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John Michael Waggoner, of Lewis Co., [W]VA
m. Abt 1751 - John Michael Waggoner, of Lewis Co., [W]VA1751 - 1843
- Barbara Waggoner1754 - 1834
- H. John Michael Waggoner, of Lewis Co., [W]VA1751 - 1843
- W. Susannah RichardsAbt 1782 - Bef 1840
m. 19 Feb 1799
Facts and Events
Military Service
- American Revolutionary War Veteran
Revolutionary War Pension Information
Information from “Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records”, Vol. 6, pg. 31, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :
Waggoner, John - born 1752 in White Marsh, Pennsylvania, abt. 14 miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; parents moved to Hampshire County (area later Hardy County), Virginia, where soldier was reared; soldier entered service abt. 1780 in Hardy County, Virginia, near Moorefield, in Virginia Regiment; served at Siege of Yorktown; moved after Revolutionary War to Lewis County, Virginia, having previously resided at Dunkard's Bottom on Cheat River, Preston County, Virginia; Indians under Tecumseh attacked home in 1792, killed wife & 3 children, & took another child captive, of whom son Peter was recognized in 1812 & brought home; Peter living in 1732 [s/b 1832] & was married, but had wife & several children among Indians; one of soldier's daughters escaped by way of Detroit & another continued in captivity until peace treaty was made with Indians; clergyman John Mitchell, Mark Smith & Alexander West all made affidavit 1832 in Lewis County, Virginia per witness Lewis Maxwell & county Court Clark John Talbot; query letter in file says soldier married Hannah Kyle  [appears unlikely]; query letter in file in 1909 from descendant Emma Cropper, Edgewater Park, New Jersey, who was also a descendant of Revolutionary War Pensioner John Hartman of Preston County, Virginia; query letter in file in 1913 from descendant Richard M. Johnston of Norfolk, Virginia. F-S7824, R2468.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wikitree.com.
Johann Michael "John" WAGGONER, son of Wilhelm and Agness Fleisher, born on November 1751 in Whitemarsh [now a part of Philadelphia], Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He was baptized on April 26 1752 in St.Michael's Evan Lutheran Church in Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. His will written October 12 1840 in which he names all of his children except Mary and Elizabeth, to whom he had given land before his death, and the girls married surnames[1] was appraised by Richard Dobson September 29 1842 and sold October 30 1846.[2] He passed away on January 4 1843 Lewis County, Virginia (now West Virginia).
It is estimated that about or shortly before 1778, Johann Michael "John" Waggoner met and married his first wife, Margaret Catherine BONNETT.
Military Service:
Following is an account of all of his military service given by him August 7 1832 in Lewis County, (West) Virginia. It began November 1778 with a march to Ohio to build the state's only fort during the Revolutionary War. It was Ft Laurens under the command of General McIntosh where he served six months and fifteen days. His military career ended with the masscre and capture of his three remaining children by Tecumseh' band.[6] [7]
The death of Margaret Bonnett Waggoner and four of their seven children: Margaret, a daughter and three boys:
In the middle of May 1792 John Waggoner was working in the field and a party of Indians led by Tecumseh. Three of his children, Elizabeth, Mary and Peter were taken across the Ohio River. Elizabeth escaped, Mary remained until the war ended and Peter married an Indian girl, had two children but was tricked into coming back home. The following are accounts of the devastating event in the loss of his wife and children which he had suffered in the loss of his father and two siblings in Hardy County, (West) Virginia. [8]Elizabeth escaped and came home before the war ended, Mary returned when the Greenville Treaty was signed August 7 1795, however, Peter did not return because he had married an Indian girl and had a family. He was seen by Lewis Bonnett who informed John and together they tricked him into returning to his family.[9][10][11] The following sources state this was Tecumseh's first adventure and follows with interesting facts about him.[12]
Marriage to Susannah Richards:
On February 16 1799 he gave bond in Harrison County, (West) Virginia to marry Susannah Richards [13] followed with the marriage record dated February 19 1799 in Harrison County, Virginia, Johann "John" Michael WAGGONER married Susannah Runyan her adopted father's name.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Waggoner-1535
- Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Pension Application of John Waggoner S7824
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia } SS.
