Our Pendergrass/Prendergast Line -
- IRISH
First
Generation
Phillip
De Pendergrass/Pendergrass, b. 1617 Beleek, County Mayo, Ireland d. 1670?,
Beleek, Mayo County, Ireland ~ Spouse: Mary Jessee b. 1619 Beleek, County
Mayo, Ireland d. 1669 Beleek, Mayo County, Ireland. Philip Pendergrass
immigrated to Virginia in order to give his family a new start. He left his wife
and son James in Ireland, and set sail for Virginia in 1643 aboard ship
Tryall out of Yougal Ireland. He established a working plantation with
substantial acreage, which he turned over to son James in 1664, after
whence Philip returned to Ireland where he lived out his life with wife Mary.
Child of Philip and Mary Jesse:
(there must have been other children born to them &
stayed in Ireland?)
i. |
James Pendergrass ( 1639-1681)
|
Second
Generation
James
Pendergrass b. 1639 Beleek, County Mayo,
Ireland Source:
Parish Records, Beleek, County Mayo, Ireland, James d. 1681,
Middlesex, Virginia James Pendergrass - Spouse: Mary Henry/Henri,
Married 1662, Beleek, Mayo County, Ireland, Mary Henry b. 1640 Beleek, Mayo,
Ireland d. 1681 Middlesex County, Virginia.
Please note: We do not know
who the husband was of the Mary Pendergrass who died 15 Sep 1715 at Middlesex
Virginia. We presume it to be wife of James Jr., or John, but are uncertain. That
the wife of James may have been Mary
is suggested by this entry in the Parish register of Christ Church, Middlesex
Co. Virginia: "Sep. 15, 1715: Mary Pendergrass died." The wife of James' son
James was also named Mary but she died before 1705 when James died, December 5,
1705, Richmond Co. Inventory, as their children were then treated as orphans:
James was bound out to Bartholomew Dorsey and John to William Phillips.
James Pendergrass
and Mary Henry/Henri or Mary Unknown, had the following children:
i |
Michael PENDERGRASS, b. ca. 1664 &
d. 1735 in Lancaster County, Virginia - He married a Rebecca UNKNOWN.
Post from Internet: Folks, I HAVE
to step in again. Things are getting so out of hand on the internet that there
is now a complete genealogy of the Ps posted on the web commencing with
POWHATAN. Therefore, I include the text of the marriage record between John P
and JANE (not Anne) Pleasants, and if you will take time to read it, you will
see that no maiden name is listed for Rebecca Pendergrass. If you will read,
also, the actual text of Allen Pendergraph's pamphlet which has caused so much
misinformation to be published on the web that it will probably never be able to
be straightened out again, you will see that Allen's only mention of Rebecca as
a Bolling is that "if the family legend is true her last name MIGHT have been
Bolling and she MIGHT have been descended from Pocahontas." Pocahontas'
descendants are very well documented in various places, including a fine book
that is in most decent libraries, and not one of her descendants married anyone
named Pendergrass. TRULY.
PLEASE look at the actual text of the marriage record of John and Jane (not
ANNE) Pleasants Pendergrass:
Source: Curles Meeting House Records: Banns & Marriage Book 7, Page 4,
1696-1710"
Dec 9th, 1709
JOHN PENDERGRAS ye sone of Michale Pendergras and Rebecca: He being of New Kent
county and Christian: the daughter of John Pleasants and Dorothy, Jane of the
Henrico county did publish their marriage at a meeting of men and women friends
at the hose of her father in the county aforesd on the twelfth day of the
Eleventh month last past. And coming before the meeting the second time in her
fathers howse they did publish their marriage againe on the ninth day of this
Instant month and were married in the howse of her father on the Ninth day of
the Twelft month in the yeare 1709."[ Transcribed from" Early Virginia Quaker
Records; Henrico County, Virginia.]
PLEASE note that there is no indication whatsoever that Rebecca was a Bolling.
There is no marriage record between a Michale Pendergrass and anyone else that
has survived, unless someone out there has one that I've never seen.
Jane Pleasants was the daughter of John and Dorothy (maiden name unknown)
Pleasants and John P was the son of Michale and Rebecca (maiden name unknown)
Pendergrass. He wasn't a Quaker but she was.
Rebecca BOLLING as the mother of John P is a fictional person.
Mary Raleigh is also a fictional person, along with Mary Ransom. Further, there
is no indication whatsoever that the John P. born around 1735 who was a soldier
at age 21 in Northumberland Co, Va was the same John P who died in Wake Co In
1794. In fact, it is unlikely unless soldier John had perfected a method of
being in two places at once, since the John P b. in 1735 was serving at Fort
Hopewell in 1757/8 while the John who died in 1794 Wake Co was on tax lists in
Granville NC in 1757/58, a whole state away.
Further, although there were in fact a William and Mary Pendergrass who were a
married couple who came into Granville Co NC about 1757 (with Spencer and John
P) from SOMEWHERE, he was likely NOT the Wm born in 1714 St Stephens Parish
register, but more likely to be the Wm of ORANGE CO, NC. All over the web, you
see both the Orange Co NC group and the Granville/Bute/Warren/Wake Co NC group
(who do not seem to be related genetically) claiming the Wm born in 1714 for
their own. The same William cannot have been in both places, with different
families at the same time, so SOMEONE is wrong. There were people streaming into
the country and we shouldn't assume that the ones we know about are the only
ones there were.
Also, the original Spencer Pendergrass who married Sarah Thornton (if that
marriage bond is ever found) in Granville/Bute Co 1763 was not JAMES Spencer
Pendergrass but plain old Spencer Pendergrass, and as far as I know, so was his
son. The "James" came, apparently, from Allen's attempt to make Spencer the
James of the James and John P who bought land and then lost in in Spotsylvania
CO Va in 1725. Let me remind everyone that prior to the revolution it was
exceedingly rare for an Englishman/Irishman to have a middle name and nowhere in
the actual paper records is Spencer ever referred to as anything except Spencer
P. Same with the Robert Raleigh thing. Raleigh is something Allen added based on
the fact that there were later children with the first name Raleigh. |
|
ii |
Robert Pendergrass, b. 1661,
Westmoreland Co., VA - Robert Pendergrass, servant to Captain John
Quigley, adjudged 17 yrs this day, ordered to serve 7 years 11 Dec 1678.
He could be a son of James, but supposedly James didn't come over until 1663,
two years after Robert was born. This record could be off by a couple of
years, and he still could be a son of James and Mary. |
iii |
James PENDERGRASS, Jr. b. ca. 1666
in Lancaster County, Virginia m. Mary?, bef. 1689, d. 5 December 1705 in
Richmond Co., North Farnham Parish, Virginia. Spendergrass, John, son
of James and Mary Spendergrass, b. April 1697. North Farnham Parish
Records. Did he marry a Rebeccah? |
iv |
Elizabeth PENDERGRASS, b. ca. 1668 Lancaster County,
Virginia |
i |
Female PENDERGRASS(2), b. ca. 1670 in Lancaster County,
Virginia, d. in Virginia |
vi |
Female PENDERGRASS (3), b. ca. 1672 in Lancaster County,
Virginia, d. in Virginia |
vii |
John PENDERGRASS, b. ca. 1674 in Middlesex County, Virginia
d. 31 January 1717/8 |
Third Generation
James Pendergrass, Jr. ~ b. ca. 1666 in Lancaster County, Virginia, d. Richmond County, North Farnham
Parish, Virginia on 5 Dec 1705, he was 39. James married Mary Bolling,
sister to Rebecca Bolling who married Michael Pendergrass.
9/1/1714
John Pendergrass, an Orphan Son of James Pendergrass,
late of this County, was brought before Court by Susanna Phillips who prayed
that the said John Pendergrass should be bound to her husband William Phillips.
James Pendergrass, brother of the said John, objected against it and prayed that
he might have the charge and tuition, which was granted, he paying William
Phillips for the maintaining and bringing up of said John. (According to
information on the internet, James Pendergrass died in North Farnham Parish in
1705. His son John was born in 1697. It appears that William and Susannah
Phillips raised John Pendergrass from the age of 8 to the age of 17. They must
have been related in some way. The sources on the internet claim that a William
Phillips was married to ______ Pendergrass, John’s aunt. However, we know from
the records that Susannah was the daughter of Joan and Roger Williams.)
Richmond County, Virginia Records
They had the following proposed children:
i |
Edmund Pendergrass,
born 1682, our line, more below |
ii |
Edward
Pendergrass of
Westmoreland County, VA no known proof of his birth date. A will of his is
supposed to be in Westmoreland Co., VA in 1727; I've yet to find it.
Edward Pendergrass,
born c. 1686-89 in Virginia, Edward died in Westmoreland Co., Virginia in
1727, he was about 37. As evidenced in Westmoreland Co., VA records below,
and left, it looks like was named Mary. If this is the same Edmund who
married Elizabeth Hickey 26 Feb. 1711, Christ Church Parish Middlesex Co., VA,
records, then who is this Mary, his second wife more than likely.
Elizabeth Hickey died in 1717; so Edward must have remarried to a Mary unknown
after Elizabeth died. From
Married Well and Often: Mary Pendergrass, widow of Edward, married Edward
Bussey before 28, March 1729 (WC OB 1721-31; pg. 258
WESTMORELAND
COUNTY, VIRGINIA COURT ORDERS 1705-1787 Library of Virginia microfilm reel
nos. 55-61 Orders 1721-1731 (reel 55) 28 March 1729,
p.258
Edward Bulger by his pet. to
October Court Last therein Sett forth that he being security for Mary
Pendergrass due admn. of the Est. of her dec. husband Edward Pendergrass
and the sd Mary being Marryed again to one Edward Bussey
who together with the said Mary had Imbezld a Great part of the sd Decd. Est.
for which the plt. was Security so that he was likely to be assest Sufferrer
whereupon a summons Issued which being by the Sheriff returned served and now at
this Court the said Bussey and Mary his wife not appearing or anyone for them It
is ordered that the said Edmund Bulger Take possession and have in his Custody
what of the Est of the sd Edward Pendergrass is now left or can be found for and
towards Indemnifing the sd petitionr. from his Securitiship as aforesaid.27
March 1729
p.253a Geo. Turberville assignee of Edward Bussey vs Joseph Woodward Debt for
500 pds of Tobac. } continued by ord vs Security
27 June 1738p.271
Daniel Muse brought into Court a poor boy belonging to Mary Bussey a Widow Woman
named Samuel Bussey and prayed the said boy Might be bound to him he being ready
to teach him a Trade of a farmer? and to Comply with the Law in such Cases
whereupon it is considered by the Court that the Church Wardens of Washington
parish (where he the said Muse lives) do bind out the said Samuel Bussey out to
him the Said Daniel Muse according to Law
John Summers d. betwn 8 Jan 1702/3 and 10 Feb 1702/3, Middlesex Co. VA:
drummer in VA Col. Militia (John Summers Will, Midlesex Co. VA will Book
1674-1770 pg. 5, dtd 8 Jan 1702/3 prob. 1 Feb 1702/3: VA Deed Book 2
(Middlesex)1694-1703 pg. 134 Bond for Elizabeth Summers, widow and Admx.
