Benjamin Few

Notes for Benjamin Few: Benjamin was born in Maryland, but moved with his parents to Orange County, North Carolina when he was 14 years old. He married Richel there. After the hanging of his brother James Few by the British. (1771) The family moved to Saint Paul's Parish , Georgia. In 1778 , he formed a militia to march against the british. Benjamin was the Colonel of the Richmond County Militia. His brother William Jr. was his Lieutenant. Died on a visit to Alabama..

Benjamin Few, Colonel in the Revolutionary War; Road Commissioner of Richmond Co., 1783; Justice of Peace 1783-1784; Justice of Inferior Court 1789-1790. He was born in 1744 at the "Three Sisters" Plantation, near Hickory, Baltimore, now Harford Co., Maryland, being the eldest son of William Few, Sr. and Mary Wheeler, deriving his given mname from his maternal grandfather, Benjamin Wheeler. Benjamin Few m. Rachel Wiley in North Carolina. During the war, the patriots were also engaged in Indian warfare. The following order, signed by Governor A. Bulloch, dated May 16, 1776, was part of the Orders to Captain William McIntosh: "And as there has been information made of the murder of an Indian by one Few and a party of men under his command, you are therefore ordered to use your utmost efforts to apprehend the said Few and to being him to Savannah, and at all times to do whatever may be in your power to prevent the murder of any Indian in the Back Country." However, when Benjamin Few went to Savannah, he did so with the militia of Richmond County at his back.

Under the Act of the Georgia Legislature of March 1, 1778, he was one of the Commissioners from Richmond Co. For the sale of the confiscated estate os Tories or those attainted of treason. This was a dangerous committee, as its members, if caught by the British, were hanged.

Colonel Few was with the troops which marched against British General Prevost in his attempt to take Savannah from Florida, but said troops failed to meet him. Also, he was part of the unfortunate expedition to St. Augustine, Florida in the spring of 1778, which was a planned retaliation for Prevost's campaign. This resulted in his imprisonment in the dungeon.

After the capture of Savannah, the whole patriot force, which included Richmond Co., went under the command of Benjamin Few. The first successful engagement in Georgia occurred when he resisted the attack of the British under Brown and McGirth in Burke Co., afterwards dispersing a large body of Creek Indians on the Ogeechee River. This was after the Georgia militia had been driven into South Carolina, not being able to resist the capture of Augusta by the British on January 31, 1779. The Georgia Gazette, a Tory paper, dated 2/15/1779, announced the departure from Georgia of "a villainous tribe of plunderers under the celebrated horse thief, Captain Few."

The name, "Benjamin Few, Rebel Officer, Richmond", appeared in the black list of British Governor Wright, and subsequently The Georgia Gazette on 3/14/1782, announced that "A Georgia Parole" (hanging) had been reserved for the "virtuous Few."

More About Benjamin Few: Burial: 1805, Alabama.

More About Benjamin Few and Rachel Wiley: Marriage: 1772, Orange County, North Carolina.