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Facts and Events
Richard Ragan was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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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. X, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :
Ragan, Richard - entered service 1780 in Augusta County, Virginia, resided near Harrisonburg as Captain of company of Militia of Rockingham County, Virginia; died 5/16/1827 in Harrisonburg [Rockingham County], Virginia; married Cecelia & they had son Daniel born 1772, daughter Mary who married Benjamin Van Pelt & younger son mentioned but not named; widow applied for Pension age 88 in Rockingham County, Virginia, 1837 & Pension Application was rejected, insufficient proof of 6 months service; she & soldier married before that County [Rockingham] was formed from Augusta County, per County Justice of the Peace Abraham Smith; George Argabright made affidavit 1837 age 78-79 there that he was a Revolutionary War pensioned, served in soldier's Revolutionary War Virginia company, having come to Rockingham County, Virginia, age 9-10; David Ralston made affidavit there then age 76-77 that he also served in soldier's Revolutionary War Virginia company; soldier's son Daniel made affidavit there then per witnesses Augustus Waterman; Doctor Peachy Harrison, son of Revolutionary War colonel Benjamin Harrison, then presiding magistrate of that County Court; widow's son-in-law Benjamin Van Pelt made affidavit there then; her daughter Mary Van Pelt applied for Pension there in 1850 & Pension Application rejected; soldier's widow deceased in 1855. F-R8557, R1993.
Records in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley's:
- Page 11.--23d May, 1765. Thomas ( ) Harrison, farmer, to John Sheltman, £50, 61 acres on head spring of Cook's Creek, part of 250 acres patented to Thomas. 1744, 15th March. Teste: Felix Sheltman, Jeremiah Harrison. Delivered: Richard Regan, by written order from John Sheltman, 25th July, 1788.
- Vol. 2 - Daniel Smith's Supernumeraries for 1773: Michael Kales, Steeven Coonrod, Mathias Kersh, Henry Null, Jonathan Evans, Richard Ragan, Frederick Kaler, Mathias Rhodes, John Thomas, Valentine Castle, Stephen Hancberger, Robert Hook, Jacob Lingle, John Striclas, Sam'l Erwin, Joseph Sawins, Thomas Powell, Mathias Monse, John Black, Frederick Up.
- Vol. 2 - ROCKINGHAM COUNTY RECORDS. - 1778--April 28th, George McVey's estate committed to James McVey, his brother, for administration. Administration of Saml. Magart's estate granted widow Catherine. Administration of Andrew Huling's estate granted widow Catherine and son James. Military officers recommended, viz: Abraham Smith, Company Lieutenant, qualified 28th May, 1778; Daniel Smith, Colonel, qualified 28th May, 1778; Benj. Harrison, Lieutenant Colonel, qualified 28th May, 1778; Jno. Skidmore, Major. John Thomas appointed Coroner. Gawen Hamilton to run line between Augusta and Rockingham. Military officers recommended, viz: Gawin Hamilton, Captain, qualified 28th May, 1778; Joseph Smith, Lieutenant; Jno. Rice, 2d Lieutenant; Wm. Smith, Wm. Herring, 2d Lieutenants and Joseph Dictum, Ensign, in Capt. Ro. Cravens' Company. Richard Regan, 2d Lieutenant, and Joseph Smith, Ensign, in Capt. Daniel Smith's Company. Relief of Bridget Fowler, wife of John Fowler, soldier in Continental Army. Josiah Davidson, Jno. Skidmore, and Geo. Barrett (Barvelt) recommended for Sheriff.
- Vol. 2 - ROCKINGHAM COUNTY RECORDS. - 1779--April 27th, John Morris, son of James Morris, to be bound. Daniel Helfrey is drafted to go out on the frontier. Henry Lung's will proved. Wm. Chesnutt receives proportional part of estate of Daniel Callahan for his four children in right of their mother Catherine, daughter of said Callahan, and late wife of said Chesnutt. Jno. Huston appointed guardian of Archibald Huston, orphan of Archibald Huston. Richard Reagan recommended First Lieutenant and qualified. Joseph Smith recommended Second Lieutenant and qualified. Saml. Fortchet recommended Ensign. All in Captain Danl. Smith's Company.
