Rudolphus Ritzema
Colonel Rudolphus Ritzema (1739–1803) was an American officer in the New York Line during the American Revolutionary War, and later changed sides, serving as a lieutenant colonel in a British regiment.
He was born to the Reverend Johannes Ritzema and Hiltje Dijkstra in
When the revolution broke out in 1775, he became a member of the Committee of Sixty and the Committee of One Hundred in New York City.
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 on the recommendation of General Richard Montgomery replacing Alexander McDougall who had not accompanied his regiment to the field. He took part in the Battle of Quebec and believed one of the reasons for Montgomery's rush into battle was the pending enlistment terminations involving Benedict Arnold's forces.
His regiment was next assigned to the defense of New York, and placed in
He died in May 1803 in Starcross, Devon, England. He had four children.[6]
References
- Heitman, Francis B., Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution. New, efnlarged, and revised edition., Washington, D.C.: Rare Book Shop Publishing Company, 1914
- Journal of Colonel Rudolphus Ritzema
- Bell, Ian C, "Rudolphus Ritzema-A Re-appraisal of the life of a Traitor", http://www.rudolphusritzema.yolasite.com"