William Montgomery (August 3, 1736 – May 1, 1816) was a colonial-American patriot, pioneer, soldier, public servant, and abolitionist. As a revolutionary

patriot A patriot is a person with the quality of patriotism. Patriot may also refer to: Political and military groups United States * Patriot (American Revolution), those who supported the cause of independence in the American Revolution * Patriot m ...

, he helped the Province of Pennsylvania declare independence from the

British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...

, establish the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Ma ...

, and save the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...

during the

Ten Crucial Days As the location of many major battles, New Jersey was pivotal in the American Revolution and the ultimate victory of the American colonists. This important role earned it the title of ''Crossroads of the American Revolution''. Not all of the pop ...

. As a soldier, he served a total of 34 years, including 14 years as

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

and

division Division or divider may refer to: Mathematics *Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication *Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division Military *Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...

commander. As a public servant, he was elected or appointed to 16 different offices, including the Continental Congress, Pennsylvania Congress, and

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

, and co-authorized the creation of the United States Navy's first six frigates. As an

abolitionist Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people. The British ...

, he helped pass: a resolution to prohibit the future import of slaves into the Province of Pennsylvania in 1775,

An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, passed by the Fifth Pennsylvania General Assembly on 1 March 1780, prescribed an end for slavery in Pennsylvania. It was the first act abolishing slavery in the course of human history to be adopted by a ...

(the first law adopted by a democracy to end slavery in world history) in 1780, and the

Slave Trade Act Slave Trade Act is a stock short title used for legislation in the United Kingdom and the United States that relates to the slave trade. The "See also" section lists other Slave Acts, laws, and international conventions which developed the conce ...

in 1794. He was one of seven congressmen who voted against the

Fugitive Slave Act A fugitive (or runaway) is a person who is fleeing from custody, whether it be from jail, a government arrest, government or non-government questioning, vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals. A fugitive from justice, also kno ...

in 1793. As a

pioneer Pioneer commonly refers to a settler who migrates to previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited land. In the United States pioneer commonly refers to an American pioneer, a person in American history who migrated west to join in settling and de ...

he founded "Montgomery's Landing", later named

Danville, Pennsylvania Danville is a borough in and the county seat of Montour County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. The population was 4,221 at the census. Danville is part of the Bloomsburg-Berwick micropolitan area. ...

after his son, Daniel Montgomery.

Early life

William Montgomery descends from

Roger de Montgomery Roger de Montgomery (died 1094), also known as Roger the Great, was the first Earl of Shrewsbury, and Earl of Arundel, in Sussex. His father was Roger de Montgomery, seigneur of Montgomery, a member of the House of Montgomerie, and was probably ...

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

via Arnulf de Montgomery through the Montgomery Clan. His grandparents, Major John (aka " Boyne Water") and Margaret (née Dunbar) Montgomery, immigrated from County Armagh, Ireland to the

Delaware Colony Delaware Colony in the North American Middle Colonies consisted of land on the west bank of the Delaware River Bay. In the early 17th century the area was inhabited by Lenape and possibly the Assateague tribes of Native Americans. The first E ...

in 1722. They acquired extensive lands in

Mill Creek Hundred Mill Creek Hundred is an unincorporated subdivision of New Castle County, Delaware. Hundreds were once used as a basis for representation in the Delaware General Assembly, and while their names still appear on all real estate transactions, they pr ...

of the

Twelve-Mile Circle The Twelve-Mile Circle is an approximately circular arc which forms most of the boundary between Pennsylvania and Delaware. It is not actually a circle, but rather a combination of different circular arcs that have been feathered together. It is ...

