Battle of Brooklyn Chapter Sons of the American Revolution
Patriot Grave Marking Event| August 17, 2025
Alexander Hamilton | SAR Patriot # P-173693, DAR # 050054
1757 - 1804
- Founding Father
- Revolutionary War Officer
- First U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
- Co-Author of The Federalist Papers
Early Life
Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1757 (though 1755 is also given) in Charlestown, on the Island of Nevis. He was the illegitimate son of James Hamilton and Rachel Lavien (née Faucette), and of Scottish, English, and French Huguenot ancestry. His father abandoned the family, and after his mother’s death in 1768, Alexander and his brother James Jr. were left orphans.
The boys were raised on St. Croix, where Alexander was apprenticed as a clerk with Beekman & Cruger while his brother trained as a carpenter. The merchants recognized Hamilton’s extraordinary intelligence and sponsored his education in New York. Their shipping wharf in New York was located near the present site of the Staten Island Ferry terminal. After leaving St. Croix, Hamilton rarely saw his brother again, though he sent him financial support later in life.
Education and Path to Revolution
In 1772, Hamilton arrived in New York, boarding with tailor Hercules Mulligan, a member of the Sons of Liberty who introduced him to revolutionary politics. He studied at the Elizabethtown Academy, where classmates included Aaron Burr and Matthias Ogden, before entering King’s College (now Columbia University).
While still a student, Hamilton joined the “Hearts of Oak,” a militia company that became part of Lasher’s New York Regiment. In August 1775 he and Mulligan led a daring raid to capture 23 cannons at the Battery under heavy British naval fire. Around this time Hamilton also began publishing political pamphlets and engaged in a public debate with Loyalist clergyman Samuel Seabury.
Revolutionary War Service
Hamilton quickly rose as a military leader:
- 1776: Elected captain of the New York Provisional Artillery Company
- Fought at the Battles of Brooklyn, Harlem Heights, and White Plains
- Distinguished himself at Trenton and Princeto
- Promoted to lieutenant colonel and served four years as aide-de-camp to General George Washington
- 1781: Commanded a light infantry battalion in Lafayette’s Division at Yorktown, leading the storming of Redoubts 9 and 10
After the war, Hamilton resigned his commission in 1782 and began studying law.
Statesman and Nation Builder
Hamilton opened a law practice in New York before entering politics. In 1788 he was elected to the Congress of Confederation and became a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, where he played a pivotal role. Together with John Jay and James Madison, he co-authored The Federalist Papers under the pseudonym “Publius,” shaping the nation’s debate over ratification.
Appointed by George Washington as the first Secretary of the Treasury (1789–1795), Hamilton established the foundation of the American financial system:
- Organized the nation’s credit and assumption of war debt
- Founded the First Bank of the United States
- Created the U.S. Mint
- Persuaded Congress to establish the Revenue Cutters Service (precursor to the Coast Guard)
Later Life
After leaving the Treasury, Hamilton returned to law and remained active in politics. He became a leader of the Federalist Party, took part in the early abolitionist movement, and during the Quasi-War with France (1798–1800) served as senior Major General of the U.S. Army.
Hamilton married Elizabeth Schuyler, daughter of General Philip and Catherine Van Rensselaer Schuyler, on January 9, 1780, in Albany, New York. Their marriage produced eight children and one adopted daughter. Tragedy struck when their eldest son, Philip, was killed in a duel in 1801.
Death and Legacy
On July 11, 1804, Hamilton was mortally wounded in a duel with his political rival Aaron Burr at Weehawken, New Jersey. He died the following day at the home of his friend William Bayard in Greenwich Village. He is buried in Trinity Churchyard, New York City, alongside his wife Eliza and son Philip.
Hamilton is remembered as one of the most brilliant and visionary Founding Fathers. His writings, leadership, and financial innovations secured the stability of the early republic and continue to shape the United States to this day.
Francis Lewis | SAR Patriot # P-235908, DAR # A069941
1713 - 1802
- Founding Father
- Signer of the Declaration of Independence
Early Life
Francis Lewis was born on March 21, 1713, in Cardiff, Wales. Orphaned at a young age, he was apprenticed to a merchant’s counting house in London. At about 25 years old, in 1738, he emigrated to New York, where he established himself in the mercantile trade and built a successful business.
