Samuel’s birthplace is located “about ten miles from the town of Reading”, PA.4290
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He was enlisted by his father as a Fifer at about the age of fifteen.4297
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Following the Revolution Samuel was appointed a Captain over a volunteer company of soldiers from Wormellsdorff, PA, sometime prior to about 1793.4298
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Resident of Poplar Neck returning from Philadelphia sometime during the summer of 1785.4299
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In the spring of 1791, I removed with my family to Wormellsdorff, then Berks county, Pa., and took charge (as a foreman) of a boot and shoe shop, belonging to Conrad Stouch, to whom I was brother-in-law. Here I remained about a year. Then upon advisement I purchased a lot of ground, built me a house and commenced the Boot and Shoemaking business upon my own account. The people were better satisfied with my work, than they were with the work done by Stouch. This was the cause of my setting up the business for myself.4298
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In the fall of 1793, I disposed of my house and lot in Wormellsdorff, and in the spring of 1794, I removed my family to Harrisburg, Pa.4300
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In the year ____ I removed my family yo Peddlehouzer, a small town situated in Lancaster county. here I was employed by one Philip Coplin to keep his race horses.4301
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I lost my first wife, who died in _________ on the 4th of December, 1806. I had but one child living, (a son,) whom I bound, sometime after my wife’s decease, to a Tailor of the name of Bumbarger, in Lancaster. I then made sale of my household goods, and set out to travel through old and new Virginia, and through _________. I was absent from two to three years.

After my return from Virginia I married a young woman of the name of Lydda Sprenkle, whose parents lived in ________. When I lived in lancaster about the year 1810, I owned a horse and chair.4302
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One day previous to our leaving Philadelphia, I was out taking a walk around the city, on my return to the barracks I espied some fine looking cabbage in a back lot; I mentioned this to my comrades, and two of them and I agreed to go that night and procure a head apiece. Accordingly after dark we sallied forth and entered the lot, I had just pulled up a head and was leaning upon the fence waiting for my companions. Whilst in this position I was surprised and taken prisoner by a "strapping big" negro, who clasped my body fast in his arms. At this moment my comrades ran away and left me in the lurch.

The negro took me into the house, crying out at the same time " I have got a thief," "I have got a thief," and I had not only to bear this mortification, but another, for he made me carry the head of cabbage into the house in my hand. There happened to be some company with the man of the house that night, and I was plagued a good deal by some of the gentlemen that composed the company. Some was for having this punishment inflicted upon me, and some was for inflicting that. The circumstance of the negro having been bailiff and catching me as he did, created some fine sport for them.

The gentleman of the house at length asked me my name. I told him it was Samuel Dewees. Samuel Dewees, (said he.) Yes sir, was my reply. He then whispered to one of the persons present, and then asked me where my father lived. I told him that he had lived in Reading. He then asked me what my father's name was. I told him his name was Samuel Dewees. He next asked me what business my father followed. I answered that he was by trade a Leather Breeches maker. By these my answers to his interrogatories, he found that he and I were second cousins, and he and my father first cousins, his father's father and my father's father having been brothers. This man's name was William Dewees, who was then the High Sheriff of Philadelphia county.

He upon finding out the family connexion, did not strive as many do to deny the claim of kindred-ship, but told me io take my cabbage with me, and to come back the next day and bring my knapsack with me, and he would give mesome bread, meat, potatoes, &c. I was very glad, however, to get off as I did, and the least of my thoughts then were about returning. Still, I would have gone back again in a few days, but the British taking possession of Philadelphia in a few days thereafter, Sept. 26th, 1777, we were forced to fly from the barracks (situated in what is now the Northern Liberties and laid towards Kensington,) and from Philadelphia. We were ordered on board of the shipping which contained the sick, as also the soldiers which had been wounded at the battle of Brandywine. We immediately set sail up the Delaware river and landed at Princeton, Jersey. General Washington moved on with the main army to Lancaster.4303

NOTE: Regarding story above - My records indicate that Samuel’s second cousin was Colonel William Dewees Jr., who was born aft 1700. However my records indicate it was this William’s father, William (b. 8 jul 1711) who was the Sheriff of Philadelphia County.3
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Whilst we laid at Bethlehem I went frequently to the Nunnery, (which was used as a hospital) to see the Surgeons dressing the wounds of the wounded soldiers.— Among the number I remember seeing two soldiers, one of the name of Samuel Smith, whose whole leg and thigh was dreadfully mangled by a cannon ball. The Doctors amputated it close up to the body. Smith recovered and learned to be "a Tinker." I often seen him after the Revolution. The other soldier was shot through the neck, the ball had passed in at one side and out at the other. He recovered, but his neck was always so stiff afterwards that when he wanted to turn his head to look in any direction, he had to turn his body therewith to enable him to do so. I often seen him also after the Revolution.4304
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Late in the afternoon of one of the last days in May, '76, when I was a few months short of fifteen years old, notice came to Townsend, Mass., where my father used to live, that fifteen soldiers were wanted.

