USA > West Virginia > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, West Virginia : from the early days of Northwestern Virginia to the present > Part 18
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The Indians entered the cabin and after taking everything they could carry, set it on fire, and while it was burning stood under the beech tree in which Grandmother was hidden.
From the hill back of where Hepzibah church now stands, Grand- father saw the light of his burning cabin, and hastened towards it to find what little he possessed, in ruins, and his wife gone. He supposed that she had been killed, but lingered about the place hoping to find some
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trace of her, and after some time, hearing a peculiar bird call, which he recognized as a signal agreed upon between himself and wife in time of danger, answered the call and his wife came down out of the tree, unharmed.
He took her to the house of a settler, near the Maulsby Bridge, I think by the name of Shinn. The next morning he and Shinn started to Power's Fort, near Bridgeport, to give the alarm.
On the way, and opposite the brick house built by William Smith, on Simpson's Creek, three Indians came out from some overhanging rocks, and fired at them.
The sudden starting of Allen's horse caused him to drop his gun in the sand. Shinn fired at the Indians, and they galloped on to the fort which they reached about noon.
A party was at once made up to pursue the Indians and on reaching the place where the two had been fired upon, it was discovered that the Indians had encamped the previous night under the rocks spoken of, and that they had left a belt, a knife, Allen's gun and two white scalps.
The men took up the trail, and discovered that one of the Indians had been wounded by Shinn's shot, and that he was hidden in a swamp on the farm afterwards owned by Jefferson Smith. He was finally dis- covered, shot and scalped. Further pursuit was then abandoned.
Very respectfully,
JAMES F. ALLEN.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
The Revolution.
At the commencement of the War of the Revolution the territory West of the mountains was not organized into Counties but was known as the District of West Augusta.
Owing to the hostility of the Indians caused by what was known as Dunmore's War breaking out in 1774, the inhabitants of this region had all they could possibly do to protect themselves, and consequently but few of them were engaged in the Army conducting operations against the British in the East.
After the flight of Dunmore during what was called the "Interre- gnum, affairs were conducted by a convention which appointed a central committee, which in turn appointed a committee of safety in each County.
The Virginia Convention in July 1775 passed an ordinance direct- ing that troops be at once recruited for the better protection and defense of the inhabitants, of the frontier of the colony, and that one company be stationed under the command of Captain John Nevill at Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh) a detachment of twenty-five men under a Lieutenant at Fort Fincastle afterwards Fort Henry now Wheeling, and that two companies be stationed at the mouth of the Big Kanawha, now Point Pleasant.
Afterwards the mouth of the Little Kanawha, now Parkersburg, was made a military station.
It is doubtful if these ordinances were fully executed as it was not only difficult to enlist men, but to subsist them in the wilderness, at such a distance from the base of supplies, was almost an impossibility with the means at the command of the government.
The 8th Pennsylvania Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Bayard was mostly recruited in western Pennsylvania for ser- vice on the frontier but quite a number of West Augusta men were in this Regiment.
A detachment of about two hundred men from this command in 1777 was permitted to march East of the mountains and join General Daniel Morgan's rifle corps and took part in the battle of Saratoga and other battles under that distinguished commander.
Edward Haymond, whose home was in Monongalia County between Morgantown and Fairmont, served with this detachment. He afterwards was a pensioner.
Colonel William Crawford, a native of Westmoreland County, Vir- ginia, a trusted friend of Washington's, who moved West at an early date, and was burned by the Indians in 1782, was authorized to recruit a regiment known as the 13th Virginia from West Augusta. It is stated
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in a sketch of his life that he collected two hundred men and joined Washington with them near Philadelphia in 1777.
It is not likely that all of these men came from the upper waters of the Monongahela, but were probably gathered in what is now Western Pennsylvania.
Thus it will be seen that though they left home under distressing circumstances, leaving their families and relatives exposed to a savage foe, yet their patriotism was strong enough to induce some of them to do so, which conduct entitles them to the highest honor and praise.
