Many soldiers of the Revolution left their hometowns after the war for new areas to lay down roots. Some of these soldiers eventually found their way to Ohio, often bringing their families with them to settle in the (at the time) new state. This year, we’ll take a look at the soldiers who settled in Seneca County and learn more about them.
This July, we’re looking at Daniel Groscoat/Groscost/Groscoast. Born in November of 1758, we don’t know much about Daniel’s early life. He grew up in York County, Pennsylvania, and sadly we don’t know who his parents were. From his pension though, we can learn he had a brother named Alexander, and a potential family member named John Groscost.
At the age of 20 in 1778, Daniel was drafted into the military whilst still living in York County. He was called in to serve for two months in Captain Jennewein’s company of the local militia as a Private. He helped guard the County from British plundering, as at that time the British army was posted in Philadelphia.
In the fall of 1781, Daniel was drafted once again, serving two months guarding prisoners in Camp Security under Captain J. Dod. Camp Security was one of the few American run prisoner of war camps during the Revolutionary War, located just east of the city of York in Pennsylvania. Consisting of log cabins and a stockade, the prison was staffed by York County militia and Continental troops until the end of the war.
As his term at Camp Security ended in the waning months of 1781, Daniel took up another two months there in substitute for his brother Alexander. During this part of his service in Camp Security, he would continue guarding prisoners under Major Adey, and noted that he also assisted in building the camp’s stockades.
Finally, for the last term of his service, Daniel was made a Teamster and helped deliver flour to soldiers in a wagon team under James Smith. He spent 6 weeks working as part of the wagon team, and made deliveries from Little York (modern day York) to Morristown, NJ.
After the war, Daniel stayed in York County for about five years, moving to Westmoreland County, PA around 1788. He stayed there until around 1809, wherein he and his family moved to Brookfield township in Trumbull County, Ohio. Here he stayed for over 25 years, making him an early pioneer of the County. While in Trumbull County, he applied for his pension and received it on September 12, 1834. At some point before 1840, he moved to our Seneca County with some of his family.
We unfortunately don’t know much of Daniel’s personal life, though we do know a little about his children. His daughter Magdalena lived in Seneca County, most likely with Daniel as it seemed she never married. From her grave, we know that her mother’s name began with “S”, but sadly we don’t have any records of Daniel’s wife. Another Groscost living in the area was Jane (Groscost) Rule, who married in Trumbull County. Its possible that she may have also been a daughter of Daniel, as there weren’t many Groscost’s living in the area at the time.
Daniel Groscost died in the fall of 1841, having received his last pension payment in September of the same year. He’s buried in the Clay-Groscost cemetery in Scipio township of Seneca County. His daughter Magdalena is buried nearby in the same cemetery.