STORIES OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS

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Edward Heston

Edward Heston was born in Hestonville, County of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745. He was one of the brave farmers who exchanged the plough for the sword. He entered the Army as Captain and rose to the rank of Lieut. Colonel. By his vigilance in watching Lord Cornwallis when in Philadelphia he saved the brigade of General Potter from being captured. The day previous to the battle of Germantown, with a few bold spirits he faced a heavy fire and succeeded in cutting the rope at the middle ferry to prevent the communication of the enemy with Philadelphia. In a skirmish with a party of British he received a severe sword cut on the back of his head, was taken prisoner and sent to Long Island where he was detained for seven months. After the Revolution closed he was an active member of the legislature of his native state and was esteemed through life for benevolence, charity, patriotism and rigid honesty. He died at his residence in Hestonville on the 14th day of March 1824.

Source: The Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution by L. Carroll Judson