Marshal Robert Forsyth - U.S. Marshals Service - True Life Hero

Robert Forsyth
- Jan. 11, 1794 -

(5827)

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US Marshal Patch

Resided:	GA, USA
Born:	Unk
Fallen:	Jan. 11, 1794
Race/Sex:	Caucasian Male / 40 yrs. of age
	Agency
Dept:	U.S. Marshals Service Augusta, GA USA
County:	Richmond
Dept. Type:	Federal/Police
Hero's Rank:	Marshal
Sworn Date:	Unk
FBI Class:	Homicide - Gun
Weapon Class:	Firearm
Agency URL:	Click Here
Badge:	4
On The Job:	4 years

Bio: Marshal Forsyth had served with the agency for over four years as well as in the American Revolutionary War.

Survived by:

Wife
and two sons. He is buried in Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia

Fatal Incident Summary

Offender:	Not Known / Male One of the brothers died in Kentucky in 1817, and the second died in Georgia in 1826.

Location:	Augusta, Richmond County, GA USA Sat. Jan. 11, 1794
Summary:	U.S. Marshal Robert Forsyth of Georgia was the first civilian official of the United States government and the first of as many as 400 marshals killed in the line of duty over the past 200 years. He was shot on January 11, 1794 while trying to serve civil process on Beverly Allen. The forty-year-old Forsyth, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, knew how to take care of himself, but in the four years he had served the new federal government as the first marshal in the District of Georgia he had experienced little, if any, difficulty or resistance. Marshal Forsyth may have expected trouble. He took two of his deputies with him to Mrs. Dixon's house in Augusta, Georgia on January 11, 1794, because the Allen brothers, Beverly and William, had reportedly been seen there. Most of his work had consisted of routine administrative duties in support of the federal court. His search for the Allen brothers was no different. The Marshal merely wanted to serve them with some court papers in a civil suit. Nonetheless, Forsyth took the precaution, for whatever reason, of taking two of his deputies with him. When the three officers entered Mrs. Dixon's house. they found the Allens talking with friends. Wishing to spare the brothers embarrassment, Forsyth asked to speak to them privately outside. Instead of following the marshal, however, the brothers ran up to the second floor and darted into the nearest room. bolting the door behind them. While they waited for Forsyth and his Deputies to come after them, Beverly Allen loaded, primed, and cocked his pistol. Forsyth and his Deputies went after the brothers. Hearing their approach. Beverly Allen aimed his pistol toward the door and squeezed the trigger. Before the sound of the gunshot could echo off the walls, the ball splintered through the wooden door and struck Forsyth fair in the head. He was dead before his body hit the floor, the first of 400 or more Marshals killed performing their duties. Although the two Deputies promptly arrested the Allens, the brothers later escaped from the local sheriff and were never brought to trial.
Disposition:	After being arrested, the man twice escaped from jail, fled the state, and was never recaptured.
Source:	Website Click
Source:	Website Click

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Last Updated: Jun. 03, 2014