USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > Annals of Augusta County, Virginia > Part 8
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the silver-mounted scabbard was carried off, leaving only the naked blade.
John McNutt, a brother of Alexander, settled on North river, Rock- bridge. His wife was Catherine Anderson, a great-aunt of Judge Francis T. Anderson. One of his sons, Alexander, was the father of Governor Alexander G. McNutt, of Mississippi, and grandfather of General Frank Paxton and General Albert G. Jenkins.
A daughter of John McNutt married, first, Lieutenant McCorkle, who was mortally wounded at the battle of the Cowpens, the grandfather of the Rev. Alexander B. McCorkle, and great-grandfather of Thomas McCorkle, Esq. Her second husband was Arthur Glasgow, grand- father of William A. Glasgow, Esq., and Colonel J. K. Edmondson. To the former we are indebted for most of the facts here given.
THE CUNNINGHAMS.
Robert Cunningham, a native of north Ireland, settled on a farm called Rock Spring, in Augusta county, about the year 1735. He was one of the first set of justices of the peace appointed in 1745, and after- ward, it is said, a member of the House of. Burgesses. His wife was a widow Hamilton, and the mother of several children at the time of her second marriage. One of her daughters, Mary Hamilton, married David Campbell, and was the mother of John and Arthur Campbell, and others. (See "The Campbells.") Two of the daughters of Robert Cunningham also married Campbells. He had no son. His daughter, Martha, about the year 1750, married Walter Davis, who became the owner of Rock Spring farm. Mr. Davis never held civil office, but was an elder of Tinkling Spring church and a man of much influence. His daughter, Margaret, married John Smith, and was the mother of Judge Daniel Smith, of Rockingham. His son, William Davis, born in 1765, married Annie Caldwell, and died about 1851, aged eighty-six. He was a man of high standing in the community, a justice of the peace, high sheriff, etc. Walter. Davis, Jr., son of William, born in 1791, was for many years one of the two commissioners of the revenue in Augusta county, and noted for his faithful and intelligent discharge of the duties of his office. His wife was Rebecca Van Lear. William C. Davis, a brother of Walter Davis, Jr., removed to Missouri in 1836 or 1837. Dr. Thomas Parks, of Missouri, is the only surviving grandchild of Walter Davis, Sr.
John Cunningham, believed to have been a brother of Robert, lived in Staunton, his residence being on Lot No. I, southwest corner of Au- gusta street and Spring Lane. He had three daughters and one son. His oldest daughter was Mrs. Margaret Reed, mentioned on page 153. who was baptized by Mr. Craig in 1747, and died in 1827. Another
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daughter, Isabella, married Major Robert Burns, and was the mother of Mrs. Waterman and Mrs. Gambill, of Rockingham. The third daughter of John Cunningham, Elizabeth, married Captain Thomas Smith. According to family tradition, Captain Smith commanded the only troop of cavalry that went into the Continental service from Augusta during the Revolutionary war. His daughters were Mrs. Michael Gar- ber, Mrs. Moses McCue, and Mrs. John Jones. Captain Walter Cun- ningham, only son of John, removed to Kentucky in 1788, and thus the name disappeared from the county.
We are indebted to Major James B. Dorman, a grandson of Mrs. Moses McCue, for most of the above facts.
THE POAGES.
Robert Poage, with many other settlers in the Valley, appeared at Orange court, May 22, 1740, to "prove his importation," with the view of taking up public lands. The record sets forth that he, his wife, Elizabeth, and nine children, named, came from Ireland to Phila- delphia, "and from thence to this colony," at his own expense. He may have come some years earlier than the date mentioned, but we find no trace of him before that time. Alexander Breckenridge proved his importation on the same day, and very likely the two families came over in the same ship.
Mr. Poage settled on a plantation three miles north of Staunton, which he must have purchased from William Beverley, as the land was in Beverley's Manor. The tract contained originally seven hundred and seventy-two acres. It was there, no doubt, that the young preacher, McAden, obtained his first dinner in Virginia on Saturday, June 21, 1755. (See page 66.)
But he acquired other lands directly from the government. There is before us a patent on parchment, executed by Governor Gooch, July 30, 1742, granting to Robert Poage three hundred and six acres of land "in the county of Orange, on the west side of the Blue Ridge," to be held " in free and common soccage, and not in capite or by knight's service," in consideration of thirty-five shillings ; provided the grantee should pay a fee rent of one shilling for every fifty acres. annually, " on the feast of St. Michael the Archangel," etc. The seal attached to the patent has on it an impression of the royal crown of Great Britain.
