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Facts and Events
John Young was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Records in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley's:
- Vol. 2 - John Young's Declaration: Age 73; Born in Lancaster County, Penna., in 1760, and moved to Augusta when four; enlisted under Capt. All, who raised a Company of Volunteers in Augusta to repell the Indians; Lieutenant Jacob Pence; marched to the South Fork of the Potomac, thence over the waters of the Monongalia; built a fort on Hacker Creek; volunteered May 1, 1778, under Capt. William Cravens to succor Tigart's Valley, in which inroads and massacres had been made the preceding fall; marched to the head of Greenbrier, thence to the head of Tygart's; volunteered September 1, 1778, under Capt. Robert Cravens, Col. Benj. Harrison, Gen. McIntosh, against the Indians; volunteered in September. 1780, under Capt. Robert Cravens of the Virginia Militia as a volunteer rifleman; Gen. Green, Gen. Morgan; in March, 1783, moved to Kanawha; Capt. William Morris; declarant served as spy; Col. George Clendenning, Capt. William Clendenning; David Robert was a spy; in August, 1790, Cale Fort was captured by the Indians; Thomas Allbury, Michael See, Fleming Cobb; 1793 was the last year of Indian hostilities in Kentucky.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Pension Application of John Young W7377
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
Virginia Kanawha County
On this 16 day of May 1833 personally appeared in open court before Lewis Summers Judge of the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for Kanawha County now sitting John Young, a resident of Kanawha County Virginia aged 73 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 June 7 1832
That he was born in Lancaster County Pennsylvania in August 1760 where he resided
until he was four years old when his father removed and settled in the County of Augusta Virginia.
This declarant continued to reside in Augusta County until his removal to Kanawha as
herein after mentioned. The latter part of September in the year 1775 and when he was just entering into his seventeenth year, this declarant entered the service of the Virginia Malitia as a common soldier, under the command of Capt All who raised a company of volunteers in the County of Augusta Va to repel the attacks of the Indians upon the western frontiers. Capt Wm All was the senior officer in command and Jacob Pence was Lieutenant and next in command. In this service, this Declarant was marched from Augusta to the South fork of the Potomac, and thence over to the waters of the Mongahela [sic: Monongahela River] upon a branch of which called Hackers Creek, Capt All built a fort, in which this declarant was garrisoned until his discharge. The Declarant was three months in this service —
The first of May 1778 the Declarant again volunteered and entered the service of the
Virginia Malitia under Capt Robert Cravens who raised a company to succor Tigarts [sic: Tygart valley in which inroads had been made & massacres committed the preceding fall by the Indians.
The company was marched by the route of the Calf pasture & Bull pasture rivers to the head of Greenbriar [sic: Greenbrier] river and thence on to the head waters of [Tygart] Valley River. After reaching the point of destination the company was divided in to smaller companies and stationed where their protection was most needed. The Declarant was stationed at George Westfalls [Fort Westfall ¼ mi S of present Beverly in Randolph County WV] where he remained till the period of his enlistment, the term of three months, expired, and he was discharged. He returned home in the early part of August of that year.
The first of Sept. 1778 this Declarant again enlisted under the same Capt Robt. Cravens who was collecting a company of Virginia malitia for the expedition under Gen. [Lachlan] McIntosh. In this expedition the Declarant was conducted across the country to what was then fort Pitt, and thence down the Ohio river to the mouth of Big Beaver [at present Beaver PA], where his company joined the forces under Gen. McIntosh who was ingaged at the time in building fort McIntosh From fort McIntosh he was marched across the country to the site of the old Indian Town on the Tuscarawas a branch of the Muskingum river. Here a fort was built, (name not known) [Fort Laurens] in which this Declarant was garrisoned until his time of discharge drawing near, he was reconducted to fort McIntosh where he received his discharge in the early part of December of that year. The officers recollected, were Capt. Robert Cravens, Col Benjamin Harrison & Gen. McIntosh.
The last of Sept. in the year 1780 this Declarant entered the service of the virginia malitia as a volunteer rifleman under Capt Robert Cravens of of Augusta, and under his command proceeded to join the Southern army then commanded by General Green [sic: Nathanael Greene, who took command of the Southern Army early Dec 1780]. His company came up with and joined the army of Gen. Green at Hillsborough N Carolina, where he then lay encamped. He was thence marched to S Carolina and soon after arriving there, the army went into winter quarters upon the Cheraw Hills upon the Big Pedee [sic: Great Pee Dee River]. From the Cheraw Hills the army was conducted up the Yadkin River where the army of Lord Cornwallis was discovered upon the opposite or south side of that river engaged in endeavoring to force a passage [at Trading Ford near Salisbury, 4-5 Feb 1781]. From the Yadkin this declarants company was detailed to guard a body of prisoners captured by Gen. Morgan [Daniel Morgan, at Battle of Cowpens SC, 17 Jan] to Pittsylvania Court House Va. On reaching this place, this declarant was discharged and returned home. He entered the service for three months but did not get his discharge until he had served five months. In all the tours herein before mentioned this Declarant served as a common soldier and in every instance entered the service as a volunteer in the malitia. The whole length of his service under Capts. All & Cravens, and under Gen. McIntosh & Green was fourteen months.