The training band was instantly called out, and my brother that was next older than I, was one that was selected. He did not return till late at night, when all were in bed. When I rose in the morning I found my mother in tears, who informed me that my brother John was to march next day after to-morrow morning at sunrise. My father was at Boston in the Massachusetts assembly. Mother said that though John was supplied with summer clothes, he must be absent seven or eight months, and would suffer for want of winter garments.4305
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About this time, October or November 1777, the small-pox broke out in portions of the army, and my father was sent to take charge of the sick to a place where a considerable number of soldiers were encamped not far from Allentown, Bucks county, Pa. Upon my father's reaching there, a large house that had belonged to a Tory was converted into a hospital. All the soldiers that had not taken the small-pox, were immediately inoculated. My father had a room (in this building) exclusively to himself, and had the care of all upon him. He drew the rations for the soldiers and dealt out the same to them, he had to superintend the preparation of victuals, drinks, &c. for the sick, and assisted in nursing them in their sufferings.

My father caused myself to be inoculated with the real small-pox, and I became very sick, the cause of this, however, was with myself, I did not restrain myself as I should have done, I did not keep from eating salt and strong victuals, I would sometimes partake heartily of my father's cooked meats, &c. My appetite was keen, and I left nothing undone in my endeavors to satisfy it, even resorting to novel methods to obtain what was satisfying to it, one of which was to sharpen the end of a stick to a point, and after fixing a piece of bread upon it, I would hide it behind my back, and "slip up,” to where some of the soldiers were engaged in cooking salt and fat meat, and watching an opportunity, would dip my bread into their pans or kettles, and then run away and feast myself upon it at my leisure. I recollect that once my father had some excellent gammon cooked, and had placed it for safekeeping in a cupboard which he had forgotten to lock, this I got at and ate it all, a mess sufficient for two hearty men. After this indulgence I fell very sick, ond remained so for some time, or at least was a good while Wore I recovered my health properly.

My sister Elizabeth was Bound out about 10 miles off, and my father having heard that she had had the smallpox, went for her and brought her to see me, as also to attend me in my sickness. She remained here until I recovered, and I may state until we both left after the decease of my father, which took place not long after he brought her to camp. A word or two more relative to my sickness. I was very sick indeed, and suffered much although there were in all but thirteen pocks upon me, the rest having struck in (or had not come out at all) in consequence of my own imprudence....

We were now left orphans truly, in the camp of our country, and I may state without friends; to whom then could we look for proper protection? Upon the part of my father's comrades, there was manifested every disposition of kindness, but what could their united friendship accomplish for us. They were without money, the government had not the power to supply them therewith, and General Washington's every mental strength was aroused and in action to keep a naked and starving soldiery together ...

My sister and my brother Thomas were both bound out in the same family. I do not recollect that it was a Quaker family in which they lived, but believe that it was, as the inmates thereof had many of the habits of that people, this excepted, humane conduct, the offspring of an enlarged possession of the milk of human kindness. For the residence of this family, my sister and myself at length started, and where we arrived on the same day.

In this family there was another bound boy beside my brother, and of about the same age of my sister. This boy and my sister were taken sick, and at about the same time. The sickness I do not know whether I ever understood properly what it was, but I remember it was some kind of a fever. Their sick-beds were in a room up stairs, and my brother and myself made a fire in the room and attended to them.

My sister grew worse, and on an evening not long after, she died. We had told the old people of her situation, but they manifested no great concern. When she was dying we called them, and they came up, but the vital spark was fast quitting its abode of clay. It sped its way to Him who is a Father to the fatherless, the orphan's stay and the widow's hope.

The old people laid her out, and had grave clothes and a coffin prepared, and on the next day they took her in a light wagon to a Meeting House about a mile off, and they buried her in a grave yard attached thereto. My brother and myself accompanied them. This must have been late in the month of December, 1777, or January, '78. I remember that the weather was quite cold.