John Summers, with order to inventory estate: Crozier, William Armstrong.
VA Col. Militia 1651-1776. 1965 p. 99. Listed John Summers as Drummer in
Middlesex Co. militia.
He married:
Elizabeth Thompson daughter of William Thompson & Eleanor Montague. She
was dead by Nov. 1694. He married 2nd Ann Minns (Widow of Thomas Minns) married
3rd Elizabeth unknown? by 14 Jun 1702. After his death she married John Hickey
in 1704: then Edward Pendergrass in 1711. Elizabeth died 27 Jul. 1721/22.
Edward married a Mary unknown between 1722 and 1727 when he died. Proposed
children of Edward Pendergrass and Elizabeth unknown, and possibly
Mary unknown? his second wife. Edward and Elizabeth were married from
1711 until 1717, six years. Philip's birth year is confirmed through his
obit, 1725, so was he a son of Mary unknown? Edward's second wife.
|
iii |
Elizabeth
Pendergrass, married Anthony Gilbert, this
couple took care of Mary and Edward when their father died. |
iv |
James Pendergrass,
'the tailor', 1692-1751 - I have James 'Spendergrass' married a Rebeccah: The
Registers of North Farnnham Parish, 1663-1814 and Lunenburg Parish 1783-1800,
Richmond County, VA. Children: Daniel? 1719, Winifred, Aug 25, 1721;
Eleanor, May 15, 1729; James, 1731, Daughter married Robert Tomlin, guardian of
James and Mary, Chn. of John below, John of Richmond Co. Inv of Estate of James) |
v |
Rebecca
Pendergrass, md. Robert Tolmin. This couple
cared for her older brother Edmund's youngest son Edmund |
vi |
John
Pendergrass, born 1686,
Northumberland County, VA died July 20, 1715
in Northumberland Co., VA., probably married a Mary, had children John, James
and Mary. His sister, Rebecca, cared for his children after they died. |
vii |
Mary Pendergrass |
Know all men by these presents that we John Smith & Wm James of the
County of Richmond are held and firmly bound unto ye worshipful his
majesty justice of ye peace for ye sd county in ye full & just sum
of fifty pounds sterling to the which payment well and truly to be
made we bind ourselves our heirs firmly by these presents sealed
with our seals and dated ye 6th day of August 1718.The
condition of this obligation is such that if ye above bound John
Smith admr of all ye goods chattels & credits of James
Spendergrass decd do make a true and perfect inventory of all ye
goods chattels & credits of ye sd decd and ye same so made doe
exhibit into the county court of Richmond at such time as he shall
be thereto required by ye sd court and ye same goods chattels &
credits doe well & truly administer according to law and further
make a just and true account of his actions and doings therein when
thereof required by sd court and shall deliver & pay unto such
persons respectively as the justices by their order or judgment
shall direct pursuant to the laws in that case made & provide and it
shall hereafter appear that any laws will and testament was made by
ye decd and ye executor or executors their named ode exhibit grant
ye same on ye sd court making request to have it all owed and
approved ... Signed sealed and delivered in ye presence of
no witness recorded. John Smith, his mark William
James, is mark, 6
August 1718 Richmond
County, VA Deeds 1720-1733 Pughs
lease to Spendergrass:
This indenture made the 2nd
day of March 1727 between Lewis Pugh of Parish of Farnham
in county of Richmond on one partie and of
the same parish of the other partie witnesseth that Lewis Pugh in
consideration of five shillings lawful money of England to him in
hand paid by John Spendergrass whereof he doth acknowledge either
receipt hath and by these presents doe bargain and sell unto John
Spendergrass his heirs all that parcel of land containing fifty
acres ..... in Barham’s line ..... branches of Totoskey and now in
the tenure and occupation of John Spendergrass with all houses
orchards privileges etc. to have for one whole year paying therefore
the rent of one whole ear of Indian corn on the first day of the
birth of our lord .... transferring uses into possession John
Spendergrass may be in the actual possession of the premises and be
therefore enabled to accept a grant of the inheritance thereof to
him and his heirs. Witnessed in presents of Will Walker, Jno Reynolds
3 March 1727 Lewis Pugh to John Spendergrass in consideration of
one thousand four hundred fifty pounds of tobacco to him 50 acres.
16 March 1727 Richard Barham Sr. Parish of Northfarnham John
Spendergrass six hundred pounds tobacco sells 25 acres.
Westmoreland County, VA Order Book 1679-1682 by Dorman Captain John
Quigley did by his last will declare that Margaret Dobbin, Robert
Pendergrass and Law ? Hanning, his servants to be free.
September 29, 1780.North Farham Parish / Lunenburg Parish Married John Spendergrass & Elizabeth Cribin December 2, 1728 Born, James
Spendergrass son of John & Elizabeth Spendergrass 23 November 1729 Born Eleanor Spendergrass to James and Rebecca Spendergrass, 15 May
1729 Born John Spendergrass son of Robert & Elizabeth 10 December
1734.
Richmond County, VA Order Book 1721-1732 Pugh Ack to Spendergrass Lewis
Pugh came into court and acknowledged his deeds of lease and release
for land and bond for performance of covenants unto John
Spendergrass
which was admitted to record; Ann Pugh came into court, wife of
Lewis and relinquished her dower in the land conveyed in the deeds
to John Spendergrass which is also admitted to record.
6th March
1727/28 Richmond County, VA Order Book 1721-1732
Tillery
vs Spendergrass March 2, 1731/32In an action of debt between Richard
Tillery plt & James Spendergrass dfdt 230 lbs of tobacco ...
November 7, 1732 Tillery vs Spendergrass
April 2, 1733 Spendergrass will approved Stanley Gower, George
Taylor, Nath Thrift, John Dozier, or any three of them between now
and next court appraise the estate of John Spendergrass decd. April 2, 1733 Elizabeth Spendergrass appointed Executrix to John
Spendergrass, dscd.
April 4, 1733 James Spendergrass to pay Richard Tillery 230 lbs
tobacco
4 June 1733 John Spendergrass appraisement of his estate recorded.
Sheriff Luke Milner against Robert Spendergrass 530 lbs
tobacco, 18 yards of conteloons, 2.4 yards montross sheeting, 8
bushels corn due ... didn’t show up, so ordered to pay.
3 May 1736 John
Watts against Daniel Spendergrass 597 lbs tobacco. Continued
to next court.
7 June 1736 Daniel Spendergrass to serve Tobias
Pursell for xix years and 7 months to pay his debts. August
1737William Heartly against James & Robert Spendergrass 628 lbs
tobacco & ¾ quarters. |
Fourth Generation
Edmund Pendergrass
was born 1682 and married Marry Garrett, daughter of John Garrett and
Elizabeth
Ware. This has not been proven. Edmund died in 1727, but his will
has not been found. After Edmund died, Mary remarried to John Mottrom of
Northumberland County, Virginia.
i. |
Garrett Pendergrass,
Sr. b. circa 1712; died circa 1784? |
ii |
Robert Pendergrass,
b. 1718 - Robert, son of Edmund & Elizabeth Pendergrass born Dec 10, 1718;
baptized Jan 4, 1718, Middlesex Christ Church Parish records, pg. 101.
Robert ended up in North Carolina. |
iii |
Phillip Pendergrass,
b. 1725, died 15 November 1797, Cumberland Co., PA - A Philip Pendergrass died
in Cumberland Co., PA and it was taken from the Marriages and Deaths from the
Carlisle Gazette and the Western Repository of Knowledge, Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania, 1786-1800 - Remarks: Nov 22, 1797: Died in his 72nd year, of this
borough.
Married Margaret Hastings, had Robert, Mary, Lawrence,
(married Sydney) Jane, Edward. Edward is the one who ends up in
Ripley Co., IN. Robert,
Lawrence, and Philip, sons of this Philip,
b. 1725 were all in the Company of Captain Griffith Johnston of the Maryland
Militia raised in Washington County, Maryland, adjacent to Franklin County, PA,
adjacent to Bedford County, PA.
Michael O'Neill in " Irish
Settlers in America" (reissued by Genealogical Publish Co., ) Vol 1, page
2 discusses Philip of Carlisle, citing his death in 1797, listing on tax
roles in 1762 and service in
French/Indian War. " He took part in the
expedition of Kittanning in 1756 to repulse the Indians."
He then notes: "It was a
member of this family,
Garrett Prendergrass who, in February 1770, purchased the ground now occupied by
the city of Allegheney from the Six Nations.
The old Prendergrass homestead was near Hanover, and is still occupied by the
family...(and) was built in the last century by an Irishman named Byrnes who
married into the family."
O'Neill was the historian for the Journal of
American Irish Historical Society and this is from an article that appeared
in the journal in 1906. Obviously the 1943 article on "Catholic
Pittsburgh's One Hundred Years," which talks about Garrett as a Catholic,
used this source, because some of the wording is too close not have been copied. Since O'Neill identifies Philip of
Carlisle as the one who took part in the fight at Kittanning that is my reason
for thinking this is the same Philip who was reported "missing." History
of Cumberland and Adams Counties, pub. by DeBeers, 1886, p. 58 : Philip Prendergrass of Capt. Hugh
Mercer’s Company reported missing after Col. John Armstrong’s militia led an
attack on Indian town at Kittanning on the Allegheny River, abt. 20 miles above
Ft. Duquesne (Ft. Pitt) in present day Armstrong County.
