Were British Soldiers Killed During the American Revolution Buried in the United States?

During the American Revolution, many British soldiers who tragically lost their lives in various battles were interred on American soil. After significant conflicts, bodies of British soldiers were typically buried near the sites of the conflict. This practice not only honored the fallen but also marked the beginning of historical markers and memorials.

Common Burial Sites

One notable example is the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. British soldiers who perished in this battle were buried either in or near Charlestown, Massachusetts. Similar gravesites for British soldiers can be found elsewhere, such as the Old Tennent Church in Manalapan, New Jersey, where Lieutenant Colonel Henry Monckton, a British officer, rests after his untimely death in the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse on June 28th, 1778.

Andersonville and Concord Memorials

The Concord, Massachusetts, memorial hosts a gravesite of British soldiers who fell during the Battle of Concord Bridge. Here, the significance of these soldiers is commemorated, acknowledging their contributions and sacrifices.

Battlefield Burials and Unmarked Graves

However, battlefield burials during the American Revolution were often not marked with individual graves, a practice more commonly seen in later wars. Instead, the deceased from both sides were frequently interred in unmarked mass graves, with occasional exceptions for officers. In some cases, locals would bury wounded British soldiers left behind after skirmishes in local cemeteries.

Research and Discoveries

Recent research has shed light on the burial sites of British soldiers. For example, after the Battle of Bunker Hill, about 50 British dead were interred in an abandoned trench dug by American defenders. According to Thomas B. Allen, at the time, British Army regulations required battlefield burial. It is estimated that around 25,000 British soldiers died in the war, with many of these remains scattered in unmarked locations.

At the Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell, Vermont, researchers have found burial sites that likely contain the remains of Americans, British, Germans, Canadians, and Native Americans killed in battle. Local legend suggests that Old Salem Burying Ground in the village of Salem, New York, may be the final resting place of approximately 100 American soldiers who perished in the Battle of Saratoga.

Another tradition points to hundreds of American soldiers buried in unmarked graves around Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a site of a Continental Army hospital. In 1892, the bodies of 10 soldiers who fell in the Revolution were transferred to Arlington National Cemetery and given a proper burial.

Conclusion

While many British soldiers were buried on American soil, these sites are often not well-marked. Despite the lack of formal cemeteries dedicated to Revolutionary warriors, the efforts to document and maintain these sites continue to honor and remember those who fought and died during this pivotal period in American history.