The boy, although he lay very low, recovered his health again. The old people, I recollect, bestowed a good deal more attention towards him after my sister's death than they had previous.4306
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Sometime about the 1st of March [1778] I enquired diligently for, and found that the army laid at Valley Forge. I told the man I homed with, that I was going on to camp, he tried to dissuade me from my purpose. He said every thing to me that it was possible for him to say, in order to scare me, or fill my mind with iear. I told him that I would go, and that nothing upon earth should be able to keep me from joining my own regiment or some other one if I could but reach the army. When he found that I was determined to go, he gave me an eighteen penny piece for all the labor I had performed for him during the winter. I bundled up my little all and started early in the morning, bending my steps towards Valley Forge.

I cannot remember the state of the roads at this time, but remember well, however, that my shoes were very bad. When I travelled more than half-way to camp, I became quite weary and hungry, and had resolved in my own mind that I would stop at the first house at which I should think likely to offer me something to eat. I had not travelled far, after I resolved thus, until I met a soldier. I enquired of him the way and distance to Valley Forge encampment, and asked him also relative to a house ahead, at which I might be likely to obtain something to eat. He then asked me if I had any money. I told him I had none. He said he knew better, and with that he caught hold of me and took my eighteen penny piece out of my packet. I then started off from him, and ran as hard as I could, and being in a fretting humor at my loss, as well as in consequence of my being very hungry and nothing in my pocket to supply me with food.

Whilst running in this fretting mood, I met an officer, who asked me what was the matter. I told him I was going on to join the army at Valley Forge, and that I had been robbed by a soldier of an eighteen-penny piece, which was all the money I had possessed, and that I was then very hungry, and knew not what to do. He thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a five dollar note (I do not recollect whether it was Continental or States-money) and handed it to me. He then bade me to hurry on beyond the first woods and that when I should get down into a bottom I would come to a tavern, and bade me to call there and get something to eat and to drink. His kindness made a deep impression upon me, so much so, that even now at this late day, after a lapse of nearly 67 years, he sits on horseback before me as plainly as he did then, the generous hearted, manly and brave looking soldier, on whose face the lofty frown of indignancy is strongly depicted.

After this officer gave me the money, for which I thanked him, he put spurs to his horse and rode on in pursuit of the soldier, whilst I went on my way rejoicing in a heart overflowing with gratitude to so brave and kind a friend as he was to me in the dark hour of my extremity. I soon arrived at the tavern, and done as the officer had directed me, and soon had victuals served up before me. I told the landlord and his wife how badly the soldier had treated me. After I had made a hearty meal, 1 offered to pay them for it and some drink, but they would not take any money from me.— Perhaps my having told them of the affair or that of my seeking the camp in my boyhood, or both induced them to refuse any remuneration.

I had not been a great while there, and as I was about to start, I espied the same soldier that robbed me advancing towards the house, and was all covered over in front with blood, and being no little afraid at seeing him in this plight, thinking at the same time that he might fall upon me by the way and kill me for having informed the officer of his conduct. I ran back through the house and went out at a back door, and I think that I did not stop running until I arrived at the encampment at Valley Forge. I never knew how it was that he became so bloody, but had good cause to believe that the officer who was so kind to me, had overtaken him and struck and cut him with his sword, for when he left me he was very much exasperated at his dastardly conduct in robbing me (then a boy) of my money.4307
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Upon my arrival at Valley Forge encampment I immediately enquired for the 11th regiment, it being (as I have before stated) the regiment to which my father and myself were attached. Having found where it laid, I went in search of a Sergeant-major Lawson, an old comrade of my father, whom I soon found. He was very glad to see me, but very sorry to hear of my father's death. I told Sergeant Lawson how ill I had fared through the past winter, how little compensation I had received, and of that little having been taken away from me. I next told him how generously I had been befriended by the officer that I met afterwards.

