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| John Scott Gravestone Rock Creek Cem., DeWitt County, IL Photo by Tony Cannon, Find-a-grave |
~Revolutionary War Gravesites in McLean County~
Introduction - Ebenezer Barnes - Joseph Bartholomew - Samuel Beeler - David Haggard - Frances Hodge - Moses Hougham - John Karr - William Lee - John Maxwell - Thomas McClure - William McGhee or Gee - William McCullough - John Toliday - Jacob Williamson - Gravesites Not in McLean County
Several American Revolution veterans have mistakingly or accidentally identified as being buried in McLean County. The article addresses some of those people.
Philip Crose (1757-1858) was thought to be buried in McLean County for many years. This was based on a story about a Daughters of the American Revolution placing a marker on his grave in 1927. The story continued that by 1976 the gravestone had disappeared. A Pantagraph article suggests that the cemetery was used as a grazing field for a time, and that hogs rooted out several of the tombstones.
A local genealogist, Jack Keefe, however, discovered that the person in that plot was likely Philip Crose, Jr., Philip Crose's son. The Philip Crose who fought in the Revolutionary War died and was buried in Indiana. The confusion may result from the fact that both men have the same name and died in Randolph Townships, albiet in different states, with Philip Sr. buried in Tippecanoe County, IN and Philip Jr. in McLean County. Another coincidence is that both gravestones are now missing.
Edward or Edgar Day (1760-1837) is mentioned as being an American Revolution veteran buried in McLean County in a 1901 Daughters of the American Revolution report. However, Edward is actually buried in DeWitt County. The confusion may have arose from a reference in Duis' 1874 book on the history of McLean County. The book states that in 1832, Day petitioned McLean County to verify his war service to receive pension benefits. Milo Custer wrote a 1930 Pantagraph article correcting the mistake.
John Ellsworth (? - 1836) is mentioned only once as being buried in McLean County in a 1917 book about Revolutionary War veterans buried in Illinois. According to LeBaron's 1879 history of McLean County, William Ellsworth's father, John, was from New York and fought in the Revolutionary War for three years. The family eventually settled in St. Clair County, IL. The 1830 U.S. Census lists a John Ellsworth in St. Clair County, IL between the ages of 70 and 80 years old. This is likely the same John Ellsworth.
In 1836, at the age of 19, William apparently travelend to New Orleans. By the time he returned, John had died. This puts John Ellsworth's death at around 1836. William moved with his family to McLean County around 1860, about 24 years after John died. William had a son named John who was born around 1841 in St. Clair County, which may have led to some confusion when researching old records. Even though I could not find John Ellsworth's grave, I think it very unlikely that the Revolutionary War veteran John Ellsworth was buried in McLean County.
Frederick Eveland (c. 1740 - c. 1838). A 1976 Pantagraph article states that Eveland was recently discovered to be a veteran of the Revolutionary War. Evidence was found that Frederick was born in Sussex County, NJ in 1742, served in 4th Connecticut regiment, died in Waynesville, DeWitt County in 1838, and buried in Fremont Cemetery in McLean County.
The name Fred Eveland does show up in various histories:
- According to history of DeWitt County, a "Fred. Eveland" is listed as a voter in the Waynesville Precient as of December 1844. Assuming this is the same Frederick Eveland, this inconsistent with the 1976 Pantgraph death date of 1838.
- The 1850 U.S. Census shows a Frederick Eveland living with James (b. Pennsylvania) and Catherine Frisby in McLean County, IL. This Frederick is listed as 84 years old, putting his birth year at around 1766, likely too young to be a Revolutionary War veteran. But, it is still possible. This could also be Frederick's son or another relative, however.
- Find-a-grave lists a Frederick Eveland living between 1740 and 1838.The gravestone is in Fairview Cemetery in Waynesville, IL. It's a crude, makeshift gravestone and appears to have been constructed much later than 1838. Fairview Cemetery is just south of Fremont Cemetery, but in DeWitt County.
While some Evelands are buried in Fremont Cemetery in McLean County, the evidence suggests that the Frederick Eveland who was the Revolutionary War veteran is buried in DeWitt County.
Edward Fitzpatrick or Patrick (1760-1834) is mentioned in the same sources as Edward Day (see above). Milo Custer reported that his name was actually Edward Fitzpatrick. According to some sources, Edward and his little brother were playing on a beach in Ireland when they were kinapped and brought to North Carolina. They were sold into servitude and never saw each other again. Another interesting anecdote concerns Fitzpatrick's mother-in-law. When asked to provide milk for British soldiers, she promptly milked the cows into a bucket, and then spilled the bucket right in front of the soldiers. Later research confirmed that Fitzpatrick is buried in Woodford County.
George Ross Kibbey (?-1880) is mentioned in Heritage of the Prairie, a history of LeRoy and Empire Township, as a potential veteran of the Revolutionary War. A George Ross Kibby is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery, but he died in 1880, making it impossible for him to be a veteran of the Revolutionary War. This brief mention, with no sources or references, in the history of LeRoy and Empire Township are the only reference to a George Kibbey as a Revolutionary War veteran buried in McLean County.
Charles Moore (1763-1839) is mentioned as being an American Revolution veteran in several early sources. Moore is also mentioned in Duis' McLean County history as petitioning the county to prove his service in the Revolutionary War to receive benefits. However, later research showed he was buried in Effingham County.
John Scott (1763-1847) is mentioned in several sources as a veteran of the American Revolution. However, as late sources note, this grave is actually in Waynesville, IL, which is outside of McLean County.
Thomas Sloan (10/22/1760 - 3/4/1842) is mentioned in several early sources as being buried in McLean County. In The History of McLean County, Hasbrouck records how Thomas Sloan petitioned the county to be recognized as a Revolutionary War veteran in 1832. An investigation revealed this to be true. Sloan is next mentioned in an 1841 Revolutionary War payment ledger. This ledger noted a Thomas Sloan in Illinois who died in 1842. Sloan is next mentioned in a 1901 Daughters of the American Revolution report as being buried in McLean County.
A 1935 Pantagraph article notes the formation of a committee to find Sloan's gravestone, suggesting that by 1935, it had disappeared. Five years previously, in 1930, local historian Milo Custer writes that does not know where Sloan is buried, but speculates it may in Tazwell County near Mackinaw.
Eventually, it was discovered that while Thomas Sloan had lived in McLean County, towards the end of his life he moved to Wayne County, where he is buried.
William Vincent (1759-1836) is mentioned as being an American Revolution veteran and having a gravesite in McLean County in a 1901 Daughters of the American Revolution report and a 1935 Pantagraph article, which mentions the formation of a committee to hunt for his missing gravestone. His name is actually William Vinson and he is buried in DeWitt County.
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