CAPTAIN
MERCER'S COMPANY.-1756 - Killed-John Baker, John
McCartney, Patrick Mullen, Cornelius McGinnis, Theophilus Thompson, Dennis
Kilpatrick, Bryan Carrigan. Wounded -Richard Fitzgibbons. Missing-Captain
Hugh Mercer, Ensign John Scott, Emanuel Minskey, John Taylor, John Francis
Phillips, Eobert Morrow, Thomas Burk, Philip Pendergrass. |
|
iv |
John Pendergrass?,
b. circa 1725? - Necessary Roll of Captain
Thomas Waggneer's Company, 14 Sept 1757 French and Indiana War, 1754-1763 - John
Pendergrass |
Fifth Generation
Garrett
Pendergrass. Born about 1712 Virginia?.
Garrett died circa Dec 1784, he was approximately 72. As far as I know,
there is no proof of Garrett's birth and death dates except through
circumstantial evidence. Regarding
the book by Harvey Allen, Allen notes that supposedly
Garrett married Roseanna "Anne" Barker or Baker,
born bef 1719 of Ireland. There is no proof that I know of that Roseanna "Anne" Barker was his
wife's name. We know she signed a deed with Garrett as Anne, and
that is all. Harvey Allen made up his
book and is not based in fact. Notes:
Garret (or Gerard) Pendergrass, a trader near the mouth of the Kanawha in 1735.
(C.R., vii., 632, Va. State papers, i., 232, Md. Archives, v., 153.)
If
this is our Garrett, which I'm sure it is, then his birth date of 1712 might be
a bit early as he would only be 23 yrs old, but that is not that unusual, men
matured early back then. Garrett Sr. is listed as living in Hempfield
township, Westmoreland Co., and Jr. is listed as living in Fairfield Township,
Westmoreland Co., PA.
Simrall's Ferry was on
the Youghiogheny at what is now West Newton. Alexander "Simrall" and his sons,
William, John and Alexander Jr., of Chester Co., Pa., bought it from Garrett Pendergast on May 28, 1778.
See "Annals of Southwestern Pennsylvania" by Lewis Walkinshaw (Vol. 2).Garrett
Pendergrass and Anne Barker had the
following children: (note, no daughters named Ann)
i |
Mary Pendergrass,
b. 1733? birth year a guess on marriage, she married SAMUEL SALTER,
December 26, 1753, St John's Parish, Registration, Baltimore, Maryland |
ii |
Jesse Pendergrass,
born 1738?, |
iii |
Gertrude Pendergrass - b. ?? Died June 24, 1757 - From the History and
Topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Pebrt Counties
by I. Daniel Ruup: In June 1757, several murders were committed
near this Fort. In a letter from George Croghan to Col. Armstrong, dated Fort
London, June 28, 1757, he says, " On Friday evening there was a man killed near
Henry Paulin's and two of his children taken. The same evening there was a young
lad fired on by seven Indians, from whom he made his escape, wounded in three
places. The same day a daughter of Gerrard Pendegrass, was killed and scalped in
sight of Fort Littleton.
Bedford Gazette Bedford Pennsylvania July 30, 1951 Gerty
Pendergrass' Death Near Fort Bedford Told
With the aid of Miss Lillian Fleming of Clear Ridge, Henry W.
Shoemaker, president of the Pennsylvania Folklore Society, State Museum,
Harrisburg, last week told the tragic story of the slaying by Indians of
Gerty Pendergrass, favorite child of Garrett Pendergrass, a half Irish,
half Dutchman, known far and wide as "the father of Bedford County."
The story follows:
The story of Gerty's slaying within sight of
her father at Fort Bedford 200 years ago has long been shrouded in
mystery,"
Shoemaker said. "The details were sought by the late Hervey Allen
for his Bedford county historical novels, in his many visits to the
State Archives at Harrisburg, but without success.
"Now the story has been revealed by Miss Lillian Fleming of Clear
Ridge, Fulton county, whose search among musty papers for the history of
the naming of the famous Indian Spring in that county disclosed a
shocking tale of the Redman's cruelty.
"Ekawabo, of the Shawnee tribe, an Indian of
streams of character, never liked Garret Pendergrass, yet became a
'blood-brother' of Abraham Keller, a Fulton county pioneer whom he often
visited and to whom he seemed devoted.
Pendergrass quarreled several times with
Ekawabo and on one occasion threw him out of Fort Bedford when he
claimed there was a balance in muskets owing him on an exchange of
beaver skins.
"The Indian left, vowing he would return and
'even the score'. But as he did not come back in several weeks,
Pendergrass allowed little Gerty to play with her pet lennichums (Indian
dogs) and aboups (foxes) in the clearing about the stockade. One morning while the child was at play,
Pendergrass saw Ekawabo approaching, carrying no gun, and he raised his
two hands to indicate his peaceful mission when his eyes met
Pendergrass' up his rifle and went on with his keen glance.
"The frontiersman did not pick work, pounding corn, as the Indian
drew near suddenly the crafty Ekawabo stopped down, drew his scalping
knife, seized Gerty, put her head across his knee and removed her fine
mahogany colored thatch before her agonized father could intervene,
though her pet Indian dogs snapped at the redman's heels and might have
driven him off had they been larger.
"Pendergrass seized his firearm, intending to
drop the fiend in his tracks, but the gun missed fire and the Indian
turned and ran into the woods, brandishing the bloody knife in one hand,
the scalp in the other. Both Pendergrass and his wife ran out and picked
up the now unconscious child. They carried her in the fort where she died from
shock and loss of blood.
The licensed Indian traders, George Arents,
Peter Moyer and Florian Povinger, emerged with their rifles having heard
Mrs. Pendergrass' screams. they took up the Indian's trail, following the
drops of blood, but he eluded them by crossing several swift streams and
escaped.
"The grief of the Pendergrass family was profound and they offered
their best warrant of land and five hundred Spanish silver dollars for
the Indian murdered, dead or alive, or his proven scalp.
"Several weeks later, Abraham Keller was
approached by Ekawabo, his Indian 'Blood-brother.'
They shook hands and embraced and engaged
in pleasant conversation for a few brief minutes.
Then, grinning broadly, Ekawabo drew from
the deep pocket of his deerskin jacket a handsome, darkish, curling
scalp.
"That is from the head of Gerty, Garret
Pendergrass' favorite daughter,' he said, drawing himself up proudly.
Horrified by the speech and sight of he
scalp, Keller quickly pulled around his rifle, which he wore on a strap
over his shoulder, aimed and fired, killing the Indian instantly.
The question then was to dispose of the
body in some way that the other Indians would not know of it and come
seeking vengeance.
He shoved the body into the outlet of the
big spring, hidden for all time. Keller turned his oxen and scored the ground where
the Indian had fallen so that no traces of blood were visible.
"For a period of many years, the secret was
known only to Keller and a few intimates, except with the passing of
time the fountain became the Indian Spring.
As the water flowed swiftly from the source
there was no contamination from the Indian body.
Keller kept Gerty's scalp in his family
chest, intending to take it to Fort Bedford and deliver it to Garret
Pendergrass and his wife.
there was always an Indian uprising to
intervene and Keller died before he had the opportunity to make the
visit.
"The family probably never learned of it, as
Keller was afraid of having his farm raided and kept the story a secret
with himself and friends. Several times Ekawabo's tribal friends came
looking for him but never found the slightest clue. At Keller's death, the Indians learned the story
and raided the Fulton county coves, taking several captives, including a
beautiful girl, Elizabeth Fleming, who, they believed, knew the secret
of their comrade's disappearance.
Previously, like Abraham Keller, she had
been a favorite of the aborigines.
"When to her surprise, the Indians carried her
off, they tortured her, pushing her on a blazing camp fire and holding
her there until she was deeply burned.
But she revealed nothing and was often
beaten and made to carry superhuman burdens. After three trips to Canada and back as a burden
bearer, she was exchanged about 1784 and returned to her home, a shadow
of her former self.
"Her relatives welcomed her at Carlisle and escorted her back to
Anghwick Creek in a body and tried in every way to make her last years
comfortable ones, and she passed her time as a ginseng digger.
"Ailing and dispirited as she was, she
determined to restore Gerty's scalp to her loved ones but the family was
widely scattered. finally the unfortunate child's grave was pointe
out to her.
Taking the mattocks she used to dig
ginseng, she opened the grave, fitted the scalp on the ...
the last three sentences are blurred
and I can't read. [darn !]
|
Also from A Selection of Some of the Most Interesting Narratives of Outrages
committed by the Indians in their wars with the white people by Archibald
Loudon, pub. 1811, page 195: The following list of persons killed by the
Indians, we have been furnished with by John M'Cullough, Esq. whose Narrative of
his captivity has been given in the first volume. June 24, 1757:
Alexander Miller killed and two of his daughters taken from Conococheague; John
Kenedy badly wounded, and Gerhart Pendergras's daughter killed at for
Littleton. "From "The Life and times of Thomas Smith, 1745-1809, A Pennsylvania
member of the Continental Congress. "About two years later it is known by
the name of another settler, Garrett Pendergrass, also a Scotch trader with the
Indians, whom the natives drove out in 1755." |
iv |
Garrett Pendergrass Jr.
(<1743-1777) - our line |
v |
Thomas? Pendergrass
b. Abt. 1745 |
vi |
Lawrence Pendergrass, b. Abt. 1748; d. March
1831, (North Carolina) |
Following is a timeline of Garrett Pendergrass, Sr. from different sources:
Column on left refers to how old Garrett Pendergrass would be
when the event occurred. |
26 |
4 Aug 1738 - Garrett
Pendergrass referred to in "Alleganey." |
32 |
Frederick County 1744 -
Garrett Pendergrass paid Court Clerk fee, Frederick County; |
40 |
20 March 1752
- Other Format Available on microfilm. Northern Neck Grants, reels 288-311. Note
Location: Frederick County.
Description: 371 acres on the North Branch of Potomack adjoining a survey made
for Gerrard Pendergrass. Source: Northern Neck Grants H, p. 149 (Reel 293.
Original survey exists.
