Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.

Dan Blackman 1758-1830 – Revolutionary War Patriot
Hebron, Connecticut; Pittsfield, Massachusetts; and Floyd, New York.

Dan (never Daniel) Blackman was born in 1758 to Abraham Blackman (1705-1788) and his second wife, Abigail Sims (1717-1813), in Hebron, Tolland Co., Connecticut. He married Ruth Fairfield, born 1759, daughter of Massachusetts Revolutionary War Patriot Nathaniel Fairfield (1730-1817) and Judith Pierce (1732-1775) at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, on 26 March 1786 (int).

Dan & Ruth were the parents of eight children, all born Pittsfield:

1. Dan Blackman (1787-bet 1860 & 1865), died Floyd, Oneida Co., New York. Pvt., 157th Regiment (Westcot’s) New York Militia, War of 1812.
2. ——– Blackman (1788-1789), died Pittsfield.
3. Ruth Blackman (1790- aft 1855), died Poland, Chautauqua Co., New York. Married Eliab Wheelock.
4. John Blackman (1792-1835), died Utica, Oneida Co, New York.
5. Elizabeth “Betsy” Blackman (1793-1855), died Floyd. Married Joseph Gray.
6. Nathaniel Blackman (1796-1862), died Crystal Lake, McHenry Co., Illinois. Married Eliza Chapel.
7. Noble Blackman (1798-1879), died Stockton, Chautauqua Co., New York. Married Mariel Sanford.
8. Eleazer Blackman/Blackmon (1801-1859), murdered Lancaster, Erie Co., New York. Married first his half first cousin once removed Almira Blackman. Married second Harriet (Smith) Blackman, widow of Almira’s brother, Hiram Blackman.

Following the death of his wife, Ruth, between 1801 and 1818, Dan married second his maternal first cousin once removed Elizabeth Payne (1758-prob 1832), of Hebron, daughter of Joseph Payne (1729-1797) and Elizabeth Sims (1740-1823).
In Pittsfield, Dan operated a horse stable (Berkshire Chronicle, May 7, 1790, Pittsfield).

Later, in Floyd, he was a farmer. When he applied for a pension for his Revolutionary War service in 1818, he had been several months in “Gaol” for debts owed. He was granted a pension of $4 per month. He died 17 April 1830 at Floyd and is presumed buried in the Old Floyd Cemetery, although no gravestone survives.

He was a descendant, through his father, of Mayflower Pilgrim Richard Warren. On his mother’s side, he was a descendant of Gateway Ancestor Rev. William Skepper of Essex Co., Massachusetts.

Revolutionary War Service: Capt. Brigham’s Company, Col. Chandler’s Regiment, Connecticut Line, 8 May 1777 (Hebron) to 1 August 1778 (Peekskill, Westchester Co., New York). Revolutionary War Pension Application #45286.

Nathaniel Fairfield 1730-1817 – Revolutionary War Patriot
Boston, Westfield and Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Nathaniel Fairfield was baptized at the First Church of Boston on 4 Oct 1730, the son of Nathaniel Fairfield (1704-1745) and Abigail Jones (c. 1708-1793). He married at Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts on 6 May 1752 Judith Pierce (1732-1775), likely the daughter of John Pierce and Ruth Hilton. She was born 10 Dec 1732 at Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts and died in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts on 3 Dec 1775.

Nathaniel and Judith were the parents of nine children, born Pittsfield, except Abigail, who was born at Westfield:
1. Abigail Fairfield (1752-1778), died Pittsfield. Married Massachusetts Revolutionary War Patriot William Brattle.
2. John Fairfield (1757-1828) died Pittsfield. Married first Lucy Howland and second, Lucy’s sister, Elizabeth Howland. Massachusetts Revolutionary War Patriot.
3. Ruth Fairfield (1759-between 1801 & 1818), died probably Floyd, Oneida Co., New York. Married Connecticut Revolutionary War Patriot Dan Blackman.
4. Judith Fairfield (1763-1820), died Pittsfield. Married Massachusetts Revolutionary War Patriot Zebulon Herrick Jr.
5. Sarah Fairfield (1766-1854), died Orwell, Addison Co., Vermont. Married Massachusetts Revolutionary War Patriot Eli Root.
6. Nathaniel Fairfield (1768-1837), died Pittsfield. Married Martha Wells.
7. Enoch Fairfield (1769-1832), died Pittsfield. Married first Zulima Lawrence and second Huldah Wing.
8. Naomi Fairfield (1770-1857), died Pittsfield. Married Aaron Noble.
9. Samuel Fairfield (1774-).

Following the death of his wife, Judith, Nathaniel married second at Pittsfield, March 16, 1776, Mrs. Abigail (Fairfield) Phelps, widow of William Phelps. Her identity is not known, although she is probably a cousin. She died in Pittsfield 20 Aug. 1813, age 80.

In addition to his service in the Revolutionary War, he is listed as a Private in Massachusetts Soldiers in the French and Indian Wars 1744-1755, serving for 21 weeks and 5 days from 18 April to 26 June and 27 July to 16 Oct 1749 in the Ashuelot Military Expedition.
Nathaniel was among the first settlers of Pittsfield, then called Poontoosuck, in 1749.

Nathaniel died in Pittsfield 17 Sep 1817 and was buried in the Old Burying Ground. Graves here were later moved to Pittsfield Cemetery; no gravestone survives and the exact location of his grave is not known.
On his father’s side, he was a descendant of Gateway Ancestor Rev. William Skepper of Essex Co., Massachusetts.

Revolutionary War Service:
• Marched from Pittsfield to Kinderhook 4 May to 11 May 1777. Service: 1 week.
• Marched from Pittsfield to Fort Ann 30 June 26 July 1777. Service: 3 weeks, 5 days.
• Private, Capt. John Strong’s Co., Col. John Brown’s Regiment, enlisted 30 June 1777, discharged 20 July 1777. Service: 20 days.
• Marched from Pittsfield to Skeensborough 6 September 1777; dismissed 1 October 1777. Service: 3 weeks, 5 days.
• Pvt., Capt. John Strong’s Co., Col. John Brown’s Reg’t, enlisted 6 September 1777, discharged 2 October 1777. Service: 26 days.
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War, Vol. 5, p. 474.

Isaac Messenger was my 6x Great Grandfather and he was born 26 Sep 1745 in Simsbury, Connecticut. He was the son of Isaac Messenger and Hannah Alford.

The Messengers have been a mainstay in America since my 11x Great Grandfather, Andrew Messenger, arrived in the Massachusetts colony around 1637 from Yorkshire, England. The Messengers quickly moved to Connecticut, where they remained and were listed as farmers in colonial records. In 1742, Isaac’s parents and grandparents moved the family to West Simsbury to settle and farm. The area was still wilderness in 1742, and they were the first owners of the plots they acquired.

In 1770, at the age of 25, Isaac married Anna Ward, also of Simsbury.

In 1778, Isaac, along with his brothers Simeon, Reuben, Elijah, and Abner, joined Captain Amasa Mill’s Company of the Connecticut State Troopers, Colonel Roger Enos’ Regiment, as a Private. He arrived in camp in June of 1778. He assisted in building the first fortifications at West Point, under the command of Washington, who was present through some of the construction.  He is listed in Revolutionary Rolls as being at Fort Clinton in August and September, 1778.

Isaac had 7 brothers who all fought in the Revolution, 1 of which was at the battle of Bunker Hill, 3 were part of the battle of White Plains, and 1 was involved with Benedict Arnold’s Que-bec Expedition. Most of the brothers were stationed at one time or another in their service at Fort Clinton and West Point. All the Messenger brothers survived. Isaac’s bride, Anna, also had 3 brothers who died in the war.

Fort Clinton was the main defensive garrison of the Revolutionary War defense network at West Point. Commanded by and named after Benedict Arnold before his betrayal of the Revolutionary Army and defection to the British, it was later renamed after General James Clinton. It was the key defensive fort, overlooking the turn in the Hudson River and the Great Chain. At the height of its use during the war, the southern and western walls were nine feet high and twenty feet thick. Three redoubts and batteries on the south were named Forts Meigs, Wyllys, and Webb. After the war, the remains of Fort Clinton fell into disrepair and were eventually demolished to make way for the expansion of the United States Military Academy, founded at the garrison in 1802.

After his service, Isaac went back to farming and raised his family of 9 children in Connecticut. Around 1800, he and his family moved to De Ruyter, in upstate New York. He moved again, to Concord, Ohio, some time prior to 1830, to be closer to many of his children and grandchildren that had settled there.

Private Isaac Messenger died on 8 May 1839, in Concord, Ohio, at the age of 93. He is buried in the Concord Cemetery in Concord, Ohio.

He grew up in Schenectady and the Burright’s/Barhydt’s lived in the Albany County area since they arrived in America in the mid-1650’s.

Teunis was 23 years old when he married Jacomyntje Van Vorst on 14 Oct 1765 in Schenectady, New York. This marriage produced 5 children.

Teunis’ wife, Jacomyntje, died shortly after the birth of her 5th child on 8 Mar 1772. Teunis was a widower with 5 young children for 3 years before he met and married Cornelia Bovie on 7 May 1775, in Schenectady, New York.

In 1778, Teunis is on the rolls for the 2nd Albany County, NY Militia under the command of Colonel Abraham Wemple, Captain Jesse Van Slyck’s Company as a Private. He had a brother who was a Lieutenant within the regiment, and 3 brothers as Privates that served with him.

The 2nd Albany County, NY Militia was formed shortly after the engagements at Lexington and Concord. They weren’t involved in many major engagements, but were significant in guarding forts in New York along the Mohawk River Valley when not in the field with the Continental Army.

Some of the engagements that the 2nd Albany was involved in include:

11 Aug 1777 – Battle of Normanskill

19 Sep 1777 – Battle of Freeman’s Farm (First Battle of Saratoga)

7 Oct 1777 – Battle of Bemis Heights (Second Battle of Saratoga)

1778-79 – Served in Continental service at Fort Paris

July 1780 – Regiment is guarding Fort Plank

2 Aug 1780 – Regiment is guarding bateau bound for Fort Stanwix

12 Oct 1780 – Defense of Ballston

19 Oct 1780 – Battle of Klock’s Field

25 Oct 1781 – Battle of Johnstown

Teunis’ second marriage produced 5 more children and in 1786, Teunis’ second wife, Cornelia Bovie, died. That same year, he took Catharina Vrooman as his third wife with which he had 3 more children. Between his three marriages, Teunis had 13 children, with most of them living to adulthood. Other than his time in the militia, he lived and farmed his entire life in the Schenectady, Albany, New York area. Teunis died in 1804 in Albany County, New York at the age of 62.

Samuel Huntley was born 11 Mar 1747 in Lyme, Connecticut and was the son of Samuel and Ruth Huntley. He was the 6th of 12 children and they all grew up on the farm in Lyme.
At the age of 20, Samuel married Susannah Huntley on 7 Oct 1767 in Lyme, CT. They would go on to have 7 children.
In 1775, Samuel enlisted in the 6th Connecticut Regiment under the command of Col. Samuel Holden Parsons. In June, under the first establishment of the Continental Army, the 6th CT joined General George Washington at the siege of Boston. In August, to promote cohesion among the various colonial units, regiments were given precedence by Washington and the 6th Connecticut was also designated the “13th Regiment of Foot”.
Samuel was only in the 6th Connecticut for a short time and moved his family from Lyme, CT approximately 150 miles north to Lempster, New Hampshire, joining a brother who had moved there a few years prior. He is then found on the payroll of Capt. Json Wait’s Company of NH, Col. Bedel’s Regiment, as part of the Norther Dept. under the command of General Schuyler, in February 1776. Bedel’s Regiment joined the Continental Army during the invasion of Canada and saw action at the Siege of Fort St. Jean and also the Battle of Cedars. Most of Bedel’s Regiment was captured by the British at Cedars but were released in a prisoner exchange 8 days later.
After Samuel’s term of service, he went home to his wife and the farm. His first wife, Susannah, died in early 1787 and he them married Ruth Brown on 13 Mar 1787 in Lempster, NH. A few years later, he moved the family to Leicester, Vermont. He had 3 more children with Ruth, and she passed away in 1797.
Samuel Huntley passed away in March 1806 at the age of 59.

George Yoakum was born in 1758 in Virginia. George’s father, Valentine (Felty) Yoakum, settled in Greenbrier County in the 1740’s with his father, and that is where George was born. On 17 Jul 1763, the Muddy Creek Massacre occurred. Shawnee Indians attacked the settlers of the area, and George lost his father in that attack. Somehow, George, his mother, and siblings, managed to escape being killed in the Indian raid. Some accounts state that they were taken prisoner by the Shawnee, and were not released until a treaty was signed in the winter of 1764-65.

In 1777, George married Martha (Patty) Van Bibber, in Greenbrier County. This union produced 8 children:
• Isaac Yoakum, Sr.
• Peter Yoakum
• George Yoakum II
• Valentine Felty Yoakum
• Jesse Yoakum
• Robert G. Yoakum
• Nancy Yoakum
• Margaret Peggy Yoakum

Having lived in the Greenbrier County area his entire life, George became a Scout for the Greenbrier Militia, during the Revolution, and furnished supplies for the militia troops in the county.

After the war, George moved, with his wife and family, to the Powell Valley area of Virginia. There were many Indian skirmishes, and the settlers began building fortifications along the river valley, one of which was named, Yoakum’s Station (or Fort Yoakum). They stayed here until approximately 1795, when they moved further down the Powell River, to Speedwell, TN, where they built another “Fort Yoakum”, in the Van Bebber Springs area.

On 28 Oct 1800, George Yoakum was killed on a bear hunt, in the Cumberland Mountains. He died at the age of 42, leaving a wife and 8 children.

Asahel Lovell married Hannah Byram on April 3, 177? in Newton Twsp., Sussex Co., New Jersey.

Asahel Lovell and Hannah Byram’s children are:

Huldah, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Abraham, Mosses, Abigail, Susannah, Aaron, Hannah, Japhet Byram Lovell.

Asahel is listed as a Private in the Militia of New Jersey. In 1804 he sold his property in Byram Twsp., Sussex Co., New Jersey. Hannah signed her name with an X.

In the book “History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler Counties of NY” 1897, there is a paragraph, “In the year 1806 one of Mr. Baker’s cows strayed away and while looking for her, west from his resident about one mile, he heard the sound of an axe, and following it up he came to a clearing, where he found Asahel Lovell with his family, and who had been there about a year, and on the farm now occupied by Daniel Johnson. His descendants are now living in town”.

When Asahel and Hannah moved from New Jersey they had a family of 10 children who moved with them across the wilderness to central New York. As a Revolutionary war solider he was eligible for a “Solder’s Right” claim in the Military Land Grant in Tompkins Co., New York.

