Aquila Giles (1758-1822)

He was born at "Mount Pleasant" (a Georgian-style mansion, built with bricks imported from England by his paternal grandfather) near Havre de Grace, Harford County, Maryland. He was a maternal grandson of William Paca, Governor of Maryland. Before the Revolution, he was an attorney with land on the Susquehanna River. On the outbreak of war, he sided with the Patriots and was appointed to the staff of General Arthur St. Clair, eventually becoming a General himself. He served alongside George Washington and, "participated in all the battles of that war". He was appointed to the New York State Assembly and represented Kings County (Brooklyn) four times between 1788 and 1793. He served as United States Marshal for the District of New York from 1792 to 1801. In 1780, he married Elizabeth Shipton, the adopted daughter and sole heir of William Axtell, however he was a Loyalist and she was disinherited for marrying a Patriot. Aquila and Elizabeth lived between New York City and Melrose Hall at Flatbush - her childhood home which they purchased after it was confiscated from Axtell.