Part of the index to recorded copies of land grants issued by the agents of the
Fairfax Proprietary between 1690 and 1781 and by the Commonwealth between 1786
and 1874. Original and recorded surveys are also indexed when available. The
collection is housed in the Archives at the Library of Virginia. |
40 |
"1752
- Garrett Pendergass buys a tract of land at the confluence of the Allegheny and
Monongahela Rivers from Chief Anonguit (present site of Pittsburgh). Pendergass
is a trader based in the Bedford area." |
45 |
Garrett's daughter Gertrude was
killed by the Indians outside the walls of Fort Lyttelton, PA in 1757 |
|
1755: On one
November morning in 1755, Patrick Burns, who had been captured by the Indians,
escaped and came running into the Great Cove, shouting the King Shingas, the
great Delaware Warrior whose hands had long been stained by white man's blood,
was on his way to make ashes of the cabins and scalp every man, woman and child
he could find.
Some of Sarah's neighbors refused to believe this
rumor, but she knew the time had come.
Without waiting to gather her pots and blankets
together, she lifted young Levi, Elizabeth and Jemima onto her remaining horse;
then, followed by the other children, she hurried toward the eastern sun.
A dozen other families straggled along up the steep
wooded slope toward the river pass that led to the new Fort Littleton on the
other side of the mountain.
At the summit of the first foothill, Sarah and her
neighbors turned to have one last look at the Valley. Before their eyes was an
awesome spectacle of destruction. Their houses were in flames; Delaware were
riding like wild men through the Great Cove; and even at this distance the
refugees could hear "the last shrieks of their dying neighbors. "Refugees
crowded into the rectangular Fort Littleton, and by the following April, the
surrounding area was deserted. |
54 |
Petition of Gerard Pendergrass to
Governor Penn Philad, October 10th, 1766 To the Honorable John Penn, Esq.,
Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, &c.,
&c.: The
Petition of Gerard Pendergrass, of the Town of Bedford, in the
County of Cumberland, in the said Province, Yeoman,
humbly Sheweth, That you Petitioner, in the year 1752, settled on the very Tract
of Land on which the aforesaid Town of Bedford is now, by virtue of your Honor's
Warrant laid out. That your Petitioner, at his own proper Cost and
expense, did erect and build, on the aforesd Premises, a good and substantial
round Log house, of 24 feet square, well shingled, and had cleard and enfenced
between 40 & 50 acres of Land, when, in the year 1755, he was obliged to fly
before the Indiana enemy, who laid waste all that Country, burnt your
Petitioner's House, and destroyed all his Improvements. That
the King's Generals made the Fort Bedford on your Petitioner's Improvements, and
an Inclosure for pasturing Horses & Cattle. And that since the King's
Troops evacuated that Forst, and the Avenues thereof, the Improvements of your
Petitioner have been surveyed, under your Honor's Warrant afsd, for the use of
the Honorable the Proprietaries. That your Petitioner humbly, and with
submission to your Honor's own Judgment, conceives that by his Adventure of
Building & Singling a House, clearing & enfenceing 40 or 50 acres of Land, he
and his Heirs, under that ancient and well known Right of Occupancy &
Improvement, (by which all colonies and establishment sin the World have, and
especially your Province of Pennsylvania, has, increased and bettered,) and
under the custom of the Province, are entitled to the quiet Possession of their
Improvements, and a competent Quanity of Land to accommodate the said
Improvements, paying to the Lords of the soil the Rents accustomed, &c.
That your
Petitioner is far from entering into any Contest with the Honorable the
Proprietaries about their or his own Right to the said Improvements, & Land
adjoining thereto; But that he puts his Confidence entirely into yoru Honor's
sentiments of Justice and equity, so that you will make him a suitable
Recompence for his Labour & Losses. And your Petitioner shall every pray,
as in Duty bound.On his Behalf, signed By Gerard Pendergrass Anne Pendergrass
|
57 |
Land Office, 29th July, 1769 Pennsylvania Archives, page
466: Caveat Book No. 4 - Garret Pendergrass enters a Caveat against the
acceptance of a Survey for William Elliott on his Application No. 3019 of a
Tract of land at the Bullock Penns in the county of Cumberland, alleging the
said survey interferes with his improvement - James Kennedy for James Tilghman,
Sec'y. |
59 |
Frederick County, Virginia, Deed
Book Series, Volume 4 Deed Books 12, 13, 14, 1767-1771, Abstracted, Compiled
by Amelia C. Gilreath, pg. 171 Bk 14, p. 239-4 March 1771 [Lease]
Between John Cunningham of County of Frederick [to] Garrett Pendergrass of
County of Cumberland of Province of Pennsylvania ... consideration of Five
Shillings ... Two Parcel & Tracts of Land Lying and being on the West side Opeckon Creek & on a Channel .... Part of a Tract of one thousand and fourteen
Acres granted to Evan Thomas by Patent the 12th Nov. 1735 and Part of a Tract of
Two hundred & Forty Acres Devised Enos Thomas by the Last Will and Testament of
Evan Thomas and being the Land granted and conveyed to said John Cunningham from
said Enos Thomas by Deeds of L & R the 28th & 29th Sept. 1755 ... Corner to said
Enos Thomas & John Thomas ... Containing forty Acres the other Tract of Land
Lying adjoining the aforementioned Tract on the Draft below and being granted to
said John Cunningham by Deed under the hand & Seal of the Right Hon.ble Thomas
Lord Fairfax the 27th March 1761 ... in Patrick Duncan's Line ... Containing
three hundred & forty five Acres ... Rent of one ear of Indian Corn on the Last
day of said Term ...
John Cunningham Wit: Gideon Richey, Willm. Harris Abel Walker Recorded: 6 March 1771 ------------------------------------------------------- Bk 14, p. 241-5 March 1771[Release] Between
John Cunningham of County of Frederick [to] Garrett Pendergrass of County of
Cumberland of Province of Pennsylvania) ... consideration of one hundred Pounds
... 2 Tracts of Land 40 Acres & 345 Acres (same as above) ... John Cunningham Wit: same as above Recorded: 6 March 1771 |
59 |
4 Mar 1771 - Garrett
Pendergrass of Cumberland Co, Pa. bought land on Opequon Creek, Frederick co.,
VA. [see above] |
60 |
"The Indians to Garret Pendergrass", and
recorded September 19, 1772. land where Pittsburg now stands. |
61 |
Jan 1773
Morris Bready (Brady) vs. John McCulloch - tenant in possession - ejectment.
McKee vs. Paul Froman. Garrett Pendergrass Jr. vs. Adam Sam. John
McMullen vs. Dorsey Penticost. Robert Stephen vs. William Brashears. [Bedford
Co. Civil Court Docket 1] |
|
My notes: I find Gerrad
living in Bedford Co., 1773, paying taxes and then another one in 1773
paying taxes in Fairfield Township. Senior and Junior? |
|
"the first civil jury trial
was that of the case of John Mason v. Garret Pendergrass, Jr., at the
April term, 1774. David Semple and Robert
Galbraeth, who had been admitted first at Bedford, and later in Westmoreland, in
the due course of their practice, were the attorneys for the plaintiff and the
defendant, respectively. The jury was composed of these well known
pioneers: Providence Mountz, James Gray, William McNees, John Coyle,
Matthias Cowan, George Winterfer, John Nicholas, Isaac Parce (Parr), Michael
Stockberger, Adam Hatfield, Alexander Maxfield and Ezekial Hickman. A
verdict was brought in for £12 10s 6d. damages, which the sheriff had to collect
by write of fieri facias. [a writ commanding a sheriff to levy and sell as much
of a debtor's property as is necessary to satisfy a creditor's claim against the
debtor.] |
63 |
But we now proceed with Captain
Wood's journal. He tells us that, on the 20th of July, [1775] he met
Garrett Pendergrass about 9 o'clock; that he had just left the Delaware
towns; that two days before the Delaware's had just returned from the Wyandots'
towns, where they had been at a grand council with a French and English officer
and the Wyandots; that Monsieur Baubee and the English officer told them to be
on their guard, that the white people intended to strike them very soon. From the Book: A Biographical
Sketch of the life of the Late Captain Michael Cresp, by John J. Jacob,
Cincinnati, Ohio, reprinted from the Cumberland Edition of 1826: |
65 |
Simrall's Ferry was on the
Youghiogheny at what is now West Newton. Alexander "Simrall" and his sons,
William, John and Alexander Jr., of Chester Co., Pa., bought it from
Garrett Pendergast on May 28, 1778. See "Anals of
Southwestern Pennsylvania" by Lewis Walkinshaw (Vol. 2). |
|
October 26, 1778
- mentioned in letter of George Washington to his brother John A. Washington.
Garett Pendergrass The Diaries of George Washington. Vol. 2. Donald
Jackson, ed.; Dorothy Twohig, assoc. ed. The Papers of George Washington.
Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1976. p. 289The
Morning being wet & heavy we did not set off till 11 O'clock & arrivd that Night
at one Killams on a branch of Georges Creek, distant 101/2 Measurd Miles from
the North Branch of Potomack where we cross at the lower end of my Decd. Brother
Auge. Bottom, known by the name of Pendergrasses.
This Crossing is two
Miles from the aforesaid Mill & the Road bad as it likewise is to Killams, the
Country being very Hilly & stony. From Killams to Fort Cumberland is the same
distance that it is to the Crossing above mentioned, & the Road from thence to
Jolliffs by the old Town much better. Pendergrass's Bottom was
purchased by Lawrence Washington from Garret Pendergrass,
probably when Pendergrass, an early settler and trader in the area, moved to
Pennsylvania about 1752. In his will Lawrence left the land to his
brother Augustine Washington (20 June 1752, DLC:GW). |
|
Roster of Capt. Shelby, Chickamauga Campaign of 1779 Evan Shelby, Jun 1 blanket, 2 leggings, 1 moccasins, 1 tomahawk, 1 gunsack;
Garrett Pendergrass; Alexander Carwell 1 blanket, 1 leggings, 2 moccasins, 1
tomahawk, 1 gunsack ...My Note: Who is this? Garrett Jr. died in
1777. |
68 |
1780 per Samuel Barr's pension appllication, he states he was sent to
Westmoreland Co., PA becasue Garrett Pendergrass's station was attacked. |
70 |
dated June 22d 1782, Garrett Signed a petition (see below) |
|
Garrett Sr. died after December 19, 1784 (Westmoreland Co.,
Pennsylvania deed, Book B., p. 283, to Andrew Steel. |
|
16 Jun 1808 - Jesse Pendergrass of Jefferson County, KY
sold land on Opequon Creek, Frederick Co, VA, passed to him as heir at law of
Garrett Pendergrass, his older brother being presumed dead. [see land
transaction above in 1771] |
|
From: The Annals of Bedford
County, Pennsylvania Consisting of Condensed Sketches of the Most Important
Events Which Occurred During the Century From January 1750 to 1850
BY
HON. WILLIAM P. SCHELL GAZETTE PUB. CO., PRINT The
following excerpts regarding Garrett Pendergrass: First
Settlers
The first white explorers in the
vicinity of Bedford came about 1732, but of them nothing is known. In 1751
Robert Ray erected several buildings and the trading post became known as
Raystown. In 1752 came Garrett Pendergrass,
who bought the land from the Indians. This deed is on record in the Court House
and very interesting it is. It is dated February 1770, and is recorded on page
58 of Book A; the paper is brown with age and crackles at a touch, the form
quaint, but the writing is legible. The mark of Chief Anonguit is a turtle;
Enishshera, or Capt. Henry Mountare's signature is followed by the letters "H.
