regiment under Col. Joseph Cilley, later commanded by Col. Henry Dearborn.
- Wounded at the Battle of Freeman's Farm (First Battle of Saratoga) on September 19, 1777.
- Participated in the Battle of Monmouth and the Sullivan Expedition against the Iroquois.
- Promoted to First Lieutenant on June 23, 1779.
- Served with the Highland Department at West Point during the closing years of the war.
- Assigned in 1783 as an Auxiliary First Lieutenant in General George Washington's Commander-in-Chief's Life Guard.
- Brevetted Captain in October 1783, with orders signed by Elias Boudinot.
- Personally commanded the escort that accompanied General Washington's baggage, papers, and personal effects from West Point to Mount Vernon following the war.
- Honorably discharged at West Point with discharge papers signed by General George Washington and Governor George Clinton.
Howe's Revolutionary War pension records provide a detailed firsthand account of his distinguished military career, including his service with Washington's Life Guard during the final months of the war.
His family's commitment to independence was equally remarkable. All of his brothers served in the Revolutionary War:
- Lt. Baxter Howe served in the 21st Continental Regiment and Lamb's 2nd Continental Artillery, dying of disease during the Yorktown Campaign.
- Timothy Howe served in the Massachusetts Militia, survived the Wyoming Valley Massacre, and later continued his service in the New York Militia.
- Darius Howe served as both a non-commissioned officer and lieutenant in the Massachusetts Continental Line.
United States Army Service
Following the Revolution, Howe continued his military career in the newly established United States Army, serving an additional nine years on the nation's western frontier.
His post-war military service included:
- Entered the United States Army in 1785.
- Served during the Northwest Indian War under General Anthony Wayne.
- Assigned to the newly organized 2nd United States Infantry Regiment on March 4, 1791.
- Promoted to Captain on November 4, 1791.
- Assigned to Wayne's Legion of the United States on September 4, 1792.
- Promoted to Major on October 20, 1794, following the American victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
- Honorably retired from military service on November 1, 1796.
Public Service
Following his retirement from the Army, Howe briefly pursued business opportunities in New Orleans before returning to New York City.
He later accepted a position with the United States Customs House, where he remained in federal service until his death. Howe was also an active member of the Society of the Cincinnati, preserving the fellowship and memory of Continental Army officers.
Family
Major Howe married Hannah Merritt (1748–1798) of Mamaroneck, New York, on September 16, 1789. They had one daughter:
- Maria Howe (1789–1852)
Hannah died during New York City's Yellow Fever epidemic of 1798.
On February 15, 1800, Howe married Catherine Moffat (1774–1849). Together they had eight or nine children, including:
- Eliza
- Stephen
- George
- Margareta
- John
- Julia Ann
- Catherine
- Bezaleel Howe, Jr.
Death & Burial
Major Bezaleel Howe died on September 3, 1825, at his home on Mott Street in lower Manhattan.
He was originally buried in the Dutch Reformed Churchyard on Houston Street. In 1875, his remains were reinterred in Green-Wood Cemetery, where he rests beside his wife Catherine and two of their sons, George and Bezaleel, Jr.
Legacy
Major Bezaleel Howe devoted more than twenty years of military service to the United States, serving with distinction in both the Continental Army and the United States Army. Rising from the ranks as a private to the rank of major, he fought in many of the Revolution's most important campaigns, served in General Washington's elite Commander-in-Chief's Life Guard, and later helped establish the professional U.S. Army during the Northwest Indian War. His career represents a remarkable bridge between the War for Independence and the nation's first standing army.
Henry Rutgers | SAR Patriot # P-350187
1745 - 1830
- Lieutenant Colonel, Continental Army
- Colonel, New York Militia
- Patriot, Philanthropist & Benefactor of Rutgers University
Early Life
Henry Rutgers was born Hendrick Rutgers, Jr., on October 7, 1745, in New York City, the seventh child of Hendrick Rutgers, Sr., and Catharina DePeyster Rutgers. He was baptized at the New Dutch Church on Nassau Street. His maternal grandfather, Johannes DePeyster, served as the 23rd Mayor of New York City.
