SONS OF REVOLUTION HONOR DEAD SOLDIERS

POCAHONTAS, Mo. -- Few people standing amid the graves at Apple Creek Presbyterian Cemetery knew of John Gilliland, but they were certainly proud of what he accomplished.

About 35 people attended a ceremony Sunday afternoon to honor Gilliland for his service as a soldier in the American Revolution. He is one of four Revolutionary War soldiers buried in the cemetery.

"We are reminded of the consequences of his service that made for one nation under God and liberty and justice for all," Tom Giles said in a prayer. Giles is a member of American Legion Post 63 in Cape Girardeau.

The service was presented by the Allen Laws Oliver Chapter of the Missouri Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. It also included representatives of Post 63 and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Gilliland was a native of North Carolina who joined the militia at age 16 when he signed an oath of loyalty to the colonies. Born in 1763, he is only known to have fought at one battle during the war -- although there could have been others. That battle, at King's Mountain on the border between North Carolina and South Carolina, was a turning point in the war of the south. After that battle, at which the British loyalists were defeated, Gen. Cornwallis retreated to Virginia.

Gilliland died June 23, 1829, near Pocahontas.

Richard Hofer, state president of the Sons of American Revolution, said, "We need to honor our ancestors whenever and wherever we can."

He had an ancestor who fought at the Battle of King's Mountain. He commended the local chapter for locating graves and holding services honoring the Revolutionary War soldiers.

Gilliland "was directly responsible for the liberty and freedom that we enjoy today," said Burt Lehman of the American Legion. "His cause was just and Old Glory still flies over the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Lehman presented the SAR members with a flag the American Legion had purchased after finding it at a secondhand store.

Many participants remarked that it was fitting to honor a Revolutionary War soldier on July 2 because that was actually the date in 1776 that the Continental Congress declared the colonies were free from British rule.

However, the United States celebrates its independence on July 4.

"This is our holiday," said Steven Pledger with the local SAR chapter. "This is it."

Pledger has researched many of the area's Revolutionary War soldiers and found their burial plots. There are 13 such soldiers known to be buried in Southeast Missouri.

Often the work is difficult because "we can't find anymore tombstones," he said. Pledger is one of 17 members in the SAR chapter.

Many of the Revolutionary War soldiers who are buried in Cape Girardeau County and other parts of Southeast Missouri migrated to the area in the 1800s. The Spanish government, which owned the land, was offering it to anyone who would settle here.

"It was actually before the Louisiana Purchase and the government was giving out free land," Pledger said. That attracted many people, including Gilliland's relatives who moved to the area and are buried in the cemetery.

Primarily the men were farmers "and had to be strong to live out here," said Wendell Miller, president of the local SAR chapter.

Revolutionary War soldiers

The following is a list of the known burial places in Southeast Missouri of soldiers who fought during the American Revolution. The list was compiled by the Allen Laws Oliver Chapter of the Missouri Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Robert Brevard, born July 17, 1763, in Iredell County, N.C., and served in the North Carolina militia. He died Jan. 2, 1847, in Jackson, Mo., and is buried in the Old Jackson City Cemetery.

Uriah Brock, born about 1759 in Virginia and served in the First Virginia Artillery Continental Line. He died Nov. 15, 1845, in Cape Girardeau and is buried in Old Lorimier Cemetery.

Thomas English, born Oct. 13, 1751, in Virginia, served in the Virginia Continental Line. He died in 1836 in Cape Girardeau and is buried in the English Family Cemetery off Bloomfield Road.

Mitchell Fleming was born 1761 and died April 16, 1837, near New Wells. He is buried in the Fleming Family Cemetery near New Wells. He received a Revolutionary War pension.

Charles Friend, born 1718 in Wales, Great Britain, and died in 1814 near Oran. He is buried in Friend Cemetery near Oran. He served as a captain during the war.

John Gilliland, born 1763 in North Carolina and died Jun 23, 1829, near Pocahontas. He served in the North Carolina State militia and is buried in Apple Creek Presbyterian Cemetery.

Christopher Hays, born 1738, was a colonel in the Pennsylvania State Militia from Westmoreland County. He died in 1808 near Fruitland and is buried in Ware Cemetery, which is now under the Interstate 55 southbound ramp at the Fruitland interchange.

Ishimer Hubble, born 1762 in Newton, Conn. He served in the New York State Militia, Albany County. He is buried in Bethel Cemetery in Jackson.

Joseph Hunter, born 1757, served in George Rodgers Clark's Virginia Regiment. He died in 1823 in Sikeston and is buried in the Hunter Family Cemetery.

John Manning was born in Maryland and died in Perry County, Mo. He is buried in the old seminary at Perryville. He served in the Third Maryland Regiment.

Alexander McLean (McClain) was born May 10, 1755, in Rowen County, N.C. He died near Pocahontas and is buried in the Apple Creek Presbyterian Cemetery. He served as a mounted rifleman in the North Carolina militia.

John Walker, born 1748 in Hampshire County, Va., also is buried in Apple Creek Presbyterian Cemetery. He served in the North Carolina militia and died Feb. 2, 1829, near Pocahontas.

Robert Yount was born in 1752 and died in 1818 near Patton. He is buried in a family cemetery near the Little Whitewater River near Patton.