M.," and a circle marks the signature of Connehracahecat, the White Mingo. The date of
recording is September 19, 1772, before Arthur St.
Clair, the first Prothonotary and Register of the county, who was a Captain and
afterwards Major-General.
Still later Pendergrass transferred to his son,
Garrett, Jr., "the land on both sides of the Raystown, containing 300 acres,"
but did not long remain here and there were, evidently, no more
English-speaking white settlers until the section was occupied by the vanguard
of General Forbes' army in 1758, when the fort was erected. About that time the
first taverns were built and soon the town became a stopping place for traders.
Here was born William Frazer, the first white child born in the county. A number
of whites were massacred by Indians in this section.
As first related,
that Ray was the first settler in that section, we have data showing that with
him came one Garrett Pendergrass, who, by consent of the chiefs of the
Six Nations, took up his settlement at this place, made improvements, and it was
supposed that he did a thriving business with the Indian traders, and set up his
claim for three hundred acres of land, which included the three springs, but by
an account furnished later, on account of the French and Indian wars, he sought
safety at some other point eastward. I think Mr. Adams is mistaken as to the
date when Ray was taken to Powell's house in saying it was in 1756; it must have
been early in 1752, for in that year Garrett Pendergrass opened his trading
post, erected three buildings and cleared 50 acres of land, and from that date
Ray's Post was generally called "Pendergrass' Place" by the traders,
Indians, and especially by Harris in his letter of 1754. However, the fact that
he first settled at Raystown has passed his name down a century and a half and
probably it may continue to go down through future centuries, well marked by
four natural monuments--Raystown, Raystown branch of the Juniata river, Ray's
Hill and Ray's Cove, over all of which passed the great Indian trail from
Harris' Ferry, through Raystown, to the Ohio river. (In the early records this
cove was
(p. 24)
called "the Harbor," from its enclosure on the
north by Harbor Mt., which really is a mountain and is a northwest continuation
of Ray's Hill.)
The second settlement was made by Garrett Pendergrass
in 1752. It is very probable that Pendergrass was of Norman-French
extraction, whose ancestors passed over to England with William the Conqueror,
for the name appears in English history, and from thence he came to America with
the Scotch-Irish and with them settled in Cumberland Valley. The name also
appears in the records of Cumberland county during the Revolutionary War. After
the defeat of General Braddock's army, Pendergrass fled with his family to
Fort Lyttleton where, in 1757, his young daughter was mercilessly killed and
scalped by marauding Indians in sight of the fort. It is very probable that
Pendergrass returned to Raystown soon after General Forbes' army reached the
place in 1758."he lived in Colerain township in 1772 and soon
thereafter died." |
|
From the book In Old Pennsylvania Towns by
Anne Hollingsworth Wharton comes this:
"Robert Ray did not live long after establishing his trading post and was
evidently succeeded by Garrett Pendergrass, as "Ray's Post" was called
"Pendergrass Place" |
|
From Proceedings of the
Council of Maryland, 1753-1761, a case, apparently, where some of the locals,
including Catholics, who were brought up on charges that they were not loyal to
the country and were instead loyal to France. In someone's testimony,
comes this:
I was making this Meadow I married Elizabeth the Daughter of one William Deale
who dwelt at that time in the Stony Forrest, near Jacob Bull's Mill, but she
lived as a Servant with one John Darumple on a plantation that he rented of John
Swinyard, and that lies near Abraham Jerrards; for about 3 Months I laboured
hard in hopes of being able to make the Meadow according to Agreement, but
finding it impossible at the End of that time & Renshaw at the same time
threatning me with the penalty of the Bond I went off to York town in
pensilvania, and Lieutenant Miller a tall Gentleman somewhat advanced in Years
being recruiting there I was inlisted by him for Captain Clark's Company, and
was soon after sent to Fort Cumberland Colonel Innes was then Commander in chief
at that Fort, and Captain Rutherford commanded under him, I was there when your Excellency arrived just before Christmas but was then meditating my Escape being
determined to return (if possible) back to my Wife, or fly into one of the
neighboring provinces, & send for her thither.
One
Hancock who lived with Gerrard Pendegrass of Ray's Town
came frequently among us and as I apprehended he was well acquainted with all
that part of the Country, I entred into Conversation with him on that Subject,
and from him learn't that there was a path from Fort Cumberland thro Ray's Town
to pensilvania behind any of the Maryland Settlements, being thus advised I
deserted in the Month of January with one Willoby Willett of Captain
Rutherford's Company intending to go thro Ray's Town and pursue the Road that Hancock had described to us.
|
|
The Rebecca Smith tract lay
between "Glentworth Park" on the north, "Mahogany" on the east, the manor on the
south, and the Allegheny river of the west. The mouth of Garrett's run is near its northwestern corner. One branch of this run
rises on that part of the John Schenck tract now owned by Peter Heilman, in
Kittanning township. It was probably named after Garrett Pendergrass, who
established a trading post near its mouth, about where Patterson's store now is,
prior to 1800, with whom Jacob Waltenbough occasionally traded. |
|
“A Large Hickory Bottom,” on the north side of Kentucky River, about five
miles from its mouth. (P. 69.) (Property of Jesse Pendergrass, heir of Garrett
Pendergrass.) ”Interpretation. This is the bottom to the southeast of
General Butler State Park and Indian Hills. The nearest fordable crossing
on the Ohio was probably 7-8 miles upstream at Ghent (Ky.) and Vevay (Ind.). It
is likely that buffalo and Indians often crossed the river here. A remarkable
outlying stand of cane occurs along Indian Creek north of Vevay (on State Route
56). |
From: The Kernel
of Greatness, an informal Bicentennial History of Bedford: Settlers from the East Most
of the early immigration into Bedford County came from the South.
About forty-two years after the Diberts arrived, two men, Garrett
Pendergrass and Thomas Croyle came in from the east. Pendergrass
had bought three-hundred sixty acres from the Indians prior to the
time the Penns had paid them for the land in this section. He
built a trading post located in Bedford where the Hoffman Hotel
formerly stood. The main building was eight by forty feet in
size, with the first floor made of native limestone, the windows
only large enough to fire a rifle through, and the doors of very
thick oak. The beams for the second and third floors, of
walnut logs from trees cut on the bank of the Raystown, hewn on two
sides, were eighty feel long. the Indians of another tribe
forced the Pendergrass family to flee to Fort Littleton, where they
murdered one of the daughters. The remainder of the family
went farther east to Carlisle.
When they returned to their
post, all that remained was the stone first floor. By then the Penns had the town of Bedford surveyed, taking most of the
Pendergrass' land. Then Indians who sold it to him felt to sad
about their brothers causing Pendergrass to lose his land that they
gave him what they called worthless swamp between the Allegheny and
Ohio Rivers, the present "Golden Triangle" of Pittsburgh. The
deed for this land is in Deed Book "A" in the Bedford County Court
House, and is signed by a circle within a circle and a turtle.
When Pendergass went to claim his new land, squatters were
already living on it. pg.
71: The Black People Negroes may have come to this area the
same time as the white men or soon afterwards. They did not
enter as pioneers clearing the wilderness and no records were kept
for posterity of their activities. Since they were forced to
come, forced to work, they must have played an important role in the
early development of the county - without recognition. The
earliest date found concerning their arrival was in Harvey Allen's
book, Bedford Village, where he wrote that in 1763, Negroes were
owned by Garrett Pendergrass, already an established innkeeper
living near Fort Bedford. [My Note: As most if not all of
Harvey Allen's book was fiction that he himself professed was so, I
can not guarantee the above is the 'truth'. There are no
sources in this book (The Kernel of Greatness) so I am not sure
where the description of the Inn came from and if it's accurate or
not either. |
|
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|
|
|
Excerpts from books mentioning Garrett Pendergrass |
|
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|
Among the earlier Catholic
inhabitants of Carlisle we find the Pendergrass family, who no doubt were
among the pioneer settlers in the borough, and whose name will be found
identified with almost all the larger settlements west of Carlisle.
In Kline's Carlisle Gazette^ we ascertain that Philip Pendergrass died Nov.
17, 1797, "in the seventy-second year of his age, and was an old inhabitant
of this borough." This Philip Pendergrass is no doubt the same, whose
name is found on the list of Taxables* in 1762, and who again took part in the
expedition to Kittanning in 1756, to repulse the Indians, whose bloody massacres
at this time sent a thrill of alarm along the entire frontier. It was of this
Pendergrass family, —
Garret Jr., who in Feb. 1770, while a resident of Raystown (Bedford) purchased
the ground now occupied by Alleghany City, from the Six Nations. A copy of this
quaint conveyance is found in Egle's History of Pennsylvania.^ This last
Pendergrass was no doubt the same alluded to in Gov. Hamilton's
correspondence with Gov. Sharpe, in which he is alluded to as being an
innkeeper, thoroughly reliable and capable as a guide, and with a most minute
knowledge of the topography of the country.§ The old Pendergrass homestead was
on Pomfret street, near Hanover. The house now occupied by the family, opposite
the rectory, was built in the last century by another Catholic family named
Byrns, who intermarried with the Pendergrass's.