In May 1777 an act was passed requiring that all free born male in- habitants of Virginia over sixteen years of age should take an oath re- nouncing all allegiance to George the third, King of Great Britain, and swearing to bear true allegiance to the commonwealth of Virginia, and to report any treason or traiterous conspiracies coming to their know- ledge, against Virginia or any of the United States of America.
After the close of the war, many of those who had served as soldiers cast their lot with and pitched their tents in the settlements West of the mountains.
When pensions were granted by Congress in 1818, to the soldiers of the Revolution, they were required to prove their service and identify themselves before the County Courts of their respective counties. From these petitions on file in the County Clerk's Office of Harrison County the following interesting and valuable information is obtained :
Mathias Hite. Aged 70 years. Petition not dated. Entered service as Lieutenant 1775 in 8th Regt. Virginia Line.
John Latham. Enlisted in Stafford County, Va., in Capt. Johnson's Company. Regiment commanded by Col. Ludamy for the term of 3 years.
Was at surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown.
Robert Wadsworth, aged 70. Enlisted in 8th Regt. Va. Line Capt. Abel Westfall about year 1776. Was in the Battle of Charles Town. Brandywine, Germantown. Served 3 years and 11 months.
A considerable part of the time was attached to General Washing- ton's Body Guard.
Walter Linsey aged 61 years. Enlisted in January, 1776, Chester County, Penna. Capt. Frederick Varnams Co. 5th Regt. Penna. Line. Served until January, 1781. Battles Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth.
Anthony Haley, aged 60 years. Enlisted 1778, Capt. Catlett's Co. Col. Abraham Buford's Regt. Virginia Line, Battle of Hanging Rock. Served until end of war.
John Stackhouse, aged 70. Enlisted in 1771 in Capt. David Scott's Co. Col. John Gibson's Regt. Virginia Line. Served 3 years.
James Cochran, aged 70 years. Enlisted as Ensign in October 1776 13th Regt. Va. Infty. Col. Russell Capt. David Scott's Co. Resigned Sept. 1777 at Pittsburgh.
Joseph White, aged 65, enlisted 1780, Maryland Line, Capt. Revelie and Capt. Thomas Price Companies, Col. Adams, Maryland Line. Served 3 years. Was at Lord Cornwallis' surrender.
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Joseph Britton enlisted in Winchester, Va., in Capt. Chapman's Co. Col. Crockett's Regt. Served two years.
Marched to Albermarl Co., Va. to guard the prisoners, thence to Pittsburg and under Gen'l Clark to the falls of the Ohio where he was discharged. No battles.
Adam Hickman. Enlisted about the year 1775, Capt. Nagles' Com- pany. Believes the Colonel to have been named "Utry" Pennsylvania Line. Original application made May 18, 1818.
Thomas Smith. Petition dated July 17, 1820. Enlisted 1775 for one year Capt. Wm. Enlee's Comp. in 2d. Regt. Col. White, New Jersey Line. Continental Establishment, Battle of Long Island. Discharged at Bergen Point.
William Shingleton, aged 66. Enlisted in 1778. Capt. John Rob- erts' Company. Col. Taylor Va. Line, Continental Establishment. Served 20 months, guarded Hessian Prisoners.
James Taylor. Enlisted under Capt. Smith in 1777 Col. Williams and Howard and served until the end of the war. Battles Monmouth, Camden.
Jonathan Adams aged 63. Enlisted in 1778 Capt. Plunkett's Com- pany, 4th Troop, 4th Regt. Dragoons Col. Milan Penna. Line in Tren- ton, N. J. Again enlisted in 1781 Capt. Herd, Col. Bland Penna. troops for during the war. Served until end of war. Was at the capture of Cornwallis.
John Greathouse aged 60. Enlisted in Bedford County, Penna. in Capt. Kelgrin's Compy. 8th Penna. Regt. of Regulars in 1777. Col. Broadhead. Served 3 years. Discharged at Pittsburg in March, 1780.
BATTLES OF BRANDYWINE, GERMANTOWN AND PAOLI.
