Revolutionary War

Colonel Samuel Postlethwaite from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania was born into a family of traders and learned the business from a young age. He commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Regiment during the French and Indian War in 1758. After his service, he continued trading until General George Washington called for arms in New Jersey, at which time he deployed a militia unit to Woodbridge. In 1778, he joined the Continental Army’s Quartermaster Department. He was appointed as Carlisle Burgess, elected as Cumberland County Sheriff and in 1787 was elected as Lieutenant Colonel, Field Officer, First Battalion in the Cumberland County Militia. His last militia assignment was during the Whiskey Rebellion. He later became Trustee and Treasurer for Dickinson College from 1790-1798. He was elected as the Cumberland County Commissioner from 1789-1794. He was an elected Federalist in the Pennsylvania Senate and held many other positions within state government as well as leaving a lasting impact on Cumberland County.