News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: Revolutionary War POW Camp

Date: May 09, 2001

"Canadian descendant of U.S. Revolutionary War POW wants to preserve camp

YORK, Pa. (AP) - Descendants of a British soldier who died at a prisoner-of-war camp near York during the American Revolution are hoping they can persuade the current owners of the land to refrain from putting a housing development there. Ron Bissett, of Alberta, plans to be in York this weekend. He is hoping to talk to the land owners and the developer and to put a human face on the effort to preserve the POW camp, known as Camp Security.

Bissett is a descendant of Andrew Bissett, who went from Scotland to the United States in 1779 with the 76th regiment of MacDonald's Highlanders.

He was accompanied by his wife, Ann, and their 10-year-old son, William. His family travelled with him through his capture in Yorktown, Va., and his stay in the POW camp.

Andrew Bissett died in 1781 from a virus that spread through the camp.

"Imagine young William watching his father go off every day, not to the office, but into battle, never knowing if he would return," Bissett said. "And, of course, one day he didn't return."

Ron Bissett's cousin Beverly Bissett Barney said from her home in Massachusetts that he will be the first descendant of Andrew Bissett to visit the camp. Bissett descendants keeps in touch via the Internet.

"The defeat must have been a cruel surprise," Barney said from her home in Massachusetts. "How could they think a bunch of ruffians on this side of the pond could beat them?"

In 1979, small excavations by local and state historic organizations uncovered buttons used by British and Canadian soldiers.

Camp Security is the last prison camp from the Revolutionary War still in existence, according to Becky Roman of the York County Historic Trust.

"We have a site of tremendous national and international significance," historian Tom Schaefer said. "The whole site could be developed. It could be a draw for positive attention to our community."