- Vol. 2 - ROCKINGHAM COUNTY RECORDS. - 1779-- November 23d, Relief of Samuel Thornhill, father of Jno. Thornhill, a soldier. Proved that Robt. Menzies was a soldier in Captain Hog's Rangers in 1758, and in Captain Gist's Company in the campaign of 1760. Ditto, John Smith (brother of Abraham, his heir-at-law) was Lieutenant in Captain Jno. Smith's Company of Rangers, 1756, and was killed at Fort Vanse (Vause). Building of a Court House to be let. These recommended Captains, viz: Josiah Harrison, Richard Reagan, George Huston. Andrew Shanklin recommended First Lieutenant; John Huston, Second Lieutenant; Daniel Nelson, Ensign in Captain Huston's Company. Robert Smith recommended First Lieutenant; Jno. Rutherford, Second Lieutenant; Elliot Rutherford, Ensign in Captain Reagan's Company. Jo. Dictum, ditto, Second Lieutenant; Ro. Harrison, Ensign in Captain Jos. Harrison's Company.
- Vol. 2 - ROCKINGHAM COUNTY RECORDS. - 1780--March 27th, Will of. Wm. Hinton proved; widow Mary. Will of Saml. Skidmore proved; widow Ruth. Ann, widow of Joseph Skidmore, has dower assigned in land conveyed by Joseph to his son Samuel. William Ward bound to Grand Jury for speaking treasonable words. Mary, daughter of John Cash, to be bound. Following Militia officers qualify, viz: Josiah Harrison, Captain; Jacob Havener, Ensign; Richard Reagen, Captain; Elliott Rutherford, Ensign; Jeremiah Beesley, Captain; Joseph Rutherford, Lieutenant; Stephen Conrad, Lieutenant; Robt. Smith, Lieutenant. Relief of Jemima, wife of Emanuel Kelly, a soldier of United States.
- Vol. 1 - DECEMBER, 1790. - Inquisition from Escheator of Rockingham. This indenture of an inquisition taken and made in pursuance of an Act, entitled an Act concerning Escheators at the Court House of Rockingham County, on Tuesday, the 26th day of July, in the year of our Lord, 1796, of and concerning a certain piece, etc., of land commonly known and called by the name of the late Rev. Thomas Jackson, deceased, containing 230 acres, etc., in Rockingham County, on the waters of Linwell's Creek and Muddy Creek, which was first granted by patent, dated 27th June, 1764, to William Sample and by him conveyed to said Thomas Jackson by deeds, 15th May, 1770. Between Mathew Gambill, Escheator, and James Curry, William Herring, Benjamin Harrison, John Rice, Reuben Harrison, John Herdman, George Baxter, Richard Ragan, Samuel McWilliams, Jonathan Shipman, Benjamin Smith, James Burgess, George Sittes, Thomas Shanklin, John Lincoln. William Cravens, jurors who, etc., do say that the aforesaid Thomas Jackson was, in his lifetime, and the time of his death, seized, etc., of the aforesaid tract, etc. That he died intestate and no person has claimed the land either as lineal or collateral heir and it is escheatable. Signed by all the jurors.
References
- Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Pension application of Richard Ragan R8557 Cecelia f57VA
Transcribed by Will Graves 6/1/12
State of Virginia Rockingham County: SS
On this 29th day of March 1837 personally appeared before Abraham Smith a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, Cecelia Ragan a resident of Harrisonburg in the County of Rockingham and State of Virginia, aged 88 years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th, 1836: That she is the widow of Richard Ragan who was a Captain in the Militia service in the war of the Revolution. She is unable, owing to her very advanced age, and consequent failure of memory to give a very accurate or detailed account of her late husband's services; – At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, her husband resided in the vicinity of Harrisonburg, now in Rockingham County Virginia, then a part of Augusta County; She recollects with tolerable certainty one tour which he served against the Indians as Captain, in the early part of the War and she thinks he was out on that tour from seeding time say until March, but she cannot be positive about the time of the month or the year. She recollects with tolerable certainty another tour afterwards in which he was absent she thinks from May until August; this tour was performed in the lower part of Virginia, against the British Army; but she cannot be positive about the year: She recollects that he was frequently ordered out for short periods, sometimes for twenty days, against the Tories & British. She is not able to speak with any certainty of any particular battles or engagements with the enemy in which he was concerned; but she knows that she has heard him speak of being in some battles. He was drafted in every instance, as well as she can recollect. This affiant has no documentary evidence of her husband's services, that she is aware of his papers of that kind having all been lost or destroyed. As to the date of their marriage she cannot be positive having no family record of it, but she recollects very well that her husband served two or more tours of duty in the Army after their marriage. She also recollects distinctly that they were married before Rockingham County was established, before there was any Court House or Clerk's Office at Harrisonburg, and had to send it to Staunton the County Seat of Augusta County for the marriage license. Her husband the aforesaid Richard Ragan died on the 16th day of May 1827 and she has remained his widow ever since, as will more fully appear by reference to the proofs herewith exhibited. She submits, in addition to the affidavits herewith exhibited, a number of the "Rockingham Weekly Register," a newspaper published in Harrisonburg the place of her late husband's death, dated May 19, 1827, containing an obituary notice,1 which proves beyond all question the general belief of her husband's revolutionary Services in his neighborhood. This applicant would also refer to the various declarations on file in the pension office made by applicants from this County, as she thinks it highly probable some of them refer to her husband's services, and perhaps served under him. This applicant feels perfectly assured that tour which her husband served against the Indians, and the several tours served against the British Army and Tories, when added together amount to ten months; She thinks it was probably longer, but she is positive it was not less than that period.