The Rutgers family descended from early Dutch settlers who arrived in New Amsterdam during the mid-1600s. They established a successful brewery and owned extensive farmland throughout what are now Chinatown and the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Henry inherited a portion of the family estate and became actively involved in managing the family's business interests.
In 1763, Rutgers entered King's College (now Columbia University), graduating in 1766. During this period, he adopted the Anglicized form of his name, Henry, and became acquainted with leading New York patriots including, Alexander McDougall, John Lamb, Isaac Sears, and other members of the Sons of Liberty, who influenced his growing support for American independence.
Revolutionary War Service
When the American Revolution began, Rutgers entered military service in defense of the patriot cause.
In 1776, he was commissioned a Lieutenant in Colonel William Malcolm's 2nd Regiment of New York Levies. During the Battle of Brooklyn (Long Island), his regiment served with Brig. Gen. John Morin Scott's New York Militia Brigade. The battle brought personal tragedy when his younger brother, Harmanus Rutgers (1749–1776), was killed in action on August 27, 1776.
Rutgers continued to serve with distinction throughout the war, advancing through several important staff and command positions.
His Revolutionary War service included:
- Commissioned Lieutenant in Colonel William Malcolm's 2nd New York Levies (1776).
- Fought at the Battle of Brooklyn, Harlem Heights, and White Plains.
- Promoted to Captain following the New York campaign.
- Appointed Deputy Muster Master General by Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam in 1777.
- Appointed Deputy Commissary of Musters with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1779, upon the recommendation of John Jay.
- Served as Lieutenant Colonel of the New York Levies in 1780 under Governor George Clinton.
- Later appointed Colonel of the New York Militia.
Following Baron von Steuben's reorganization of the Continental Army, Rutgers' position as Deputy Commissary of Musters was eliminated, but he continued to serve New York until the close of the war.
Public Service & Philanthropy
After the British evacuation of New York in 1783, Rutgers returned to find his family's estate badly damaged. During the British occupation, the property had been confiscated and used as military quarters and a hospital, forcing his elderly parents and other family members into exile in Albany.
Rutgers resumed management of the family estate while continuing his public service.
His post-war contributions included:
- Served in the New York State Assembly during 1784–1785.
- Held several additional civic and public offices.
- Devoted much of his wealth to charitable causes throughout New York.
- Financed the construction and support of numerous Dutch Reformed churches.
- Supported schools, educational institutions, and organizations serving the poor.
Among his greatest philanthropic achievements was his generous financial support of Queen's College in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In recognition of his extraordinary generosity, the college was renamed Rutgers College in 1825, today known worldwide as Rutgers University.
Family
Henry Rutgers never married and had no children.
He devoted his life to public service, philanthropy, and the advancement of education and religious institutions. His generosity made him one of the most respected civic leaders in early nineteenth-century New York.
Death & Burial
Colonel Henry Rutgers died on February 17, 1830, at the age of 84.
He was originally buried at the New Dutch Church on Nassau Street. As Manhattan became increasingly urbanized, his remains were reinterred at the Middle Dutch Church in 1858, and later moved to Green-Wood Cemetery in 1865.
Over time, the exact location of his grave was lost, and many believed he had been buried in New Jersey. In 2007, historian Jeffrey Richman and Green-Wood Cemetery volunteers rediscovered his long-forgotten burial site while researching Civil War veterans. The grave was subsequently marked with a commemorative military plaque through the efforts of the Rutgers University community.
Legacy
Colonel Henry Rutgers is remembered not only for his distinguished Revolutionary War service, but also for a lifetime devoted to public service, charity, and education. A trusted Continental Army officer and New York militia commander, he later became one of New York City's foremost philanthropists. His enduring legacy lives on through Rutgers University, which proudly bears his name, and through his lasting contributions to the civic, religious, and educational life of the young American republic.