This home, still in a good state of preservation, was built from logs cut and
hewn on the premises, it being part of a dense piece of woodland. The families
have both long since drifted away from their ancestral faith, and recall it only
as a tradition. One of the last members of whom we have any knowledge as dying
in the faith was Johanna Pendergrass, who departed this life July 9, 1823, and
attached to whose death notice in the Parochial Register we find these touching
words: " Mortua est in odore sanctitatis, pietatis et devotions ; " — " She died
in the odor of sanctity, piety and devotion." No doubt a most deserving eulogy.
The name of James Pendergrass is found as late as 1843 in the Parochial
Records, but no evidence is at hand to prove that he died
a Catholic.
|
Here is the Deed:
Perhaps the most famous
deed in the Courthouse can be found on page 29. It is titled "The Indians to
Garret Pendergrass", and recorded September 19, 1772. The writing is very
faded and the edges are worn. It is impossible to read the deed in detail.
However, several years ago we were fortunate to locate the entire deed which had
been copied before it became so faded and worn. It was in an old history
published in 1846. Therefore, we will take the time and space here to reprint it
in full for those who might be interested in reading once again the full details
which are no longer possible to be deciphered."Know all men by these presents,
that whereas a certain Garrett Pendergrass, Senior, of Bedford Settlement,
in the Province of Penna, &, of Cumberland, was settled some number of years
past, by leave of the Chiefs or deputies of the Six Nations of Indians, on a
tract of land where Bedford now is situate, while the said land was yet the
property of us, and our said Chiefs and deputies, said Pendergrass being
dispossessed of said land, in time of war between the French and English, and
before said Pendergrass could safely return to live on said land, it was entered
upon by people, who have from time to time, and yet continue to keep said
Pendergrass from enjoyment of said tract of land, said Pendergrass at the last
treaty held at Fort Pitt with the representatives of the said Six Nations,
informed our said Chiefs or their representatives or the deputies, that he was
deprived of the above tract of land as above mentioned, where upon we, and our
deputies did then, at said treaty, give him the said Pendergrass our leave in
writing, under our hands, to settle on a tract of land called Long Resch, near
the mouth of Youghagain, but the said last mentioned tract being at the time of
the said treaty, or before improved by some other persons, contrary to our
expectation, for which reason, he, the said Pendergrass, has not obtained
possession of the latter mentioned tract, and cannot quietly enjoy neither of
the two above mentioned tracts know ye, therefore that we the under, or within
bound subscribers, who have hereunto caused our names to be set, and have put
our marks; the first of us, assigning one of the Chiefs, and the other two
deputies of the said Six Nations do give and grant, to the said Garrett
Pendergrass, his heirs and trustees forever, our full leave and liberty of
us, and for behalf of the Six Nations to settle on a tract of land on the north
side of the Aligania river opposite to Fort Pitt; to join the said river on the
one side, and to extend one mile and a half from the landing on the north side
of the said river Allegheny opposite to Fort Pitt, in form of a semi-circle,
from said landing, hereby granting to him, and his trustees and assigns, full
liberty to build houses, make improvements and cultivate the said tract of land
or any part thereof, and that he, the said Pendergrass may the more quietly
enjoy the said land, and any benefit that he, his heirs or assigns, shall make
or can make, thereby; we do ourselves, and in behalf of the said Six Nations,
discharge all people what so ever from molesting or disturbing him, the said
Pendergrass or his heirs or trustees, or assigns, in the possession or quiet
firmly engage and promise to answer all objection that any Indian tribe or
tribes have to making of the above settlement". –ANONQUIT ENISHHRD
CONNEHRACAHECAT. The end
of the deed was signed by the drawing of a turtle and a circle within a circle.
Both signatures are now so faded and worn from countless fingers of those who
have viewed this deed over the years that they can no longer be identified.
According to the stories handed down through the years, the Indians, who
originally sold the land here in Bedford, felt sorry for Pendergrass because
these lands had been taken from him by the English, and therefore gave him the
deed for the tract of land located between the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers. This
deed was for land which today includes the 'Golden Triangle' in Pittsburgh. As a
sad note, before Pendergrass could settle on this tract, others had moved there
and claimed title to it. This
transcription (above) came from
this web site
and it al so has a detailed history of the area (Bedford) where Garrett
Pendergrass (my paternal 7th great grandfather) lived. |
LUKE PENDERGAST CEMETERY,
Caswell County, North Carolina
Recorded 1997
- W Ernest Blalock, 2618 John Oakley Rd, Prospect Hill, NC 27314 - 9405 Made
available to The USGenWeb Archives by Stephen J Paul -- spaul@dialnet.net
Located in Caswell County NC in the Baynes - Prospect Church Community near
Prospect Meth. Church. Turn off Prospect Ch Rd onto Smith Loop Rd. The
graves are located about 200 feet into the woods off the dirt road and about 50
feet from a house beside the woods. It is across the road from the old abandoned
Lucion Miles home place and in sight of the old Thompson N Smith house. There
are about 35 to 40 graves here and the area is covered with periwinkle. There
are no markers left with names on them, just plain field rocks.
PENDERGAST, Luke, ca 1748 - Mar 1831, h/o Rachel Simmons, s/o Garrett & Rosannah
Baker Pendergast of ? Alleghenny Co. Pa.
PENDERGAST, Rachel Simmons, Apr
8 1751 - aft 1831, w/o Luke Pendergast, d/o George & Elizabeth Fuller Simmons of
Baltimore Co. Maryland.
PENDERGAST, George Pendergast's 2nd
wife, Margaret Morrow, dates unknown
PENDERGAST, John Baker Pendergast's
1st wife. d. ca 1805, name unknown. (John Baker Pendergast went to Tn,
re-married there to Rhoda King by 1807, then went on to Limestone Co. Texas
where he died Jan 4 1847.) |
From: Early Kentucky Settlers,
The Records of Jefferson Co., KY [Filson Club History
Quarterly] 1988; p. 337 Standiford, Nathan. To James Stewart Standiford, eldest son of
testator's brother David Standiford, estate except a stand of
drawers to his sister Nancy Hench. Executors to have use
of property for education of above named until James Stewart
Standiford becomes of age, when he is to be given estate. Executor: David Standiford, also guardian for Nancy Hench. Witnesses: J. G.
Pendergrass, Alfred Thornberyy. David Standiford qualified as administrator and gave bond with
Alexander H. Gailbreath and Henry Cummins as securities. Written July 12, 1830; probated September 3, 1832. [B2, p.443]
Pendergrass,
James 1819 tax list of Bullitt Co. KY 1 white male over 21, 2 town
lots. 1799 tax list of Bullitt Co. KY 1 white male over 21 (this list
only has count/does not detail land)
(Source:
Civil Court Docket, Westmoreland County, Pa., April Term 1774)
At a Court of
Common Pleas for the county of Westmoreland, held at Robert
Hanna's Esq, the first Tuesday in April 1774 before William
Crawford and his associate Justices of the same Court. No. - Parties - Proceedings
54 - Penticost, Dorsey, vs Garrett Pendergrass Jr - Summons
Case 108 - Price, William, vs Garrett Pendergrass, Jr - Summons
Case 76 - Sample, Samuel, vs Garrett Pendergrass Jr - Summons Case
Miscellaneous notes on several of the above cases: #124 - Jones vs Elliot. October 1783: By consent of the parties,
the Court appoints Isaac Light, Colonel William Parker, William
Jackman, Benjamin Suttin, Samuel Holmes, John Nesbitt, and
Hezekiah Mc(Gourdin?) to settle the dispute. |
The
first, historic Fort Bedford was built on the banks of the Raystown river by the
forces of Colonel Henry Bouquet in the summer of 1758.As the rendezvous
of the British and colonial troops, Fort Bedford served as the springboard from
which the expedition of General John Forbes advanced by struggling stages
through the mountain wilderness to the conquest of Fort Duquesne.That
decisive conquest, dwarfed though it was by the other great events of the Seven
Year War for Empire, determined for all time that English speaking people would
control the Ohio Valley and thus, eventually, the American continent.Fort
Bedford stood for scarcely a decade, but in that eventful period it was a
rallying point for the entire western frontier of pre-Revolutionary days. The
village of Bedford which grew up around the stockade became the first county
seat west of the Tuscarora Mountains and for a time was the county seat of all
Western Pennsylvania. Strategically
located on a bluff overlooking the Juniata river, the fort controlled the river
gap and served as a stockade palisade for the supply of the vanguard of men
advancing over the mountains to Forts Ligonier and Duquesne.
The
site was admirable. Bouquet and his engineer, Captain Gordon, constructed one of
the best of the frontier forts at Bedford. Embracing and area of 7000 square
yards, it had five bastions, places for the use of swivel guns, which guarded
the corners of the irregularly shaped stockade. The main gate was on the south
side of the fort. Parallel with the southern rampart ran Forbes Road, now known
as Pitt Street. There was also a smaller gate on the west side, and a postern
gate opening northward.
In order to
secured the water and secure the banks of the stream, a gallery with loopholes
extended from the central bastion on its north front down to the water's edge. A
ladder-like arrangement of steps led down the river¼s bluff-like south bank.
This enclosed gallery was a real military curiosity.British
troops had a standard procedure which they followed in laying out Fort Bedford.
Their first task was to dig a ditch, about four or five feet deep, around the
area to be enclosed. Into this were placed oak logs, 18 feet long and pointed at the top, in an
upright position and fitted closely side by side, so that they formed a solid
wall. Two sides of the logs or "stockados," as they were called, were hewn flat,
and the sides were brought close together and fastened securely, near the top,
by horizontal pieces of timber spiked or pinned upon their inner side. Platforms were erected all around the inside of the enclosure, four or five
feet from the ground. Loopholes were cut, at frequent intervals, at the required
height above the platforms; and from these vantage points the entire garrison
could stand and fire upon any attacking force. For the swivel guns, portholes
were cut on both sides of the five bastions. The
picture of a fort in those days is really not that of a substantial, heavily
armed structure. Fort Bedford was a rude but effective way for frontier soldiers
to guard against sudden Indian attack. It could not have stood long against
well-trained troops, with effective armament, even of that time. But it was a
necessary protection.
