Joseph Hutchings
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Joseph Hutchings | |
|---|---|
| Born | Colony of Virginia, British America |
| Died | 1775 Norfolk, Colony of Virginia, British America |
| Allegiance | United States (Patriot) |
| Branch | Virginia militia |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Princess Anne County militia |
| Commands | Local Patriot militia at the Battle of Kemp's Landing |
| Conflicts | Battle of Kemp's Landing |
Joseph Hutchings (died 1776) was an American militia officer and political leader in the colony of Virginia, who played a notable role in the early stages of the American Revolutionary War. Hutchings commanded local militias at the Battle of Kemp's Landing, which was one of the first armed engagements in the colony of Virginia, where he was captured by Lord Dunmore's Eithiopian Regiment.[1][2][3][4]
Very little is known about Hutchings's early life, including birth date, parents, and family background. Hutchings became active in colonial politics in Virginia, serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses and participating in the conventions in 1775 that organized resistance against British activity in the colonies.[1] Hutchings supported measures that opposed British activity, including nonimportation agreements, and was recognized locally for his leadership and patriotism.[2]
By late 1775, Hutchings had been appointed as a colonel in The Virginia Militia, commanding minutemen from Norfolk and Princess Anne County to resist British military operations in Southeastern Virginia.[2] His leadership positioned him as a key figure in the local Patriot response to escalating tensions, particularly as Governor John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, sought to assert control over the region.[3]
Battle of Kemp's Landing
In November 1775, Virginia's Royal Governor John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, mobilized British and Loyalist forces to suppress Patriot uprisings in southeastern Virginia.[3] Joseph Hutchings, alongside fellow militia officer Anthony Lawson, gathered approximately 170 men from Princess Anne and Norfolk Counties to intercept Dunmore's troops near Kemp's Landing (present-day Virginia Beach).[5]
The militia attempted an ambush, but inexperienced troops fired prematurely, allowing Dunmore's forces, including the Ethiopian Regiment composed of formerly enslaved people promised freedom in exchange for loyalty to Britain, to counterattack.[4][6][7] Hutchings was wounded and captured during the retreat, reportedly by a former enslaved person serving in the regiment.[4][6]