The oldest American veterans in my family

Today is Veterans Day.

Timothy Rose is the first veteran that comes to my mind because just a few days ago the DAR notified me that they officially accepted him as my direct ancestor. He is my 5th great-grandfather.

Timothy Rose was born around 1749, probably in Coventry, Connecticut. His parents were Jehiel Rose and Tabitha X. In 1771, he married Elizabeth Polan Pomeroy in Coventry. Pomeroy Genealogy states that "Tradition asserts that Timothy Rose and Elizabeth Pomeroy were the handsomest couple that ever entered the church where they were married."

Timothy and Elizabeth had a daughter Abigail in 1772, and a son Ariel in 1773. (Ariel is my 4th great-grandfather.) Then there were no children for a few years. Timothy was serving as a Private in the colonial militia.

Elizabeth's father was Daniel Pomeroy (my 6th great-grandfather), son of Noah Pomeroy and Elizabeth Sterling, both of Connecticut. Daniel was born in 1728 in Colchester, CT. Sometime around 1750 or 1760, he moved his family to Coventry.

On the early morning of April 19th, 1775, in neighboring Massachusetts, the first battle of the Revolution occurred. It was the Battle of Lexington, where the first shot was fired and the first blood was spilled. When news reached Massachusetts later that same day that the British troops were sending reinforcements to Lexington, a letter was hastily dispatched from the colony and sent by a messenger on horseback. The letter became known as the Lexington Alarm.

"To all the friends of American liberty be it known that this morning before break of day, a brigade, consisting of about 1,000 to 1,200 men landed at Phip's Farm at Cambridge and marched to Lexington, where they found a company of our colony militia in arms, upon whom they fired without any provocation and killed six men and wounded four others. By an express from Boston, we find another brigade are now upon their march from Boston supposed to be about 1,000. The Bearer, Israel Bissell, is charged to alarm the country quite to Connecticut and all persons are desired to furnish him with fresh horses as they may be needed. I have spoken with several persons who have seen the dead and wounded. Pray let the delegates from this colony to Connecticut see this."

The letter was copied and re-copied dozens of times as dispatchers sent it out in all directions. Lest it be mistaken for a prank or a chain letter, each copy was signed by a well-known person of authority in each town it passed through. The letter circulated for five days.

Thousands of Connecticut men responded to the Lexington Alarm, and Timothy Rose was one of them. For seven days he left his family and provided support for the colonial resistance in Massachusetts.

In 1777, with the war well under way, the town of Coventry rallied to send men to join the Continental Army. The town voted to support the soldiers and their families financially. Three men were voted to be a committee to supervise this action, and Daniel Pomeroy was one of them. He supervised a tax collection to support this effort, and helped the town donate men, clothing, beef, provisions, and money in support of the Revolution. Daniel Pomeroy also served in the Continental Army himself, along with Timothy Rose.

Timothy Rose and his family moved to Herkimer County, New York, in 1793. He and Elizabeth had 14 children together. He reportedly died at the end of July, 1797. A local New York history reports that his life ended "as the foliage faded", so it may be closer to October 1797 when his will was proven. He was only 48 years old. He must have been ill because his will was written on July 17, 1797. He left everything to his wife.

Daniel Pomeroy died in Coventry at the age of 57.