This is the first in a two-part series on my Patriot ancestor William “Swago Bill” Ewing. In this first part we will explore why the Battle of Point Pleasant was significant and why it is considered to be the “First Battle of the Revolution”. To give some perspective to the time frame let us remember that the Boston Massacre took place March 5, 1770 and the Boston Tea Party December 16, 1773. Two events certainly most people would connect to the Revolution. Our first Continental Congress was meeting in Philadelphia Oct 5th -Sep 26th 1774.
In May 1774 the Indians had already been incited in making attacks upon the inhabitants below the Ohio River and the frontiersmen were calling for support. It is an established fact that emissaries of Great Britain were inciting the Indians to hostilities against the frontier for the purpose of distracting attention, and thus preventing the formation of any Unionization of the colonies. These and other events show that we were in fact in a state of war with England even though it had not officially been declared yet.
The Battle of Point Pleasant, took place on October 10th, 1774. It preceded Lexington and Concord by six months and even though it was fought under the British flag, it was strictly fought by American patriots. This battle generally regarded as the first battle of the Revolution aided the American cause by it having such a devastating effect on the Ohio Indians that it was at least two years before they were able to make any other attacks. It is believed by many historians to have been conceived by the English for the very purpose of distracting the colonies thoughts away from independence. At the very least had the battle been lost the course of history would have forever been changed and the Revolution itself would have likely been snuffed out and forgotten or at least severely delayed and allowing the British to establish sufficient forces and arms to quell any organized resistance.
The battle of Point Pleasant also became a training war for men who were not yet hardened to bloody conflict. It tested the nerve and found it in great abundance in Morgan’s sharpshooters; it battle-trained the men for King’s Mountain and for the Cowpens; it steeled the men who would later follow George Rogers Clark through the swamps on his conquest of the Illinois.
In winning the battle the Virginia Militia derailed the British expansion of Canada south to the Ohio River. The key is the importance of the Quebec Act. If Point Pleasant had been a British victory Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan would be Canadian, consistent with the Quebec Act. As Virginia victory it displaced British authority from the Ohio Valley, preserved Virginia’s sovereignty over present day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and lands west. Giving to the fledgling American empire an area that now comprises five states; the very heart of the new forming Republic. The Battle of Point Pleasant was the first decisive conflict of the Revolutionary War; for had the issue been otherwise and had it turned out as Lord Dunmore expected and hoped it would, the people of the Colonies would have submitted, they would have acquiesced in the tyranny of the English crown. They would be in a frontier war with the Indians and would have been unable and unwilling to engage in a war for independence. Failure to defeat the Ohio tribes would have meant fighting a two-front war during the critical early stages of the Revolution before the Saratoga victory, October 17, 1777, and the resulting French alliance. Such a two-front war might have brought defeat to the infant independence movement. Thus, by the swift and decisive winning of the battle it enabled Virginia (instead of having to protect her frontier) to go into the Revolution with battle tested men. If the Indians had destroyed the Virginia Militia at their remote encampment, Virginia would have been weakened just as the Revolution was beginning to start. It was that same militia that later expelled Lord Dunmore and the British Army from Virginia. Thus, keeping Virginia from falling under British this preserved the lines of control and communication for the colonies, and forced the British in turn to get their reinforcements from Quebec “through the wilderness of Saratoga” rather than the established roads from Alexandria, VA. Had Point Pleasant been lost perhaps George Washington himself may have been reluctant to have accepted the job to command the troops in the north, and decided to stay instead in Virginia to protect his ancestral home, Mt. Vernon. In the end, without the victory at Point Pleasant, the United States would have found its western boundary to have been located along the Allegheny Mountains, with Kentucky and the Old Northwest Territory having remained British Indian Territory.
The Battle of Point Pleasant made possible the settlement of the Kentucky wilderness in the next years of 1775 and 1776. These settlements became a basis
of operations, for General George Rogers Clark in his conquest of the Illinois Country in 1777-1778; Creation of Illinois County, by the Virginia Assembly in 1778, meant the civil government was extended to the Mississippi. The Treaty Convention at Paris in 1783, made that river, and not the crest of the Alleghenies, the western boundary of the new American Nation.
Point Pleasant gave us some immense figures in the Revolutionary War; men like Gen. Andrew Lewis and Gen. Daniel Morgan. One could also argue that the battle also gave us George Rogers Clark; although he took no part in the battle itself, he was a scout with the Dunmore division of the army. Morgan’s sharpshooters were organized almost immediately after the battle was fought.
It was on their way home Morgan learned of the Continental Congress held in Philadelphia and he immediately organized his now tested men into an alliance that was sworn to do battle for freedom and independence. Cornwallis after his surrender at Yorktown remarked to Morgan that he commanded the most magnificent regiment in the world. Andrew Lewis won fame in the Battle of Point Pleasant, and when Washington was made Commander-in-chief he insisted that Lewis was more capable for the trying position and urged that he be selected instead.
We know the importance the Battle of Point Pleasant, but how do we know it was part of a larger British plot to dissuade patriot attentions from fighting with the mother country? Let’s review some facts that show the duplicity of Dunmore. Lord Dunmore was the last Royal provincial Governor of the territory. It is well known that Lord Dunmore was an enemy of the colonists, his efforts to induce the Indians to cooperate with the English and thus reduce Virginia to subjection is undeniable. With the hostilities against the crown building in the Colonies the Colonial Assembly recommended the formation of a committee to communicate their concerns to leaders in Great Britain. Dunmore immediately dissolved the Assembly. Dunmore saw rising unrest in the colony and sought to deprive Virginia militia of supplies needed for insurrection. The Second Virginia Convention had elected delegates to the Continental Congress. On 23 March 1775, Patrick Henry gave his famous “Give me Liberty, or give me Death!” speech at the Second Convention and the accompanying resolution calling for forming an armed resistance force made Dunmore think it prudent to remove some Gunpowder. Dunmore gave a key to the commander of H.M.S. Magdalen, and ordered him to remove the powder, and threatened to lay Williamsburg in ashes at the first sign of insurrection, provoking what became known as the Gunpowder Incident. April, 1775, before the Virginians had all returned home from Point Pleasant, the battles of Lexington and Concord had occurred. Dunmore then led the British war effort in Virginia and proclaimed freedom to all slaves who should take up arms against the “rebels”, and declared martial law throughout Virginia. He next sent marauding parties and began to lay waste to the Virginia countryside. Virginians quickly organized militias for defense, and repulsed Dunmore at Great Bridge, VA. He withdrew to his ships at Norfolk, and when the town would not furnish supplies to him, cannonaded the town and set it on fire.
Ironically, just 14 months after supposedly being allies at point Pleasant, it was Gen. Andrew Lewis and his colonial militia who were instrumental in expelling Dunmore and the British Army from Virginia. Before his expulsion, Dunmore sought to enlist American Indians as allies – the very Indians defeated by the Virginia colonial militia at Point Pleasant. It is believed that Dunmore had collaborated with them all along and deliberately isolated the colonial militia under Lewis and directed the Indians to attack the sleeping militia before Dunmore and the British Royal Army arrived, in hope of eliminating the potentially troublesome colonial militia. That Dunmore was duplicitous and aided the Indians at Point Pleasant seems to be incontrovertible, and Dunmore’s actions in the following year, 1775 would further point this out. General Lewis was so convinced immediately following the battle of Point Pleasant, of the treachery of Lord Dunmore. Lewis refused to obey any more of Dunmore’s orders, and thus became the first American officer to disobey a superior British officer, and informed General Washington of his reasons. Further evidence of the collusion of the Indians with Dunmore at the time of the battle, It is known that Blue Jacket, a Shawnee chief, visited Dunmore’s camp on the 9 Oct. the day before the battle and went straight from there to Point Pleasant, and that Indians went to confer with Dunmore immediately after the battle. Dunmore on the day of the battle remarked, “Lewis is probably having hot work about this time.”
The battle is not generally known due in part that the Militia, commanded by Gen Lewis, was formed and recruited en route to Camp Union, as they were on their way to the mouth of the Kanawha, (the place agreed upon for the uniting of the two wings of the forces, the other wing commanded by Dunmore himself), and thus no official roster was being prepared.
The continuing events of the Revolution came so profusely and so fast as to preclude any further discussion or recording of the far-reaching significance of the battle of Point Pleasant, until much later in 1787, at the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, where Virginia patriotically contributed a large and generous part of the Northwest Territory to the United States, a direct result of the victory at Point Pleasant. This event being on the fringes of the distant frontier also did not have the communications to facilitate getting the word out on the battle and its significance. Had the battle taken place in a more populated New England city no doubt it would be recorded and taught to every school student today. Regrettably the educators of America and the textbooks taught in our schools are unspoken to this most exceptional historic event, the Battle of Point Pleasant should be made a part of the curriculum so our descendants should know the story of the men who fought in that battle. In the next installment I will cover more about the battle and Swago Bill before and after his service in this battle on the frontier.

Part 2 of the Patriot Biography of William “Swago Bill” Ewing

In the last installment we learned the significance of the Battle of Point Pleasant; now let’s learn more about one of the participants of that battle my patriot William “Swago Bill” Ewing.
William was born 1756 Dec 24. Knapp’s Creek is what it is called today. But the first white man’s name, given to it some 261 years ago, was Ewing’s Creek, in honor of James Ewing (William’s Father) the pioneer who first settled on it as early as 1750, to be one of the county’s first settlers. It flows in a range of mountains that separate Southern West Virginia and Virginia, in today’s Pocahontas Co., WV. It was on Ewing’s Creek were William was born. There is not much known about William’s early childhood other than he had three sisters Jeanet “Jenny” Ann, Elizabeth, Jane “Susan Jane”, He also had an older brother named John. John and Jenny Ann would become well known later in an event known as the Clendenin Massacre where they were made captives of the Shawnee under the command of Chief Cornstalk who later was the main antagonist in the Battle of Point Pleasant. John became known as “Indian” John for being held captive by the Indians. We do know that in the year 1774 William “Tomahawked”. Tomahawking to the pioneers was a method of staking out a claim on land. It was the same as putting a fence around it. A man only needed to determine what land he wanted and then walking the perimeter chopping his mark into trees to mark it as his. William’s land when it was surveyed later was found to be 745 acres. When he tomahawked his claim, William aimed to take in all the headwaters of Swago Creek. William’s first cabin was near the foot of Swago Creek. Thus William was bestowed the nickname of Swago Bill. There is a tale that has passed down through the ages. It illustrates the quirky Ewing Humor that Swago Bill was said to have in abundance. It seems that a man named Alexander Waddell went to the woods with his axe to lay out his own site, but before beginning his line, he laid his axe by a tree and started out on a prospecting trip, to see where the best available land lay, with a view to enclosing it. While thus engaged, William happened along and found the axe and suspected its mission. As a joke, Swago took the axe, and with typical Ewing mischievous humor began to blaze a line around the best of the land. When Waddell returned, he was much dismayed to think he had lost the land he wanted so much. William only carried the joke far enough to plague his neighbor and then gave up both the axe and the line he had started, and Alex completed it and took in a good-sized plantation.
William occupied his land the same year he laid claim to it and was living on it when Lord Dunmore’s War broke out. William had to have been south of Swago Creek at the time of the War, because he went out with the Botetourt men. If he would have still been on Ewing’s Creek, he would have gone with the Augusta troops. William was only 17 when the call to arms came in August of 1774.
There may have been many inducements offered to make enlistment a glowing thing, such as promise of adventure or a grant of land, but the main thing among these incensed frontiersmen, was the prospect of a march into enemy territory, having at the scoundrels who were making life so miserable, and being done with them once and for all. William had an incentive to as well against the old Chief who had murdered and held captive much of his family during the Clendenin Massacre that had occurred years before.
Swago Bill enlisted in Captain Stewart’s company, part of the regiment commanded by General Andrew Lewis. The company formed at Camp Union, not far from the site of the Clendenin Massacre, near Lewisburg. Some of the officers wore the regular military uniforms, however the enlisted men wore no uniforms most were in the distinctive dress of the borderer…hunting shirt, leather leggings, breeches of domestic make, and caps made from the skins of wild animals or knit from wool, typical of the pioneers.
They carried either flintlocks or muskets, bullet pouches, hunting knives, and tomahawks. “Arriving at the Ohio, General Lewis encamped, awaiting the arrival of Lord Dunmore. Neither knew exactly where the other was, and it also seems neither knew exactly where the Indians were, but the Indians apparently knew every move of the Virginians from the time they were called to arms. The Indians were discovered only by accident. Captain Stuart, in his “Memoirs”,” recalled the opening incident of the battle: “Two young men were sent out early to hunt for deer, and went up the river two or three miles, they fell on the camp of the Indians, who fired on them. One was killed. The other escaped and got back into camp just before sunrise. He stopped before my tent, and I discovered a number of men collecting around him as I lay in my bed. I jumped up and approached him to know what was the cause of the alarm, when I heard him declare that he had seen about five acres of land covered with Indians as thick as they could stand one beside the other. “Instantly the drums beat to arms, and the men rolled out of their blankets, started from the ground, looked to their flints and priming, and were ready on the moment. Lewis immediately ordered out his brother, Colonel Charles Lewis, and 150 troops. They had not marched quite half a mile from camp when about sunrise and attack was made on the division by the united tribes of Indians, in number not less than 800 and by many thought to be 1,000.” “It was a day long bloody battle royal. Never before had such a large mass of Indians been squarely met by a mass of hardy Virginians. The lines lengthened to a more than a mile on each side and the average distance apart was only six rods. Both sides fought from behind trees, logs, stumps and brush and tree tops. It was every man for himself. The din of musketry was all that could be heard and that was continuous.” The American forces fought in Indian fashion, keeping as much as possible behind trees, logs, or anything that provided protection. William was behind a tree when another soldier, rushing for cover, pushed him from his position and took it for himself. Instantaneously the soldier fell dead, shot through the head by an Indian bullet. William would have received the shot if he had not so unceremoniously been shoved aside.
The turning point in the battle: Swago Bill was one of a party of soldiers who skulked under cover of the banks of Crooked Creek to a point from which they attacked the Indians from the rear the fight was so bloody for a short time that Crooked Creek ran red with blood. The Indians mistook the little band of soldiers to be the arrival of fresh troops from the east, and from that time on, they directed their efforts at getting their men back across the Ohio,” by the end. The Virginians lost many brave men – 81 it was said, including two colonels, Charles Lewis & John Field. The Botetourt commander, William Fleming, was wounded, as were three men in Captain Stuart’s company, Charles Kinneson, William Clendennin and Thomas Ferguson. The number of Indians killed and wounded would never be known for they were continually carrying off their dead and throwing them into the river. The Redman’s only dying desire was that his body might not fall into the hands of his pale-face opponent. His loss has been stated at 233. It was divine providence or sheer luck that anyone survived and that the Virginians won this battle with the deck stacked against them as it was.
This is of course was what Dunmore was counting on and why he was so surprised that the Indians under Cornstalk were so soundly defeated. Dunmore’s treacherous plan was to have the bulk of the Virginia Militia wiped out and to have the Colonies involved in an Indian border war to dissuade them from thoughts of Revolution with England. His plan failed with the victory. Three years later in 1777 William was said to have back at Point Pleasant then a member of Captain Matthew Arbuckle’s company of militiamen. Arbuckle and his troops had been ordered to Point Pleasant, to police the frontier in that area and to construct a fort, replacing Fort Blair, which had burned down for unknown reasons. The Revolutionary War was well underway by this time. William Was also said to be at the fort when Chief Cornstalk was being held there and was murdered in his cell by a mob of angry soldiers who wanted revenge on him. It appears however that William’s two years at Point Pleasant comprised the extent of his Revolutionary War experiences. Neither family folklore nor written records place him anywhere else. Later in November 1785 William marries a daughter of one of his neighbors the McNeils. Mary was just a month short of being 14 years old but she was about the healthiest specimen of girlhood that ever grew up on the Blue Ridge. William was already a man just five weeks short of 29 when they were wed in nearby Lewisburg, West Virginia on November 16, 1785 the fact is recorded at Lewisburg, WV. They set up housekeeping at William’s cabin on the Swago Creek. William and Mary had ten sons and two daughters. In time they would have 81 grandchildren. I descend from their youngest son Andrew born 1809. In the spring of 1810 Swago Bill and Mary decided to join many of their neighbors who had moved years earlier to the western part of Gallia County, OH, across the Ohio River from Point Pleasant, where government land could be bought for $2.00 an acre. William’s aim was to get out of the mountains and procure more arable land for his ever-growing family. William had bought the entire northeast quarter of Section 11, 160 acres in all.
It was in 1812 that Swago Bill Ewing built a two- story cabin of hewn logs the first in the north- western part of Gallia County. Among William’s other credits, was that he served as a Justice of the Peace most of the time he lived in Gallia County. In 1820 the only children left at home were Sarah, Jacob, Abram, George and Andrew; by that time Swago Bill was 63 and apparently ailing. He drew up his will on 8 January 1820 he started it with “being weak in body”. The will however lie on a shelf for almost three years. William turned 65 on Christmas Eve, 1821. He lingered on through to the early fall of 1822. It was on 7 October 1822 – just three days short of the 48th anniversary of the Battle of Point Pleasant – that William Ewing closed his eyes for the eternal rest. In later years the DAR caused a flag to be placed on his grave as testimony to William Ewing’s service in the Revolution. He is buried on the family Grave site in Ewington, OH. Ewington, Ohio is a village located about two and one-half miles nIt was laid out in 1852 by George Ewing son of William Swago Bill Ewing. George named the town in honor of his father. orth of Vinton, Ohio. Ewington had a population in 1880 of eighty-five. It still is there today my family and I visited there some years ago, and perhaps someday we will get back there again and do a more extensive exploration of that small town.

My 5th Great-Grandfather William T. Whitlatch was born on April 20, 1761 in Harford County, Maryland.
His parents came to America in 1748 or 1749 from London, England and records indicate they returned to England after the Revolutionary War. Most of the information on William’s service is obtained from a Revolutionary War pension application in 1833 that awarded him $80 annually. His pension affidavit provided the following information about his service: William was hired as a substitute for Captain Simpson’s Militia Company in Washington County, MD in September 1779. During that time, he volunteered to go west as part of Gen. McIntosh’s western army at Ft. Pitt, PA and Ft. Laurens in what is now Ohio. In April 1780, Gen. McIntosh sent a letter to William’s officers that additional troops were not wanted. History states that this was due to Gen. Washington cancelling a planned expedition by Gen. McIntosh to capture Ft. Detroit in present day Michigan. William was dismissed from camp in May 1780 with eight months of service. He then married Nancy Anne Veech in September 1780 in Harford County, MD. In 1781 William and Nancy moved to the southwestern frontier of Pennsylvania, which is now Greene County. In the spring of 1782 he was hired as a substitute for Capt. Pigman’s Militia Company. William indicated in his pension letter that each militia company furnished 2 men as Indian Spies. He was chosen and went out on the frontier in March 1782 and remained until the last week of October 1782. In March 1783 he again hired on as a substitute for Captain Pigman’s Militia Company and served as an Indian Spy until October or November of 1783. The Indian Spies worked in pairs to observe and report on the movement of Native Americans in their assigned area.
Most of the Native American tribes were allied with and supplied by England. William’s pension application indicated that he was based out of Ankrom’s Fort on the Ten Mile Creek in southwest Pennsylvania. William stated he reported to Captain Pigman and Captain Crawford at that fort. He wrote that the Native Americans would generally go to their winter camps in late fall and return to harass the frontier settlements in the spring.
The history of Greene County, PA showed that many settlers were killed by Native American raiding parties during the time of the Revolutionary War. William and Nancy made their homestead in a 16ft by 14ft cabin on 160 acres in Greene County, Pennsylvania and had seven children. Their youngest, Nancy Whitlach, was born in 1800. She went on to marry Daniel Fuller Jr. in 1822 who was the first of my surname born in America as his parents, Daniel Fuller Sr. and Nancy Young, came from Ireland in their youth. Supplemental pension application letters from various parties describe William as a hardworking, industrious man and a lifelong supporter of the Whig Party. Toward the end of his life he suffered from an ailment that left him nearly blind.
William died March 14, 1846 at the age of 84 years old and is buried in a marked grave at the Old Ironside Cemetery located in Greene County, PA.

Daniel Gage was born June 1, 1734 in Milford, Worcester Co, MA and married Priscilla Jones on January 1, 1756.  They had ten children between 1756 and 1778:  Daniel Jr., Asa, Mille, Lydia, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Nathan, Richard, Abraham, and Moses.

Daniel enlisted as a Private in Captain David Bent’s Company of Colonel Job Cushing’s Regiment on September 5, 1777 for service in the Northern Department.  Col. Cushing’s Regiment marched to Stillwater, NY and was present at the Battle of Bemis Heights on Oct. 7, 1777 under Brigadier General Jonathan Warner’s Brigade.  The Regiment witnessed the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne’s army on October 17, 1777.  Daniel was discharged on November 29, 1777. 

Daniel’s son Asa, served throughout the Revolution.  Asa’s pension records indicate that he crossed the Delaware River during the night of December 25, 1776 and was at the Battle of Trenton with the 13th Continental Regiment.

Daniel died April 18, 1810 and was buried in the Parrish Cemetery,  Hubbardston, Worcester Co, MA.

Jeremiah Beard Eells and his two eldest sons, John and Jeremiah, participated in the American Revolution.  They were all born in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and at one time or another, each served in the 9th Connecticut Militia.

Jeremiah Eells, Sr. was born Dec 21, 1732 to John Eells and Anna Beard in New Canaan, Connecticut and died Nov 12, 1815 in New Canaan, Conncecticut.  He married Lois Benedict, born in New Amsterdam, New York (1735-1819) on Nov 28, 1754 in the Canaan parish of Norwalk, CT.  This marriage produced 13 children, consisting of 7 sons and 6 daughters.  They were John Eells (1755-1832), Jeremiah Beard Eells, Jr. (1757-1826), Anna Eells (1759-1792), Lois Eells (1761-1814), Martha Eells (1763-1848), Sarah Eells (1765-1798), Dinah Eells (1767-1813), Samuel Eells (1770-1841), Nathaniel Eells (1772-1823), Beard Eells (1773-1831), James Trowbridge Eells (1775-1848), and Betsy Eells (1780-1822).

