After 246 Years, Pvt. John Pumphrey is Unknown No More

After 246 years, Pvt. John Pumphrey is unknown no more. Through DNA testing and traditional sleuthing, a Maryland teenager who perished in one of the last battles of the American Revolution can now be recognized in history. This revelation comes as the nation he fought for nears its 250th birthday.

“There was a sense of divine timing, I guess,” said Allison Peacock, founder of FHD Forensics, a company involved in the search efforts. “I don’t know what else you want to call it.”

A memorial ceremony took place on April 22, 2023, for the remains of 12 Continental soldiers killed at the Battle of Camden, South Carolina. The Battle on August 16, 1780, marked one of the Continental Army’s significant defeats, with British Gen. Charles Lord Cornwallis overcoming Gen. Horatio Gates’s patriot forces. Many of the 900 soldiers killed were left on the battlefield, exposed to wild animals and South Carolina’s harsh weather.

In 2020, archaeologists discovered human bones at the site. They identified 14 sets of remains; 12 were Continental soldiers, while others belonged to British troops and were reburied there. The Richland County Coroner’s Office collaborated with Texas-based FHD Forensics, prompting Peacock to refer to the case as “America’s oldest John Doe.”

Forensic anthropologist Bill Stevens and archaeologist James Legg prepared for the reburial of unidentified Revolutionary War soldiers in Columbia, S.C., on March 30, 2023. Peacock explained, “What we did is pretty much the same as what we do with any other John Doe case.” Despite uncertainties around obtaining genetic profiles from 240-plus-year-old remains, the team succeeded.

Pumphrey, dubbed “Camden 9B,” and four others received basic burials beneath thin layers of soil. During the examination, his remains were dubbed “Camden 9B” after being retrieved from burial nine and cataloged.

The 12 Continentals were later reinterred with military honors. Camden 9B’s headstone read: “UNKNOWN. REV WAR. BATTLE OF CAMDEN. AUG 16 1780.”

Samples from two soldiers were sent to Astrea Forensics in California for DNA extraction and sequencing. Kelly Harkins Kincaid, Astrea’s co-founder, noted that human DNA often mixes with other genetic materials in aged remains, making separation challenging.

Utilizing the petrous portion of the temporal bone, a structure behind the ear, they successfully extracted DNA, generating Pumphrey’s entire genome. Peacock’s team uploaded the data to FamilyTreeDNA and GEDmatch, identifying autosomal, X chromosome, and Y chromosome DNA matches. Peacock remarked, “We got 20,000 matches to work with.”

An essential match came from Russ Hudson, a retired federal agent from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, willing to assist with archival research. Hudson discovered Pumphrey, likely an orphan from Anne Arundel County, Maryland, sought a path forward. He probably enlisted at 13 in the militia in Baltimore. Hudson pondered Pumphrey’s story: “And who knows what his story was? What did he accomplish in order to become a member of the militia at such a young age?”

Pumphrey’s exact age remains unclear due to absent birth records, though he reenlisted using an “X” on documents. His death prevented the full closure of growth plates around his knees, indicating youth.

Research provided insight into Pumphrey’s involvement with George Washington’s troops at Valley Forge. Peacock noted his unit engaged in battles like Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth, marching an estimated 1,000 miles before his demise in South Carolina.

Pumphrey’s cause of death remains unknown due to a lack of injury evidence; Peacock speculates a potential soft tissue injury.

Efforts continue on the unidentified Camden 11A, revealing Peacock’s connection to him, marking a motivating factor for her investigations.

Peacock’s research cemented enough confidence to identify Camden 9B. Relatives gathered for an emotional ceremony at the Benson-Hammond House, marked by tears.

Becky Berman, Pumphrey’s cousin from Daytona Beach, expressed excitement over the unexpected breakthroughs. Hudson, the retired federal agent, emphasized the government’s responsibility to acknowledge the sacrifices of individuals like his fifth great-uncle, John Pumphrey.