New Page 1

A BRIEF SKETCH OF SOME OF THE REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS
TRANSCRIBED BY JRICE
Henry Aldred was born in Germany. He was one of the first settlers on Brush Creek. He died in 1835, and is buried in the McColm Cemetery on Brush Creek. He has descendants living in the county
Rev. Wm. Baldridge, pastor of the Cherry Fork U. P. Church, 1809 to 1830, was a revolutionary soldier. He has a separate sketch herein. He enlisted from North Carolina in the cavalry and is said to have served seven years. None of his numerous and distinguished descendants could be interested in this work and hence we are unable to give his official record. He and his first wife rest in unmarked graves in the Cherry Fork Cemetery and the location of their graves has been lost. He served longer than any of whom we have obtained a record. Rev. William Williamson, who has a separate sketch herein, was a revolutionary soldier. Eight of his descendants are represented in this work and hence we have a full account of him. He is buried at the Manchester Old Cemetery and his grave marked.
William Cochran came to the colonies as a British soldier with his two brothers during the Revolutionary War. They deserted soon after they came over, and joined the Revolutionary army, but we have been unable to obtain the Revolutionary record of William Cochran. There is no doubt, however, but what he served in the Revolutionary War, but in what capacity we are unable to learn. The facts as to his service are known through his family.
Ephraim Cole, father of James M., Leonard, and Allaniah Cole, and grandfather of George D., Alfred E., and Allaniah B. Cole, all of whom have sketches herein, was born in Maryland. He enlisted November 16, 1777, in Captain Jonathan Drown's company, Col. Wm. Lee's regiment of Maryland troops, for three years. During his service he undertook to act as a spy, and got inside the British lines. He accomplished his errand and was leaving, when he was arrested. He managed to create doubt in the minds of his captors as to his real character, and showed up his masonry. There being Free Masons among his captors, he was given the benefit of the doubt, and he was released and sent out of the lines. So we are spared a Capt. Nathan Hale's story, which, but for his masonry, Ephriam Cole's would have been. He was buried in t he Collings Cemetery, south of West Union.
James Collings was a private in Capt. John Lynch's company, 5th Maryland regiment, commanded by Col. Wm. Richardson. He served from January 18, 1777, until August 16, 1780. He removed to Adams County in 1794, and is buried in the Collings Cemetery, east of West Union.
Daniel Copple served as a private in the German Battalion of the continental troops, Revolutionary army. He was a member of Captain Daniel Burchart's company between Oct 4, 1776 and July 1777.He was on the rolls of Capt. Peter Boyers company from August, 1777 to June, 1779. His name appears as Daniel Kettle on the Rolls of Captain Michael Boyer's company from November, 1779 to December, 1780. He was enlisted for the war. This battalion was raised from the several colonies. There were four companies from Pennsylvania and four from Maryland. Daniel Copple, a former resident of Liberty Township, Adams County, Ohio, was his grandson and Mrs. M. J. Earley, of Red Oak, Ohio, is his great-granddaughter. He is buried in the Dutch graveyard, in Liberty Township, together with his wife, and his grave is unmarked. He could speak only a few words of English and that with great difficulty.