The early
soldiers and road-cutters drove wagons, horses and all their possessions into
the enclosure. It was a hodge-podge of camping equipment, wagons, tents, and
supplies.
Although
Fort Bedford stood but briefly on the banks of the Raystown, its memory has cast
its shadow for all time over the peaceful community to which it gave a name.
Fort Bedford, here restored in a scale model, proud symbol of Bedford County¼s
role in the history of the young, new world in America 200 years ago. Fort
BedfordOld
Fort Bedford was a British stockade built in 1758 as part of the French and
Indian War campaign against the French at Fort Duquesne. After several failed
attempts in the early 1750s, the British launched a major offensive against Fort
Duquesne in 1758. Facing the formidable task of crossing the Allegheny Mountains
and the threat of attack, numerous stockades were built along the way west. Fort
Bedford was constructed as a key fortification along the military path -- Forbes
Road -- and served as the staging area for the successful campaign. After the
war Fort Bedford stood until the 1770s, used as a British outpost on the
frontier and as a refuge from Indian attack as westward migration increased in
the 18th century. Bedford
Museum Thousands
of travelers stopping in Bedford have enjoyed visiting historic and educational
Fort Bedford Museum. The blockhouse structure houses a large scale model of the
original fort and depicts Forbes Road and the surrounding area. Fort Bedford
Museum displays Native American artifacts collected from the region. Thousands
of household items dating back 100 to more than 200 years ago -- from flintlock
rifles to early clothing to antique hand tools -- help to recreate the
atmosphere of pioneer days on the frontier of western Pennsylvania.In
about 1751, Robert Ray built a trading post, around the site of present day
Bedford. It became known as Ray's Town, or Raystown, the name also given to the
nearby branch of the Juniata River. Garrett Pendergrass and William
Fredregill were also early traders, but none seem to have stayed for a long
period of time.
In 1758,
General Edward Forbes' troops built a
fort at this location. Soon, it was called Fort
Bedford, in honor of England's' Duke of Bedford. This served as a staging area
for colonial and British troops in their attack on the French Fort Duquesne,
which drove the French from the American frontier.
Of
the first permanent settlers, John Fraser and his wife Jean are the best known.
Their son William, born in 1759, is supposedly the first white child born in
present day Bedford County. John was a guide and scout, ran an inn, and was one
of the first justices of the peace when the County was organized. When he died
prior to the Revolution, she married Captain Richard Dunlap and had children to
him. Other early and prominent settlers were Barnard Dougherty, Robert
Galbraith, Thomas Smith, and George Woods.
In 1794, President George Washington commanded troops here to put down the
frontier uprising known as the
Whiskey Rebellion. His headquarters were in
the Espy House, which was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1983.
Bedford borough
was incorporated on March 13, 1795. The Bedford Gazette, the first newspaper in
the county, was first published on September 21, 1805 by Charles McDowell. The
first county bank was the Allegheny Bank of Pennsylvania, established on April
2, 1815 by Dr. John Anderson, the first bank between Chambersburg and
Pittsburgh. The bank was housed in the same building as Dr. Anderson's
residence. He had commissioned renowned local architect Solomon Filler to build
the stately Georgian building. Filler also designed the Bedford County
Courthouse, the Presbyterian Church, St. Thomas Catholic Church, the Mann House,
and the James Russell House, among others.
|
Sixth Generation
Garrett
Pendergrass, Jr. Born before 1743, more than likely in somewhere in
VA, MD or PA. The land boundaries were in dispute between these three
states and were in flux for several years. Garrett was with the earliest
explorers in Kentucky. Garrett died in Harrodsburg, Mercer Co., KY on 28 Mar
1777, he was probably in his 30s. Garrett married Margaret America
ELLIOTT, daughter of John Elliott & Patience Quigley. As far
as I know, a marriage record between Garrett and Margaret has yet to been found,
nor do we know where or when they married.
I believe this is the land that Garret Jr. patented in Kentucky when he first
came from Pennsylvania. He and an Elliott had land near each other who
would have been Margaret's brother, Garrett's wife; or some other relation of
hers as her maiden name was Elliott. This land was inherited by his son
Jesse. It is near where the Kentucky River joins the Ohio near modern day
Carrolton Kentucky. Grantee: Pendergrass, Jesse
Acres: 4000,
Book: 16,
Survey Date: 1-13-1787
County: Fayette,
Water Course: KY R
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1,
Part 1
CHAPTER II VIRGINIA GRANTS (1782-1792)
THE COUNTIES OF KENTUCKY
page 106
More Info: Grantee: Pendergrass, Jesse
Acres: 4000
Book: 16
Page: 270
Date Survey: 1-13-1787
County: Fayette
Watercourse: KY R
1755 Big Cove, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania
Source: History of Washington Co., Pennsylvania p. 54.
"In the morning of Sunday, the 2d of November, the Indian allies
of the French attacked the Great Cove settlement, Cumberland County,
killed six persons, and carried away seventeen prisoners.
On
the same day Benjamin Chambers wrote from Fallow Spring (source Col.
Rec., vol. vi. p. 675) 'To the Inhabitants of the Lower Part of the
county of Cumberland. If you intend to go to the assistance of your
neighbors, you need not wait any longer for Certainty of News. The
Great Cove is destroyed. James Campbell left this Company last night
and went to the Fort at Mr. Steel's Meeting House, and there saw
some of the Inhabitants of the Great Cove, who gave this account,
that as they came over the Hill they saw their houses in flames. The
messenger says there is but one hundred, and that they divided into
two parts, the one part to go against the Cove, and the other
against the Conolloways and that there are no French among them.
They are Delaware and Shawanese. . .
The people of the Cove that came off saw several men lying
dead; they heard the murder shout and the firing of Guns, and saw
the Indians going into the Houses that they had come out of before
they left sight of the Cove. . . "On the day following the massacre
and burning at Great Cove the settlements at Little Cove and
Conoloways were attacked, all the houses burned, and several persons
carried away as prisoners.
Mr. Potter, sheriff of Cumberland
County, reported 'that of ninety-three families which were settled
in the two Coves and the Conolloways forty-seven were either killed
or taken and the rest deserted.” (Withers,
Chronicles of Border Warfare, p. 190 "In November 1755, a raid
was made on the Big Cove settlement, by the Delaware chief Shingiss,
but the Harrods were among the few families who escaped unharmed to
Fort Littleton."
|
From "A Report of the Causes Determined by the Late Supreme Court for the
District of Kentucky, and by the Court of Appeals, In which Titles to Land were
in Dispute by James Hughes, Second Edition, Edited by Harvey Myers, Cincinnati,
Robert Clarke & Co., 1869". Margaret Elliott Pendergrass Wilson was involved in a
law suite over land she claimed in 1779; two years after her husband Garrett
Pendergrass was killed at Fort Harrod. It totaled 1,394 acres, including
an original 400 acres she received for her late husband's service during the
war. By the time the lawsuit was brought, Margaret was already remarried
to George Wilson. Pg. 123 Owens v. Whitaker - Where the holder of an entry
is induced, by the fraud of the holder of a conflicting and inferior entry, to
give up the land within the interference to the latter, a court of equity will
compel him to surrender the title to the former Pg. 155 Jackson v. Wilson - Where
the complainant was induced to survey contrary to his entry by the fraud of the
defendant who was the holder of an adjoining entry, and the defendant obtained a
grant for land that would have been in complainant's entry, had it been properly
surveyed, the defendant was decreed to convey the land so improperly obtained to
the complainant. Pg. 168 -
"Robert Elliott deposed, that in the spring of 1776,
he sent a party to Clear creek, to repair the cabins he had begun the preceding
winter, and Garrett Pendergrass, husband to Margaret, now married to the
defendant Wilson, and himself went from the mouth of the Kentucky, to Clear
creek, since called Brashear's Creek. That they kept down the creek as far
as the place where Samuel Shannon since lived, where he had previously built a
cabin. That the said Pendergrass asked him for, and he gave him the said
cabin. That he didn't not believe the said Pendergrass had ever been on
the said creek before, nor had ever made an improvement there, either by himself
or agent. That they went from the mouth of Kentucky to Fort Pitt, about
the 1st of June, or July, 1776, and that he had never heard from Pendergrass
himself, or any other person, that he had ever made any improvement on Clear
creek. That he believe Garrett Pendergrass had never been in Kentucky
before, and that the place where Samuel Shannon lives, is the place where the
improvement was, which he gave to said Pendergrass".Note Garrett was
killed and scalped by Indians outside of the Fort at Harrodsburg. SEE THE ELLIOTT LINE HERE.
I recently visited Fort Harrodsburg, and have
several photos of the fort and the pioneer cemetery where I suspect Garret was
buried. Picture of myself on left in cemetery.
From the book: Daring Exploits and Perilous Adventures; being a Record of
Thrilling Narratives, Heroic Achievements, Hazardous Enterprises, and
Astonishing Escapes; interspersed with numerous account of the most singular and
entertaining facts, found in History; and embracing a most curious and
interesting variety of valuable reading for all classes. Prepared from
authentic document and embellished with numerous engravings. Hartford ,
Con., Published by Ezra Strong, 1843. page 55
Adventure of a
Kentucky Settler - The
late John Haggin, Esq., of Mercer county, came to Kentucky at an early period.
On his arrival the few inhabitants resided principally at Harrodsburgh and
Boonesborough. Lexington had not then been settled. Mr. Haggin,
desirous of commencing the cultivation of the fertile land in this region of
country, made some entries, that is, purchased several tracts from government;
among the rest, one at a place near where Harrison, Bourbon, and Fayette
counties unite. He commenced the improvement of the place, removed some of
the trees, erected a small log house, and brought to his new residence some
furniture; among other things a few iron kettles, to be used in making sugar
from the sugar trees, which were then, and are now abundant in that country.
Owing to the want
of roads and means of transportation, heavy iron utensils were of great value,
and but few persons had or could procure them. Shortly after Mr. Haggin
commenced working on his new place, the hostility of the savages became so
alarming, that he was constrained to abandon his cabin and seek security in the
fort at Harrodsburgh. Previously, however, to his departure, he used the
precaution of burying his kettles. He was accompanied to Harrodsburgh by
his wife and one child, a daughter, who is now residing in Woodford county,
united in marriage to a gentleman of respectability. Mr. Haggin spent the
winter with his family in the fort, where they were somewhat incommoded by the
crowd of persons within so small a place.
