Louisville Courier Journal June 5, 1898 Vol. XC New Series-No.10749
Heroes are often better known abroad than at home. In thinking over a list of the naval heroes of Kentucky there are two from Jefferson county who are much better known in other lands than in their own. The writer was visiting relatives about nine miles out on the Preston street turnpike, when some one mentioned the fact that the late Commodore Garrett Jesse Pendegrast was born in that neighborhood and that after he had acquired great fame as a sea fighter he and his wife had lived there among his relatives. The farm, now owned by Mrs. Martha Farman, is situated immediately on the turnpike. In his grounds every flower, shrub and tree that were prized by civilized man had been transplanted to beautify his place. His presence in that community was an inspiration as he introduced scientific farming and gave an impetus to landscape gardening and the breeding of blooded stock that has developed the best resources of this county to their present high degree. His wife was also of a refining influence, as there have been few women of this country that had had such advantages of travel and education. Commodore Pendegrast was born on December 5, 1802 and died in Philadelphia November 7, 1862.
Commodore Pendegrast had no children, (my note, I believe he and Virginia did have children, they at least had a son who died young as there is a marker next to his father's stone in Philadelphia.) but adopted Austin, the son of his brother, Dr. Frank Pendegrast, who resided on an adjoining farm. The nephew Austin was born in 1829, and died in 1874. He became Commodore Austin Pendegrast. It would seem to a historical student rather remote to connect natives of this county with so important a place in military and navy circles, especially considering those early days, and the fact that the country was so undeveloped that a visit to the Eastern cities entailed a long overland journey in a stage. How on earth did those country boys know anything about warships and sea fighting in that time? There is an interesting story that connects the West with the East and which should be written for the benefit and pride of every Kentuckian. In the first place the Pendegrast is one of the pioneer families of this State.
Long before Kentucky was a state, Garrett Pendergrast had removed to this section. He married Margaret Elliott, a daughter of John Elliott of Chester County, Pa. They came out during the many Indian raids and in Collins’ history Margaret Elliott Pendegrast is mentioned as one of two brave women who remained in the Fort at Harrisburg during the winter, many times being left alone in this vast wilderness expecting an attack from savages. Garrett Pendegrast had been able to gain the confidence of the Indians, and could do more with them that any other resident. When this State drew up a petition of rights to send to the Assembly of Virginia and to Congress asking to become an independent State, Garrett Pendegrast was deputized to carry the petition. It was while making this journey on horseback that he was fallen upon by the savages and murdered. His wife was in consequence left a widow in a new land to look after herself and family.
It was about this time that Capt. Robert Wilson and wife sought a new home in this state, they having lost all they had by the Revolutionary War. Capt. Wilson married Jean Elliott, daughter of John Elliott of Chester county, Pa., who was a sister to Margaret Elliott Pendegrast. When they came to Kentucky they did not like the outlook at “The Falls” and consequently concluded to buy land back in the uplands. They therefore bought ground about twelve miles out the Preston-street road. They there built their block houses and among the first things they did was to establish a Presbyterian meeting-house on the bank of a creek that they called Pennsylvania run. Such it is called to this day as the families were all God-fearing Pennsylvanians.
So much for the Kentucky branch of the families. Jean and Margaret Elliott it will be observed came of blue-blooded stock. Their father was a descendant of John Elliott, the pioneer preacher to the Indians, who translated the Testament into the Indian language. They had a brother who lived in Maryland. The brother’s son afterward went into the United States navy. This nephew of the Elliott sisters of this county was no other that Jesse Duncan Elliott who became a Commodore. Commodore Elliott was born July 4, 1782 and died December 18, 1845. Of him John R. Spears in his “History of Our Navy” writes as follows: “The student of American history who reads through the proceedings of the Congress for the year 1813 finds two paragraphs marked approved, January 29.” They are brief-the first contains sixteen printed lines and the last only seven. But in the first, gold medals are awarded to Hull, of the Constitution, Decatur, of the United States, and Jones of the Wasp for the astounding results they achieved in their combats with the Guerriere, the Macedonian and the Frolte. And in the second the President of the United States is requested to present to Lieut. Elliott of the navy of the United States an elegant sword with suitable emblems and devices in testimony of the just sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in boarding and capturing (the British brigs Detroit and Caledonia while anchored under the protection of Fort Erie. It was no small honor to have one’s name coupled with Hull, Decatur, and Jones but a few months later, July 13, 1813, Elliott’s name once more appears in an act of Congress, this time in connection with that of Lawrence. Lawrence and his men get $25,000 for the destruction of the Peacock. Elliott and his officers and companions get $12,000 for the destruction of the Detroit. The fight in which Lieut.Jesse Duncan Elliott won these honors if compared gun for gun and man for man
with the battles of the great naval heroes with whom his name was mentioned was but small and unimportant. They fought with well-manned fully-equipped ships on the high sea; he, in row boats on a fresh water lake in the backwoods, and armed with borrowed weapons. At that time, 1812, the American shore was sparsely settled, while the Canadian side of the waters was well settled. Kingston being the chief naval and military port. And while the Americans were building one slow brig to prepare for the inevitable war, the British had built and armed a squadron of six vessels. They were commanded by Commodore Earle.