Joshua Sands | SAR Patriot # P-350844
1757 - 1835
- Captain, New York Continental Line
- Aide to Commissary General Col. Joseph Trumbull
- Patriot Merchant & Supplier to the Continental Army
Early Life
Joshua Sands was born on October 12, 1757, at Cow Neck (later known as Sands Point) in Queens County, New York (now Nassau County). He was the youngest son and seventh child of John Sands III and Elizabeth Cornell Sands.
The Sands family descended from early English settlers who migrated from Block Island, Rhode Island, to Cow Neck in 1691, when Joshua's great-grandfather, John Sands I, acquired a large tract of land along Long Island's north shore. Over the next several generations, the Sands family became one of the region's most prominent and influential families.
By 1775, Joshua was employed as a merchant's clerk in the New York business of his older brother Comfort Sands, whose patriotic activities greatly influenced the young Joshua.
Nearly all of Joshua's older brothers supported the American cause:
- Colonel John Sands IV commanded the 2nd Regiment of Queens County Militia, protecting Long Island before the British occupation and supplying the Continental Army throughout the war.
- Cornell Sands served in the Orange County Militia.
- Robert Sands served in the Dutchess County Militia.
- Comfort Sands was a prominent Son of Liberty, member of the Committee of Safety and Provincial Congress, and later Paymaster and Auditor General of the Continental Army.
- Stephen Sands served in the Westchester County Militia and, under Colonel Marinus Willett.
- Richardson Sands served in the Pennsylvania Militia and partnered with Comfort and Joshua in supplying Washington's army before his untimely death in 1783.
Growing up in such a patriotic family helped shape Joshua's lifelong commitment to the cause of American independence.
Revolutionary War Service
In 1776, Joshua Sands was commissioned a Captain and assigned to the staff of Colonel Joseph Trumbull, the Commissary General of the Continental Army.
Although holding a military commission, Sands' greatest contribution came through supplying Washington's army with desperately needed food, clothing, equipment, and military stores. Contemporary records document Joshua and his brothers assisting the Continental Army during its retreat following the Battle of Brooklyn.
His Revolutionary War service included:
- Commissioned Captain in 1776.
- Served on the staff of Commissary General Colonel Joseph Trumbull.
- Assisted in supplying the Continental Army during the retreat from the Battle of Brooklyn.
- Worked with his brothers under contracts with Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance, to provision the Continental Army.
- Helped fulfill supply contracts for Governor William Livingston of New Jersey.
- Served as a Captain associated with the 4th New York Continental Regiment, likely in a staff, commissary, or paymaster capacity rather than field command.
Throughout the Revolution, the Sands family became one of the principal merchant families responsible for supplying the Continental Army, making an indispensable contribution to the Patriot cause.
Business & Public Service
Following the war, Joshua Sands became one of Brooklyn's leading businessmen, landowners, and public officials.
In 1784, he purchased the confiscated estate of Loyalist John Rapalje, a 160-acre tract along the East River in what is now the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He built an impressive mansion on Front Street, and the neighborhood's Sands Street still bears his family name.
His post-war accomplishments included:
- Partnered with his brother Comfort Sands in shipping, import-export, rope making, ship chandlery, and real estate ventures.
- Owned a powder magazine serving New York's growing maritime trade.
- Founding director of the Bank of New York, established by Alexander Hamilton.
- Served in the New York State Senate from 1792 to 1798.
- Appointed Judge for Kings County (Brooklyn) in 1797.
- Served as Collector of Customs for the Port of New York under President John Adams until 1801.
- Represented New York in the United States House of Representatives from 1803 to 1805, and again from 1825 to 1827.
- In 1825, welcomed General Lafayette during his Farewell Tour of America and led the official Brooklyn procession in his honor.
Throughout his life, Sands remained active in Brooklyn's civic, commercial, and political affairs, helping transform the growing community into one of America's leading cities.
Family
Joshua Sands married Anne Ayscough (1761–1851) on March 9, 1780, at the home of Colonel William Malcolm in Wallkill, Ulster County, New York. The ceremony was performed by Rev. John Moffat.
