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Colonel Joel Ferree
b.6 Oct 1771 Pequea Valley, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
d.26 Apr 1813 Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio
Family tree▼ (edit)
m. 8 Aug 1770
Facts and Events
Adapted from the Ferree Family Gunsmiths Colonel Joel was born October 6, 1771, in the Pequea Valley, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He removed with his father to Allegheny County in 1784 and lived until his death on a tract of land patented to his grandfather Joel. About 1796, Joel worked with his father on Peter's Creek, in making gun barrels. They are said to have been skilled barrel makers. When his father died, Joel paid $17.00 for a rifle from his father's estate. After his father's death, Joel and his half brother Isaac continued to make gun powder on Peter's Creek until 1810, when Isaac opened a gun shop in Pittsburgh. In 1801, Joel inherited from his grandfather Joel an air gun and a silver watch. In 1807, after the death of his father, Jacob, Colonel Joel Ferree became the unofficial head of the family in the Pittsburgh region. He was a man of affairs, owned bank stock, dabbled in politics, was executor of his father's estate, and was chairman of a meeting held in Pittsburgh to protest against the War of 1812, this meeting being held on the very day his regiment was supposed to rendezvous at Pittsburgh. Advertisement in "The Pittsburgh Gazette" August 14, 1812 Regimental Orders. Doctor Brunot is appointed surgeon of the 16th Regiment Pennsylvania Militia in the place of Doctor Curry. All those residing within the bounds of said regiment, between the ages of 16 and 45 years, and who conceive themselves to be invalids, will apply to the surgeon for certificates to that effect without delay. The Captain or Commanding Officers of Companies will proceed to enroll all those between the ages aforesaid, who do not produce a certificate from the surgeon, stating their disability. Joel Ferree, Lieut. Col. August 10, 1812 (This advertisement was repeated in the issue of August 28 and September 4 .) Colonel Joel Ferree's Regiment in the War of 1812. By J. Sutton Wall, Department of Internal Affairs, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The following is a portion of the diary kept by Capt. Wall. This regiment was made up of 3 companies from Washington County, two companies from Green County, two companies from Allegheny County, and one company from Armstrong and Indiana counties. The following record of its organization and service is obtained from the Diary of Captain Garret Wall, Quartermaster of the Regiment, the Day Book in which he kept his accounts of provisions, clothing, etc., issued, and the muster-out on file in Third Auditor's office of the U.S. Treasury Department, Washington, District of Columbia It was called the "First Regiment, Second Detachment of Pennsylvania Militia in Service of the United States, commanded by Brigadier General Richard Crooks, "and was mustered into Service at Pittsburgh for the term of six months after October 2, 1812 at Fort Meig, Ohio. It was paid to include April 15, 1813, the men being allowed thirteen days in which to return to their homes. The regimental officers were as follows: Joel Ferree, Lieut. Colonel, Commanding, subsequently promoted to Colonel; Thomas Ringland, First Major; Robert Orr, Second Major; James Roberts, Surgeon; Garret Wall, Quartermaster; George C. Valandingham, Adjutant; Thomas Duncan, Paymaster; George Huey, Surgeon's Mate; Jacob Cook, Sergeant Major; Elias Smurr, Quartermaster Sergeant; Joseph Hicks, Drum Major; James Duff, Fife Major. The companies were made up as follows: First Company: John Brown, Captain; John Hommers, Lieutenant, and sixty - three men mainly from Greene County. Second Company: Jeremiah Ferree, Captain; Alexander Calhoun, Lieutenant; Joseph Wilson, Ensign; and sixty men from Pittsburgh. Third Company: John Barrickman, Captain; Joshua Logan, Lieutenant; John McClelland, Ensign; and sixty-five men from Allegheny County. Fourth Company: Benjamin Anderson, Captain; James White, Lieutenant; William Lindsey, Ensign; and sixty-five men from Washington County. Fifth Company: John Wallace, Captain; John McCormick, Lieutenant; James Stewart, Ensign; and eighty-one men from Armstrong and Indiana counties. Sixth Company: William Harper, Captain; Elias Flanigan, Lieutenant; Robert McMinn, Ensign; and sixty-two men from Greene County. Seventh Company: William Johnston, Captain; James McCune, Lieutenant; John Gaunce, Ensign; and fifty-five men from Washington County. Eighth Company: Jonathan Grable, Captain; Thomas Donaldson, Lieutenant; Asa Roberts, Ensign; and sixty men from Washington County. Up to November 25, 1812, two troops of Cavalry were temporarily attached to the regiment, one of 43 men under Captain Thomas S. Seely, and the other of 31 men under Lieutenant Thoman Warren of Allegheny County. The Regiment rendezvoused at Dunlap Plains, near Pittsburgh, until October 19, 1812, when it broke camp, and its movements thereafter are thus noted in the diary of Captain Wall. Oct. 19--Marched 