Author: John Harvey
From Craig Anderson, 180687: Patrick Anderson was born in Charleston Twp., Chester County, Pennsylvania on July 24, 1719. He was the eldest son of James and Elizabeth Anderson. His farm was located on the banks of Pickering Creek, two miles north of Valley Forge.

He was an ardent supporter of the revolution. On July 15, 1775, he was appointed Major in Col Anthony Wayne’s Battalion of Chester County Minute Men, and he was a member of the Chester County Committee of Safety.

On March 15, 1776, Patrick Anderson accepted a captain’s commission as a company commander in the Pennsylvania Musketry Battalion commanded by Col Samuel Atlee. His company formed in Chester, Pa on June 13th, and on June 17th, they were ordered to Philadelphia Barracks. On July 4th, Patrick’s company was in Philadelphia when a cannon was fired, celebrating Congress’ adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The following day, the Musketry Battalion was ordered to New York. On August 27th they were on Long Island, and they were positioned on the extreme right of the Continental line facing the British attack. The action lasted through the morning, until the British flanked the Americans and attacked their rear. The Continental troops were forced to retreat to the Brooklyn fortifications; Patrick left eleven of his soldiers dead on the battlefield. The following night, General Washington, under cover of darkness and fog, extracted all of the troops safely to New York.

The Musketry Battalion lost its principle officers on Long Island: Col Atlee was captured and his second in command, Lt Col Caleb Parry was killed. As senior company commander, Patrick Anderson was placed in command of the Musketry Battalion. On September 19th due to lack of pay, clothing, and food, many of the Pennsylvania soldiers mutinied, and some 200 troops deserted and returned to Pennsylvania. Following this event, Patrick penned a letter to Benjamin Franklin requesting instructions; a copy of this can be found in the Pennsylvania Archives Volume V. The remaining troops of the Musketry Battalion retreated with Washington’s Army to Pennsylvania following the battle of White Plains. Early in 1777, the remnants of the Musketry Battalion were incorporated into the Pennsylvania State Regiment of Foot and then a few months later into the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment. As a company commander in this regiment, Patrick Anderson saw action at the battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777 and again at Germantown October 4, 1777.

Following the American defeat at Brandywine Creek, Hessian forces under Lieutenant-General Wilhelm von Knyphausen advanced northeast through Chester County. On September 21nd, the Hessians forded Pickering Creek at Patrick Anderson’s farm and camped along Nutts Road. Patrick’s family, forewarned of the Hessian advance, hid their silver in the well, grain under the floorboards of the barn, and fled north to nearby French Creek. The Hessians plundered Patrick’s farm of all its livestock and all of the family personal possessions.

Patrick continued to serve until his enlistment expired early in 1778, and he resigned because of ill health. Following his military service, he served two terms in the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1778 and 1779. Patrick died on March 21, 1793, and he is buried in the churchyard of St Peters in the Valley.

From John Harvey: Patrick Anderson was the son of James Anderson, an early Scot (c. 1707) immigrant to Pennsylvania and Elizabeth Jerman (Jarman), the daughter of Thomas Jerman, a Welsh Quaker, who purchased one of William Penn's first grist milling licenses (History of Tredyffrin Twp, PA). Patrick was born at "Anderson Place," in then Charlestown Township, Pennsylvania now Schuylkill Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. He was the first person of European descent born in Charlestown Township. He was educated in Philadelphia and returned home to farm. He built, opened and taught at the first school house in the Valley Forge area. He was married 3 times, the first time to Hannah Martin in historic Christ Church, Philadelphia.

Patrick was Captain of a Company of Chester County men who served in the French and Indian War. At the time of the Revolution, Patrick was serving on Anthony Wayne's first Chester County Committee of Safety. The Assembly sent a Captain's Commission to him, and, although an older man, being 55 at the time, Patrick accepted it, called together his old soldiers, and the entire company of fifty-six men enlisted. His Company was known as the Chester County Minute Men of 1775. Patrick paid for and outfitted his entire company but was never compensated by the Continental Congress and lost half of his farm which he had mortgaged to a neighbor. In March 1776, he was appointed Senior Captain of the Pennsylvania Battalion of Musketry (sometimes called Samuel Atlee's Battalion)(Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume II.) The Musketry Battalion. Colonel Samuel J. Atlee. March 6, 1776.(a) Page 467) and fought for one tour of the Revolution, until the impairment of his health compelled his retirement. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. He fought bravely at the Battle of Long Island, Battle of Fort Washington, the Battle of Brandywine and Battle of Germantown. A letter from Patrick to Benjamin Franklin describing the disarray of the Pennsylvania troops after the Battle of Long Island is preserved in the Pennsylvania State Archives (Penna. Archives, 1st series, vol. v. p. 26: Major Patrick Anderson served in the Pennsylvania Assembly from 1778 to 1781. In 1781 he was appointed one of the Commissioners for the Committee of Navigation of the Schuylkill River. Patrick died in 1793. His service to his country has been commemorated through a pew dedicated in his honor at the Washington Memorial Chapel at Valley Forge National Park, the engraved inscription reads:

To the Glory of God and in memory of Patrick Anderson July 24, 1719 – 1795 Captain in the French and Indian War, 1755 Member of the Chester County Committee of Safety, 1774 Major in Wayne's Battalion of Minute Men, 1775 Senior Captain in Command of the Pennsylvania Battalion of Musketry, 1776 Member of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, 1778, 1781

Patrick is believed to be buried in the churchyard at St. Peter's of the Great Valley where he was a Vestryman however, his actual grave site has been lost to changes made to the church over the years. A large bronze plaque commemorates his memory inside the old church, almost directly over his presumed burial site. His son Isaac Anderson (congressman) also served in the Revolution and later as a US Congressman representing the area. Patrick is the Great Grandfather of 2 prominent Pennsylvania political figures, Hon. Matthew S. Quay through the marriage of his daughter, Ascenath Anderson, to Joseph Quay and Gov. Samuel W. Pennypacker through the marriage of his granddaughter, Sarah Anderson, to Matthias Pennypacker.