From News 5 WLWT.com: UC Students Hope To Find Revolutionary War Hero's Grave
CINCINNATI -- Many of those walking or riding along the bike trail near Lunken Airport likely have no idea that they are going right past the grave site of one of America's greatest war heroes.
For people cruising by, the only way to get a handle on the history here is with a little sign along the trail.
But archaeology students from the University of Cincinnati were working Monday to shine a light on the past.
Somewhere in this graveyard lies Sgt. William Brown, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Wounded, he was given what would someday become the Purple Heart, stitched by Martha Washington.
Images: Search For Lost War Hero
"He was injured while trying to save many others, as a result, he was awarded the Medal of Merit,” Dr. Ken Tankersley said.
The students had some hi-tech tools, like ground penetrating radar to help as they try to map this graveyard, but it's a difficult bit of detective work to piece together the past like so many shattered headstones.
“They look at historical documents from the time period, documents that have gone along with the property, and more importantly, the physical evidence that they're getting today," Paul Muller said.
Newer tombstones are here for other Revolutionary War veterans, but no one knows exactly where these men are buried either.
After more than 200 years of time and neglect, students said honoring Brown is something that's way overdue.
“If we can, find where he's located and make sure that the site is protected,” Mark Gerken said.
Identifying all the graves in this graveyard is one challenge, which will be followed by a separate challenge -- getting people to stop and recognize their significance in Cincinnati and American history.
According to Wikipedia:
William Brown (1759–1808)[1] was a soldier for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Stamford and enlisted in the 5th Connecticut Regiment as a corporal on 23 May 1775, and re-enlisted as a private on 9 April 1777, for the duration of the war in the 8th Connecticut Regiment. He was promoted to corporal on 8 May 1779, and to sergeant on 1 August 1780, transferring with the consolidation of units to the 5th Connecticut Regiment on 1 January 1781, and to the 2nd Connecticut Regiment on 1 January 1783. He was awarded the Badge of Military Merit, one of only three people to be awarded the medal that later became the Purple Heart. No record of his citation has been uncovered, but it is believed that he participated in the assault on Redoubt No. 10 during the siege of Yorktown.
After the war he moved west to a newly developed river town called Cincinnati, Ohio. He lived out his days there, his original tombstone was lost to time; possibly stolen or destroyed. On 24 July 2004, at a cemetery across the street from what is known as Lunken Airport, a new tombstone was laid out in remembrance to Sgt. William Brown.
