The Revolutionary Men of the Staggs and Edgar Lines

The American Revolution was not won by a single army or a single class of men. It was carried on the backs of farmers, millers, frontier settlers, tradesmen, and ordinary citizens who believed the future of their families depended on independence. Among those who answered the call were seven men whose bloodlines would eventually converge in Tennessee: Thomas Ayers, Zadock Bosworth, David Crow, Isaiah Keen, Sampson Sammons, Joseph Stagg, and Archibald McFerrin Sr. Their stories span New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Carolina frontier, forming a tapestry of service that reflects the diversity of the patriot cause.

Thomas Ayers (1755–1836): The Maryland Line Soldier

Born in 1755 in Harford County, Maryland, Thomas Ayers came of age in a colony already feeling the strain of imperial control. When war broke out, he enlisted in the Maryland Line, one of the most respected fighting forces in Washington’s army. His service included the harsh winter encampments, long marches, and the disciplined regiments that formed the backbone of the Continental Army.

Thomas reenlisted in 1779, demonstrating a commitment that went beyond a single term of service. After the war, he returned to Maryland, married Elizabeth Almony, and lived long enough to apply for a pension under the 1828 Act. His pension file confirms his service and preserves his voice as one of the men who fought for the nation’s independence. Thomas died in 1836, leaving a legacy carried forward through his son Richard Ayers, and eventually into the Staggs line.

Zadock Bosworth (1735–1810): The Massachusetts Patriot

Born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, Zadock Bosworth belonged to a family deeply rooted in Plymouth Colony. When the Revolution began, Massachusetts was the epicenter of resistance, and Zadock joined the ranks of local militia who responded to alarms, guarded towns, and supported the Continental cause.

His service appears in Massachusetts records as part of the Rehoboth militia, a group that provided essential manpower for regional defense and supply. Zadock lived through the war years, raised a large family, and carried forward the Bosworth line that would eventually merge with the Crowe family. His daughter Betsey Bosworth became the link through which the Howland–Tilley Mayflower ancestry entered our line.

David Crow (1744–1817): The Virginia Militiaman

David Crow, born in 1744, served in the Virginia militia, a force critical to defending the frontier and supporting Continental operations in the South. Virginia militia units were called upon to guard supplies, escort prisoners, and respond to British movements throughout the region.

David’s service placed him among the thousands of citizen‑soldiers who protected their communities while contributing to the broader war effort. After the Revolution, he migrated westward, part of the great movement of veterans seeking land and opportunity. His descendants eventually settled in Tennessee, where the Crow line merged with the Wareham and Staggs families.

Isaiah Keen (1733–1777): The Massachusetts Patriot Who Gave His Life

Born in Pembroke, Massachusetts, Isaiah Keen was part of the long‑established Keen family of Plymouth County. When the Revolution began, Isaiah joined the Massachusetts militia. His service was brief but meaningful: he died in 1777, during the war, leaving behind a widow and children.

Isaiah’s death during the Revolution places him among the patriots who did not live to see the nation they helped create. His son Samuel Keen carried the family forward, eventually leading to the Keen–Crowe connection that forms part of our Tennessee ancestry.

Sampson Sammons (1722–1796): The New York Patriot of the Mohawk Valley

Few Revolutionary stories are as dramatic as that of Sampson Sammons, born in 1722 in the Mohawk Valley of New York. A member of the Tryon County Committee of Safety and a participant in the Battle of Oriskany, Sampson lived at the center of one of the war’s most violent frontiers.

His homestead was burned, his sons were captured by Loyalist and Native forces, and he himself was fired upon by Johnson’s Rangers. Sampson fought at Klock’s Field, one of the decisive battles that helped secure the Mohawk Valley for the patriot cause. His resilience became part of Sammons family tradition, carried forward through his son Thomas Sammons, and eventually into the Staggs line through the Keen–Sammons connection.

Joseph Stagg (1750–1816): The New Jersey Militiaman

Joseph Stagg, born in 1750, served in the New Jersey militia, a force that played a crucial role in the middle colonies. New Jersey saw constant troop movements, skirmishes, and supply operations, and its militia was essential to supporting Washington’s army during the New York and New Jersey campaigns.

Joseph’s service placed him among the patriots who defended their home territory while contributing to the broader war effort. His descendants migrated south and west, eventually settling in Tennessee, where the Stagg name became part of our family heritage.

Archibald McFerrin Sr. (1759–1842): The Carolina Frontiersman

Born in 1759, Archibald McFerrin Sr. served in the North Carolina militia, a force that fought in the Southern theater of the war. The Carolinas saw some of the most brutal fighting of the Revolution, including battles at King’s Mountain, Cowpens, and Guilford Courthouse.

Archibald’s service placed him among the frontier soldiers who defended settlements, engaged in regional campaigns, and supported Continental operations in the South. After the war, he migrated into Tennessee, where the McFerrin line became part of the Edgar family and eventually merged with the Staggs line.

Legacy

These seven men represent the full spectrum of Revolutionary War service:

Continental soldiers like Thomas Ayers
Massachusetts patriots like Zadock Bosworth and Isaiah Keen
Frontier fighters like Sampson Sammons
Militiamen like David Crow, Joseph Stagg, and Archibald McFerrin

Their lives were shaped by hardship, sacrifice, and the belief that independence was worth fighting for. They came from different colonies, different backgrounds, and different traditions, yet their descendants eventually converged in Tennessee, forming the Staggs and Edgar family lines.

Through them, our ancestry is tied directly to the founding struggle of the United States. Their service is preserved in pension files, militia rolls, battle accounts, and family tradition — and now in our own historical work. Their legacy endures in the nation they helped create and in the generations that followed, including our own.

Page last updated July 3, 2026

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