Cape Elizabeth exhibit honors its Revolutionary War soldiers

 Artifacts are on display in an exhibit on the Revolutionary War in Cape Elizabeth town hall. (Dana Richie/Staff Writer) The powder horn was engraved with the name of its owner, Hezekiah Jordan.  It was given to him in 1773, four years before he enlisted in the Continental Army. Jordan, who was born in Cape Elizabeth, carried the powder horn with him throughout the Revolutionary War, through the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga, the Battle of Monmouth and other skirmishes in New York. He even witnessed the surrender of the British at the Battle of Saratoga.  Now, the horn is on display in a display case in town hall, surrounded by other artifacts from the era. A cross belt plate from the Portland Artillery. A portrait of Samuel Robinson, a drummer boy in the Continental Army. A wooden water canteen. A scanned copy of the town’s handwritten version of the Declaration of Independence, with an oversized John Hancock.  “It’s what we have,” said Ellen Van Fleet, who curated the exhibit.  To honor the town’s contribution to the American Revolution, the Cape Elizabeth Historical Preservation Society curated and installed a local history exhibit in the first floor of town hall by the vehicle registration window. The styrofoam informational posters, case full of artifacts and list of soldiers’ names will be on display through the end of the year to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.  Advertisement There will be a worksheet with a list of questions for “curious kids of all ages,” according to Van Fleet.  [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/cape-elizabeth-exhibit.jpg) The exhibit in town hall celebrates Cape Elizabeth’s contributions to the Revolutionary War. (Dana Richie/Staff Writer) A sign inviting visitors to find their Revolutionary War ancestors hangs above a podium displaying an open binder. The names of 538 Cape Elizabethans who served in the Revolutionary War fill the glossy pages. This isn’t an exhaustive list because there are surely omissions, Van Fleet said. Stephen Attwood was a private in Captain George White’s company at Valley Forge. George Deak was a private stationed on the seacoast of Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough. Jonas Fairbanks was absent for several years.  There’s a separate list of the dozens of soldiers who died or went missing during the war. More than fifty soldiers from Cape Elizabeth were stationed at Valley Forge, including two deserters. These soldiers endured cold and wet weather and limited supplies for about six months.  About fifty Cape soldiers served in the attempted siege of Fort George, a British stronghold in the Penobscot Bay. While American militia men were able to take the fort temporarily in 1779, the British took it back with force, and maintained a tight grip on northern New England.  Advertisement Other Cape Elizabeth soldiers served closer to home, including 71 who defended the seacoast of Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough. In 1775, about 30 Cape Elizabeth men to built a fort on Falmouth neck. In 1776, about 30 soldiers helped to build Fort Hancock in Cape Elizabeth.  Jayne Jordan, with the Jordan Family Foundation, combed through digitized versions of 17 volumes listing soldiers and sailors from the war effort.  “What you get is not pristine,” Van Fleet said. “They were living in chaotic times, and their record-keeping was less than perfect.” Names were spelled inconsistently, and there were plenty of errors, she said.  “I think it’s amazing that such a small town provided so many people to the cause,” Van Fleet said.   Copy the Story Link Tagged: [America's 250th](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/americas-250th/), [local history](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/local-history/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/dana-richie) [Dana RichieStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/dana-richie) Dana Richie is a community reporter covering South Portland and Cape Elizabeth. Originally from Atlanta, she fell in love with the landscape and quirks of coastal New England while completing her undergraduate. [More by Dana Richie](https://www.pressherald.com/author/dana-richie)