. John was a founding elder in the White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church. William's parents, Alexander and Mary (née McCullough) Montgomery, followed them to Mill Creek Hundred in 1730 and inherited a

plantation A plantation is an agricultural estate, generally centered on a plantation house, meant for farming that specializes in cash crops, usually mainly planted with a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. The ...

and

gristmill A gristmill (also: grist mill, corn mill, flour mill, feed mill or feedmill) grinds cereal grain into flour and middlings. The term can refer to either the grinding mechanism or the building that holds it. Grist is grain that has been separat ...

of 400 acres upon John's death. William Montgomery was born in Mill Creek Hundred on August 3, 1736, the third of six children, and spent his childhood working the plantation and gristmill. In 1743, Alexander and his partner, William Nevin (William's future father-in-law), purchased 650 acres adjacent to Faggs Manor in Londonderry Township, Chester County, Province of Pennsylvania. In 1747, at age 11, William and his 5 minor siblings were orphaned when their parents died. Their cause of death is unknown. Their guardians, Evan Rice and Robert Kirkwood, were from the White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church, but they were raised by their aunt and uncles (Thomas and Robert) who had also settled in Delaware and Pennsylvania. In his adolescence, William was educated in surveying, milling, trade, and management. He was taught by Samuel Blair and mentored by Dr. David Stewart. He

dropped out Dropping out refers to leaving high school, college, university or another group for practical reasons, necessities, inability, apathy, or disillusionment with the system from which the individual in question leaves. Canada In Canada, most ind ...

of the

College of William & Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William I ...

. In 1756, William married Margaret Nevin and settled on the 822 acres he inherited (and acquired) in Londonderry Township. Over the next 14 years, they had six children, including Daniel Montgomery, and made it the most prosperous farm in Chester County. It primarily produced wheat. Margaret died in 1770 and William married Isabella Evans in 1772. They welcomed their first of four children in April 1773. In November 1773 he began acquiring land in Northumberland County from J. Cummings. On November 26, 1774 he acquired 180 acres along Mahoning Creek and Susquehanna River known as "Karkaase" from J. Simpson. Originally referred to as "Montgomery's Landing", it would become

after his son, Daniel Montgomery. Following the Pennsylvania Militia Act of 1755, which compelled "all males between 17 and 45 years of age, having a

freehold Freehold may refer to: In real estate *Freehold (law), the tenure of property in fee simple * Customary freehold, a form of feudal tenure of land in England * Parson's freehold, where a Church of England rector or vicar of holds title to benefice ...

worth 150 pounds a year, to arm himself and appear for training on the first Monday of March, June, August, and November" for protection in the

French and Indian War The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the ...

, William joined the

Associators Associators were members of 17th- and 18th-century volunteer military associations in the British American thirteen colonies and British Colony of Canada. These were more commonly known as Maryland Protestant, Pennsylvania, and Ameri ...

in 1757 and continued to serve for the next 17 years.

Patriot

Background

By 1774, tensions over imperial rule had been escalating in the

Thirteen Colonies The Thirteen Colonies, also known as the Thirteen British Colonies, the Thirteen American Colonies, or later as the United Colonies, were a group of British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America. Founded in the 17th and 18th cent ...

for 14 years. It had been nine years since the

Sons of Liberty The Sons of Liberty was a loosely organized, clandestine, sometimes violent, political organization active in the Thirteen American Colonies founded to advance the rights of the colonists and to fight taxation by the British government. It pl ...

formed, seven years since the

Townshend Acts The Townshend Acts () or Townshend Duties, were a series of British acts of Parliament passed during 1767 and 1768 introducing a series of taxes and regulations to fund administration of the British colonies in America. They are named after the ...

, four years since Golden Hill and the

Boston Massacre The Boston Massacre (known in Great Britain as the Incident on King Street) was a confrontation in Boston on March 5, 1770, in which a group of nine British soldiers shot five people out of a crowd of three or four hundred who were harassing t ...

, two years since Samuel Adams'

Committee of Correspondence The committees of correspondence were, prior to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, a collection of American political organizations that sought to coordinate opposition to British Parliament and, later, support for American independe ...

, one year since the

Boston Tea Party The Boston Tea Party was an American political and mercantile protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1773. The target was the Tea Act of May 10, 1773, which allowed the British East India Company to sell t ...