He first enlisted as an Ensign on Jun 10, 1776, in Connecticut’s Militia with Captain Samuel Keeler’s Company under Colonel Phillip B. Bradley.  He was discharged after seven months, and reenlisted the next day, Jan 12, 1777, as an Ensign in the 9th Militia of the 9th CT Regiment in Lieutenant John Carter’s Company under Colonel John Mead.  Thirteen days later, he was detached from army service and made a Lieutenant in command of a detachment called “Coast Guards”, whose duty it was to keep guard along the coast of Long Island Sound, and in general to be ready at a moment’s notice to repel any hostile party that might appear. (Payroll of Capt. Samuel Keeler’s Co., 1776.  The Record of CT Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783, pp 485, 629).

According to the Eells Family History in America, 1633-1952, pp 51-56, on March 14, 1777, while commanding a portion of the group stationed at “Old Well”, now South Norwalk, they were surrounded by a part of British and Tories and the entire guard of 14 were taken prisoner.  The prisoners were conveyed to New York City, where they were initially held in the Old Sugar House Prison.  Jeremiah kept a journal of his imprisonment, detailing among other things, his inoculation for small pox (for which he paid Dr. Menema), getting paid for working in his trade (making shoes), receiving money from various sources to buy cloth for shirts and britches, and having his hopes dashed as other officers were exchanged or paroled.  His diary ends on the 24th of November, 1777, but Jeremiah’s name does not appear on a list of officers and other prisoners on parole on Long Island until Aug 22, 1778.  He was finally released on Jan 31, 1779, after almost 2 years of being a prisoner.

Reuben N. Barrett was born Feb 9, 1755 in Chatham County, North Carolina.  He died March 3, 1814 and is buried in Tyger Baptist Cemetery in Tigerville, South Carolina.

He married Hannah Doty, who died January 1810.  Later in 1810 he married Thomasine Prince.  With his 2 wives, Reuben fathered 11 children.

Reuben was residing in the Ninety-Six District of South Carolina at the time of the Revolutionary War.  He enlisted as a Private in the South Carolina Militia and, during the war, he served in the companies of Captain Holloway, Captain Trammel, and Captain Lawson.

On Jane 24, 1787, Reuben was issued 35 and 5/8 pounds of silver from the South Carolina Militia for his service during the Revolutionary War.  Pension laws were passed beginning in 1818 by Congress.  Reuben died in 1814 and would not have been able to apply for a pension.  On July 15, 1853, Thomasine Prince Barrett (died 1856) applied for a widow’s military pension, based on Reuben’s service during the Revolution.

In Reuben’s last will and testament, he listed his 11 children and as part of his estate, 3 African slaves.

Josiah Frost was born into a Colonial New England family living in Wellington, Tolland County, Connecticut, on July 6, 1745.  He married Elizabeth Parcel on March 1, 1768, in New Providence, New Jersey.

He moved with his wife to Virginia where he is listed as living in Louden County, when he was paid 25 pounds Stirling for serving as an infantryman in the Virginia Continental Line on April 21, 1785.  He also had land in Allegheny County, Maryland, and operated a tavern and way station for a wagon freight line out of Virginia that his future son-in-law, Samuel Dorris, Jr., who married his daughter Abigail, was a horse team driver.  

Josiah’s family, and especially his oldest son, developed the land and started a town, Frostburg, in the county.  Josiag was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth, who died as he did in Allegheny County, MD.  His children lived in the Frostburg aread and two of his daughters married and moved to Tennessee.

William Dorris, The Patriarch, was born in about 1705 at Knockbreda Castlereagh borough (near Belfast), county Down (now N. Ireland).

He married Mary Roake about 1733.  She was born about 1707 in Belfast, County Down, N. Ireland.  They had at least 3 sons:  Samuel (1733-1825), Isaac (1735-1824), and Joseph (1741-1825).  Mary died sometime after 1741 in Ireland.

William immigrated, with his children, to Maryland after his wife’s death, and married Mary Williams about 1756 in New Jersey.  He and his second wife had at least 2 other children:  Sarah (1757-1840) and William Joseph (1761-1842).

While living in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War, William provided a supply of (cattle?) and other services on credit to the Continental Army.  Following the War, he petitioned the New Jersey government to repay him for the credit he extednded by providing credit for his taxes.  All of his sons served in the Revolutionary War.  William, his second wife Mary, and pesumably his youngest son William Joseph and daughter Sarah, moved to Orange County, North Carolina, where he died before November 23, 1795, when his will was probated.    He was survived by his second wife who appeared on the North Carolina 1800 Census.  His older sons settled in Tennessee.

Samuel Dorris, Sr., was the son of William Joseph Dorris, Jr. and Mary (Roarke) Dorris.  His father immigrated to Maryland or New Jersey from Ireland with several children, but it is not clear if his wife was with him or had died.

He married Martha Hughes in New Jersey or Maryland about 1765 and was the father of at least 2 sons:  Samuel Jr. and Isaac.

His patriotic service to the cause of the Revolution consists of signing the petition to the 5th Virginia Convention from Louden County on June 8, 1776, and took the Oath of Allegiance to the State of Maryland in Washington County, on March 2, 1778.

Samuel moved from New Jersey to Virginia and settled in Robinson or Sumner County, Tennessee, where he died intestate but an inventory of his estate was recorded.  It is unknown when and where his wife died.

Charles Powers was born January 1, 1710 in the State of Virginia. He married Hannah (some say her last name was Flowers) before 1755. Charles and his two sons, John and Isaac appear together in the militia of Rockingham County, Virginia (Co. #5) (now Pendleton County, West Virginia in 1788. Charles’ rank in the Continental Army was Matross. A Matross was a soldier of artillery, who ranked next below a gunner. The duty of a Matross was to assist the Gunners in loading, firing and sponging the guns. They were provided with firelock, and marched with the store-wagons, acting as guards.

In 1766, Charles was on the Tax List in Pendleton, West Virginia.

On May 17, 1768, he received property from the Andrew Smith estate in Pendleton, West Virginia.

On March 10, 1777, he purchased property from Jonas and Sarah Friend on the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potowmack River.

In 1787, he was on the Tax List of Pendleton, West Virginia, with 44 acres plus 73 acres worth 7 shillings and 13 pence.

Jonas Friend had moved by 1772 to the Tygart River Valley in what became Randolph County. However the Friends didn’t dispose of their land in Pendleton County until May 22, 1776, when they got a very good price (£105) from Charles Powers for what must have been his 44 greatly improved acres on the North Fork.

In 1787, in Pendleton, West Virginia, his household is listed with 2 males over 21, no blacks, 8 horses, and 10 cattle.

In 1788, he is in Capt. Robert Harrison’s Company #5, Pendleton, West Virginia, with 9 horses.

On February 3, 1789, he sold property in Pendleton, West Virginia to Abraham Carper.

The following proves the lineage of Charles to his son Isaac:

They came to Warrick Co., IN.: The Revolutionary War soldiers and patriots buried in Warrick Co. by Opal B. Phillips and Carrie B. Hart, Bicentenial Project for Captain Jacob Warrick Chapter DAR lists Charles as the father of Isaac and John Powers.
Roster of Revolutionary Ancestors of the Indiana Daughters of the American Revolution, Vol II, Page 2-259. Isaac Powers had a son he named John, presumably after his brother John, son of Charles. Isaac Powers had a son he named Charles, presumably after his father Charles.
Ind. Counties Warrick G.R.C., Indiana DAR, G.R.C., Bible and family records, Book 6, Warrick County Indiana. This document lists dates of birth of Isaac Powers sons John and Charles.
Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, by Lyman Chalkley, Vol III. Charles Powers and his wife “Hannah” sold land in Potowmack, Virginia.
Index to the Virginia 1783 Personal Property Tax or 1783 Land Tax List. Lists Charles Powers in Rockingham County where he now lives and his sons Isaac and John in King William County, where they were born.
Bureau of the Census, Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States taken in the Year 1790, Virginia. Rockingham County, Virginia, 1784 lists Charles Powers.
Virginia Valley Records, “Vouchers” in the Several Militia Companies of Rockingham County in 1788. This document shows Charles Powers and his sons Isaac and John furnished 9 horses. They were in Captain Robert Harrison’s Company #5, in Rockingham County, Virginia.

Edward Lingan Boteler was born about 1735, Pleasant Valley, Washington Co., Maryland. He died in Aug 1818 in Jefferson, Frederick Co., Maryland.
He is buried in Thrashers Chance.
Edward married Elizabeth Ann Delashmutt about 1760.
See “Edward Lingan Boteler of Frederick County, Maryland,” Donna Valley Russell, Western Maryland Genealogy, Vol. 9, No. 4 Octo 1993, pp. 146-157, Mrs. Russell says he “was probably born in Prince George’s County, MD, circa 1735 of unknown parents, but surely a grandson of Henry Boteler.” She distinguishes him from the son of Henry’s brother, Edward Boteler, who bore the identical name but was born circa 1708 and died without issue.

Henry Boteler, Edward’s grandfather per Mrs. Russell, was born in England or Calvert Co MD and married Catherine Lingan, daughter of George Lingan and sister of Ann Lingan who married Henry’s brother Edward. Henry Boteler’s will named four sons Charles, who married Sophia Drury; Henry, who married Sarah Magruder; Edward and Thomas and Mrs. Russell cites two daughters, Alice and Catherine.

Edward’s greatgrandfather is given by Mrs. Russell as Major Charles Boteler of Calvert Co who “emigrated to Maryland by 4 Jul 1665 when Alice Phillips, executrix of William Phillips, is called the wife of Charles Boteler” who, at the time of his death in Sep 1686, was Deputy Surveyor of Calvert Co. (but Alice — was not the mother of Henry or Edward, but probably of anothr son, Charles).

Mrs. Russell gives details of Edward Lingan Boteler. He was first of record in 1760 when he patented the 30-acre tract “Alexandria” recorded by the clerk as “Belder;” subsequently selling this tract for 40 pounds to Charles Martain of Frederick Co (FC) on 19 Mar 1767 as “Edward Boteler” (MD Land Patents BC&GS 12:519; 15:12; FC Land Records K:1091,1092). He served on the FC Grand Jury in Mar 1765; was on a list of FC Associates who supported the patriots’ cause in 1775, and in 1778 signed the Oath of Fidelity to MD. (This Was the Life, Millard M. Rice, p. 264; 9000 Men Who Signed the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity to Maryland During the Revolutionary War, Bettie S. Carothers, 1:22).
In the 1790 FC census of District #3 (p. 65) he appeared with four males under 16, six females five slaves; in 1800 (p. 769) as “Edw. Butler, Senr,” age 45 or over, with one male 10-16, one female 16-26 and 14 slaves.

Edward Boteler Senior’s will was made 21 Feb 1818 signed “Edward Boteler” and proved 31 Aug 1818 (FC Wills HS 2:193-195). Mrs. Russell’s documented article gives details including citation of Susanna Magruder, his daughter. He was 88 when he died; his wife, Elizabeth died in 1810 at the age of 68 (The Valley Register, Middletown, 14 May 1976; Names in Stone, Jacob Merhling Holdcraft, 2:1301).

Johann Conrad Crone was born about 1722 in Staudernhein, Reinland-Pfalz, Germany. He married Anna Margreth Sinn, who was born April 3, 1724 in Seefeldin, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany on 25 June 1749 in Frederick County, Maryland. Anna died December 23, 1790 in Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland.
Conrad and his wife had nine children: Anna Maria, born 12 Dec 1751 in Middletown, Frederick Co., Maryland; Anna Catharine, born 15 Dec 1752 in Middletown, Frederick Co., Maryland; Maria Elizabeth born 29 Sep 1755 in Middletown, Frederick Co., Maryland; Barbara, born about 1758 in Middletown, Frederick Co., Maryland; Margaret, born about 1761 in Middletown, Frederick Co., Maryland; Susanna, born 18 Nov 1764 in Middletown, Frederick Co., Maryland; Henrich, born about 1768 in Middletown, Frederick Co., Maryland; Johann Conrad born 4 Apr 1771 in Middletown, Frederick Co., Maryland, died 30 Dec 1835 in Middletown, Frederick Co., Maryland and is buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Middletown, Frederick Co., Maryland. His wife was Cathrina Schroyer; Christine, born 18 Dec 1773 in Middletown, Frederick Co., Maryland.
Maryland German Church Records, Volume 3, Monocacy Lutheran Congregation and Evangelical Lutheran Church Baptisms 1742-1779, Frederick County, Maryland, translated and edited by Frederick S. Weiser: Page 61: Johann Conrad, son of Conrad and Anna Margreth Kron, b. 4 Apr 1771, bp. 14 July 1771. Sponsors: Conrad and Magdalena Jung.
Johann Conrad Crone’s will of 1835, proved on 11 Jan 1836. Frederick County Will Book GME 2, pages 121 and 122.
Revolutionary War Service: 9000 Men who signed the oath of Allegiance and Fidelity to Maryland during the Revolution, Frederick County, MD, page 53.

William Curry was born about 1714 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania and died Aug 18, 1791 in Botetourt, Virginia.
William married Mary McAfee in 1738 in Botetourt, Virginia.

William Curry served in the Revolutionary War as a Second Lieutenant per Vol 2, page 397, Associators
William CURRY (ca.1715-1791) furnished bacon, 16 pounds, to the Patriot forces at Botetourt Co., Virginia, 14 September 1780. A ROSTER OF REVOLUTIONARY ANCESTORS of the INDIANA DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION , v.2, p.84; D.A.R. #369748.

WILL BOOK – 1770-1801 – Botetourt Co..
Page 134 – acct. of William Curry’s Estate.
In obedience to the Worshipful Court of Botetourt County, we, the subscribers being first sworn meet and appraise the Estate of William Curry, Sen’r. Deceased. The inventory and appraisement of the estate of William Curry, Dec’d was returned to Court and ordered to be recorded.- Botetourt Court, June 1791

William Curry Sr., d. 1791 Botetourt Co. Va.
Children:
1. Susan , b 10-18-1740, d. 4-14-1803, m. (1765-70) George McAfee (1st cou.), d 1810
2. Rebecca, b. Oct 8, 1740 VA, d. Sep 3, 1810, buried near New Providence, Mercer Co, KY
m. Wm. McAfee (younger bro. of Geo.)
3. James b. 1746
4. William Jr. m. Sarah
5. John m. Margaret Adams 1777 Botetourt Co.

Per Indiana DAR from Boonville files: Joseph NC Service: Patriot and furnished material aid. Born about 1728 in VA, died about May 1813, Surry Co., NC; m. Agnes about 1750, she died about 1826. Children: Samuel, William, Elizabeth, Anne, Judith, Sarah, Susanna, Agey (Agnes).

His service as a revolutionary soldier are in Records Office of the Auditor’s Office of North Carolina.
Per VOL. I SURRY CO. HERITAGE BOOK: Joseph (1730-1813) was the son of Samuel Gentry, son of Nicholas Gentry who came to Virginia in 1684. According to family traditions, the first Gentrys in America were two young brothers, who came from England as British soldiers and settled in Virginia. To support this, it has been found that Nicholas and Samuel Gentry entered the land in New Kent County, Virginia in 1684. Nicholas and Samuel were British soldiers sent to Virginia by Charles II with some commissioners to settle the controversy between Governor Berkley and the people of Virginia at the time of the Bacon Rebellion in January 1677. These soldiers were paid off and discharged in the fall of 1683. Many of them remained and settled in Virginia. The records on the early Gentrys are sparse due to destruction by fire, wars, or were lost hence we have not been able to establish complete family records, but it is thought that Nicholas Gentry had six children: Joseph, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Mabel, Samuel and David. The second generation probably began moving from the homeplace when their parents died. Samuel is next found in Louisa County, VA in 1742 buying land and helping to build roads as was required of all citizens of these days by the government. In 1777 Samuel was listed on the tax list of Caswell County in North Carolina. Samuel had six sons. Allen, Joseph, Samuel, Nicholas, Richard and Simon. Joseph Samuel, Nicholas and Richard settled in Surry County, North Carolina. Joseph and Samuel purchased land in the lower part of Surry County, now Yadkin County and gradually bought more land in an area now part of Surry County.

Will of Joseph (E) Gentry, dated November 17, 1804: Wife Agnes to have negro woman Jemima, her own bed and furniture. Son Shelton to have 75 acres where he lives. Daughter Elizabeth Speere to have negro girl Hannah. Mary Gentry, daughter of my deceased son William twenty-five pounds. Son Samuel and Shelton, Daughters: Anne, Agey, Judith, Sarah, and Susanna are to equally divide my remaining property real and personal. Exrs: Samuel Gentry, wife Agnes. Witnesses: M.A. Hughes, A. Hughes, Wm. Dobson. Signed with his mark.
Joseph wrote a will dated November 1804 which was filed for probate in May 1813. This will can be summarized with respect to bequests as follows: Wife: Agnes … to have negro woman, Jemima and residue of estate after specific gifts to other heirs …

Son: Shelton … 75 acres where he now lives and a share of the estate.
Dau: Elizabeth Speere, negro girl Hannah and a share of the estate.
Grand-Dau: Mary Gentry, daughter of my deceased son William … 25 pounds.
Son: Samuel … a share of the estate.
Dau: Anne … a share of the estate.
Dau: Agey [Agnes] … a share of the estate.
Dau: Judith … a share of the estate.
Dau: Sarah … a share of the estate.
Dau: Susanna … a share of the estate.

Joseph’s sons Samuel and Shelton, and his wife Agnes were named as executors. There are a variety of loose papers relating to the settlement of this estate that are filed in the North Carolina State Archives. Among these is a listing of debts and credits relating to the estate, the last one of which, dated 28 April 1813, reads, “debit to cash for Nixon for coffin, 12/-“. [All listings are in pounds, shillings, and pence and then converted at exchange “dollars at 8/-“.] This clearly establishes Joseph’s date of death as sometime in April, 1813.
The final settlement of the estate was not until after 1826 when Agnes, Joseph’s widow, died, thereby releasing her residual share of Joseph’s estate for division among the remaining heirs. Agnes left a will which was written in 1813, and received for probate at the February 1826 Surry County Court. In this will, she left her remaining personal estate to her son Shelton and to her granddaughter Nancy (daughter of Shelton).

NC Rev Arm Accts, abstracted by Wunette Parks Haun (c) 1991, part 3, Vol. 4, Book G, p. 425, paid 26 Apr 1777 for Sundries Aug 1776.”

Samuel Gentry was born about 1748 in Lunenburg Co., Virginia and died Feb 16, 1816, in Narrow, Barren Co., Kentucky.
Married three times: 1st to a Brooks and married about 1772 in Surry Co., North Carolina; married 2nd to Sarah Brock, May 24, 1787 in Surry Co., North Carolina and 3rd to Sarah Melton about 1810 in Barren Co., Kentucky.
Per Indiana DAR from Boonville, IN library: Samuel Gentry was a Patriot and furnished supplies in NC. DAR #422749

Per THE GENTRY FAMILY IN AMERICA, by Richard Gentry, p. 267: born in Lunenburg Co. or perhaps in Louisa Co., VA. Lived in Surry Co., NC prior to 1809, then moved to KY where he died. He was a Baptist preacher and married three times. Had 8 sons, all but Joseph moved to Spencer and Warrick Co., IN.

