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New DNA technology leads to identification of Revolutionary War soldier: "A gift to the whole country"
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Archaeologists discovered shallow graves with remains of Continental soldiers in Camden, South Carolina, from a brutal 1780 battle during the American Revolutionary War.
- Advances in DNA technology and genealogical research enabled the identification of one soldier, previously known as 9B, as John Pumphrey, a young Maryland enlistee in the 7th Maryland Regiment.
- Genetic genealogist Allison Peacock used multiple DNA types and historical records to confirm Pumphrey’s identity, revealing his family’s deep Maryland roots and possible financial motivations for enlistment.
- The Pumphrey family, including living descendants, expressed pride in learning about their ancestor’s sacrifice for American independence.
- John Pumphrey’s remains will be reinterred with a tombstone bearing his name, honoring his story and providing closure centuries after the battle.