The will of Robert Poage, dated October 20, 1773, was proved in court March 6, 1774. The executors were William Lewis and testator's son, John. The testator mentions his sons John, Thomas, Robert, George and William, and his daughters Martha Woods, Elizabeth Crawford and Margaret Robertson. To the last six he gave only
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"one pistole" each, having provided for them otherwise. The son Thomas is not named in the Orange county court record, and the presumption is that he was born after the family came to America. The record referred to mentions, however, two daughters, Mary and Sarah, who are not named in the will. Both had probably died before the date of the will. One of these, it is supposed, was the first wife of Major Robert Breckenridge (son of Alexander), who died while quite young, leaving two sons, Robert and Alexander Breckenridge, who became prominent citizens of Kentucky. (See page 140, and also "Mrs. Floyd's Narrative.")
The only children of Robert and Elizabeth Poage, of whom we have any particular account, are their sons John and Thomas.
I. John Poage qualified as assistant to Thomas Lewis, Surveyor of Augusta county, May 20, 1760. In 1763, he was a vestryman of Augusta Parish (see page 110). On March 17, 1778, he became high sheriff, and on the next day qualified. as county surveyor. His will, dated Feb- ruary 16, 1789, and proved in court April 22, 1789, mentions his wife, Mary, and his children, Robert, George, James, John, Thomas, Eliza- beth and Ann. Of most of these nothing is known.
I. Robert Poage, son of John, qualified as assistant county surveyor, June 16, 1778. Nothing else is known of him.
2. James Poage. A person of this name married a daughter of Mrs. Martha Woods (daughter of Robert Poage, Sr.), and removed to Kentucky. If this was James the son of John, he and his wife were first cousins. In 1796, a James Poage was a member of the Kentucky Legislature, from Clarke county.
3. John Poage, son of John, succeeded his father as county surveyor. He lived on a farm near Mowry's Mill, about five miles north of Staun- ton, and died in 1827, leaving several children, most of whom went west. His son James, who remained in Augusta, died in 1876.
4. Thomas Poage, son of John, Sr., was a promising young minis ter, who died in 1793. He had recently married a Miss Jane Watkins, to whom, and his brother John, he left his estate. The witnesses to the will were the Rev. William Wilson and the Rev. John Poage Campbell. The latter and John Poage were appointed executors. Mr. Campbell's name was originally simply John Campbell, but he added the name Poage on account of his devotion to his friend, Thomas Poage (see page 192).
5. Elizabeth, daughter of John Poage, Sr., was the wife of the Rev. Dr. Moses Hoge, long president of Hampden Sidney College. She was married August 23, 1783, and died June, 1802. Her three sons were eminent ministers, viz: Rev. Dr. James Hoge, of Columbus, Ohio; Rev. John Blair Hoge, a man of brilliant genius, who died young, at Martinsburg; and Rev. Samuel Davies Hoge, who also died young, the father of the Rev. Moses D Hoge, D. D., of Richmond.
Of George and Ann Poage, the remaining children of John Poage, Sr., nothing is known.
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II. Thomas Poage, son of Robert, Sr., inherited and lived on his father's homestead. His wife was Polly McClanahan. His will, proved in court, January 24, 1803, mentions his children, viz : Elijah, Robert, John, William, Elizabeth, Ann, Polly and Agnes.
I. Elijah Poage married Nancy Grattan, daughter of John Grattan (see pages 177-8), July 3, 1787, and went to Kentucky.
2. Robert Poage, son of Thomas, Sr., married Martha Crawford, September 15, 1791, and went to Kentucky.
3 John Poage, son of Thomas, Sr., married, November 27, 1792, Mrs. Rachel Crawford, widow of John Crawford, of Augusta, and daugh- ter of Hugh Barclay, of Rockbridge. He lived in Rockbridge, on a farm given to him by his father, and was the grandfather of Colonel William T. Poage of Lexington.
4. William Poage, youngest son of Thomas, Sr., was the Major Poage who lived many years on the ancestral farm, three miles from Staunton. His first wife was Betsy, daughter of Colonel Andrew An- derson. She died without issue, and he married again, Peggy Allen (see " The Allens "), by whom there was a large family. His son Thomas, a rising lawyer in southwest Virginia, was Colonel of the Fiftieth Virginia regiment when he was killed, on Blackwater, in February, 1863. One of Major Poage's daughters is the wife of General James A. Walker, late Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia. To A. W. Poage, of Wythe, a son of Major Poage, we are indebted for much of this family history.