Jesse Edwards was born April 3, 1754, in the state of Maryland. When a boy he was bound out to a farmer by the name of Clulls, living in West Virginia. He enlisted as a soldier of the revolutionary war, May, 1776, for two months, as a private of Capt. William McCalla's company ; colonel not stated. At the time of this enlistment he was from the state of Pennsylvania. He enlisted again from the state of Pennsylvania, July, 1776, for six months, as a private in Capt. Thomas Craig's company, Col. Nathaniel Baxter. He enlisted a third time from the state of Virginia, July 17, 1781, for two months, as a private of Capt. Beaver's company; colonel not stated. He was engaged in the battles of Staten Island and Fort Washington, at which place he was made a prisoner. At the time of his first enlistment he was a resident of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and at the time of his last enlistment a resident of Loudon County, Va. He applied for a pension October 25, 1832, and at that time resided in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Ohio, being the age of seventy-six years. He obtained a land warrant and exchanged it for land near New York City, which he leased for ninety-nine years. After the Revolution he first came to Kentucky and married a widow by the name of Skilman. She was a slave holder and he and she separated and were divorced. He then came to Adams County and married a Miss Beatman. He settled on Scioto Brush Creek on the site of the village of Rarden in Adams County, but a resurvey of the county put the place in Scioto County. He reared a large family and his wife died in 1840 at Isma Freeman's near Otway. From that time until his death he made his home with John Edwards, a grandson. His death occurred the second day of November, 1856, at the great age of 101 years, 7 months and 29 days. His descendants made an effort to recover his New York property, but failed on account of being unable to establish their identity.
Edward Evans was a Revolutionary soldier, great grandfather of one of the editors of this work. He is buried in a village cemetery in Russellville and his grave is marked as such.
William Falls, a revolutionary soldier, is buried near the Cedar College school house on the hill just opposite the mouth of Beaslev Fork.
William Faulkner was born in Ireland. He was said to have been a captain. He was married, and lived at the mouth of Brush Creek. He was a Catholic, and is buried near his former residence.
Charles Fields , a revolutionary soldier, was born in Ireland in 1739. He served during the entire war. He married Grizzel Hemphill and moved to Ohio in 1798, and was one of the first settlers on Beasley's Fork. He never had any children. He died in 1822 at the age of eighty-three. He never applied for a pension, and could not have obtained it for reasons hereinafter shown. His wife died the day before he did. and both are buried on the Miller farm in Monroe Township.
William Floyd was born in Virginia in 1739. He was a recruit under General Daniel Morgan, and was said to be his illegitimate son. He was made a prisoner and confined in Quebec, but escaped. A hue and cry was raised after him, and he joined in the chase, and cried out "here he is." He made good his escape and followed the stars. He went around Lake Champlain on foot. He married Elizabeth Goodie. They had a daughter, who married a Taylor. Floyd located on Brush Creek. He died December 9, 1833, and is buried on P. Young's farm near the Cedar College school house. A rail pen marks his grave.
Richard Grimes. The records show that one Richard Grimes served as a private in Captain Henry Darby's company of Colonel Hazlet's Delaware regiment, revolutionary war. He enlisted January 31, 1776, and he was discharged January 31, 1777. He was the uncle of the late Greer B. Grimes, of Monroe Township, Adams County, Ohio.
Thomas Jack enlisted March I, 17/6, for ten months and was sergeant in Captain William Butler's company of Colonel Arthur St. Clair's regiment from Pennsylvania. He enlisted again in January, 1/77. for four months, and was sergeant in Captain Thomas Butler's company under Colonel Thomas Craig from Pennsylvania. He was engaged in the battles of Short Hills, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. He was born in 1749, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. After his colonel became a general, his regiment was commanded by Col. Joseph Wood. He served under Generals Henry Knox and Daniel Morgan. He was married to Jane Kincaid, June 7, 1787, and he died August 9, 1831. He was a pensioner of the war of the revolution under the act of March 18, 1818, and his widow also received a pension.
John Killin was born, 1755 near Carlisle, Pa. He enlisted in February 1776 for fourteen months in Captain Robert Adams' company, Col. Irwin's regiment. In the fall of 1777, he enlisted for two months in Capt. James Powers' company, Col. Watt's regiment. In the spring of 1778 he served two months in Capt. Thomas Clark's company, Col. Watt's regiment . July, 1778, he enlisted for two months in Capt. Grimes' company, Col. Dunlap's regiment, and in the fall of 1778, he served two months in Capt. James Powers' company, Col. Dunlap's regiment. In the winter of 1778, 1779, he served two months in Captain Thomas Clark's company, Col. Watt's regiment. All these were Pennsylvania organizations. In all these services he was enrolled as a musician. He was in the battles of Three Rivers and Crooked Billett. He died September 10, 1844, aged eighty-seven years, and was buried in West Union cemetery. He was a pensioner. His wife, Rachael Harper, to whom he was married November 19. 1797 survived him and was pensioned. He owned a large tract of land east of West Union, and laid out Killenstown. William and George Killen were his sons and his daughter, Mary married William Carpenter.
