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Teen Revolutionary War Hero Identified After Centuries
19 Jun
Summary
- A young Revolutionary War soldier, once known as John Doe, has been identified.
- DNA evidence and forensic genealogy identified him as Private John Pumphrey.
- Pumphrey was between 13 and 15 years old when he enlisted in 1777.
One of America's oldest John Doe cases has been resolved, identifying Private John Pumphrey, a teen soldier from Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Pumphrey enlisted in the Revolutionary War in January 1777, at the young age of 13 to 15.
He served in Maryland's 7th Regiment and died on August 16, 1780, during the Battle of Camden, one of the Revolutionary War's bloodiest conflicts. His remains were among 14 casualties from the battle exhumed in 2022 and reburied in 2024, but he is the first to be identified.
Forensic genetic genealogy and DNA testing, utilizing a piece of his skull, confirmed Pumphrey's identity. FHD Forensics identified his ancestors, linking him to prominent founding families of Anne Arundel County. Pumphrey now rests in Camden's historical Quaker Cemetery.
