Sons of the American Revolution cosponsor grave marking ceremony in Stephens City

On March 19, 2022, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution cosponsored a grave marking ceremony with the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stephens City. The ceremony commemorated the memory of the five Revolutionary War Patriots buried in the church cemetery.

Virginia State Color Guard presenting the colors. (Photos courtesy of Deborah Corey)

John Nicholas DeLong was born July 19, 1756, at Bowers, Berks, Pennsylvania, the son of Johannes Delong and Maria Katherina Dussinger. He married Elizabeth Margaret Goose around 1778. He was listed in the census of Frederick County in 1782 and was taxed in Winchester in 1785. He and Elizabeth had 10 children. John Nicholas served as a Private in Captain Smeck’s 5th Company, 2nd Battalion, Berks County Militia, Pennsylvania. He died Feb 21, 1823.

John Grim/Krim was born October 1755 and died April 19, 1840. He was married to Juliana Mainzer. In 1776, he volunteered as a rifleman in Andrew Bare’s Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He fought in the Battles of Staten Island, Trenton and Fort Washington. He was among the troops who marched captured Hessians from Trenton to Philadelphia. He then joined the “Flying Camp”, a unit created to reinforce the Continental Army on an emergency or temporary basis. He lived in Rockingham County until finally settling in Frederick County around 1811.

Jacob Kline was born August 23, 1736, in Zweibrucken, Germany. He was the son of Nickolaus Klein and Maria Eva Klein. He came to this country when he was sixteen-years-old with his parents and settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1759, he married Anna Eva Dyusong in Lancaster. In 1764, they joined several other families and moved to Frederick County, Virginia, where he was a farmer. In 1773 he bought a farm on Spring Run, and with Eva had 11 children. Eva died in 1815 followed by Jacob who died on August 27, 1816. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a Private in the German Regiment of the Continental Forces.

John Krider, Jr. was born 1754 and died 1814. He was married to Mary Krider and served as a Private in the German Battalion.

Virginia State Musket Squad firing a salute to the Patriots.

Nicholas Samsel was born May 2, 1749, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, as the son of Johann Paul Samsel and Catharina Borm. He married Anna Elizabeth Ott, August 26, 1770, in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of nine children. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a Private in the 7th Company, 2nd Battalion of the Northampton County, Pennsylvania Militia. At some point after the end of the war, he migrated to Frederick County, Virginia. Nicholas died in Frederick on November 4, 1817, followed by Anne in 1827.

The ceremony was conducted at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery, emceed by Dale Corey. The Virginia State SAR Color Guard commanded by Brett Osborn presented the colors, followed by greetings given by Virginia Society SAR President Bruce Meyer, Virginia Society Children of the American Revolution Sara Cox, Virginia Order of Founders and Patriots of America Governor Michael Weyler, Stephens City Mayor Michael Diaz and Pastor Janice Marie Lowden.

A dedication to the graves was presented by Corey and Pastor Lowden with the monument uncovered by compatriots Marc Robinson and Will Reynolds. Family presentations were given by Kathy Nibley, accompanied by her husband Reed Nibley, and her brother Rob Preston, accompanied by his wife Kathryn Preston, descendants of John Krim. Mary Ann Vaughn, accompanied by her daughter Laurie Bassler and grandson Nicholas Bassler, descendants of Jacob Kline.

Wreaths were presented by President Meyer, President Cox, Governor Weyler. Additional chapter wreaths were presented by President Thomas “Chip” Daniel (Colonel James Wood II), Vice President John Thomas (Fairfax Resolves), compatriot Paul Cox (Colonel Fielding Lewis), Vice President Leamon Duncan (Colonel William Grayson), Past President Ken Morris (George Mason), VASSAR 1st Vice President Ernie Coggins (George Washington), Vice President Barry Schwoerer (Sgt Maj John Champe), Deborah Corey (DAR John Alexander), Anita Bonner (DAR Lanes Mill), Anna Cox (C.A.R. Colonel Spotswood Alexander Society) and Kathy Nielsen for the family.

The event participants

A three volley musket salute was provided by the Virginia State Color Guard Musket Squad prior to the retirement of the colors. Additional color guardsmen participating included Rick Abbott (FR), Ken Bonner (SJC), Sean Carrigan (CJWII), Paul Christensen (CJWII), David Cook (FR), Jim Cordes (FR), Gary Dunaway (Williamsburg), Kelly Ford (CJWII), Chris Melhuish (Jamestown), Erick Moore (CJWII), John Petrie (CJWII), Paul Parish (General Daniel Morgan), Dennis Parmerter (CJWII), Allan Phillips (CJWII), Nathan Poe (CJWII), Eric Robinson (CJWII) and Mike St Jacques (CJWII).

Additional compatriots attending the ceremony were David Burks, Jim Heflin, Peter Himmelberger and Rick Tyler. The ladies of the church provided refreshments after the ceremony ended.