In the course of a day or two Sergeant Lawson made known my case to Colonel Richard Humpton, who took me to be his waiter. With Colonel Humpton I fared very well. The Colonel was an Englishman, and had held a Captain's commission in the old British service in America, but upon the breaking out of the Revolution, he took his stand upon the side of the colonies, and joined the patriotic army in defence of the rights and liberties of the colonies.4308
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I was detached for a time to Washington's camp not far from Stoney Point. At this time (about the 1st of July, 1779,) an expedition was fitted out against Stoney Point, a strongly fortified post on the Hudson river; this expedition was entrusted to the brave General Anthony Wayne. I was one of the musicians attached to the detachment.4309
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I was again transferred by the orders of Colonel Humpton, sometime during the fall of 1779, to some military post not far distant from West Point, where I remained for the most part (except when detached for a time to Crown Point) until after the execution of Major Andre, Adjutant General of the British army, who was hanged as a spy in the fall of 1780.4310
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I had a brother-in-law of the name of John Cochell, who was married to my first wife's sister and who lived in Berks' county, Pa., about 6 miles below Reading whose family consisted (at one time when my wife and myself were there on a visit) of 24 or 25 children, his wife however had five or six times twins at a birth.4311
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I possessed something worth being proud of, for no man I ever met with could out go me in swimming. It seemed to me that I could walk (tread) in the water, as long and as far as it might please me, and could swim upon my back any distance I chose to swim to.4312
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Samuel lived in Wormelsdorf, Pa., after the Revolution and previous to the Whiskey Insurrection.4313
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[British Army Officer] Andre* was tried, convicted and condemned to death as a spy. He desired a soldier's death—to be shot, but this could not be granted to him. He was at length ordered out for execution. It was a very solemn time. I (with other Fifers) was notified by my Fife Major (Alexander McKinley) to be in readiness to play the Dead March. On the day of his execution, the whole of the army at West Point were put in motion, and marched arms in hand to the gallows, where they were formed into a great circle at some distance around it. We (musicians) were then attached to the provo guard arid marched off to the provo guard-house, where the guard received the prisoner (Andre) and conducted him within the circle and to the foot of the gallows, we playing the dead march all the way from the provo guard-house to the gallows.

After he arrived at the gallows, a considerable time lapsed before his execution took place. This time was spent in conversing with the American officers.— The officers sympathized greatly with him, and great sorrow pervaded the whole army. Officers and privates were to be seen shedding tears. One great regret was manifested by all, this, that one so brave, frank and honorable should have been sacrificed through the perfidy of Arnold. At length the fatal moment arrived, and he ascended the ladder. He was resigned to his fate, but not to the mode, but intimated that it would be but a momentary pang. He was then asked by the officers if he had any thing more to say. He answered: "Nothing, except to say that he was very sorry for the ladies of England, for that they would all be in mourning for him, after the news of his melancholy exit would reach them; nothing, but to request that you will witness to the world that I die a brave man." He was at this moment standing up, upon the ladder. All things being then in readiness, the signal was given, the ladder was turned over from under him, and Andre was launched into an eternal world, there to endure an untried reality, and to receive the sentence of condemnation or the award of life everlasting at the hands of that Supreme God, who is commander-in-chief in the countless armies of Heaven and amongst the inhabitants of the whole earth.4314

*John Andre was a British army officer hanged as a spy during the American Revolutionary War. This was due to an incident in which he assisted Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British Army.4315
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Sometime after the execution of Major Andre, I was again ordered by Colonel Humpton to Van Zandt's.... From Van Zandt's, I was transferred by the orders of the Colonel to Princeton, where I remained until about the close of the year 1780.4316
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This, I state with due deference to the sex, and I think 1 will be considered as doing so in all sincerity when my readers are informed, (as I intend they shall be,) that I have been many years blessed with the presence and companionship of the fourth woman with whom I have lived in the capacity of husband, for I have had four wives.4317
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At the instance of Major Greer, after my arrival at Philadelphia I joined (I believe) the 10th Regiment.— Major Greer having tendered me an invitation to come and live with him in the capacity of a waiter, and I being destitute of friends and having but a small sum of money in my possession I readily accepted it, and commenced at once the labours incident to my new department. In a few days after attaching myself to him, we rode up to Carlisle, P.a., where the Major was in attendance at all balls given in Carlisle, Shippensburg, Chambersburg and at other places. I was favored with (as I and others considered) the best horse, and enjoyed myself very well. The Major would attend a ball in Chambersburg on one evening; ride back to Carlisle on the next day, and be in attendance at another on that evening in Carlisle....

From Carlisle we were ordered on to Lebanon to join our Regiment. Here I was regularly attached to the regiment in the capacity of fifer.4318
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Some persons have an idea that the post of a Fifer or a Drummer is a very easy one. This is altogether an error, and founded on ignorance. A Fifer or Drummer has to fill the orders issued, and he may be detached in time of war in twenty different directions in a month. When upon the march in an expedition against an enemy, a musician occupies a more dangerous post than any officer in the detachment, save the commander, and when in line of battle his position is not to be envied. In a word, the whole duty of a musician is therefore not only a laborious one, but one of the greatest hazard and danger.4319
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I was among the first that entered the army in 1776 after Independence was declared, and now among the last discharged.4320
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I have voluntarily engaged in every emergency in which my country has been thrown, and when it’s peace has been jeopardized, either by a foreign or domestic foe, I have raised my voice to assert her rights and the supremacy of the laws, and have always backed that voice by my presence and actions upon duty in the field.4321
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