Malvern in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
"We bury’d our Dead next day in the field of Battle, All kill’d by the sword and Bayonet."
The Pearce family was neighbors with Ezekiel Bowen, and the battle raged mostly on these two farms. Forty-four-year-old Major Cromwell Pearce of the Chester County militia was out of his house on September 20, but his 37-year-old wife Margaret was home with at least two of their six children, five-year-old Cromwell, Jr., and thirteen-month-old Marmaduke.
Forty years later, forty-five-year-old Colonel Cromwell Pearce, Jr., hero of the War of 1812 and High Sheriff of Chester County, helped to spearhead the movement to preserve the grave of the Paoli dead, a mound that was marked only by a few stones and which was slowly disappearing into the land.
Sidebar: On July 4, 1817, a committee of patriotic citizens and veterans was formed to raise funds to mark the grave and protect it with a wall. A white marble monument was purchased in Philadelphia and finished under the direction of architect William Strickland. Dr. William Darlington of Chester County provided the text of the inscription.
In early September, 1817, the committee, including Anthony Wayne’s son Isaac, placed the monument and built a stone wall with their own hands. On September 20, the 40th anniversary of the battle, the 1817 Monument was dedicated. Among those Revolutionary War veterans present was 82 year old Reverend David Jones, chaplain of Wayne’s brigade and survivor of Paoli. The 1817 Monument is one of the three oldest known Revolutionary War monuments in the United States, having marked the Paoli grave for more than 185 years.
The large cannons flanking the Paoli grave are two of the oldest surviving examples of American made artillery. The guns were cast by Order of Congress in 1777 at Warwick Furnace in northern Chester County. It is believed that they were heaved into French Creek during the British invasion of 1777, and were discovered in the creek in the late 19th century. The guns were meant for use in fortifications or on ships.
Erected by Paoli Memorial Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Notable Places • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1774.
Location. 40° 1.775′ N, 75° 31.119′ W. Marker is in Malvern, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. Marker is on Monument Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Marker is on the Paoli Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Malvern PA 19355, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Paoli Massacre Monument (a few steps from this marker); This Wall (a few steps from this marker); Battlefield Site Map (within shouting distance of this marker); “Remember Paoli!” (within shouting distance of this marker); Paoli (within shouting distance of this marker); The Paoli Battlefield (within shouting distance of this marker); Dedicated to the American Veteran (within shouting distance of this marker); Malvern World War II Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Malvern.
More about this marker. The upper right of the marker contains a map of Willistown, courtesy of W.R. Shoemaker & S.C. Lange. Also on the marker is a photograph of the 1817 monument behind the wall with one of the cannons.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This series of markers follow the walking trail of the Paoli Battlefield.
Also see . . .
1. The Battle of Paoli (Massacre) September 21, 1777 at Malvern, Pennsylvania. The American Revolutionary War website. (Submitted on November 18, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. The Battle of Paoli also known as the Paoli Massacre. A British perspective of the battle from BritishBattles.com (Submitted on November 18, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,747 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 18, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 2. submitted on May 12, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 18, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 7. submitted on September 24, 2017, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.