Military Service & French and Indian War
In 1756, at the outbreak of the French and Indian War, Lewis served as commissary to Lt. Col. John Mercer. During the British defeat at Fort Oswego, he was captured and sent as a prisoner of war to France. He remained in captivity until 1763, when he was released and granted a tract of 4,400 acres in present-day Whitestone and Flushing, Queens. He soon reestablished his mercantile career.
Role in the American Revolution
By 1765, with the imposition of the Stamp Act, Lewis had become active in Whig politics in New York. He went on to provide both civil and patriotic service during the Revolution:
- Member of the Provincial Congress of New York
- Delegate to the Continental Congress
- Signer of the Declaration of Independence
- Commissioner of the Continental Board of Admiralty
- Supplied the Continental Army at his own expense
After the Battle of Brooklyn, his estate in Whitestone and Flushing was seized, and his farm was burned by the British. His wife, Elizabeth Annesley Lewis (1715–1778), whom he had married in 1745, was taken prisoner and held under harsh conditions. Although she was eventually released and reunited with Francis in Philadelphia, she soon died from illness caused by her captivity.
Family
Francis and Elizabeth Lewis had two sons who also gave patriotic service:
- Morgan Lewis – Served as 2nd Major in John Jay’s militia regiment, later Deputy Quartermaster General of the Northern Department with the rank of Colonel. He went on to become Governor of New York, a Major General in the War of 1812, and long-serving President of the New York Society of the Cincinnati.
- Francis Lewis Jr. – A successful merchant who also contributed to the patriot cause.
Later Life and Death
After the Revolution, Lewis lived in New York City with his sons. He died there on March 31, 1802, at the age of 89.
Hugh Williamson | SAR Patriot # P-321269
1735 - 1819
- Founding Father
- Signer of the U.S. Constitution
- Surgeon General of the North Carolina Militia
- Continental Congress
- U.S. Representative from North Carolina
Early Life
Hugh Williamson, son of John (1704–1757) and Mary Davison Williamson (1714–1804), was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, of Scots-Irish ancestry. A true Renaissance man, he was learned in many disciplines and became a member of the American Philosophical Society. Over his lifetime he was known as a licensed Presbyterian preacher (never ordained), physician, professor of mathematics, scholar, scientist, merchant, author, humanitarian, historian, and politician.
In 1773, while traveling to London, Williamson stopped in Boston, where he witnessed the Boston Tea Party and later testified about it before Parliament.
Revolutionary Service
At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in 1776, Williamson offered his services as a surgeon. Moving to North Carolina, he joined his brother John in blockade running and in smuggling medicine and supplies for the Continental Army. He was appointed Surgeon General of the North Carolina Militia.
During the Battle of Camden, he effectively prevented a smallpox epidemic among American prisoners of war through inoculation and quarantine measures. He primarily served in the Edenton District of northeastern North Carolina under Brig. Gen. Isaac Gregory, who led partisan raids from the Great Dismal Swamp, similar to the tactics of Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion. Additionally, Williamson emerged as an early advocate for proper nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation among soldiers.
Political Career
Williamson entered politics during the final years of the Revolution:
- 1782: Elected to the Continental Congress representing North Carolina
- 1787: Delegate to the Constitutional Convention, where he lodged with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, and became a signer of the U.S. Constitution
- Later served two terms in the First Federal Congress
- Retired from political life in New York City, where he aligned with the Federalist Party and supported abolitionist causes
Personal Life and Later Years
In 1789, Williamson married Maria Apthorp (1750–1790). Sadly, she passed away the following year after giving birth.
During his retirement, Williamson stayed active in charitable organizations and devoted himself to scholarly work. He conducted extensive research and published various writings, including a history of North Carolina. Known for his knowledge and quick wit, he earned the respect and admiration of his peers.
Death
Hugh Williamson died suddenly on May 22, 1819, at the age of 83 while driving his carriage. He was buried at Trinity Church in New York City, near his fellow Founder, Alexander Hamilton.
Brigadier General John Morin Scott
1730 - 1784
- Brigadier General of N.Y. Militia
- First Secretary of State for the State of New York
Early Life
John Morin Scott was born in Manhattan and educated at Yale College. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1752 and soon became active in Whig politics. With the passage of the Stamp Act in 1765, Scott emerged as a leader of resistance, becoming a founding member of the New York Sons of Liberty. By 1775 he was serving on both the New York General Committee and the New York Provincial Congress.
