Abraham Markoe
Encyclopedia
Abraham Markoe was an American patriot
who founded the Philadelphia Light Horse, now known as the First City Troop.
, in what was then the Danish West Indies
. His grandfather, Pierre Marcou, a French Huguenot
, had left France for the Danish West Indies before the revocation of the Edict of Nantes
. His father was Pierre Markoe, who changed the family name to Markoe, and married Elizabeth Farrell.
In St. Croix, Markoe became rich by inheritance and trading with both American colonies and Europe. He married a widow, Elizabeth (Kenny) Rogers, in 1751, and had two sons, Peter and Abraham, Jr.
He married Elizabeth Baynton in Christ Church
in 1773. He had seven children from this marriage.
When there were indications of rebellion, Markoe was the founder and the first Captain of the Philadelphia Light Horse, known today as the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. The unit was composed of rich gentlemen of the city, who paid for their own horses and equipment. When the Continental Congress
appointed George Washington
the Commander in Chief, and Washington departed for Massachusetts
on June 21, 1775, the Philadelphia Light Horse escorted him through New Jersey to New York City
.
As a Danish subject, Markoe could not actually fight in the war because of the King of Denmark's Neutrality Edict, but he did contribute to the American war effort in many other ways. One early contribution was a regimental flag with thirteen stripes representing the thirteen colonies that were striving to become the original thirteen states.
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
who founded the Philadelphia Light Horse, now known as the First City Troop.
Early life
Markoe was born in St. CroixSaint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Croix is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Formerly the Danish West Indies, they were sold to the United States by Denmark in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies of...
, in what was then the Danish West Indies
Danish West Indies
The Danish West Indies or "Danish Antilles", were a colony of Denmark-Norway and later Denmark in the Caribbean. They were sold to the United States in 1916 in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies and became the United States Virgin Islands in 1917...
. His grandfather, Pierre Marcou, a French Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
, had left France for the Danish West Indies before the revocation of the Edict of Nantes
Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes, issued on 13 April 1598, by Henry IV of France, granted the Calvinist Protestants of France substantial rights in a nation still considered essentially Catholic. In the Edict, Henry aimed primarily to promote civil unity...
. His father was Pierre Markoe, who changed the family name to Markoe, and married Elizabeth Farrell.
In St. Croix, Markoe became rich by inheritance and trading with both American colonies and Europe. He married a widow, Elizabeth (Kenny) Rogers, in 1751, and had two sons, Peter and Abraham, Jr.
Philadelphia
He went to Philadelphia about the year 1770, his wife having died. Abraham Markoe, Jr., stayed in St. Croix to manage the family sugar plantations.He married Elizabeth Baynton in Christ Church
Christ Church, Philadelphia
Christ Church is an Episcopal church located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1695 by members of the Church of England, who built a small wooden church on the site by the next year. When the congregation outgrew this structure some twenty years later, they decided to erect a new...
in 1773. He had seven children from this marriage.
When there were indications of rebellion, Markoe was the founder and the first Captain of the Philadelphia Light Horse, known today as the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. The unit was composed of rich gentlemen of the city, who paid for their own horses and equipment. When the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
appointed George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
the Commander in Chief, and Washington departed for Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
on June 21, 1775, the Philadelphia Light Horse escorted him through New Jersey to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
As a Danish subject, Markoe could not actually fight in the war because of the King of Denmark's Neutrality Edict, but he did contribute to the American war effort in many other ways. One early contribution was a regimental flag with thirteen stripes representing the thirteen colonies that were striving to become the original thirteen states.
External links
- The Markoe Family papers, containing various family correspondences, are available for research use at the Historical Society of PennsylvaniaHistorical Society of PennsylvaniaThe Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historical society founded in 1824 and based in Philadelphia. The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items...
.