Although not of great means in the early generations, a considerable number of the Claflin family, twenty four in all, fought as militiamen and soldiers on the American side in the
American Revolutionary War, including at
Lexington and Concord (many), the
Battle of Bunker Hill (several), the
Battle of White Plains (one), and finally in the
Saratoga campaign (two, possibly more),[2] with Nathaniel Claflin being present at the
Surrender of Burgoyne.[3] Their length of service varied from only eight days to several months and years, with a few serving as junior officers. In addition, three more members served as drummers, and two more as pipers.
^First recorded spelled Mackclothlan in Massachusetts, for which see Wight, p. 11. The Gaelic -ch- is historically difficult for native English speakers to phonologically process and then reproduce, concerning which see also
Clan Maclachlan#Early history. Replacement with -th- was common in medieval times; see Gerrard et al for the most recent Dunbar-related research and discussion of the Claflin descent
^Wight, pp. 28–59. Or as many as twenty six, two more being recorded as militiamen but not recorded as seeing combat.