, and 55 days since the First Continental Congress. Montgomery is a father of six children, a prominent 38-year-old farmer in Londonderry Township rovince of Pennsylvania and had been serving in the

(militia) for 17 years. He is also a political activist whose correspondence with

John Dickinson John Dickinson (November 13 Julian_calendar">/nowiki>Julian_calendar_November_2.html" ;"title="Julian_calendar.html" ;"title="/nowiki>Julian calendar">/nowiki>Julian calendar November 2">Julian_calendar.html" ;"title="/nowiki>Julian calendar" ...

influenced

Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania ''Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania'' is a series of essays written by the Pennsylvania lawyer and legislator John Dickinson (1732–1808) and published under the pseudonym "A Farmer" from 1767 to 1768. The twelve letters were widely read and r ...

, a precursor to Thomas Paine's

Common Sense ''Common Sense'' is a 47-page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775–1776 advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies. Writing in clear and persuasive prose, Paine collected various moral and political arg ...

. William's oldest brother, Captain John Montgomery, was also a revolutionary patriot deeply involved in the grassroots effort for independence in the

Province of North Carolina Province of North Carolina was a province of Great Britain that existed in North America from 1712(p. 80) to 1776. It was one of the five Southern colonies and one of the thirteen American colonies. The monarch of Great Britain was repre ...

, which culminated in the

War of the Regulation The Regulator Movement, also known as the Regulator Insurrection, War of Regulation, and War of the Regulation, was an uprising in Provincial North Carolina from 1766 to 1771 in which citizens took up arms against colonial officials, whom they v ...

. He commanded a company in the

Battle of Alamance The Battle of Alamance, which took place on May 16, 1771, was the final battle of the Regulator Movement, a rebellion in colonial North Carolina over issues of taxation and local control, considered by some to be the opening salvo of the Ameri ...

and was wounded by the second canon volley. He also commanded a company at the Battle of Guilford Court House and was again wounded, then imprisoned. He was sentenced for execution but escaped. William's distant cousin was Richard Montgomery, for whom he wrote a poem about his revolutionary service.

Political service

On December 20, 1774, Montgomery is nominated to the Chester County Committee of Inspection to enforce the trade boycott established by the First Continental Congress. The following month, he is nominated as a Chester County delegate to the

Convention for the Province of Pennsylvania Convention may refer to: * Convention (norm), a custom or tradition, a standard of presentation or conduct ** Treaty, an agreement in international law * Convention (meeting), meeting of a (usually large) group of individuals and/or companies in ...

(January 23–28, 1775) where they pass 27 resolutions to "restore harmony with Great Britain" while logistically preparing for war. Eighty-six days later, the "

shot heard round the world "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" is a phrase that refers to the opening shot of the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, which began the American Revolutionary War and led to the creation of the United States of America. It was an ...

" ignites the American Revolutionary War and Siege of Boston. On June 30, 1775 the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety was established, essentially displacing the governing Provincial Assembly until the

Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 (ratified September 28, 1776) was the state's first constitution following their declaration of independence and has been described as the most democratic in America; although it notably based rights in "men" ...

, and William was re-commissioned a

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

in command of the 4th lkBattalion, comprising 450 infantry in eight companies. In February 1776, the Chester County Committee of Inspection tasked Montgomery, along with two others, with safeguarding the county's

gunpowder magazine A gunpowder magazine is a magazine (building) designed to store the explosive gunpowder in wooden barrels for safety. Gunpowder, until superseded, was a universal explosive used in the military and for civil engineering: both applications ...

. On June 18, 1776, Montgomery is nominated as a Chester County delegate to the

Pennsylvania Provincial Conference The Pennsylvania Provincial Conference, officially the Provincial Conference of Committees of the Province of Pennsylvania, was a Provincial Congress held June 18–25, 1776 at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia. The 97 delegates in attendance (out ...

Carpenters' Hall Carpenters' Hall is the official birthplace of the Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a key meeting place in the early history of the United States. Carpenters' Hall is located in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, ...

. Their proceedings ("Provincial Conference of Committees of the Province of Pennsylvania") officially declare the Province of Pennsylvania's independence from the

, establish the

, mobilize the Pennsylvania militia for the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

, and set up the machinery for the

Pennsylvania Provincial Convention Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Mar ...

