John DeBaptiste - Falmouth VA
N 38° 19.360 W 077° 27.971
18S E 284412 N 4244494
John DeBaptiste served as a sailor in the Virginia Navy during the Revolutionary War and is buried in the Falmouth Cemetery in Stafford County, VA.
Waymark Code: WM7AGR
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 09/27/2009
Views: 4
During the American Revolution, John served on the
Dragon which patrolled the Rappahannock River and part of the Chesapeake Bay. They saw action when they engaged in battle with a British ship on the Bay.
The Dragon, built in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1777, had the distinction of having more African-Americans serve on her than any other ship during the war.
John came from the island of St. Kitt's and was a successful businessman in Falmouth. He owned a wharf and operated the ferry across the Rappahannock before there were bridges.
The inscription on his tombstone reads:
Here lies
the body of
JOHN D. BAPTIST*
a native of the island of St. Kitt's
in the West indies
who departed this life
September the 3d 1804
in the 64th year of his age.
*Note the inscription uses an initial instead of DeBaptiste and damage has obscured the final E in the name.
John was buried in the Falmouth Cemtery behind the old Union Church located in Falmouth, VA. His final resting place bears a headstone and a footstone.
Visit Instructions:PLEASE NOTE: This category is for American Revolutionary War Veterans only. Veterans of other revolutions are not part of this category.
I have allowed one entry for a grave of British solders, but it was an exception. Please only list graves for Colonial soldiers.
Simply visit the locations. Please provide as much information as possible. Pictures would be a great addition.