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John Cutright, Indian Scout
Facts and Events
Birth
John I Cutright was born in August, 1754 in Hampshire, Virginia.
Marriage
John I Cutright and Rebecca (Truby) Cutright married on January 2, 1788 in Upshur, West Virginia.
Children
Children attributed to John and Rebecca (Truby) Cutright
- Jacob Cutright 1788-1874
- John Jr. Cutright 1789 -
- Peter Cutright 1791-1870
- Mary Ann Cutright (1810 Casto) 1794-1854
- William Cutright 1798-1861
- Isaac Cutright 1803-1874
- Christopher T. Cutright 1804-1897
Revolutionary War
John Cutright served in the Revolutionary War. He was granted a pension.
Rebecca (Truby) Cutright petitioned for widow's pension.
Death
John Cutright passed away on March 8, 1850 in Lewis County, West Virginia. He was buried in Hampton Cemetery, Buckhannon, Upshur County, West Virginia.
Note
This John Cutright is often called "The Scout". There is another John Cutright called "The Bear Hunter". John "Bear Hunter" Cutright died in Ohio in 1830.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees. (Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;)
Database online.
Record for Hendrick Henry Kortregt
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Pension Application of John Cutright W6626 Rebecca Cutright VA
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris. Revised 30 June 2015.
[The first two items are from the Library of Virginia Legislative Petitions digital collections – Lewis County.]
Lewis County towit
to the General Assembly of Virginia
your Petitioner begs leave Respectively to state – that some time about the year 1778 [sic] he enlisted as a ranger under the Command of Captain James Booth in that part of the Western Country composed now of the counties of Harrisson [sic: Harrison] – Wood – tyler – and Lewis but was at that time included in either West Augusta or Monnongahalia [sic: Monongalia] – this Petitioner does not know which – and served for the term of thirteen months. your Petitioner further states that Captain James Booth was killed by Indians [16 Jun 1778] shortly before his term of service expired – on Booths Creek in Harrisson county – the (Creek) derived its name from said Booth – in consequence of which neither your Petitioner nor anyone belonging to the said company did ever receive a discharge from said Booth – your Petitioner believes that no roll or return was ever made of said Company by any officer belonging to it – certainly not by the Captains – such were the difficulties – and I may add the almost entire want of men acquainted with the means of obtaining their just rights – that not one man belonging to the said Company did ever receive their pay – your Petitioner has learned that David W Sleath [sic: David W. Sleeth, pension application S6111] a Ranger in Captain Booths Company for the same service – did by an act of the last legislator receive his pay for the service aforesaid – your Petitioner being now seventy eight years old – Poor and infirm – cannot doubt for a single moment that your Honerable Body will do to him eaqual Justice – your Petitioner further states that Alexander West [W6450] – David W Sleath and himself – are the only persons now living – that belonged to said – your Petitioner Prays that an act may pass allowing to him his pay for thirteen months service in the company of rangers Commanded by James Booth and ever will pray John Cutright
November 25th 1832
ref’d to Cms [Claims] Dec’r 20th 1832/ Reasonable/ 21st Reported/ 31 Bill drawn
Lewis County (to wit
This day Alexander West personally appeared before John McWhorter a Justice of the Peace in and for Lewis county and made oath that John Cutright served thirteen months as a Ranger in the county of Monnongahalia then but the county of Lewis about the year 1778 in company with this affiant – under Capt James Booth, said Booth was Killed by the Indians in the time of service and not one of the Company ever received any pay for thier service this affiant believes that only three of said Company are now living towit himself – David W Sleath and John Cutright
given under my hand this 23d day of November in the year 1832.
(Signed) Alexander [his X mark] West
Sworn to before me the day and year above written John McWhorter
State of Virginia } SS.
County of Lewis }
On this 7th day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Court of Lewis County now sitting John Cutright a resident of Buckhannon Settlement in said County of Lewis and State of Virginia aged Seventy Eight years. Who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following decleration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, as served as herein stated.
That he volunteered in Captain James Boothes Company as a private in May 1778 at Wests Fort on Hackers Creek in the County of Lewis, at that time in the County of Monongahalia Virginia, for the term of Eighteen months as an Indian Spie. That Edmond Green was Capt Boothes Lietenant, and that he has forgotten the name of his Captains Ensign. that he continued in the service as an Indian Spie in s’d.
