George Palmer RANSOM1762 - 1850
150th Anniversary, Cemetery Marking
2 September 2000
Comments given at Shawnee Cemetery, in Plymouth, Luzerne Co PA, 2 September 2000, on the 150th Anniversary of the death of Col George Palmer RANSOM by his great-great-grand-daughter Loraine KELLER PRUTZMAN of Danville PA.
A very warm welcome to all of you who have taken a bit of your Labor Day week-end to pay tribute to a very special ancestor, Col George Palmer RANSOM. Tuesday will be the 150th Anniversary of his death. He was greatly respected by his family & the citizens of Wyoming Valley. Because of that fact, we today, probably know more about him than some other of our forebears. George Palmer RANSOM was born in Connecticut, in January 1762 and came to Plymouth as a child. That trip, in itself, must have been a big adventure. Bigger ones were to color his early life. Within a few years he went with his father, into the Revolutionary War. Samuel RANSOM was selected to be the Captain of the Second Independent Co of CT, which was based on the west side of the Susquehanna. In December 1776 they left the Valley at the call of Congress. Was George able to travel back over the mountains to visit family occasionally? Probably not. Esther (LAWRENCE) RANSOM, his mother, most likely had to rely on brief messages sent from her husband to learn of their safety. He was in Valley Forge during the winter encampment of '77-78. We wonder how he was clothed. Had Elizabeth been able to send some winter clothing?
Then, we recall the terrible loss when his father fell to savage blows on July 3,1778 during the Battle of Wyoming. George entered the Valley later with a heavy heart, for he knew his father was among those who had not been buried.
And we can picture the mingling of sorrow and relief when he, no longer a boy but a man, again stood before his now widowed and impoverished mother.
We can also believe that he, like the other Valley residents, were relieved when General WASHINGTON sent the Army of SULLIVAN against the Indians in the Lake Country of NY. The Indian raids had become a serious threat to not only Wyoming Valley, but to the American fight for freedom. George was among the troops of Capt SPAULDING in that expedition and later termed that experience as "bashing the Indians"
Having endured the hardships of SULLIVAN's march, George Palmer RANSOM had yet another test to face. For he was captured at Plymouth by a party of Indians on Dec 6, 1780. After a wintry march north, he was imprisoned by the British on an island in the St Lawrence River. We can not even imagine such a hardship. Escape was made in the Spring of 1781 and eventual he returned to Wyoming Valley. Charles MINER in his book on Wyoming Valley noted the date of RANSOM's return in the summer of 1781, no doubt a warm welcome from local residents awaited this stalwart young man.
He married in 1783, had 4 children and in July 1793 lost his wife Olive UTLEY. Later, when her father Japhet UTLEY died George was involved in the settlement of the estate on behalf of Olive's daughters and this is mentioned in George Palmer RANSOM's will written 1826. George remarried within 6 months time to Elizabeth LAMOREAUX, daughter of Thomas & Keturah LAMOREAUX from Jackson Twp. Her descendants can proudly claim her French Huguenot blood through Andre' LAMOREAUX and his wife Suzanne LaTOUR. But, that is a story for another time. And, with Elizabeth there were more children: thirteen total, although only 11 grew to maturity. Today their descendants may be found world-wide.
In about 1789 he had acquired, by quitclaim from all his brothers and sisters, the lands that his father Samuel had held. And he continued to acquire additional acreage in Jackson & Lehman Townships. A deed shows that he paid for a large area that now is Lehman Center. Timber and sawmills were the family business, He lost his first born son, George Palmer RANSOM, buried here, in a logging accident in 1824.
His military experiences & advancements in rank led to his becoming a leader in the Plymouth militia about 1787. No doubt drilling them for service in the War of 1812. Eventually, in January 1799, he became the 4th Commander of the Third Regiment, Luzerne Co Militia, the local unit of the Pennsylvania Militia. Now it has become the famous 109th Field Artillery of the National Guard based in Kingston PA. This is where his rank of Colonel was attained.
He continued living in his large home in Plymouth until he was a very old man, using two canes to get about and was undoubtedly one of the last of the Revolutionary War veterans left in this Valley when he passed away on 5 September 1850. So, we stand here today four or more generations, and 150 years later, proud to claim kinship to George Palmer RANSOM.
He was buried with military honors in Shupp Cemetery, down in Plymouth, which has become nearly abandoned. WRIGHT, who wrote the Plymouth Sketches, was well acquainted with Col RANSOM and described him as "a stout built, square shouldered man about 5'8'' with light complexion and blue eyes. He had a pleasant & agreeable manner, very communicative, a most obliging neighbor. He brought up his children respectably, giving them all a good common school education. His house was always open to hospitality. He possessed the highest sense of honor and his word was his bond." WRIGHT also described his own thoughts the day they walked away from the funeral, that Col RANSOM's " many virtues, strong arm and resolute will had made their impression in the framework and superstructure of ... America".
On Nov 3,1903 the RANSOM family was re-interred here, above the ravages of river, railroad and mining operations. As yet we have not learned which family member saw the need and took the responsibility of preserving what little remained as tangible evidence of a most extraordinary man and the family he loved. We certainly owe them a debt of gratitude.
And that is why as we have gathered here today. It is our responsibility and a deep satisfaction to pause for a moment of quiet reflection and thanksgiving for our ancestor, George Palmer RANSOM. Let us return here many times with others to keep in remembrance & preserve our heritage as descendants of Col George Palmer RANSOM.
