Person:John Paxton (20)

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~qvarizona/paxton.html

20. John4 Paxton, Capt (John3, John2, Samuel1) was born 1743 in Pennsylvania, and died 03 October 1787 in Rockbridge Co. VA63. He married Phoebe Alexander63 15 April 1767 in Rockbridge Co. VA63, daughter of Archibald Alexander and Margaret Parks. She was born 1749, and died 1821 in Rockbridge Co. VA64.

Diehl's Rockbridge Notebook:- Commissioned a captain in the Botetourt militia at the same time as Capt James Hall of the Buffalo community. Capt. Paxton married Phoebe Alexander, the youngest child of Archibald Alexander and his wife Margaret Parks. At the battle of Guilford Courthouse against Cornwallis, Capt Paxton used a hair-trigger, flint-lock rifle which became an heirloom of the Paxtons. After his death, it was owned by his son Alexander, who never married, and in turn, willed his estate, including the rifle, to his niece, Margaret Paxton. When a statue of Washington was erected in Richmond, it was decided to include Gen. Andre Lewis as one of those around the base, and to assure accuracy, the Paxton rifle was used by the sculptor as a model.

Later, a grandson of Margaret presented the rifle to the Virginia Military Institute, where it remained until 1864, when it became part of the loot taken by Federal troops under Hunter. Sometime near 1900 it was discovered in the office of Hotel Leland, Springfield, IL bearing the label "This rifle was carried by H.M. (sic) Paxton who was mortally wounded at the battle of Guilford, NC march 15, 1781." Capt Paxton was wounded in the foot by a musket ball, and althought he did die from the effects of the wound, it was not until more than six years later, on Oct. 3, 1787.

Mrs. Charles McCullock, Story of Heroic Revolutionary Couple; pub. in the Rockbridge News:- Phebe died February 12, 1821, 34 years after John. The age on the monument is incorrect. All records give her birth 1749, which would be 72 years old. John and Phebe sleep here in the peaceful God’s Acre at the foot of Sallings Mountain. The sandstone obelisk which marks their graves is capped by the Torch of Liberty, pointing to the heavens, fitting emblem of the pure flame of their spirit. It is inscribed: Sacred to the memory of John Paxton, who died October 3, 1787, aged 44 years. Also to his wife, Phebe Paxton, who died February 13, 1821, aged 76 years.

Children of John Paxton and Phoebe Alexander are: 76 i. Alexander5 Paxton, b. ca. 1768. Never married. Will: Left his estate to his niece, Margaret Paxton, who married Cornelius C. Baldwin 1837. 77 ii. Son Paxton, born ca. 1770. 78 iii.William Paxton, b. 08 April 1776, Rockbridge Co. VA; d. 02 August 1827 in Lincoln Co. KY.; married Nancy Logan 03 August 180865; b. ca. 1778.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Paxton, W. M. (William McClung). The Paxtons: their origin in Scotland, and their migrations through England and Ireland, to the colony of Pennsylvania, whence they moved south and west, and found homes in many states and territories. (Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Historical Society, 1966)
   page 46.
2.   John Paxton, Jr. is DAR ancestor A08674, but the website currently attributes his military service to his cousin John Paxton (1747-1832, ancestor no. A08671).