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.
Birth: 11 Dec 1728 Windham / / CT Death: 29 May 1782 Norwich / / CT
Additional References:
SAR Patriot Index Edition III (CD: PP2210, Progeny Publ, 2002) plus data to 2004
Spouse: Martha Wood Children: Ann;
Members Who Share This Ancestor
None*
*This means that the NSSAR has no applications for this Patriot on file.
Instead the information provided is best effort, and from volunteers who have either researched grave sites, service records, or something similar. There is no documentation available at NSSAR HQ to order.
Colonel John Durkee Highlights - In no particular order.
• Born in Windham, CT in 1728
• Fought in Canada
• Fought in the French and Indian War (7 consecutive years, each a 9 month duration)
• Fought the British at Havana
• Answered the Lexington Alarm
• Fought at Bunker Hill
• Laid Out & Named Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
• Has/Had a Colonial Fort Named after him in the Wilkes-Barre Region
• Wintered at Valley Forge
• Crossed the Delaware with Washington
• Leader of “Durkee’s Irregulars”
• Led the CT Sons of Liberty
• Captured & Forced The Resignation Of The British Tax Agent In CT
• He Died & Is Buried in the Norwichtown Cemetery(Old Norwich Burial Grounds) in Norwich, CT with Samuel Huntington, 1st President of the Continental Congress in 1782 At 53 Years Of Age.
He is buried at the Old Norwich Burial Grounds in Norwich, CT on Old Cemetery Rd.
The inscription on his gravestone is as follows.
“In Memory of Col. John Durkee who departed this life May
29 th 1782 in the 54th year of his age.
In memory of Mrs Martha
wife of Col. John Durkee
who died May 27th 1787
in Y 60th year of her age
In memory of Doc Dominic Touzin who was lost in a
hurricane March of 1782 in the ---- year of his age.”
Burial Ground Location – Google Maps
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Old+Uptown+Burying+Ground,+Norwich,+CT+06360/@41.5496988,-72.0942079,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e6710a26014cf7:0xef06a4ca2f00cd9e!8m2!3d41.5497699!4d-72.0920894
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