SAR And DAR Chapters Join To Honor Local Patriot

The John Sevier Chapter Tennessee Society Sons of the American Revolution joined with the Chickamauga Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution to conducted a Patriot Grave Marking ceremony in honor of Revolutionary War Patriot William Elliott at Elliott Cemetery near Dunlap in Sequatchie County at 10 a.m. this past Saturday. 

Both National Societies conduct Patriot Grave Marking ceremonies at the grave sites of known Patriots across the state of Tennessee.  The ceremony included presentation and posting of colors by the TNSSAR Color Guard, the Patriot’s Service Biography by Gen (ret) B B Bell, society ceremonial passages provided Regent Gayle Burrows, Jerry Hjellum, Jay Jones, Billy Burnette and Terry Beaty.  Stephen Anderson supported the ceremony by playing a couple of musical numbers on his bagpipes.  Descendants of William Elliott helped with the unveiling of the society markers.  Gayle Burrows a descendant of Patriot Elliott and the regent for the Chickamauga chapter provided the DAR’s marker.  John Whitlow a member of the John Sevier Chapter and Elliott descendant unveiled the SAR’s Patriot Marker.  The ceremony concluded with a three-volley musket salute by color guard members & the playing of TAPs.  Post ceremony, attendees watched as Gayle Burrows and John Whitlow posted a new Betsy Ross grave side flag in honor of the Patriot Veteran and his service.

Patriot William Elliott was born Nov. 14, 1764 in York, Pa. He was just 17 when he signed up to serve a 10-month tour of duty under CPT William B. Alexander.  In Capt. Alexander’s company, William would serve in the command of Col. Wade Hampton and see combat in South Carolina.  William’s first action was on May 1, 1781 at a skirmish called Friday's Ferry, near Fort Granby, in South Carolina.  He was under the command of Lt. Col. Henry Hampton.  He was in action again on May 11, 1781 as part of Brigadier General Thomas Sumter’s command and was near the Edisto Bridge almost to Orangeburg, SC when contact was made with the British.  The command moved to lay siege to Orangeburg itself (then in the rear of the retreating British) which was taken by May 12, 1781.  William contracted small pox and was in hospital for nine weeks.  William was detached to guard the hospital and baggage as the Army marched South and into action at the Battle of Eutaw Springs, which was fought Sept. 8, 1781.  Later William was detachment again and assigned to marched under the command of Lt. Hemphill to a place called the four-hole Bridge about 40 miles above Charleston SC, where he remained with those troops, as a guard until the month of December 1781 and the end of his enlistment.

After the revolution Patriot Elliott removed Walker County, Ga.; Jefferson County, Tn.; Bledsoe County, Tn.; and lastly to Marion County, Tn. in the area which finally became Sequatchie County near Dunlap.  The Elliott Cemetery is reported to be on original William Elliott land.  William has numerous descendants in general area of Sequatchie, Bledsoe, Marion and Hamilton counties. 

The ceremony was also part of the SAR’s on-going celebration of the people and events of the American Revolution’s 250th anniversary running to the end of 2033.  SAR ceremonial events are open to the public.  For additional event information, see the chapter’s calendar on line at https://www.tnssar.org/john-sevier-chapter.html or the TNSSAR color guard webpage calendar at https://www.tnssar.org/color-guard.html.