Capt. Nicholas Bittinger

A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA with the rank of Captain. DAR Ancestor #: A010566

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• Various spellngs for surname BUDINGER/BEDINGER/BITTINGER/BITTENGER
• Born in "Dorschel" near Strasburg
• He arrived with his parents in Philadelphia PA August 30, 1737 from Rotterdam on the ship "Samuel"
• Nicholas raised a company of York County Pennsylvania Militia at his own expense to fight British.
• Served as a Captain in the Pennsylvania Flying Camp. Captured at the head of his troops in Battle of Fort Washington in New York City. While a POW he survived by making shoes. He was so debilitated upon his release that although he requested a return to the Patriot Army, he was refused. Nicholas also served on the York County Committee of Observation (1774)

He has many descendants who are/were members of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution, including the submitter.

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in 1748 in the records of St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church his name was spelled Biedinger

Naturalized in Philadelphia in 1760 and in York Pa. in 1768

The following is from the book Bedingers by Lucy Forney 1904

Nicholas was 12 years old when he came to this country. When grown to manhood, he cleared the tract upon which "Bender's Mill" ( between Hanover and Abbottstown) now stands and built a mill-not Benders, on which was a stone, now lost, bearing his name and the date of the erection. It is reported that he made the acquaintance of his wife picking brush, while he was cleared the tract; this was often the subject of remark, because he afterwards attained so great wealth. He married Maria Christina Reinbolt about 1747; her son-in-law, Samuel Lane, described her as "a very smart woman". In 1753 Nicholas was elected deacon of St. Michael's Church. Ten years after we find him sent to the conference of Lutheran ministers in Philadelphia to plead that a minister be sent to the church; it was impossible to do so and the conference appointed him to read sermons and keep the congregation together until better times. He was, as his son-in-law said, "a terrible Lutheran", a generous subscriber to St. Mathael's and subsequently to St. John's at Abbottstown. He was naturalized in Philadelphia in 1760 and at York in 1768; why twice, is . In 1771, after his father's death, Nicholas purchased the Homestead Farm from the other heirs, but probably never lived there. He resided and died upon the Geiselman (now Nagel) farm near Abbottstown. When, at the out break of the Revolution, the committee of Observation were formed in every county, Nicholas was appointed on that of York Co. PA. December 16,1774, serving one year. " He was one of the first that took up arms against the tyranny of the King of England and his minister's" and raised a company of minuteman at his own expense, being commissioned a Captain, August 1776, in the third battalion of York Co. These militia were formed into the organization know as the " Flying Camp " were for a time stationed in " the Jerseys" and then made up part of the unfortunate garrison of Fort Washington, who were captured, and many of the prisoners bayoneted by the British, while Washington, viewing from the other side of the river the tragedy he could not prevent, wept "with the tenderness of a child." Capt. Bittinger was serverely wounded and taken prisoner, fighting at the head of his company, and being sent to the infamous British prisions in New York, "endured a long and hard captivity which induced the disease which terminated his life. After an imprisonment of six months, during which he kept himself from starving by shoemaking, he "was finally exchanged thro' the influence of his son-in-law, Maj. Clark, and would have been promoted, but on account of his wounds was retired". Meanwhile Christina was also serving and suffering for her country, for she had " great trouble when her husband was away in the army, with a large family of children and unmanageable slaves to take care of, always in terror of the British and Indians." Capt. B. resided for the rest of his life on his farm near Abbottstown, where he lived in considerable style, educated his children and was a man of great wealth and influence in his day. It is said that his daughters were the only persons who at the time wore silks; he had the first and only gig in that neighborhood. The family was nicknamed " der Able " ( the nobility ) in the contry side. " He was a prodigious Whig", says Samuel Lane, " as were they all " In person he was tall but spare, and " a very unfashionable man. " e had a large amount of property, owing " 1000 acres in Franklin CO., two mills in Adams Co., with 300 acres to each mill, besides a great deal of other property." He died from consequences of his imprisionment, leaving a " widow, two sons and seven daughters to mourn the loss of an affectionate husband and father." " I have always heard him spoken of with pride and reverence," writes a Great-granddaughter.

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0 Obituary Adams Sentinel( Gettysburg, Pa. ) 0 Obituary Adams Sentinel( Gettysburg, Pa. ) Y Y

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The Bittinger and Bedinger Families: Descendents of Adam Budinger 1904 The Bittinger and Bedinger Families: Descendents of Adam Budinger 1904 Lucy Formey Bittinger 1904 @R2@ Y

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