George Washington Thagard, Sr.

British soldier in Revolutionary War. At war's end he had smallpox and returning troops would not let him board the ship. A North Carolina family nursed him back to health. He was now American, married and settled down.

According to (Brøderbund Software, Inc., World Family Tree Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Release date: November 29, 1995, Tree #5596, Date of Import: Jul 28, 2001.):

Origin unknown. Possibly Danish. Legend says was a Danish merchant seaman captured by British and forced into army. Fought for British in Revolutionary War but had smallpox so was left in Wilmington, NC. Original name said to have been Taggart.