Per EXCERPTS FROM ATLAS OF SPENCER CO., IN, by D. J. Lake and Co. 1879: Listed under James Gentry, p. 16: Of the ancestors of James Gentry, second son of Samuel. Samuel married three times. Children by the first wife were Joseph, James, Matthew, George, and a daughter Agnes who married John Phillips January 4, 1799, in Surry Co., NC. By second marriage Arthur, Thomas and Shelton. He married Sarah Brock on May 24, 1787, and they had Samuel. Samuel, Sr. was a soldier of the American Revolution. He died in Barren Co., KY. Samuel’s father was Joseph, b. VA, d. May 1813 in Surry Co., NC. Wife Agnes d. about Feb. 1826. Their children were Shelton, Samuel, William, Elizabeth, Agey, Anne, Judith, Sara and Susanna.

Per Opal Phillips Family Group Sheet for Samuel: b. 1752-1760 in Lunenberg, Louisa Co., VA, d. after February 16, 1816 in Barren Co., KY, burial in Gentry Cemetery Narrows, KY. DAR proven #422749, 489744. Children: 1)Joseph, James, Matthew, Agnes, and George, 2)Arthur, Thomas, Shelton, 3)Samuel, Sally. In another group sheet for Samuel by Opal, she lists Samuel and William as children by wife #3.

Per GFG, Vol. VIII, p. 118 article by Willard Gentry: Samuel s/o Joseph was b. about 1752 while his parents were living in Louisa Co., VA. Samuel was probably the second son of Joseph and Agnes. Vol VIII p. 121: Samuel sold his land in Surry Co. in 1807 and moved to Barren Co., KY. P. 124: Children of Samuel by his first wife: Matthew, Joseph, Agnes, James, another daughter, and William; second wife: George, Shelton, Arthur, Thomas, and three daughters.

Indiana DAR Roster of Revolutionary Ancestors, p. 236, NSDAR #761976.

Will – Barren Co., Y Will Book 1, Abstract by Peder, pp. 71-72, 1790.
Will Records of Barren County, Kentucky 1800-1824
Barren County Wills Book 1
OSPage: 332
Name: Samuel Gentry
Written: 2 Feb. 1816 My wife, Sarah My son, Atha My daughter, Elizabeth My father’s estate from N. C. All my children Gideon Mayfield and Benjamin Osborn, Exe. Witnesses: Nicholas Houser, John Ingram, and Elizabeth Brown Probated: May 1816
– (#225 in GFA<1>, born abt. 1748 in Louisa County, Virginia, died between Feb and May, 1816 in Barren County, Kentucky.
– Married (1) about 1772, Surry County, North Carolina, possibly to a daughter of Matthew Brooks (Nancy Brooks? — see below), died probably 1786.
– Married (2) in Surry County, North Carolina to Sarah Brock (marriage bond dated 24 May 1787 <2>), died before 1810.
-Married (3) in Barren County, Kentucky to Sarah Melton.
Children of Samuel and his first wife (all born in Surry County, North Carolina)
i Matthew (#227 in GFA <1>), born abt. 1774, said to have died 21 Sep 1870 in Warrick County., Indiana.
ii Joseph (#228 in GFA <1>), said to be born 4 Jan 1776, said to have died 1856 in Ohio County, Kentucky; married Rhoda Thomas, Ohio County, Kentucky (marriage bond dated 8 Jan 1801)<4>.
iii James (#226 in GFA <1>), said to be born 15 Jun 1778, said to have died 5 Jun 1840 in Spencer County, Indiana; married Elizabeth Hornbeck, in Ohio County, Kentucky (marriage bond dated 21 Jul 1803)<4>.
iv Agnes born 1780; died 4 Jan 1852 <5> in Warrick County, Indiana, married John Sherman Phillips in Surry County, North Carolina, (marriage bond dated 28 Jan 1799)<2>.
v Nancy born abt. 1785; married William Anderson, Barren County, Kentucky (marriage bond dated Nov 1809 <4>). There are a number of references in the genealogy literature suggesting that William Anderson was part Indian.
vi William, married (1) Unknown; his probable second wife is said to have been Mary (Polly) Whittinghill. Cemetery records in Lynnville, Warrick County, Indiana for a William presumed to be this William indicate that he was born 4 Jan 1786 in North Carolina and died 13 May 1845 in Indiana. His wife, Mary, was born 17 Feb 1786 in Virginia and died 11 Feb 1849<5>.

Children of Samuel and Sarah Brock Gentry (all born in Surry County, North Carolina)
vii George born abt. 1788, said to have died 5 Aug 1875 in Warrick County, Indiana; married Jenny Howser (Hauser), Barren County, Kentucky (marriage bond dated 15 May 1810)<3>.
viii Shelton born abt. 1790, died in Warrick County, Indiana leaving a will signed 30 Oct 1833 and received for probate 10 Nov 1833; married Sarah Seaton, Barren County, Kentucky (marriage bond dated 14 Jun 1814 <3>).
ix Sarah (Sally) born abt. 1792; married Nicholas Tunnel, Barren County, Kentucky (marriage bond dated 29 Mar 1811)<3>.
x Thomas born abt. 1794, said to have died 13 May 1845 in Warrick County, Indiana; married Kitty Allen, Barren County, Kentucky (marriage bond dated 20 Feb 1814)<3>.
xi Susannah born abt. 1796; married Thomas Brown, Barren County, Kentucky (marriage bond dated 2 Feb 1815)<3>..
xii Arthur (Artha) born abt. 1797, died aft. 1850 in Warrick County, Indiana; married (1) Sarah O’Neal, Barren County, Kentucky (marriage bond dated 26 Jan 1817 <3>); said to have married (2) Hannah Wallace, Feb 1847, Warrick County, Indiana<4>.
xiii Elizabeth born abt. 1800; apparently unmarried and living with her father at the time of his death in 1816; married _____ Johnston, Barren County, Kentucky.

William Knott, Jr. was born about 1732 in St. Mary’s Co., Maryland. He died in 1802 in Montgomery Co., Maryland.
Mary Mattingly, his wife was born in 1738 in St. Mary’s Co., Maryland and died in 1809 in Montgomery Co., Maryland.
They had seven children, Henry; Jane; Mary; Philip; Thomas; Zachariah and William.
William Knott. MO Linganore and Sugar Loaf Hundred, p 5 MSA S 1161-8-1 1/4/5/51.
William Knott. Conclusion, pt, 155 acres. MO Linganore and Sugar Loaf Hundred, p 13. MSA S 1161-8-1 1/4/5/51
William Knott, Jr. MO Linganore and Sugar Loaf Hundred, p 5. MSA S 1161-8-1 1/4/5/51
William Knott, Jr. Conclusion, pt, 100 acres. MO Linganore and Sugar Loaf Hundred, p 13, MSA S 1161-8-1 1/4/5/51.

William Knott, Jr., died in Montgomery County in 1802. His will, made July 25, 1795 and probated April 7, 1802, named his beloved wife, Mary, sons William, Thomas and Philip – two sons Zachariah and Henry, to whom he left one shilling each – to Zachariah, spoons, “as a token of my love for him.” Daughters, Mary and Jane. Reference: Montgomery County Wills, Liber D fol. 547.
Abstracts of Wills Montgomery Co., MD 1776-1825, p. 79
Settlers of Colonial St. Mary’s County Maryland, p. 171
Chronicles of St.Mary’s Vol. 2 No. 10 p. 64.
Southern Maryland Catholic Families p. 88, 99.

Montgomery County, Maryland – 1783 Supply Tax, page 57

Samuel Magruder was born 24 Feb 1708 in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He married Margaret Jackson in Prince George’s County, Maryland in 1729. His daughter Elizabeth married William Offutt, Jr.

He served as a member of the Frederick County, Maryland Committee on Observation in 1776. He signed an Oath of Fidelity and Support in Montgomery County, Maryland in 1778. He provided wheat for use of the military in 1780 and 1781. He held the office of Justice of the Peace in Montgomery County, Maryland 1781-1783.

He died in June, 1786 in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Additional biography, descendant Robert Lee Knott Jr, SAR # 161712, Omaha Chapt. Nebraska Society:
Samuel Magruder III was born 24 Feb, 1708 in Queen Anne’s Parish, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland and died 13 July, 1786 in Montgomery Co., Maryland. His wife Margaret Jackson was born in 1711, Prince Georges Co., Maryland and died 24 Feb 1801 in Montgomery Co., Maryland.
They were married in 1729 in Prince Georges Co., Maryland.
They had eight children: Ninian Beal; Ann; Margaret; Joseph; Samuel Brewer; Elizabeth Jackson; Ruth and Sarah.
Samuel III, was a member of the First General Convention which voted to uphold the non-importation resolutions of the Continental Congress.
He was also a Justice of the Peace of Montgomery Co., MD, from 1781 to 1783, and a member of the Committee of Observation.
In 1778, took the patriot’s oath along with sons Ninian Beall, Samuel Brewer and Joseph.
Samuel Magruder III was on the Worshipful Richard Thompson’s returns

Abstracts of Wills Montgomery Co., MD 1776-1825 p. 92

Samuel Brewer Magruder, son of Samuel 3d and Margaret was born October 14, 1744 according to the Parish Register of Saint Paul’s Protestant Episcopal Church, then in Prince George’s County, Maryland and now in the District of Columbia. His mother was the daughter of John Jackson and Ruth Beal and Ruth was the great granddaughter of Commander-in-Chief of the Provincial Forces, Colonel Ninian Beal.
The census taken in 1776 for Lower Potomac Hundred records the Magruder family as Samuel, Rebecca, his wife and their seven children. The growing family of the young married man perhaps made him feel at the outbreak of the Revolution that his duty was at home. The true test of Samuel Brewer Magruder came when invasion by the British for the first time threatened the security of his recognized, homeland. On the 20th of August, 1777, at least 260 vessels of the British fleet commanded by Admiral Howe, brother of the famous general, suddenly burst into view as they sailed up Chesapeake Bay past Annapolis. They anchored at Elk River, a few miles below Elkton, ready to strike a disastrous blow against the American cause. Two days after the fleet was discovered, the Continental Congress at Philadelphia ” Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the State of Maryland immediately to call out not less than two thousand select militia, to repel the expected invasion of the States of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland; that twelve hundred and fifty of the militia on the Western Shore of Maryland repair, as soon as possible, to Baltimore and Hartford Towns.
Also, Thomas Johnson, Governor of Maryland, who issued a proclamation beginning, “This State being now actually invaded by a formidable land and sea force, and the enemy, in all probability, designing to land somewhere near the head of this bay. …” He called out the State militia by mean’s of this document, concluding with the ringing appeal, “To defend our liberties requires our exertions; our wives, our children, and our country, implore our assistance: motives amply sufficient to arm everyone who can be called a man.”
On the 29th day of the month, he was enlisted as a private in the 4th Company of the 29th Battalion, Montgomery County, which was commanded by Colonel John Murdock. On September 2nd, a commission issued to Colonel Zadok Magruder, his second cousin, appointed Samuel Brewer Magruder ensign of this battalion, which was known as the Lower Battalion of Militia in Montgomery County.
The Revolution plainly was regarded as a definite responsibility to be borne by the entire Magruder family. The father of these three sons, the other two being Joseph and Ninian, Samuel Magruder, 3d., had been a private in Captain George Beall’s Troop of Horse, in 1749; but he evidently felt too old for military service when the Revolution came. He did, however, join his son, Samuel Brewer Magruder, in taking the Patriot’s Oath of Fidelity and Support, as shown in the returns of “The Worshipfull Samuel W. Magruder” This oath was taken at Frederick in February, 1778. But even weightier evidence of the unalloyed patriotism of the father was his attendance at a meeting of seventy-five gentlemen in Frederick as early as January 24, 1775, when the purpose was to endorse the work of the Continental Congress. At this same meeting was organized a Committee of Observation for Frederick County, which was responsible for the census of 1776.
Samuel Brewer Magruder saw active service. His battalion was known as “Marching Militia,” having volunteered to serve outside of Maryland, in order to meet the emergency.
Washington faced the beginning of that terrible winter at Valley Forge; but the Marylanders were ordered to occupy Wilmington, Delaware, for the winter. They fortified the town and made life rather uncomfortable for Tory sympathizers. Not all of the suffering of American troops was at Valley Forge during that period.
Count Fleury, who was giving special training to the men at Wilmington, described their condition in a letter to Baron Steuben dated May 13, 1778:
“Most of the recruits are unprovided with shirts, and the only garment they possess is a blanket elegantly twined about them. You may judge, sir, how much this apparel graces their appearance on parade.”
Enlistments during the Revolution generally were for limited periods, and we believe that with the ending of the campaigns of 1777 and 1778, Samuel Brewer Magruder returned to his home. The Marching Militia had supported Washington loyally through the period of lowest ebb in the cause of independence. John Thomas Scharf, in his History of Western Maryland, referred to the exceptional absence of sectionalism among those of the Maryland militia, who ” fought gallantly without murmur or complaint”.
After the strenuous campaigning ending in 1778, the country was in need of recuperation. For this reason, Washington displayed but little aggression during the following year. By 1780, however, the war once more was prosecuted with vigor.
Samuel Brewer Magruder saw active service. His battalion was known as ” Marching Militia,” having volunteered to serve outside of Maryland, in order to meet the emergency. While we have not found records showing in detail the engagements in which Magruder was a participant, by following the movements of the Maryland militia recruited from the Western Shore, to a reasonable degree we can trace his military career.
With Cornwallis conveniently in Philadelphia, late in September, Howe anticipated concerted action. Washington soon learned that the British were plotting to put an end to the stronghold at Billingsport and all the forts along the Delaware River. In a council of war, decision was made to march immediately against the British forces encamped about Germantown (now a part of Philadelphia). The complete victory won at Germantown on October 4th stands out among the battles of the Revolution partly because of the attendant loss of the fruits of this great triumph.
Various reasons have been ascribed for the panic which developed unexpectedly among the victors themselves. It occurred just at the critical moment for the Maryland militia, which had not been engaged in the fighting, but had been gaining the proper position for an attack on the enemy’s right wing in front and rear. Instead of certain victory for the Maryland division, the retreat of the already victorious Americans commanded by General Sullivan brought about a retreat of all American troops. The entire army of Washington was obliged to withdraw to the banks of Perkiomen Creek, where several days were spent before reinforcements heartened the Commander-in-Chief sufficiently for an order to draw nearer to Philadelphia and encamp at White Marsh.
With the failure of the British to dislodge Washington, aggressive campaigning ended for the rest of the year at this point for the militia from Western Maryland. In December, Washington faced the beginning of that terrible winter at Valley Forge; but the Marylanders were ordered to occupy Wilmington, Delaware, for the winter. They fortified the town and made life rather uncomfortable for Tory sympathizers.
Not all of the suffering of American troops was at Valley Forge during that period. Count Fleury, who was giving special training to the men at Wilmington, described their condition in a letter to Baron Steuben dated May 13, 1778:
“Most of the recruits are unprovided with shirts, and the only garment they possess is a blanket elegantly twined about them. You may judge, sir, how much this apparel graces their appearance on parade.”
– – – – – – – – –
Enlistments during the Revolution, generally were for limited periods and we believe that with the ending of the campaigns of 1777 and 1778, Samuel Brewer Magruder returned to his home. The Marching Militia had supported Washington loyally through the period of lowest ebb in the cause of independence. John Thomas Scharf, in his History of Western Maryland, referred to the exceptional absence of sectionalism among those of the Maryland militia, who ” fought gallantly without murmur or complaint”. In further tribute, he pointed out that” no State clung more faithfully to Washington in all his trials, and against all his opponents; and no State furnished more troops, or as many, to the Continental army, according to the proportions fixed by Congress.” Concerning the Marching Militia, he wrote that they “participated in the campaigns of 1777-78 and sustained the reputation of the Maryland Line.”
By 1780, however, the war once more was prosecuted with vigor. Maryland again rose to the occasion. It called for 1400 men to serve in the regular army for the duration of the war, this number being apportioned to the several counties for the purpose of completing the battalions.
“Exemption from taxation until four years after the termination of the war, and the award of fifty acres were offered new recruits. Again, we find Samuel Brewer Magruder responding to the call of his State. He not only entered the ranks of the army on the appointed day, July 15, 1780, but received a promotion, becoming first lieutenant of the Lower Battalion, 2nd Company. He was one of 2,065 regulars whom Maryland proudly claimed before the end of that year. By this time, the scene of action had shifted mainly to the South, where two-third’s of the campaigners on the American side were from Maryland. It is probable that Magruder saw service with the southern army, which brought the Revolutionary War to a decisive close after much heroism. As first lieutenant, Magruder is commemorated on the bronze tablet unveiled by the American Clan Gregor Society in 1926 in the court room at Rockville, Maryland. His brothers and all other Magruders from Montgomery County who gave active military service in the Revolution being included. That as many as thirty-one from the single county, alone, bearing the patronymic of Magruder, were soldiers of the Continental Army, might seem remarkable were it not for the fact so well known that a martial strain has been a pronounced characteristic of all generations of the family.

William McAfee was born 1750 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania and died September 8, 1780 at Floyd Station, Kentucky Co., Virginia.

William married Rebecca Curry about 1768 in Botetourt Co., Virginia.

William McAfee married Rebecca Curry, sister of George McAfee’s wife, and had issue-he was a captain and (was) killed by Indians on Clark’s Campaign in 1780. Daughter Anne, who married Elijah Craig, who lived at the mouth of the Kentucky River; Margaret, who married Thompson Jones. She died in Indiana, opposite Yellow Banks; Mary married Willis A. Lee, clerk of the Senate of Kentucky and general court. After Mr. Lee’s death she lived in Frankfort until 1843, when she moved back to Mercer County in Salvisa and now lives there with her sister Anne, both widows (since dead June 4th, 1847.
Nothing is known of his early life. He was only about twenty-three when his older brothers made the exploring tour to Kentucky in 1773, and he and Samuel remained at home to look after the families and farms of the absent brothers. In several of the subsequent tours which his brothers made to Kentucky, he accompanied them. He married Rebecca Curry, sister to Susan Curry, his brother George’s wife. He moved to Kentucky with the families of his brothers in 1779. His lands were located on the west bank of Salt River at the mouth of the Town Branch near Harrodsburg, and he built there a station of his own.

