PRESENTED BY THE HUNTINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION

The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and semiquincentennial of the Revolutionary War present us with an opportunity to remember those who went before us and the sacrifices they made to secure the liberty we enjoy today. As the Revolutionary War came to Long Island in 1776, Huntington was a hotbed of rebel activity. On August 27, 1776, the Battle of Long Island was fought across the west end of Long Island, what we now know as Brooklyn and a bit of Queens. In this first battle after the Declaration of Independence, the largest battle of the entire Revolutionary War, the British routed General George Washington’s Continental Army and, by some accounts, thought that they had ended the war right there. But the Revolutionary War would drag on into late 1783—and Huntington would be occupied by British and loyalist troops, as well as their Hessian allies, for almost seven years. Many locals fled to Connecticut, losing their homes, farms, and fortunes, rather than live under occupation. For those who stayed in Huntington, it was a period of oppression and suffering. The following stories of Huntington during the Revolutionary War, and the biographies of the patriots who suffered so much and now rest at Huntington’s Old Burying Ground, gives us a valuable perspective on our lives, our rights and our freedoms.

Image Courtesy Huntington Militia

 

Researchers:

Jeff Richman, Lois Deragon, Michele Dubal, Liz Nash, Lucy Redmond.

Writers:

Paula Grande, Anne Kostick, Susan Rudin, Jo Ann Toto.

SEARCH PATRIOT BIOGRAPHIES

ALL PATRIOT BIOGRAPHIES

JONATHAN TITUS

TITUS, JONATHAN (1724–1808). Captain, Colonel Henry Livingston’s 2nd and 4th New York Regiments. Jonathan Titus was born to John Sr. and Sarah Platt Titus in

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NATHANIEL POTTER

POTTER, NATHANIEL (1761-1841). Privateer. Nathaniel was born in Huntington on December 23, 1761 to Dr. Gilbert Potter (1723-1786) and Elizabeth Williams Potter (1728-1811) and was

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WILLIAM ROGERS

ROGERS, WILLIAM (1741-1780). Captain of a privateer. William Rogers was born in Huntington, New York Colony, on November 19, 1741, per cemetery records, including Josephine

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ELIZABETH POTTER

POTTER, ELIZABETH (1728-1811). Patriot. Born Elizabeth Williams in Huntington, New York, on June 9, 1728, Elizabeth’s parents were Nathaniel Williams, born in 1698 in Hartford

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ISRAEL WOOD

WOOD, ISRAEL (1723-1791). Patriot leader and President of the Town Board of Trustees of Huntington; associator. Israel Wood was born on February 9, 1723, in

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GILBERT POTTER

POTTER, GILBERT (1725-1786). Lieutenant colonel, Suffolk County Militia. As per Huntington Town Records, Volume 3, footnote, Dr. Gilbert Potter was born in Huntington on January

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