Clement Sewall was raised on his family farm in St. Mary's County, Maryland, the son of Henry and Mary Sewall. He joined the glorious cause and enlisted as a Sergeant in the Old Maryland Line shortly before his 20th birthday. His enlistment began on 4 March 1777 in Captain Joseph Ford's Company of Colonel John Hoskins Stone's 1st Maryland Regiment. Sergeant Sewall served gallantly at the Battle of Staten Island on 12 August 1777 and the Battle of Brandywine on 11 September 1777. Recognized three days later with a field commission, Sgt. Sewall was promoted to the rank of Ensign on 14 September 1777 and transferred to Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Ramsay's 3rd Maryland Regiment.
Unfortunately, he was wounded at the Battle of Germantown just three weeks later, on 4 October 1777, suffering four fifths of a total disability. A musket ball shattered his leg just above the ankle and he was forced to remain in Reading, PA until he regained enough strength to travel. With steadfast character and toughness of spirit, Ensign Sewall refused amputation from a field surgeon and resiliently trekked home alone by wagon, through the deep snow, with little clothing and no money. He eventually arrived at his father's farm in St. Mary's County, thankful for the benevolent kindness of strangers he received over the course of his long, painful journey. There he remained on crutches for a time and married Eleanor Carbery sometime around 1778, the sister of his close childhood friend, and future fellow Continental Officer, Colonel Henry Carbery. Clement's sister-in-law later testified that he risked life and limb to pull his wounded Colonel from the field. The specific battle remains a mystery, but research indicates it was likely Lt. Col. Uriah Forest when he was also wounded at Germantown.
In the years following the war, Clement Sewall served as the Postmaster in St. Mary's County, after which he and Eleanor relocated their family to Georgetown in the District of Columbia in the mid-1790s. Mr. Sewall became a tavern keeper, serving in that capacity at Georgetown's best known hostelry of the period, The Fountain Inn, more familiarly known as Suter's Tavern. He then became the first proprietor of The City Tavern, in late 1796, which is now one of the oldest buildings remaining in Washington. By the turn of the century, Clement had given up tavern keeping, undoubtedly due to the difficulty in managing such an active business with his war time injury, and began operating the Georgetown ferry across the Potomac, until at least 1814. Evidence suggests he also served as a Magistrate and/or Justice of the Peace for a time between 1807 and 1814. Clement and Eleanor were the parents of at least eight known children and throughout their lives in Georgetown and Alexandria, they were devoted Catholic parishioners of Holy Trinity Church, many of their children and grandchildren being married and baptized within. He was laid to rest in the churchyard, per Holy Trinity's burial records.
His obituary from the 15 January 1829 edition of the Daily National Intelligencer:
"At his residence, in Georgetown, on the 7th instant, Capt. CLEMENT SEWALL, aged 72 years. This venerable patriot of the Revolution entered into the service of his country when quite a youth, and continued in the army until the close of the war. He was severely wounded at the battle of German Town, and shared, with the old Maryland line, all the fatigues and privations peculiar to the times. Few men have participated more largely of public esteem and confidence, than did Capt. Sewall. He was a man of great moral worth and sterling integrity; so much so, that it may be said, with truth, that he lived and died without a blemish upon his character."
Research and Bio by Find A Grave contributor CW Drummer.
Unfortunately, he was wounded at the Battle of Germantown just three weeks later, on 4 October 1777, suffering four fifths of a total disability. A musket ball shattered his leg just above the ankle and he was forced to remain in Reading, PA until he regained enough strength to travel. With steadfast character and toughness of spirit, Ensign Sewall refused amputation from a field surgeon and resiliently trekked home alone by wagon, through the deep snow, with little clothing and no money. He eventually arrived at his father's farm in St. Mary's County, thankful for the benevolent kindness of strangers he received over the course of his long, painful journey. There he remained on crutches for a time and married Eleanor Carbery sometime around 1778, the sister of his close childhood friend, and future fellow Continental Officer, Colonel Henry Carbery. Clement's sister-in-law later testified that he risked life and limb to pull his wounded Colonel from the field. The specific battle remains a mystery, but research indicates it was likely Lt. Col. Uriah Forest when he was also wounded at Germantown.