(July 15 – September 28, 1776) which frames the

. As the last holdout of the

, they also enable the

United States Declaration of Independence The United States Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen States of America, is the pronouncement and founding document adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting at Pennsylvania State House ( ...

to proceed nine days later, which ensures Montgomery's execution if caught by the British. William was nominated as a Chester County delegate to the Pennsylvania Provincial Convention for establishing the Commonwealth constitution, but his battalion was deployed to New Jersey and he was unable to attend. His daughter-in-law's father, Thomas Strawbridge, went in his place.

Military service

After defeating the British Army in the Boston,

General Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the ...

anticipated

General Howe William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe, KB PC (10 August 172912 July 1814) was a British Army officer who rose to become Commander-in-Chief of British land forces in the Colonies during the American War of Independence. Howe was one of three brot ...

would next seek control of New York City and relocated the Continental Army to fortify the area. With an indefensible number of potential invasion sites around New York Harbor and depleted ranks, Washington divided Continental forces between Manhattan and Brooklyn. On June 3, 1776, the Continental Congress granted Washington's request to stand up a

Flying Camp A Flying Camp was a military formation employed by the Continental Army in the second half of 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. History After the British evacuation of Boston in March 1776, General George Washington met with members of ...

of militia-based reserves. Montgomery's battalion was re-designated the 1st ennsylvaniaRegiment and mobilized for the fortification of New Jersey. They arrived at

Perth Amboy Perth Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Perth Amboy is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 55,436. Perth Amboy has a Hispanic majority population. In the 2010 census, th ...

in mid-July, establishing a command post at the

Proprietary House Proprietary House in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, United States, is the only proprietary governor's mansion of the original Thirteen Colonies still standing. Overseen by architect and builder John Edward Pryor, construction began in 1762 and was com ...

, and conducted rotating patrols along the 35-mile strait to Fort Lee. Within days, they were horrified by the arrival of the British Navy off the coast of Staten Island—340 transport ships carrying 32,000 infantry, 35 frigates, and 25 ships of the line bearing 64 cannons each with a range of 2 miles. Five of the latter alone had more collective firepower than the entire Continental Army. Each cost the equivalent of a modern aircraft carrier. It was the largest, most advanced, and most powerful amphibious invasion in world history until

Operation Neptune Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Ma ...

168 years later. While repulsing British reconnaissance efforts into New Jersey, the 1st Regiment overheard the defeay of the Continental Army in gthe

Battle of Long Island The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn and the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, was an action of the American Revolutionary War fought on August 27, 1776, at the western edge of Long Island in present-day Brooklyn, New Yor ...

. After peace talks failed, Montgomery ordered four companies to Fort Lee and four companies to Fort Washington to buffer General Howe's

landing at Kip's Bay The Landing at Kip's Bay was a British amphibious landing during the New York Campaign in the American Revolutionary War on September 15, 1776. It occurred on the East River shore of Manhattan north of what then constituted New York City. Heav ...

Manhattan. When Fort Lee and Fort Washington are defeated (along with Montgomery's four companies who are taken prisoner and sent to prison " ships of hell"), Montgomery and his remaining companies, along with General Washington and the remaining Continental Army, retreated to Pennsylvania as they were pursued by

General Cornwallis Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, (31 December 1738 – 5 October 1805), styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as the Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army general and official. In the United S ...

. By December 1, 1776, Montgomery's regiment is stationed in Philadelphia to stifle Loyalist uprising. He is joined by his son, William Jr., who enlisted upon his 14th birthday, and is serving in Captain James McDowell's company as drummer. General Washington has encamped 30 miles northeast in Taylorsville. Ninety percent of Continental forces have been killed, captured, or deserted—believing the

