Revolutionary War-era veteran from Canton honored for military service

CANTON – Nearly two centuries have passed since his death, but a local Revolutionary War-era sailor received a special tribute this weekend that was attended by some distant relatives.

The Canton chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution on Saturday honored Jacob Nagle, of Canton, with a commemorative plaque and historic marker during a ceremony at Westbrook Veterans Memorial Park.

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Bill Nagle, a cousin of Jacob, made the trip from Reading, Pennsylvania, to attend the event, which brought about 60 folks to the park.

"You can't get any more American than coming from the Revolutionary War era," said Bill Nagle. "It's an honor and part of history to be here. This is a great location and park."

A contingent of the Fellowship of First Fleeters from Australia, Canada and Illinois attended the approximately 45-minute salute to Nagle, as well as another family member, Melissa Danielson, who's a distant niece.

Danielson participated in the ceremony with a wreath presentation honoring Nagle.

Kim Demor, regent of the Canton chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, said the Fleeters had reached out a while back wanting to honor Nagle for his service on a British prison ship that sailed to Australia.

"We wanted to be close to Memorial Day (for the dedication), but not right on the holiday," she said.

The ceremony was followed by a lunch at the MAPS Air Museum in Green.

Who was Jacob Nagle?

A native of Reading, Pennsylvania, Nagle joined the Revolutionary War effort as a boy and was captured by British forces. He later married and started a family in England, but they all died from illness. He then joined the British Navy and was a sailor on one of the first prison ships sent to Australia.

According to author John Dann, who penned a historic journal related to Nagle, the sailor was unique because he could read and write when most servicemembers did not. Nagle kept a descriptive diary of accounts on the ships he served on.

"He was proudly an average man who performed his life's assignments with dignity," Dann said.

Nagle later moved to Canton to live with his sister and during the 1830s worked for the Stark County Clerk of Courts and Recorder's Office. He died in February 1841. He was buried in the former Plum Street Cemetery (now McKinley Avenue SW), which no longer exists.

However, because he did not have a specific marker, Nagle may still be buried there.

The markers presented in Nagle's honor will be permanently placed at the Westbrook park.

Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X: @sgrazierINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Revolutionary War-era sailor Jacob Nagle of Canton honored Saturday