Nathaniel Ames was born in Killingsley, Connecticut on April 25, 1761. He enlisted in the continental service for the campaign of 1779. From the beginning until the end he served in the Revolutionary War. He was stationed at Valley Forge in the cold winter of 1779-80 and frequently saw General Washington as he came among his soldiers. He also saw Major Andre executed in front of the old stone church.
After the wear, Ames went on to join the crew of a 16-gun brig and privateer, Marquise de Lafayette, and traveled to Holland and the West Indies, returning home in mid 1783. Ames signed onto another merchant ship sailing to Bermuda—this time under an English captain. On the voyage home, the ship was captured and taken to Bermuda where the crew was thrown in prison for three months. It is also possible that he was impressed (forced to serve) onto a British ship for three more years at sea.
He finally settled in the wilderness near the headwaters of the Mohawk River. He married Miss Sarah Hall who became the mother of eleven children, one of whom, David H. was the grandfather of William L. Ames of this village. He then joined the Wesleyan Methodist church and became a preacher. He was then about 37 years of age and continued to preach until 75 years of age.
At the age of 84, Nathaniel Ames traveled to Wisconsin, accompanied by his daughter. His grandson, John N. Ames, married Miss Mary Ball, and five children were born to them–Francis M., John F., Sara A., William L., and Florence A. In 1941, Mr. W.L. Ames resided in the village and Mrs. Arthur Sholts on the homestead in the town of Oregon.
Nathaniel Ames died in Oregon at the age of 102 years and was buried in the Oregon cemetery. He was the last surviving Revolutionary veteran in Wisconsin.
Well Known Men of the Community. IN Souvenir of Oregon Centennial, Supplement to the OREGON OBSERVER, June 26, 1941, p. 31.
In 2013, a historic flag associated with Nathaniel Ames sold for $212,500. The flag is a wonderful revelation of science, history and geography. The red dye has been identified as cochineal, and the blue dye as “Prussian” blue—both in common use in England and North America by the end of the 18th-century. The inscription ink was identified as thin Oriental smoke-black ink in a gelatin binder, probably mixed with sea water—also appropriate for the late 18th-century and Ames’ circumstance, as it was likely during Ames’ supposed impressment that the flag was signed and dated. See the listing by Freeman’s Auctioneers in Philadelphia (PDF)