Rudolphus Ritzema
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Colonel Rudolphus Ritzema (1744-1803) was an American officer in the New York Line during the American Revolutionary War.
He was born in Collum, East Friesland, Holland at son of Reverend Johannes Ritzema. The family moved to America in 1744.
He was a member of the Committee of Sixty and the Committee of One Hundred in New York City in 1775.
On June 30, 1775 he was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 1st New York Regiment. In July he seized British armaments in New York City. On November 28, 1775 he was appointed colonel of the 3rd New York Regiment. He took part in the Battle of Quebec (1775). He offered to resign in July, 1776, but his offer was refused. In November, 1776 he joined the British army.
He died 1803 in Kent, England.
[edit] References
- Heitman, Francis B., Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution. New, enlarged, and revised edition., Washington, D.C.: Rare Book Shop Publishing Company, 1914
- Journal of Colonel Rudolphus Ritzema
