American Revolutionary War Soldier
Zachariah Jacobs (Holmes) (1753-1847)
Zachariah Jacobs (Holmes) was born a free man of color of both African and Native American ancestry. He was born in New Hanover County, North Carolina on April 10, 1753, to Esther Jacobs. It is with a great deal of confidence that we speculate, based upon genealogical research, that his father’s surname was perhaps Holmes. After 1820, we find that Zachariah switched back and forth from the surnames Jacobs and Holmes. Several of his known children would keep the Holmes surname and pass it down to their offspring.
Zachariah proudly served his nation in the American Revolutionary War with at least three known tour of duties and was injured at the North Carolina Battle of Guilford Courthouse.
In 1778, Zachariah was drafted into the Brunswick County, North Carolina Militia. He served three months in the Brunswick County, North Carolina Militia under General John Ashe, Col. John Alexander, and Captain Joseph Wood.
At the time of Zachariah’s first military tour of duty, he resided in Brunswick County, North Carolina and within months of being drafted, he would see battle. On March 3, 1779, he would fight at the Battle of Brier Creek in the state of Georgia. Zachariah’s Militia unit marched from Brunswick County, North Carolina through South Carolina into Georgia. There, he, and his unit were surprised and was defeated by the British. Zachariah made his escape back home to Brunswick County, North Carolina. Unfortunately, many of his fellow comrades drowned in crossing Brier’s Creek.
In October 1781, Zachariah enlisted for the second time for nine months with the Brunswick County, North Carolina Militia. He served in Captain James Mills’ 8th regiment line under the following named officers: Gen. Nathanael Greene, Col. Archibald Lytle, Major Robert Raiford, Major Griffith McKee, Captain James Mills, Richard Fenner, 1st lieutenant John Slade, 2nd lieutenant Curtis Ivey, and Major Blount. During this tour, Zachariah’s militia unit marched from Brunswick County, NC through Bladen County, NC westward towards Guilford Courthouse. On March 15, 1781, Zachariah and other brave American patriots would see battle in what is now known as one of the most influential battles of the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Zachariah was severely wounded during this fierce exchange.
After his hospital stay and recovery, Zachariah started his way home. He left what is now Greensboro, North Carolina for his home in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The actual location of his homeplace has been re-zoned and is now known as Columbus County, North Carolina. Columbus County was formed in the year 1808 from parts of Brunswick County and Bladen County, North Carolina. Zachariah’s home was near the present-day communities of Buckhead and East Arcadia, North Carolina.
Soon after his 160-mile journey home, he was yet again captured and taken prisoner by the Tories. The Tories were colonial citizens who supported the British crown. He was kept tied up and forced to go with them for nearly two weeks. Later, Zachariah would be delivered to the British at Colonel Brown’s location in Bladen County near Carvers Creek, North Carolina. Zachariah took parole (promise not to take up arms against the crown) from Major James Henry Craig, rather than be hung or sent to the provost in Wilmington, NC.
Zachariah’s promise would prove to be false, as he enlisted to fight in opposition to the British for a third time. This time, he joined the Continental Line for twelve months. During this tour, he saw battle in South Carolina. In his 1832 pension hearing, he described that he left Wilmington, North Carolina on March 10, 1782, and marched through Brunswick County, North Carolina into Georgetown, South Carolina across the Santee River at Strawberry Ferry on to Eutaw Springs. His unit would capture and destroy a Row Galley and its crew on the Ashley River near Dorchester, South Carolina on March 19, 1782. The capture of the Row Galley was led by Major Michael Rudolph of Virginia, as he organized and concealed a group of men, including Lt. Ballard Smith, Sgt. Du Coin, Zachariah Jacobs, and three unknown soldiers of color. Rudolph, Smith, and De Coin were dressed as White farmers. Zachariah and the other three soldiers of color were disguised as slaves. The group were pretending to take their vegetables to the Charlestown market.
On March 19, 1782, the group were heading down the Ashley River when their boat was stopped by a sentry on the British Galley "Alligator" patrolling the river around 10:00 pm. Major Rudolph and his six soldiers jumped onto the Row Galley. They killed five sailors, captured the boat, the captain, and 28 others. Fearing for their lives, many other British sailors jumped overboard to escape the Americans. Zachariah and his unit took all needed provisions and burned the galley and left the scene traveling swiftly upriver in their boat.
Zachariah and his unit remained 15 miles outside of Charleston, South Carolina where he was stationed until the end of his twelve-month enlistment. He also served an additional two months. Afterwards, Zachariah Jacobs marched back to Wilmington, North Carolina and was discharged from military service the week before Christmas in 1782.
On October 4, 1847, at the age of ninety-four, American hero, Zachariah Jacobs, passed away at his home in the Long Creek area of New Hanover County, North Carolina. Zachariah’s sacrifices, along with those of his brothers, uncles, cousins, and other brave patriot fighters, are due a profuse amount of gratitude for their contributions in the formation of the United States of America! As I reflect upon my third great grandfather’s legacy, I have profound pride in being linked to this great warrior and it is one of my greatest joys to be able to share his story.
Author:
Kevin E. Graham B.S.
Genealogist & Historian
3rd Great Grandson of Zachariah Jacobs (Holmes)
Past President - Lower Cape Fear Chapter
Sons of American Revolution (SAR)
