Pride of the Waggoner Family! - American Revolutionary War Veteran Graves on Waymarking.com

John Waggoner, Sr.
July 18, 1758 - December 15, 1842
Born in Wasselone, Alsace, Lorraine, France (at the time part of Germany) on July 18, 1758. He was personally acquainted with lived in the same town as the great French General Lafayette. He came to the United States in 1772 at the age of 14 with his brother Jacob. John enlisted for service in the Revolutionary War as a private in Valentine Creager’s Company on October 3, 1776 at or near Reading, Pennsylvania. In 1777, he transferred to Captain Bartholemew Von Heer’s Troop of Horsemen and shortly after was appointed to General George Washington’s Personal Life Guard (Commander-in-Chief’s Guard) until the end of the war. He is said to have saved General Washington’s life on several occasions and was within 15 feet of Washington when General Cornwallis surrendered and was by his side at the formal surrender ceremony. Washington said of him that “this man was not afraid of a thousand devils”. After the close of the war, he married Elizabeth Leach on July 18, 1785 and resided in Hagerstown, Maryland. John and Elizabeth had 10 children. In 1797, they relocated to Bedford County, Pennsylvania. In 1803 he packed up the family and traveled with a friend named Poorman to help settle the new state of Ohio. They first settled in Perry County, Reading Township, Ohio. Around 1827, they relocated once again to Sandusky Township, Sandusky County, (then called Lower Sandusky, now Fremont), Ohio. Elizabeth Leach Waggoner died in 1830 and John Married Sarah Minic (Smith) on June 30, 1833. In private life, he engaged in farming and was a most exemplary citizen, beloved by all who knew him. He died on his farm on Thursday, December 15, 1842 at the age of 81. He was one of the last surviving Life Guards of General Washington and a true hero of the American Revolution. He was originally buried along side of his first wife Elizabeth in Bowlus Cemetery, . In 1899, his remains as well as those of Elizabeth were reburied with full military honors in the present location.

Notice the name of his wife is incorrect! It was a mistake in 1899 and was never corrected!!

Location type: Single Grave Date of Birth: July 18, 1758 Date of Death: December 15, 1842 Cause of death: Died Later Grave Marker Text: John Waggoner 1758-1842 Enlisted October 3, 1776 A Life Guard of George Washington Mary Ricely His Wife Ranks: Private Life Guard of George Washington

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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.

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