The identity of a Revolutionary War soldier, unknown for 246 years, has been revealed through DNA testing and archival research. Pvt. John Pumphrey, who died on August 16, 1780, at the Battle of Camden in South Carolina, can now be identified in time for the nation's upcoming 250th birthday. The Battle of Camden was a significant defeat for the Continental Army, with many soldiers left on the battlefield.

In 2020, archaeologists surveying the area discovered human bones protruding from the ground. Fourteen sets of remains were eventually identified, 12 of which belonged to Continental soldiers. The other remains were identified as being associated with the British forces and were reburied at the battlefield. The Richland County Coroner’s Office collaborated with FHD Forensics, a company that specializes in DNA analysis, on the case, which was referred to as "America's oldest John Doe."

"We got lucky," said Allison Peacock, founder of FHD Forensics. "Nobody really knew for sure whether we could get genetic profiles suitable for a genealogy investigation on 240-plus-year-old remains."

Pumphrey's remains, designated "Camden 9B," were among those that received a cursory burial. Samples from two soldiers were sent to Astrea Forensics for DNA extraction. While teeth are often the best source for ancient DNA, they proved unyielding in this case. Instead, DNA was successfully extracted from a petrous portion of the temporal bone, located at the base of the skull.

This extracted DNA generated Pumphrey's entire genome, which was then uploaded to genealogy databases. This allowed Peacock's team to trace autosomal, X chromosome, and Y chromosome matches, yielding approximately 20,000 potential connections.

Archival research, aided by one of Pumphrey's maternal DNA matches, Russ Hudson, revealed details of his life. It is believed Pumphrey was an orphan from Anne Arundel County, Maryland, who enlisted in the militia around age 13. Although no birth record exists, skeletal analysis indicated that the growth plates in his knees had not fully closed when he died, suggesting he was a teenager.

Researchers believe Pumphrey served with the 7th Maryland Regiment, experiencing hardships such as the winter at Valley Forge and participating in battles like Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. He is estimated to have marched approximately 1,000 miles before his death in South Carolina. The exact cause of his death remains unknown, as no specific injuries were identified on his remains.

Work is ongoing to identify another set of remains, Camden 11A, to whom Peacock discovered she is related. Relatives of Pumphrey gathered for a ceremony where his identity was formally recognized. For Hudson, the story will be complete when the U.S. government officially acknowledges the findings and replaces the "UNKNOWN" gravestone with Pumphrey's name, honoring his sacrifice for the new nation.