5. Ann Poage, daughter of Thomas, Sr., married Major Archibald Woods, of Botetourt, March 5, 1789, who was a son of Mrs. Martha Woods, daughter of Robert Poage, Sr. Major Woods removed to Ohio county, and died in 1846. His son, Thomas, who was cashier of the North Western Bank of Virginia, at Wheeling, was the father of the Rev. Edgar Woods, of Pantops Academy, Albemarle.
6. Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Poage, Sr., was the wife of the Rev. William Wilson, of Augusta church. (See page 135.)
7. Polly, daughter of Thomas Poage, Sr., was the wife of Thomas Wilson, a brother of the Rev. William Wilson. Thomas Wilson lived at Morgantown, Northwest Virginia, and was a lawyer, member of Con- gress, etc. His son, the Rev. Norval Wilson, was long a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and one of his daughters, Mrs. Louisa Lowrie, was a missionary in India. Among the grandsons of Thomas Wilson are Bishop Alpheus Wilson and E. W. Wilson, the present Governor of West Virginia.
8. Agnes Poage, daughter of Thomas, Sr., died unmarried.
Another family of Poages came from Ireland and settled in Rockbridge county. The name of the ancestor is not known. He was, probably, a brother of Robert Poage, Sr., who settled in Augusta about 1740. His wife was Jane Somers. They had ten children. One of the sons, Jonathan, was the grandfather of Dr. Poage, late of Rockbridge, of Mrs. Lane, a missionary in Brazil, and others. A daughter, Ann, was the wife of Isaac Caruthers, and has many descendants widely scattered.
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Another daughter, Martha, married James Moore. The fifth child of James and Martha Moore was called Mary, after her father's oldest sister, who was the wife of Major Alexander Stuart, father of Judge Archibald Stuart. Mary Moore became the wife of the Rev. Samuel Brown, of New Providence. When a child, nine years of age, living with her parents in Abb's Valley, now Tazewell county, she and others were carried off by Indians, July 14, 1786, and detained in captivity three years.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR MEASURES.
For the only account of any proceedings under the ordinances passed by the State Convention in July, 1775, providing for the organization of "minute men," we are indebted to the ".Gilmer Papers," issued in 1887 by the Virginia Historical Society. Commissioners from the coun- ties of Buckingham, Amherst, Albemarle and Augusta, composing a district (see page 157), met on the 8th of September, 1775, at the house of James Woods, in Amherst, now Nelson. The commissioners from Augusta were Sampson Mathews, Alexander McClanahan and Samuel McDowell. It was resolved that Augusta furnish four companies of fifty men each, and that each of the other counties furnish two compa- nies, making the total of ten companies and five hundred men required by the ordinance. George Mathews, of Augusta, was chosen colonel; Charles Lewis, of Albemarle, lieutenant-colonel; David Gaines, major ; < and Thomas Patterson (or Patteson, doubtless, of Buckingham), "commissary of masters."
The officers appointed for the Augusta companies were as follows :
Ist. Benjamin Harrison, captain ; Henry Evans, lieutenant ; and Cu- rord Custard, ensign.
2d. Daniel Stephenson, captain; John McMahon, lieutenant; and Samuel Henderson, ensign.
3d. Alexander Long, captain; James Sayres, lieutenant; and John Buchanan, ensign.
4th. William Lyle, Jr., lieutenant; and William Moore, ensign. The captain of this company was not named.
The first company was evidently intended to be raised in the north- ern part of the county, now Rockingham, and the fourth in the south- ern part, now Rockbridge.
The regiment was required to meet on the east side of the Blue Ridge, at a point to be designated by the colonel, within three miles of Rockfish Gap.
As far as we have learned, no other proceedings were taken in pursuance of the ordinance, and probably the regiment never mus- tered. In December following, an ordinance was passed for raising
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seven regiments of regulars, in addition to the First and Second, and George Mathews was then appointed by the Convention lieutenant- colonel of the Ninth. (See pages 157, 158 and 160.) The latter ordi- nance superseded the former, which proposed merely a militia organi- zation.
The ordinance of July, 1775, also called for two regiments of regulars, the First and Second, as mentioned on page 156, and the district com- missioners, at their meeting in September, designated the officers for two companies. Among them was Thomas Hughes, but whether cap- tain or lieutenant it is impossible to tell from Dr. Gilmer's memoran- · dum. He was, however, no doubt, the Captain Hughes mentioned on page 159. William Robertson, of Augusta, was chosen a lieutenant.
