His large monument in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Middletown bears witness to the position of honor this long-time resident held among his fellow citizens. Inscribed on the base of that monument are these words. "Sergeant Laurence Everhart Ordained a Minister of the Gospel in the M. E. Church by Bishop Asbury Born May 6, 1755, Died August 6, 1840, in his 86th year A veteran of the Revolution, the rescuer of Colonel Washington at the Battle of Cowpens. He assisted at the most remarkable battles of the war, and in the Battle of Brandywine, when Lafayette was wounded, he and Sgt. Wallace rescued him from his difficult situation and carried him about two miles to a friend's house. He served from the beginning to the end of the Revolution. He was generous and just in all his relations of life."

While the inscription on his monument bears witness to his military heroism, it tells only part of his story. Johannes Lorentz Eberhardt is probably the most accurate rendering of his given name. He appears in the records at the conference archives as Lorenz (Lawrence) Everhart. However, as noted above, his tombstone identifies him as Laurence Everhart. The oldest of 14 children, he was born to Christian Eberhardt (1727-1808) and Maria Sybilla Geier Eberhardt (1731-1812).

At 21 and the American colonies declaring their independence from England, he enlisted as a private on August 1, 1776, in the "Flying Camp" commanded by Captain Jacob Good. Although there is little documentation of his service under Good, we know that the military life must have agreed with him since he re-enlisted after he completed his term of service. Leaving Good's command before his first enlistment, military records and stories from fellow soldiers indicate that Everhart was captured, escaped, and wounded several times before returning to civilian life.

At 6'3" and a muscular build, Everhart was an imposing figure; numerous stories attest to his bravery before the enemy. According to colleagues, he was offered promotions but refused them due to his lack of formal education and military training. While he participated in several prominent battles and was present at the surrender at Yorktown, the two incidents recounted on his tombstone are the ones most noteworthy.

On September 11, 1777, Battle of Brandywine, Everhart rescued a wounded Marquis de Lafayette and, with the help of another, carried him two miles to a safe house. This marked the beginning of a life-long friendship with the General. When Lafayette visited Frederick during his triumphant 1824 tour of America, Everhart was among the dignitaries that welcomed him and led the parade through the city – and Everhart was reportedly given the second most important seat at the banquet held in Lafayette's honor.

Everhart's actions at the January 17, 1781, Battle of Cowpens are not fully documented credited with saving the life of Colonel Washington (George Washington's cousin). According to accounts, Everhart was wounded, captured, and treated by the British, finding his way back into the battle. Hurt a second time, Everhart disabled a British soldier who was in the act of striking Washington and was wounded a yet third time before the encounter concluded. This incident, which involved Colonel William Washington and not General George Washington, is the source of the incorrect stories claiming that Everhart was an aide to the future President and once rescued him in battle. While Everhart did meet George Washington at least twice during the war, he never served directly under him or fought with him in military action.

Everhart identified with the newly organized United Brethren denomination after the war, which was very active in the Middletown area. However, the precise circumstances of his conversion and initial contacts with Rev. Phillip William Otterbein (founder of the United Brethren Church) have not been preserved.

Everhart attended the annual conference in 1805 and is listed as a preacher, although there is no formal record of his license or ordination. He was an active participant in the United Brethren conference of 1806, met at his home in Middletown. During his years with the United Brethren, Everhart proceeded as a local pastor and never accepted an assignment as an itinerant. When he attended the conference held at Geeting's meeting house in 1812, he was asked to supply Henry Spayth's circuit in "Pennsylvania and Maryland" during November while Spayth ministered in Virginia.

Everhart's United Brethren Pennsylvania Conference service record indicates that his ministerial membership ceased in 1812, giving no details, and there is no formal notation of such in the conference minutes. However, it does appear that after that date, Everhart labored exclusively with the Methodists – also in a local relationship and not as an itinerant. Since only a very few Methodist preachers could preach in German, Everhart's dual linguistic abilities made him a precious asset to that denomination. While no official documentation survives regarding Everhart's ministry as a local pastor, it is clear that he actively pursued all open doors.

Harry Foreman's "History of Little Cove, Franklin County, Pennsylvania" states that the present United Methodist congregation in Franklin County began when "one Lawrence Everhart, missionary, organized a Methodist class in 1816."

In his first official appearance in the Methodist minutes, Everhart is listed in 1817, at the age of 62, as a German missionary in the Carlisle District of the Baltimore Conference. In 1818 and 1819, he was assigned as a missionary in the Monongahela and Pittsburgh districts. In 1820 he was ordained an elder, received into full connection, and designated as a German missionary in the Monongahela District.

Seemingly, Everhart now returned to his home in Middletown for Good, although he undoubtedly continued speaking and ministering as doors opened. One could say that while no longer on active duty, this soldier of the Lord continued as a reserve and in a supporting role until his heavenward muster in 1840.

David Buie is a Taneytown Resident who has a passion for
Carroll County and its place in history.

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