The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
The patriot was buried at the Battle Field of Long Island, New York
Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
Author: Walter Boyer Arnold Jr.
Peter Boyer was born 22 January 1749,1 a son of Johann Leonhard Boyer and Anna Pfeifer. Leonhard and Anna arrived in America at the port of Philadelphia, 16 October 1741, on the ship Molly.2 They started their journey at Darmstadt, Germany. Peter and his younger brother, Jacob, were the first generation of this Boyer family born in America.
Peter Boyer married Elizabeth 3 about 1770. Her family name is not known. They had three sons: Leonard, Abraham and William. William appears to have died at an early age.4
Boyer enlisted as a private, 9 July 1776, under the command of Captain John Arndt of the Northampton County Militia.5 In late-July, Peter and his fellow patriots headed east to meet with General Washington and his troops, in the area of New York County, New York.
In mid-August, the Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Militia joined forced with Washington’s troops. The plan was to deny access of the Port of New York to the British fleet. The British had 400 ships with well-trained and disciplined soldiers under the command of Generals Howe and Cornwallis.6
Washington had about 20,000 farmers, shopkeepers, blacksmiths, and other dedicated souls in total, however; they were not yet trained, poorly equipped, undisciplined and not combat ready.7
Boyer and a small group of men were part of the rear guard at Long Island to give General Washington and the majority of his troops time to escape to safely at Manhattan. Peter along with 299 other patriots8 died 27 August 1776. They were buried at Long Island, possibly at the Green Wood Cemetery. An the center of the Green Wood Cemetery is "Guan Hill," which was an important part of the Battle of Long Island.9
References:
1. Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Birth Records, Pg. 19.
2. Pennsylvania German Pioneers passages list from Ship Molly arrived 17 October 1741.
3. The name of Peter’s wife, Elizabeth, is confirmed in an Orphans Court document dated 14 August 1777. The names of Peter’s sons Leonard and Abraham also appear on this document.
4. Ibid.
5. Muster Rolls of Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
6. Primary source for the history, Google Wikipedia "Battle of Long Island."
7. Ibid.
8. Muster Rolls of Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
9. Number and Ranks of those Killed or Taken at Long Island, dated 27 August 1776.
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