William McAfee resided during the American Revolution at Kentucky Co., Virginia and assisted in establishing American Independence while acting in the capacity of Captain. In General Clark’s campaign (1780) William McAfee commanded the company raised at Harrodsburgh, the expedition starting about the first of July. In one of the engagements Captain William McAfee, although shot through the breast, did not appear to be mortally wounded. He was carried part of the way on a litter between two horses to the Ohio at the mouth of the Licking, and thence down the falls of the Ohio and out to Floyd’s Station, where he remained alive until his wife went from his station near Harrodsburgh to see him. His wound at last produced mortification and he died.

The Battle of Piqua, also known as the Battle of Pekowee or Pekowi, was part of the western campaign during the American Revolutionary War. Led by General George Rogers Clark, over 1,000 soldiers (among them Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton) crossed the Ohio River near present-day Cincinnati and burned five Shawnee villages, including Old Chillicothe, along the Little Miami River. Peter Loramie’s Store, a British trading post-located in what was later Fort Loramie, Ohio in Shelby County, Ohio-, was also burned by Clark’s men. The Shawnee gradually withdrew during the first few days before finally engaging American forces 7 miles west of Springfield, Ohio on August 8, 1780.[1] Joseph Rogers, a cousin of George Rogers Clark, had previously accompanied him to Kentucky and was later captured by the Shawnee near Maysville. Despite having been adopted by the tribe, he was killed during the battle while trying to join American forces.[2]

After several hours of fighting, both sides suffered moderate casualties before scattering the small Shawnee rearguard. The campaign against the Shawnee in the Miami River Valley was intended to discourage further raids against Kentucky and other parts of the American frontier, and while no further raids were made by the Shawnee for the remainder of the American Revolutionary War, hostility greatly increased among the tribes living in the Ohio Country for years afterwards. The McAfee brothers all served in the Revolutionary War. The McAfees ranked as brave soldiers who could be relied on, but none of them aspired to distinction or office of any kind.

In the year 1780 and during the Revolutionary War and in consequence of the depredation of the Indians, General George Rogers Clark, with Colonel Ben Logan, determined to attack the Shawanoe Indians at Old Chillicothe on the little Miami (now in the state of Ohio), about three or four miles north of Xenia. With this view, General Clark was to move up the Ohio River in boats with the regular troops and militia in the vicinity of the Falls of Ohio to the mouth of Licking River. Colonel Logan was to descend the Kentucky River & meet him at the mouth of that river. The troops from Lexington, Bryan’s Station & other places north of the Kentucky were to go on direct to the mouth of the Licking. In consequence of this arrangement, the troops from St. Asaph’s, Harrodsburgh, McGary’s & James & William McAfee’s stations met at various points on the Kentucky River. The main rendezvous was at a place called Warwick, in the first large bottom above the mouth of Landing Run (Harrod’s Landing of 1774) and prepared canoes and collected provisions for that purpose. With this expedition the men from James McAfee’s Station generally went, leaving only enough to cultivate a field of corn of about two acres, which had been cleared in common in the valley east of the station, and to defend the station, which reduced them to six or seven men only, besides their women and children. My uncle William McAfee commanded the company thus raised from Harrodsburgh & this and the other stations. This expedition started about the first of July. Captain Elliston … commanded a company from the other stations. These troops laid in provisions to last until they reached the mouth of Licking, expecting to get a supply then from General Clark at the public expense. But when about to march from that point, two pounds of flour per man and a small quantity of meat was all that could be had. Notwithstanding, they were in high spirits and made no complaints, as General Clark had done the best he could. The only drawback on the army was that one man deserted before they crossed the Ohio and went to the Indian town and gave them information of the approach of Clark’s army, so that when they arrived at Old Chillicothe, they found the town deserted and burnt and still smoking in its ruins. But the army pushed on to another town called Piqua a few miles distant, they found that the Indians had taken refuge in a block house and a small stockade fort. It was about 10 o’clock in the morning and General Clark divided his army into four divisions and directed the leader of each to march so as to enclose the town on four sides. The Indians, perceiving this movement, sallied out and formed in the timbers on the west side of the town and were ready to receive the whites. A severe battle now commenced, and a running tree firing was kept up. The Indians were still retreating as the second division of General Clark’s army joined in the combat. The other two divisions, which were to cross opposite the town, could not get down the banks of the river and went nearly three miles to cross & of course did not get engaged in the battle. After the first and second division had kept a running fight for nearly two hours, they lost sight of the Indians entirely. … Not hearing anything of the other portion of the army, they collected together and marched round toward the river above the town & discovered an Indian in a treetop. Captain William McAfee & Elliston took the same tree. McAfee, being outside, turned round to look for another tree to shelter himself when the Indian fired and shot him through the breast. He did not fall immediately, but sat down. When a Mr. James McBride discovered the Indian by the smoke of his gun, he fired at him and killed him on the spot. A portion of Captain McAfee’s company being left to take care of him, the balance marched round the point of a ridge and halted & sat down to listen for the balance of the army. But all was silence, for near half an hour, when suddenly a body of Indians came down the bottom of the Miami below them and commenced tremendous war whoop yelling, both parties apparently about equal. The white troops immediately rushed down upon them and, each party taking a tree, a heavy fire commenced. But the Indians soon retreated toward their town and blockhouse, pursued by the whites, who for two miles followed them so that when the whites reached to the top of one ridge the Indians were ascending another. When the Indians reached the high ground above the bottom, where their town was located, they formed in line of battle & took trees. … Here the battle really commenced as the Indians in the fort united with their brethren. … The renewed firing having been heard by the detached company they arrived in time to aid in the conflict. After the battle had continued some time and several had been killed on both sides, the Indians broke and ran down the hill into their fort and cabins, where the conflict was renewed.

General Clark now ordered up a small three-pounder cannon, which he had taken with him on a pack horse, and opened fire upon their block house, from a point below the town, while the other troops fired upon the Indians, as they could occasionally be seen running from their cabins towards the river. … In this way the firing was kept up until after sundown. … Nearly all the Indians had made their escape to the river & ascended under its bank up to a small branch that put in above the town, and in this way got off. … Some of them were met by the other division of the army, which was all the share they had in the conflict. Some 15 or 20 Indians were killed in this last conflict and nearly as many white men, and a great many wounded. The army encamped in the vicinity of the town & next day destroyed all of the Indians’ corn & houses.
Captain William McAfee, although shot through the breast, did not appear to be mortally wounded. He was carried part of the way on a litter between two horses to the Ohio, at the mouth of Licking and thence down to the Falls of Ohio and out to Floyd Station, where he remained alive until his wife went from his station near Harrodsburgh to see him. His travel on a litter produced inflammation. A special messenger had been sent for his wife and she started on horseback and reached him before he died. His wound at last produced mortification, and he died in August 1780, leaving his wife ensient with a third daughter (afterwards Mrs. Mary Lee). He was buried where he died. Thus closed the life of a second uncle by the hands of the Indians, and a braver spirit never lived. He was beloved by all his friends, while his loss was deeply felt by his family, consisting of a wife and three infant daughters. George McAfee, who had married Captain William McAfee’s wife’s sister, became the guardian of the children and the protector of the widow.

James McAFEE was born October 17, 1707, in Armagh county Ireland, at the family homestead. In 1735 he married Jane McMichael, ” the flower of Erin”, even though the parent stock was transplanted from Scottish soil. We have meager information that in 1739 he proposed to his family to emigrate to America. Everything they had was conveyed into gold for investment in the new country. They embarked at Belfast. The family group consisted of Mrs. John McAfee, (mother of James, then 84 years old), James McAfee, his wife Jane, and there three children, James, John & Malcom. Malcom died and was buried at sea almost within sight of the American shore. A few days later they landed at New Castle on the Delaware River. This occurred June 10, 1739. James McAfee purchased a tract of land situated on what was known then as Octorora Creek, which, rising in the S.E. part of the Susquehanna River near Port Dipisit. Here he made a home for his family, and it was here his other children were born, George, Margaret, Robert, Mary, William, and Samuel. James McAfee, Sr’s land was in the extreme south-west corner of Botetourt County where it now adjoins Craig County and Roanoke County. Some of his land extended across the county line into what is now Roanoke County. That part includes the grounds of a former tuberculosis hospital on state highway 779.
James McAfee, Sr. and his family came to live in the area in 1749. A deed was recorded February 17, 1747 for his land in a settlement known as Cedar Swamp on Holstein’s Branch at place known as Indian Camp. On December 15, 1749 he received a 300-acre grant on the Catawba, a branch of the James.
In 1763 his sons, James, Jr. and George, took over the 300-acre tract of land on the Catawba. They held this land until 1779 when they migrated to Kentucky. The land was sold to Archibald Woods.

William Phillips, the son of Joseph and Mary Phillips was born December 5, 1740 in Orange County, Virginia. A few years later he and his family moved to Surry County, North Carolina where he met and married his wife Mary Mathew about 1765.
William Phillips died after November 8, 1825 in Surry Co., North Carolina.
William enlisted August 1, 1782 in the 4th Company, North Carolina Regiment and served 14 months. He was a Pvt.
He served as a Pvt. 4th. Co. N. C. Regt. in Revolutionary War. He is on the muster roll dated: December 12, 1782. Terms of enlistment 14 Mo. N. C. Archives, copy sent to N. S. D. A. R. His will was written November 8, 1825, and probated in court 1826 Surry County, North Carolina. (From the Austill Family GEDCOM on Rootsweb World Connect project.)

The Phillips Came to Warrick Co., Indiana, p.. 1, 3. Includes copy of William Phillips will.

Took Oath of Allegiance to Mateland, Entry Surry Co. 8-13-1778.

Surry Co. Land Entries, 1778-1781, p. 49

Isaac Powers was born about 1755 in King William County, Virginia and died July 30, 1834 in Boon Township, Warrick Co., Indiana.
Burial: Freedom Cemetery, Boon Township, Warrick Co., Indiana
Married to Abigail Davis before 1788 in Pendleton, West Virginia.
Isaac Powers and his family came to Kentucky from King William Co., VA.
Isaac was a Patriot. See Virginia Valley Records by J. W. Wayland, page 98 – 104. He aided the Continental Army.
1788, in Capt. Robert Harrison’s Company #5, with his father Charles and brother John in Pendleton, West Virginia. Also, furnished 9 horses.
Isaac also furnished a carriage according to Militia Voucher #48 from Virginia.

In the book: They came to Warrick Col., IN: The Revolutionary War soldiers and patriots buried in Warrick Co., In. Vol II, Page 378, Index 440. By Opal B. Phillips for Bicentenial Project for Captain Jacob Warrick Chapter, DAR.

Ref: 1850 Census, Warrick Co., IN.

Appointed Constable, July 8, 1788, Pendleton, WV
May 4, 1789, he resided in Pendleton, WV
In 1793 on Tax List for Nelson Co., Kentucky.
In 1799, on Tax List for Ohio Co., Kentucky.
In 1800 Census, he lived in Ohio Co., Kentucky
In 1800, on Taax List for Ohio Co., Kentucky.
In 1802, purchased property in Hartford, Ohio Co., Kentucky.
In Aug 1807, he was appointed Constable in court record book.
In June 1808, he resigns as Constable, Ohio Co., Kentucky court record book.
In 1810 Census, he lived in Ohio Co., Kentucky
In 1817, purchased property in Ohio, Kentucky.
In 1817, purchased property in Hartford, Ohio Co., Kentucky.
After 1817, he lived in Warrick Co., IN
In 1820, he lived in Warrick Co., IN
In 1830, he lived in Hart Township, Warrick Co., IN

Page 82 26 October 1802, Isaac Powers and Abigail Powers his wife to Henry Davidge for sum of $100 convey lots no. 17, 18, 73, and 74 in the Town of Hartford (Ohio). James Baird, Robert Howard, John Atherton, witnesses. Recorded 17 November 1802.

Zachariah Knott, son of William Knott, Jr. was born about 1757 in St. Mary’s County and died 23 November 1820 in Barnesville, Montgomery County, Maryland. He married Jane Spaulding in Montgomery County. Jane died before 23 November 1820. They had eight children.
In 1771, he moved to Montgomery County, and settled in the vicinity of Barnesville. He became a successful tobacco planter, acquiring large landed properties. During the Revolutionary War he served as a private in the Sixth Company, Upper Battalion, Montgomery County Militia. In Chancery papers in the Land Record Office, Annapolis, Maryland, a codicil dated November 3, 1820, was attached to his will. In substance:
“Jane Knott died before her husband Zachariah, and in the codicil, he named his son Stanislaus as his executor in her place.” It was filed in the March term of the Court, 1823.
Outstanding among the earlier descendants of Zachariah Knott, were the Hon. A. Leo Knott, son of Edward Knott, Attorney General of the United States, and F. Columbus Knott, son of Francis A. and Ruth Slagle Knott, and grandson of Caleb Knott, wealthy merchant of Fredrick, Maryland.
Spoons were passed down to Zachariah by his father as noted in William, Jr.’s will. “I have the two silver spoons with the letter “K” engraved on the back.”
St. Mary’s roots go back to 1741 when a small mission chapel was established in “Barnstown” under the guidance of the Jesuit missionaries who served St. John’s Parish in Frederick, Maryland. After fleeing France during the French Revolution, Father John Dubois became the pastor of St. John’s Parish. In 1807, Father Dubois recognized the growth of the mission and proposed to Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore that a Catholic Church be built in upper Montgomery County. “Barnstown” was renamed “Barnesville” and became the site for the new parish. The church immediately enjoyed community involvement with Zachariah Knott donating 8 acres of land and another local parishioner donating nearby timber for its construction. Fr. Dubois moved on to Emmitsburg where he established Mount St. Mary’s and was also spiritual director to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Later, as bishop of New York City, he ordained Saint John Neumann to the priesthood. Because these two American saints were directly influenced by Fr. Dubois, they are depicted with him over the entrance to the present church. Behind the church, St. Mary’s cemetery is the site of mass burials of those C & O Railroad builders who succumbed to the Cholera epidemic. The cemetery also became the final resting place of many Civil War soldiers.
Barnesville saw action during the Civil War as it changed hands between Confederate and Union soldiers at least three time.
Military service: August 30, 1777 Upper Barnesville Militia with brother Thomas. Luckily for his descendants, Robert Cole appears in many extant records on both sides of the Atlantic. On his father’s side he was descended from yeoman stock that teetered on the cusp of gentry status; individuals in his family’s past appeared as one, then another, and sometimes back to the former again. His mother though was clearly from a gentry family, albeit a Catholic one. She was dignified with the epithet “Mris” despite her convictions for recusancy.
By 1651 Robert Cole had married Rebecca, widow of Francis Knott of St. Olaves, Southwark, Surrey; and they resided at Heston, Middlesex, where their first child Robert was born on 15 Oct. 1651. Hugh Gore, Gent., of Heston requested his uncle Robert Cole to be an overseer to his 19 May 1651 will which was recorded on 13 Aug. 1651. A letter dated 2 Aug. 1658 arrived in Maryland later that year from James Neale, Gent., stating “I heare tht Robin Cole hath layd some claime to my ffathers & my Estate, wch I conceiue hee did, supposing I & my Wife had bene dead. But god be praysed wee are both aliue, & in health, & haue Three Children lyuing; Soe hee now may excuse the clayming any thing & deliuer all ouer to you [William Bretton] for my use”.
Preparing for a return voyage to England, Robert Cole wrote his will on 2 Apr. 1662, mentioning his mother Mrs. Jane Cole of Heston, Middlesex, and left an accounting of the ages of his children [since his wife Rebecca had died recently. Robert died while on this visit to England. From Side-lights on Maryland history-James Knott, founder of the family of this name in Maryland and Virginia, came out of England about seventeen years before Leonard Calvert planted his first settlement in Maryland in 1634. In “Hotten’s Lists of Persons of Quality who Emigrated to Virginia” is the following: “Mr. James Knott, age 23, came from England to Virginia in the ship George and settled in Accomack County on the Eastern Shore in 1617.” One will look in vain for traces of James Knott in the records of the present Accomack County, for it was not cut off from Northampton County, where the ancient records are kept (dating from 1632), until about 1660-02. As James Knott’s interests on the Eastern Shore were in Northampton County, it is there we find him, in Liber No. 1, folio 10, of these old records, as owner of land in 1632, situated “on the other side of King’s Creek.” Again we find mention of James Knott and his wife, Elinor, June 11, 1631, in Court Order Book No. 1, folio 37, Northampton County Records. After this he appears to have removed to Nansemond County Virginia, for he is recorded as a land owner in that county in 1635, in volume 3, p. 188, of the Virginia Magazine. Also in volume 2, of the same magazine, p. 308, it is stated that James Knott, of Accomack, was granted 50 acres of land in Virginia City County, March 12, 1632. Mr. Knott appears to have been a close friend of Governor Leonard Calvert, of Maryland. Kilty mentions the fact that Governor Leonard Calvert admonishes the people not to encroach upon lands of “my friend Mr. Knott.” James Knott was evidently a man of restless activity, and is a very inter-esting personality to the delver in our ancient records. While he is known to have been an extensive land owner in Nansemond County, Virginia, he demands and receives 200 acres of land in St. Marys, County, Maryland in 1651 for transporting himself and his minor son Nathaniel into the Province (Liber A B H, folio 237, Annapolis Land Records.)
In Liber No. 1, folio 402, Annapolis Land Records, Thomas Warr in 1651, sells to James Knott, Gent., of Virginia, 200 acres of land which he describes as “the equal half of my plantation which I now live upon at Mattapony, . . . St. Mary’s County.’ Consideration, 1390 pounds of tobacco.
Following is his will, in which, however, he does not mention all his sons. Liber No. 1, folio 51, Annapolis Wills; James Knott of Nansemond, in Virginia: will dated September 4, 1651, proved May 13, 1635. Witness: George White, Devises:-To my three sonnes Bernard Knott, Nathaniel Knott and William Knott, four cowes (mentions Bernard as his eldest son and stipulates that the “cowes” shall be kept together until he comes to the full age of 20 years); to my dau. Mary 6 cowes to be delivered by 25th of Dec. next, also a negro man to dau. Mary to be delivered her in Oct. 1654; to son Bernard Knott 600 acres of land, “plantation whereon I now live, with reversion to his other children;” to sons Nathaniel & William Knott 600 acres of land, equally divided between them, “being the upper part of this division now in my possession, with reversion in case of death of either;” “I give to my sister E. M. Colins, Anna Young or any of her children 2 cowes that shall come here to demand them: I give to my dau. Elizabeth Thomas, one cowe;” balance of estate divided into five parts, viz.: “one part to my wife & four parts to my four children, Bernard, Nathaniel, William and Mary Knott; my loving friend John Ascumb to be over-seers of this my last will and testament.” The lands of James Knott in St. Mary’s County were conveyed to his son Francis, who conveyed some of them while living, and devised them in his will, proved in St. Mary’s County, May 14, 1705, in his old age (Liber B No. 2, folio 500, Annapolis Wills).
So, this is my dilemma and what I am working on. Is Francis the son of James Knott or is he the son of John or maybe he is the son of a Francis, Sr. whose widow Rebecca married Robert Cole. Perhaps I should just be satisfied that Francis ended up in the American colonies, hmmm.

