Maham, Hezekiah

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Maham, Hezekiah

MAHAM, HEZEKIAH. (1739–1789). Militia officer. South Carolina. Born in St. Stephen's Parish, South Carolina, on 26 June 1739, Hezekiah Maham was active in Patriot politics and had been a member of the First South Carolina Provincial Congress before becoming a captain in Isaac Huger's First South Carolina Rifle Regiment in 1776. He took part in the unsuccessful defense of Savannah on 29 December 1778, and the action at Stono Ferry on 29 June 1779, before becoming a major of the State Dragoons. In 1780 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and the next year he became colonel of an independent dragoon regiment. The siege tower known by his name was first used in the capture of Fort Watson on April 1781. Maham took part in the actions at Quinby Bridge on 17 July 1781 and Fair Lawn on 27 November 1781, in addition to many smaller, independent operations. While home on sick leave, he was captured in August 1782 and paroled, seeing no further combat. He died in 1789.

SEE ALSO Fair Lawn, South Carolina; Fort Watson, South Carolina (15-23 April 1781).

                         revised by Michael Bellesiles