Display Patriot - P-171799 - Richard GUNSALUS/GUNSALIS/GUNSAULUS/GUNSAULIS
Richard GUNSALUS/GUNSALIS/GUNSAULUS/GUNSAULIS
SAR Patriot #:
P-171799
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.
State of Service: PA
Qualifying Service: Lieutenant
Author: John Harrold Redding
Richard Dirck Gunsalus, son of Jacobus Gunsalus and Sara Westbrook, was born on March 2, 1756 in Minisink New York and Christened (as Derrick) on May 16, 1756 in the Reformed Dutch Church of Shawangunk, Ulster Co. NY. Richard died March 15, 1838 in Howard Township, Centre Co. Pennsylvania (in his 83rd year) and is buried at Sand Hill Cemetery in Bald Eagle State Park. His wife Statia Ann preceded him on January 13, 1838 in her 73rd year.
Richard’s Great Grandfather Emanuel Gonsales Duk immigrated from Spain (and perhaps via the Netherlands) arriving about 1680 aboard his own ship which made landfall on the Hudson River at Esopus (Kingston) New York whereupon the unique Gunsalus spelling derived.
Richard’s parents raised their family in Mamekating, Sullivan Co. NY and moved to Derry Township in Cumberland County, PA in 1773. The area of Cumberland where he resided later became part of Mifflin County.
In March 1775 Richard volunteered and was commissioned. He served in the 8th Battalion of the Militia from Cumberland PA from 1776 to 1778 under the command of Capt. Robert Samuels (with duty in Kishacauguillis Valley) and Capt. Robert Means. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and later to 1st Lt. His service is recorded in Pennsylvania Archives pages 287, 288, 626, 627, Vol. IV and pages 564, 573, and 578 Vol. VI Series 5.
In 1784 Richard moved to Centre Co. PA. On page 22 of History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania, it is noted “In the territory west of Beech Creek and north of Nittany Mountain, circling around the end of Nittany west of Potter, we find the following additional residents on the assessment of 1785” (wherein 15 settlers are named including the name of “Gunsaulus, Richard”). In 1785 Richard married Eustacia Ann Lucas (Statia Ann), the daughter of Benedict Lucas and Mary McKibben Lucas. Children of Richard and Statia Ann:
Sarah, born 1786 (married Michael Meese) James, b. 1788 (married Sarah Marsden) Mary, b. 1790 (married Samuel Coperthwait) Elizabeth, b. 1792 (Married cousin Samuel Gunsallus) Agnes, b. 1795 (married Jonas Confair) John Wesley, b. 1796 (married Elizabeth) Margaret, b. 1797 (married Abraham Rowe) Richard, b. 1799 (married Nancy Baker) Lovey May, b. 1801 (married William Helper) Rachel, b. 1804 (married John McKee) Peggy, b. 1806 (married Abraham Row)
Richard Gunsalus’ Pension was executed October 1, 1832 (Pension Bureau No. 23246)
The Last Will of Richard Gunsalus was probated on March 24, 1838 at the County Courthouse of Bellefonte, PA.
At Bellefonte PA the Curtain Monument is also erected in honor of those residents of Centre County PA who served in the American Revolutionary War.
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