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{{Short description|British soldier (1917–1777)}}
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{{Refimprove|date=February 2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
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{{Infobox Military Person
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{{More citations needed|date=February 2009}}
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|name= James Agnew
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{{Infobox military person
|born= 1719
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| name = James Agnew
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|died= October 4 {{death year and age|1777|1719}}
| birth_date = {{birth year|1719}}
|placeofbirth= [[England]]
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| death_date = 4 October {{death year and age|1777|1719}}
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|placeofdeath= [[Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Germantown, Pennsylvania]]
| birth_place = England
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|placeofburial= De Benneville Family Burial Grounds [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
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| death_place = [[Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Germantown, Pennsylvania]]
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|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
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| placeofburial = De Benneville Family Burial Grounds [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
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|image=
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| placeofburial_label = Place of burial
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|caption= James Agnew
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| image =
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|nickname=
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| caption = James Agnew
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|allegiance= [[Great Britain]]
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| nickname =
|branch= [[British Army]]
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| allegiance = {{flag|Kingdom of Great Britain}}
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|serviceyears=
| branch = {{army|UK}}
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|rank= [[Brigadier General]]
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| serviceyears =
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|commands=
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| rank = [[Brigadier General]]
|unit=
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| commands =
|battles=[[American Revolutionary War]]<br/>*[[Battle of Long Island]]<br/>*[[Battle of Ridgefield]]<br/>*[[Battle of Brandywine]]<br/>*[[Battle of Germantown]]
| unit =
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|awards=
| battles = {{Tree list}}
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|laterwork=
* '''[[American Revolutionary War]]'''
** [[Battle of Long Island]]
** [[Battle of Ridgefield]]
** [[Battle of the Brandywine]]
** [[Battle of Germantown]]{{KIA}}
{{Tree list/end}}
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| awards =
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| laterwork =
}}
}}
[[Brigadier-General]] '''James Tanner Agnew''' (1719 &ndash; October 4, 1777) was a [[British Army]] officer killed by a sniper in the [[Battle of Germantown]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]].
[[Brigadier-General]] '''James Tanner Agnew''', of Howlish Hall, Co Durham (1719 &ndash; 4 October 1777) was a [[British Army]] officer reportedly killed by a sniper in the [[Battle of Germantown]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]].


==Personal life==
==Arrival and military service==
James Tanner Agnew was born in 1719 in England to Major James Agnew, [[7th Dragoon Guards|7th Dragoons]] (fourth son of Sir James Agnew of Lochnaw 4th Baronet), and Margaret Wilkinson. On 27 September 1747, he married Elizabeth Sanderson in [[County Durham]], England. His son, Robert, was born {{circa|1749}}.<ref name=Whistle>{{cite web|title=Silver Whistle Lobster Creel|url=http://www.silverwhistle.co.uk/lobsters/agnew_bird.html|access-date=13 January 2012}}</ref>
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James Agnew came to [[Boston]] in the latter part of 1775, holding the rank of [[lieutenant-colonel]]. By 1777 he had been apponted a local brigadier general and commanded a brigade.


==Military service==
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General Agnew was engaged at the [[Battle of Long Island]] in 1776. In 1777 Agnew accompanied British forces under the command of General [[William Tryon]] and General [[William Erskine (General)|William Erskine]] on an inland raid against [[Patriot (American Revolution)|Patriot]] supply depots in [[Danbury, Connecticut]]. After successfully destroying Patriot supplies, the British forces engaged and defeated [[Continental Army]] Generals [[David Wooster]], [[Benedict Arnold]], and [[Gold Selleck Silliman|Gold S. Silliman]] and Patriot militiamen in the [[Battle of Ridgefield]]. Lastly, Agnew was at the [[Battle of Brandywine]], where he was wounded.
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Agnew came to [[Boston]] in the latter part of 1775, holding the rank of [[lieutenant-colonel]]. By 1777, he had been appointed a local brigadier general and commanded a brigade.


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General Agnew was engaged at the [[Battle of Long Island]] in 1776. In 1777, Agnew accompanied [[British Army during the American Revolutionary War|British forces]] under the command of General [[William Tryon]] and General [[William Erskine (General)|William Erskine]] on an inland raid against [[Patriot (American Revolution)|Patriot]] supply depot in [[Danbury, Connecticut]]. After successfully destroying Patriot supplies, the British forces engaged and defeated [[Continental Army]] Generals [[David Wooster]], [[Benedict Arnold]], and [[Gold Selleck Silliman|Gold S. Silliman]] and Patriot militiamen in the [[Battle of Ridgefield]]. Lastly, Agnew was at the [[Battle of the Brandywine]], where he was wounded.
While leading his 4th brigade in support of Lord Cornwallis at the [[Battle of Germantown]], General Agnew was killed by a civilian sniper named Hans Boyer. His soldiers brought him back to their headquarters in John Wister's Big House (now called [[Grumblethorpe]]) on Germantown Avenue, where his blood is rumored to still stain the parlor floor.