Johann Jakob Dorner was born 25 Jan 1727 in Ilbesheim Zweibrucken, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany and died before 29 May 1809 in Middletown, Frederick Co., Maryland. Johann married Anna Mafia Barbara Sturm between Aug and Oct 1751 in Frederick, Frederick Co., Maryland.

They had the following children: John Jacob, born 24 Jul 1752 in Frederick, Maryland an died 18 May 1818 in Middletown, Maryland; Andrew, born about 1755 in Frederick, Maryland; Maria Magdalena, born Feb 1757 in Frederick, Maryland and died 24 Nov 1852 in Frederick, Maryland; Maria Elizabeth, born 9 Dec 1760 in Middletown, Maryland; Catharina, born 5 Mar 1762 in Middletown, Maryland; Anna Maria, born 29 Oct 1762 in Middletown, Maryland.

John “Jacob” Sr. Dorner (Danner) arrived at Philadelphia 2 Nov 1752 on the ship “Phoenix”. He was a son of John Bernard Doerner 1695-1771, master shoemaker and wife Anna Catherine Feaster 1696-1757 who married about 1720 in Ilbesheim, Germany. Jacob married about 1751 in Ilbesheim to Anna Maria Barbara Storm born about 1730 Germany. Known children were: John “Jacob” Jr. born 1752 m. Anna Catherine Biser; Magdalena “Molly” born 1757; Maria Elizabeth m.John Jacob Jr. Biser; John Andrew m. Anna Maria Beckenbaugh; Anna Maria born 1762; and Catherine “Caty” born about 1764.

Jacob Sr. was a deacon at Christ Reformed Church in Middletown, MD which leaves little doubt that he was buried there. Along with Dorner, his family is found as Danner, Darner, Derner, Domer, Donah,Terner & Turner. Many researchers confuse him with Rev. Jacob Danner, Brethren of Michael. On the same ship with Jacob Dorner was Christian Danner who was “John Christian Sr. Tanner 1712-1784” of Baltimore Co., MD. It appears that John Bernard Doerner may have been a brother to Christian but information about their fathers doesn’t quite match. There were indeed several shoemakers in Christian’s family. Jacob Dorner also appears to be related to Christian’s brother Michael Tanner 1701-1777 whose son-in-law was John Storm.

From his will made Nov 1790, and probated in Frederick County on 29 May 1809, we discover the family of Jacob Ternor. This will is printed in full in “Jacob Beyser family supplement”, 1989, page, 569-571. He left a widow Barbara and six children: Jacob, Andrew, Elizabeth, Catharine and Magdalena.

Sometime, probably after 1757, Jacob Darner made his way to Maryland and on 10 April 1760 he became a naturalized citizen in the provincial court of Maryland. On 29 Sept 1760 he was granted a patent for 100 acres for a tract called “Landow”. Jacob Derner or Turner also purchased in 1787, a second parcel from the honorable John Rogers, Chancellor of Maryland called lot #3, “Mason’s Folly”, for 184 and 3/4 acres.

Johann is listed in: 9000 Men Who Took the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity to Maryland During the Revolution, Vol I (Lutherville, Maryland), p 24.
Maryland Historical Magazine. “Journal of the Committee of Observation of the Middle District of Frederick County, September 12, 1775 – October 24, 1776.” Volume XI, pg 165.

Edward Leach was born about 1760, in it is thought, Cambridgeshire, England.  he died in 1812 in Frederick County, Maryland.  Edward married Maria (Mary) Magdalena Abrecht, December 24, 1802 in Frederick County, Maryland.  Maria was born July 14, 1783 in Frederick County, Maryland, to Johannes Georg Abrecht and Maria Dorner.  Maria’s father was a Hessian soldier who was captured in Yorktown and was marched to, and imprisoned, in the Frederick Barracks, Frederick, Maryland.

Edward and Maria had the following children:  Christina Elizabeth (1803-1881), Anna (1804- ), Benjamin (1806- ), Edward (1808-1855), Evaline (1810-1888), and Thomas (1812-1825).

Edward served with Captains Ragsdale and Coleman’s Companies, Colonel Harrison’s 1st Battalion of Continental Troops of Virginia.

Edward’s will was signed October 6, 1812.  Edward died by October 19, 1812.  His wife Mary took her dower right on October 26, 1812, rather than her right ot inheritance.

Ninian Beal Magruder was born 22 Nov 1735 in Prince George’s Co., MD; Parish Register of St. Paul.s Protestant Church, Prince Georgr’sParish, now Rock Creek Parish, now in the District of Columbia, Maryland to Samuel Magruder, 3rd and Margaret Beal Jakson. He died in Richmond, Columbia Co., Georgia in 1810.
“Ninian Beall Magruder was a soldier in Second Company, 29th Battalion, Montgomery County, Militia, Captain, Jesse Wilcoxen, Colonel, John Murdock, Commanding.
“In Brumbaugh’s Maryland Records, page 184, under a list of the number of souls taken and given in to the Committee of Observation, under date of August 22, 1776, for Lower Potomak Hundred, we find the name of Samuel Magruder, 3rd, and that of his three sons, Ninian Beall Magruder, Samuel Brewer Magruder and Joseph Magruder.
– Revolutionary War soldier (took the Patriot’s Oath in Montgomery Co., MD in 1778)
– 1 Lt., 2nd Co., 29th Battalion, Montgomery Co. Militia (Lower Battalion of Montgomery Co., MD), 1780
– Moved to Georgia c. 1785 with his cousin,Ninian Offutt Magruder
– Became a wealthy planter

William McAlevy was born in 1728 to Miles McAlevy and Mary Jane Ayers in County Down, Ireland, and died in 1822 in Huntingdon County, PA.  He married Margaret Harris, 1734-1768, daughter of John Harris, founder of Harrisburg, PA.  This marriage produced 4 children:  Jane 1763-1826, Margret, William II 1766-1817, and Elizabeth 1768-1825.

William McAlevy immigrated with his parents to Philadelphia in the middle of the 18th century, date unknown.  Not much is known about his mother or of their family life after arriving in America.  William and his father, Miles, moved to Dauphin County in 1744 where his father purchased a land warrant from the Penn family.  Today, it is located within the city limits of Hershey, PA.  When he was 18, he moved to Carlisle, PA, across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg.  He purchased a 277-acre land warrant in Cumberland County along the Juniata River.  The land now is near Duncannon, PA.  At this time, he married Margaret Harris, the daughter of John Harris, founder of Harrisburg, PA.  He found that the “urban” surroundings were not to his liking.  In 1768, after the death of his mother, he trekked up the Juniata River to Standing Stone Creek, in now what is Huntingdon County, to the edge of the frontier.  This was more to his liking for a homestead.   Only Indian trails existed in the virgin forst at that time.  To bring his family to the homestead, he felled a large tree, made a dugout canoe, and brought his family upstream by water.  His closest neighbor was 10 miles away.  Because of the constant Indian threat, he built a block safehouse for him and his neighbor’s protection.  His homestead, with the blockhouse, became known as McAlevy’s Fort, and appears today on current maps as McAlevy’s Fort, PA.

William McAlevy enlisted in the 1st Battalion, Bedford County, Pennsylvania Militia in 1777, as Captain of the Battalion.  The battalion served as protection from the Indian and Tory raiding parties supplied by the British out of Detroit during the Revolutionary War.  He continued to serve in the militia after the war, rising to the rank of Colonel, then to General in the Pennsylvania State Militia.

After the Revolutionary War, he continue farming, engaged in local politics, and built the local grist mill for the valley on Standing Stone Creek.  He died on the homestead in 1822.  He is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery at McAlevy’s Fort, Pennsylvania.

Tobias Weygint served 5 or more years in the American Revolution. Cpl. Weygint having enlisted for one year at Haversham, NY in March 1776 in a company commanded by Capt. Amos Hutchins. His regiment was commanded by Col. Richman., He was discharged in the early Spring of 1777 and reenlisted in April 1777 in a company commanded by Capt. Barent Ten (Van) Eyck in the regiment commanded by Col. Philip Van Cortland, 20th NY Regiment for three years and served until discharged in 1780. He was at the capture of Burgoyne and battles at Princeton and Trenton, NJ. Tobias married Eunice Tompkins in May 1813.
Together they had three sons and two daughters. He was 69 years of age when his son William Weygint was born who later served in the Civil War in the 10th NY Cavalry Vol. and briefly with his 16 year old son William B.
William was a Saddlery Sgt who fought in many battles and repaired Gen. U. S. Grant’s saddle and met or knew President Lincoln and was also one of the first homesteaders of Red Willow County in 1872. William also helped found Indianola, NE later living in or near McCook, NE according to my
Grandmother Ora Kugler and also written history. William lived his last years with his daughter Eva Weygint Starbuck in Salt Lake City, Utah. Some of the family had become Mormon’s including his daughter Eva. William’s school teacher, growing up, in Palmyra, NY was Joseph Smith, the Mormon “Prophet” but most of the family remained Methodist I believe.
Tobias Weygint died in Vernon, NY January 22, 1848 when he was about 95 years old. Both my late Grandmother Ora Kugler and mother Ardis Mettenbrink became DAR members due to his service in the American Revolution. I also belong to the SUVCW because of his son William’s service during the Civil War.

Andreas Ziegler was the ancestor that I used for my initial lineage for membership in the SAR. I have several other ancestors from whom other individuals had traced descent, but no one had ever claimed descent from this individual. I was motivated to do so however, by the fact that when I first visited his grave at a small church cemetery in Bowers, Pennsylvania when I was about eight years of age, I vividly remembered the presence of an SAR marker and flag.
Andreas Ziegler was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1744. His father, also named Andreas, had emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in 1737 and had become a farmer in Berks County.
Andreas’s Revolutionary War record is rather sparse, due to the fact that he died in 1800 and his wife died in 1829. Revolutionary War pension records, whereby a veteran or his widow could claim a government pension, didn’t begin until 1832, so there was little detailed documentation of the battles and campaigns in which he would have participated. However, by doing a good bit of subsequent research, I have been able to add some details to his Revolutionary War service.
Andreas was enrolled as a Private in Capt Folck’s Company, 1st Battalion, Berks County Militia on 7 August 1777. This battalion was commanded by Lt Col Hunter and formed a part of General Potter’s Pennsylvania brigade of Pennsylvania militia.
Potter’s Brigade joined Washington’s army in September as it moved across New Jersey and west through Philadelphia toward Brandywine Creek. Potter’s forces were stationed at Pyle’s Ford, one of several potential crossing locations on the creek, for Howe’s army which had moved by sea from New York to Maryland and then marched overland into Pennsylvania.
Howe launched a diversionary attack at Chadd’s Ford, a few miles north of Pyle’s Ford, but then launched his major attack on Washington’s right flank, further to the right and rear of Chadd’s Ford. The patriot forces, including Potter’s brigade, pulled back and retreated in fairly good order. Howe moved on and captured Philadelphia.
Washington then launched a counter attack against the British at Germantown in October. Washington developed a complex attack plan that included three attacking columns. Potter’s Brigade, along with some other Pennsylvania troops, attacked the British left flank in an inconclusive assault. The American offensive failed, and Washington pulled his troops back to the area of Whitemarsh, a few miles north of Germantown. Potter’s Brigade was posted on a hill on the American right, and helped defend against a British attack there in November.
After this abortive attack, Howe returned to Philadelphia and Washington went into camp at Valley Forge. The Pennsylvania militia, including Potter’s Brigade, were mustered out after three months service and returned to their farms and homes. Although he only had a three-month tour of duty, Andreas probably served at Brandywine, Germantown, and Whitemarsh. In retrospect, I’m very glad that I used him as my first SAR ancestor.

John was a bit too old to serve in the militia or Continental Army, but he still supported the Patriot movement. Many of his neighbors and in-laws (such and the Ruths and Flucks) served on active duty in the militia or Pennsylvania Line. In the winter of 1777, he provided food supplies and blankets to the Continental Army troops encamped at Valley Forge. Without the logistical support of the Pennsylvania farmers, like John Fluck, the army at Valley Forge would have disintegrated.

Consequently, I am very proud of my ancestor for the support he provided the troops at Valley Forge, some of whom were his friends and neighbors.

Peter Ott is another one of my Revolutionary War ancestors hailing from Bucks County, PA, the fourth so far that I’ve uncovered. As I was doing some research into my forbears, I discovered that Bucks County was not unwavering in the cause of liberty and independence from Britain, but was divided, primarily along ethnic/religious and geographic lines. The southern villages and townships in the county, closest to Philadelphia, had largely been settled by English Quakers, while the northern section of the county, adjacent to Northampton County had been settled primarily by German immigrants who were either Lutheran or Reformed.

While New Jersey and New York (especially) recruited numerous Loyalist troops, Bucks County is unique, to my knowledge, as being one of the few, if not the only, county in Pennsylvania that recruited Loyalists into service for the Crown. There was a regiment of Bucks County Volunteers (infantry) and a Bucks County Light Dragoons Regiment that both fought against the Patriots. These units were recruited in southern and central Bucks County, not from the northern townships.

The Quaker influenced government of Pennsylvania adamantly refused to recruit county militia units . During the French and Indian War, some Pennsylvania counties, including Bucks County, set up their own militia system, termed Associators. The Associator units were all volunteers, elected their own officers, and furnished their own weapons and ammunition. The Associators continued to function into the Revolution (militia not being organized in Pennsylvania until the summer of 1777).

Peter Ott volunteered to serve in the Bucks County Associators and was on the rolls of Capt Robinson’s Company in August 1775. While most of the Associator units did not see active combat (they served primarily as garrisons and reserves for the units of the Pennsylvania Line), the importance of their service, in my mind, is that they were genuine volunteers, not being forced to enroll under a Militia Act (as in most other colonies) and supplying their own weapons and ammunition. Therefor I’m extremely proud of the fact that Peter’s heart was genuinely behind the patriot cause and not influenced by any other legal or financial factor.

John Frederick was born in Germany in 1721. After immigrating through Philadelphia, he settled in Bucks County, PA and began farming. When the Revolution broke out, he enlisted in the Bedminster Township Company of PA Associators.
Pennsylvania was unique among the colonies because it did not have a militia system. In each of the other colonies, each town, county, or other municipality was responsible for maintaining a company of militia. The value of an armed citizenry had become apparent during conflicts with the Indians during the 1600s and early 1700s. Pennsylvania however, with a Quaker government that believed in pacifism, refused to adopt the militia system, believing that by good will, they could maintain peace with the Indians. This belief crumbled during the French and Indian War and irate colonists, most of whom were not Quakers but Germans or Ulster Scots, decided to take matters into their own hands. They formed bands of volunteers, termed Associators, in all the counties of the colony. The Associators elected their own officers, supplied their own weapons and equipment and trained to a very high standard.
With the outbreak of the Revolution, the Associators again were the first to answer the call to arms. By 1777, however, Pennsylvania adopted the militia system of the other states, and the Associators were merged into militia units.
John Frederick mustered into Capt Kechline’s Company in August of 1775. In December 1776, elements of the Bucks County Associators were called up to defend against any potential British crossing of the Delaware into Pennsylvania, and they then helped Washington in his crossing of the Delaware into New Jersey and the subsequent battles of Trenton and Princeton. I’m proud of my ancestor John Frederick, because he came to the defense of his country early on in the conflict, and stood with her during some of the darkest days of the Revolution.

Michael Frederick
Drummer/Private
Several months ago, I wrote about one of my Patriot Ancestors, a 5th great-grandfather, John Frederick, from Bucks County, PA. John served in the Bucks County Associators. Due to the Quaker influence in the government of Pennsylvania, there was officially no militia at the beginning of the Revolution. The Associators, therefore, were a group of volunteers formed in each county that served as a surrogate sort of militia. The Bucks County Associators helped Washington cross the Delaware in 1776, and I have been proud of my ancestor’s involvement with that action.
As I was doing some additional family history research, I discovered that Joseph Frederick, a grandson of John, served in the Bucks County Militia during the War of 1812 and in October of 1814, his unit was called up to defend against a British invasion of the Delaware Valley. British troops had just captured and burned Washington and laid siege to Fort McHenry in Baltimore, and there was some concern that they might land in Pennsylvania. However, following their defeat at Fort McHenry, the British opted not to try any further incursions, and the Pennsylvania militia were mustered out. Joseph’s service, however, provided me with my qualifications to join the Society of the War of 1812.
I never gave much thought to any potential service of Michael Frederick (Joseph’s father and John’s son) in either the Revolution or War of 1812 due to his age. Michael was born in 1769, so I figured he would have been too young to serve in the Revolution and too old to serve in the War of 1812. However, as I started to delve a bit more into the family history, I saw that Michael was getting a Revolutionary War pension. I couldn’t understand that, because while widows received Revolutionary War pensions for their deceased husbands’ service, children did not. I also discovered a reference to a Michael Frederick who had wintered at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778.
Further research into the Pennsylvania Archives (a treasure trove of information) uncovered the fact that Michael had enlisted in the Continental Army as a drummer boy at age 8! What a shock! Michael served in Capt Craig’s Company, formed in Northampton and Bucks Counties. This company became part of the 1st Pennsylvania Line, commanded by Anthony Wayne. Michael served with this unit which saw action at Brandywine, Germantown, and Whitemarsh, wintered at Valley Forge, and later fought at Monmouth Court House in 1778.
The 1st Pennsylvania was a highly regarded unit, and served in the thick of the fighting in each of those engagements.
Michael continued in this unit until 1780. Records indicate that while initially serving as drummer, he later was listed as a Private (infantryman), and wintered over at Morristown, New Jersey in 1778 and 1779, before he was mustered out in 1780.
Michael returned to Bucks County after the Revolution, marrying a Catherine Stumpf in 1792. He farmed there for the rest of his days.
My Frederick line didn’t stray far from the northern Bucks/southern Northampton County area for the next two centuries. My maternal grandfather John Frederick was born and raised in that area, and when I was a young boy, he took me to all the old church cemeteries in the area to look at the tombstones of his forefathers, as well as taking me on my first visit to Valley Forge.
When you’re raised in that environment, as I was, history is not merely an academic exercise, but it is up close and personal.
To say that I am extremely proud of Michael would be a gross understatement. It’s tough to try and imagine a young boy like Michael in those battles, much less enduring the harsh winters at Valley Forge and Morristown. Patriots like Michael, as well as his father and son, are a major reason why the United States gained and maintained its independence over the past 230 years.

