The remains of a teenage Revolutionary War soldier have been identified — over 246 years after he was buried in an unmarked grave. The discovery, which researchers believe is the first identification of a Revolutionary War soldier using DNA and forensic genetic genealogy, was announced in June.
Private John Pumphrey’s Story
Researchers at FHD Forensics used advanced DNA analysis and forensic genetic genealogy to identify the remains as Private John Pumphrey, a teenager who died at the Battle of Camden in South Carolina. Pumphrey’s remains were uncovered at the battlefield site in 2022 during a University of South Carolina excavation.
According to Allison Peacock, president of FHD Forensics, it was not unusual for young boys to enlist in the Continental Army, though it was rare. Peacock said that Pumphrey would have been one of the youngest members of George Washington’s revered ‘Old Line’.
After uncovering details about the turmoil surrounding his father’s estate following his parents’ deaths and learning that his family lived much closer to Baltimore than they had realized, researchers said Pumphrey’s decision to enlist in Baltimore made much more sense.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