In addition to the foregoing tours, he served a 3 months tour at the siege of York.
S/ Cecelia Ragan, X her mark
State of Virginia Rockingham County: Sct.
This day George Argubright2 personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and made oath in due form of law that in the year 1781, he served a tour in the militia of Virginia in the company of Captain Richard Ragan, who resided in the neighborhood of Harrisonburg, Rockingham County Virginia. This affiant was drafted as a militia man and served a tour of three months under said Ragan. They were discharged a short time, only a few days, before the surrender of Cornwallis [October 19, 1781]: He was well acquainted with said Richard Ragan, both before and after the Revolutionary War, and is decidedly of opinion that said Ragan was married at the time of the tour in 1781, herein spoken of, to the woman who is still living, as his widow. He was never married but once & this affiant is positive that he was married before the Campaign in 1781. This affiant came to Rockingham County Virginia then a part of Augusta County when he was about 9 or 10 years of age, and he is now between 78 and 79 years of age, and he became acquainted with said Richard Ragan, very soon after he arrived in this neighborhood, and continued well acquainted with him up to the date of his death; and he is a revolutionary pensioner himself, and to his own services, to obtain a pension which he draws under the law of June 7th, 1832.
S/ George Argubright, X his mark
State of Virginia Rockingham County: SS
This day personally appeared David Rolston3 aged between 76 & 77, before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and made oath in due form of law that in the year 1781 he served a tour of militia service under Richard Reagan who was the Captain of the Company: The draft was for 3 months, but they served 3 months and 10 or 12 days, and were discharged only one or 2 days or perhaps 3 days before the British Army under Lord Cornwallis publicly marched out & surrendered although he understood the treaty of capitulation was concluded upon before they were discharged. The Regiment to which Captain Reagan's Company was attached was commanded by Colonel Dark.
S/ David Rolston
State of Virginia Rockingham County: SS
This day personally appeared Daniel Ragan aged between 64 and 65 years before the
Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and made oath in due form of law that he was born in the year 1772, as he has always understood from his parents and believes that he has a distinct recollection of his father the late Richard Ragan deceased setting out from his residence near Harrisburg Rockingham County Virginia to go on an expedition against the Indians. This affiant supposes he might have been 5 or 6 years old at the time, and it might have been in the year 1777 or 1778. He has a perfect recollection of his younger brother, his mother and himself being left at home together and their suffering a considerable hardships; he recollects well the persons who attended to procuring firewood for their use, viz. 2 of this affiant's uncles. He recollects as well as any occasion of his whole life his father's returned from fighting the Indians as it was expressed by himself and his little brother; and among other little incidents connected with it, one is indelibly impressed upon his memory; his father brought with him to horn-spoons, which he gave to himself and his little brother, at which they were greatly delighted. He also recollects other little incidents, which it would be unnecessary to enumerate. He also recollects his father having been in the service against the Tories and British, but he cannot specify dates & periods with any accuracy.
