Under the crunch of fresh fallen leaves, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Ohio residents alike gathered in Maple Grave Cemetery on Oct. 3 circling Elijah Bryan, a revolutionary war veteran who died nearly 200 years ago in Granville.
Last year, the Hocking Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution honored all 23 known Revolutionary War veterans buried in Old Colony Burying Ground.
This year, they gathered again to honor an additional two Revolutionary War veterans buried in Granville, this time in Maple Grove Cemetery.
“We gather today for a purpose both simple and profound: to remember,” said keynote speaker Major General Matthew S. Woodruff, Ohio Army National Guard. A graver marker is “a public promise that a life will not be forgotten,” he said.
Bob Hill, from Columbus, said during his greeting in the ceremony that he is always filled with hope and inspired when he comes to Granville. He referenced the dedication in the Old Colony Burying Ground last summer, and Granville’s memorial day parade.
“I’m always amazed at the turnout, at the audience, and it’s really sincere and heartfelt. It’s always a wonderful ceremony,” Hill said.
The two patriots honored on Oct. 3 were Pvt. Elijah Bryan and Sgt. Eliphaz Wright. Bryan was a recipient of George Washington’s Badge of Military Merit, one of the rarest honors of the Revolutionary War. Only 11 soldiers received the original Badge of Military Merit. The award was later given as the purple heart.
The ceremony included speeches from Granville Mayor Melissa Hartfield, Hocking Valley SAR chapter President Steve Conrad, first vice president of the Ohio Society SAR Bob Hill, Vice Regent of the DAR Ohio Society Debby Kocsis, Ohio Rep. Thad Claggett (R-Newark) and keynote speaker Major General Woodruff, as well as a wreath presentation and a three-volley musket salute at the end.
Sgt. Eliphaz Wright was born in 1750 in Massachusetts, and died in Granville in 1813 after serving in the eighth Massachusetts regiment during the American Revolution. 
Pvt. Elijah Bryan was born in 1760 in Connecticut, and died in 1844 in Granville after serving in the third Connecticut regiment during the American Revolution. 
Ohio Rep. Thad Claggett addressed the crowd during the ceremony at Maple Grove Cemetery. 
Members of the SAR stand during the Pledge of Allegiance. 
The attendees formed a wide circle around Private Elijah Bryan’s grave for the event. 
Members of the SAR listen to the playing of Taps, a bugle call that signifies a final farewell and honor for a fallen service member. 
Representatives from Granville’s American Legion Post 398 placed wreaths on the graves of two Revolutionary War veterans buried in Maple Grove Cemetery. 
Representatives from Granville’s American Legion Post 398 placed wreaths on the graves of two Revolutionary War veterans buried in Maple Grove Cemetery. 
Don Miller stands with his musket during the grave marking ceremony. 
Members of the SAR performed a three-volley musket salute. 
Members of the SAR performed a three-volley musket salute. 
Members of the SAR performed a three-volley musket salute. 
Members of the SAR prepare for the first of a three-volley musket salute.
“What a glorious day here in the state of Ohio,” Hartfield said. “I was walking up along here with Thad Claggett today just thinking, here we are in the middle of the United States and what a wonderful state. We have so many great things that go on here and today is just showing off its beauty.”
Eliphaz Wright was born in 1750 in Massachusetts, and died in Granville in 1813. He enlisted in April 1775 as a private. He later served as a sergeant in the eighth Massachusetts regiment, according to historian Tom Hankins’ speech during the ceremony.
Elijah Bryan was born in 1760 in Connecticut, and died in 1844 in Granville. He enlisted in April 1777 in the third Connecticut regiment as a private and served until the end of the war, according to Hankins.
Hill, the first vice president of the Ohio Society SAR, attended and spoke at the event. He will be the president next year.
Hill shared he has always wondered why his family was from Ohio. He later found out it was because of ties to the Revolutionary War.
“We’re here because of the Revolutionary War. It all made sense after that,” Hill said.
He is passionate about educating the next generation about early American history. Next year as president, he wants to emphasize education even more.
“History is just as important as all the other subjects a kid will learn. Every kid must have a knowledge of their country’s history, understand how it came to be, understand the good and the bad of it, not just the bad,” Hill said.
According to Hill, there are around 8,000 Revolutionary War veterans buried in Ohio. Once they figure out where they are buried, the SAR likes to honor them.
In his speech, keynote speaker Woodruff said, “historical memory does not preserve itself.” He thanked the members of the SAR that put research time and effort into identifying the Revolutionary War veterans and their burial places.
Hankins, historian for Hocking Valley chapter of the SAR and organizer of the event, does much of the research to find and identify Revolutionary War veterans’ burial places.
He works with databases, old books and grave plot maps to determine who is buried in what cemeteries. Once he finds them, he has to prove they are actually a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He uses the National Archives to determine this.
Between Granville and the other counties, he said he likely put over 800 hours into this research – though that’s likely a conservative estimate he added.
Hankins also helped to research all 8,216 known patriots in Ohio – and he personally identified many of them through extensive research. He personally contributed the verification of over 5,600 names to this project. Others identified in the project, though, are still lost: Hankins said they are buried in Ohio, but they do not know where their graves are.
Some of that 8,216, however, according to Hankins, they know they are buried in Ohio and know they were patriots, but they do not know where their graves are.
Hankin’s first grave marking ceremony was in 2013. This was his last, he said. At 78, he is shifting his focus more towards the Ohio Revolutionary Graves Project.
Hankins also said, this is the last one in Granville.
“Unless you find that one patriot,” Hill chimed in. “We think there’s one more patriot in the Old Colony.”
But, they have yet to gather evidence to prove it.
Ella Diehl writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.