Pomeroy Marker Honors Revolutionary War Patriots in Stephens City

Pomeroy Marker Dedication

Saturday November 23, 2024, 11:00 AM

Trinity Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church

810 Fairfax Street

Stephens City, Virginia 22655

Email Chip Daniel: chipdaniel1952@gmail.com

Trinity Lutheran Church is an ELCA Congregation. This means Trinity is connected to other congregations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [ELCA].

To this end, the ELCA is comprised of 65 synods (geographical locations) and nearly 10,000 congregations. Trinity is a member of the Virginia Synod. Adjacent synods include Metropolitan D.C.; North Carolina; West Virginia-Western Maryland.

On November 23, 2024, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) held a moving dedication ceremony at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stephens City, Virginia. The event commemorated the installation of a William G. Pomeroy Foundation roadside marker, recognizing the burial site of Revolutionary War patriots.

Their names of the Revolutionary War veterans buried in the cemetery on Mulberry Street are as follows:

John Nicholas DeLong (b. July 19, 1756; d. February 21, 1823)

John Nicholas DeLong was born July 19, 1756, at Bowers, Berks, Pennsylvania, the son of Johannes Delong and Maria Katherina Dussinger. He married Elizabeth Margaret Goose around 1778. He was listed in the census of Frederick County in 1782 and was taxed in Winchester in 1785. He and Elizabeth had 10 children. John Nicholas served as a Private in Captain Smeck’s 5th Company, 2nd Battalion, Berks County Militia, Pennsylvania. He died Feb 21, 1823.

Jacob Kline (b. August 23, 1736; d. August 27, 1816)

Jacob Kline was born August 23, 1736, in Zweibrucken, Germany. He was the son of Nickolaus Klein and Maria Eva Klein. He came to this country when he was sixteen-years-old with his parents and settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1759, he married Anna Eva Dyusong in Lancaster. In 1764, they joined several other families and moved to Frederick County, Virginia, where he was a farmer. In 1773 he bought a farm on Spring Run, and with Eva had 11 children. Eva died in 1815 followed by Jacob who died on August 27, 1816. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a Private in the German Regiment of the Continental Forces.

John Krider Jr. (b. 1754; d. 1814)

John Krider, Jr. was born 1754 and died 1814. He was married to Mary Krider and served as a Private in the German Battalion.

John Krim (b. October 1755; d. April 19, 1840)

John Grim/Krim was born October 1755 and died April 19, 1840. He was married to Juliana Mainzer. In 1776, he volunteered as a rifleman in Andrew Bare’s Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He fought in the Battles of Staten Island, Trenton and Fort Washington. He was among the troops who marched captured Hessians from Trenton to Philadelphia. He then joined the “Flying Camp”, a unit created to reinforce the Continental Army on an emergency or temporary basis. He lived in Rockingham County until finally settling in Frederick County around 1811.

Nicholas Samsell (b. May 2, 1749; d. November 4, 1817).

Nicholas Samsel was born May 2, 1749, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, as the son of Johann Paul Samsel and Catharina Borm. He married Anna Elizabeth Ott, August 26, 1770, in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of nine children. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a Private in the 7th Company, 2nd Battalion of the Northampton County, Pennsylvania Militia. At some point after the end of the war, he migrated to Frederick County, Virginia. Nicholas died in Frederick on November 4, 1817, followed by Anne in 1827.

On a crisp, breezy autumn day, 36 participants gathered for the event. Dale Corey served as emcee, with opening ceremonies led by Reverend James Simmons, who gave the invocation. The Virginia State SAR Color Guard presented the colors, followed by Marshall DeHaven leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Philip Hunter reciting the SAR Pledge.

Marc Robinson and Reverend Simmons led the dedication, joined by Pastor Janice M. Lowden of Trinity Lutheran Church. Sean Carrigan and Richard Tyler assisted in unveiling the new marker. The Virginia State SAR Color Guard stood as sentinels throughout the event, adding dignity to the proceedings.

Establishing the Pomeroy Foundation

The mission began in 2005 when Founder and Trustee Bill Pomeroy was fighting Acute Myeloid Leukemia and his survival was in doubt. Fortunately, he was matched with a donor and received a lifesaving stem cell transplant.

Bill felt that, should he survive, he would help others in a similar situation. The idea became the genesis for the Foundation’s first initiative: to diversify the bone marrow donor registry so that anyone, from any ethnic background, can find a matched donor. They have many incredible partners who are involved in advancing this lifesaving work.

The second initiative is helping people to celebrate their community’s history. The foundation meets this by providing grants to obtain signage in the form of roadside markers and plaques. Since 2005, they have funded more than 2,400 signs across the United States, all the way to Alaska. The foundation has grown to offer six signature marker grant programs in addition to marker programs funded through partnerships with non-profit, municipal and academic organizations.

About Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and Colonel James Wood, II Chapter.

SAR was founded in 1889, the year marking the 100th anniversary of George Washington taking the oath of office of the President of the United States. On June 9, 1906, established by an act of Congress, the charter was signed by SAR Compatriot President Theodore Roosevelt.

Chartered in 2007, the Colonel James Wood, II Chapter has grown into one of the best chapters in the Commonwealth of Virginia, being named best chapter 11 times in 15 years and receiving numerous awards. Based in the Northern Shenandoah Valley, the Chapter covers a five-county area of Frederick, Clarke, Page, Warren and Shenandoah Counties plus the City of Winchester.

The chapter continually supports the purposes of the SAR which are patriotic, historical and educational. They strive to ensure that the patriots who gave us the United States of America are not forgotten; to promote patriotism in support of our country and its modern-day heroes and; to support teaching the history and values of the American Revolution and our constitutional freedoms.