S/ Dan Ragan
My father the late Benjamin Harrison, deceased, with a Colonel's command, served a militia tour under General Lafayette soon after the invasion of Virginia by Lord Cornwallis: I have often heard him speak of Major Richard Ragan him as being in the service at the same time (and under him) and to bear testimony to his cool and intrepid Courage, which on various occasions was put to the trial during that tour. I have heard the same thing more frequently spoken of by Bethuel Herring deceased, who served as a private in the same tour; himself a man of undoubted intrepidity. I have also heard the same thing frequently mentioned in conversations between my father and different other man, who served under him in the tour above mentioned; and between Major Ragan himself and my father and others: The tour served by my father was under General Lafayette, and before Washington took command of the Army in Virginia. My father was not at the Siege of Yorktown, or surrender of Cornwallis, as I believe Major Ragan was: Among my earliest recollections is that my father was at home when the glorious news of the capture of Lord Cornwallis was announced, and that he hated a large party of his neighbors to celebrate the event by a bonfire, on a very high Hill in the neighborhood, the usual manner in which such things were done in the "olden time."
S/ Peachey Harrison
State of Virginia Rockingham County: SS
This day Benjamin Van Pelt personally appeared before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and made oath that he has often seen among the papers of his father-in-law the late Major Richard Ragan deceased a large number of papers connected with Major Ragan's military services, as an officer in the revolutionary War; such as strength reports, health reports &c of a company. He often looked over them and read them as a matter of curiosity and interest, as relics of the revolution. The number of papers of that kind were very great, so great as to imply a long period of service: but he cannot recollect the dates of any of those papers. As long as Major Ragan lived in his own house, and had property about him, those papers were kept by him safely; but in the latter period of his life, he was very unfortunate in his pecuniary affairs, and was compelled to live about at different places, and his papers by this means were lost or destroyed or this affiant does not know what became of them. From often hearing Major Ragan speak of his revolutionary services, and relate incidents connected with them and the universal neighborhood reputation and tradition, on the subject, this affiant has not the slightest doubt of his having served ten months, and upwards.
S/ Benjamin Van Pelt
[f p. 19: power of attorney dated August 10, 1850 executed in Rockingham County Virginia by Mary Van Pelt, appointing her attorney to pursue her claim against the government for the services of her father Richard Ragan. She signed her power of attorney with her mark.]
[f p. 48]
State of Virginia Rockingham County: SS
Before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Joseph Hicks, aged between 55 and 56, and made oath that he is a native of Harrisonburg Rockingham County Virginia where he has resided throughout his whole life, except day period of about seven years from the years 1815 to the year 1822: that he was intimately acquainted with the late Major Richard Reagan deceased from this affiant's earliest recollection up to the time of said Ragan's death; and he has been familiar with the story of said Ragan's military Services in the Revolutionary War ever since he can remember anything: This affiant's father John Hicks was a revolutionary soldier, and this affiant has heard him again and again relate occurrences connected with Major Reagan's Services in the revolutionary War, until they have become so indelibly impressed upon his mind as anything which he did not witness himself. He has a distinct recollection of hearing his father relate an occurrence of the following kind: Several companies of militia were ordered to lie in wait for the enemy, at the side of a road in the night, but from some cause the companies all became alarmed, and deserted, their post or quit their ground, except one company; and the next morning when the Quarter-master was about to issue rations he observed that he wished he knew which company it was that had maintained their ground, as he had but a small quantity of spirits, and if he knew which company it was, they should have it, and Richard Ragan who was then a Captain stepped forward and claimed it for his company, and the spirits were dealt out with the rations to Ragan's Company, in honor of their good conduct: This affiant has a perfect recollection of hearing the foregoing occurrence in substance & others related by his father who was in the service as an orderly sergeant, with the same detachment, although he was not in Captain Ragan's Company: This affiant's father was not at the siege of York-town, and he is rather inclined to the opinion that the Regiment to which he was attached was under the command of the late Colonel Benjamin Harrison, but of this latter fact he is not positive. He is positive that his father was under Colonel Harrison, but whether that officer held the rank of Colonel at that time, he is not certain. This affiant's father always spoke of Captain Ragan as a remarkably cool, brave man.
S/ Joseph Hicks
[Note: f p. 40: By act of Congress passed February 6, 1839, the widow was granted a pension of $20 per annum for her husband's service in the revolution. The pages was made payable from March 4th, 1831 and continued for her natural life.]
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1 The obituary notice is not included among the papers in this file.
2 George Argubright W25357
3 Sic, David Rolstone FPA S7431
http://revwarapps.org/r8557.pdf
- Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).
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