Thomas Kincaid was a sergeant in Capt. William Henderson's company, colonel in Daniel Morgan's rifle regiment, in July, 1777, and till after November, 1777. He was born December 13, 1755, near Richmond, Virginia, and died in Adams County, Ohio, July 3, 1819. His wife, Mary Patterson, was born in Virginia, September 20, 1757, and died in Adams County, March 10, 1824. Both are buried at Winchester. Henry Aldred was born in Germany. He was one of the first settlers on Brush Creek. He died in 1835, and is buried in the McColm Cemetery on Brush Creek. He has descendants living in the county.
John R. Mehaffey was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, August 31, 1759. He removed to Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1774, and to Westmoreland County in 1776 and to Adams County, Ohio, in 1799. On July 3, 1778, he enlisted for four months as a private in Captain James Moore's company, Col. John Shields' regiment from the state of Pennsylvania. He enlisted again April 1, 1779. for seven months as a ranger; captain and colonel not stated, but from the state of Pennsylvania. He enlisted again April 1, 1780, for seven months from the state of Pennsylvania in a company, captain not stated, under Major James Wilson, from Westmoreland County. He applied for pension October 5, 1832, then a resident of Adams County, at the age of seventy-three years.
James Miller was born in County Tyrone in Ire land, in 1740. He emigrated to this country just before the revolutionary war, and served throughout the whole of it. He was six feet two inches tall, without shoes. He served in the artillery. He was never taken a prisoner or wounded. He never applied for a pension. Said he fought for liberty and obtained it, and that was all he wanted. He was married to Elizabeth Hemphill in New England. He located in Adams County, in 1798. He had been a sailor, and knew the business of milling. He built the first mill in Monroe Township, and it is still standing. He twice walked to Philadelphia and back, and one trip brought two flower shrubs, which are growing and blooming yet. He had a large family of children, but only three reached maturity. His son William married Jane Morrison. His daughter Elizabeth married Christopher Oppy, and resided on Scioto Brush Creek. His daughter Hannah married William Stevenson, and lived on Beasley's Fork. Miller was a prosperous man. He was a Presbyterian, and walked five miles to church every Sunday. He died on Christmas day, 1830, at the age of ninety years. Here is his official record : Member of Captain Thomas Clark's artillery company, continental troop, commanded by Gen. Henry Knox and Col. Thomas Lamb. He enlisted as a private December 25, 1776, for three years, was a driver, May, 1777, and was Matross in June, 1/77. The last record of him on the rolls is January 3, 1780. He is the great-grandfather of Miss Mary Stevenson, of Beasley's Fork, who has taken more interest in preserving the memory of the revolutionary soldiers who died in Adams County than any person in the county. He is also the great-grandfather of Prof. James A. Oppy, of Portsmouth, Ohio
Benjamin Piatt was born in 1763 in Virginia. He came to Adams County in 1810, and bought land in Tiffin Township. He was a first lieutenant under General McCullough. He married Polly Waddle in Virginia, and was a pensioner. He died in 1851, at the age of ninety- eight, and is buried near West Union, probably in the Trotter Cemetery. No stone marks his grave. He has a son, Benjamin, who was living in 1898, near West Union. A daughter. Margaret Denning, lived near Stone Chapel in 1898. He had six children, three sons and three daughters. His son Jacob married Polly Trotter. His son John married Hester Black. Benjamin married Myra Bayless. Margaret married Newton Denning. Elizabeth married Lewis Trotter. Polly married John Black.
