Durkee, John [key], 1728–82, American pioneer and Revolutionary officer, b. Windham, Conn. Durkee, a leading member of the Connecticut Sons of Liberty, led the group that forced Jared Ingersoll to resign at the time of the Stamp Act. Later he led Connecticut settlers into the Wyoming Valley, laid out (1769) Wilkes-Barre, and was the leader of the Connecticut faction in the first of the Pennamite Wars. He was captured twice by the Pennsylvanians. In the Revolution he raised a company that fought well at Bunker Hill, and he saw action in other battles, notably Long Island, Trenton, and Monmouth.
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