Marker now notes service of Revolutionary War soldier in Shelby
SHELBY – The grave of a Revolutionary War soldier buried in Maple Ridge Cemetery was the scene of a special ceremony on Saturday to place a historic marker at the site.
James Walker of Pontiac, Mich. discovered the location of his fourth-generation grandfather Benjamin Darling’s grave while researching his family ancestry. Walker said he became interested in his family history in 2012.
“During the years of raising kids and putting family first, I didn’t have time,” Walker said. “But in 2012, I started researching in full force.”
Since then, he and his wife Marta have traveled all over the world visiting sites associated with his ancestors, including London, where they visited Windsor Castle, where one of his relatives who was a knight had a stall in St. George Chapel there.
While doing his research, Walker discovered Darling was buried in Maple Ridge Cemetery, just west of Millville, and he also discovered there were nearly a dozen Benjamin Darlings. He explained how he verified this was actually his relative.
He said this Benjamin was married twice and had several children by his first wife and 11 by his second wife, Susannah, who is buried beside him. Records indicate the Darling’s son Oliver was deaf, and Walker found evidence that when this Benjamin went to apply for his pension, he listed his children, with the note that son Oliver was “entirely deaf.”
“So I knew I had the right Benjamin Darling,” Walker said.
Then he contacted the Rochester Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
SAR president Brent Downing was eager to get the call and started arranging for a special ceremony to install a marker at the grave. At 1 p.m. Saturday, a contingent of SAR members, all dressed in authentic Revolutionary War uniforms and some carrying muskets, arrived at the cemetery.
“All of us hold these patriots dear to our hearts,” Downing said. “We remember the sacrifice and service of these gentlemen, without whom we wouldn’t have what we have today. I am so honored to be able to do this for him.”
Walker and Marta made the trip from Michigan to witness the dedication, during which Walker explained his research, and the SAR fired a musket salute, followed by playing of Taps.
Darling was born July 6, 1758 in Lunenburg, Worcester County, Mass. He served with the 7th Connecticut Regiment and saw action at the Battle of Monmouth, N.J. and Germantown, Pa., before his regiment moved to Valley Forge, where they spent the cold winter of 1777. He died Feb. 7, 1841 at the age of 82.
Walker doesn’t know where Darling lived, other than it was in the town of Shelby. He expects Darling was a farmer.
Walker is vice president of the Oakes Chapter of the SAR in Pontiac, of which he has been a member for 10 years.
Also attending the event were several members from the Buffalo Chapter of the SAR, and local DAR members, including Sharon Schnieder, Orleans Chapter DAR Regent.
Shelby highway superintendent Dale Root also attended the ceremony, and was told by Downing he had never seen an old cemetery is such good shape. Root said they keep it mowed and he has plans to keep the sumac out and make it look even better.