Revolutionary War Service
On June 9, 1776, Scott was appointed Brigadier General of the New York Militia. His brigade was attached to Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam’s Division and sent to Brooklyn prior to the Battle of Long Island. He commanded troops in several major engagements:
- Harlem Height
- White Plains (where he was wounded)
- Early campaigns in Philadelphia and New Jersey
Scott resigned his commission in March 1777 due to ill health. He was also an early handler of Robert Townsend of the Culper Spy Ring, prior to Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge’s leadership.
Political Career
Following his resignation from military service, Scott remained deeply engaged in politics from 1777 to 1782:
- Served on the Committee of Safety and the Committee of Appointments
- Member of the New York State Senate
- Appointed the first New York Secretary of State
He also ran unsuccessfully for Governor against Gen. George Clinton. After Scott’s death, the office of Secretary of State was held by his only son, Lewis Allaire Scott (1759–1798).
Landholdings and Personal Life
Scott was one of the strongest advocates for defending New York City from British occupation, partly because of his extensive landholdings in what is now the Times Square area. Although his property was confiscated during the war, he was able to reacquire it after the British evacuated the city.
He married Marion Scott, with whom he had two children:
- Lewis Allaire Scott – Secretary of State of New York after his father’s death
- Mary Scott – Married Dr. Charles McKnight (see Dr. McKnight’s bio)
Death and Burial
John Morin Scott died on September 14, 1784, at the age of 54. He was buried beneath six large horizontal stones near the north entrance of the cemetery, marked with the inscription:
“Here lies the body of ye Honorable John Morin Scott Esq. son of John and Marion Scott who departed this life Sept 14th 1784 aged 54 years.”
Sarah Livingston Alexander
1725 - 1805
- Wife of Maj. Gen. William “Lord Stirling” Alexander (1725-1783)
- Sister of Founding Fathers, William and Phillip Livingston
Early Life
Sarah Livingston was born on November 7, 1725, in Albany, New York, the daughter of Col. Phillip Livingston (1686–1749) and Catharina Van Brugh Livingston (1668–1756). She came from the prominent and politically powerful Livingston family, many of whom were active supporters of the patriot cause.
- Brother: Phillip Livingston, Jr. (1716–1778) – Signer of the Declaration of Independence
- Brother: William Livingston (1723–1790) – 1st Governor of New Jersey, Signer of the U.S. Constitution
Marriage and Family
In 1748, Sarah married William Alexander (1726–1783), better known as Lord Stirling, in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Lord Stirling became one of the most respected battlefield commanders in the Continental Army.
Their marriage produced two daughters:
- Maria Alexander (1749–1820) – Married Robert Watts (1743–1814), a New York merchant. Both Robert and Maria are buried in the Trinity Churchyard (S.1D).
- Catherine Alexander (1755–1826) – Married Col. William Duer (1743–1799), a former British officer who served in the New York Militia and as a delegate to the Continental Congress.
Later Life and Legacy
Sarah survived her husband by over 20 years. Lord Stirling passed away in January 1783 in Albany. Though he is believed to be buried in the Alexander family vault, Trinity archives contain no definitive record of his burial at Trinity Church. At the time of his death, burial there would have been unlikely due to British occupation and the Loyalist sentiments of Rector Rev. Charles Inglis. If interred at Trinity, it would have been during the later tenure of his nephew, Rev. Samuel Provoost, the first Rector after the British occupation.
Sarah Livingston Alexander died on April 5, 1805, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
Anthony Lispenard Bleecker | SAR # P-116384, DAR # A011231
1741 - 1816
- 1st Major, 1st New York Militia Regiment
- Patriotic Service
Early Life & Family
Anthony Lispenard Bleecker was born in New Rochelle, New York, to Jacobus Rutger Bleecker and Abigail Lispenard. He came from two of New York’s most influential families—Bleecker and Lispenard—both with deep Huguenot, Dutch, and Schuyler connections.
- Mother: Abigail Lispenard, daughter of Anthony Lispenard and granddaughter of Antoine L’Espinard (1643–1696), a La Rochelle-born Huguenot who settled in New York.
- Father’s line: Grandson of Rutger Jansen Bleecker, Albany Mayor, and Catalina Schuyler, linking him to the powerful Schuyler family.
- Brother: Maj. Gen. Leonard Bleecker (1755–1844) – officer in the New York Continental Line, Brigade Major under Gen. Lafayette, present at Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown, and later a founder of the New York Stock Exchange through the Buttonwood Agreement.
