Person:Philip Varvel (1)

Information on Philip Varvel

Evidence also suggests that John Varvel had another son named Philip. Military records from the Virginia and Pennsylvania archives indicate that Philip Varvel was very active in the border wars of the time. He served twice during 1774/1775 - first out of Fort Pitt, and subsequently out of Romney, and later during the early 1780's in Washington County's Militia and in a company of Rangers from the same County.

Philip was a private in Lt. David Enoch's Company serving out of Fort Pitt (paid on Oct 2, 1775), and later in Capt. Joseph Mitchel's Company out of Romney (paid on Oct 20, 1775). Interestingly, 18 (out of the 38) men from Enoch's Company, including Philip, were also part of Mitchel's Company in Romney. All 18 of these men served in Enoch's Company exactly 47 days, while the rest of the company served from 130 - 160 days. This suggests that these 18 men probably volunteered for (or were assigned to) their second service as a group. The names of these 18 men are listed here:

Ellis Bean, Zophar Ball, Jonathan Frazee (Frazer), Benjamin Frazee (Frazer), Duncan Kennedy, Daniel Stark, Christopher Stark, John Reese, Reese Gaddis, William Carter, James Paul, Abraham Sutton, Philip Varvill, John Henry, Michael Spencer, William Morris, Archibald Morris, Alexander Keith

I believe the fact that several of the surnames of the men listed here (Varvel, Reese, Gaddis, Paul, Spencer, Morris, Keith) are also found on the 1772 taxlist of Bedford County from Springhill and Tyrone townships (suggesting that that's where their families lived) strongly links Philip to the area where John Varvel was known to be living.

A few years later Philip Varvell (private first class) was part of Capt. Benjamin Stits' (Stiles') Company of Washington County Militia's First Battalion, from Morgan Township (Also in this company was John Casteel) (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 6, Vol. 2). Stits' 1st Class was subsequently recalled for further duty on Mar 5, 1782, including Philip (p.10-11). An archived "Pay Abstract" from the same time lists Philip ("Vervill") and John Casteel among 21 men paid for "…actual service under the command of Levi Herod Lieutenant Elect for the purpose of repelling the Indians who were infesting the frontiers of Washington County from the 22nd day of May to the 25th inclusively" (p.229). On Sep 25, 1782 the 1st Class was again summoned, but this time Philip's name was not listed (p. 15).

Around the same time, Philip also served in a company of Rangers from Washington County (Pennsylvania Archives Ser. 3, Vol. 23, p. 193-220 "List of Soldiers who served as Rangers on the Frontiers - 1778-1783"). Other Washington County Rangers of possible interest were John and Edward Casteel, Captain Benjamin Stiles and Elijah Stiles, and Richard Lukens (Likens?).

Source: Genforum.com post