Program

Patriot Burials®

Subject

Cemetery, Site

Location

6 Pardy Ln, Fishkill, NY 12524, USA

Lat/Long

41.544597118762, -73.871665054468

Grant Recipient

Columbia-Mid Hudson Valley SAR Chapter

The origins of the American Revolution can be traced back to 1775, when the first shots were fired between colonial and British forces at the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Soon after, the American Colonies declared their independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. As the newly formed United States went to war with Great Britain, hundreds of men across the Thirteen Colonies joined the fight. These men came from different walks of life; some were farmers, others were tradesmen, lawyers, doctors and merchants. Despite their differences they desired the same thing: freedom and independence. Colonial forces faced severe challenges, including lack of supplies and military training; however, in the face of obstacles they were undeterred. After nearly 8 years the colonies defeated Great Britain and successfully achieved their independence. It is important to remember the lives and sacrifices made by those who fought for American freedom.

Rombout Rural Cemetery in Dutchess County is the final resting place of many of the community’s early residents. Among those buried here are at least fifteen Revolutionary War veterans, including: Daniel Annan, William Annan, Gersham Brown/Bowne, Gerret Brower, Samuel Cuer, Jacob Griffen. Jr., Johan Haight, Joseph Jackson, Oliver Ladue/Ladu, Peter LaDue/Ladu, David Mead, Ephraim Scofield, John Van Wyck, Theodorus Van Wyck and John Wood.

Throughout much of the late 18^th and early 19^th century a church once stood at the site of the cemetery, which played an important role during the American Revolution. According to an article written by Anthony P. Musso and published by the Poughkeepsie Journal on January 30^th, 2017 titled, “Rombout Rural Cemetery is sacred ground,” the church served as a military hospital when an outbreak of smallpox impacted nearby stationed troops. After the original church was lost to a fire in the 1830s, a replacement was constructed in the same location; however, according to the same article, which provides a detailed history of the cemetery, when a similar fate befell the replacement structure in the 1860s, church leadership decided not to rebuild at that site.

While the church no longer stands, the connection the community had to the American Revolution can be readily seen by the number of Revolutionary War veterans interred in the Rombout Rural Cemetery.

To learn more about the Rombout Rural Cemetery, visit:

Links

• https://www.romboutruralcemetery.org/what-we-do