Simon Peter Ruth was born in Springfield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1748. His father, Johann Georg Ruth, was born in Oberalben, Germany, part of the Palatinate, and immigrated to the New World in 1741, landing in Philadelphia. Johann moved north into Bucks County shortly after his arrival.
The area around Oberalben, including the municipalities of Kusel and Ulmet, was the home of quite a few immigrants who traveled to Pennsylvania in the early 1700s as part of the Pennsylvania German immigration. Many of the immigrants from this area also settled in Bucks County. When I was in the Air Force, I spent a good deal of temporary duty (TDY) at nearby Ramstein Air Base (USAF) in Germany. During one of those trips I had the pleasure of visiting Oberalben and several other villages in which some of my ancestors lived.
One interesting fact about Oberalben is that it is the home of the Emigrants Museum which documents families that left this village and emigrated to Pennsylvania.
Among those emigrants that the museum touts are the ancestors of George Herman “Babe” Ruth. The bottom line to all this is that I’m a
distant cousin of Babe Ruth, although I don’t know the exact relationship. As I said, Johann Georg Ruth settled in Bucks County where my patriot ancestor was born and raised. Other descendants of Johann Georg moved west into Berks and Lancaster Counties, with some ultimately moving into Maryland
(Babe Ruth’s branch).
Returning to my patriot line, Simon Peter Ruth served as a Private in the Bucks County Militia, as did several of my other ancestors, many of whom are related by marriage, including my Frederick ancestors, two of whom were in the Revolution.
He died in 1838 and is buried in the Union Church Cemetery in Springfield Township. His son, John George Ruth, served in the War of 1812, as did another Frederick ancestor of mine. Patriotic service seems to be the common denominator of many of my Bucks County forbears, a fact which makes me very proud.
“….Peter was enrolled with the Springfield Company of Associators (Revolutionary War Volunteers) on Aug. 21, 1775. He was a private in Capt. Christopher Wigner’s company of militia in 1781. He was assessed as a taxable in Springfield Twp., in 1779; in 1784 he was rated for 100 acres, 2 dwellings, 2 out-houses and 7 members in his family. On Aug. 4, 1791, he purchased from John Barclay, 109 acres and 88 perches for £100, on which he and his family were already residing. This homestead was located along the public road leading from Bursonville to Cressman’s Mill, about a mile from the former place. “This is along the Northern edge of the trap rock region. On May 10, 1833, Mary Ruth, widow, renounced right of administering the Estate of her deceased husband in favor of her son, Samuel Ruth and Jonas Cressman. Instead of signing her name, she affixed her “mark,” an “X” a very common custom for those who were unschooled or unable because of age or ill health. These administrators sold off the estate, 102 acres and 50 perches to Anthony Amey and wife Hannah, inn-keeper, of Rockhill Twp., of which Amey on the same date (Apr. 4, 1834) sold 60 acres and 43 perches to Abraham Gehman. On Apr. 19, 1834, the administrators conveyed 10 acres and 145 perches to Joseph Ruth and wife Sarah. This was evidently later the property of Ephraim Beidleman. There were 11 children born to them.”!
All quotes from Ruth Genealogy, Vol. 2, The Ruth Families, compiled by Warren R. Kriebel, 1981.

John Santee was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania in 1757, the son of Abraham Santee, an early settler of Northampton County. In August of 1777 he was mustered into Capt Weygandt’s Company, Col Labar’s Battalion, Northampton County militia, initially as a fifer and later as a private. In the fall of 1777, after the Battle of Germantown, his unit marched to meet up with Washington’s army at Whitemarsh. The battalion became a part of Irvine’s Brigade of Pennsylvania militia.
Washington’s army was posted in a very good defensive position, along a ridgeline with creeks protecting each flank. Irvine’s Brigade was posted on a hill (now known as Militia Hill) that anchored the American right flank. General Howe’s British forces moved north from Germantown to Whitemarsh. Howe sent a probing attack force consisting of some Hessian Jaegers, the 16th Light Dragoons, and Simcoe’s Queen’s Rangers (a Loyalist unit) toward the American right flank.
Washington ordered Irvine’s Brigade to advance and attack that force. The American attack was repulsed, and Irvine was wounded and captured. The Pennsylvania militia retreated in good order and reoccupied their hilltop positions. Howe, taken aback a bit by the American aggressiveness and recognizing the strength of the American position, decided against a full scale assault and retired toward Philadelphia and winter quarters.
John Santee, along with his fellow militiamen, were discharged and returned home for the winter, while Washington’s Continentals entered winter quarters at Valley Forge. Unlike most of his militia counterparts, this was not John Santee’s only active duty stint. He served tours in 1778, 1779, and 1780, volunteering to serve in campaigns against the Iroquois on the Pennsylvania frontier. He married Maria Gross in 1782 and settled down to a life of farming in Northampton County. He applied for and was granted a pension in 1840. His pension records his service in the Northampton County militia at Whitemarsh and also credits him with serving in the Pennsylvania Line during campaigns against the Iroquois. He was buried in the church cemetery in Hecktown, Moore Township, Northampton County after his death in 1848. I am fortunate because I was able to visit the site of John Santee’s action at Whitemarsh two years ago. Whitemarsh is now a state park, but it is a wildlife preserve and bird sanctuary with little reference to the battle that occurred there. Most of Washington’s ridgeline positions are now occupied by upscale housing developments, but Militia Hill is still in pristine condition. I was able to walk down the hill, following the course of Irvine’s Brigade across Wissahickon Creek, until it clashed with the British advance. Whitemarsh, therefore, is the only Revolutionary War battlefield where I have actually been able to trace my ancestor’s movements, literally walking in his footsteps.
That, to me, was a unique experience.

Jacob Faust was born Dec 25, 1757 and died on July 27, 1834. He was the son of Phillip Lebs Faust (P-156952) and Magdalena Albrecht who had immigrated to Berks County, Pennsylvania from, ironically, given the service of four sons, including Jacob, and Phillip himself in the Revolutionary War, the Germanic principality of Hesse (home of the Hessian troops that served the British army). Phillip was born in the Hessen town of Langenselbold.

Enlisting at the age of 21, Jacob’s service is documented in the preceding Patriot Service Description. In addition to that record of his service, however, there is a plaque for Berks County veterans of the Revolutionary War near his grave at the Zion Red Church near Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. That plaque includes service in Captain Ladich’s Company of the Berks County militia. A biographer for the Faust family history notes that Captain Ladich’s Company was also known as the Frontier Rangers. According to that biographer, the Ranger company roamed along the western edges of the colony to dissuade both Native Americans and British troops from threatening the isolated settlements in the area.

In 1782, while still in the militia, Jacob married Elizabeth Kieffer. After his marriage, he purchased 300 acres of land in Brunswick Township. There he built a large two-story red brick and quarried native stone house that is still occupied today. Nearby, he built a grist mill that has since been turned into a house that remains occupied today. Jacob and Elisabeth were the parents of 14 children that included 7 sons and 7 daughters.

Philip Reesman, an immigrant boy from Germany who ran away from home at age fifteen, was a stowaway on the ship Minerva, sailing from Rotterdam, Germany to Philadelphia on October 1, 1770.
Since Philip could not read or write, he could only make his mark with a wobbly “X” when it came his turn to sign the ship’s passenger list. Philip told the ship’s officer his name was Philip Reesman and the ship’s officer wrote “Philip Priesman” by the ‘x’. If you say the name Philip Reesman aloud, it is easy to understand the mistake in spelling. A photocopy of Philip’s signature on the passenger list may be seen in Strassburger’s book, Pennsylvania German Pioneers, which shows port arrivals in Philadelphia from Holland from 1727 until 1808.
Philip took the oath of allegiance to the King of England at Messieurs Willing and Morris’ Store, Philadelphia, in October 1770, and Thomas Willing, Esq. was present. Since Philip could not pay his passage, it was paid by Willing and Morris who then sold him as an indentured servant. Normal time of indenture was 4-7 years.
On May 30, 1775, Philip Reesman was married to Catherine Leininger at the Lutheran Church, New Hanover, Chester County, PA. The tax list of Chester County, Coventry Township, PA, for 1776 listed Philip Reesman as an inmate, meaning he was married and a renter and no longer indentured.
On August 5, 1776, Philip Reesman joined the Second Battalion, Chester County Militia, Captain Edward Parker’s Company. Payroll records show that Philip was paid for the period August 5 through October 13, 1776. On November 16, 1776, most of the Second Battalion, Chester County Militia, were captured by General Howe at North Manhattan Island Fort Washington, New York. Philip was captured at this time and held prisoner until January of 1777.
The tax lists of 1799 and 1780 list Philip as a taxpayer and owning a cow. In 1803, Philip purchased a tract of land at the south end of Waynesboro, PA for 20 pounds and a few months later he resold it for 28 pounds, 10 shillings. Today that tract of land is a housing development and shopping center. In the 1810 census Philip is listed as living in Washington Township, Franklin County, PA.
Philip had 8 sons including John Reesman (1788-1872), who became the father of Samuel Porter Reesman (1838-1904), who then had Ward Beecher Reesman (1874-1947), who then fathered Heasty Ward Reesman (1908-1985), who had Ward Hansen Reesman (1934-1997), then Ward Heasty Reesman (1963-present), and finally another Ward Heasty Reesman (1997-present).
Philip died in 1815 in Washington Township, Franklin County, PA near Waynesboro and was believed to be buried in Pence’s Graveyard nearby; however, Pence’s contains many unmarked graves.

Private Jesse Rowe, 4th Regiment Virginia Regulars
My fourth Great Grandfather Jesse Rowe was born on January 21, 1755 in Hanover County, Virginia. He was the first child of six born to John and Jane (Walker) Rowe. As he grew up, he became a farmer and farmed north of Staunton, Virginia in Louisa County.
During the five known deployments to support the revolutionary cause for freedom, explained in the following paragraphs, Jesse served a total of 9 months and 17 days as a private in the Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War.
In 1776, at the age of 21, he joined a volunteer company at Hampton on the James River, commanded by Captain Charles Dabney. His first call-up was from September 5 to December 16, 1776, under the command of Colonel Samuel Meredith of the Fourth Regiment of the Regulars under the command of Colonel Lawson in the Portsmouth, Virginia area.
His second was in the fall of 1777, he served for one month under the command of General Nelson in the Williamsburg, Virginia area.
On his third call-up in 1778, he served for forty days at Albemarle Barracks in Albemarle County, Virginia guarding prisoners under the command of Colonel Taylor.
His fourth deployment occurred in 1780 after his marriage to Mary Jane Faris on September 13, 1779 in Louisa County, Virginia. The marriage record shows that her mother gave permission for her to marry as she was one month shy of her 16th birthday. This call-up was from June 17 to September 5, 1780. Initially, under the command of Captain John Byers, he marched from Portsmouth, Virginia to Hillsborough, North Carolina. He then belonged to the E-Regiment of the Virginia Militia Brigade commanded by General Edward Stephens. They then joined with the militia from North Carolina and combined with the Regulars at Hillsborough under the command of General Horacio Gates and proceeded south across North Carolina headed for Camden, South Carolina to engage the British commanded by General Charles Cornwallis. It was at this point that General Gates was advised to proceed south by way of Salisbury and Charlotte, North Carolina. Although it would have been a third longer distance, it would be a more populated route and they would get more food support from the populace and would be able to recruit more volunteers along the way. General Gates ignored this advice by proceeding directly south to Mask Ferry, arriving on August 3. This was the ferry crossing point on the Great Pee Dee River and also the border with South Carolina.
This was an ill-fated decision as the land along this route was sparsely populated and many signs of habitation had been abandoned so the troops found little support during this march. Hot summer temperatures and having to search for food limited their progress to 10 to 15 miles per day. From eating green corn and fruit, along with bad water, many of the men were not fit for an upcoming battle.
I have always remarked that fate intervened at this point for Jesse and 199 other men because on August 9 they were ordered to remain at Mask Ferry, guard the baggage wagons and build a fort at this crossing under the command of Major Conway. On August 16, the Patriot troops engaged the British in the Battle of Camden, South Carolina and were quickly and soundly defeated by the forces led by General Cornwallis.
After General Gates observed the Virginia and the North Carolina Militiamen in hasty retreat into the woods in all directions, he then swiftly retreated to safety in Charlotte, North Carolina. After receiving word of the defeat, Major Conway and men at Mask Ferry returned to Hillsborough. Major Conway subsequently dismissed the men to return to their homes on September 5, 1780 as they did not need their services any longer.
The men were tried by a Court Martial and later acquitted.
I suspect these Court Martial proceedings were the result of the Virginia Militiamen dropping their weapons and retreating from the battlefield at Camden. Therefore, when it was determined that the men dismissed by Major Conway had remained on duty at Mask Ferry as ordered and were not in the battle at Camden, they were acquitted of all charges.
Jesse’s fifth and last call-up lasted 40 days and began on May 24, 1781 when he marched from Portsmouth to Richmond, Virginia to join the troops under General Lafayette. Upon their arrival in Richmond, they discovered Lafayette and his troops had already departed. The militia caught up with them at a place called Brooks Bridge. This campaign was necessitated because in late May 1781, British General Cornwallis was under orders to subdue the patriots in Virginia. General Lafayette’s mission was to observe Cornwallis’ movements while continuing to equip his troops and protect military supplies. Cornwallis moved westward as far as Charlottesville, Virginia and then turned and proceeded to head toward the coast and Williamsburg, Virginia.
However, after marching night and day for 28 days, many of which were in the rain, Jesse became sick and was sent to the hospital. Upon examination, he was found unfit for duty and was discharged by General Nelson.
Jesse and Mary Jane continued to live on their farm north of Staunton, Virginia and had a family of 9 children, 4 sons and 5 daughters. As a result of the US Government program to offer soldiers free land to move west, Jesse and his family, except for one daughter, in the fall of 1808 moved to Ross County, Ohio. The one daughter, who was married, moved with her family to Tennessee. After about 4 years in Ross County most moved further west to Fayette County, Ohio in the spring of 1812. They established and plotted the town of Staunton, Ohio, named after Staunton, Virginia. Jesse bought land, built a home and farmed 2 miles southeast of present-day Staunton, Ohio. All of the family who went to Ohio lived and died there except for the youngest son who lived and died in Alabama. Jesse died at his home on September 15, 1845 at the age of 90 years, 7 months and 25 days. He is buried in the Rowe Cemetery located on a rise in a field southeast of the homestead. The cemetery exists today but is surrounded by a barbed wire fence with no gate(s) and is overgrown with trees and brush. His headstone is marked with the DAR marker but access to the site is limited as a person must walk across a farm field to get to the cemetery site.
Although I have never been there in person, from pictures one can see that it is not very well taken care of and because of no public access I believe the only ones primarily aware of it are the farmer that farms the land, some local county/state authorities and his many descendants.

As a new member of the SAR, I’d like to share the story of my 5th Great Grandfather, Private Thaddeus Newell.
Thaddeus Newell was born in the town of Dudley, Massachusetts in 1746. His father died when he was only 3, and his mother died when he was 16. Fortunately, he had 4 older brothers and sisters to look after him.
He struck out to the western edge of the colonies, settling in the Mohawk Valley of New York while in his 20s. Though many in the colonies had a kinship with the British since that’s where their families originated, this wasn’t the case in the Mohawk Valley of New York. European settlers in this area were primarily New Netherland Dutch, German, Scottish, and only the occasional English and Irish soldier.
The British were a foreign sovereign to most of these people. It was an uncomfortable situation for these inhabitants. They suffered under British rule, and their attitude turned from unease to hostility as a result of years of constant taxation and the preferential treatment in the availability of land. As a result, most families here were strongly in support of breaking away from British rule.
On June 24th, 1776, Thaddeus Newell participated in a meeting at William Warner’s tavern in King’s District. According to the minutes of that meeting, “the question being put, whether the said District chooses to have the United American Colonies independent of Great Britain, voted unanimously in the affirmative.”
Thus, the people of King’s District set on a course to change history.
The 17th Regiment of Albany County Militia was formed as a result. Thaddeus Newell served in this regiment as a private, participating in the decisive 2nd Battle of Saratoga (the Battle of Bemis Heights) on October 7th, 1777. He served under Major General Benjamin Lincoln as part of Brigadier General John Glover’s Brigade. Saratoga was a key strategic point in the War of the Revolution. For the British, it represented the linking up of English armies from Montreal and Ontario with the armies who had held New York City.
The design was to seal off New England from the southern colonies – essentially to divide and conquer the revolutionary forces.
Fortunately, the American victory at the 2nd Battle of Saratoga changed the momentum of the war. Upon hearing of the surrender of British General Burgoyne, the French decided to join the war in support of the American forces as our most important ally. This was such a key event that General George Washington proclaimed that a day of Thanksgiving (long before it became a national holiday) would be held in December of 1777 as a celebration of our victory over the British at Saratoga.
So, on this Thanksgiving in 2014, I too am thankful for the service my great, great, great, great, great grandfather Thaddeus Newell paid to help forge our country.

