Stephen Moylan, born in Ireland in 1734, received a good education
in his native land, resided for a time in England, and then coming
to America, travelled extensively, and finally became a merchant in
Philadelphia. He was among the first to hasten to the camp at Cambridge
in 1775, and was at once placed in the Commissariat Department. His
face and manners attracting Washington, he was selected March 5, 1776,
to be aide-de-camp, and on the 5th of June following, on recommendation
of the commander-in-chief, he was made quartermaster-general. Finding
himself unable to discharge his duties satisfactorily, he soon after
resigned to enter the ranks as a volunteer. In 1777 he commanded a
company of dragoons, was in the action at Germantown, and wintered
with the army at Valley Forge in 1777 and 1778. With Wayne, Moylan
joined the expedition to Bull’s Ferry in 1780, and was with Greene
in the South in 1781. He served to the close of the war, being made
brigadier-general by brevet the 3d of November, 1783. After the
disbanding of the army, he resumed business in Philadelphia, where he
died on the 11th of April, 1811, holding for several years prior to his
decease the office of United States commissioner of loans.