DNA Identifies US Revolutionary War Soldier After 250 Years

Archaeologists and geneticists in South Carolina identified the remains of John Pumphrey, a teenager who died fighting in the American Revolutionary War. Pumphrey’s remains were located in 2020 at the Camden battlefield alongside other unidentified soldiers. Analysis of his skeleton indicated he was still in adolescence when he died, with growth plates in his knees not yet fused.

Researchers used DNA extracted from his bones and genealogical databases to trace his ancestry to Maryland. Family members participated in the process, confirming his identity through historical military records showing he enlisted at age 14 and was listed as missing after the Battle of Camden in 1780.

This identification, considered the first of its kind for someone who died in the 18th century using genetic genealogy, provides a personal connection to the war. Researchers are now seeking funding to identify the remaining soldiers buried at Camden.