Looking back at the history of the revolutionary War, it seems logical that Davis Ball should become involved in the fight for independence. By the time Davis Ball was born in 1759, his ancestors had created quite a name for themselves in the Newark NJ area. His father, Nathaniel Ball, was a blacksmith and farmer in Connecticut Farms, NJ. His grandfather, Thomas Ball, was a prominent member of the Newark society. Thomas was also a Blacksmith and served as the Newark Constable during at least one term of office. His great-grandfather, Edward Ball, is somewhat of a modern mystery. Edward appears in the records in 1664, when he married Abigail Blatchley, the daughter of Thomas and Susanna (Ball–no apparent relation to Edward) Blatchley. Edward signed an agreement, on 30 Oct 1666, to join a group of New Haven, CT people who were going to establish a new town in New Jersey called New Ark. Only church members could sign the document, so Edward was at least a freeman. Edward received six acres between modern Broad St and Washington St in Newark. He later added 78 acres to his holdings. Edward served as the Town Attorney, Surveyor, High Sheriff, and other political and legal positions.
Davis was born to Nathaniel and Esther (Osborne) on 27 Mar 1759 in Connecticut Farms, NJ. He was the youngest of 11 children. He married Mary Hatfield in 1740 in Essex, NJ. He continued as a farmer until joining Capt Townley’s Company, from Elizabeth Township, Essex County, of the 1st Regiment of the NJ Militia. He signed the Company Muster Roll on 29 Jun 1775 as a private. He served in the Princeton and Germantown Battles. He was captured by the British and taken to one of the Sugar House prisons in New York City. He deserted (escaped) from the prison and returned home to recuperate from the experience. In 1780, he enlisted, as a private, in the Continental Army. He fought and was wounded at the Battle of Yorktown, VA. He was mustered out of the Army following the end of the war in 1783. He received a great welcome upon returning home.
Davis resided on his family farm until sometime between 1785 and 1788. He appeared on the Springfield, Essex County, NJ tax rolls until 1785. In 1788, he appeared in the Washington County, PA tax rolls. His wanderings were not over. In 1800, he appeared on the Morgan Township, Greene County, PA tax rolls. Then sometime between 1800 and 1806, he moved to Butler County, OH. He lived in Butler County until his death in 1819.
Davis established a ferry service on the Miami River, between Brownstown and Trenton Township, Butler County, OH. On 27 Mar 1819, Davis’s sixtieth birthday, the site of the ferry was the scene of a great tragedy. The river was a swollen and rushing torrent. His son, Aaron, had been called upon to pilot a boat down the river to Cincinnati, leaving him in sole charge of the ferry. A party from Seven Mile, consisting of five men: Captain Aul, Thomas Wilson, William and Daniel Craig. Thomas Thompson, a boy, the son of Aul, and an unnamed young girl arrived at the ferry. They came in a wagon drawn by a team of horses and were accompanied by a dog. When Davis flatly refused to ferry the group across the flooded river, the men pleaded with him and even offered to assist in the crossing. He finally relented. Perhaps he was influenced by the fact that Daniel Craig was his son-in-law. However, he made the stipulation that the girl was to wait on the shore.
The whole population of Brownstown turned out to witness the risky venture. The ferry consisted of a flat bottomed boat propelled by a system of ropes and pulleys reaching from shore to shore. It operated by the force of the river pushing sideways upon the boat. The inexperienced men attempted to take up the slack in the rope and pulled too hard. First one rope snapped, then the other, resulting in the boat’s capsizing. The force of the current carried the passengers toward the opposite shore which prevented them from grasping wood thrown to them by the onlookers. The horses were pulled under by the heavy wagon. The dog, in its frantic efforts to save itself, pawed the shoulders of the men, who were also trying to swim, causing them to exhaust their feeble strength. One of the Craigs tried to help his brother, but both were lost. The young Aul boy was saved by scrambling atop the capsized boat. Thomas Thompson was able to swim to shore. The other four men and Davis were drowned. The tragic accident took Davis on a special birthday, but also deprived the family of Daniel, their son-in-law. Davis Ball and his wife, Mary, are both buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Trenton, OH.
Davis Ball set an example of patriotism and military service that was passed down to his son, Stephen Ball (served in the War of 1812), and grandsons, Davis W. Ball and Orlando Ball. Davis W. Ball served in the Mexican-American War and Orlando in the Civil War.

Jonathan Devol, Sr. He was born in Dartmouth, Mass in 1711, and was the Great-grandson of George Soule, Sr., who came on the “Mayflower” in 1620.
Jonathan became a successful businessman in Newport County, Rhode Island, holding several public offices, as well as being a member of the Rhode Island Assembly in the 1760’s. He was engaged in the produce trade, importing goods from the West Indies. Four of his children served in the Revolutionary War; Gilbert, Silas, Jonathan, Jr., and Stephen Devol.
Stephen Devol (son of Jonathan Devol, Sr.). He was born at Tiverton, Rhode Island in 1745. He was married in 1770 to Rosannah (Rose) Cook. To celebrate the occasion of his marriage, he had a miniature portrait painted (on ivory)-by the young Charles Wilson Peale, in Baltimore, Maryland. Peale had just returned from study in London and opened a studio there, with his younger brother, James Peale.
Stephen Devol became a member of the Rhode Island Militia, serving during the Revolutionary War from 1776 to 1778. He also built small boats used in transporting troops along the Eastern seaboard. Three of his brothers were members of the first group of pioneers who settled the “Northwest (Ohio) Territory. They were with the landing party of 48 members who arrived at the site of what was to become Marietta, Ohio in April of 1788. Later, in 1796, Stephen Devol and his family came out from Rhode Island, and settled at Marietta. Stephen Devol died in Washington County, Ohio in 1803. In the cemetery located at Marietta, there is a larger number of Revolutionary War officers buried there, than in any other cemetery in America.
Capt. Wing Devol (son of Stephen Devol). He was born in Newport County, Rhode Island in 1775, during the Revolutionary War. His first memories were of that conflict, and remained with him all of his very long life. He came with his parents and siblings to Washington County, Ohio in 1796, to join other members of the Devol family.
He served in the War of 1812, as a Captain in charge of a number of supply ships. After the war, he returned to Washington County, Ohio and became a successful farmer. He was married there in 1800 to Clarissa Hart, daughter of Dr. Josiah Hart, himself a prominent doctor who served as a Military Surgeon in the Revolutionary War from Connecticut. In 1864, still living in extreme old age, he wrote in a family letter that “his fondest wish was to live to see the Union restored”. This wish was granted, as he lived until 1866 -when he died in Washington County, Ohio.

David Abbey was a private in the 4th Hampshire County regiment of the Massachusetts Militia, living in Grandby, MA (approximately 13 miles northeast of Springfield).  He “marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775” (the well-known alarm raised by Paul Revere that the British Regulars were coming) and served 2 days.  He was a private under Captain Phineas Smith of Colonel Porter’s Regiment.

Family records indicate he later enlisted in Massachusetts, August 17, 1777.  This is the same date that Captain Phineas Smith’s Company “marched on the alarm at Bennington of Aug 17, 1777”, according to official Massachusetts records of Captain Phineas Smith, so it is likely that he participated although the Massachusetts record does not document it.

It does not appear that this company, or David Abbey, were active participants in the battles of Lexington, Concord, or Bennington.  The distance to these battle sites, given the dates the unit was activated, argues against it being possible, and the Massachusetts records would certainly show it.

Abiel Fellows, Jr. was born in Canaan, Litchfield County, Connecticut, on October 1, 1764.  His parents were “Deacon”Abiel Fellows (1734-1812) of Plainfield, Windham County, CT, and Elizabeth Roe.  At the age of 41, he married his 3rd wife, Dorcas Hannah Hopkins (1787-1866), on October 27, 1805.  Mrs. Dorcas Hopkins was the daughter of Timothy Hopkins, who also served in the American Revolution.

Abiel, the youngest of 5 children, received a common school education.  At the age of 15, he went out with the Connecticut Militia, with Gates’ and Schuyler’s Army.  He was with his uncle, who commanded a division at the Battle of Freeman’s Farm, October 7, 1777, and at Saratoga, October 17, when Burgoyne surrendered.  He then returned home, but shorly after, reenlisted, remaining in the service until peace was proclaimed.  For his service, he drew a pension of $96 per year.  He was a Colonel in the War of 1812; his regiment was with Perry in the Battle of Lake Erie, September 10, 1813; afterwards joined General Harrison.

In 1784 Abiel Fellows, Jr. located in Huntington Township on land allotted in 1776 to his father, on of the proprietors of the township.  For some years prior to 1810, he was Colonel in the Pennsylvania Militia, and at the same time held office of Justice of the Peace.  In 1811 – 1813, he was one of the Commissioners of Luzerne County.  In October 1820, he was a cnadidate for Congress in the 10th Congressional District but was defeated by George Denison, Esq.  Colonel Fellows and his wife moved to Kalamazoo County, Michigan, wehre he died August 18, 1833.  His widow, Dorcas, died there May 19, 1866.  They had 13 children.

Just prior to his death, in 1832, when he was 70 years old, he carried for Lyman I. Daniels, who was acting Colonel, and was also land-agent for parties in Detroit, with important papers and some money.  He rode a horse, carrying the papers and money in saddlebags and reached Detroit in 3 days, a distance of 165 miles, and agter transacting his business, made the return trip in 3 days.  Lyman Daniels said he was the only man he could find with sufficient courage to undertake such a perilous journey.  he was brought up a strict Presbyterian; was generous, benevolent, ambitious, courageous, and of a strong genuine temperament.  He died a year later at the age of 71. (History of Kalamazoo County, MI)

When I was in my 20’s I had the opportunity one week to take some time off to travel with my mother to visit my great aunt Rose Bridge in Page, Nebraska. She was very receptive to spending time with my mother and talking about old times.
During our visit I asked her about the genealogy of our family. She gave me some papers that had a family history of when my great-grandfather, William LeForest Bridge, had decided to migrate West from Boston, Massachusetts.
The story of the Bridge family in the Colonies began in 1623 when a small ship, ”Little James”, accompanied by another ship “Ann” made its way from England to the colonies. These ships landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts bringing supplies to the pilgrims and passengers, which included my 11th great grandfather, William Bridge. It is believed that one of the Captains of these ships was Captain James Bridge, brother of William. William Bridge (b1591–d1652) was married to Mary Oldham at the age of 26.
He eventually became a Freeman, landowner and merchant. William’s wife Mary passed away and there seems to be very few records of why, possibly during child birth. A few years after the death of his wife Mary, he married a younger lady by the name Persis Price (b1626-d1682).
William and Peris were the parents of three children. The oldest son was named Samuel, followed by Ebenezer Bridge who was a blacksmith and the name of the third child is unknown. Ebenezer also had a son named Samuel. This Samuel served in Washington’s Army as a private. Although family tradition has it that he might have been an officer in the English Army. There are no known facts either way. After William’s death, Persis married John Harrison in 1653. His occupation was that of a rope maker. This union produced 10 more children. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that my granddaughters, while they were visiting Boston, found the Old Granary Burying grounds and to top it off, one of my granddaughters Erin Walden actually found her 13th great grandmother’s, Persis (Price) (Bridge) Harrison’s burial headstone in the cemetery. The Old Granary Burying Grounds is the third oldest Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts, located on Tremont Street, was established in 1660. It is the final resting place for many notable Revolutionary War Patriots including three signers of the Declaration of Independence, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Robert Payne along with Paul Revere and the five victims of the Boston massacre. This cemetery has 2345 grave markers but historians estimate as many as 5000 people were buried in the cemetery. The cemetery is adjacent to the Park Street Church and immediately across from Suffolk University law School. While attending the SAR Congress in 2016, I attended Sunday Church Services at the Park Street Church to remember the SAR members that passed away last year. After the service I soon discovered this was the same church that many of my ancestors were baptized.
The Bridge family was among some of the first settlers in North-Town, now known as Cambridge. Soon after William Bridge arrived in Nebraska, he married Mahala Elizabeth Chafen. William endured a lot settling in Nebraska as a homesteader and raising a family of 8 children including my grandmother. My mother, Nettie Elizabeth Truth, married a railroader, my father Frederick William Merrill Walden. This union produced two children, one being me. As many other families did, my family was able to endure the depression and wide spread drought that encompassed the Great Plains during the 1930s.
So, the trip with my mother to meet my great aunt Rose has really turned into a very long story. There are so many things my great-grandfather experienced making his way through St. Louis, Missouri with $10 in his pocket and some stealing five of it before he got to Kansas City. His mother had sown $5 in his pants and this was not found during the robbery.

Among the frontier rangers stationed at Ft. Augusta on the banks of the Susquehanna in the early days of the French and Indian War, was a young man named Cornelius Atkinson who thus introduced himself upon the American scene. In
time he became the progenitor of many strong and sturdy pioneers. His descendants have generally shown a rather unusual sense of family loyalty and quite a number of them have paid honor to their ancestor by affiliating with patriotic societies.
Ft. Augusta in what is now Northumberland County was one of the forts authorized and established after Braddock’s defeat for the protection of the western settlements of Pennsylvania from attacks by the Indians. Cornelius Atkinson was listed as a private in Captain Joseph Shippen’s company of the First Pennsylvania Regiment April 3, 1756 and on April 20th was issued clothing consisting of one coat, two pairs of leather breeches, one white shirt and two pairs of shoes. How long he had been in America at that time we do not know. He is said to have been born in Ireland in 1732, son of Robert Atkinson and wife both natives of that country. He settled in a region colonized by fellow Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. He was in active service more than a year and later received a land warrant, presumably because of it.
In 1758 he married Mary (Stephens) Cross in Northumberland (then part of Lancaster) County, PA and within the next three or four years exercised his land warrant by settling on the south side of the Juniata River just west of its junction with the Susquehanna where his immediate neighbors were the Stephens, Baskins, Kerl and Ellis families. This locality was then in Cumberland, but it is now a part of Perry County.
On May 7, 1762, Marcus Huling, recently returning from Pittsburg, filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania authorities that the above-named families during his absence had occupied lands previously granted to him and that Cornelius Atkinson was encroaching upon his Onion Bottom lands south of the Juniata. The Pennsylvania Board of Property, at a meeting held October 27, 1766, decided that Huling held the prior warrant and appointed arbitrators to first set off Huling’s land and then Atkinson’s, giving due regard to the improvements each had made. Huling was not satisfied with the award but his appeal from the decision of the arbitrators was denied.
In 1774 Cornelius Atkinson was granted two tracts of land under warrant in Northumberland County and probably moved his family there as they were residents of that county at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Soon after the Committees of safety had become organized in Pennsylvania he enlisted, Jan. 14, 1776, as first lieutenant in the first company of the Second Battalion of the Northumberland county Associators. This battalion was in the command of Colonel James Potter, one of the original members of the Committee of safety. James and Charles Atkinson enlisted with their father. These boys started a career as frontiersmen patterned after that of their father, and for the next twenty years or more were frequently engaged in military service against the Indians or otherwise in defense of their country. Later in the Revolution the 3rd son, William Atkinson, enlisted in the Pennsylvania militia as a member of Robinson’s Rangers.
Long afterwards in 1832, when Charles Atkinson applied for a pension for his Revolutionary services, he mentioned some of the duties performed by him and his fellow-rangers in 1779. They guarded provision boats going up the Susquehanna with supplies, and were also engaged in destroying an Indian Company which was boating green corn up the Susquehanna River from the Indian cornfields to their stockade at Tioga Point.
The year following, he was in the expedition against the Indians up the west branch of the Susquehanna. Tradition has it that Cornelius was wounded during this campaign.
In the last years of the Revolution, Cornelius and his older sons were enrolled in the Cumberland County Militia and presumably returned to that county to live about 1781.
Cornelius and some of his children, including William, continued to reside there until about 1800.
After the Revolution the older children of Cornelius Atkinson married and founded homes of their own.
Charles married Sarah McKnight but she died in childbirth leaving a child who was reared in the home of his uncle, Cornelius Atkinson Jr.
Charles Atkinson later married Elizabeth Stephens, Dec. 4, 1787, daughter of Andrew Stephens, Ferry Man on the Juniata River in Pennsylvania. William Atkinson married, perhaps earlier in the same year, Mary McCoy, the eighteen-year old daughter of Lieutenant Thomas McCoy who had served in the 6th Pa. Battalion and been taken prisoner at Quebec. Mary’s mother, Elizabeth Baskins, was daughter of James Baskins who operated the first ferry across the Susquehanna where it is now crossed by U.S. Route 22. James Atkinson married Mary Brown. In the early 1790’s Charles Atkinson went to live on Ten Mile Creek in Green County, Pa. He, and probably his brother James also, engaged in defense of the frontier against the Indians and lived in a stockade fort near the present city of Waynesburgh. They both served in the campaign against the so-called Whiskey Rebellion. James was sergeant in Capt. James Seal’s Company for 265 days and Charles was private in the same company.
Charles later served at Ft. Henry on the present site of Wheeling, W. Va. About the end of the 18th Century they moved to Northwest Territory on Sunfish Creek in what is now Monroe County, Ohio, where they were soon joined by their brothers William, Isaac and Mitchell and their sister Mary (Jones-Ingraham). These early Ohio Atkinsons took a leading part in the development of their new place of settlement.
The five brothers were generally known as the Disciples built the first church in Adams Township, Monroe County, Ohio in 1825. James was the founder of the village of Jamestown, now known as Cameron. When Monroe County was organized in 1813 William was chosen as one of the first County Commissioners and was later one of the founders of the Village of Clarington – named after Clarinda, one of the daughters of the clan. Isaac was first an associate judge and later represented his county in the state legislature, first as representative and afterward as state senator. Mitchell, the youngest brother and only nineteen years of age when he came to Ohio was the first school-teacher in Salem Township, the schoolhouse being on the farm of his brother Charles. He later became county surveyor.
The sons and daughters of the pioneers were adventurous spirits and their lives were far from prosaic.
Ruth, the youngest daughter of Charles, rode horseback to Illinois with her husband on their wedding journey. The men of the family took pride in their physical prowess. The oldest son of Charles, known as “Blue-head Jim,” won many a bout at fisticuffs and claimed to be champion of the county in that rough pioneer sport. Their impetuosity and hardihood sometimes led to tragic endings: one engaged in some venture (the nature of which is now forgotten) on the Ohio River, and was never thereafter heard from; William Jr., met sudden and accidental death from a falling roof-log which he was vainly trying to lift in place at a “house-raising” after it had baffled the strength of others. At a much later period one member of the family who inherited to a marked degree the size and strength of his forbears, and measured six feet seven inches in height, was facetiously nicknamed “Shorty Atkinson.”
While many of his descendants were pioneering in Ohio, Cornelius Atkinson was spending his declining years among those who remained on the Susquehanna. Cornelius Jr. had served in the militia, and later against the Whiskey Rebellion, but returned to the region of his upbringing. Having no children of their own, he and his wife reared Henry Sebastian Atkinson, the motherless son of his brother Charles. Keziah and her husband, James Martin, lived near the original home site and had a number of descendants who lived in that part of Pennsylvania. The other two daughters of Cornelius Sr., Jane Robinson and Rebecca Clark, lived in Pennsylvania after their marriage. Sometime after 1800 it appears that Cornelius, the Ranger, and his wife moved across the river into Halifax Township, Dauphin County, where the latter died in 1807. Cornelius died in 1815 and his son-in-law, James Martin, was appointed Administrator of his Estate. The following year his heirs sold Sheep Island at the mouth of the Juniata, which he had owned from 1767
till the date of his death.
Cornelius and his wife Mary are buried in Dauphin County, PA. Charles and his wife Elizabeth, his brothers James and William are buried in the Old Cameron Cemetery, located in Cameron, Monroe County, Adams Township, Ohio (aka Atkinson Cemetery, Hartline Cemetery and Revolutionary War Cemetery).