While leading his 4th brigade in support of Lord Cornwallis at the [[Battle of Germantown]], General Agnew was shot by a sniper and the damage severed his spine and left him paralyzed.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Harris, Michael C. |title=Germantown: a military history of the Battle for Philadelphia, October 4, 1777 |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-61121-519-9 |oclc=1336605740}}</ref> The sniper who shot General Agnew is rumored to be Hans Philip Boyer but there aren't many sources to solidify this claim.<ref>{{cite web|last=Trussell|first=John B.B. Jr.|title=The Battle of Germantown|url=http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/ppet/germantown/page3.asp?secid=31|publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission|access-date=13 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215001538/http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/ppet/germantown/page3.asp?secid=31|archive-date=15 December 2006|location=Harrisburg, PA|year=1974}}</ref> His soldiers brought him back to his quarters in John Wister's Big House (now called [[Grumblethorpe]]) on Germantown Avenue. Agnew bled out in the northwest room on the ground floor<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |author=Oordt, Darcy |title=Haunted Philadelphia: famous phantoms, sinister sites, and lingering legends |oclc=1162355101}}</ref> with his blood staining the parlor floor.
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He is buried at De Benneville Family Burial Grounds [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]

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He is buried at De Benneville Family Burial Grounds,<ref name=":0" /> on the 6000 block of North Broad Street, [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
*{{findagrave|13266057}} Retrieved on 2009-02-20

*[http://www.silverwhistle.co.uk/lobsters/agnew_bird.html]
==External links==
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*[http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/ppet/germantown/page3.asp?secid=31 The Battle of Germantown]
*{{Find a Grave|13266057|accessdate=20 February 2009}}
*[http://www.revwar75.com/crown/bio.htm#agnew Revolutionary War]
*[http://www.connecticutsar.org/articles/danbury_raid.htm Danbury raid]
*[http://www.silverwhistle.co.uk/lobsters/agnew_bird.html Silver Whistle Lobster Creel]
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061215001538/http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/ppet/germantown/page3.asp?secid=31 The Battle of Germantown]
*[http://www.revwar75.com/crown/bio.htm#agnew Revolutionary War] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127012735/http://www.revwar75.com/crown/bio.htm#agnew |date=27 November 2020 }}
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110512223025/http://www.connecticutsar.org/articles/danbury_raid.htm Danbury raid]}}


{{Persondata
|NAME= James Agnew
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION= British Soldier
|DATE OF BIRTH= 1719
|PLACE OF BIRTH= England
|DATE OF DEATH= October 4, 1777
|PLACE OF DEATH= [[Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Germantown, Pennsylvania]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agnew, James}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agnew, James}}
[[Category:1719 births]]
[[Category:1719 births]]
[[Category:1777 deaths]]
[[Category:1777 deaths]]
[[Category:British Army generals]]
[[Category:British Army brigadiers]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the American Revolutionary War]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the American Revolutionary War]]
[[Category:British military personnel killed in the American Revolutionary War]]
[[Category:British military personnel killed in the American Revolutionary War]]
[[Category:English people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:44th Regiment of Foot officers]]
[[Category:44th Regiment of Foot officers]]
[[Category:People from Bishop Auckland]]
[[Category:People from Bishop Auckland]]
[[Category:58th Regiment of Foot officers]]
[[Category:58th Regiment of Foot officers]]
[[Category:English military personnel]]

{{US-hist-stub}}

Latest revision as of 03:20, 22 March 2024

James Agnew
Born1719 (1719)
England
Died4 October 1777 (aged 57–58)
Germantown, Pennsylvania
Place of burial
De Benneville Family Burial Grounds Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Allegiance Kingdom of Great Britain
Service / branch British Army
RankBrigadier General
Battles / wars

Brigadier-General James Tanner Agnew, of Howlish Hall, Co Durham (1719 – 4 October 1777) was a British Army officer reportedly killed by a sniper in the Battle of Germantown during the American Revolutionary War.

Personal life

[edit]

James Tanner Agnew was born in 1719 in England to Major James Agnew, 7th Dragoons (fourth son of Sir James Agnew of Lochnaw 4th Baronet), and Margaret Wilkinson. On 27 September 1747, he married Elizabeth Sanderson in County Durham, England. His son, Robert, was born c. 1749.[1]

Military service

[edit]

Agnew came to Boston in the latter part of 1775, holding the rank of lieutenant-colonel. By 1777, he had been appointed a local brigadier general and commanded a brigade.

General Agnew was engaged at the Battle of Long Island in 1776. In 1777, Agnew accompanied British forces under the command of General William Tryon and General William Erskine on an inland raid against Patriot supply depot in Danbury, Connecticut. After successfully destroying Patriot supplies, the British forces engaged and defeated Continental Army Generals David Wooster, Benedict Arnold, and Gold S. Silliman and Patriot militiamen in the Battle of Ridgefield. Lastly, Agnew was at the Battle of the Brandywine, where he was wounded.

While leading his 4th brigade in support of Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Germantown, General Agnew was shot by a sniper and the damage severed his spine and left him paralyzed.[2] The sniper who shot General Agnew is rumored to be Hans Philip Boyer but there aren't many sources to solidify this claim.[3] His soldiers brought him back to his quarters in John Wister's Big House (now called Grumblethorpe) on Germantown Avenue. Agnew bled out in the northwest room on the ground floor[4] with his blood staining the parlor floor.

He is buried at De Benneville Family Burial Grounds,[4] on the 6000 block of North Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Silver Whistle Lobster Creel". Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  2. ^ Harris, Michael C. (2020). Germantown: a military history of the Battle for Philadelphia, October 4, 1777. ISBN 978-1-61121-519-9. OCLC 1336605740.
  3. ^ Trussell, John B.B. Jr. (1974). "The Battle of Germantown". Harrisburg, PA: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Archived from the original on 15 December 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  4. ^ a b Oordt, Darcy. Haunted Philadelphia: famous phantoms, sinister sites, and lingering legends. OCLC 1162355101.
[edit]
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