In the years following the war, Clement Sewall served as the Postmaster in St. Mary's County, after which he and Eleanor relocated their family to Georgetown in the District of Columbia in the mid-1790s. Mr. Sewall became a tavern keeper, serving in that capacity at Georgetown's best known hostelry of the period, The Fountain Inn, more familiarly known as Suter's Tavern. He then became the first proprietor of The City Tavern, in late 1796, which is now one of the oldest buildings remaining in Washington. By the turn of the century, Clement had given up tavern keeping, undoubtedly due to the difficulty in managing such an active business with his war time injury, and began operating the Georgetown ferry across the Potomac, until at least 1814. Evidence suggests he also served as a Magistrate and/or Justice of the Peace for a time between 1807 and 1814. Clement and Eleanor were the parents of at least eight known children and throughout their lives in Georgetown and Alexandria, they were devoted Catholic parishioners of Holy Trinity Church, many of their children and grandchildren being married and baptized within. He was laid to rest in the churchyard, per Holy Trinity's burial records.
His obituary from the 15 January 1829 edition of the Daily National Intelligencer:
"At his residence, in Georgetown, on the 7th instant, Capt. CLEMENT SEWALL, aged 72 years. This venerable patriot of the Revolution entered into the service of his country when quite a youth, and continued in the army until the close of the war. He was severely wounded at the battle of German Town, and shared, with the old Maryland line, all the fatigues and privations peculiar to the times. Few men have participated more largely of public esteem and confidence, than did Capt. Sewall. He was a man of great moral worth and sterling integrity; so much so, that it may be said, with truth, that he lived and died without a blemish upon his character."
Research and Bio by Find A Grave contributor CW Drummer.
Clement Sewall was raised on his family farm in St. Mary's County, Maryland, the son of Henry and Mary Sewall. He joined the glorious cause and enlisted as a Sergeant in the Old Maryland Line shortly before his 20th birthday. His enlistment began on 4 March 1777 in Captain Joseph Ford's Company of Colonel John Hoskins Stone's 1st Maryland Regiment. Sergeant Sewall served gallantly at the Battle of Staten Island on 12 August 1777 and the Battle of Brandywine on 11 September 1777. Recognized three days later with a field commission, Sgt. Sewall was promoted to the rank of Ensign on 14 September 1777 and transferred to Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Ramsay's 3rd Maryland Regiment.
Unfortunately, he was wounded at the Battle of Germantown just three weeks later, on 4 October 1777, suffering four fifths of a total disability. A musket ball shattered his leg just above the ankle and he was forced to remain in Reading, PA until he regained enough strength to travel. With steadfast character and toughness of spirit, Ensign Sewall refused amputation from a field surgeon and resiliently trekked home alone by wagon, through the deep snow, with little clothing and no money. He eventually arrived at his father's farm in St. Mary's County, thankful for the benevolent kindness of strangers he received over the course of his long, painful journey. There he remained on crutches for a time and married Eleanor Carbery sometime around 1778, the sister of his close childhood friend, and future fellow Continental Officer, Colonel Henry Carbery. Clement's sister-in-law later testified that he risked life and limb to pull his wounded Colonel from the field. The specific battle remains a mystery, but research indicates it was likely Lt. Col. Uriah Forest when he was also wounded at Germantown.
