James GEER

                   James had a long, mercurial career as a soldier during the Revolution. In response to the alarm of 19 Apr 1775 he left on 22 Apr as a private "of Murrayfield" in the march to Cambridge with Capt. David Shepard's company of minutemen. He was tried by court-martial in October 1776 apparently at Ticonderoga, on a charge of desertion, but corporal punishment was remitted, "it having been proved that he was not in his proper senses at the time of desertion." Nonetheless, he was sentenced to lose a month's pay and to refund expenses for his apprehension and return to camp. He is listed in Continental Army pay accounts from 8 Aug 1777 to 31 Dec 1779. A sergeant, he was reported as reduced to private 2 Feb 1779, and as deserted, 8 Jul 1779, but "returned or retaken" 18 Aug 1779. His "family [was] reported as at Murrayfield."{The Genealogist--facts from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors}