Author: Robert Dale Howell
George Cline (Klein) was born in Pastdorf, Lorraine, on 21 July 1740 and came to America in 1744. In 1770, he married Susannah Buck, who was born in Germany about 1754 and died in Monroe County, OH in 1840. They had at least nine children; Joseph, John C. Sr., Levi Lewis, William, George Buck, Catherine, David, Rosannah and Christina. The family settled in Northumberland County, PA about 1773 where he took up 300 acres and three children were born.
On 4 November 1776, George Cline enlisted “for the duration of the war” and served as a Corporal in Capt. Brady’s Company, 12th PA Regiment, which was formed of men from Northampton, Northumberland, Berks and Cumberland Counties. On 1 January 1777, the regiment joined Mifflin’s Brigade PA Continentals, and in May, joined the 3rd PA Brigade. The regiment reportedly fought at Bound Brook, Brandywine, Germantown, and, after wintering at Valley Forge, Monmouth Court House after which the 12th was disbanded. Officers were discharged and enlisted men went to the 3rd and 6th PA Regiments. George Cline joined Capt William Craig’s Company, 3rd PA Regiment where he served as a Sergeant. After the consolidation, the 3rd PA Regiment is recorded as having participated in the defense of New Jersey.
George Cline was discharged about 1 January 1781, but apparently did not return to Northumberland County since in 1781, he was listed on the Donegal Township, Washington County, PA tax list as a resident owning no land. By 3 July 1782, he had enlisted in William Leet’s Company, 3rd Battalion, Washington County, PA Militia. The family later moved to the area of Fort Henry (Wheeling), Ohio County, VA (now WV) where five children were born. The ninth child was reportedly born in Maryland.
In 1795, the family moved down the Ohio River and settled in Washington Township in either Monroe County or Washington County, OH. George Cline died on 14 April 1801 and was buried in an unmarked grave near the mouth of Mill Creek where it empties into the Ohio River near New Matamoras, Washington County, OH.

Additional biography by John A. Clines, Benjamin Cleveland Chapter, Tennessee Society.
Hans Gorge Klein was born 21 July 1740 in Postroff Lorraine. It is the northernmost part of German speaking France. We know this from the church records of Hirschland Lorraine. Hans Gorge was the eighth of nine children born to Johannes Klein & Anna M. Gangloff. The family arrived on the Ship Phoenix, landing in Philadelphia on Oct 20, 1744. They settled in Longswamp Township, Berks County Pennsylvania.

On June 8th 1770 George Married Susannah Buck in New York City. Susannah was another German immigrant and together they settled in Sunbury North Umber land County Pennsylvania. George and Susannah had 9 children, 3 born before the war. Jacob, born 7 June 1771, John, born 27 Oct 1772, AND Levi, born 4 November 1776

George enlisted in the continental Army on the day that his third son was born and was assigned to the 12th Pennsylvania Regiment. This regiment was recruited mostly from settlers on the West branch of the Susquehanna River in Northumberland County. This regiment left Sunbury on 18th of December 1776 and floated down the river on boats to the battlefields in Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. The men in the 12th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Continental Lines were good riflemen and scouts and were detailed for picket and skirmish duty.

Early in 1777 the Twelfth’s headquarters were at Amboy and the following engagements were listed:

- Jan 3, 1777 at Battle of Princeton New Jersey

- April 12, 1777 at Bound Brook New Jersey

- May 10, 1777 at Piscataway New Jersey

- June 26 1777 at Short Hills New Jersey

- Sept 11, 1777 at Brandywine Creek: Under the command of Major General John Sullivan they were engaged and lost heavily in men at Birmingham Church

- Oct 12, 1777 at Germantown: This regiment was in the thick of the fight and lost a great number of men

- December 6-10 1777 at White Marsh Pennsylvania: The 12th regiment was in Geo Washington's army that left White Marsh in early winter and that helped to build camp at Valley Forge.

- June 28, 1778 at Monmouth N.J.: A remnant of the 12th regiment was nearly destroyed. Washington had fought his opponent to a standstill after a pitched and prolonged engagement; the first time that Washington's army had achieved such a result. The battle demonstrated the growing effectiveness of the Continental Army after its six month encampment at Valley Forge, where constant drilling under officers such as Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben greatly improved army discipline and morale.

According to the War Department, George Cline held the rank of Corporal with the 12th Penn Regiment.

On July 1 1778, the 12th regiment was merged into the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment shortly and on Aug 10, 1778; George was listed as a Sergeant on the muster roll of Capt William Craig's Company of the 3rd Penn regiment commanded by Col. Thomas Craig.

- July 16 1779 at Stony Point, New York

- July 21, 1780 at the Blockhouse, Bergen Heights, New Jersey

- Sept 25, 1780 at Tappan, New York: It was part of the force which was rushed to West Point to guard against a possible British thrust following Benedict Arnold's treachery. How long it remained at West Point is unknown, but in December it had been moved to Morristown, New Jersey, where some of its men took part in the mutiny that began on January 1, 1781
George served from his enlistment date 4 November 1776 until Jan 1781.

After the war, the family moved to Washington County PA and George wasn’t done serving his country. He enlisted in William Leet’s Company, 3rd Battalion of the Washington Co militia in 1782. Since a platoon of the Washington County Militia had been assigned to help Defend Fort Henry early in 1782, it is believed that George and his entire family were at the Fort when it was attacked Sept 11 1782 by a band of 100 British and 260 Indians. Levi, the third son was killed by Indians
1n 1795 we find the entire Cline family moving into the Grandview Township area of Ohio, where they had a big impact on the settlements of that area

George died in 1801 and was buried in an unmarked grave at the mouth of Mill Creek just north of Matamoras Ohio.