Talk:James Brenton (soldier)

Reliable sources needed
We don't seem to have many reliable references for James Brenton. The only reliable references to him are a few mentions of him in the Crawford expedition or earlier actions. He was usually referred to in primary documents as only "Major Brenton," and writers were divided over whether he was named James or John (or even Joseph). The only biographical sketch I've seen of him so far is from Revolution on the Upper Ohio, which (in full) reads:

"James Brenton (or Brinton) had been out with McDonald in 1774, and after ranging throughout 1777, and serving with Hand in the spring of 1778, commanded a company on McIntosh's expedition. Later he was a major on Crawford's Sandusky expedition (1782), and although slightly wounded, returned to his home in Washington County. After the Revolution he removed to Kentucky, and lived in Mercer County, where he was killed by the Indians about 1788."

Our article claims that Brenton was killed at the Battle of Blue Licks in 1782, not in 1788. Neal Hammon's book on Blue Licks lists 176 participants in the battle by name, with no one named Brenton or Brinton among them. Hammon says his list is likely incomplete. Was James Brenton among the slain? It's possible, but we need a good source. The only source I've seen that says he was killed at Blue Licks is an unreferenced family history published in Kentucky Ancestors, 1992, Vol 27, no 4, p. 217, which says that his son James Jr was among the burial party after the battle. This may be accurate, but better sourcing is needed. Kevin1776 (talk) 20:06, 14 January 2022 (UTC)


 * It seems the claim that Brenton was killed at Blue Licks might come from the following self-published family history: C.F. Brenton (1975), The Life and Times of James Brenton, Major, Virginia Militia. I can't find this source online or at any library accessible to me, but the blurb from Google Books says "he was killed fighting Indians in Shelby County, Kentucky, in 1782." I wonder if C.F. Brenton actually found a source that says as much. By contrast, the DAR entry for Brenton says he died after 1785. If there was good evidence Brenton was killed at Blue Licks, it seems the DAR would say as much. I find it hard to believe a notable officer like Brenton would have been killed at Blue Licks and escape the notice of historians such as Hammon. So I think it's safe to remove the Blue Licks claim from the article pending the discovery of any sort of citable source. Kevin1776 (talk) 00:56, 19 January 2022 (UTC) P.S. I know this is an obscure subject that few eyes will ever see. :-)