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: VA/PA
Qualifying Service: Sergeant
Author: Anthony James Meerpohl
Sampson Evans was born at sea in 1752 when the Evans family immigrated to Chester Pa. Sampson entered the Pennsylvania Militia, as a Sergeant September 11, 1777, but his service brought hardship to his family from the local Loyalists. Accordingly, his Father, Mother and family moved to, Bedford County Virginia in 1778.
In October Sampson engaged in the battle of Red Bank. The Battle of Red Bank was a decisive victory for the Colonial forces. The Pennsylvania Rifle company of 200 inflicted heavy losses on a Hessian assault of Fort Mercer at Red Bank. The victory supplied a sorely-needed morale boost to the American cause, delayed British gains in Philadelphia, and relieved pressure on General Washington's army. However, November’s battle of Mud Island was dominated by bombardment of Fort Mifflin by British Man of War's. The Colonial Army had no answer for the Redcoat's superior firepower and retreated to save supplies and manpower for General Washington's encampment at Valley Forge.
Sampson served under Col. William Evans; Pa. Militia, directly under Captain Thomas Wilson, Lt. Jacob Watkins, and Ensign John Hand until his enlistment expired in 1778. Upon arriving home, Sampson discovered his family moved to Virginia. Sampson followed his family to Virginia, and again came to aid the cause of Liberty by joining the Virginia Militia as a Sergeant in the Virginia Rifleman Company under Col. Charles Lynch, Captain Thomas Helm, Lt. James Dinwiddie and Ensign Andrew Field. The 200 man Rifle Company marched to North Carolina to join General Nathaniel Greene at Guilford Courthouse in March 1781.
Sampson's Virginia Rifle company engaged in the Guilford Courthouse Battle, assigned to hold General Greene's right flank, and held against three British assaults. One led by Banastre Tarleton and the other two by British Fusiliers. Cornwallis said after he had lost almost 30% of his army at Guilford Courthouse, " I never saw such fighting since God made me. The Americans fought like demons". Cornwallis's troops fought bravely but their losses were so great Cornwallis was doomed after Guilford Courthouse.
Sampson reenlisted in the Virginia Militia as Sergeant under Col. Edmund Booker, in a company commanded by Captain David Beard. This Rifle Company marched from Bedford County July 1781, and later in August rendezvoused with Washington and his Army at Yorktown. Shortly thereafter the British Army under Lord Cornwallis surrendered.
Sampson retired to Virginia, became active in the Presbyterian Church. Sampson donated land and helped erect the Concord Presbyterian Church in Campbell County VA. His house still stands on the grounds of the church.
Sampson Evans gave a detailed and signed a deposition of his service at the Appomattox Courthouse November 12, 1832 at age 80. August 16 1842, at the age of 90, Sergeant Sampson Evans died and was buried in the Concord Presbyterian Church's graveyard. Many of his lineage are also buried in that same graveyard.
Sampson Evans's obituary in the Lynchburg Virginian, Sept 8 1842 was titled "Another Hero of the Revolution Gone".
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