Virginia documents pertaining to Jonathan Cobun VAS2018
Transcribed and annotated by David Houchin and C. Leon Harris. Revised 22 May 2015
[The following is transcribed by David Houchin of Harrison County from the Historical Register 1, page 154. The declaration appears to have been made in 1819.]
That he the said Jonathan Cobun entered the service of the United States as a Captain in the Regiment commanded by Colo. Thomas Gibson [sic: John Gibson] of the 13th Virginia regulars at Monongalia County Virginia in the year 1777 that he continued to serve in said corps or in the service of the United States from the 2d of August 1777 until the 26th of September 1779 when he was discharged at Pittsburg, that he was in skirmishes & engagements with the Indians, that he has no other evidence now in his power of said services & that he is in reduced circumstances & stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support that he is now 67 years of age & is blind.
[From Library of Virginia Legislative Petitions Digital Collection/ Harrison County]
A peticion of Jonathan Cobun Senior [Jonathan Coburn] to the Honorerable Speaker, the House
of Representatives, of the General Assembly of Virginia.
Greeting, the petition of your petitioner Humbly Sheweth that the petition that was sent to the General Assembly for me last Cession was Incorrect wherein it stated I was a United States Soldier In the year one-thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven I receiv’d a Captons Commition from Col’n. Zachariah Morgan [sic: Zackquil Morgan] who was County Lieutenat of Monnongalia [sic: Monongalia] County Authoriseing me to Enlist a Company of men to serve three years If not sooner discharged. In the 13th V.a. Rigment [Regiment] of the United States army, but not makeing up my Cumpany I never joined the Rigment, and there lays the mistake stating that I was a United States Soldier and was not. But in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine Col’n. John Evens [sic: John Evans] being County Lieut. the room of said Morgan, for said County of Monnongalia. Receiv’d orders from Col’n. Danil Broadhead [sic: Daniel Brodhead] Commander at fort Pitt to send him all the volunteers he could to goe a Campaign with him said Evens requested of me to turn out and see what I could do at his request I turned out and nine young men turned out to go with me, Even Morgan [sic: Evan Morgan, pension application S11098], James Morgan, Zachariah Morgan [Zackquil Morgan W1912], James Tibs [James Tibbs?], Valuntine Kinnet [sic: Valentine Kennett], Frances Burrel [sic: Francis Burrell R1492], Richard Fields, John Owens and William Wilson [S7907], we went to Pitt and joined Capt. Masons [Samuel Mason’s] Volunteer Company, and I was appointed Ensign of said Company we went the Campaign and returned to Pitt [against Munsee and other Indians on Allegheny River, 11 Aug - 14 Sep 1779]; and was discharged, when I returned Home I gave up my old Captains Commision to said Morgan and moved to Clerksburg [sic: Clarksburg].
In the year 1781 I was one of a party that killed five Indians one of which I scalped and brought back two white prisoners and Eleven Scalps of white men a number of Horses and other plunder the property of the white people In the year 1787 I was one of a party that killed two Indians, one of which I tracked up by the blood and Tomahawked and took nine horses the property of the whites. In the year 1790 I serv’d as a spy In the County of Harrison. In the year 1792 I served as a spy at Neals Station on the little Kenhawa River [sic: Neal’s Station on the south bank of the Little Kanawha River, 1 mi from its mouth, in what is now the “Fort Neal” section of Parkersburg WV]. in the Summer of the same year I pursuied Indians at two different times with a small party of men across the Ohio River, the Second time overtook them wounded one brought back nine horses and other plunder the property of the whites. In the year 1793 I was an Ensign Commissioned by James Wood, Lieut Governor of Virginia to fill up the Vacancy of Daniel Davidson, authoriseing me to raise a Company of men to Range on the frontiers of Harrison County. In the year 1794 I was continued in commission to range as before. In the year 1795 I was Recommended to be continued as before, but Peace being made [Treaty of Greenville] there was no call for men and many other hard marches have I had persuing the enemy in defence of my Country but to no pupose, I am now in the seventieth year of my age sence the 16th of last August and is very poor much afflicted with the palsey and perfectly blind. It is my former serveisese and my present situation that Compels me to call at your hands for assistance I am your most humble Servant &c/ Jonathan Cobun Sen’r.
Nov. the 5th 1820
William Lowther Deposeth and saith he hath been acquainted with Jonathan Cobun upwards of forty years and said deponents father Colo. Wm Lowther [William Lowther VAS32] had the Command of a Company of Rangers who were stationed in different quarters of the Country to protect the frontier and said Cobun had a Command in said company but of what grade he doth not recollect – said Cobun was selected by the Commandant Wm Lowther as a spy which duty he performed for some time probably before he was put in command – he also knows that Cobun was frequently in pursuit of the indians at one time there was five killed at an other time when there was two killed & nine horses brought back which the indians had taken, at which time deponant was in company and could find no fault with said Cobuns conduct & believes he was or might have been often in such pursuits but not now recolleted – as there was a great many of them – and said Cobun being one of the first settlers of the County – and never backward as he ever saw or understood and Cobun might have suffered many privations by the Indians – but not recollected as there was many of the old settler that did & rather thinks there are very few who did not – he knows that the said Cobun has been considered among the first characters as a friend and protector of his Country and that he must be well on to seventy years of age – perfectly blind and very poor, and further this deponat saith not D Morris JP
Sworn to this 29th of September 1820
Robert Lowther Deposeth and saith that he has been acquanted with Jonathan Cobun upwards of forty years – and saith Deponents father Colo. Willim Lowther had the command of a company of rangers who were stationed at Different points to protect the frontiers of the country and that the said Jonathan Cobun Generally had the command in the absence of said Wm. Lowther – and that the said Cobun a part of the time was a Spye who was selected and Chosen by said Wm Lowther – and that the said Cobun was frequently along in pursuit of the savages and recollects particularly that he was in Company when the savages were overtaken and five killd – the s’d Cobun had the command of an Ensign under said Wm Lowther Who commanded the Company of rangers spoken of and that the said Cobun has been considered among the first of the friends and protectors of this Country – and that he is now old perfectly blind and extreemly poor and further this deponant saith not Robert Lowther october 10th 1820 this day came Robert Lowther before me a Justice of the peace for Harrison County and made oath that the within [undeciphered word] is true Jacob Coplin JP
Dec’r. 7th 1820 ref’d. to Claims/ Reasonable Dec’r. 13th
/ Reported Dec’r. 13/ Bill drawn Dec’r 18th
http://revwarapps.org/VAS2018.pdf