Company untill June 1779 [sic] under his Capt. Boothe, at which time he said Booth was killed by the Indians, on Boothes Creek now in Harrison County Virginia. that he continued untill his time of service of Engagement was up under Edmund Freeman Captain Boothes Lieutenant. That during his time of service he spied through the counties of now Randolph, Harrison, Lewis, &c. Then Monongahalia Virginia, and that so soon as the company had served their term of Engagement up their Lieutenant Edmund Freeman left the neighbourhood in which they had been spieing, and went to Kentucky without giving any of the company discharges. The service under Captain Boothe, and Lieutenant Freeman ended in November 1779.
the Indian hostilities continuing Captain George Jackson was required to raise a Company to Spie in the same Territory or Country, which Capt. Boothes Company had been spieing, affiant joined the Company of Capt. Jackson as a private in a few days after his service under Capt. Boothe and Lieutenant Freeman was up, at the Buckhannon Fort now in the County of Lewis, then in the County of Monongahalia Virginia and continued under Capt. Jackson as a spie untill the latter part of the year 1781. That Jacob Brake was Captain Jacksons Lieutenant, and Timothy Dorman his Ensign, and that he acted as a spie under Captain George Jackson, and ranged the counties principally that he spied in under Capt Boothe and Lieutenant Freeman That is in Randolph, Harrison, Lewis &c. now, then in Monongahalia Virginia.
That he was in several skirmishes with the Indians during the before mentioned periods of his service.
That he has no documentary evidence that he knows of by which he can prove the same but thinks he can prove part if not all by David W. Sleeth, as s’d. Sleeth was in the service with him That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present and declares his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any state. Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
(Signed) John [his X mark] Cutright
The Court propounded to affiant the Several Questions required by the Secretary of war. To the first of which affiant answered that he was born the county of Hampshire Virginia (now Hardy) close Moorefield in the year 1754. as to the second affiant saith that he has no record of his age — as to the Third Question affiant saith that he lived on the place he now lives, and has lived there ever since, as to the Forth Question affiant saith that he was entered into the service as a volunteer under Captain James Boothe. it was a volentary Engagement and Captain Jackson in same way. as to the Fifth Question affiant saith that the Companies to which he belonged were ordered to act as Spies and were attached to no other troops: as to the Sixth Question affiant saith that he doth not recollect of receiving any discharge from Capt George Jackson, as to the discharge he should have rec’d from Lieutenant Edmond Freeman as he before said, he said Freeman went to Kentucky and did not give any discharges to any of his company;
As to the Seventh Question affiant saith that he is known to David W Sleeth Esqr. Jacob Cozad a Clergyman and Alex. West all of his neighborhood who he supposes can testify to his services. The other two of their belief of them. Sworn and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid.
(Signed) John [his X mark] Cutright
I David W Sleeth do on oath declare that I have been well acquainted with John Cutright the above applicant for many years. That I knew of his service under captain Booth and captain Jackson as an Indian spie I knew him at the times – ever since and now know him. he is the same man I have served with him saw him wounded by an Indian
sworn to in open court and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
[The following report is by US District Attorney Washington G. Singleton who investigated hundreds of pension applications from present West Virginia. For details see my appendix in the pension application of David W. Sleeth S6111. On Cutright’s report Singleton wrote “Entitled.”]
John Cutright a Pensioner draws $80—
July 3d 1834. Saw Cutright at his house & received from him the statement here following. Viz: –
Say he will be 79 yrs. old in august next. born on the South Branch of Potomac. was brought west of the allegany mountains [sic: Allegheny Mountains] when eight years old & settled on the place where he now lives. he enlisted under Capt. Booth for twelve months. Joined his company at Nutters Fort [on east bank of Elk Creek in present Clarksburg WV] in the Spring – in the Fall returned to Wests Fort. remained there until his time expired. this was in the year in which Capt. Booth was killed and before the war of the Revolution had commenced [sic; underlined in original].
After the commencement of the war of the Revolution. & whilst residing at Buckhannon Fort.
(Lewis County) he was drafted for an eighteen months tower. he refused to go. a Colonel Wilson who then resided in Tigers Vally [sic: Tygart Valley] sent a guard of men after him. caught him. tied him and marched him to Staunton. a Sergant Tack commanded the Guard – on reaching Staunton he enlisted under a Colonel Matthews [sic: Sampson Mathews] for two years. – Matthews enlisted six men including himself. they were sent on under Sergeant Samuel Warner to join Washingtons main army then at the “White Plains.” [NY] they set out from Staunton in the Summer. Went through Winchester, Redding [sic: Reading PA] & Philadelphinia. on getting to Philadelphia rested four days in the Barracks. Set out again & pushed on without stoping until they joined the main army at the White Plains. the original number six was neither increased not diminished in the march above mentioned – Joined the main army in July the army marched from the white Plains to West Point and from that to Middlebrook [NJ] where it went into Winter quarters [11 Dec 1778]. remained there till warm weather when part of the army (himself included) about a hundred in number went up the north River as a guard. gone about two weeks.
