Person:John Petty (4)

Was your John Petty part of the NJ militia during the Revolutionary War? My ancestor, John WOLFORD (1754-1839) married Elizabeth Woolever sometime before 1790. Elizabeth had a sister, Molly, too. Molly married Ebenezer FLANAGAN. Both families ended up in the area of Randolph County, West Virginia, in the early 1800s. Reason I ask about John Petty, I found some info about John Wolford's pension interview, and some info about the names:

John most likely lived in Sussex County during the Revolution. In May 1777, he stated he went with Capt John Pipenger, under Col. Jacob West, to guard the Sussex Court House. He went out again in Sept 1777 under Capt. John Pipenger and Capt John Potty. March 1778, he went with Capt John Winter, under Col. Jacob West, to Elizabethtown. In summer of 1779, he went out with Capt. John Pippenger, under Col. West, to Hacket's Town and north western wilderness area. In September 1779, he went out with Capt. John Pippenger, under Col. West to the Blue mountains and up the Delaware River to near the York line and under Major Westbrooks. In September 1780, he went out with Capt John Pippenger, under Col. West, to Morris Town Total service: About 4 months as a sergeant and 5 months and six days as a private. Jacob West was part of the Sussex County, First Regiment. He was a lieutenant colonel in 28 Sep 1776; also same rank 27 Nov 1776 with Col. Chamber's Battalion, State Troops. West was promoted to colonel, 6 Jun 1777, still with the First Regiment of Sussex. There is a John Pittenger (note spelling) that was a captain, First Regiment, Sussex, 6 Jun 1777. Perhaps the same man? I also found John Potter, captain, 1st Regiment, Essex. I'm not sure if this is the same man that John mentioned in his interview. There is also a Captain John Petty and a John Pettinger. Same men?

According to John's pension, he probably moved to Hampshire Co., WV, sometime in 1788. There is another John Wolford from Maryland who lived there after my ancestor moved, and that John had 11 children. Some even shared the same names. (Children were Henry, Martin, Jacob, Elizabeth, Phoebe, Ann, Adam, John, Rosanna, Isabella and Susana.) Fortunately, when John and Elizabeth left Hampshire county, it appears he took all his children with him. Hampshire county personal tax list: John Woolferd, 29 Sep 1791, 1 white male, 2 horses; John Woolford, 6 Jul 1792, 1 white male, 2 horses; John Wolford, 22 May 1794, no details; John Wolford, 19 Jun 1795, 2 white males, 4 horses; John Wolford, 28 Apr 1796, 2 white males, 3 horses; John Wolford, 25 Apr 1797, 1 white male, 3 horses; John Wolford, 2 Apr 1798, 1 white male, 4 horses; and John Woolford 10 July 1798, 1 white male, 2 horses (this was first time 2 John Wolford's are listed in Hampshire County; entry year of Maryland John Wolford?); Mathew Woolford, 10 Jul 1798, 1 white male (who is this?); John Wolford, 10 Mar 1799, 1 white male, 5 horses; and other John Wolford, no date, 1 white male, 2 horses. At this point, Hampshire county personal tax is divided into Upper/Western tax district and Lower/Eastern tax district. Upper/Western tax: 1800-1 male, 6 horses; 1801-1 male, 4 horses, 1 slave/servant; also lists Mathias Wolford, 1 male; 1802-1 male, 6 horses (taxed at 12 cents each); 1803-1 male, 6 horses, 1 slave/servent; 1804-1 male, 6 horses; 1805-2 males, 5 horses; 1806-2 males, 5 horses; 1807-none; 1808-no tax taken; 1809 onward had no John Wolfords listed in Upper district. Since John bought land in 1805 in Randolph county, there was something left behind in 1806 to be taxed. Where John was physically located in these years is currently unknown. It's also unclear the taxable meaning on slave: slave, indentured servant, hired hand? The Lower/Eastern district lists John Wolford also, mostly having 2 horses in years 1800-01; 3 horses in 1802-03; 4 horses in 1804; missing in 1805; 5 horses in 1806-07; 2 males, 6 horses in 1810; 1811, 2 males, 6 horses; and Henry Wolford having 1 horse. The later years continue to list John Wolford in Lower district, evidently the Maryland John.