The last of March 1783 this declarant removed to the County of Kanawha, then
Greenbriar County) in company with Leonard Morris, John Morris, Michael See and others, who came out in advance of their families to raise a crop. In the fall of the same year, such as had families moved them out to Kanawha and the Indians having begun to show some hostility, the party for their security built fort Morris [on the south bank of Kanawha River opposite the mouth of Campbells Creek]. The ensuing spring, the Indians began to be troublesome, and this affiant was appointed a spy by Capt William Morris [of Fort Kelly at Kellys Creek near present Cedar Grove], to watch and spy out their approaches. This Declarant continued to act as a spy, under the command of Capt William Morris, or to act as a soldier for the defence of the garrison at Morris fort during the spring & summer months of ‘84, ‘85 & ‘86 and drew pay as such six months each of the aforesaid years. Whenever such services were required for the safety of the garrison, this declarant acted as a spy. [see endnote]
In the month of April 1788 Col Geo. Clendenner [sic: George Clendennin] & Capt William Clendennen came to Kanawha with a company of men from Greenbriar and the adjacent Counties, and built and took command of the fort at Elk [Fort Lee at present Charleston WV].
This Declarant joined himself to Clendennins company, and was appointed by Col George Clendennen, the Col of the County, an Indian Spy in company with David Robertson, in which capacity he served for four months during that year.
In March 1789, this Declarant removed to the mouth of Cole River [sic: Coal River at
present St. Albans], twelve miles below his former station, where he was again appointed a spy by his Col. but without a partner and served in that capacity during that season as well as during the spring & summer months of 1790 and until the capture of Cole fort by the Indians in August 1790.
During the spring & summer of 1790 he spied in company with one Thomas Alsbury.
In August 1790 this Declarant removed to Clendennans or Elk fort. the following spring this Declarant was again appointed a spy in company with Michael See by Col Clenden, and served during that spring & summer & until the Indians retired from their invasions.
Early in the spring of 1792 he was again appointed a spy by the same officers with
Flemming Cobb [sic: Fleming Cobb, BLWt 83776-160 and BLWt 26996-160] as an assistant, in which service he continued engaged until the commencement of cold weather, which drove the Indians home.
In the spring of 1793 this declarant was again appointed a spy by Col Clendennen and
had for his aid one Joseph Burrell, and continued as before to range the woods until the approach of winter rendered the country secure against the inroads of the Indians. This was the last year of Indian hostilities on the Kanawha and the last of the Declarant’s service. From 1783 to 1793 this Declarant was, as well as he can remember, every year engaged either as a spy and as such ranged the woods, or acted as a common soldier in defence of some one of the forts on the Kanawha. His service as a spy commenced usually in the spring, in the month of march or April according as the season was mild or severe, & continued until the approach of cold weather when the Indians always retired to their settlements. The time that he was usually in active service as a spy each year, was four months but some years longer.
This Declarant had a record of his age until the year 1790 when it was burnt up together with the fort at the Cole River.
He has been a resident of Kanawha County ever since he first came out to it from West Augusta in 1783.
For his character for truth & sobriety the Declarant refers to the following gentlemen residents of Kanawha all of whom have known him for many years & some ever since the year ‘90 – Lewis Summers, Flemming Cobb, Andrew Donnally, David Ruffner, & John Jones.
The declarant during the whole service was only a common soldier, except as to one year when he acted as Lieutenant under Capt. John Morris, but never had a written commission. He has no written discharge of any tour of service and does not recollect that he ever received any He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency of any state.
[signed] John Young
Virginia Kanawha County towit
On this 14 day of May 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the th Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for Kanawha County now sitting Flemming Cobb a resident of Kan’a. County & State aforesaid aged 66 years, who being duly sworn according to Law, deposeth & saith – that in the month of Oct 1789 he removed from the County of Albemarl[e] Va to Kanawha and during the ensuing winter he became acquainted with John Young who
makes the annexed declaration. When he first knew him, the said Young resided at the mouth of the Cole river on the Kanawha, where the spring following, 1790, a fort was erected. Early this spring and as the deponent thinks about the first of March, John Young was detailed as a spy, with one Joseph Alsbury, by Col George Clendennin, then the Col of Kanawha County. The deponent was personally acquainted with Mr Youngs service as a spy during the spring & summer of 1790 until the first of August of that year, when the deponent left the County on a visit to Buckingham County Va. The deponent returned to Kanawha the last of Oct of the same year. During his absence the fort at Cole River had been captured & destroyed by the Indians, & Young & others who had escaped the masacre had retired to Clendennens fort situated above the mouth of Elk River on the Kanawha, this having by the destruction of Cole fort, become the frontier fort. At Clendennins or Elk fort, this deponent again met with John Young.
