Richard Wescoat (1733-1825)
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This white person has 3 related events in the database, listed at the bottom of this page.
- Identifier
- NJS-PER-01307
- Given Name
- Richard
- Family Name
- Wescoat
- Birth Date
- 1733
- Death Date
- 1825
- Sex
- Male
- Biographical Description
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Colonel Richard Wescoat was a Revolutionary War veteran who settled at Mays Landing at the end of the war. He owned a store and tavern in the center of town. He enslaved multiple people throughout his life in Mays Landing.
Note that while Mays Landing is the seat of Atlantic County now, that county did not exist during Wescoat's lifetime. When Wescoat first moved to Mays Landing, it was still part of Gloucester County and was included in the municipal boundaries of Great Egg-Harbour Township (later called simply Egg Harbor Township). During Wescoat's lifetime, in 1813, Mays Landing and the surrounding area broke off from Egg Harbor to form the new Hamilton Township. Due to this administrative change, early records for Richard Wescoat make reference to Great Egg-Harbour and later records mention Hamilton Township, but Wescoat did not actually move; he continued living at Mays Landing until his death in 1825.
A historical marker has been erected for him at the intersection of Main Street and Harding Highway in Mays Landing. The marker reads:
"COLONEL RICHARD WESCOAT
Living at the Forks in 1764, he became an ardent patriot and as a First Major, served in Colonel Richard Somers’ 3rd Regiment, Gloucester County Militia in 1775. He served at Mt. Holly in a skirmish in Dec. 1776 and was wounded at Trenton Jan. 2, 1777. Wescoat and Elijah Clark constructed the Fort Fox Burrows at Chestnut Neck prior to the battle on Oct. 6, 1778. Moving to Mays Landing in June 1783, he operated a store and tavern close to the present County buildings and died here on Mar. 9, 1825, aged 91 years. He is buried in Presbyterian Cemetery." - Keywords
- white person
- enslaver
- Spouse of
- Margaret Brazure Wescoat (d. 1830)
- References
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Colonel Richard Wescoat plaque located on Main Street in Mays Landing. See the Historical Marker Database, https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=64267.
This person is represented on the following page(s):
WikiTree: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wescoat-69 - Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker
- Linked Sources
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Author:
- Runaway ad for Stephen, by Richard Wescoat (Runaway ad for Stephen, by Richard Wescoat, "SIXTEEN DOLLARS REWARD," New-Jersey State Gazette, May 22, 1793, p. 3.)
- Will of Richard Wescoat, Hamilton Township, NJ (Will of Richard Wescoat, Hamilton Township, NJ, March 9, 1825.)
- Linked Events
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Additional Participant in:
- 1793-05-19 Freedom Seeking: Stephen (Role: Enslaver, Advertiser)
- 1825-03-09 Will (of Richard Wescoat): Luce Ship, Jin Hall, Beth Seiger, Jill, Eliza Ann, Charles, Josh (Role: Enslaver, Testator)
- 1826-05-08 Manumission: Jin Hall, Beth Seiger (Role: Enslaver, Deceased)
- Resource class
- Agent