9 miles to Aikens Oct. 20--Marched 14 miles to Sholers Oct. 21--Marched 18 miles to Beaver's Mill Oct. 22--Marched 10 miles to Bough's Oct. 23--Marched 7 miles to New Lisbon Oct. 24--At New Lisbon Oct. 25--Marched 9 miles to Crook's Hill Oct. 26--Marched 13 miles to Landy Creek Oct. 27--Marched 13 miles to Mimiskillen of Canton Oct. 28, 29, 30--At Canton Oct. 31--Marched 11 miles to Camp Tuscarwas Nov. 1--Marched 12 miles to Camp Orr Nov. 2--Marched 11 miles to Scott or Wooster Nov. 3, 4, 5--at Wooster Nov. 6--Marched 4 miles to Camp Killbuck Nov. 7--Marched 9 miles to Mohican, Muddy Fork Nov. 8--Marched 4 miles to Lake Fork Nov. 9--Marched 10 miles to Black Fork Nov. 10--At Black Fork or Greentree Nov. 11--Marched 6 miles to Camp Ferree Nov. 12--Marched 7 miles to Mansfield Total distance from Pittsburgh to Mansfield, 167 miles. Nov. 13 Dec. 10--At Mansfield 'Dec.11--Col. Ferree marches for Upper Sandusky leaving Captain Johnston, two subalterns, the Quartermaster and forty men as a guard to fetch on the military stores. Captain Johnston leaves Mansfield the 16th and the quartermaster on the 17th. The quartermaster reaches Upper Sandusky on the 19th, a distance of forty miles from Mansfield. The Regiment remains at Upper Sandusky until Jan. 24, 1813, when, in connection with the Virginia Brigade, it set out for the rapids of the Miami of the Lake. Encamped on the 25th at the Tiamaughta (Tymochtee). On the 28th they proceeded and crossed the Tiamaughta, leaving their baggage as the ice would not carry the horses. On January 30, the Brigade arrived at the River Portage, where they met General Harrison with General Perkins' Brigade, and proceeded to the Rapids of the Miami of the Lake, on Feb. 1st and arrived at the foot of the Rapids on the 2nd, a distance of sixty miles from Upper Sandusky. Feb. 22--Col. Ferree is very sick with jaundice. Mar. 9--Two regulars were fired on by the Indians near the British Fort. Mar. 10--Lieutenant Waldoe, from Beaver County, Pa., was found killed and scalped by the Indians on the north side of the Miami River about three miles below Fort Meigs. The next entry in the Diary notes the departure of the Regiment for home April 2, 1813. Its commander, Lieutenant Colonel Joel Ferree, died April 9, 1813, at Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio, while en route to his home. Though this officer's illness began in the month of February, and was at times severe, he nevertheless remained with his duty until discharged from service with his regiment. The regiment went into service with 35 officers and 511 enlisted men, and when discharged at Fort Meigs there were present for duty, as shown by the issue of rations for that date, 30 officers and 352 men. The apparently heavy loss largely represents absence from the command on account of sickness and with leave, only a small number reported as absent "without leave." The number of deaths, if any, is not reported in any records at hand. The provisions account contains the following note: "A soldier's ration consists of eighteen ounces of flour, twenty ounces of beef or pork (three quarters of a pound if salted) and one gill of whiskey per day; and at the rate of one pound and a half of candles, four pounds of soap, a half gallon of salt and a half gallon of vinegar per hundred rations." A note under date of February 24, 1813 says: "Flour, meat and salt, have been constantly drawn by the regiment since the 12th of December, 1812 and previous to that time a field ration of flour was not issued." The returns show that whiskey was issued only from February 24th to March 25th, a period when the weather was doubtless most inclement and severe on troops in the field. At Upper Sandusky the regiment assisted in the construction of a fortification which was named Fort Ferree, in honor of its commander. At Miami Rapids, in addition to other military duty, it assisted in the construction and equipment of Fort Meigs. A soldier's life in those days was one of hard labor and much suffering. The historian Spencer in writing of this period says: "The Pennsylvania troops suffered great hardships during the winter in dragging the artillery and stores from Sandusky to the Rapids." They were brave and patriotic men who in that second conflict with our mother country left the comforts of home to endure the hardships and perils in a campaign through the then wilderness of northwestern Ohio, in midwinter, and it is but justly due to their memories that we should help to give place to some record of their service in the annals of our country, as well as in the region where many of the survivors spent the remaining portion of their honorable and useful lives. Payroll of 2nd company of infantry, under the command of Captain Jeremiah Ferree, of the First Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia, in the service of the United States, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Joel Ferree, under the command of William H. Harrison, from October 2, 1812, to April 2, 1813, lists the names of sixty men. There exists a letter from Col. Joel Ferree to his half brother, Jacob Ferree, Jr. written on "foolscap" paper and it is marked on the outer cover: 'Received nine months after date of favor of Wm. Anderson." The letter states: Upper Sandusky Jan 21st 1812 Jacob Ferree, Jr. Dear Brother-- I take this opertunity to inform you I am well at Present thanks be to God for the same hopeing these fue lines may find you enjoying like blessing, I would inform you this Day a Detachment of upward of three hundred men as escort to the Artillery left this for the rapids consisting of 14 or 15 peases of ordinences the ordinence ware moved on Sleds, and likewise Considerable of the Militery Stors ware also moved I am of the opinion we shall shortly move from this place on to the rapids, there is some of our army is advanced to the Reason the PetersBurgh Company of Volunteers arive here a fue Days agow, the company consist of one hundred and three, officers Included and composed all of young men principelly between the age of 21 and 25 and the hansomest company I Ever beheld, I expect you have herd how brave Capt. Butlers men fought at the battle of Massinewey, Capt. Morrcals troop and Lieut Warrens also Distinguished them selves as brave men, I am sorrey to here our Democrat Republicans Volunteers under Genl Tannihill have so basely Degraded themselves and a Stigma on the hole State it puts me in mind the old storey I have often herd, the Dog that barkes so lowd no Danger of his biting. So it appears the Demicrats have been urgin our government to Declare war till we wo uM have Canaday in our possession in a fue weeks. Shame Democrats Republic an where is your blush, but I find the are compleatly stagered when the come to time when the Expect to smell Powder. I am in hopes Genl Harrison will penitrate into Canaday before our time is up. The grate Difficulty we labor under is the precuring of forrage but having a fine Snow ever since new year the forrage is brought in abundance with sleds I wish you to send me a paper with the names of those Deserters I Directed Mr Scoll to publish in his paper and Mr Snowden. I wish you to write me perticular. Give my best respect to mother, and all Enquiring friend I ad not further but remains you affectionate brother til Death Jacob Ferree Junr Joel Ferree
aDue J.F. Address on outside of letter: Mr Jacob Ferree Jr Pittsbuxg from Joel Ferree Also: favored by Mr Anderson received Nine months after date" The "river Reason" referred to in Col. Ferree's letter flows between the present day towns of Blissfield and Monroe, Michigan. It was at this river that the Americans suffered defeat in their effort to recapture Detroit . There is no record in Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio, of the location of Col. Ferree's grave. In the 1930's the WPA destroyed what was called the Old Pioneer Cemetery. In the County Court House are recorded the records taken from the old grave stones, but Col. Ferree was not mentioned. Col. Ferree's men probably made a wooden grave marker which soon weathered away. Smoke Ferree CD - November 2004 He came to Allegheny County in 1784 with his father and step-mother Alice. He inherited the air rifle from his grandfather, Joel Ferree, Sr. He also inherited the land on which his father had built a gun powder mill in Mifflin Township. After his father's death he worked at the mill with his half-brother Isaac. He was a colonel in the Army during the war of 1812, assigned to Western Frontier duty. (General Crook's brigade). He had 12 children. He died on his way home from the War of 1812. Source: Susan Uhers from the Elizabeth Township Historical Society- Per Colonial & Revolutionary Families by Jordan, Vol. 14 p 399-406. Was a private in Capt. Edw. Wright's Company, 1st Regiment Allegheny Brigade, served as Capt. in the First Light Infantry Company, Allegheny County, in 1798 was a Lt. Col. of the 1st Regiment Pennsylvania Militia under General William Henry Harrison (1812-1813) Source: History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania., Volume 2, Chapter 7, pages 78 & 81 Mentions Joel Ferree and sons, Lewis, Harvey, Benjamin, Joshua & Isa ac as residents of Mifflin Township before 1830. Source: Linda Worstell @@ Rootsweb.com Joel was a gun maker. He worked with his father on Peters Creek making gun barrels about 1796. After his father's death, he and Isaac made gun powder until 1810 when Isaac opened a gun shop in Pittsburgh. Joel served as a Colonel in the War of 1812. He was with the 1st Regiment, 2nd Detachment, Pennsylvania. He died of jaundice while in the Army. Fort Ferree was named in his honor. Joel Ferree Joel Ferree fought in the Revolutionary War. At the close of the war, he emigrated to the present town of Large, where he took up a tract of land and began the manufacture of gun powder. He built in his house just about where the Bedell property is today. His shop was located where the Large Hotel stands. His neighbor Kuykendahl, had nine daughters and one of these daughters became the wife of Joel Ferree. Several of the Ferrees of that day were in the war of 1812, and Colonel Ferree was identified in the Whiskey Insurrection. References
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