Lewis County }
On this 7 day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of Lewis County Court now sitting John Waggoner aged 80 years a resident of Lewis County in the State of Virginia who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7 of June 1832. That he entered into the army of the United States under the following named
officers and served as he states herein. He was born 14 miles from Philadelphia at a place called Whitemarsh in the year 1752 his parents removed to Virginia in what is now Hardy County, was drafted to go a tour in the Virginia militia under Captain John Harness, Major Carroll Van Meter [probably Garrett Vanmeter], Col. Riddle or Ruddle, marched to Big Beaver in the now State of Ohio, passed through a part of Pennsylvania, went to McIntosh’s Fort [at the mouth of Beaver River at present Beaver PA], from thence to Tuscarawas [River in OH] and built a Fort there which was called Fort Laurens. He was permitted to return home at the end of tour 6 months & 15 days. He was discharged by the orderly Sergeant named Joseph Mall at a place called McIntosh’s Fort. There were in this expedition about 2200 men. This was in the place now in Preston County Va. called Dunkard’s Bottom on Cheat River [near present Kingwood WV]. He was then called into the service by a draft or some such requisition and marched to Prickett’s Fort on the Monongalia or Mongahala river [on Monongahela River, now Fort Prickett State Park 4 mi NE of Fairmont] – there he was kept for six months as an Indian Spie, his Captain’s name was Owen Davey, his Col. was Col. Charles Martin – returned home having been discharged by his Captain Owen Davy. He was then in the Spring of 1781 drafted to go a tour of duty as a Militia man. He marched to Richmond, then retreated up the country before the British then returned went to Williamsburg, thence to York Town in Va. where he was in the battle [Siege of Yorktown, 28 Sept - 19 Oct] and at the capture of Lord Cornwallis. his officers were Capt. John or Thomas Neal, Col. Lewis, Gen’l. Stephens or Stevens (He thinks Edward Stevens) He went from York Town to a place 4 miles from Winchester in Va. with the prisoners taken at Yorktown, he
guarded them three months and received his discharge from Capt. Neal, having been in the
service this tour not less than nine months, returned home — Then removed to the place where
he now lives, this was in the Fall of 1782 as he now recollects he then enlisted as an Indian Spie under Edward Freeman and served three months the term for which he enlisted, received his discharge — Then was ordered out under orders of Col. William Lowther to guard frontier, was stationed at West’s Fort for a while, then went out as a Spie was gone eleven days. The Indians killed his comrade John Bonnett. He continued as a Spie on ranging and scouting parties until about the middle of May 1792. The celebrated Tecumseh with a party of Indians came to his house on a branch of Hackers Creek where he yet lives. Tecumseh sent the other Indians to the house and fired at John Waggoner himself this affiant; the ball passed through his sleeve without injuring him. Tecumseh dropped his gun and ran after him Waggoner but could not catch him, they killed his small son in the yard and scalped him took his wife and six other children prisoners started and about a mile from the house one of the children was found with its brains beaten out and scalped a short distance further on was found Mrs. Waggoner and two others children were found dreadfully mangled and scalped and dead. One of his captive sons (Peter) was recognized in 1812 among the savages by an acquaintance of John Waggoners and brought in and still stays home is now married although he had a wife a wife and several
children amongst the Indians, one of his daughters soon escaped by way of Detroit, the other
continued in captivity till the treaty with the Indians when she was given up by them.
His discharges were all destroyed in the general destruction of his property by the Indians. He has therefore no documentary evidence of his services during the Revolutionary nor of his
subsequent services. It may be that he can prove his services under Captain Freeman by
Alexander West [pension application W6450] and David W. Sleeth [S6111]. He hereby
relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
John [his X mark] Waggoner
The said John Waggoner being interrogated by the Court in the manner prescribed by the War
Department answered the several interrogatories propounded by that Department as follows.
1 . I was born in the year 1752 at a place called White Marsh about 14 miles from st
Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania according to accounts of my parents.
2 . I have no record of my age. d
3 I lived when first called into service in that part Virginia called Hardy County, I think it was then Hampshire County.
4 . I was drafted each campaign until the one under Captain Freeman. I then enlisted as a
Spie. I served in all not less than twenty five months during the war.
