In recognition of the upcoming 250th celebration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the DAR America 250! Committee of the Botetourt County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is placing a spotlight on members’ Patriot ancestors who helped the country achieve American Independence. Christian Gish is the Patriot ancestor of member Virginia Kinzie Visser.
On September 18, 1733, the ship “Pennsylvania Merchant” docked in Philadelphia. On it were the parents of yet-to-be Christian Gish Sr. (Matthias and Katherine Gish) and the parents of his future wife. They were Protestants and natives of the area of Germany known as the “Palatine” and were members of the Church of the Brethren (Dunkards).
Matthias received a land grant in 1739 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where his first born Christian Bauer Gish was born 17 Feb 1735 in Penryn, White Oak, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and reared with his many siblings. Christian and his many siblings were reared on their father’s farm. Matthias was also a blacksmith. In 1756 Christian married Catherine Sophia Hoch in White Oak, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and began his own family.
Although many Dunkards eschewed military service based on the religious tenets of their faith, Christian Sr. and his sons joined the Pennsylvania militia early on and fought for the Patriot cause. Christian Sr. fought with the 1st Battalion, 4th Company, under Capt. Alexander Peebles. Among their battles and skirmishes he and his fellow Patriots shared the hardships of the battle on 11 Sept 1777 at Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, where British Gen. Howe planned to cross the Brandywine River on his way to retake Philadelphia. Although Patriot losses were high (per Patriot Gen. Nathaniel Greene 1100-1200 with as many as 400 wounded and taken prisoner), Gen. Washington stated in his report to the Continental Congress: Despite the day’s misfortune, I am pleased to announce that most of my men are in good spirits and still have the courage to fight the enemy another day.
After the Revolutionary War, Christian’s family – immediate and extended – was enlarging. As more were born and the older males died, more land was needed. This may have led to their decision to go to the “greener pastures” of Virginia. They made their way down the Great Valley Road to the Daleville/Amsterdam area of the Valley in Virginia, and Christian, Sr. appears on the 1790 census for Botetourt County. On 22 May 1796 Christian Gish, Sr. dictated his will and declared himself “being weak and sick of body, but of sound and disposing mind and memory and understanding the certainty of death.” He died soon after and is buried high on the hill in the Daleville Cemetery.
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-profit, non-political organization open to any woman who has lineage to a Patriot who contributed to the success of the American Revolution. Founded over 125 years ago, it is focused on service to the community and fosters Patriotism, Education and Historic Preservation.
~ Botetourt Chapter DAR
