George Titlar, born in Ireland in 1753, came as a child with his parents to Orange County when they immigrated for new opportunities, almost directly across the river from Sing Sing (Ossining). Growing up at the end of English rule, he volunteered in March 1776 at age 23 for a three-month term in Captain James Smith's Company as part of a New York regiment fighting the British, then volunteered again in July 1776 and joined Colonel Nicoll's Regiment stationed in the Bronx. He retreated with the American Army to Westchester, fought in the Battle of White Plains in October 1776, and then moved with the Army to Peekskill, ending his five-month enlistment at the close of 1776. After returning home, he joined the local militia on the west bank of the Hudson, helping fend off landing parties from two British ships anchored in Tappan Bay. After the war, he lived in New York City and Yorktown before settling in Sing Sing around 1800. He married Mary Cargill, had a large family, served for many years as a deacon of the First Baptist Church, and after his death was buried in the churchyard before his remains were later moved to Dale Cemetery when it opened in 1851.