Lieutenant Robertson entered the service in 1775, and was at the battles of Great Bridge, Brandywine and Germantown. Being a mem- ber of Colonel Mathews's regiment at Germantown, he was taken prisoner there, and detained three years. After his discharge, he rejoined the army and served till the close of the war. He died November 12, 1831. .
[The only child of William Robertson was the wife of Charles A. Stuart, of Greenbrier, who, with his sons, William Robertson and John Stuart, succeeded to the old gentleman's property. He owned at one time the mill which stood where the mill of Witz & Holt is now, but sold it before his death to Jacob Smith.]
The following is said to have been written as an inscription for a flag of one of the Augusta companies during the Revolution. Whether it was so used, we do not know :
" We raise this banner to defend the cause Of injured freedom and our country's laws ; This banner, Britain, means no ill to thee : We love as children, but we will be free."
AN INCIDENT OF THE REVOLUTION, which occurred in Augusta, is related in the memoir of Mrs. Jane Allen Trimble. The women and children of that era were left in charge of the homesteads, and many females displayed as much patriotism and courage as the male mem- bers of their families. Rigid economy and untiring industry were practised in every household, and many families, whose sons and brothers were in the field as soldiers, were dependent upon their neighbors for the means of living.
A German family dwelling near the Stone church, seemed to be out of the pale of sympathy that pervaded society. They contributed neither men nor means to aid the cause, and were regarded as Tories, but afraid to avow their principles.
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An officer of the Virginia line visited his family in Augusta in 1777, and was at a social party composed principally of females, when the conduct of the family alluded to was commented upon. A majority of the party urged that the Tories should be driven out of the neighbor- hood. Jane Allen and one of the Misses Grattan opposed the proposi- tion, saying that the people, if driven away, would probably go to North Carolina and swell the number of active enemies. It was therefore agreed that the case should be put into the hands of the young women named, to be managed by them. The two heroines made their plan and proceeded to execute it at once. Disguised as Continental officers, it is said, they repaired to the house of the German, two miles off, late . in the evening. The dogs announced their approach, and the men, seeing officers coming, hid themselves, the female head of the family presenting herself at the door of her dwelling. "Madam," said one of the recruiting officers, " more soldiers are needed. You have four sons and can spare two. Your family has been protected by your neighbors, while you have contributed nothing to relieve the women and children around you. You must either furnish men for the army, or supplies for the neighborhood."
The old woman exclaimed, " Mine Fader, vot vill ve do !" A voice from the loft cried out : " O give de money or provisions, and let de men stay at home." The husband was thereupon ordered down, and the contract then ratified was observed during the war.
The young women returned and made their report. Profound secrecy was enjoined and preserved, as to the persons engaged in the enterprise. The evening's entertainment was closed with a hymn, and a prayer for the Divine blessing, led by the good-man of the house.
ANDREW WALLACE .- Upon the authority of an old army list, it is stated on page 179 that Captain Wallace was killed at the battle of King's Mountain. Foote states, however, and no doubt correctly, that he was killed at Guilford. (See Sketches of Virginia, second series, page 147). He says: "Captain Andrew Wallace, from near Lexington, was in the regular service, and had always shown himself a brave man. That morning be expressed a mournful presage that he would fall that day. In the course of the action, he sheltered himself behind a tree, with some indications of alarm. Being reproached, he immediately left the shelter, and in a moment received his death wound."
Foote says, also: "A brother of his, Captain Adam Wallace, was with Buford at the terrible massacre on the Waxhaw. After killing many of the enemy with his espontoon " [a kind of pike], " he died, bravely fighting."
Another brother, Captain Hugh Wallace, in the regular army, died in Philadelphia, of small-pox.
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THOMAS ADAMS, a native of the county of Essex, England, was in early life clerk of Henrico county court, Virginia, and later a mer- chant in London. Returning to Virginia, he settled in New Kent county. In 1766, he purchased from John Carlyle two hundred acres of land on the Great Calfpasture river, in Augusta. In 1771, he purchased from Carlyle two hundred and fifty acres in the same valley; and in 1772, he acquired from William Wills one hundred and ten acres on a " branch of the Great River of the Calf Pasture." He also acquired lands from the government by patent. All the deeds describe him as " Thomas Adams, of New Kent." It is well known that most of the African slaves imported into Virginia in former times were brought over by New England "skippers"; and from a bill of sale which has been preserved, it appears that on the 12th of May, 1773, in considera- tion of £42, Ios, Thomas Adams purchased a negro girl from "Joseph Hanwood, of Newbury, in the Province of New Hampshire, Marriner." (Virginia Historical Collections, Vol. VI, page 23.)
