Gen. John Archer Elmore SAR Chapter honors Revolutionary War soldier Samuel Townsend, buried in Coosa
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
The tombstone for Revolutionary War soldier Samuel Townsend, who is buried in a local cemetery in Equality. Photo submitted
Special to the News
By Earl Gillian Jr.
The General John Archer Elmore SAR, or Sons of the American Revolution, Chapter is proud to share a brief story of Revolutionary War soldier Samuel Townsend, who is buried in Coosa County.
Although Alabama was not in existence at the time of the American Revolution, almost 1,000 Revolutionary War soldiers are buried in Alabama. Many permanently moved to Alabama while others died in Alabama while passing through our state. Each of these patriot soldiers has a special story to tell, and many of them will never be found in history books.
Samuel Townsend was born February 20, 1755, in Augusta County, Virginia, and died May 14, 1849. He is buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Equality.
Townsend first entered service in Camden District, S.C., in May 1778 as a horseman and private under Col. Edward Lacey for three weeks to put down the Tories who were plundering down Sandy River towards the Congaree.
He next served for three months under Col. William Bratton at the siege of the Congaree Fort. He next served as a volunteer in scouring the country for Tories for about three weeks, under Major James Moore.
Next he volunteered for about three weeks under Col. Lacey to keep down the Tories and prevent their inroads. On another occasion he served as a volunteer under Capt. Hannah, to the relief of Capt. George Delap who was engaged in fighting the Tories in the Waxhaw settlement. He was engaged in many scouting parties which it is unnecessary to mention, in addition to the foregoing.
In May 1781 he served three months as a sergeant under Capt. William Hanna, headquartered at Tyler’s plantation on Edisto River, preventing Tories from penetrating further to the interior of the state.
After the war Samuel Townsend continued to live in Camden District, South Carolina, and at some time moved to Wilkes County, Georgia, then he moved to Greene County at the end of one year.
From there he went to Clark County and afterwards to Jasper County, where he lived about eight years. In 1816, he moved to Montgomery County, where he resided until 1835 when he moved to Coosa County, where he lived the remainder of his life.
Townsend was married to Mary Haggerty, and their known children were Mary, Andrew C, Samuel, Jesse, Mary Polly, and Eli.
The General John Archer Elmore Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution honors our Revolutionary War patriot ancestors by promoting patriotism, serving our communities and educating and inspiring future generations about the founding principles of our country. In conjunction with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the organization honors soldiers of the American Revolution buried in the River Region of Central Alabama.
Through 2026 the Elmore SAR Chapter will share the stories of the more than 100 patriot soldiers buried in the River Region, emphasizing their Revolutionary War service and when they moved to Alabama. Whether they played a prominent roll in our communities or were just regular citizens, each Revolutionary War veteran has a special story to tell, and the organization is proud to share their stories.
The Sons of the American Revolution is a lineage-based organization composed of members who are male descendants of people who served in the American Revolutionary War or who contributed to establishing the independence of the United States.
The Gen. John Archer Elmore Chapter was formed in 2007 to serve the River Region of Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery counties, as well as surrounding counties. The chapter meets the second Tuesday of each month at The Courtyard by Marriott in Prattville from 6-8 p.m.
Any male who is a lineal descendant of an ancestor who supported the war for American independence is eligible for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution. If you are interested in joining the Sons of the American Revolution, please contact Registrar Earl Gillian Jr. at pbpossum99@aol.com.