- Maternal uncle: Col. Leonard Lispenard – New York City merchant, politician, and landowner, with family ties to the Franklins (Bache line), the Roosevelts, and the Van Cortlandts.
- Nephew: James W. Bleecker – 4th President of the New York Stock Exchange and its 1st Treasurer.
Revolutionary War Service
At the outbreak of the American Revolution, Anthony Bleecker served as 1st Major of Col. Henry Remsen’s 1st New York City Militia Regiment.
- After the British occupation of New York in 1776, militiamen faced the choice of swearing loyalty to King George, enlisting elsewhere, or fleeing the city.
- Bleecker removed to New Jersey for the duration of the war, where he continued to render patriotic service.
- His younger brother Leonard Bleecker remained active in the Continental Army, rising through the ranks and serving under Lafayette.
- After the British evacuation in 1783, Anthony Bleecker was part of the committee to welcome George Washington back to New York City.
Later Career & Achievements
Following the war, Bleecker became one of New York’s most successful businessmen:
- Prominent banker, auctioneer, and merchant.
- Counted among the wealthiest men in New York City.
- Founding member of the New York Stock Exchange.
- Owned extensive farmland in Greenwich Village—today memorialized by Bleecker Street and Lispenard Street.
- Longtime vestryman and warden of Trinity Church, where he played a major role in civic and religious life.
Personal Life
- Married Mary Noel (1743–1828) in 1763.
- Together they had eleven children (1764–1786).
- Died April 26, 1816, and was buried a few days later in Trinity Churchyard.
Hercules Mulligan | SAR Patriot # 249804, 253889, DAR # A082
1740 - 1825
- Founding Member of the New York Sons of Liberty
- Spy
- Member of the Sons of Liberty
Early Life
Hercules Mulligan was born 25 September 1740 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. He migrated to New York in 1746 with his family and later opened a tailor’s shop on Queen Street (now Pearl Street) near Fraunces Tavern.
- His clientele included wealthy British military officers and gentlemen.
- Married Elizabeth Sanders, niece of British Admiral Sir Charles Saunders (1715–1775).
- In 1772, a young Alexander Hamilton arrived from St. Croix to study at King’s College and rented a room in Mulligan’s home. Through this relationship, Hamilton was introduced to the growing movement for American independence.
Sons of Liberty & Early Patriot Activity
Mulligan became an active leader in the Sons of Liberty.
- Took part in the Golden Hill Riot (1770).
Helped seize the New York City Armory. - With Alexander Hamilton and the “Hearts of Oak” militia, helped capture British cannons at the Battery (1775).
- Participated in the tearing down of King George’s statue at Bowling Green (9 July 1776) following the public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
- Associated with other key patriots: Marinus Willett, Isaac Sears, Alexander McDougall, William Alexander (“Lord Stirling”), John Lamb, and John Morin Scott.
Revolutionary War Espionage
After the British occupation of New York in 1776, Hamilton recommended Mulligan to General George Washington as a potential intelligence source due to his ties with British officers.
- Mulligan provided critical intelligence throughout the war that twice helped Washington avoid capture.
- His enslaved man, Cato Howe, served as his courier and was instrumental in delivering intelligence. After gaining his freedom, Howe joined the Parting Ways community in Plymouth, Massachusetts, composed of African American Revolutionary War veterans
- Mulligan’s spy activity ran parallel to Robert Townsend’s Culper Ring, which operated nearby in New York.
- Betrayed by Benedict Arnold as a suspected spy, Mulligan was imprisoned for six months, but convinced British authorities of his innocence and was eventually released.
Later Life & Legacy
After the Revolution, Mulligan returned to his tailoring business and remained a respected figure in New York.
- Active in the New York Manumission Society with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, advocating for the abolition of slavery.
- Died 4 March 1825 in New York City.
Dr. Charles McKnight, Jr. | SAR # P-246693, DAR # A077815
1750 - 1791
- Continental Army Surgeon
Early Life & Education
Charles McKnight was born in New Jersey, the second son of Rev. Charles McKnight and Elizabeth Stevens McKnight. Like his brother Richard, he pursued a medical career and studied at the College of New Jersey (Princeton), where he was a classmate of James Madison.
Military Service
During the American Revolution, McKnight served with distinction as a Continental Line Surgeon:
- Assigned first to the Pennsylvania Flying Camp Hospital
- Served as Surgeon General of the Middle District
- Held the position of Acting Surgeon General and Chief Hospital Physician
He was recognized as a skilled and dedicated physician, attending to the needs of soldiers throughout the war.
