In remembrance of all men and women who gave their lives to protect our freedoms, I am posting this Memorial Day some Revolutionary War hospitals and grave sites. One of two current interests of mine, hospitals and burial grounds of the Revolutionary War during the Philadelphia campaign will be the theme of some of my future posts. The four here are just a small group of many locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that functioned as hospitals during this period. The other interest is the movements of the Continental Army from Brandywine to Valley Forge, and I’ll be making posts on this topic in the near future as well. If you’re interested in this topic, also see Jonathan Bittner ‘s great post on Facebook from yesterday on the hospital at Yellow Spring, not far from these locations below, also in Chester County, PA.
East Vincent German Reformed Church, Ridge Road, East Vincent Township, Chester County, PA (Photos 1 – 11)
The first church on this site was a log cabin constructed in 1758 and was the building in existence during the fall and winter of 1777 & 1778 when it was used as a hospital. This building was torn down in around 1817 and a new church built, pictured here. This is one of two churches used as hospitals referred to as “French Creek” by the hospital department believed to be established in January, 1778; the other being Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church as short distance away. Immediately on Ridge Road sits the Revolutionary War grave site of soldiers that died at this church, located just up the hill. 22 unknown soldiers are interred here, and there are others believe buried in the church cemetery as well. A monument was erected in 1831 and stands here today.
Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Schuylkill Road, East Vincent Township, Chester County, PA (Photos 12 – 16)
Close by to the East Vincent Church is the Zion Lutheran Church. Both congregations shared the East Vincent church until 1762 and the first building on this site was erected in 1775. The present building pictured was built in 1861 and is still in use today. Like East Vincent, Zion was used as a hospital during the Valley Forge encampment and soldiers are known to have perished there, however their grave sites are unmarked and unknown. It’s likely that they were buried in the original cemetery or near-by.
Brownback’s Church, Ridge Road, East Coventry Township, Chester County, PA (Photos 17 – 23)
I’ve included pictures of Brownback’s Church since I’ve seen references of it used as a hospital, but haven’t yet been able to verify them. It’s also been suggested that units from the Continental Army camped near here on their way to Reading and Warwick Furnaces. There are many gravestones of Revolutionary War veterans and so I’ve included some of those gravestones. I’ve visited lots of AmRev cemeteries these are some of the most legible I’ve seen.
Limerick Church Burial Ground, Ridge Pike and Limerick Center Road, Limerick Township, Montgomery County, PA – Now known as the New Apostolic Church. (Photos 24 – 28)
A burial ground was established not related to the church in 1738. It’s unknown when the original church was built, however there was a log schoolhouse on the property that was used for church services (“Limerick Township: A Journey Through Time 1699-1987”) and the Limerick Church was referenced in the route description of Lewis Road in 1742. Plans for building a church at this location started in 1807, and the first building was erected in 1817. That church was torn down in 1875, and the existing structure pictured here was built then. The hospital department established a hospital at Limerick, however it’s unknown when are exactly where. A letter from Benjamin Rush to John Adams, dated October 13th, 1777 mentions Rush is writing from the hospital at Limerick. There are seventeen Revolutionary War soldiers buried in the cemetery, and it is estimated that there are hundreds of additional unmarked Revolutionary War graves here.
Solutions To History 