John Person

Quick Facts

Place of Death:

Stillwater, NY

Date of Death:

September 22, 1777

John Person (or Persons) joined the cause of liberty by enlisting in Captain Strong’s company of Colonel Henry Livingston’s 4^th New York Regiment for the duration of the war, a choice that came with a land grant if the conflict concluded successfully. Shortly after joining, Captain Strong appointed John to the rank of sergeant.

On September 19, 1777, the American Northern Army clashed with the invading British Army from Canada at Freeman’s Farm (the First Battle of Saratoga), a fight in which the 4^th New York Regiment lost two privates killed and one captain, one noncommissioned officer, and five privates wounded.

John died on September 22, three days after the battle. Although the cause of his death went unrecorded, it’s very likely that he was the regiment’s sole noncommissioned officer who was initially listed as having been wounded in the fight. John was probably buried in an unmarked grave near the Flying Hospital at Bemus Heights.

But who was John? Where was he from? What did he do for a living? How old was he? Was he married? Did he have children? Did he have prior military experience? Sometimes, available research takes us only so far - hopefully, someday we'll know more.