Valentine Clepper, aged 72. Enlisted in Maryland for one year and served out his time. Then enlisted in Capt. Prices' Compy. in the 2nd. Regiment, Col. John Stewart Maryland Line under General Greene. Served until end of war. Discharged at Annapolis. Battle of Eutaw Springs, where he was wounded.
John Bonnell. Petition dated May 19, 1818, aged 57. Enlisted in Capt. Matchen's Compy. Col. John Lamb N. Y. Artillery Continental Es- tablishment in the month of March 1782. Discharged at Albany at close of war.
Humphrey Mounts. See order County Court July 20, 1818. Claim rejected.
Enlisted in the Legion commanded by General Pulaski, on account of his health, received a furlough and was absent from the army when General Pulaski was killed at the battle of the Short Hills. That he after- wards joined the army and served under Capt. Bedkin of the said Legion of horse, and continued in the service for nine months. Discharged at the Pengwood furnaces while under the command of Lord Sterling.
"The name of H. Mounts does not appear on the rolls.
THOMAS KARNEY, Auditor State Md."
Rejected J. L. Edwards
War Dep.
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Henry Farnence aged 57 years. Enlisted at Frederick-town, Mary- land, Capt. Boyes of the German Regiment. Served six years until close of the war. Battles Monmouth and Trenton.
Joseph Hall. Enlisted in Augusta Co. in 1776 8th Regiment com- manded by Col. Mulenburg. Capt. David Stephenson's Compy. Vir- ginia Line. Served 2 years.
Michael Carey aged 64. Enlisted 1778 for the term of three years or during the war, Captain Beates, Col. Gumby, Col. Quinly, 7th Regt. Regulars Maryland Line. Served until close of war. Discharged at Annapolis. Battles, Camden, Eutaw Springs and Cowpens.
Henry Berkhammer. Enlisted in Philadelphia, Capt. Church's Company. Served 4 years. Battles Germantown, Woodbridge, Straw- berry Hill, Trenton and Fox chase. Served until close of war. Dis- charged at a place called the Trap about fifteen miles this side of Philadelphia.
Dabney Ford. Served three years in Capt. Thomas Porter's Compy. Col. Taylor's Regt. of Virginia Continental troops enlisted in 1778. Discharged at Winchesetr in 1781. Siege of York and capture of Cornwallis.
Stephen Fluharty aged 74. In 1775 enlisted for the term during the war, 1st Maryland Regiment, Col. Smallwood Capt. George Strick- er's Company Maryland line. Served until close of war. Discharged at Annapolis in 1782. Battle of Long Island, White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, Germantown, Monmouth, Camden, Guilford, Eutaw Springs, Cowpens and Siege of '96.
James Devers aged 78. Petition dated May 16, 1820. Enlisted 1780. Capt. Dennis Ramsey's Compy. Col. Gilpen's Regt. of Virginia. Served until 1781. Discharged at Richmond. Battles, Cowpens and Eutaw Springs and was taken prisoner on board the ship Tempest, which ship was taken by the British then under the command of Arnold and Phil- lips that at this time he was under the command of Charles Little.
John Obut, aged 69. Enlisted in 1775 1st Jersey Regiment Capt. John Conaway, Jersey line Continental Troops.
John Byrnes, aged 70. Enlisted in 1775 6th. Va. Regt. Capt. Caseby Virginia Line.
John Jarvis. Enlisted for 3 years on St. Patrick's day the year not remembered in Maryland, in Capt. Mathew's crew of the galley Defense. He served 18 months when he was discharged, having procured a substitute.
William Pepper aged 59. Cannot remember the year of enlistment or discharge. Thinks he served 15 months in Kirkwood's Company Delaware Line Continental Establishment.
Jacob Keyser. Enlisted Feb'y. 15, 1779 at Fredericktown, Md. Capt. Baltzer, German Battalion, Col. Weltner, Guests Brigade 2d. Regiment Col. Adams. Discharged February 1782 in Pon Pan South Carolina.
That he was in several battles between Wyoming and Niagara in Penna. Served in Southern Army under Genl. Green. Was at the capture of Cornwallis.
