Bill’s Family - Person Sheet
Bill’s Family - Person Sheet
Birthabt 1754, Maryland273
DeathNov 1776273 Age: 22
Memoduring the Revolutionary war
FlagsLived in US
FatherJohn Tannehill , 2601, M (1724->1786)
MotherRachael Adamson , 2602, F (<1730-1809)
Misc. Notes
From “History of John and Rachael Tannehill and their Descendants” by Letitia Tannehill Coe 1903
Basil Tannehill was the third son of John and Rachel Tannehill. I do not know the date of his enlistment in the Revolutionary Army and I have not been able to get any information regarding him from the War Department, but the following facts I learned from my grandfather and have often heard my father mention the same. That he was a soldier and was taken prisoner and confined on the Old Jersey prison ship which was anchored on the Long Island Coast. It is a historical fact that the prisoners on this ship suffered every privation, hardship and indignity that man can heap upon his fellowman. This poor boy endured and died and was buried in the sand on the coast where many of his fellow prisoners were also buried. My grandfather said the graves were made so shallow that perhaps the next tide would expose the emaciated forms to view. It was always my impression that your grandfather was a prisoner on the same ship at the same time of great-uncle Basil’s death and that my grandfather had had his information directly from him; I do not see any reason why this should not have been the case and that your grandfather escaped -- as some did -- or was exchanged.
I do not know the date of great-uncle Basil’s death, even approximately, and so far I have not been able to find any one among the relatives who know more, or as much, as I myself know, although I have found some who were able to corroborate facts, some one fact and some another. I hope to be able to make further inquiry and will write you whatever I may be able to find that may interest you.
Basil Tannehill was the third son of John and Rachel Tannehill. I do not know the date of his enlistment in the Revolutionary Army and I have not been able to get any information regarding him from the War Department, but the following facts I learned from my grandfather and have often heard my father mention the same. That he was a soldier and was taken prisoner and confined on the Old Jersey prison ship which was anchored on the Long Island Coast. It is a historical fact that the prisoners on this ship suffered every privation, hardship and indignity that man can heap upon his fellowman. This poor boy endured and died and was buried in the sand on the coast where many of his fellow prisoners were also buried. My grandfather said the graves were made so shallow that perhaps the next tide would expose the emaciated forms to view. It was always my impression that your grandfather was a prisoner on the same ship at the same time of great-uncle Basil’s death and that my grandfather had had his information directly from him; I do not see any reason why this should not have been the case and that your grandfather escaped -- as some did -- or was exchanged.
I do not know the date of great-uncle Basil’s death, even approximately, and so far I have not been able to find any one among the relatives who know more, or as much, as I myself know, although I have found some who were able to corroborate facts, some one fact and some another. I hope to be able to make further inquiry and will write you whatever I may be able to find that may interest you.
Misc. Notes
From Jane Fitting:
Basil died November 1776 in the American Revolution, leaving 4 young orphaned sons; 3 sons- Walter, John, and Melzer all born in Frederick Co, MD. were raised by their grandparents, John & Rachel.
Basil died November 1776 in the American Revolution, leaving 4 young orphaned sons; 3 sons- Walter, John, and Melzer all born in Frederick Co, MD. were raised by their grandparents, John & Rachel.