In 1778-'80, Mr. Adams was a member of the Continental Congress, from lower Virginia. During the year 1780 he removed to Augusta, and spent the remainder of his life here. A deed dated November 17, 1780, by which he conveyed two hundred and thirty-five acres of land, acquired by patent in 1769, to Moore Fauntleroy, describes him as a citizen of Augusta. In 1786, he represented the county in the State Senate. He is described as an ardent patriot, and from his writings, etc., he was evidently a man of great intelligence and benevolence.
He died at his home in the Pastures in the year 1788, leaving a widow, but no children. His will is dated October 14, 1785, and begins as follows: "Being about to take a perilous journey to the Ohio river." It was presented in the county court of Augusta and proved October 22, 1788. The testator provided amply for his wife, and constituted his brother, Richard, and his nephews, William Adams Fry, William Smith and William Adams, his residuary legatees and devisees. He was particularly solicitous for the welfare of his slaves, and enjoined it upon his legatees to treat them kindly, and " not to sell or barter them away as cattle." In regard to one of the negroes, he says: "As there is no man to whom I consider myself under greater obligations than to my slave Joe, I hereby declare Joe a freeman, and give him full and complete emancipation."
ERRATA .- The fort alluded to on page 98, as probably "Vass's," or "Vaux's," was more likely Fort Dinwiddie.
For " chapel of care," on page 101, read " chapel of ease."
Governor James Preston was brother-in-law of the first Governor Floyd, not "father-in-law," as stated on page 117.
For "Clement R. Mason," on page 334, read "Claiborne R."
For " decreed," on page 161, read " deemed."
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CAPTAIN WILLIAM MOORE.
David Moore, with his mother and ten brothers and a sister, came from the north of Ireland to America, and settled in Borden's Grant. The maiden name of his mother was Baxter. When a young girl, she was in Londonderry, during the famous siege of 1689. David Moore's wife was Mary Evans, and his sons were William and Andrew. (See page 143.)
William Moore was born about the year 1748, at Cannicello, now in Rockbridge county, and received a plain education at schools in the neighborhood. From his boyhood he was remarkable for his temperate habits, intrepidity, and great physical strength. At times, when the country was in a state of alarm on account of the Indians, he would take solitary excursions and remain out all night by himself. In 1774, he participated in the battle of Point Pleasant. During the action, John Steele was wounded and about to be scalped, when Moore interposed, shooting one Indian and knocking down another with his rifle. He then shouldered Steele, who was a very large and heavy man, and after laying him down in a safe place nearly two miles off, returned to the fight. Steele was accustomed to say, "There was no other man in the army who could have done it, if he would ; and no other who would have done it, if he could." Moore is believed to have been in the mili- tary service during the whole war of the Revolution, and at the surren- der of Cornwallis, he held the rank of captain.
After the war, Captain Moore settled in Lexington as a merchant. It is said that he brought to that town the first sack of coffee ever seen there. Like most enterprising men, however, he was "in advance of his age." His customers were not acquainted with coffee, and it re- mained unsold till some Pennsylvanians arrived and purchased it. The people of Lexington and vicinity were quicker to learn the use of tea. As explained by an old lady living there, her husband "drank the broth," and she " ate the greens."
After merchandising in Lexington, Captain Moore had an iron fur- nace on South River, Rockbridge, and then lived near Fairfield. For many years he was a justice of the peace, and was high sheriff for two terms. He died in Lexington in 1841, aged ninety-three.
The wife of Captain Moore was Nancy McClung, and his children, were Samuel, David, John, Eliab, Jane, Isabella, Elizabeth and Nancy.
COLONEL JOHN ALLEN was born in what is now Rockbridge county, December 30, 1772. His father, James Allen, emigrated to Kentucky in 1780, and settled near the present town of Danville, but afterwards
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removed to the vicinity of Bardstown. In this town young Allen went to school and acquired some classical learning. Coming to Virginia, he assisted in surveying a tract of land in Rockbridge, and was ex- amined as a witness in court in a suit about the land. Judge Archibald Stuart, of Staunton, then a practicing lawyer, was employed in the case, and being pleased with the young man's intelligence, sought his acquaintance. The result was that Allen came to Staunton in 1791, and spent four years in Judge Stuart's office. He returned to Ken- tucky in 1795, and immediately entered upon a brilliant career. As a lawyer, he ranked with the first men of his profession. At the begin- ning of the war of 1812 he raised a regiment of riflemen, and was killed at the battle of the River Raisen, January 22, 1813. Allen county, Ken- tucky, was called for him. (See Collins's History of Kentucky.)
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