The soldiers of the 8th Virginia

10/30/2015

The Marquis de Lafayette with the 8th Virginia. (Frank Schoonover)

The 8th Virginia was composed of ten companies. Each one was supposed to have 68 enlisted men led by four officers (captain, 1st lieutenant, 2nd lieutenant, and ensign). At least one overenlisted and one underenlisted. The overall regiment was commanded by three field officers (colonel, lieutenant colonel, and major) assisted by several staff officers (chaplain, adjutant, surgeon, surgeon's mate, paymaster, and quartermaster). One inherited company was composed men on 1-year enlistments that began in December of 1775. The other nine companies served 2-year enlistments, beginning in the spring of 1776 and ending at Valley Forge in the spring of 1778. An 11th company was raised to replace the 1-year men in 1777. Replacements recruited in 1777 served 3-year enlistments.

The 8th existed from December 13, 1775 when it was authorized by the Virginia Convention, to September 14, 1778 when it merged with the 4th Virginia and took that number.

I have posted an outline of the regiment's structure, listing officers and some enlisted men (when I have written about them or heard from descendants). This is not intended to be a full "roster" of the regiment, but rather a look at its structure, origins, and organization. The names of known descendants are in brackets after a soldier's name. An alphabetical lift of descendants is available on The Family Page. If you would like to be identified with your ancestor, please send an email over the web form. Your email address will be linked from your name only if you specifically request it.

16 Comments

Carolyn Brown Butler

12/17/2019 09:28:22 pm

I want to make certain that you have my direct ancestor, William Smith) listed as a patriot in the ARW. He marched under George Slaughter to Williamsburg and was in the Battle of Great Ridge.
From there he joined the 8th Virginia Regiment and marched to Charleston. He continued on to Brandywine and Germantown. Spent the winter at Valley Forge and continued all the way to Valley Forge. He was born in Culpeper County in 1755 and died there in 1850. This can all be confirmed in his pension papers.
Please add him to your list. Thank you.

Gabe Neville link

12/20/2019 05:42:21 pm

Carolyn--Thanks for this. Smith's pension provides good information and proves that at least one 8th VA man served from the Atlantic to the Mississippi! I don't see, however, that is shows he was at the Battle of Great Bridge. Do you have another source for that?

Carolyn Butler

5/14/2020 08:51:02 am

William Smith states in his pension that he marched to Williamsburg where they were in a skirmish from there he joined with the 8 th Va.
That was the first battle in Virginia - at Great Bridge.

Edward Bittle

3/9/2020 05:11:32 am

I'd like to know how to join. I am the descendant of Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg and his brother Augustus Muhlenberg, Hienrich Schneider. Is there a active list of those who served.

10/9/2020 09:58:21 pm

Edward--Please subscribe to the 8th Virginia newsletter on the contact page. I would also love to get an email from you. Use the contact form on the same page. https://www.8thvirginia.com/contact.html

Lynn Maynard

8/31/2020 11:30:55 pm

FindAGrave states that William Warren Served with the 8th Regiment of Virginia, 1776-1778. From records I have found so far, it appears he lived in Frederick County at this time, which would be Thomas Berry's company. Do you have any records listing him? DNA shows that I am descended from him.

William Warren
BIRTH 1740
Spotsylvania County, Virginia, USA
DEATH 3 Sep 1819 (aged 78–79)
Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky, USA
BURIAL
Bellevue Cemetery
Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky, USA
MEMORIAL ID 131388208 · View Source

10/9/2020 10:02:37 pm

I see a William Warren in Capt. Campbell's Company. Please send an email over the web form so we can correspond. https://www.8thvirginia.com/contact.html

Eric Olsen

12/30/2021 02:50:22 pm

Under Abel Westfall's Company there was a Pvt Joseph Wadsworth from 1776-1777. He went on to serve as a Pvt in Gen George Washington's Life Guard from 1777-1780. Records indicate that he was at Charlestown, Brandywine and Germantown, PA. I'm gathering the final documents that should prove that he is one of my patriot ancestors.

Terry Akers

4/7/2022 05:10:55 pm

I have an ancestor by the name of captain van swearingen that served with the 8th.

Terry Akers

Denzil Lorton

4/24/2022 05:25:18 pm

I am a descendant of ROBERT LORTON. Our family history shows that he fought at the battle of Germantown where he suffered a sever wound to his leg. I would appreciate any available information that can be provided about this Revolutionary War Soldier.

Respectively,
Denzil Lorton

Gabe Neville

4/24/2022 06:37:42 pm

Gwathmey’s “Historical Registernof avirginians in the Revolution” shows him in the 4th Virginia Regiment.

John Fine

11/19/2023 10:42:01 am

I enjoyed the latest video "Not Muelenberg" and especially you featuring two of my families headstones...Peter Fine (brother to my 4th gr-grandfather Vinet Fine) and Jacob Lively (father of the wife of Vinet's son William). I know Vinet signed the Resolution creating the first independent militia of Dunmore County, but have no evidence Vinet served in the 8th Virginia. Fine's Creek in Cocke County Tennessee is named for him. You probably know that story.

John Finr

5/7/2025 06:39:54 pm

Mis-spelling…Jacob Sively, not Lively.

Valerie Sink

1/21/2024 10:28:34 am

Ensign John Kay served with the 8th Virginia under Captain Thomas Berry, but I don't know if Kay was at Valley Forge. The muster roll for Berry from November, 1777 through April 1788 shows he was 'on command in Virginia.' Did Berry take his company with him to Virginia?

1/21/2024 03:26:58 pm

Captain Berry and Ensign Kay and men who reenlisted went home on furlough for the winter. Lt. Richard Eastin held down the fort at Valley Forge.

Gordon Edward Gwathney

12/29/2024 03:42:28 pm

My ancestor was Sgt. Anjer Price. He was wounded in the thigh in a skirmish near Norfolk and was with the regiment the entire time, including Valley Forge.

The soldiers of the 8th Virginia

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Gabriel Neville

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