The first of March 1791 Young was appointed a spy in company with Michael See, by Col George Clendennen, which duty Young continued to discharge until the commencement of cold weather, when the Indians retired to their own country. The deponent being at that time garrisoned in the same fort feels confident of the accuracy of this statement.
The following spring, 1792, in March or April, Young was again appointed a spy by Col Clendennen and this deponent was appointed one of his aids, in which service Young & himself continued engaged till cold weather set in. During this year Mr Young ranked as Lieutenant under Capt John Morris, but he does not know whether he had a written commission from the state. In the Spring of 1793 this deponent was summoned by Col Clendennen to go out again as a spy with the said John Young but Jos Burrell finally received the appointment in his stead & he (Burrel) & Young continued in that service for three or four months. this year the hostilities with the Indians ceased on the Kanawha, they being kept in check the following summer by the inspected [expected?] invasion of Gen. [Anthony] Wayne — The deponent further states that when he came to Kan’a Mr Young was esteemed and regarded an old experienced and successful Indian Spy in this quarter – which service was a part of the military defence of Virginia, on her western frontier, authorized by law & paid from her treasury.
The Deponent has been intimately aquainted with the said John Young since Oct 1789 up to the present time, & can bear ample testimony to his uniform character for truth & veracy and for rectitude of deportment in every respect. He believes that entire reliance may be given to all the statements contained in the Declarants declaration –
[signed] F. Cobb
[Andrew Donnally deposed similarly.]
[The following report is by District Attorney Washington G. Singleton who investigated many pensioners from present West Virginia. For details see David W. Sleeth’s pension application (S6111).]
John Young. Pensioner – receives $46. pr. annum.
I the undersigned John Young haveing been called on by W. G. Singleton, Agent of the Pension office for the details of my services as a soldier in the war of the Revolution, give the following, to wit. I am in my 75 year of age.
during the war of the Revolution (I cant tell the year) I volunteered in Rockingham
County for 3 months. marched under Capt Robert Cravens, William Smith Lieut. & Stephen Hughs the Ensign (about sixty men to Red Stone old Fort [Redstone Fort at present Brownsville PA]. thence down the Monongalia to a place called Log town 12 miles below Fort Pitt. crossed the ohio river & marched down to the mouth of Big Beaver and joined Genl. McIntosh. remained at Fort McIntosh for a while, when the army under McIntosh went to Tuscarahas and built Fort Laurence. returned to Fort McIntosh & was discharged and got home the day before Christmas haveing been in service 3 mo.
about two years after the forgoing services (I cant tell the year nor I am certain as to the time) I volunteered in same county and same Captain & same Lieut. for three months. Went to Hillsborough where we joined Genl. Greens army, and marched on to Saulsbury [sic] and Cheraw Hills where we wintered and in the spring I was discharged. – in this tour I was five months in service. Genl. Green prevailed on our company to remain in service until he got additional troops, and we done so.
the summer before I joined McIntoshs campaign I volunteered in same county and under
same Captain, went to Westfalls Fort in Taggarts vally. was in this expedition for three months. – before the last mentioned tour, and I think in 1776, I went from same county (Rockingham) under Capt. William Awl to the west fork of the Monongalia River and aided in building Wests Fort. was in this service 3 months & thus ended my services. I know of no one living by whom I can prove any part of my service. Ezra Walker wrote my declaration. he charged me $10 – In Witness of all which I hereto subscribe my name Jany 6 , 1835.
(Signed) John [his X mark] Young
Witness Thomas J Buster.
A Copy. W. G Singleton
Note – I was informed by several Gentlemen of character and standing that Mr. Young sustains as good a character as any in the county of Kanhawa.
W. G Singleton Jany. 16, 1835
NOTES:
The pension act of 1832 recognized service only up to the signing of the Treaty of Paris on 3 Sep 1783. Young’s pension certificate shows that he was credited with only 14 months service.
On 11 June 1855 Keziah Young, 88, applied for a pension stating that as Keziah
Townsend she married John Young in Montgomery County VA in Jan or Feb 1796, and he died about 17 June 1849. A copy of the minister’s return indicates that the marriage occurred on 20 May 1789. Later in 1855 she corrected the date of marriage and also the date of John Young’s death to 17 June 1850.
http://revwarapps.org/w7377.pdf
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