James B. Stiff

Valley Forge Muster Roll

While visiting our son Brett in Philadelphia,
on July 13, 2016, we took a day trip to Valley Forge.
I found a kiosk that said you could check to see if you had any relatives who were at Valley Forge.
I entered "Stiff" and to my surprise, it displayed James B. Stiff.
The information on the screen exactly matched information in our family tree.

The following is the information from the official Valley Forge Muster Roll.
James Stiff was born in Cumberland County Virginia in 1758.
In February 1776, James enlisted in the Continental Army from the state of Virginia.

James was in:  Sterling's Division  (Major General William Alexander, “Lord Stirling”)
Was a part of: Muhlenberg's Brigade  (Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg)
Was a part of:  5th Virginia Regiment (Colonel Josiah Parker)
A member of: Fowler's Company  (Captain William Fowler)

James' regiment marched from Bedford County through Richmond to Williamsburg and then on to Suffolk.
After short stays in those locations, the regiment marched on to Portsmouth and Norfolk.
The regiment remained in Norfolk until the fall of 1776.
Later the regiment returned to Williamsburg, however James became sick with an unknown illness.
James was given a furlough and returned home. James remained there for 3 months.

After his recovery, James rejoined the Army at the Philadelphia headquarters at Middlebrook in the Jerseys.
During the battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, James was left on guard at the City of Philadelphia.
James and the 5th Regiment were present at the Battle of Germantown on October 7, 1777.
The battle began at day break and was over by 12:00 noon.
The British Army under the command of Sir William Howe was victorious over Washington's Continental Army.
After the battle, James and his regiment marched back to Valley Forge.
They wintered at Valley Forge with George Washington and the Contnental Army.
There is evidence that James was counted in the Valley Forge Muster Roll in December 1777 and January 1778.

James B. Stiff was discharged from his service in February 1778 when his 2 year enlistment was completed.
After his discharge, James later served in the Virginia militia.
James married Mary (Molly) Lewis.
James died of unknown causes on May 19, 1837.
James is buried in Stiff Cemetery # 120 near Thaxton Virginia.
This is James' Grave Marker James B Stiff Gravestone
Following her husband's death, because all of his discharge documents were destroyed in a fire,
Molly had to petition the government in order to be entitled to James' pension.
Her petition statement can be found here: Pension Petition