is now a lost cause. With their term of enlistment now expired, most of the Flying Camp reserves have returned home. Washington's supplies are also depleted and General Cornwallis is bearing down on his position with 8,000 British and 2,000 Hessian infantry, outnumbering him 3 to 1. The revolution is hanging-on by a single fiber of the last thread. On December 18, Washington writes to his brother: "I think the game is pretty near up...You can form no idea of the perplexity of my situation. No man, I believe, ever had a greater choice of difficulties and less means to extricate himself from them. However under a full persuasion of the justice of our Cause I cannot but think the prospect will brighten, although for a wise purpose it is, at present hid under a cloud." On December 19, Thomas Paine echoes into eternity: " These are the times that try men's souls". On the night of December 25–26, 1776—in the middle of a snowstorm—General Washington gathers the last of his men and launches operation " Victory or Death" across the Delaware River. Following their subsequent victory at the Battle of Trenton, Montgomery receives General Cadwalader's dispatch for militia reinforcements. Along with 1,800 militia, the 1st Regiment arrives in Crosswicks, New Jersey on January 1, then marches to Trenton where General Washington's army is now engaged with General Cornwallis at the Battle of Assunpink Creek. Rather than retreating back to safety (with his element of surprise now gone and two victories under his belt), Washington attacks Cornwallis' headquarters in the Battle of Princeton—defeating him and establishing his position to wage the Forage War for the next 3 months. Montgomery's regiment, among others, provided the vital diversion, which deceived Cornwallis that Washington's forces were still encamped, and simultaneously removed their supplies to Burlington, New Jersey.

Pioneer

In November 1773, William began acquiring land in Northumberland County from J. Cummings. On November 26, 1774 he acquired 180 acres along Mahoning Creek and Susquehanna River known as "Karkaase" from J. Simpson. Following his service in the New York and New Jersey Campaign, William re-settled his family from Chester County to Northumberland. Originally referred to as "Montgomery's Landing", it would become known as Danville after his son, Daniel Montgomery. After developing his farm, William developed the first gristmill, sawmill, and trading post. In 1778, his family fled during the Big Runaway to

Fort Augusta Fort Augusta was a stronghold in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the upper Susquehanna Valley from the time of the French and Indian War to the close of the American Revolution. The fort was erected by Colonel William Clapham in 1756 at a ...

and returned following the

Battle of Wyoming The Battle of Wyoming, also known as the Wyoming Massacre, was a military engagement during the American Revolutionary War between Patriot militiamen and a mixed force of Loyalist soldiers and Iroquois raiders. The clash took place in the Wyom ...

. In 1792, William constructed the General William Montgomery House. In the same year Daniel plotted the area between Mill Street and Church Street, the historic core of the town.

Soldier

Background

Military service defined William's life and the Montgomerys he descends from. His family line has been traced to

through his fifth son Arnulf de Montgomery. Following

William the Conqueror William I; ang, WillelmI (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first House of Normandy, Norman List of English monarchs#House of Norman ...

's invasion of England, their service continued through the Montgomery Clan and

Lands of Lainshaw The Lands of Lainshaw lie in Strathannick and were part of the Lordship of Stewarton, in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Lainshaw House is a category B listed mansion, lying in a prominent position above the Annick Water and its holm in the Parish of ...

. William's great-grandfather, Major John Montgomery, and two of his sons were killed at the Battle of Boyne. His third son (William's grandfather), Captain John Montgomery, was badly wounded but survived. He was promoted to major and given the nickname "Boyne Water Major" for heroism. William's oldest brother, Captain John Montgomery, was also a revolutionary

deeply involved in the grassroots effort for independence in the

, which culminated in the

. He commanded a company in the

and was wounded by the second canon volley. He also commanded a company at the Battle of Guilford Court House and was again wounded, then imprisoned. He was sentenced for execution but escaped. William's cousin was Richard Montgomery, for whom he wrote a poem.

Service

In addition to his political service, Montgomery served in the military for 34 years. * (1757–1774) Following the Pennsylvania Militia Act of 1755, which compelled "all males between 17 and 45 years of age, having a

worth 150 pounds a year, to arm himself and appear for training on the first Monday of March, June, August, and November" for protection in the

, William joined the

in 1757 and continued to serve for the next 17 years, achieving the rank of colonel. * (1776–1777) See William's patriot service above. *(1793–1807) On April 17, 1793 Governor

Thomas Mifflin Thomas Mifflin (January 10, 1744January 20, 1800) was an American merchant, soldier, and politician from Pennsylvania, who is regarded as a Founding Father of the United States for his roles during and after the American Revolution. Mifflin wa ...

commissioned Montgomery a major general in command of the 7th Division, Pennsylvania Militia for a seven year term. It encompassed the regiments of Northampton,

Northumberland Northumberland () is a county in Northern England, one of two counties in England which border with Scotland. Notable landmarks in the county include Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Hadrian's Wall and Hexham Abbey. It is bordered by land ...