5 . I can remember General [Lachlan] McIntosh, his first name I never knew. I knew Col. th
[John] Gibson too, this was in my first campaign. We left Col. Gibson at Fort Laurens which we built on the bank of Tuscarawa [Tuscarawas] river. In my second campaign I knew my own Col. & Col. David Morgan. He killed two Indians in this year and skinned and tanned their hides. The Indians were trying to capture two of Col. Morgan’s children viz. Stephen about 16 years old and his daughter Sarah about 14 years old – Col. Morgan upwards of 60 years old. This was done in April 1779, as well as I can now recollect in the immediate neighborhood of Pricketts Fort about 12 or 14 miles above Morgantown. In my third campaign I knew, or rather I saw Gen’l. LaFayette, Gen’l. [Peter] Muhlenberg, Gen’l. Stevens, Gen’l. A. Wayne, Gen’l. [Benjamin] Lincoln and Gen’l. George Washington, General Lincoln marched the British Troops out to stack their arms. I saw and then heard the names of many other Field officers, whose names I have forgotten.
6 . I rec’d. four discharges all of them as I have already mentioned and were lost in the way I have stated when the Indians destroyed my family and property in 1792.
7. I know in my neighborhood John Mitchell [sic: John Mitchel, pension application S5761] a
Methodist preacher an old man, Henry McWhorter [S7210] and Alexander West old man, William
Powers [S18164] too an old man. They can all testify as to my veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution.
John [his X mark] Waggoner
We John Mitchell a Clergyman residing in the County of Lewis and Mark Smith [S18594] residing in said County of Lewis and Alexander West residing in the said County of Lewis hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Waggoner who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 80 years of age and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion. The said Alexander West moreover certify that they resided in this County at the time of the killing of the applicant’s family as stated by him, we know it to be true we too are acquainted with his services as an Indian Spie but cannot say how long he served.
(signed) John Mitchell Clergyman
“ Mark hisXmark Smith
“ Alexander hisXmark West
[See endnote for an explanation of the following.]
John Waggoner aged 80. Serv’d. two years
Waggoner says he is 82 yrs old that he removed from the South Branch of Potomac &
settled in Lewis County after the close of the revolutionary war. that he was in McIntosh
campaign for 3½ mo. – was then a rainger for 3 months at the Mouth of West Fork. Col Martin
commanded. – was at the capture of Cornwallis in this served 3 mo. marched from the South
branch under Capt Neall. – in addition to others was seven or eight days in pursuit of Tories. this is all the service he done during the Revolutionary War. after it closed he removed to Lewis County as before stated. after his removal had frequent scouts against the Indian & had five of his family murdered by them.
Johnson F. Neulan came to his (Waggoners) house, and told him that he was entitled to a
Pension and wrote his declaration, which he swore to in open court. gave Neulan the same
History of his Military services. that he has now given and swore to only such services as here detailed. agreed to give Neulan the first draw and twenty dollars out of the third. he himself has only received $100—
this statement of Waggoner was given in the Presence of the undersigned
Nathan Goff
A true copy from the original in my possessin W. G Singleton
Waggoner is represented to an Honest man. that is his general character. – he is an Ignorant
man. Respectfully reported W. G Singleton Special agent.
July 1834.
Clarksburg May 12 1835 th
J L Edwards }
Com’r of Pensions }
Sir I enclose you 2 more Declarations made in open Court before the Judge of the U Sates
Court for the Western D. of Va – David Technall [sic: David Tichanal; see pension application S7727] of this [Harrison] County & John Waggoner’s of Lewis County they were heretofore boath drawing pensions, and were stricken from the pension list because they were drawing to much, — you will discover that they are interlined, it was done by Mr Singleton & myself in Court before they were sworn to &c — [interlining not shown in the copy transcribed below]
They each are no doubt entitled to what here they claim
In haste yours Nathan Goff
State of Virginia } SS } on this the 8 day of April 1835 personally appeared in open th
Harrisson County } } Court before Alexander Caldwell Judge of the United States Court
for the Western district of Virginia now setting in Clarksburg Harrisson County Virginia John Waggoner of Lewis County and State aforesaid aged Eighty three years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7 June 1832.
that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated Viz that he was raised in the State of Virginia on the south branch of Potomac that he moved to the place where he now resides after the revolutionary war about the middle of said War (cant reccollect the year) he was drafted for a tour of three months as a ranger marched from the South Branch Va under Captain Owen Davy to the mouth of the West fork Va camped there. three months had no fighting this tour. did not see our Col but understood his name was Martin don’t recollect any of the other officers names was there discharged haveing served three months, & was in actual service all the time after the above tour was drafted a tour of six months marched from the south Branch Va. to the mouth of Big beaver and there Joined General McIntosh; Regiment then marched to Tuscarara River Remained there some time was occupied in building a fort Fort Lawrence John Harness was our Captain. Reddle was our Colonel VanMetre our Major Served three & a half months in the above Campaign was in actual service all the time had no engagements this tour received a discharge and returned home to the south branch. soon after the above tour was Called out in Pursuit of the tories under Captain Parsons. Williams was our Major. was out & in actual service this tour Eight days. soon after the above tour, was drafted again for a tour of three months marched from the South Branch to Little York Virginia was in the battle of Corn Wallace defeat.