From John's pension interview, found in the Archives: (Anything in parenthesis is for clarity benefit, and the word/punctuation is unaltered to preserve the 'flavor' of the document and times.) State of Virginia Randolph County On the 25th day of June 1833 personsonally appeared before the County Court of Randolph County aforesaid John Wolford a resident of the said county and state of Virginia (Later West Virginia) aged seventy nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the pensions made by the act of Congress, papered June 4th, 1832. That in the Year 1777 in the month of May but does not recollect the day of the month; he was drafted in Capt. John Pipenger's company of militia in the state of New Jersey in Col. Jacob West's Regiment for a guard at Sussex Court House in said state; the court being convened for the purpose of trying tories and deserters; he lived in Sussex County New Jersey when he was drafted. We met at Youst Millers tavern in the said County of Sussex and marched to the said Court House and continued in the service one month and was discharged he thinks; no received no written discharge but only discharged by verbal order of the Captain when discharged from this service; he returned to his home and remained there until about the middle of September of the same Year (1777) when again he was called out in the Militia under Capt. John Pipenger in Col. West's Regiment to defend Elizabeth Town in New Jersey from the British. We assembled at Col. West in Sussex County New Jersey and remained there for days, waiting for the other companies under Col. West to assemble; on the fifth day we commenced our march and on the fifth day after we commenced our march arrived at Elizabeth Town remained there thirteen days. The British having returned to Statton Island it was determined unnecessary to continue all the troops. Capt Pipenger and all his company were discharged except 8 of his men; he remains at that place and was to serve under Capt. John Potty in Col. West's Regiment and remained in the service under Capt. Potty at Elizabeth Town to protect that place thirtyfive days making with the thirteen days he was under Capt. Pippenger in the last mentioned service forty eight days. He was discharged by Capt Potty he thinks, he did not get a written discharge from Capt Potty but the Company was discharged by the verbal orders of Capt. Potty. He returned to his home after this last mentioned service and continued there until in March 1778 where he was again drafted for one month in Capt John Winter's Company of New Jersey Militia in Col. West's Regiment as lieutenant under Captain John Winter; he joined Captain Winter's Company at Elizabeth Town and continued there to guard the Town until the month expired when he was discharged; he thinks that his discharge was a verbal one; after his discharge he again returned home and remained there until the summer of 1779 when he was again called out under Capt. John Pippenger in Col. West's Regiment of New Jersey Militia and was marched to Hacket's Town and in the wilderness North west of that place in search of deserters and tories and finding none we returned home and was discharged having been in the service according to his present recollection twenty days. He remained at home in Sussex County until about the middle of September in the Year 1779 when he was again drafted for one month in Capt. John Pippenger's Company in Col. West's Regiment of New Jersey Militia; we marched from Sussex County by way of and Maj Bushas crossing the Blue mountains and by way of Col Rosacirbts on the Delaware up the Delaware River to near the York line. We were stationed at one Major Westbrooks under him until the month expired for the purpose of defending the frontier from the Indians; when his month expired he was discharged in the manner stated before not receiving a written discharge; during this case mentioned service from the middle of September 1779 to the middle of October 1779 he acted and served as a sergeant; he again returned home and remained there until September 1780 when he was again drafted for one month in Capt John Pippenger's Company in Col. West's Regiment of New Jersey Militia and was marched to Morris Town to guard that place and the stores, horses and so forth those collecting items to be sent to General Washington he thinks. General Washington's army at that time was at a place called Warwick; he continued at Morris Town until this month expired when he was again discharged by verbal order of the captain, making his entire service during the Revolutionary war according to his present recollection not less than four months as a sergeant and five months and six days as a private. To the 1st Interrogatory required to be answered by the regulation of the War Department, (Where and in what year were you born?) he states that he was born in Montgomery County Pennsylvania in the Year 1754. To the 2nd (Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?) he answers that he has no record of his age. To the 3rd (Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you live now?) he states that he has already stated that he lived in Sussex County NJ when he was called into the service, after the Revolutionary war he remained a few Years in New Jersey and then removed to Hampshire County Virginia and continued in that County about 17 Years then removed to his present residence in Randolph County Virginia. To the 4th (How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?) he answers that was he drafted as before stated. To the 5th (State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.) he refers to that he has already stated in his foregoing declaration. To the 6th (Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, who whom was it given, and what has become of it?) he refers to his narrative in his foregoing declaration. To the 7th (State the names of person to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution) he states that his is known in the present neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his Service as a soldier of the Revolution but that no clergyman resides in his neighborhood. He has no documentary evidence, further does he know of any person by whom he can prove his service. He duly relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the Treasury, and he declares that his name is not in the Pension roll of its agency in any state.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and Year aforesaid JOHN WOLFORD (signature)

(Note afterwards by Solomon Wyatt and David Holden swearing to the belief and veracity of John.)

Elizabeth Woolever died 28 Mar 1828 Randolph County, West Virginia. John Wolford married Mary SUMMERFIELD 30 Jun 1831 Randolph County, West Virginia. She was a midwife according to census records. She had one child, maybe two, with John Wolford, that was mentioned (vaguely) in his will. (Not the most informative will I've seen!)

John and Elizabeth's children: Jacob b 1790, moved to Ohio Abraham b 1791, stayed in WV Anna b 1799, moved to Iowa John b 1801, stayed in WV Martin b 1806, moved to Ohio, Illinois, Indiana Jemima b 1809, stayed in WV

The following information is per my ancestor, Moses Petty. I am looking for the connection to Joseph Petty who migrated from New Jersey to Ohio, probably Pike County.

Peter Petty served as Private, Corporal and Sergeant, 1st regiment Sussex (NJ) County Militia under Captains McKinney, Mellick, Petty, Winter, Maxwell, Athenger and Davis. Served 1776 to 1781. Was a wagoner in the Wagonmaster General’s Department under Captains White, Higgins, Petty, Shipman and Hays on 1779, 1780, 1781. Peter Petty, son of Captain John Petty and brother of Jacob Petty, was a resident of Sussex County NJ. He first enlisted at the age of 17, invalid number 3654.

John Petty served as Captain, 1st Company of Mansfield Woodhouse, Colonel Jacob West’s regiment, Sussex County militia. He was commissioned June 6, 1777, and commanded a company of 15 men serving in Sussex County (NJ)under Colonel Jacob West in April of 1777. He later commanded a company of 65 men serving at Elizabethtown under General Dickinson, October 12 through November 21, 1777.