Between the river and the railroad tracks in Montgomery lies a small cemetery, with a marker stating "A Body Guard of George Washington Buried Here"
The Pennsylvania Dragoons served on horseback and were split into two units. The elite guard stayed in close proximity to protect Washington from harm, while the rear guard served as lookouts and messengers. An article in the Altoona Tribune on Dec. 31, 1937, states that Von Heer's "Independent Troop of Horse" served as the bodyguard of Gen. Washington and had been recruited from "men of property" of German areas such as Berks County Pennsylvania.
Michael Sechler, born in 1762, enlisted in 1781 at the age of 19, in the Independent Dragoons under Capt. Van Heer. (Records indicate he served in the Militia in 1780) He served as a body guard for two years, mustering out in 1783 in Philadelphia. The commander in chief presented him with "a horse, arms, and accouterments in his possession", at that time.
Letter from George Washington To Michael Sechler, 1783
Michael's Uncle, John Sechler, was an officer on George Washington’s staff and survived the famous winter at Valley Forge. John Sechler settled in Danville Pa, helping to layout part of the town.
Michael Sechler was a potter by trade and manufactured crockery on his farm. He was active and prominent in the affairs of the community, served as Justice of the peace for many years. He married Rebecca Lowe, and in 1802 they settled on a farm in what is present day Montgomery.
Michael Sechler died on the twenty-third of April, 1847, at the age of eighty-seven years. He was said to have been the last survivor of the Life Guard of General George Washington
Note - Many histories report that Rebecca Lowe escaped by Canoe to Fort Augusta during the Big Runaway of 1778. A newspaper article in the Muncy Luminary reports that she was 1 year old when she escaped with her family by canoe, as a "babe in arms". Meginness history of Lycoming County records this as well. This would mean that her birthdate of 1779 on find a grave and other online sources is incorrect, or perhaps she was part of one of the smaller "Little Runaways" that occurred in later years. While the Sechler Family Bible includes the date of Michael and Rebecca's marriage, and the dates of their deaths, it does not include Rebecca's birth date, and I have no source to confirm nor contradict when she was born.
From Montgomery take RT405 east to Saegers Station Rd.
Turn south onto Saegers Station Rd. and just past the railroad tracks.
Turn on to the small dirt lane to the right alone the tracks. Cemetery is on left.
GPS Coords - N041° 10.638' W076° 51.489'
(Or if you are a geocacher, look for the Cache Guarding George)
(Or if you are a geocacher, look for the Cache Guarding George)
As with most families in this area, Dan is related distantly. Michael Sechler was the grandson of Johann Andreas Sechler. Johann Andreas Sechler is Dan's 6th great grandfather, though his grandmother Thelma Brown's lineage. Michael's father Abraham was brother to Joseph Sechler, Dan's 5th great grandfather.
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Additional Reading & Sources:
Sunbury, Pennsylvania29 May 1970, Fri • Page 10
“The Commander-in-Chief’s Guard” by: Carlos F. Godfrey, Ph.D.
Originally published: 1904 – publisher: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1972 (DNM Lib.)
“The Encyclopedia of the American Revolution” by: Col. Mark M. Boatner, III (USA).
“Life Guard of Washington” Publisher: David McKay Company – 1974 (DNM Lib.)
“George Washington’ s Indispensable Men” by: Arthur S. Lefkowitz
Publisher: Stackpole Books – 2003 (DNM Lib.)
“Washington’s Crossing” by: David Hackett Fischer, Ph.D.
Publisher: Oxford University Press – 2004 (0MM Jib.)
“The Writings of George Washington from Original Manuscript Sources” -39 vol. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor – Publisher: United States Government Printing Office. (DNM Lib.)
“The Continental Army” by: Robert K. Wright, Ph.D.
Publisher: Center of Military History – United States Army – 1983 (DNM Lib.)
“To Major Gibbs With Much Esteem” by: Howard H. Wehmann
ublisher: “Prologue Magazine” – National Archives, Volume 4 (1972)
“George Washington, a Biography” by: Douglas Southall Freeman – 7 Volumes
Publisher: Scribners, New York – 1948 (DNM Lib.)
“The Field Book of the American Revolution” by: Benson J. Lossing -2 volumes
Publisher: Harper, New York -1951 (DNM Lib.)
“Pension Records” – Held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.
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An insightful article from:
Was a Haynor Family Ancestor a Bodyguard to George Washington?
Ed Haynor, August 2022
Commander-in-chief's Guard, Revolutionary War, by Carlos E. Godfrey, published in 1904 at
The purpose of the unit was to protect General Washington as well as the money and official papers of the Continental Army. The Guard was with General Washington in all of his battles. Major Caleb Gibbs of Rhode Island was the first commander of the Guard and was given the title of Captain Commandant. Gibbs was succeeded in 1779 by William Colfax. In the final days of the War, the unit consisted of only about 64 men and was disbanded 15 November 1783 at the end of the War. Many men came and went in this Life Guard since most of the original Life Guard did not re-up for this assignment after the initial required one-year term. Why many didn’t re-up is unknown.