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Aaron Lockhart Enlisted in 1776 or 1777 (the same year that Montgomery was killed) Capt. Lacy 4th Regt. Penna. Line. Served 4 years. Discharged by Gen'l. St. Clair.
Samuel B. Beall age 55. Enlisted 1781. Lieutenant in Capt. Reverelee's Compy. 1st Regt. Maryland Line served until Army was disbanded. Was at capture of Cornwallis.
Silas Reed, aged 69. Enlisted in 1776 in 3rd Jersey Regt. Capt. Patterson Col. Dayton, N. J. Line.
Jacob Nay. Entered Capt. Lamb's Compy. at Culpepper Co., Va. Col. Gaston's Regt. under command of Gen'l. Steuben. Transferred to a cavalry corps commanded by Col. White under Capt. Gunn. Served in cavalry 20 months then rejoined old regt. under Maj. Findley. Dis- charged by Gen'l. Scott at Cumberland C. H. Virginia.
Was in skirmish at Jones' Island where Col. Lawrence was killed and on the Wappoo gut.
Richard Jones. Enlisted 1775 1st regt. Guards. Capt. Hops, Col. Hankly Penna Line. Served three years. Battles Brandywine, German- town and Paoli.
William Hitchcock. Enlisted 1780 Capt. Henry Heath's Compy. 9th Va. Col. John Gibson. Continental Establishment, Served until 1781 when he was taken prisoner by the Indians and was severely wounded, that he remained a prisoner four years and eight months before he was set at liberty.
David Maxwell. Lieutenant in Capt. Shillington's Company. Col. Patterson's Battalion of Delaware Regulars in 1776. Served 18 months. Discharged at Morristown, N. J., April 1777. Afterwards served as Lt. in Capt. Colwell's Compy. of Regulars, commissioned to repel invasion of the British on the shores of Delaware and served out the time of his engagement. Battles Staten Island and White Plains.
David Harrison. Enlisted in Regular Army in Va. Capt. Stewart Col. Wadsworth for one year. Was discharged at end of war at Chester- field, Connecticut. Battle of Powel's Hook.
George Pritchard age 84. Enlisted in Culpepper Co. Va. in 1776. Captain John Thornton 3rd Virginia Regt. Regulars for 3 years. Dis- charged in Philadelphia for disability March 15, 1777. Battles Trenton and Queen's Island.
Anthony Coon. Enlisted for three years Capt. David Scott's Compy. of Va. Regulars, Col. John Gibson in Monongalia Co., Va. served 3 years and discharged at Fort Pitt.
Joseph Kilbreth, 70 years. Enlisted in New Orleans province, Dragoons. Served until end of war. Discharged at Winchester, Va. Battles "Skirmish of taking the Negro Corps near Dorchester, South Carolina."
Anthony Fox, aged 70. Enlisted in Regular service in Fauquire Co., Va. Captain Fleebecker Continental Establishment. Discharged at end of war on James River, above Richmond. Fleebecker was promoted to command of Regt. Battles Brandywine, Capture of Corwallis.
John R. Miloy, aged 58 years. Enlisted in 1776 in New Jersey Captain Flowers 3rd Regt. Masachusetts Regulars, Col. Graton for 3
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years. Discharged 1779 at Peekskill Hollow, N. Y. Battle of Stilwater. Joseph Kilbreth, 70 years. Enlisted in New Orleans province Louisiana in the Marine Compy. commanded by Captain Wm. Pickles U. S. Navy. Served in the Danc Frigate of Boston, and the ship Morris of Philadelphia about two years. Discharged at Boston, Mass.
Enlisted in Boston in Captain Larned's Compy. U. S. Army served 21/2 years until end of war. Discharged in N. Y. Battles Kingsbridge, N. Y.
John Westfall, aged 60. Enlisted in 1780 Hampshire County in Capt. Wallace's Company Virginia Line 7th. Regt. Served until the close of the war.
John Sharp, aged 64. Enlisted 1776 for 2 years. Capt. James Taylor's Compy. Col. A. Wayne Pennsylvania Line.
