Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ETNA GREEN – Adrian Anglin is the only Revolutionary War patriot verified to be buried in Kosciusko County.
As many as 80-plus of his descendants are buried at Stony Point Cemetery.
A plaque dedication ceremony for Adrian was held Saturday at the cemetery by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Agnes Pruyn Chapman Chapter.
Shirley Hunter Smith, DAR member, read Adrian's biography.
He was born Nov. 16, 1761, and was raised in the Virginia colony at Anglin’s Ford, later known as Phillippi, Barbour County, W.Va.
He joined the Continental Army on Oct. 14, 1776, at the age of 14 years and 11 months. He was discharged on April 1, 1977, “after his age was discovered because the minimum enlistment age was 16. He was a true patriot. He got in there early,” Hunter Smith said.
During Adrian’s service, he was a private in the 2nd Georgia Regiment under Capt. John Mosby, serving in Georgia and Virginia.
On June 23, 1787, Adrian married Mary McClung in Greenbrer County, Va. They had 14 children. Adrian died on Aug. 13, 1839, and Mary died on Aug. 4, 1840. They are both buried at Stony Point Cemetery in Prairie Township.
Hunter Smith said Adrian has many living descendants, some of them who were in attendance during Saturday’s event. Several of them are concentrated in the Clunette/Leesburg area.
Prior to the dedication, Hunter Smith said the plaque hadn’t arrived in time for the ceremony, but a copy of the plaque was made by DAR member and Anglin descendant Gail Roberts to show what it will look like.
After the dedication, Richard Anglin II, a descendant of Adrian’s, made some remarks on Adrian and legacy.
He said Anglins are pioneers, adventurers, pilgrims, farmers and citizen soliders.
Richard said they don’t know a lot about the dash between his date of birth and date of death for Adrian.
“We know at age 14, I think he said, ‘Can I go, too?’ He served six months in the Continential Army. We know he eventually immigrated to Indiana and that’s where we ended up today,” Richard said.
Adrian’s grandfather was born in Ireland in 1693 and came to the Virginia Colony. His grandfather and father were farmers.
Richard said four Anglin relatives enlisted to serve in the Continental Army in the American Revolution. Richard said he thinks two of the Anglin relatives showed up and asked if Adrian’s brother Isaac wanted to enlist. Richard said he can imagine 14-year-old Adrian listening in and saying, “Can I go too?”
Adrian came home after six months. Richard said there’s some thought maybe he came home because he was too young, but he thought it’s more likely he signed a six-month enlistment and he went home to help plant at the farm.
The family doesn’t know if Adrian saw any action during his enlistment, but Isaac did, Richard said.
Eventually, Adrian and his family began migrating west, across the Appalachian Mountains. Adrian, his father and brother, along with their families, crossed the mountains and were in West Virginia for some time. They also had a ferry operation.
“Adrian, along with 2,500 other Revolutionary War veterans, received land grants in the state of Indiana,” said Richard.
The Sons of the American Revolution Anthony Halberstadt Chapter posted and retired the colors at Adrian's grave site. The Syracuse American Legion Post 223 did a gun salute and performed Taps. To close the ceremony, representatives from various DAR chapters laid wreaths at Adrian’s grave site.
