Program

DAR Revolutionary America

Subject

Event, People, Site

Location

1 Mill St, Danville, PA 17821, USA

Lat/Long

40.956184, -76.622738

Grant Recipient

NSDAR - Treasurer General

Jacob Gearhart immigrated to America in 1753 with his parents and siblings and resided in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. In 1775, Gearhart joined the Second Regiment, Hunterdon County Militia as a private. He was later promoted to Ensign, then Captain.

On the night of December 25, 1776, Gearhart and Captain Jacob Ten Eyck were ordered by General George Washington to take charge of the boats using in the crossing of the Delaware River and supervise the transport of infantry, cavalry, cannon and howitzers for the American troops attack on the Hessian camp in Trenton, New Jersey. Gearhart and Ten Eyck were instructed to burn the boats should the attack fail, lest they fall into British hands.

In 1790, the Gearhart family and Jacob’s brother William Gearhart left Hunterdon County and traveled west to Danville, Pennsylvania. Gearhart purchased land along the Susquehanna River and built a home on a bluff overlooking the river. Soon after, he established a ferry route to connect Danville with Riverside on the opposite bank. This marker stands at the site of the ferry landing.

Links

• TAH GAH JUTE CHAPTER, NSDAR