James Hanlon. Enlisted Capt. Schultz Compy. 2nd. N. J. Regulars on Continental Establishment in 1775 for one year. Discharged at Fort George, Canada in November 1776. Again enlisted in the Spring of 1777, at Martinsburg, Virginia, Captain Wells 4th. Virginia Regiment U. S. Regulars, Col. Lawson for three years. Served his full time. Discharged at Petersburg, Va. 1780. Battles Germantown, Brandywine, Powles Hook and Stony Point.
Jonathan Cobun. Entered as Captain of 13th. Va. Regulars, Colonel Thomas Gibson in Monongalia Co. Va. Served from August 1777 to Sep- tember 26, 1779. Discharged at Pittsurg. In skirmishes and engagements with the Indians.
Jacob Thompson. Enlisted 1782 Captain Morris 1st. Regt. Virginia Dragoons. Served until end of war. Discharged at Winchester Va. Bat- tles "Skirmish of taking the Negro Corps near Dorchester, South Caro- lina."
John Townsend. Enlisted 1775 1st. Regt. New Jersey Regulars Captain Platt for and during the war. Battles of Springfield where he was wounded and sent to Hospital.
After recovery he was sent to Wyoming, where he was taken prisoner by the Indians and kept a prisoner until the restoration of peace. Battle of Germantown.
Moses Rollins. Enlisted in Culpepper County, Virginia, 1780. Captain Smith, Colonel Buford, Regular Service served until close of the war. Battle of Guilford C. H. was wounded and from disease incurred in service has since been compelled to have both his legs amputated.
John Taylor 1718. Enlisted in the year of the Battle of Monmouth with Captain William Riley, 4th. Maryland Regiment. Served a part of the time under Colonel Samuel Smith, now a Representative in Congress from Maryland.
Battles of Monmouth and Camden where he was taken prisoner and held for sixteen months, that he escaped from the prison ship and con- tinued in the service until peace.
Caleb Stout, aged 73. Petition dated July 20th. 1818, Enlisted 1775. Regular service Captain Breaily 2nd. N. J. Regt. Colonel Maxwell, Jersey Line, Enlisted for one year. Expedition against Quebec under Arnold, was captured and remained a prisoner nearly two years when he escaped.
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Jacob Thomas, 60 years. Enlisted 1782 1st. Regt. Dragoons Captain Morrow Virginia Line.
Valentine Clapper 74 years. Enlisted early part of the war. Captain Price's or Benson's Compy. Colonel John Stewart 2nd. Regiment Mary- land Line.
John Roe, aged 61. Enlisted 1779 3rd. Jersey Regt. Colonel Dayton, Captain Richard Cox Jersey Line Maxwell's Brigade.
John Cottrill. Date of return December 21, 1827, aged 63. Enlisted for two years day and year not remembered, in the County of Hampshire. Regiment and officers forgotten. Marched to Fredericksburg and Richmond, thence South and was assigned to Colonel Washington's Regt. of Cavalry. Term of service expired, again enlisted in Continental Service, Captain William McGuire's Compy, of Artillery Col. Harmon's Regt. Marched North and joined Army of Gen. Putnam and returned to Virginia. Discharged after Yorktown, having served three years and nine months.
Battles Cowpens, Eutaw Springs, Pine Tree. Mud Island Fort Surrender of Cornwallis.
Joseph Silman. Date of petition May 19, 1830. Aged 80 years. Enlisted 1776 for three years 1st. Regt. Virginia Continental Establish- ment. Captain John Lee, Colonel Gibson. Marched to Valley Forge was then put under command of Captain Hefler in a regiment commanded by Colonel Feebecker, Gen'l. Washington's Army. Remained in that regiment for more than a year, when he was transferred to another Regiment commanded by Colonel Posey in General Wayne's command, that he served the remainder of his three years enlistment and was discharged at Philadelphia.
He again enlisted for one year and served in the Army in the South, making a service of four years.
At a County Court held on the 22nd. day of September 1784. This day John Stackhouse a Militia Soldier came into Court and proved to the satisfaction of the same that he was captivated at Col. Archibald Lockrees defeat on the Ohio River in the year 1781, and that he was captivated on the first day of August in said year, and returned to the mouth of grave creek on the east side of the Ohio on the 16th. day of July 1784.