Along with Commodore Chancy came
Lieut. Jesse D. Elliott. He had the confidence of the Commodore and was at once sent forward to Buffalo where he was to purchase any number of merchant vessels or boats that might be converted into vessels of war or gunboats and further, to take measures for the construction of two vessels of 300 tons each, six boats of considerable size and quarters for 300 men. In those days, Black Rock was a village about two miles from Buffalo on the road toward Niagara Falls. It was at Black Rock that Elliott decided to establish the navy yard. At first thought this might seem to have been a hazardous undertaking because directly across the river was a strong British post, Fort Erie. However, if the British might be expected to try crossing to interfere with Elliott’s ship building, it was also possible for him to keep a good watch on British movements. So it happened that when two brigs came down the lake from Detroit and anchored under the guns of Fort Erie on October 8, 1812, Elliott learned the fact instantly. One of these brigs was new and almost ready for service at Detroit, the other brig was called the Caledonia. Elliott knew that those two vessels were just what he wanted for use on the lake and that it would be very much better for the American cause to go over and take them than to buy and build a score. At that time Winfield Scott was a Lieutenant Colonel in command of troops at Black Rock and to him Elliott applied for arms and men with success. It is interesting to note that when application was made to the militia for arms for the expedition across the river the order to obtain them read; “All the pistols, swords and sabers you can borrow at the risk of the lenders.”
Let it be borne in mind that the Detroit was a well-built war brig, fully armed and manned, that the Caledonia was well manned by the hardy lake seamen accustomed to dealing with the savage Indians of the far West, and that both were anchored under the guns of a strong military post. One needs to see the mighty sweep of the Niagara river past Black Rock to appreciate the task of the seamen under Elliott, who had to row boats up the Canadian shores. They embarked at midnight and at 1 o’clock found themselves in the current of the Niagara. For two hours thereafter they pulled with steady stroke, and then, as the anchor watch on the Detroit was noting the hour of 3o’clock, a pistol shot from a big boat that suddenly loomed alongside roused the crew from their overstrong feeling of security. A volley of musketry followed, and then over the rail rumbled fifty men, led by Lieut. Elliott, and the Detroit, was in American hands. The Caledonia was captured in less than ten minutes. Meantime Elliott had carried the Caledonia clear of all and she was the first member of the fleet that enabled the gallant Perry to write: “ We have met the enemy and they are ours.” For that naval encounter Congress thanked Perry, and his men through him. It voted gold medals to him and to Elliott.
To return now to Jefferson County- Margaret Elliott Pendegrast’s children had grown old enough to do something for themselves. Frank Pendegrast had studied medicine under his uncle Garrett Pendegrast, so long one of the ablest and oldest practitioners of this city, whose house was on Market street, between Seventh and Eighth, where a transfer stable is now located. He was the most intimate friend of Judge Bibb. Garrett Jesse Pendegrast, the other son, went into the navy under his cousin, Commodore Elliott, and worked his way up from a midshipman to a Commodore. The sister of Dr. Frank Pendegrast and Commodore Pendergrast was Elizabeth Pendegrast who married Mr. Theodore Young of this county. She died about seven years ago. Mrs. Young was a woman of rare intelligence and was the first graduate of Science Hill, Shelbyville, the female seminary established by Mrs. Julia Tevis many years age. Her children still reside not far from the old home in the county; they are William, Jesse, Garrett, and Miss Patty Young, Mrs. Henry Holman, and Mrs. Langsford of Bloomfield. Of Garrett J. Pendegrast who became Commodore in the late war it is interesting to note that he was given the first orders by President Lincoln during the late war. The first point blockaded was Hampton Roads. Flag Officer G. J. Pendegrast established the blockade there and issued the following proclamation on April 30, 1861: “To all whom it may concern: I hereby call attention to the proclamation of His Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, under date of this 27th of April 1861 for an efficient blockade of the ports of Virginia and North Carolina and warn all persons interested that I have sufficient naval force there for the purpose of carrying out that proclamation. All vessels passing the Capes of Virginia, coming from a distance and ignorant of the proclamation will be warned off, and those passing Fortress
Monroe will be required to anchor outside the guns of the fort, and subject themselves to an examination.” G. J. Pendegrast Commanding Home Squadron United States Flagship, Cumberland, Off Fortress Monroe, Va. April 30, 1862.
In the squadron of Commodore Pendegrast were several streamers, bearing the names of his relatives of this county. Two of them were called Margaret and Jesse.
Commodore Pendergrast married Miss Virginia Barron, daughter of Commodore Barron. The latter was an intimate friend of Commodore Duncan Elliott, he having been his second in a duel fought by him and Commodore Decatur. Commodore Decatur was killed, while Commodore Barron sustained very painful wounds. In this connection it may be mentioned that all of the Elliott and Pendergrast blood were hot-headed and intrepid. (My Note: Both lines, Elliott and Pendergrast were Irish).
Dr. Frank Pendegrast, a beloved and popular family physician of this county killed a school teacher while in the heat of anger. Dr. Pendergrast was a scholar of high merit, and in going over a Latin lesson with his son he was displeased at the way his teacher had rendered a translation. When he called at the school a hot dispute followed, which so exasperated him that he jerked out a pistol and shot the teacher, who died shortly afterward.
