Abraham Markoe

Abraham Markoe (July 2, 1727 – August 28, 1806) was a Danish businessman, landowner and planter. Living in Pennsylvania during the American Revolution, he actively supported U.S. independence by founding the Philadelphia Light Horse, now known as the First City Troop, and presenting them with a regimental flag of thirteen stripes to represent the thirteen rebel colonies. Early life Markoe was born in St. Croix, in what was then the Danish West Indies. His grandfather, Pierre Marcou, a French Huguenot, had left France for the Danish West Indies before the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. His father was Pierre Markoe, who changed the family name to Markoe, and married Elizabeth Cunningham. In St. Croix, Markoe became rich by inheriting his father's sugar plantations and trading with both American colonies and Europe. He married a widow, Elizabeth (Kenny) Rogers, in 1751, and had two sons, Peter and Abraham Jr. Philadelphia He went to Philadelphia about the year 1770, his wife having died. Abraham Markoe Jr., stayed in St. Croix to manage the family sugar plantations.