Revolutionary War
Last updated 21 June 2026
Revolutionary War Veterans Buried in Washington County
Timothy BrownMany newspapers and early writings state that Timothy Brown was the only Revolutionary soldier buried in Washington County, but Samuel Lewis died near Brighton in 1851. Timothy Brown was born in 1762, in New Jersey. He joined the Revolution in 1778 and served under captains Henry Luse, William Holmes, and Richard Cox in the New Jersey regiment of the Continental Army. Under the command of Richard Cox, Timothy Brown was at the Battle of Yorktown, where General Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington, ultimately ending the Revolutionary War. Timothy was also at the Battle of Springfield and Monmouth. During his service, Timothy received an injury to his leg from scaling a wall and a gunshot wound to the hip.
After the war, Timothy married Sarah “Sally” Martin in 1788. They had one child, a daughter named Nancy. Timothy received a pension and land grants for his service, which led him to Indiana and Iowa. Sarah Martin Brown died in April 1832 in Indiana. In November of that year, Timothy married Linderann Martin.
Linderann died in September of 1838, in Indiana also. Timothy moved to Iowa in 1848 following his daughter and grandchildren. He died in Washington County in 1852. Timothy and Sarah’s daughter Nancy married E. A. Oliver and had nine children. Those children have many descendants living in Washington County, Iowa, and throughout the United States.
In 1903, 122 years after Yorktown, Timothy Brown was moved from Todd Cemetery to Soldiers Circle at Elm Grove Cemetery, in the city of Washington. Money was raised by multiple associations dedicated to the memory of Timothy Brown, and by citizens of Washington for the statue that stands on his grave. The Statue was placed in 1907 and dedicated on Decoration Day, now known as Memorial day, 1908.
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Narrative and photograph provided by Heather Wells.
Samuel Lewis
Samuel Lewis is one of two Revolutionary War Patriots buried in Washington County. The other patriot is Timothy Brown. Samuel was born in Caroline County, Virginia on September 17, 1766. The National Archives has no pension record for Sameul Lewis. There are three men of that name appearing on the muster rolls of the 3rd and 5th Virginia Regiments. The one which may apply is Samuel Lewis who enlisted as a private for three years in December 1778 in the Regiment of Colonel William Heth and in Captain John Anderson’s Company, 3rd Viriginia Regiment of Foot, commanded by Colonel John Nevill. The Muster Roll shows service in New York and New Jersey.
After the war he married Cassander Le Sure (Leisure) and had six children. Samuel and his growing family moved to Botetourt County, Virginia before 1800 and in 1800 left for Garrard County, Kentucky. In 1822 the family left Garrard County for Decatur County, Indiana.
In 1845 Samuel and Cassander moved to Washington County, Iowa, near Brighton. Their sons William, John, and James also came to Iowa, William chose to also make Washington County his home. Although Samuel has many descendants, I have not been able to confirm that any of them still reside in Washington County.
Samuel and Cassander have a white tablet grave marker in Hillcrest Cemetery. Next to that marker is a large stone with a memorial plaque the Washington Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed in 1957.
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Narrative and photograph provided by Heather Wells.
Daughters of the American Revolution
Washington Chapter of DAR Website
Washington Co. Home
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