Peter Platter, the son of Joseph and Anna Barbara Platter, was born in the town of Saarbruck, duchy of Nassau, Germany, on the twenty-first of September, 1758. He was seven years old when his parents came to America and settled in Frederick County, Md. He was eighteen years of age when the struggle began between the colonies and the mother country. He enlisted as a soldier and served during the war of the revolution, participating in the battle of Brandy- wine and other engagements, and after seeing much service was honorably discharged at the conclusion of the war. At or near the close of the war his father, Joseph Platter, removed to Washington County, Pa. In the archives of Pennsylvania, second series, Vol. 14, page 768, is a record of Peter Platter, a private in Captain Robert Ramsey's company from Washington County, doing service on the frontiers from 1782 to 1785. In 1787. he was married to Sarah Crabs and in 1793, in company with Peter Wickerham, who had married his sister Mary, he emigrated to Kentucky, and from there came to Adams County, Ohio, about the year 1800. He settled about a mile southwest of Locust Grove and lived there about ten years, removing in 1811 to Twin Township, Ross County, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died January 2, 1832, at the ripe age of seventy-three years, and his remains now rest in the city cemetery at Chillicothe, Ohio. He was a man of sterling integrity of character, and a devout Christian. He left behind him a memory highly cherished by his children and his children's children
John Treber, father of Jacob Treber, who has a separate sketch here under the Treber family, was a revolutionary soldier. He located where William Treber now resides, in 1796, and there he died. He is buried in the family cemetery on the farm. Benjamin Yates, a soldier of the revolutionary war, died in Manchester on January 30. 1849, and is buried in the old graveyard there. He is said to have been over one hundred and fourteen years old when he died. He came from Meadville. Pennsylvania. He has no descendants living, nearer than great-grandchildren. He enlisted March. 1778, for one year as a private in Captain Pichett's company, from Maryland, colonel not stated. He re-enlisted May, 1781, in Captain Murdock's company ; colonel not stated. He was wounded at the battle of Yorktown by a piece of shell. He resided in Frederick County, Maryland, when he enlisted. He applied for a pension May 10, 1834, at which time he was eighty-eight years of age. His claim was allowed. He died January 30, 1849, leaving a widow, Sarah Robinson, whom he married July 16, 1835. She obtained a pension as his widow.
Thomas Waters is buried in Monroe Township
Rev. William Williamson, who has a separate sketch herein, was a revolutionary soldier. Eight of his descendants are represented in this work and hence we have a full account of him. He is buried at the Manchester Old Cemetery and his grave marked.
Richard Woodworth was born in Ireland in 1758. He enlisted in 1775 and served during the entire war. He married in Adams County, in 1802, Sarah Ann Robinson. His children were: Laban, Mary, wife of J. X. Timmonds; Wheeler; Nellie, wife of William Gilges : William, James, Richard, Sarah, wife of Samuel Shaw; Rebecca, wife of John Sparks. He has a grandson, George Sparks, at Rome, two granddaughters at Little, Ky., Mrs. Harriet A. Little and Mrs. H. C. McCoy, and others in Kansas and Illinois. He died in 1841 or 1842 and is buried on Blue Creek.
Benjamin Yates a soldier of the Revolutionary war, died in Manchester on January 30, 1849. and is buried in the old graveyard there. He is said to been over one hundred and fourteen years old when he died. He came from Meadville, Pennsylvania. He has no descendants living nearer than great grandchildren. He enlisted March 1778 for one year as a private in Captain Pichett's company, from Maryland, colonel not stated. He re-enlisted May 1781 in Captain Murdock's company; colonel not stated. He was wounded at the battle of Yorktown by a piece of shell. He resided in Frederick County Maryland when he enlisted. He applied for a pension May 10, 1834 at which time he was eighty eight years of age. His claim was allowed. He died January 30, 1849 leaving a widow Sarah Robinson whom he married July 16, 1835.She obtained a pension as his widow.