One of at least 6 sons born to John & Elizabeth Alexander Sommerville of Granshagh, near Londonderry, in the north of Ireland. It is not known how many children remained in Ireland, but 5 sons came to America over a period of years. Wm. arrived in Baltimore in 1773 on the ship Prince of Wales. He was 17. He was in the company of his elder brother Joseph. The brothers made their way to Chambersburg, Pa. where Joseph's family lived. Their brother George lived there as well and had owned property from 1767.
On the 8th of August 1776 William enlisted as a 1st sergeant in McCay's battalion which became the 8th Penna. Rgmt. of the Continental Line within 3 weeks of its' formation. Initially they were intended for defense of the frontier along the Ohio River.
Almost immediately, William fell ill, not an uncommon occurrence. He spent some months recuperating from thyphoid in Kittaning, Pa. He lost his rank from this pause in service. When he returned to duty, he was assigned to the quartermaster's dept. The 8th Pa was ordered east to join the main army in New Jersey. This was disconcerting for men who enlisted to defend their own families and farms on the frontier. Reluctantly they headed east over the mountains - a trip of 500 miles - through the snow. They arrived in January missing the Battle of Trenton. Armed only with their own hunting rifles, having no uniforms and foraging for food along the way, they arrived exhausted from the 500 mile trek. These men were in no condition to fight when they arrived.
The 8th wintered at Valley Forge and participated in a number of well known battles in the east. Finally, they were reassigned to the Western Dept. William was stationed at Ft. Laurens and Ft. M'Intosh and Ft. Pitt.
In October of 1778 William was appointed Conductor of Artillery and Commissary of military stores for the Western Dept under Col. Chevalier de Cambry. On Dec. 22, 1778 William was elevated to the rank of Lieut. per the orderly book.This was a warrent appointment. He was mustered out on the 20th of January, 1781 when the 8th was merged with the 2nd Penna.and disbanded. Like many of the other men, William immediately joined the Virginia militia assigned to General George Rogers Clark and continued to fight the British & Indians on the frontier.
Wm. makes several references to an injury to the upper part of his left arm in 1784 which made some physical labor close to impossible. At that point, he abandoned the military life and became a merchant.
One year after working as a clerk in Baltimore, William can be found living in White Post, Va., again near his brother George who taught school there. Wm is mentioned in a history of The White Post on the Fairfax estate.
In 1786 Wm settled his accounts with the Board of War in NY. In 1788 he received his "final settlement certificates" from Col. David Hunter in Richmond, Virginia. He sold these for 1/2 their value in Baltimore in June of 1791 to the Andrew Kennedy Co. for mercantile supplies.
By 1794 William was living in Martinsburg, Va. He bought out his brother Joseph who used the money for yet another a new start farther west in Harrison Co. In April of 1802 William was appointed Postmaster during the administration of Thomas Jefferson. In 1808 at the age of 52 Wm married Margaret Brown of Charles Town and became the father of 5 children. Wm kept a diary all of his life. The last known remnant covering the period of 1810 -12 can be found in the special collection at the University of West Va. It is an interesting snapshot of life in Martinsburg during those years. There are comments about the nation's birthday and what little regard there seemed to be for something that had come at such a high price, William's fear and excitement when the revolution had started, another fast approaching war with England, the divorce of Napoleon and many other observations of both local and world events.
William owned books, was well read and an avid reader of the newspapers that passed through the post office. He also cultivated and traded Irish daisies. He felt himself to be Irish but did not identify with the religious politics of Londonderry. He had his 1st child baptized by the Catholic priest because the Presbyterian minister would not come to his home to do it.
William maintained contact with army comrades. The 8th Penna. Rgmt had been mustered out in the Martinsburg area, many of it's members settled there. One of those was Col. John Morrow. But William also corresponded with a wide range of people who lived all over. He also corresponded with 2 Sommerville nephews, John and Robert M. Both of whom hold their own place in the new nation's history.
On the 8th of August 1776 William enlisted as a 1st sergeant in McCay's battalion which became the 8th Penna. Rgmt. of the Continental Line within 3 weeks of its' formation. Initially they were intended for defense of the frontier along the Ohio River.
Almost immediately, William fell ill, not an uncommon occurrence. He spent some months recuperating from thyphoid in Kittaning, Pa. He lost his rank from this pause in service. When he returned to duty, he was assigned to the quartermaster's dept. The 8th Pa was ordered east to join the main army in New Jersey. This was disconcerting for men who enlisted to defend their own families and farms on the frontier. Reluctantly they headed east over the mountains - a trip of 500 miles - through the snow. They arrived in January missing the Battle of Trenton. Armed only with their own hunting rifles, having no uniforms and foraging for food along the way, they arrived exhausted from the 500 mile trek. These men were in no condition to fight when they arrived.
The 8th wintered at Valley Forge and participated in a number of well known battles in the east. Finally, they were reassigned to the Western Dept. William was stationed at Ft. Laurens and Ft. M'Intosh and Ft. Pitt.
