A Long Way From Home
January marks the 275th birthday of Christian Shank. He was born in Udenheim, Germany in January of 1751 and eventually immigrated to the colonies. Mr. Shank enlisted in the Continental Army in Morristown during the spring of 1776. A few months later, on July 9, 1776, he would find himself in Manhattan on the evening 40 colonial soldiers and sailors tore down the statue of King George III. He participated in the Battles of Long Island, White Plains, Fort Lee, and retreated with Washington across New Jersey. Of the many roles he had, one involved guarding British prisoners taken during the Battle of Yorktown.
Mr. Shank worked his way up to the rank of Corporal and moved to Frederick County, Maryland where he enlisted in the fall of 1781. He died in Morgan County, Virginia (now West Virginia) on March 21, 1836 but his burial location is unknown. Mr. Shank would become one person in a robust history of immigrant men and women who have bravely fought on behalf of the American people.
The New York Historical Society currently houses fragments of the original King George III statue as well as a painting from the 19th century depicting the event.
Image: Oertel, John Adams Simon. Pulling Down the Statue of King George III, New York City. 1852-1853, The New York Historical, New York City.