, and Luzerne counties. In 1800, his commission was renewed for another seven year term in command of the 9th Division.

Posterity

The tradition of Montgomery's serving and fighting has continued for generations, including three of William's sons. William Montgomery Jr., who enlisted upon his 14th birthday and served as a company drummer in his father's regiment during the New York and New Jersey Campaign, achieved the rank of major in the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States, United States of America and its Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom ...

. John Montgomery served under William's command in the 7th Division and achieved the rank of colonel. On July 27, 1809, Daniel Montgomery was commissioned a major general and transferred command of the 9th Division. William's great-great-grandson, James Montgomery Rice, fought extensively in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

, helped establish the

United States National Guard The National Guard is a state-based military force that becomes part of the reserve components of the United States Army and the United States Air Force when activated for federal missions.Sons of the American Revolution The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR or NSSAR) is an American congressionally chartered organization, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. A non-profit corporation, it has described its purpose ...

. William's 4th great-grandson, Charles Montgomery Marriott, lost both of his hands, and was awarded the Silver Star, from a stielhandgranate while saving his platoon during the Rhineland Offensive of World War II.

Public servant

In addition to his military service, which began at age 21, Montgomery was in continuous public service from age 38 to 72. In total, he was elected, appointed, or nominated to 16 different county, state, and federal offices. * (1774–1776) Elected Assessor

Chester County Chester County may refer to: * Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States * Chester County, South Carolina, United States * Chester County, Tennessee Chester County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, th ...

* (1774) Nominated Delegate (

Patriot A patriot is a person with the quality of patriotism. Patriot may also refer to: Political and military groups United States * Patriot (American Revolution), those who supported the cause of independence in the American Revolution * Patriot m ...

), Chester County, Committee of Inspection ** Enforced the trade boycott established by the First Continental Congress * (1775) Nominated Delegate (

), Chester County,

** Passed 27 resolutions to "restore harmony with Great Britain" while logistically preparing for war and voted in favor of a resolution for the

Provincial Assembly Provincial may refer to: Government & Administration * Provincial capitals, an administrative sub-national capital of a country * Provincial city (disambiguation) * Provincial minister (disambiguation) * Provincial Secretary, a position in Can ...

to "prohibit the future import of slaves into the Province of Pennsylvania." * (1776) Nominated Delegate (

), Chester County,

** Proceedings ("Provincial Conference of Committees of the Province of Pennsylvania") officially declare the Province of Pennsylvania's independence from the

, establish the

, mobilize the Pennsylvania militia for the

, and set up the machinery for the

(July 15 – September 28, 1776) which frames the

. As the last holdout of the

, they also enable the

to proceed nine days later, which ensures Montgomery's execution if caught by the British. **Chair of Military Personnel Committee – "devised ways and means for raising 4500 men and to enquire into all matters to fit them for taking the field." *(1776) Nominated Delegate (

), Chester County,

**His flying camp regiment was deployed by George Washington to reinforce New Jersey before he was able to attend. His daughter-in-law's father, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Strawbridge, went in his place. *(1780–1783) Elected Member (

Constitutionalist Constitutionalism is "a compound of ideas, attitudes, and patterns of behavior elaborating the principle that the authority of government derives from and is limited by a body of fundamental law". Political organizations are constitutional ...

), Northumberland County, Pennsylvania General Assembly (then

unicameral Unicameralism (from ''uni''- "one" + Latin ''camera'' "chamber") is a type of legislature, which consists of one house or assembly, that legislates and votes as one. Unicameral legislatures exist when there is no widely perceived need for multi ...