Ironically, even though a select group, several members of the Commander-in-Chief's Guard were involved in a shadowy conspiracy early in the War. In the spring of 1776, Sergeant Thomas Hickey, a member of the Guard, was arrested with another soldier in New York for passing counterfeit money. While incarcerated, Hickey revealed to another prisoner, Isaac Ketcham, that he was part of a wider conspiracy of soldiers who were prepared to defect to the British once the expected invasion came. Hickey claimed that eight members of the Guard were involved in the plot. William Greene, a drummer in the Guard, was one of the conspirators, and David Mathews, the Mayor of New York City, was accused of funding the operation to bribe soldiers to join the British. The suspected men of the Guard were taken into custody by the Provost Marshal of the Continental Army. The conspiracy became greatly exaggerated in rumor, and was alleged to include plans to kidnap Washington, assassinate him and his officers, and blow up the Continental Army's ammunition magazines. Hickey, the only conspirator put on trial, was court-martialed and found guilty of mutiny and sedition. He was executed in New York on 28 June 1776 before a crowd of 20,000 spectators.
Additional source information on George Washington’s Commander-in-Chief Guards were found at:
http://www.revolutionarywarjournal.com/george-washingtons-body-guard/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander-in-Chief%27s_Guard, http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~wcarr1/history/Lossing1/Chap29.html, https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/life-guards/, http://uncledeanshistory.weebly.com/lewis-boyer-and-the-commander-in-chief-guards.html, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89058650847&view=1up&seq=13, and http://genealogytrails.com/main/military/eliteguards.html.
The original “Life Guard” records were burned in a fire in 1815 at the Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA, although nearly all of them have been sourced from other records
339 from http://genealogytrails.com/main/military/eliteguards.html
For the most up-to-date printed information on Washington’s Life Guards, obtain the publication, The Commander-In-Chief's Guard: Revolutionary War Paperback – Illustrated, February 19, 2014, by Carlos E. Godfrey, a reprint of Godfrey’s 1904 publication.
A review of this book says, “Over 350 officers and men formed the personal guard of General Washington, and the rosters and service records contained herein make this work a virtual Revolutionary War honor roll. The first part is a history of the Commander-in-Chief's Guard from its formation on March 11, 1776 to its dissolution on December 20, 1783. The second part contains the service records of the officers and men, alphabetically arranged, and includes basic information such as date and place of enlistment, rank, company, regiment, date transferred to the Guard, battles and skirmishes engaged in, and casualties incidental thereto.”
It appears that some soldiers may be lost to history, since it appears that 339 men have been identified at http://genealogytrails.com/main/military/eliteguards.html, from a total of over 350.
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"Michael Sechler petitioned Lodge No. 22 on March 30, 1790, and his prayer was granted and he was initiated April 28, 1790. The minutes of May 12, 1790, say: "Michael Sechler is going on a journey with Colonel Frederick Antes so he was passed and raised, and paid 2 pounds 5 shillings."
He was elected Senior Warden November 28, 1792, and again at the stated meeting held June 13, 1794. He was elected Worshipful Master December 6, 1794, and served as such until St. John the Baptist's Day following.
He removed to Clinton Township, Lycoming County, where he died on the twenty-third of April, 1847, at the age of eighty-seven years. He was said to have been the last survivor of the Life Guard of General George Washington." FROM "FREEMASONRY IN NORTHUMBERLAND"
Note that two of Michael and Rebecca's children appear to be names after Col. Antes. The family bible shows that one infant son named Antis died, and in 1805 when their next son was born, they named him Antis as well.
From The History of Lycoming County By Meginness 1892 Biographies Chapter LIII :
MICHAEL SECHLER was one of George Washington's body-guards during the, Revolutionary war. His father immigrated from Germany to Chester County Pennsylvania, where he reared a family, two of whom, Jacob and Michael, located in Northumberland county Pennsylvania, about the year 1798. Michael Sechler married Rebecca Lowe, and in 1802 they settled on a farm where the borough of Montgomery is now located. During the "Big Runaway" Rebecca Lowe was among those who escaped by canoes from their homes along the Susquehanna river, and found protection at Fort Augusta. Michael and Rebecca (Lowe) Sechler were the parents of eight children who grew up: William; Abraham; Antis; Rebecca; Mary; John; Catherine, and Olivia. Mr. Sechler was a potter by trade and manufactured crockery on his farm. He also served as a justice of the peace for many years. His second son, Abraham Sechler, was a farmer by occupation, and was a justice of the peace for Lycoming county several years. He married Sarah Bower, and to them were born twelve children: William; John, deceased; Michael; Elizabeth, deceased; Antis; Joseph, deceased; Rebecca, deceased; Mary; James; Abraham, deceased; Dallis, deceased, and Sarah. In 1854 Abraham Sechler removed with his family, excepting Michael, to White Rock, Illinois, where Abraham and his wife died in the Baptist faith.
An article in the Altoona Tribune on Dec. 31, 1937, states that Von Heer's "Independent Troop of Horse" served as the bodyguard of Gen. Washington and had been recruited from "men of property" of "German" areas such as Berks County Pennsylvania. A roll list of Captain Von Heer's Dragoons State of a troop of light dragoons, having been raised in the Pennsylvania State, and commanded by Capt. von Heer, September 16, 1780, at Tappan, New York finds Michael Sechler: 1781; discharged at Philadelphia, December 31, 1783; residing in Lycoming Co., 1825. - FindAGrave
Sechler Family Bible Records - http://www.biblerecords.com/sechler.html
"John Sechler was an officer on George Washington’s staff and survived the famous winter at Valley Forge. His son Jacob, born in 1790, fought in the “Danville Blues” in the War of 1812. His brother Rudy, the second postmaster of Danville and later a Justice of the Peace, was famous for his honesty. "
https://www.dailyitem.com/the_danville_news/news/other-danville-designer-s-home-still-stands/article_d1a3cb56-11ba-11e6-a3b0-6b4d555ee397.html
http://stewartsofalexanderandhannah.weebly.com/michael-sechler.html
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Nice article
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