In October of 1778 William was appointed Conductor of Artillery and Commissary of military stores for the Western Dept under Col. Chevalier de Cambry. On Dec. 22, 1778 William was elevated to the rank of Lieut. per the orderly book.This was a warrent appointment. He was mustered out on the 20th of January, 1781 when the 8th was merged with the 2nd Penna.and disbanded. Like many of the other men, William immediately joined the Virginia militia assigned to General George Rogers Clark and continued to fight the British & Indians on the frontier.
Wm. makes several references to an injury to the upper part of his left arm in 1784 which made some physical labor close to impossible. At that point, he abandoned the military life and became a merchant.
One year after working as a clerk in Baltimore, William can be found living in White Post, Va., again near his brother George who taught school there. Wm is mentioned in a history of The White Post on the Fairfax estate.
In 1786 Wm settled his accounts with the Board of War in NY. In 1788 he received his "final settlement certificates" from Col. David Hunter in Richmond, Virginia. He sold these for 1/2 their value in Baltimore in June of 1791 to the Andrew Kennedy Co. for mercantile supplies.
By 1794 William was living in Martinsburg, Va. He bought out his brother Joseph who used the money for yet another a new start farther west in Harrison Co. In April of 1802 William was appointed Postmaster during the administration of Thomas Jefferson. In 1808 at the age of 52 Wm married Margaret Brown of Charles Town and became the father of 5 children. Wm kept a diary all of his life. The last known remnant covering the period of 1810 -12 can be found in the special collection at the University of West Va. It is an interesting snapshot of life in Martinsburg during those years. There are comments about the nation's birthday and what little regard there seemed to be for something that had come at such a high price, William's fear and excitement when the revolution had started, another fast approaching war with England, the divorce of Napoleon and many other observations of both local and world events.
William owned books, was well read and an avid reader of the newspapers that passed through the post office. He also cultivated and traded Irish daisies. He felt himself to be Irish but did not identify with the religious politics of Londonderry. He had his 1st child baptized by the Catholic priest because the Presbyterian minister would not come to his home to do it.
William maintained contact with army comrades. The 8th Penna. Rgmt had been mustered out in the Martinsburg area, many of it's members settled there. One of those was Col. John Morrow. But William also corresponded with a wide range of people who lived all over. He also corresponded with 2 Sommerville nephews, John and Robert M. Both of whom hold their own place in the new nation's history.
One of at least 6 sons born to John & Elizabeth Alexander Sommerville of Granshagh, near Londonderry, in the north of Ireland. It is not known how many children remained in Ireland, but 5 sons came to America over a period of years. Wm. arrived in Baltimore in 1773 on the ship Prince of Wales. He was 17. He was in the company of his elder brother Joseph. The brothers made their way to Chambersburg, Pa. where Joseph's family lived. Their brother George lived there as well and had owned property from 1767.
On the 8th of August 1776 William enlisted as a 1st sergeant in McCay's battalion which became the 8th Penna. Rgmt. of the Continental Line within 3 weeks of its' formation. Initially they were intended for defense of the frontier along the Ohio River.
Almost immediately, William fell ill, not an uncommon occurrence. He spent some months recuperating from thyphoid in Kittaning, Pa. He lost his rank from this pause in service. When he returned to duty, he was assigned to the quartermaster's dept. The 8th Pa was ordered east to join the main army in New Jersey. This was disconcerting for men who enlisted to defend their own families and farms on the frontier. Reluctantly they headed east over the mountains - a trip of 500 miles - through the snow. They arrived in January missing the Battle of Trenton. Armed only with their own hunting rifles, having no uniforms and foraging for food along the way, they arrived exhausted from the 500 mile trek. These men were in no condition to fight when they arrived.
The 8th wintered at Valley Forge and participated in a number of well known battles in the east. Finally, they were reassigned to the Western Dept. William was stationed at Ft. Laurens and Ft. M'Intosh and Ft. Pitt.
In October of 1778 William was appointed Conductor of Artillery and Commissary of military stores for the Western Dept under Col. Chevalier de Cambry. On Dec. 22, 1778 William was elevated to the rank of Lieut. per the orderly book.This was a warrent appointment. He was mustered out on the 20th of January, 1781 when the 8th was merged with the 2nd Penna.and disbanded. Like many of the other men, William immediately joined the Virginia militia assigned to General George Rogers Clark and continued to fight the British & Indians on the frontier.
Wm. makes several references to an injury to the upper part of his left arm in 1784 which made some physical labor close to impossible. At that point, he abandoned the military life and became a merchant.
One year after working as a clerk in Baltimore, William can be found living in White Post, Va., again near his brother George who taught school there. Wm is mentioned in a history of The White Post on the Fairfax estate.
In 1786 Wm settled his accounts with the Board of War in NY. In 1788 he received his "final settlement certificates" from Col. David Hunter in Richmond, Virginia. He sold these for 1/2 their value in Baltimore in June of 1791 to the Andrew Kennedy Co. for mercantile supplies.