). **Served in the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh legislative sessions. **Voted in favor of

, the first law adopted by a democracy to end slavery in world history. **Chair of the Armed Services Committee – "devised ways and means for the support of the

Continental Continental may refer to: Places * Continent, the major landmasses of Earth * Continental, Arizona, a small community in Pima County, Arizona, US * Continental, Ohio, a small town in Putnam County, US Arts and entertainment * ''Continental'' ( ...

] army and keeping the ranks full" and "adjust a plan proposed for the greater case of the 111th Infantry Regiment (United States), militia service" *(1783–1807) Appointed Deputy Surveyor, Northumberland County **Re-appointed three times, Montgomery's longest-held office. Over his 24-year tenure, it is estimated he surveyed 1,600 tracts comprising ~500,000 acres. *(1783) Appointed

Trustee Trustee (or the holding of a trusteeship) is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, is a synonym for anyone in a position of trust and so can refer to any individual who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility to ...

, Northumberland County, Dickinson College *(1783–1790) Elected Censor (

), Northumberland County,

Council of Censors A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or natio ...

– inspired by

Ancient Rome In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC ...

, the first, and only, in American history. **Fought to preserve the Constitution of 1776. Endured until the Constitution of 1790 which established the bicameral

legislature A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...

, and abolished the Council of Censors. *(1785) Nominated Delegate, Northumberland County, Congress of the Confederation **Resigned nomination to accept appointment as President Judge. *(1785–1790) Appointed President Judge, Court of

Common Pleas A court of common pleas is a common kind of court structure found in various common law jurisdictions. The form originated with the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster, which was created to permit individuals to press civil grievances against one ...

Quarter Sessions The courts of quarter sessions or quarter sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the Kingdom of England from 1388 (extending also to Wales following the Laws in Wales Act 1535). They were also established in ...

, and

Orphans' Court A probate court (sometimes called a surrogate court) is a court that has competence in a jurisdiction to deal with matters of probate and the administration of estates. In some jurisdictions, such courts may be referred to as Orphans' Courts ...

. **Presided over

Pennamite–Yankee War The Pennamite–Yankee Wars or Yankee–Pennamite Wars were a series of conflicts consisting of the First Pennamite War (1769–1770), the Second Pennamite War (1774), and the Third Pennamite War (1784), in which the Wyoming Valley along the North ...

claims from 1787 to 1790 *(1791–1804) Associate Judge, Northumberland County *(1791–1805) Commissioner, Pennsylvania Canal *(1791–1794) Elected Senator (

Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party, known at the time as the Republican Party and also referred to as the Jeffersonian Republican Party among other names, was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early ...

Huntingdon Huntingdon is a market town in the Huntingdonshire district in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was given its town charter by King John in 1205. It was the county town of the historic county of Huntingdonshire. Oliver Cromwell was born there ...

, Luzerne, and

Counties, Pennsylvania General Assembly **Served in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, and Eighteenth legislative sessions. **Chair of the Appropriations Committee *(1791–1793) Elected Member (

Anti-Federalist Anti-Federalism was a late-18th century political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger U.S. federal government and which later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. The previous constitution, called the Articles of Con ...

), Pennsylvania's 6th District,

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

**Served in the

2nd United States Congress The 2nd United States Congress, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from March 4, 1791, to March 4, 1793, during the third and fourth years ...

**Voted in favor of the

Militia Acts of 1792 Two Militia Acts were enacted by the 2nd United States Congress in 1792 that provided for the organization of militias and empowered the President of the United States to take command of the state militias in times of imminent invasion or insur ...

**One of seven Representatives who voted against the

. *(1793–1795) Elected Member ( Anti-Administration), Pennsylvania's at-large district,

**Served in the

3rd United States Congress The 3rd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Penn ...

**Voted in favor of the

Slave Trade Act of 1794 The Slave Trade Act of 1794 was a law passed by the United States Congress that prohibited American ships from engaging the international slave trade. It was signed into law by President George Washington on March 22, 1794. This was the first of ...

