Elijah Churchill

Summary

Elijah Churchill (September 5, 1755 – April 11, 1841) was a soldier for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Elijah Churchill
Born(1755-09-05)September 5, 1755
Newington, Connecticut
DiedApril 11, 1841(1841-04-11) (aged 85)
Massachusetts
Buried
Bell Cemetery at Middlefield, Massachusetts
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchContinental Army
Years of service1775–1783
RankSergeant
Battles/warsAmerican Revolutionary War
AwardsBadge of Military Merit
Spouse(s)Elinor Nooney (m. 1777 – 1846)
Children
  • Sophia (1782–1782)
  • Elijah Jr. (1784–1796)
  • James (b. 1785)
  • Eleanor (1788–1790)
  • Eleanor (b. 1790)
  • Giles (b. 1793)
  • Charles (b. 1796)
  • Sophia (b. 1798)
[1]

Early life edit

Elijah Churchill was born on September 5, 1755, in Newington, Connecticut. His father was named Giles.[2]

Military career edit

Churchill entered the 8th Connecticut Regiment as a private on 7 July 1775. On 7 May 1777, he re-enlisted for the duration of the war as a corporal in the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, later the 2nd Legionary Corps, and was promoted to sergeant on 2 October 1780. He was cited for gallantry in action at Fort St. George near Brookhaven, New York on Long Island, in November 1780, at Tarrytown, New York, in July 1781, and at Fort Slongo (now known as Fort Salonga, also on Long Island) on October 2, 1781. He was awarded the Badge of Military Merit for his actions, one of only three soldiers to receive the award.

Later life and death edit

Once the American Revolutionary War was completed, Churchill moved to Massachusetts.[2] In 1784 he lived in Enfield.[1] He died on April 11, 1841.[2]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Churchill (1904), p. 348
  2. ^ a b c Moran, Donald (April 2007). "Sergeant Elijah Churchill of the Continental Light Dragoons". Liberty Tree Newsletter. Cons of the American Revolution. Retrieved December 19, 2018.

References edit

  • Churchill, Gardner; Churchill, Nathaniel (1904). The Churchill Family in America. The Family of Gardner Churchill. ISBN 9785873933464. OCLC 1041789673.