Revolutionary War veteran had ties here

Contributed

The General John Archer Elmore SAR Chapter is proud to share with you a brief story of Revolutionary War Soldier Walter Filmore Ross, Sr., who is buried in Elmore County.

Although Alabama was not in existence at the time of the American Revolution, almost 1,000 Revolutionary War soldiers are buried in Alabama. Many permanently moved to Alabama while others died in Alabama while passing through our state. Each of these patriot soldiers has a special story to tell, and many of them will never be found in history books.

Walter Filmore Ross, Sr. was born in 1761 in Caroline County, Virginia and died on October 25, 1848 in Autauga County, Alabama. He is buried in the Ross Cemetery in Deatsville in present day Elmore County.

Walter Ross was born in Virginia before he moved to North Carolina and was drafted into the army and served 3 months under Lt. John Jarman, Capt. George Wilson & Col. Thomas Wade, who was the highest commanding officer in Anson County, North Carolina. He served 2 separate occasions after the war as a scout under the command of Capt. John DeJarnett scouting the Tories, serving 3 month each time. He was frequently ordered to enter Cumberland and Robeson County and several times into South Carolina in the vicinity of Lynches Creek. He scouted with a man by the name of Thomas Douglass and ordered by Col. Wade to make stoves for the use of the Army which duty they performed and also to carry letters to Capt. McNeill in Cumberland County. He was sent to Marlborough District in South Carolina after a load of leather. He was never attached to a larger Army regiment. He was engaged in small skirmishes with the Tories but never fought in any major battles. He never received a written discharge.

The family moved to Autauga County, Alabama, about 1820/1822. Margaret Williams Ross filed for her bounty and land entitlement as the widow of a Revolutionary War Pensioner and stated that she married Walter Ross on July 10, 1790. Walter Ross died October 25, 1848 and to this marriage, they had the following children: Betsey, William, John, Andrew, Nancy, Galespie, Francis and Catherine Ross. He was pensioned at a rate of $30 per annum commencing March 4, 1831 for service as a private in North Carolina militia. His widow was pensioned in a like amount.

The General John Archer Elmore Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution honors our Revolutionary War patriot ancestors by promoting patriotism, serving our communities, and educating and inspiring future generations about the founding principles of our country. In conjunction with the upcoming 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we honor soldiers of the American Revolution buried in the River Region of Central Alabama.

The Sons of the American Revolution is a lineage based organization composed of members who are male descendants of people who served in the American Revolutionary War or who contributed to establishing the independence of the United States.

The Gen. John Archer Elmore Chapter was formed in 2007 to serve the River Region of Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery Counties, as well as surrounding counties. Our chapter meets the second Tuesday of each month at The Courtyard by Marriott in Prattville from 6 – 8 pm. Any male who is a lineal descendent of an ancestor who supported the war for American Independence is eligible for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution. If you are interested in joining the Sons of the American Revolution, please contact our Registrar Earl Gillian, Jr. at pbpossum99@aol.com.