**Voted in favor of the Naval Act of 1794 *(1804) Elected

Elector Elector may refer to: * Prince-elector or elector, a member of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Holy Roman Emperors * Elector, a member of an electoral college ** Confederate elector, a member of ...

, Pennsylvania,

1804 United States presidential election The 1804 United States presidential election was the fifth quadrennial presidential election, held from Friday, November 2, to Wednesday, December 5, 1804. Incumbent Democratic-Republican president Thomas Jefferson defeated Federalist Charles Cot ...

*(1808) Elected

, Pennsylvania,

1808 United States presidential election The 1808 United States presidential election was the sixth quadrennial presidential election, held from Friday, November 4, to Wednesday, December 7, 1808. The Democratic-Republican candidate James Madison defeated Federalist candidate Charle ...

Abolitionist

*(1756–1816) Extensively used

indentured servants Indentured servitude is a form of labor in which a person is contracted to work without salary for a specific number of years. The contract, called an "indenture", may be entered "voluntarily" for purported eventual compensation or debt repayment, ...

in lieu of slave labor on his farms, plantations, and businesses. *(1775) As a delegate a Chester County delegate to the

, voted in favor of a resolution for the

to "prohibit the future import of slaves into the Province of Pennsylvania." *(1780) As a Pennsylvania Congressman, voted in favor of

, the first law adopted by a democracy to end slavery in world history. *(1793) As a United States Congressman, Montgomery was one of seven Representatives who voted against the

. *(1794) As a United States Congressman, voted in favor of the

Legacy

* According to historian James E. Gibson, ''"The Delegates from the Pennsylvania counties'' [to the

] ''deserve equal honors with those of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, for in their own strong declaration of independence they took the same risks of English punishment as did the members of the Continental Congress."'' *The

Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument The Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument is a war memorial at Fort Greene Park, in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It commemorates more than 11,500 American prisoners of war who died in captivity aboard sixteen British prison ships during th ...

honors, among others, Montgomery's soldiers who were captured at Fort Washington. *

is considered one of the most significant military offensives in history. According to

George Otto Trevelyan Sir George Otto Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet, (20 July 1838 – 17 August 1928) was a British statesman and author. In a ministerial career stretching almost 30 years, he was most notably twice Secretary for Scotland under William Ewart Gladstone and ...

: ''"It may be doubted whether so small a number of men ever employed so short a space of time with greater and more lasting effects upon the history of the world."''

Frederick the Great Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the S ...

called them ''"the most brilliant in the world's history."'' President Coolidge called them ''"a military exploit of unparalleled brilliancy."'' *'' Turn: Washington's Spies'', season 1, episode 5 "

Epiphany Epiphany may refer to: * Epiphany (feeling), an experience of sudden and striking insight Religion * Epiphany (holiday), a Christian holiday celebrating the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ ** Epiphany season, or Epiph ...

" – depicts Montgomery's diversion preceding the Battle of Princeton * His homestead in Danville, the General William Montgomery House, was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1979 and is now a museum operated by th
Montour County Historical Society
* 151 years after William's regiment retreated across the Hudson River from Fort Washington to Fort Lee, his 3rd great-grandson,

Montgomery Case Montgomery Babcock Case (February 11, 1882 — May 7, 1953) was an American civil engineer, esteemed bridge builder, and partner of Modjeski and Masters; the oldest bridge engineering firm in the United States. He is associated with the developme ...

, erected the

George Washington Bridge The George Washington Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting Fort Lee, New Jersey, with Manhattan in New York City. The bridge is named after George Washington, the first president of the United S ...

in the same location. It was the longest main span bridge in the world upon completion, and is the busiest motor vehicle bridge in the world; transiting over one billion vehicles from 2008 to 2018.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Montgomery, William 1736 births 1816 deaths American militia generals Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania Pennsylvania state senators Pennsylvania militiamen in the American Revolution People from Chester County, Pennsylvania American abolitionists American pioneers Judges of the Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas

Early life

Patriot

Background

Political service

Military service

Pioneer

Soldier

Background

Service

Posterity

Public servant

Abolitionist

Legacy

References

Further reading

External links