By 1794 William was living in Martinsburg, Va. He bought out his brother Joseph who used the money for yet another a new start farther west in Harrison Co. In April of 1802 William was appointed Postmaster during the administration of Thomas Jefferson. In 1808 at the age of 52 Wm married Margaret Brown of Charles Town and became the father of 5 children. Wm kept a diary all of his life. The last known remnant covering the period of 1810 -12 can be found in the special collection at the University of West Va. It is an interesting snapshot of life in Martinsburg during those years. There are comments about the nation's birthday and what little regard there seemed to be for something that had come at such a high price, William's fear and excitement when the revolution had started, another fast approaching war with England, the divorce of Napoleon and many other observations of both local and world events.
William owned books, was well read and an avid reader of the newspapers that passed through the post office. He also cultivated and traded Irish daisies. He felt himself to be Irish but did not identify with the religious politics of Londonderry. He had his 1st child baptized by the Catholic priest because the Presbyterian minister would not come to his home to do it.
William maintained contact with army comrades. The 8th Penna. Rgmt had been mustered out in the Martinsburg area, many of it's members settled there. One of those was Col. John Morrow. But William also corresponded with a wide range of people who lived all over. He also corresponded with 2 Sommerville nephews, John and Robert M. Both of whom hold their own place in the new nation's history.
On the 8th of August 1776 William enlisted as a 1st sergeant in McCay's battalion which became the 8th Penna. Rgmt. of the Continental Line within 3 weeks of its' formation. Initially they were intended for defense of the frontier along the Ohio River.
Almost immediately, William fell ill, not an uncommon occurrence. He spent some months recuperating from thyphoid in Kittaning, Pa. He lost his rank from this pause in service. When he returned to duty, he was assigned to the quartermaster's dept. The 8th Pa was ordered east to join the main army in New Jersey. This was disconcerting for men who enlisted to defend their own families and farms on the frontier. Reluctantly they headed east over the mountains - a trip of 500 miles - through the snow. They arrived in January missing the Battle of Trenton. Armed only with their own hunting rifles, having no uniforms and foraging for food along the way, they arrived exhausted from the 500 mile trek. These men were in no condition to fight when they arrived.
The 8th wintered at Valley Forge and participated in a number of well known battles in the east. Finally, they were reassigned to the Western Dept. William was stationed at Ft. Laurens and Ft. M'Intosh and Ft. Pitt.
In October of 1778 William was appointed Conductor of Artillery and Commissary of military stores for the Western Dept under Col. Chevalier de Cambry. On Dec. 22, 1778 William was elevated to the rank of Lieut. per the orderly book.This was a warrent appointment. He was mustered out on the 20th of January, 1781 when the 8th was merged with the 2nd Penna.and disbanded. Like many of the other men, William immediately joined the Virginia militia assigned to General George Rogers Clark and continued to fight the British & Indians on the frontier.
Wm. makes several references to an injury to the upper part of his left arm in 1784 which made some physical labor close to impossible. At that point, he abandoned the military life and became a merchant.
One year after working as a clerk in Baltimore, William can be found living in White Post, Va., again near his brother George who taught school there. Wm is mentioned in a history of The White Post on the Fairfax estate.
In 1786 Wm settled his accounts with the Board of War in NY. In 1788 he received his "final settlement certificates" from Col. David Hunter in Richmond, Virginia. He sold these for 1/2 their value in Baltimore in June of 1791 to the Andrew Kennedy Co. for mercantile supplies.
By 1794 William was living in Martinsburg, Va. He bought out his brother Joseph who used the money for yet another a new start farther west in Harrison Co. In April of 1802 William was appointed Postmaster during the administration of Thomas Jefferson. In 1808 at the age of 52 Wm married Margaret Brown of Charles Town and became the father of 5 children. Wm kept a diary all of his life. The last known remnant covering the period of 1810 -12 can be found in the special collection at the University of West Va. It is an interesting snapshot of life in Martinsburg during those years. There are comments about the nation's birthday and what little regard there seemed to be for something that had come at such a high price, William's fear and excitement when the revolution had started, another fast approaching war with England, the divorce of Napoleon and many other observations of both local and world events.
William owned books, was well read and an avid reader of the newspapers that passed through the post office. He also cultivated and traded Irish daisies. He felt himself to be Irish but did not identify with the religious politics of Londonderry. He had his 1st child baptized by the Catholic priest because the Presbyterian minister would not come to his home to do it.
William maintained contact with army comrades. The 8th Penna. Rgmt had been mustered out in the Martinsburg area, many of it's members settled there. One of those was Col. John Morrow. But William also corresponded with a wide range of people who lived all over. He also corresponded with 2 Sommerville nephews, John and Robert M. Both of whom hold their own place in the new nation's history.
Gravesite Details
old ground with no marker
Family Members
Siblings
