Patriot Ancestor: Aner Bradley
Submitted by Compatriot Scott Ross
In the month of April 1775 Aner Bradley, born 1753, volunteered as a Private in the company commanded by Benedict Arnold of New Haven, Connecticut and marched to Lexington, when they arrived a few days late after the Battle of Lexington, Mass. Shortly afterwards, Benedict Arnold was appointed to the rank of colonel and Aner Bradley was appointed to the rank of sergeant. The command marched to Lake Champlain. During which time Aner Bradley was present at the taking of St. John’s and Fort Ticonderoga. He did not return to the area of Connecticut from this service for a period of about six months during which time he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
On January 20, 1777 he was commissioned by Governor Trumbull to the position of ensign of the company of volunteers raised by the order of the General Assembly of Connecticut. He joined at Horse Neck, Connecticut and spent seven months during this tour of duty. He was wounded with a musket ball at the engagement at Campo during the Danbury Expedition in April 1777 in which General Webster was killed. It took seven months for his wound to heal.
During his convalescence, he spent the time in East Haven, Connecticut watching the coast for the British. He was captured by the British on July 5, 1779 and interned in a British prison ship and then released. On October 29, 1979 he received another commission from Governor Trumbull to serve in the 2nd Regiment of the militia during which time they marched to White Plains, New York where he was stationed for three more months. He was provided a pension for his wounds on March 10th 1997. He died on the 13th day of March 1824 and buried in Watertown, Connecticut Cemetery at age 68 years.