 Captain Zeally Moss Chapter Illinois Society, Sons of The American Revolution  Who Was Zeally Moss?
Zeally Moss was born on March 6, 1755 in Loudoun County, Virginia to Nathaniel Moss and Nancy Ann Cockrell. Zeally was drafted into the Federal Militia, in the spring of 1777. He was residing in Loudoun County, Virginia at that time. He served under Captain Cannon. With a recommendation by his officers he was appointed as assistant Quarter Master. In that position he aided in preparing and collecting fire arms from the citizens, especially those who were unfriendly to the cause of the new country. He continued in obtaining provisions for the horses and for the soldiers of the Army, mostly in the Virginia area. He was acting under orders from General Claiborne, the Quarter Master General for the state of Virginia, whose headquarters was at Richmond, Virginia. Zeally Moss held the rank of Captain, and his pay as an officer was $36.00 a month in the year 1780. Soon after General Bradford’s defeat, a man by the name of Hurorces who was wagon Master, turned Tory and went to the enemy, the English. Colonel William Washington then appointed Zeally Moss, who was 26 years old, as Wagon Master. He served in the position until after the surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia on October 19, 1781. Zeally Moss was present at this surrender that ended the five years of the Revolutionary War. In 1783/84 Captain Moss was engaged in the building of Forts in the Kentucky area and defending it against the Indian assaults. At age 79 he applied for, and received, his Revolutionary War pension on April 8, 1834, while living in Switzerland County, Indiana. In later years Zeally moved to the Peoria, Illinois area, and was connected with the breweries. Zeally Moss married first Elizabeth Marty Berry with whom he had two daughters Elizabeth and Sarah. He married Jeanette Classcock on October 26, 1790 in Virginia. Jeanette was related to President George Washington through her father’s family line. Zeally and Jeanette had several children, the youngest being Lydia Moss, a real daughter who was a member of the Peoria Chapter, NSDAR. It was through the generous donations of Lydia Moss Bradley that, what was to become, Bradley University came to be. Zeally Moss died on October 31, 1839 at Peoria County, Illinois at the age of 84 years old. He was visiting his son William at the time of his death. He is buried at Springdale Cemetery in Peoria next to his daughter, Lydia Moss Bradley and other family members. The Zeally Moss Society has made several visits to the grave of Captain Zeally Moss and makes sure that his grave, which has been marked by the Zeally Moss Society, is clean, trimmed and in good condition. A page from Capt. Zeally Moss' Pension File
 Last update March 4, 2013
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