Post-War Career
After the Revolution, McKnight established a medical practice in New York City and contributed to medical education:
- Professor of Anatomy at Columbia University
- Known as a well-regarded and knowledgeable physician in both practical and academic medicine
Personal Life
Charles McKnight married Mary Morin Scott (1753–1796), daughter of Brig. Gen. John Morin Scott. Mary was previously the widow of Lt. John Litchfield, a British officer who died prior to the war.
Death
Dr. McKnight died prematurely at age 41 in 1791 from pneumonia, a condition worsened by lingering injuries from his wartime service.
Rev. Charles McKnight, Sr | SAR Patriot # 244964
1717 - 1778
- Prison Ship Prisoner
- Chaplain
Early Life & Ministry
Charles McKnight was born in Antrim, Northern Ireland, and emigrated to New Jersey before 1742, when he was ordained into the Presbyterian Ministry. He served several congregations across New Jersey and became a trustee of the College of New Jersey (Princeton) under Rev. Aaron Burr, Sr., father of Aaron Burr.
Revolutionary Service
A strong advocate of American independence, Rev. McKnight joined the patriot cause as a Chaplain during the Revolutionary War.
- At the Battle of Princeton (1777) he was severely wounded by British saber slashes, injuries believed to have been intended for Gen. Hugh Mercer, with whom he was standing.
- His church at Middletown Point, NJ, was burned by Loyalist militia later that same year.
- Captured by the enemy, McKnight was imprisoned aboard the notorious British prison ships in Wallabout Bay, Brooklyn, where conditions gravely weakened his health.
Family
Rev. McKnight married Elizabeth Stevens (1730–1752) in 1746. They had three children:
- Rachel McKnight (b. 1748
- Capt. Richard McKnight (1749–1781)
- Dr. Charles McKnight, Jr. (1750–1791), noted Continental Army surgeon (see separate entry)
Death
Rev. McKnight was released in 1778, but his health never recovered from the prison ship ordeal. He died shortly after at age 61, remembered as both a clergyman and a patriot martyr.
Capt. Michael Cresap| SAR Patriot # P- 141002, DAR # A02277
1742 - 1775
- Captain, Maryland Rifle Company
- Frontier Officer in Dunmore’s War
Early Life & Family
Michael Cresap was born on June 29, 1742, in Oldtown, Frederick County, Maryland, the son of Col. Thomas Cresap, a provincial militia officer, and Hanna Johnson. Col. Cresap held extensive Maryland lands and his disputes with Pennsylvania patentees—asserting Lord Calvert’s grants over the Penn family’s—were a chief cause for the surveying of the Mason–Dixon Line (1767).
In 1764, Michael married Mary Whitehead in Philadelphia. They had five children born between 1766 and 1775.
Frontier Conflicts & Dunmore’s War
In 1774, as a Captain of Maryland Militia, Cresap operated amid rising Ohio Valley tensions. Men under his authority—the Greathouse brothers (Jonathan, Daniel, Jacob)—perpetrated the Yellow Creek massacre, killing nine to twelve Mingo people connected to Chief James Logan and his sister Ann Koonay Gibson (wife of trader John Gibson, later a Revolutionary War colonel). These events helped spark Dunmore’s War (sometimes called “Cresap’s War”). Charges brought against Cresap were dropped, as he was absent at the time of the massacre. He later commanded a company at the Battle of Point Pleasant, the decisive action of the war.
Revolutionary War Service
In the summer of 1775, rifle companies from the backcountry answered the call to reinforce Boston. Cresap and his men undertook the famed “Bee Line March,” covering over twenty miles a day and arriving in late summer.
- Companies responding:
- Maryland: Capt. Michael Cresap, Capt. Thomas Price
- Virginia: Capt. Daniel Morgan, Capt. Hugh Stephenson
- Pennsylvania: Thompson’s Rifle Battalion
- Cresap’s company was later consolidated into the Maryland & Virginia Rifle Battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. Moses Rawlings (formerly Cresap’s 1st Lieutenant).
Cresap fell ill soon after the march and attempted to return to Maryland, but died en route in New York City.
Death & Burial
Michael Cresap died in New York City in 1775 and was buried in Trinity Churchyard, Section N-6 (north side, near the walkway), marked by a brownstone headstone