Anne was the daughter of Dr. Richard Ayscough, a British Army surgeon and major, and Ann Langdon. During the Revolution, Joshua and Anne lived primarily in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, while in exile from British-occupied New York City.
Together they had at least eleven children.
Among their notable descendants:
- Son William Malcolm Sands, named for Colonel William Malcolm.
- Daughter Elizabeth Sands, who married Commodore Edward Trenchard, a distinguished naval officer who served during the Quasi-War, First Barbary War, and War of 1812, and later commanded the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the USS Constitution.
- Son Joshua Sands, Jr., who became an officer in the United States Navy, ultimately attained the rank of admiral.
Death & Burial
Captain Joshua Sands died in Brooklyn, New York, on September 13, 1835, at the age of 77.
He was initially buried at St. Paul's Church in Eastchester (present-day Bronx). His remains were later reinterred at Green-Wood Cemetery, where he rests among many other distinguished Revolutionary War patriots.
Legacy
Captain Joshua Sands combined military service, patriotic sacrifice, commercial success, and public leadership into a remarkable career spanning more than half a century. During the Revolution, he helped sustain the Continental Army through his work in military logistics and supply. In peacetime, he became one of Brooklyn's foremost civic leaders, a founder of the Bank of New York, a state senator, congressman, judge, and respected merchant. His family's name remains permanently woven into the history of both New York City and the American Revolution.
Ebenezer Stevens | SAR Patriot # P-297260, DAR # A108796
1751–1823
- Lieutenant Colonel, Continental Army
- Major General, New York State Militia
- Boston Tea Party Participant
Early Life
Ebenezer Stevens was born in Roxbury, Province of Massachusetts Bay, in August 1751 (sources list August 11, 12, 21, or 22). He was the son of Ebenezer Stevens (1726–1763) and Elizabeth Weld Stevens (b. 1727), and descended from his great-grandfather Erasmus Stevens, who appears in Boston tax records in 1674. As a young man, he trained as an artillerist in Adino Paddock’s Boston militia unit, serving alongside notable patriots such as Paul Revere.
Revolutionary War Service
Stevens was active in the earliest patriotic protests and in military service during the Revolution. He participated in the Boston Tea Party (16 December 1773), patrolling the docks and helping dispose of taxed tea (family accounts note participants did not disguise themselves as Mohawks). After the Tea Party, he fled to Rhode Island.
Following the outbreak of hostilities, Stevens joined the Continental Army and fought at Bunker Hill (1775). Commissioned as a lieutenant under Henry Knox, he rose rapidly through the artillery ranks and took part in major northern campaigns:
- Served at Ticonderoga and Saratoga, witnessing Burgoyne’s surrender (1777).
- Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1778.
- Commanded artillery under Lafayette at Yorktown (1781).
- Remained active in New York until his discharge in 1783.
Post War & Militia Service
After the Revolution, Stevens transitioned to state militia leadership and civic defense:
- Appointed Brigadier General, New York State Militia (1799).
- Promoted to Major General in 1814, organizing New York City’s defenses during the War of 1812.
- Fort Stevens (Queens) was later named in his honor.
Business & Civic Life
Stevens became a successful merchant and shipowner, building a significant importing and shipping business from Manhattan. He engaged in civic and social organizations and correspondence at high levels:
- Member, Society of the Cincinnati.
- Active in the New England Society (served as president).
- Member of the Tammany Society.
- Served briefly in the New York State Assembly.
- Corresponded with Thomas Jefferson (notably in 1806 regarding wine imports).
Family
- First marriage: Rebecca Hodgdon (1753–1783) — four children.
- Second marriage (1784): Lucretia Ledyard Sands (1756–1846) — seven children; several descendants married into prominent New York families.
- Notable descendant: novelist Edith Wharton.
Death & Burial
- Ebenezer Stevens died September 2, 1823, at his summer home in Astoria, Queens. He was originally buried there; his remains were reinterred in 1860 to the Stevens family lot at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn (Section 75, Lot 10402), alongside his wife and other family members.
250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party | Ebenezer Stevens
