DAR #A113239

John Teel, served for five years enlisting in the Revolutionary War in 1775, in Sunbury, Northumberland Co., PA. He served in Captain Lowdon’s Company in Colonel Thompson’s Pennsylvania Regiment. John Teel later enlisted 4 Oct 1776, in Captain Nicholas Miller’s Company in Colonel William Cooke’s Twelve Pennsylvania Regiment Continental Line. During this time, he participated in several important battles including the Battles of Long Island, Trenton, Amboy, Piscataway, Short Hills, Brandywine, and Germantown.

John Teel served as wagonmaster and conductor of stores under Quartermaster General Hooper and General Sullivanand. He suffered many hardships, including being captured by Indians while on a reconnaissance mission with two other soldiers. One of those soldiers was scalped by the Indians. A rescue party overtook the Indians the next day and saved my John and the remaining soldier. They then scalped the Indian responsible for the death of their fellow soldier.

John Teel was born 10 Nov 1751, in New Jersey. He was married twice and had 23 children. His first wife is unknown. John, Alexander, and Adam, three children from this marriage, are mentioned in John’s pension records. His second marriage was to Catherine Vandermark. They were married on 24 May 1794, in Luzerne Co., PA. Catherine was born in 1775, in New Jersey to Jacobus and Catrina Schoonover Vandermark. John and Catherine had eight children and they are Benjamin born 7 March 1796, Frederick born 5 August 1798, Elizabeth born 25 January 1800, James born 29 January 1802, Rosanna born 20 January 1804, Mary Ann born 24 May 1806, Catherine born 9 April 1813, and Eleanor born around 1815. John and his family lived in the Pennsylvania counties of Beaver and Allegheny. John died 4 July 1835, in Hanover Twp, Beaver Co., PA, and is buried in the Old Mill Creek Cemetery in Beaver County. After John Teel died, his wife Catherine and several of their children and their families moved to Schuyler County, Illinois. Catherine is buried in the Messerer Cemetery, Schuyler Co., IL. Her grave was marked with a DAR marker 19 June 2019.

John Teel has been recognized by a tree on the DAR Pathway of Patriots. In celebration of the 250th birthday of our nation 250 trees have been planted at the Independence National Historical Park.