George Fruits
Encyclopedia
George Fruits claimed to be the last known surviving soldier of the American Revolutionary War
. Subsequent research indicates that he was possibly confused somewhat with the identity of his father. The George Fruits of this article was born in Baltimore, Maryland; his parents were George and Margaret Fruits, young immigrants from Germany. His father was known as "Flag Bearer George" during the Revolutionary War, and purportedly fought in numerous important battles. Some of the exploits attributed to George Fruits may have been performed by his father.
In 1865 the U.S. government paid out the last claim for the American Revolutionary War
. Fruits, however, did not apply for a war pension.
He died at the attributed age of 114 years, 7 months, and 4 days. He is buried in Bunker Hill Cemetery, two miles east of Alamo, Indiana
. Commencing with the 1979 edition, the Guinness Book of World Records said "new research released by A. Ross Eckler, Jr.
in 1978 has shown him to be 17 years younger than the age shown on his gravestone." There is some controversy over the identity of the last surviving veteran
of the Revolutionary War. It is possible that George Fruits is the son of a Revolutionary War veteran named George Fruit and that the last surviving veteran is Daniel F. Bakeman
(as listed by Department of Veterans Affairs
).
belonging to Captain George Miars (of Washington County, Pennsylvania
) as a private on November 2, 1781, aged 19.
Fruits's war record indicates he received pay in 1781 and 1783 while in the Revolution. He states that he was not involved in any battles because the war was almost over when he joined and that his service involved "just mopping up operations" in 1781-83.
In 1787, George Fruits joined a company under Captain Kennedy to fight the Indians in Kentucky
and along the Ohio River
. While in Kentucky, he became acquainted with Daniel Boone
. During this service, Fruits was cut off from his company. To avoid capture, he purportedly swam across the Ohio River to the other side with his boots on, not losing his knapsack or rifle.
George Fruits enlisted in the War of 1812
and was in the Battle of the Thames
where the Indian chief Tecumseh
was killed. In this battle, Fruits was wounded by an Indian musket and carried to his grave the one-ounce lead ball lodged in his hip.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Subsequent research indicates that he was possibly confused somewhat with the identity of his father. The George Fruits of this article was born in Baltimore, Maryland; his parents were George and Margaret Fruits, young immigrants from Germany. His father was known as "Flag Bearer George" during the Revolutionary War, and purportedly fought in numerous important battles. Some of the exploits attributed to George Fruits may have been performed by his father.
In 1865 the U.S. government paid out the last claim for the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Fruits, however, did not apply for a war pension.
He died at the attributed age of 114 years, 7 months, and 4 days. He is buried in Bunker Hill Cemetery, two miles east of Alamo, Indiana
Alamo, Indiana
Alamo is a town in Ripley Township, Montgomery County, Indiana, United States. The population was 66 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Alamo is located at ....
. Commencing with the 1979 edition, the Guinness Book of World Records said "new research released by A. Ross Eckler, Jr.
A. Ross Eckler, Jr.
Albert Ross Eckler, Jr. is a logologist and statistician, the son of statistician A. Ross Eckler. He received a B.A. from Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Princeton University....
in 1978 has shown him to be 17 years younger than the age shown on his gravestone." There is some controversy over the identity of the last surviving veteran
Last surviving United States war veterans
This is an incomplete list of the last surviving veterans of American wars. The last surviving veteran of any particular war, upon his death, marks the end of a historic era. Exactly who is the last surviving veteran is often an issue of contention, especially with records from long-ago wars...
of the Revolutionary War. It is possible that George Fruits is the son of a Revolutionary War veteran named George Fruit and that the last surviving veteran is Daniel F. Bakeman
Daniel F. Bakeman
Daniel Frederick Bakeman may have been the last surviving veteran of the War for American Independence . He is buried in Sandusky Cemetery, Freedom, New York....
(as listed by Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
).
Claimed service record
If claimed earlier year of birth and the subsequent service record are correct George Fruits joined the militiaMilitia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
belonging to Captain George Miars (of Washington County, Pennsylvania
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
) as a private on November 2, 1781, aged 19.
Fruits's war record indicates he received pay in 1781 and 1783 while in the Revolution. He states that he was not involved in any battles because the war was almost over when he joined and that his service involved "just mopping up operations" in 1781-83.
In 1787, George Fruits joined a company under Captain Kennedy to fight the Indians in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and along the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. While in Kentucky, he became acquainted with Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman whose frontier exploits mad']'e him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of...
. During this service, Fruits was cut off from his company. To avoid capture, he purportedly swam across the Ohio River to the other side with his boots on, not losing his knapsack or rifle.
George Fruits enlisted in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and was in the Battle of the Thames
Battle of the Thames
The Battle of the Thames, also known as the Battle of Moraviantown, was a decisive American victory in the War of 1812. It took place on October 5, 1813, near present-day Chatham, Ontario in Upper Canada...
where the Indian chief Tecumseh
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy which opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812...
was killed. In this battle, Fruits was wounded by an Indian musket and carried to his grave the one-ounce lead ball lodged in his hip.