George Dorrance

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Husband George Dorrance ¹

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           Born: 4 Mar 1736 2
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         Father: Rev. Samuel Dorrance (1685-1775) 1
         Mother: Elizabeth Smith (      -1750) 1

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       Marriage: 

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Wife

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Children

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1 M Robert Dorrance ²

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           Died: 4 Nov 1791 2
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2 M Benjamin Dorrance ²

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           Born: 1767 - Plainfield, Windham Co, CT 2
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           Died: 24 Aug 1837 2
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         Spouse: Nancy Buckingham (      -      ) 2

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3 M Gershom Dorrance ²

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General Notes: Husband - George Dorrance

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"The Wyoming of bloody record was mainly settled by emigrants from Connecticut, and the region known as such constituted a county under home jurisdiction to which the name Westmoreland was given, as describing its relation to the mother Colony; as Connecticut under its charter from King Charles, extended from Narragansett Bay, on the east, to the Pacific Ocean, on the west, this Wyoming region, being embraced within its boundaries, was then considered as being an integral part of its territory. The first attempt of the Connecticut people to establish a permanent settlement was made in 1762, by the holders of what was called shares in the Susquehanna Land Company's purchase from the Six Tribes, or Nations, of the Iroquois." Nothing came of this attempt "as, during the following year, after twenty of their number had been murdered by the savages, the remainder were forced to abandon their rude huts at the mouth of Mill Creek, and return to their friends in the East, baffled but not defeated." In February, 1769, "another advance detachment of forty emigrants from Connecticut, representing the Susquehanna Land Company, arrived in the Valley," and after a bloodless fight with the Pennsylvanian claimants of the lands temporarily abandoned by the first party, settled down to a not altogether peaceful occupation of the lovely and fertile territory. Of this party, or those closely following it, were John and George Dorrance, sons of the Rev. Samuel Dorrance of Voluntown.

He became a Lieutenant-Colonel of the Militia in Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and was one of the principal officers under Colonel Butler in the operations against the British and their native allies at that point. In the battle of Wyoming, fought July 3, 1778, he took a leading part, and distinguished himself by his bravery in the face of the enemy's fire. While riding along the line, gallantly attempting to rally his men in a fatal moment of confusion occasioned by their misconception of an order given by Col. Denison, who was in chief command on the left wing, he fell, severely wounded, and was taken prisoner. The following day he was brutally slain by his captors. As he was the highest in rank of the victims of this terrible slaughter, which cost the colony of Connecticut no less than five hundred lives, his name leads those inscribed upon the obelisk reared in the Valley, in 1843, by the descendents of the slain, in commemoration of their courage and patriotism.

He was twice married. His two children by his first wife were daughters. The three by his second wife were sons.

1 —, Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. I (New York: Atlantic Publishing & Engraving Co., 1889), Pg 253.

2 —, Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. I (New York: Atlantic Publishing & Engraving Co., 1889), Pg 254.