Revolutionary War Veteran Who Served Under George Washington Now Part Of Long Valley Group

LONG VALLEY, NJ — A lifetime Washington Township resident has recently been recognized for his service to the country close to 250 years later, for his part in the American Revolution.

The American Veterans Association of Washington Township Post 1776 gave an honorary membership to Daniel Swayze, who served as a Minuteman in New Jersey including under then-General George Washington, who later became the first President of the United States.

“As Post 1776 it is fitting that we add a Minuteman to our roster of members who served over the course of the Revolutionary War and who served with George Washington, after whom our township is named,” said Post Commander Thomas V. McBride.

“Daniel lived his entire life here, raised his family here and proudly served the cause of freedom,” McBride added.

According to information provided by Post 1776 in a news release, Swayze was born in the township on Oct. 18, 1756, with New Jersey Historical Society records having an interview with one soldier, Ephraim Carnes, who told interviewers that he saw Swayze, “I believe, every year of the war,” according to abstracts chronicled for the time period between 1776 and 1780.

Some of those records indicate Swayze enlisted under “a Captain Budd for a period of three months and later was with Washington during his withdrawal through New Jersey in 1776.”

The marker by his headstone shows Swayze served during the American Revolution between 1775 and 1783.

John Krayniak, the post’s vice commander said that over that period of eight years, in between his times of service, Swayze lived within Washington Township, where he married and he and his wife had three children. The final resting places for Swayze and his family members are within the township.

Swayze was 86 when he passed away on Aug. 27, 1843 and is buried in the township’s Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Churchyard.

“We are indebted to Daniel Swayze who served at the birth of our country and to all veterans who have served since,” Krayniak said.

For more information about AVAWT Post 1776, a group of military veterans that meets regularly in Long Valley the second Tuesday of every month, speaks to local students about their military experiences and helps residents in need, visit www.avawt.org.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.