Author: Ronald Wayne Painter
Henry P. Aleshire was born on 19 February 1754 in Frederick County, Virginia. He was the son of German immigrants Conrad Elscheit and his wife Maria Catharina Goessel of Niederhonnefeld, Prussia, Germany. They had married on 29 September 1747. The Elscheits arrived in Philadelphia from Rotterdam on 21 August 1750. The last name became anglicized, but went through variations such as Elshite, Ailshite, Alshite, Alshire and Aleshire. After their arrival, they settled on the Monongahela River near Fort Redstone, now Brownsville in Pennsylvania. This area was the extreme frontier settlement at that time and they soon found it necessary due to the frequent attacks of the hostile Indians, to retire farther inland. Accordingly, they buried everything they could not take and made their way to Cedar Creek, in Frederick County, Virginia, now in Shenandoah County. The family grew as Conrad and Maria Catharina had seven children in addition to Henry. Henry's brother, John Conrad, also served in the Revolutionary War and his record can be read on his war pension application. As Henry's war pension application testimony states: he was a private in the Virginia Militia. He enlisted in 1778 in Capt. John Steed's company of regulars. In June 1778, he marched to Valley Forge and joined 8th regiment commanded by Col. Abraham Bowman. From Valley Forge, he marched to Monmouth, New Jersey under the command of Col. John Neville in Gen. Scott's Brigrade, Virginia line. He fought in the battle there on June 28, 1778. Afterwards, he continued to Connecticut and reached West Point in July. they stayed untill fall, then returned to New Jersey and camped between Middlebrook and Boundbrook. He remained there through the winter until late spring where he was then discharged. In spring 1781, he was drafted into the militia for three months under Capt. Jacob Pennywit and marched to Petersburg, Virginia and fought in that battle in May, 1781. His regiment was commanded by Col. John Slaughter and the brigrade commanded by Brigadier General Edward Stevens. From Petersburg, they marched to Mobbin Hills, 18 mile south of Richmond where he was discharged. He returned home but four days later, was drafted for another three month tour. This tour he served under Capt. George Prince and they marched to Newcastle, Virginia on the Pumanky River. Capt. Prince was discharged and the company was then commanded by Capt. Lynchfield Sharp. They marched to Ruffin's Ferry, then to Williamsburg and then to the siege of York. They were engaged in the Battle of York. After Cornwallis and his men were taken, he was detailed to guard and march the prisoners to Schewtown, now known as Front Royal, Virginia. There he was discharged. His regiment during the last of the tour was commanded by Col. Elias Edmunds and the brigade was still under Brigadier General Edward Stevens. Prior to the Revolutionary War, Henry was a volunteer in the Virginia militia when he was twenty years old. As also stated in his Revolutionary War pension application, in 1774, he marched in one of two companies from Shenandoah County, Virginia. One company was commanded by Capt. Thomas Buck and the other by Capt. Michael Rader.They joined Capt. Lucas' company from Berkley, Capt, Niesmanger's from Frederick, Capt. Freeman's from Hampshire and another company from Rockingham. They marched to what was then called Fort Pitt. From there, they went down the Ohio River to Fort Wheeling and then by land, they marched to Point Pleasant. Henry was at the battle where the Indian king, Cornstalk, was killed. His tour was supposed to be for six months, but they were finished after four months and he was discharged. Private, Virginia Militia. Enlisted in 1778 in Capt. John Steed's company of regulars. In June 1778, they marched to Valley Forge and joined 8th regiment commanded by Col. Abraham Bowman. From Valley Forge, marched to Monmouth, New Jersey under the command of Col. John Neville in Gen. Scott's Brigrade, Virginia line. He fought in the battle there on June 28, 1778. Afterwards, they continued to Connecticut and reached West Point in July. they stayed untill fall, then returned to New Jersey and camped between Middlebrook and Boundbrook. He remained there through the winter until late spring where he was then discharged. In spring 1781, was drafted into the militia for three months under Capt. Jacob Pennywit and marched to Petersburg, Virginia and fought in that battle in May, 1781. His regiment was commanded by Col. John Slaughter and the brigrade commanded by Brigadier General Edward Stevens. From Petersburg, they marched to Mobbin Hills, 18 mile south of Richmond where he was discharged. He returned home but four days later, was drafted for another three month tour. This tour he served under Capt. George Prince and they marched to Newcastle, Virginia on the Pumanky River. Capt. Prince was discharged and the company was then commanded by Capt. Lynchfield Sharp. They marched to Ruffin's Ferry, then to Williamsburg and then to the siege of York. They were engaged in the Battle of York. After Cornwallis and his men were taken, he was detailed to guard and march the prisoners to Schewtown, now known as Front Royal, Virginia. There he was discharged. His regiment during the last of the tour was commanded by Col. Elias Edmunds and the brigade was still under Brigadier General Edward Stevens.