In the years following the war, Clement Sewall served as the Postmaster in St. Mary's County, after which he and Eleanor relocated their family to Georgetown in the District of Columbia in the mid-1790s. Mr. Sewall became a tavern keeper, serving in that capacity at Georgetown's best known hostelry of the period, The Fountain Inn, more familiarly known as Suter's Tavern. He then became the first proprietor of The City Tavern, in late 1796, which is now one of the oldest buildings remaining in Washington. By the turn of the century, Clement had given up tavern keeping, undoubtedly due to the difficulty in managing such an active business with his war time injury, and began operating the Georgetown ferry across the Potomac, until at least 1814. Evidence suggests he also served as a Magistrate and/or Justice of the Peace for a time between 1807 and 1814. Clement and Eleanor were the parents of at least eight known children and throughout their lives in Georgetown and Alexandria, they were devoted Catholic parishioners of Holy Trinity Church, many of their children and grandchildren being married and baptized within. He was laid to rest in the churchyard, per Holy Trinity's burial records.
His obituary from the 15 January 1829 edition of the Daily National Intelligencer:
"At his residence, in Georgetown, on the 7th instant, Capt. CLEMENT SEWALL, aged 72 years. This venerable patriot of the Revolution entered into the service of his country when quite a youth, and continued in the army until the close of the war. He was severely wounded at the battle of German Town, and shared, with the old Maryland line, all the fatigues and privations peculiar to the times. Few men have participated more largely of public esteem and confidence, than did Capt. Sewall. He was a man of great moral worth and sterling integrity; so much so, that it may be said, with truth, that he lived and died without a blemish upon his character."
Research and Bio by Find A Grave contributor CW Drummer.
Unfortunately, he was wounded at the Battle of Germantown just three weeks later, on 4 October 1777, suffering four fifths of a total disability. A musket ball shattered his leg just above the ankle and he was forced to remain in Reading, PA until he regained enough strength to travel. With steadfast character and toughness of spirit, Ensign Sewall refused amputation from a field surgeon and resiliently trekked home alone by wagon, through the deep snow, with little clothing and no money. He eventually arrived at his father's farm in St. Mary's County, thankful for the benevolent kindness of strangers he received over the course of his long, painful journey. There he remained on crutches for a time and married Eleanor Carbery sometime around 1778, the sister of his close childhood friend, and future fellow Continental Officer, Colonel Henry Carbery. Clement's sister-in-law later testified that he risked life and limb to pull his wounded Colonel from the field. The specific battle remains a mystery, but research indicates it was likely Lt. Col. Uriah Forest when he was also wounded at Germantown.
In the years following the war, Clement Sewall served as the Postmaster in St. Mary's County, after which he and Eleanor relocated their family to Georgetown in the District of Columbia in the mid-1790s. Mr. Sewall became a tavern keeper, serving in that capacity at Georgetown's best known hostelry of the period, The Fountain Inn, more familiarly known as Suter's Tavern. He then became the first proprietor of The City Tavern, in late 1796, which is now one of the oldest buildings remaining in Washington. By the turn of the century, Clement had given up tavern keeping, undoubtedly due to the difficulty in managing such an active business with his war time injury, and began operating the Georgetown ferry across the Potomac, until at least 1814. Evidence suggests he also served as a Magistrate and/or Justice of the Peace for a time between 1807 and 1814. Clement and Eleanor were the parents of at least eight known children and throughout their lives in Georgetown and Alexandria, they were devoted Catholic parishioners of Holy Trinity Church, many of their children and grandchildren being married and baptized within. He was laid to rest in the churchyard, per Holy Trinity's burial records.
His obituary from the 15 January 1829 edition of the Daily National Intelligencer:
"At his residence, in Georgetown, on the 7th instant, Capt. CLEMENT SEWALL, aged 72 years. This venerable patriot of the Revolution entered into the service of his country when quite a youth, and continued in the army until the close of the war. He was severely wounded at the battle of German Town, and shared, with the old Maryland line, all the fatigues and privations peculiar to the times. Few men have participated more largely of public esteem and confidence, than did Capt. Sewall. He was a man of great moral worth and sterling integrity; so much so, that it may be said, with truth, that he lived and died without a blemish upon his character."
Research and Bio by Find A Grave contributor CW Drummer.
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