William Darke was born in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (some say Falls, Bucks County) 6 May 1736*. His parents, Joseph and Mary Rush(?) Darke, moved near Shepherdstown Virginia (now West Virginia) when he was 4 years old.

At the age of 19, he served in the militia during the French and Indian War. Oral history but not historians place him with General Edward Braddock.

During the early part of the Revolutionary War, General Darke was promoted to the rank of Captain and then Lieutenant. He was wounded and captured at the battle of Germantown and held as prisoner for over two years. Released, he returned to the field and held the rank of Colonel at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, October 1781.

Darke returned to Berkeley County, where he engaged in farming. He was a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1788.

In 1791 he accepted a commission from President George Washington as colonel for an expedition to the area north of the Ohio River. Although the Indians defeated St. Clair, Darke served with distinction. He was wounded during battle and his son killed.

On 30 November 1793 the General Assembly elected him a brigadier general in the Virginia militia.

General Darke was elected to represent Berkeley County in the Virginia Assembly almost continuously until his death in Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia), November 26, 1801. He was buried in the Darke-Engle-Ronemous family cemetery near what is now Duffields, Jefferson County, West Virginia, the location of his estate.

Darkesville (in Berkeley County, WV) and Darke County, Ohio, were both named for General William Darke.

He was husband to Sarah Deleyea (maiden name unknown), stepfather to William Deleyea, and father to Joseph, Samuel, John, and Mary Darke. His sisterMary Darke Engle is buried in the same cemetery. His aunt, Mary Dark Lucas, is buried at the Lucas Family Cemetery at Elmwood.

Based in part on the History of Berkeley County, West Virginia, 1928

INSCRIPTIONS
Original stone inscribed, "To the memory of Gen William Darke d Nov 26, 1801 in the 66th yr of his life." This thanks to the 1905 photo provided by Church Volunteer taken from R.M. Cheshire, "The Valley of the Shenandoah", a sub-article printed in: "Book of the Royal Blue", a monthly travel guide published by the B&O Railroad, Baltimore, W.E. Lowes, Editor, Vol. IX, No. 2, Nov 1905, p 14. Remnants of the stone remain (scroll through photos to see original).

Later stone marker inscribed, "Lt Col Wm Darke 10 Va Mil Rev War."

Bronze plaque inscribed, "1775-1781 Revolutionary Soldier William Darke Placed by the Pack Horse Ford Chapter."

On April 8, 2017 new plaques by the DAR and the family were dedicated in the newly restored cemetery.


*Source for specific date of birth is Benjamin Rush biography.

William Darke was born in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (some say Falls, Bucks County) 6 May 1736*. His parents, Joseph and Mary Rush(?) Darke, moved near Shepherdstown Virginia (now West Virginia) when he was 4 years old.

At the age of 19, he served in the militia during the French and Indian War. Oral history but not historians place him with General Edward Braddock.

During the early part of the Revolutionary War, General Darke was promoted to the rank of Captain and then Lieutenant. He was wounded and captured at the battle of Germantown and held as prisoner for over two years. Released, he returned to the field and held the rank of Colonel at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, October 1781.

Darke returned to Berkeley County, where he engaged in farming. He was a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1788.

In 1791 he accepted a commission from President George Washington as colonel for an expedition to the area north of the Ohio River. Although the Indians defeated St. Clair, Darke served with distinction. He was wounded during battle and his son killed.

On 30 November 1793 the General Assembly elected him a brigadier general in the Virginia militia.

General Darke was elected to represent Berkeley County in the Virginia Assembly almost continuously until his death in Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia), November 26, 1801. He was buried in the Darke-Engle-Ronemous family cemetery near what is now Duffields, Jefferson County, West Virginia, the location of his estate.

Darkesville (in Berkeley County, WV) and Darke County, Ohio, were both named for General William Darke.

He was husband to Sarah Deleyea (maiden name unknown), stepfather to William Deleyea, and father to Joseph, Samuel, John, and Mary Darke. His sisterMary Darke Engle is buried in the same cemetery. His aunt, Mary Dark Lucas, is buried at the Lucas Family Cemetery at Elmwood.

Based in part on the History of Berkeley County, West Virginia, 1928

INSCRIPTIONS
Original stone inscribed, "To the memory of Gen William Darke d Nov 26, 1801 in the 66th yr of his life." This thanks to the 1905 photo provided by Church Volunteer taken from R.M. Cheshire, "The Valley of the Shenandoah", a sub-article printed in: "Book of the Royal Blue", a monthly travel guide published by the B&O Railroad, Baltimore, W.E. Lowes, Editor, Vol. IX, No. 2, Nov 1905, p 14. Remnants of the stone remain (scroll through photos to see original).

Later stone marker inscribed, "Lt Col Wm Darke 10 Va Mil Rev War."

Bronze plaque inscribed, "1775-1781 Revolutionary Soldier William Darke Placed by the Pack Horse Ford Chapter."

On April 8, 2017 new plaques by the DAR and the family were dedicated in the newly restored cemetery.


*Source for specific date of birth is Benjamin Rush biography.