The command of Col. Archibald Loughry referred to in the above order consisted of one hundred men from Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania, on their way down the Ohio River to the Falls, now Louisville, to join Col. George R. Clark to take part in his proposed expedition against the British at Detroit in the summer of 1781.
They traveled in flatboats but having landed on a sand bar to butcher a Buffalo was surprised by a large body of British and Indians and were all killed or captured with small loss to their assailants. Many of the prisoners, including Col. Loughry himself, were afterwards murdered in cold blood by the Indians.
This occurred about ten miles below the mouth of the great Miami in what is now the State of Indiana.
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Affidavit of Christopher Nutter made on October 21, 1833, before D. Davisson, Clerk of the County Court.
That in the Spring of the year 1781 Captain George Jackson proceeded in virtue as affiant understood of a commission from the Governor of Virginia appointing said Jackson Captain to raise a Company of volun- teers, that affiant joined said Company at Buckhannon in what is now the County of Lewis in this State: that volunteers were raised to join an expedition under the command of General or Colonel George Rogers Clark : that in the Company so raised and commanded by said Jackson William White was First Lieutenant, Jacob Westfall was second Lieu- tenant and Hezekiah Davisson was Ensign and quarter master. That said Company mustered under the command of said Jackson and joined the expedition about fourteen miles above Fort Pitt. That said Company proceeded under the command of said Jackson with the residue of the troops, the whole commanded by said George Rogers Clark down the Ohio River and arrived at the Falls of the Ohio River on the 19th. day of August 1781.
When the troops reached the Falls the Company commanded by Captain Jackson numbered one hundred and four rank and file : that they remained under the command of said Clark until late in the fall of the same year of 1781. The Company was then discharged and marched back to the place where they volunteered by their said Captain George Jackson.
Affidavits in support of George Jackson's application for a pension.
Affidavits of Alexander West, Christopher Nutter, who were members of Jackson's Company and William Powers who saw the Company at Clarksburg made October 21, 1833.
That in the Spring of 1781 by authority of the Governor of Virginia a Company of one hundred and four men was raised near Clarksburg to join General George Rogers Clark's expedition against the British and Indians west of the Ohio River.
The officers were as follows:
Captain, GEORGE JACKSON. First Lieutenant, WILLIAM WHITE.
Second Lieutenant, JACOB WESTFALL.
Ensign and Quarter Master, HEZEKIAH DAVISSON.
That the Company marched from Clarksburg under the command of Jackson and joined the expedition under command of General George Rogers Clark about fourteen miles above Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh).
That said Company proceeded with the troops under General Clark down the Ohio River and arrived at the Falls of the Ohio, Louisville, August 19, 1781.
That the Company remained there until the Fall of the same year, 1781, and were then discharged from service and were marched by Captain Jackson to the place where they volunteered.
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Tories.
A tory was one who was loyal to the King and opposed to the separation of the colonies from the mother country. The patriots or those who were in favor of the Revolution were sometimes called whigs.
There were but few tories in the Monongahela Valley, but there has always been vague rumors of a tory uprising in favor of the King, but little is known of it. The Border Warfare in referring to the attack on Fort McHenry at Wheeling in 1777 states,
"At the time of the happening of these occurrences the belief was general that the army which had been led to Wheeling by Girty had been ordered for the purpose of conducting the tories from the settlements to Detroit, and that detachments from that Army continued to hover about the frontiers for some time to effect that object. There was then unfortun- ately for the repose and tranquility of many neighborhoods a considerable number of those misguided and deluded wretches who disaffected to the cause of the Colonies were willing to advance the interest of Britain by the sacrifice of every social relation and the abandonment of every consid- eration save that of loyalty to the King. So far did their opposition to those who espoused the cause of American liberty blunt every finer and more noble feeling, that many of them were willing to imbue their hands in the blood of their neighbors in the most sly and secret manner and in the hour of midnight darkness for no offense but attachment to the independence of the Colonies.
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