Five states (Indiana, Missouri, Texas, Mississippi, and Georgia) have adjacent counties named Jasper and Newton, as these were remembered as a pair, due to the popularity of Parson Weems' memorializing early American history.

[4] However, according to one account, William Jasper (named Johann Wilhelm Gasper at the time) came to America in 1767 on the ship Minerva.

[5][failed verification] He arrived in Philadelphia in the fall and was fed some warm soup and then put in a line to take an oath of allegiance and sign his name.

A few days before the British were due to arrive, Colonel Moultrie decided to build a fort to protect the harbor.

The flag, designed by Moultrie himself at the behest of the colonial government, was shot down, and fell to the bottom of the ditch on the outside of the fort.

Because of Jasper's heroism, Governor John Rutledge presented him with his personal sword, and offered him a lieutenant's commission.

[11] Colonel Moultrie gave him a roving commission to scour the country with a few men, gather information, and attack British forces and outposts.

During this period, Jasper liberated a group of American prisoners of war by overpowering their British guards, an incident which was subsequently exaggerated by the storyteller Parson Weems.

[8][10][12] Supposedly, at the Siege of Savannah, he received his death wound while fastening to the parapet the standard which had been presented to his regiment.