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- Revolutionary War veteran finally to get military honors -- 160 years after his death
RICHFIELD TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- As a 70-something-year-old man, Nathaniel Blackmer Sr. still was trying to prove that he served in the American Revolutionary War -- even traveling to Ohio for testimony from a fellow soldier. But the soldier died before Blackmer could reach him. Now, thanks to fresh research in the Internet age, Blackmer finally will be recognized for his service to the country -- nearly 160 years after the Flint veteran's death.
The Michigan Society of Sons of the American Revolution is preparing to give Blackmer a veteran's grave marker in Richfield Township, along with full military honors for his service. Albeit two centuries after the fact. "All of his family members just felt like he didn't really get the recognition he deserved during his lifetime," said Jeff Carmean, Blackmer's fourth-great grandson, who lives in Columbiaville. "We really want to honor him and honor his memory even though it's well over 200 years after he served." Blackmer's descendants will gather at the Richfield Union Cemetery on May 3 for a ceremony honoring Blackmer, who joined the service in 1781 and died in 1850.
The late veteran never could have guessed that he would be recognized years later because of something called the Internet. "He was kind of missed by all of the researchers," said Gerald Burkland, national chairman of the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution. "The Internet turned him up." Somehow along the way, Blackmer's name was misspelled as Blackman and he wasn't recorded on any register. Only recently did research by the MSSAR show that Blackmer had never been bestowed with military honors. "I was kind of shocked," Carmean said of being contacted with the news. "I was kind of like 'what? He's been dead almost 160 years.' But apparently he had never been honored and they wanted to honor him now."
For unknown reasons, Blackmer didn't apply for pension benefits until much later in life, nearly 60 years after he had served as a teen. By then, the Massachusetts native had moved several times before reaching Michigan and no longer had certification of his military service. That's when, near the age of 80, he tried to get verification from soldiers who served alongside him. Just five years before Blackmer died at age 87, he apparently was removed from the rejected claims list and granted pension rights in Genesee Circuit Court. "It was found that his testimony was true and that he was in fact a Revolutionary soldier," said Carmean who has obtained copies of all of Blackmer's records.
Carmean, who has done research on his family's genealogy and contributed to a Web site devoted to Blackmer, said several descendants plan to attend the ceremony. That includes cousins who are making the trip from California.
"I think the main thing is this guy actually served his country," said Carmean, 53, who works at Lapeer West High School. "Even though he was in his mid to late teens when he actually served, he was out there doing his part to help found our country and free it from the British. "It just seems important to honor his memory." Descendent Vera Switalski, 82, of Flushing Township, will join cousins -- some of whom she's never met -- to honor her great-great-great-grandfather. "I was really surprised," she said. "But I think it's a great idea to remember someone who had really been forgotten about."
Blackmer served as a private in the Continental Line during the Revolutionary War. He ended up living on a farm in Richfield Township with wife Aurilla, Carmean said. He is believed to be buried in the Richfield Union Cemetery where his son Nathaniel Blackmer Jr. is buried. But there are no markers or records to prove it.
The May ceremony will include full military honors, including a rifle salute, by the American Legion. Nearly 35 honoring color guards, some in full Continental uniforms, will also attend. "We wouldn't have our country if these people didn't make these sacrifices to help form our country," said NSSAR's Burkland. "If we can find them, we feel like we owe them this honor."
Nathaniel Blackmer Sr. Extras
• 1763: Born in what's now known as Warren, Mass.
• 1781: Began his Revolutionary War service
• 1838: Moved to Genesee County
• 1839: Made trip to Columbus, Ohio in a failed attempt to verify his war service through a fellow soldier who he learned had died.
• 1840: Bought property in Flint.
• 1843 and 1845: Filed an affidavit in Flint to try to secure his earned pension.
• 1850: Lived in Richfield Township with wife Aurilla.
• Died: Sometime after September 1850. Overdue recognition
By Julie Morrison | Flint Journal March 31, 2009
RICHFIELD TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Jeffery Carmean, family historian and genealogist, gave this historical view of the life of Nathaniel Blackmer at the grave rededication May 3 of his great, great, great, great grandfather.
Nathaniel Blackmer was born in what is now Warren, Mass., on Aug. 1, 1763, to Solomon and Jenet Thompson. He was next to the youngest of four boys in the family. His father and older brothers, John and Solomon Jr., along with himself, all served as Patriots during the Revolutionary War to help form this country. They farmed land that Nathaniel's grandfather had owned.
Young Nathaniel was only 17 years old when he first served as a Patriot under Capt. Joseph Cutler, Major Reuben Reed and Colonel Stone. He and the Patriots with whom he served kept the British from landing at the mouth of the Connecticut River and thus foiled the British attempt the burn the city. He served in various units between August 1780 and May 1781. It is not known which battles that he may have taken part in. Later, he served as an attendant and a nurse caring for sick and wounded soldiers. He was discharged in May 1781.
After the war, he married Aurilla Limekins and they had seven children: Philo, Homer, Sophia, Nathaniel Jr., Horace, Chloe and Merritt. His wife and three eldest children were all baptized at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Williamstown, Glengarry County, Ontario, Canada, on Aug. 24, 1801. He and his growing family appear to have lived in New Hampshire, Canada, and western New York following their move from Massachusetts. In the 1820s, they were living in the Livingston and Genesee County area of New York. In 1830, he was living in Niagara County, N.Y.
In 1838, he came to Michigan. In 1839, he made a trip to Columbus, Ohio, in an attempt to verify his Revolutionary War service; however, the Patriot he went to visit died before he arrived. In 1840, he was living in Flint. In 1843, he filed an affidavit in an attempt to secure his Revolutionary War pension. Two years later in 1845, he filed another affidavit in a further attempt to secure his pension by now being a poor and elderly man. However, his claim was rejected by Washington apparently for a lack of proofs.
In May 1850, his wife Aurilla died from palsy. He subsequently moved in with his youngest son Merritt to Richfield Township. His exact date of death is unknown; however, it is believed that he died sometime after Sept. 21, 1850 when he was enumerated with his son and daughter-in-law, Merritt and Almira (Hill) Blackmer in Richfield Township.
He was 87 and a true American Patriot.
By Eric Fish | Flint Journal May 09, 2009
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1763 - Aft 1850 (> 87 years)