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246-Year-Old Revolutionary Soldier Finally Identified
18 Jul
Summary
- DNA testing identified Private John Pumphrey, who died in 1780.
- His remains were discovered by archaeologists in South Carolina in 2020.
- The government is expected to replace his 'UNKNOWN' gravestone.
A fallen Revolutionary War soldier, Private John Pumphrey, has been identified after 246 years, bringing his story to light just before the nation's 250th birthday. He died on August 16, 1780, during the devastating Battle of Camden in South Carolina, one of the Continental Army's significant defeats.
Archeologists discovered human remains in 2020, with 14 sets eventually identified as soldiers. One set, known as 'Camden 9B,' was buried superficially and later cataloged. Through advanced DNA extraction from a temporal bone, Pumphrey's genome was sequenced, leading to genealogical research.
This genetic work, combined with archival research by volunteers, revealed Pumphrey was a young orphan from Maryland who enlisted in the militia around age 13. Researchers believe he marched over 1,000 miles and participated in battles like Brandywine and Monmouth before his death.
Work is ongoing to identify another soldier's remains, Camden 11A, to whom the lead forensic expert is related. The ultimate goal is for the U.S. government to officially confirm the research and replace Private Pumphrey's "UNKNOWN" gravestone, a debt owed to his sacrifice for the new nation.