CornWallace and his army was taken & the Prissoners brot up to the Barracks four miles from
Winchester Was three months in actual service this tour Thomas Neal was our Captain Lewis
our Col Stevens General this was all the service he done in the revolutionary war making in all nine months and twenty three days which time he was in actual service. after the close of the revolutionary war I moved to the place where I reside there had four of my Family murder by the Indians has no record of his age. I lived on the South branch near Morefield [sic: Moorefield] when called into service. has lived in Lewis County where he now resides for the space of about fifty three years. was born in Pensylvania he had a discharge for all his tours but his house was Plundered by the Indians who took all his papers off with them
John [his X mark] Waggoner
We John Mitchell a Clergyman, and William Powers, residing in the neighbourhood of the above
named John Waggoner and in Lewis County Va do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted
with John Waggoner who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration, that we believe
him to be 83 years old, that is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revalution, and that we Concur in that opinion
[signed] John Mitchel Wm Powers
Clarksburg June 23, 1835
Sir Your letter to Nathan Goff Esqr. of the 20 of May last on the subject of the application
of David Tichanal & John Waggoner to be to be again placed upon the Pension Roll has been
submitted to me. In reference to which I have to say, that during the spring term of the Federal court, these men brought their declarations to me. they were specially and particularly interrogated as to the service detailed by them respectively. after their Declarations were corrected and altered by myself, they were upon my motion [illegible word] to be certified. it will be seen that the corrections and interliniations are in my hand writing – these facts, together my previous examination of their cases for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not their was fraud – the neighbourhood opinion of their services & their general good character all combined satisfied me beyond all question and that they were fully entitled to Pensions — I am fully persuaded that they originally were imposed upon by their agents; that they never contemplated or designed to commit or perpetrate a fraud upon the government.
I will add that when Tichanal & Waggoner were informed that they were claiming more money
than they were entitled to, they very readily gave confession of judgments for all the money
drawn including interest — I presume that my reports on these cases state that the parties are honest. that they have over drawn &c.
from my recollection of Tichanals declaration I think that although he does not say how long he was in service when guarding the baggage of Genl Gates, yet he does say that he was in service on that occasion not less than a deffinate period named. If I be correct, is not this suffecently deffinate, provided the whole time stated entitles him to a pension.
of Waggoners Declaration I have no deffinate recollection. from my notes I [illegible
word] that he claims for 3 tours, neither of which is a six months tour – but I repeat that
Waggoner is an honest man, that he may be mistaken in the details. I however feel well satisfied that his Declaration contains the truth — Mr. Goff says that you are not satisfied that Leonard Critzer [S9251] is entitled. I am somewhat surprised at it, because his statement was more satisfactory than any man I examined— Very Respectfully your obt Svt
W. G Singleton
J. L Edwards Esqr. Com’r. of Pensions Washington City.
Since the above was written I have received your letter enclosing Mr. Critzers certificate &c
June 25 1835 Nathan Goff
NOTE: W. G. Singleton, a district attorney assisted by pension agent Nathan Goff, investigated a large number of fraudulent pension claims from Lewis and Harrison counties. For details, see pension application S6111 of David W. Sleeth. Sleeth, who certified part of Waggoner’s service, appears to have certified several false claims. Johnson F. Neulan wrote several declarations that exaggerated applicants’ service, then had the illiterate applicants made their marks. Although Singleton appears to have considered Waggoner guiltless, a letter in the file of Samuel Harbert (S15447) by his heirs’ attorney includes the following: “Among those against whom the Government obtained Verdicts for the sum paid them, were, John Waggoner, Jacob Hyre [W7856], Joseph Kestor [S2690] and Aaron Holbert [S18028], and if I am correctly informed by the heirs of the soldiers, they were all subsequently restored to the Pension roll.
https://revwarapps.org/s7824.pdf
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