Cant recollect who commanded the guard nor the name of any officer that was along on that occasion – on returning was sent to a bridge on the North River “where a Colenels (dont recollect his name) baggage had broken down” as a guard. remained there about a month. thinks there were ten or twelve of them.
they were under the command of Sergeant Campbell. – the main army marched from Middlebrook but cant recollect where. it got back to West Point where his time expired & where he got his discharge & returned home. – his discharge was signed by a colonel whose name he dont recollect. on his way home met with General Washington who also signed his discharge. – cant recollect the years in which the service above detailed was done.
Johnson F Neulan [sic: Johnson F. Newlon] of Weston wrote his declaration. came to his house two or three times about it. ofered[?] to give him $80. the first years pay, which he got.
A copy of a note in my possession W. G. Singleton
I have been unable to procure any evidence in reference to this man. by comparing his statement here given with his declaration it may be readily discerned whether or not he is an impostior
Respectfully Reported W. G. Singleton S.A.
Clarksburg May 14th 1835
J. L. Edwards }
K.Com’r of pensions } [First paragraph relates to the pension application of a John Davis, file not found.]
Weeden Huffman of Lewis County has requested me to write you on the subject of John Cutright & John Rains [pension application S5969], – Mr Singleton & my self examined those two, – and acording to my recollection they were among the few of that County reported entiteled — Mr Huffman says you have enquired of him why the descepancy between their original declarations & the report made by Mr Singleton – The reason why is very obvious – and this – They who drew their original declaration drew up such a history of servises as would entitel the applicant to a pension – intirely disregarding truth facts &c &c — The old men would give a true histry of their servises and would swear as they would think to what they had stated, The agent then would go home & concoct any thing, intirely laying aside what the applicant had told them – They never purs[u]ed the truth, even where the truth would answered the purpos —
I will be glad to here from you on the above – as I shall not get clear of them untill the department has acted deffinately Yours &c
Nathan Goff
Virginia Randolph County towit
This day Soloman Ryan of the County and State aforesaid aged Eighty seven years and Ten months Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County and made oath that he was Personally acquainted with John Cutright who now wishes to apply for a Pension he undestood he was drafted to serve a Tour in the Revolutionary War and thinks he was goen some longer than one year but is unable to say what lenth of time over a year he said Cutright was goen this deponant was forted with others in the County of Randolph aforesaid then Augusta County at the time the said John Cutright was going to the Army further this deponant saith not
Given under my hand and seal the 20th day of August 1835
Ely Butcher JP
Lewis County Va to wit
Susanna Stalnaker in the 70th year of her age appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Commonwealths justices of the peace for said county and being sworn as the Law directs saith that she believes it was about the year 1778 John Cutright was taken from the fort on buckhanan where she then lived as a soldier draughted from Capt Samuel Pringles company for a tour of Eighteen months against the Brittish and to the best of her Recollection it was two years before he returned and the next spring after his return he was wounded by the Indians when on persuit of them when they had commited depredations near the place where they ware then forted She also rembers hearing some that returned from taking them to Staunton say that the above mentioned John Cutright being Dissatifyed with his officers he Enlisted for two years service at Staunton Augusta County
Sworn and subscribed to before me the 28th Day of august 1835
Susanna [her X mark] Stalnaker
Wm. Powers JP
NOTE: On 23 Jan 1851 Rebecca Cutright, 87, applied for a pension stating that she married John Cutright in Harrison County on 2 Jan 1788, and he died 8 Mar 1850. In the file is a copy of the record of marriage of John Cutright to Rebeca Truby. On 21 Apr 1855 as a resident of Upshur County, aged 88, she applied for bounty land.
http://revwarapps.org/w6626.pdf
- Memorial of John I "The Scout" Cutright, in Find A Grave
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10676280/john-i.-cutright.
- McWhorter, Lucullus Virgil. The Border Settlers of Northwestern Virginia from 1768 to 1795: Embracing the Life of Jesse Hughes and Other Noted Scouts of the Great Woods of the Trans-Allegheny. (Hamilton, Ohio: Republican Publishing Co., 1915)
pg. 95-100.
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