Smallpox during Revolutionary War #northcarolinapioneers #genealogy

Smallpox during the Revolutionary War
By Jeannette Holland Austin

John Starrett served in the North Carolina State Militia under General Greene and was disabled by the loss of an eye " in consequence of the smallpox." During 1805 he appointed John Moon of Lincoln County to collect his pension because he was unable to go to superior court nor any other place. He could nor ride nor walk. The injury occurred sometime during February of 1781 he was drafted to serve 3 months as a militia soldier under General Greene to go against Lord Cornwallis. Upon being exposed to the cold, he was taken with smallpox and lost one of his eyes and has from that date suffered and been unable to do labor. George Cox and Captain Samuel Caldwell were both in service with Starrett when he took the smallpox between Guilford and Hi11sborough, North Carolina. Source: Treasurer's and Comptroller's Records, Veterans Pensions, N. C. Archives

The Revolutionary War along the eastern seaboard was plagued with instances of smallpox, 1776 to 1782. However, was already raging in Boston during 1775. During the siege of Boston by General George Washington the disease broke out among both Continental and British camps. Many escaped slaves who fled from the British lines in the South likewise contracted smallpox and died.

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Smallpox in North Carolina

Port of Wilmington

During the Revolutionary War, George Washington suspected that the British were using the smallpox disease as a form of "biological warfare" by placing disease infested people into the American encampment. The reason was that smallpox was considered more of threat to the Americans than the British.  Later on, the British admitted that their commanders ordered the smallpox operations. Some interesting truths help to sustain this fact in some of the last wills and testaments in the State of North Carolina.  During the spring of 1781, there was an epidemic in the port city of Wilmington, North Carolina.  A number of wills were headed up "New York" and mentioned that the testator died of smallpox.  On May 10, 1775, Fort Ticonderaga was captured from the British and the State of New York was under British occupation until the war ended in 1783. The content of the wills emphasize the importance of reading them. Especially, if your ancestors were named.  Not only does reading old wills represent a true history of the past, but they provide critical data to tracing the lineage of our ancestors....a much too good sources to overlook!  Images of the Hanover County Wills are available to members of North Carolina Pioneers



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