In
the spring, perceiving no indications of the savages in the vicinity, and
desirous of getting out of the fort, he erected a cabin in the valley near the
stream leading from the Big Spring towards the fort, on the side next to where
the town of Harrodsburgh now is situated, less than a quarter of a mile distant
from the fort, (the fort being on an eminence,) but directly in view. Mr.
Haggin and his family spent the summer at their little tenement, engaged in
domestic concerns, and cultivating a small portion of land; released, to be
sure, from the confinement of the fort, but under continual apprehension of a
visit from the Indians. Each
morning, before the door was unbarred, they peeped out of the cabin,
"illuminated by many a cranny," to spy out the insidious enemy, who, it was
feared, might be lurking about behind logs and trees, ready to rush in and under
the family. They remained, however, in a great measure, uninterrupted
until fall, when Mr. Haggin determined to revisit his place on this side of the
river, for the purpose of removing some of his kettles to Harrodsburgh,
preparatory to making sugar in the winter. He set out in company with an
active woodsman that he had hired to assist him.
On the second day, they came in sight of Mr. Haggin's place, in the edge of
what is now Harrison county; they were riding slowly and cautiously along,
watching for enemies, when, looking forward to the place where the cabin had
stood, they perceived that it had just been burned down, and saw three or four
Indians sitting near the ruins. Haggin proposed to his companion that they should fall back and prepare
themselves, and then return and give the Indians battle. They retreated a
few hundred yards, dismounted, took off their exterior clothing, retaining only
their shirts, leggins, and moccasins, tied their other clothing on their horses,
and turned them loose, intending, in case of a retreat, to regain their horses;
but if they could not succeed in that, they deemed it prudent to be lightly
clothed, that they might fly with more celerity. Having examined their
rifles, and seen that every thing was in order, they set out to attack the
enemy.
It was arranged that Haggin should proceed on foremost, fire his gun at the
savages, and retreat to a tree; that his companion should reserve his shot until
the enemy approached, and then fire and retreat; thus they would fire and load
alternately. But this well arranged plan, like many others equally
sagacious, proved abortive. Whilts Haggin and his companion were engaged
in a council of war, it did not occur to them that the savages had seen them and
were concerting plans also. Mr. Haggin, agreeable to the mode of attack agreed on, advanced slowly, his
body bent down, casting his eyes forward, intently watching for a sight of an
Indian, to get shot at. He heard a low voice behind him; he listened; his
companion cried out in a quicker undertone, "Haggin, don't you see we are about
to be surrounded? let us retreat." Haggin cast his eyes around and
saw tow hundred Indians rise up from among the cane, having nearly surrounded
him. He immediately fled; they pursued, but did not then fire, lest in
shooting across, they should kill each other.
The two flanks of the ambuscade began rapidly to close upon Haggin. he
directed his steps towards his horse, which was quietly feeding on the cane.
Haggin was a very active man and a fleet runner; but some of the savages
appeared to equal him. He reached his horse, and sprung from the ground,
intending to leap into the saddle from behind. As he placed his hands on
the horse's rump, and Indiana ran the muzzle of his gun against Haggin's side,
and fired. That moment Haggin leaped; at the same instant the horse, being
alarmed, sprang also; Haggin fell, and thought he was mortally wounded; but
feeling no pain, rebounded to his feet and fled, exerting his whole strength.
The savages perceiving that he had escaped and was ahead of them, commenced
firing on him, and perhaps one hundred bullets were commissioned to kill, but
none took effect. The chase was kept up for some hours, when the Indians,
finding it fruitless, ceased the pursuit.
Haggin being very hot and much fatigued, went into a creek to cool his limbs.
After he came out he sat down at the root of a tree and fell asleep; when he
waked, he discovered that it was snowing, and the air had become cold, and he
was much chilled. Having time now to think, the horrors of his situation
arose to his view; he had lost his horse, gun, and clothes, he was forty miles
from Harrodsburgh, and twenty-five miles from the nearest other station, which
was Boonsborough, without food or the means of getting any, night coming on,
snow falling, no blanket to keep him warm, nor means of striking fire; he might
perhaps freeze to death. He determined to steer for Boonsborough.
After indescribable difficulty in making his way through the cane, loaded with
snow, and suffering from cold, loss of sleep, and fatigue, he reached
Boonsborough the next morning. Having eaten something, he laid down and
slept from that time until the following morning.
In the mean time, the man who accompanied Mr. Haggin, had got to Harrodsburgh,
and reported that he was killed, overwhelming his wife with the distressing
intelligence. Haggin, on the day of his arrival, set out for Boonsborough,
accompanied by a Mr. Pendergrass, for Harrodsburgh. The wife of Mr.
Pendergrass had been staying for some time with Mrs. Haggin, in a little
tenement near the forest at Harrodsburgh. Haggin had supplied himself
with clothing and a gun, before he left Boonsborough. The two friends
journeyed on without interruption, until they arrived at a little eminence near
Mr. Haggin's residence. On casting their eyes to the spot where they
expected to find what was most dear to them on earth, their wives and children,
what mush have been their astonishment and horror, when they beheld the cabin a
smoky ruin, and one of two hundred savages around the place. Haggin's
feelings were now wrought up to desperation; he called on Pendergrass to
follow, saying he no longer valued life, now his wife and children were
murdered; that he would die, but sell his life dear to the enemy.
Pendergrass
accompanied him; they rushed directly up to where the Indians were standing.
The reckless manner in which they approached, excited the surprise of the
savages; they stood inactive, not making any attempt to injure the two desperate
men. At this moment, one or both the them, cast a look towards the fort,
and saw or thought they saw, their wives on the wall of the fort, waving their
handkerchiefs to them. The desire of living immediately returned to their
hearts. They changed their course and sprang towards the fort.
The Indians raised
the yell, darted after them, and many guns were fired. Both of the white
men fell, in full view of the fort; the wives screamed, believing their husbands
were slain. In a moment Haggin was on his feet again; he rushed forward,
the savages in close pursuit; one struck him on the back with his tomahawk, it
proved harmless; the gate flew open, and he was received with a shout of joy in
the arms of his wife, having escaped entirely unhurt; his fall had been
accidental. But poor Pendergrass fell to rise no more. His
friends, from the fort, saw the savages take the scalp from his head. Another mention of the incident:
Captain John
Haggin (1753-1825) Draper MSS IICC257-263 Interview of William McBride in
Bourbon County Kentucky."John
Haggin was the man whose family escaped to the fort (Harrodsburg), while the
Indians were burning the cabin. Haggin was on this side of the Kentucky
River somewhere, I think on Licking, and Pendergrass with him. They
got back while the cabin was about half burned. The others in the fort,
seeing them coming, hung out a handkerchief or a flag at the east end.
They made for Harrodsburg, but Pendergrass was killed. (Hugh) McGary
went out and brought in Mrs. (Nancy) Haggin on a sled. Mrs. Haggin said
she felt uneasy, the turkeys walked about the yard and yelped. She said
she would go if she could get there. McGary went to the fort and fixed up
a sled and moved them, (the wife and two children) (one of afterwards my wife).
Just as they entered the fort-gate, the Indians fired the cabin.I
n April 1775, John Haggin settled about 8 miles
above Cynthiana, on Hinkston, or Stoner, I don't know which, and planted a crop
there. Col. John Hinkston was uncle to Mrs. (Nancy) Haggin. Hinkston had come
there that same spring, only a little before Haggin. Hinkston had built some
block-houses, and had (not his family, but) some hired men with him. It had been
a time of peace with the Indians and a good many Indians Haggin had seen. He had
come up Licking in a canoe. His wife and child (afterwards my wife, then three
months old, born 5th January,) and two men only were with him. They went along,
some eight or ten canoes. They stopped and talked with the Indians, but was in
nowise interrupted. (of these two men, one was Alexander McMillan.) The first
they heard of any Indian depredations, one Sunday Mrs. Haggin was picking beans.
Perhaps two men were on their way to Haggins, through the woods. When five or
six miles from there, one of them was killed. The other came in. Haggin now went
to Hinkstons, and from there to McClellnads fort, and thence to Harrodsburg.
Hinkston brought out his family to Haggin's Station, some six or seven years
after. Hinkston's Station was then burned. Bourbon County Court Order Book (this is the same ref. as the deposition by John
Sellers in my last e-mail, this deposition came after Sellers') The deposition
of William McCune being of full age and duly sworn deposeth and saith that he
was at the place where the letters aforesaid were marked in the [year] 1782 and
that there then stood a cabbin which was called Townsends Cabbin. Question by
Palmer: When was the covered cabbin which was built by John Townsend where you
now live Burnt & Answer I believe in the fall 82. And further saith not. Signed
William McCune. Teste David Clarkson. John Smith. Thomas Mahan. Other records 1 haven't seen yet: John Hinkson, James Cooper, John Woods, John
Townsend and William Huskins mentioned in Bourbon County office of the Clerk,
Box 757.
From
the Letters of George Rogers Clark (1752-1818):
March
6-26, 1777, Diary excerpts at Harrodsburg:
(my note: Garrett Pendergrass, according to all accounts, died on
March 28th; so I'm not certain if I transcribed the diary date wrong here or
what, but several sources cite March 28th.
"Thomas Shores and
William Ray killed near Shawnee Spring. . . A small party of Indians killed and
scalped Hugh Wilson. . . Archibald McNeil died of wounds . . . A large party of
Indians. . . killed and scalped Garret Pendergreet; killed or took
prisoner Peter Flin." That's 6 heads of families in three weeks. There were only
about 200 people in Harrodsburg at this time.
Draper interviewed a "Mrs.
Elizabeth Thomas" "She emigrated to Kentucky in 1775
and was at the seige of Harrodsburg in 1777. Regarding Pendergrass:
"He was killed within 100 yards of the fort, his wife and family at the time
looking out of the window and seeing it. Thinks Pendergrass was
lame. "Draper Manuscripts MSS 12 C2b-29 and MSS 4CC85Published October 1929,
Filson Club History Quarterly, Vol 3
|
From "A History of Shenandoah County", Virginia by John Walter Wayland:
Pendergrass: Pendergrass's were
early in Shenandoah and Frederick counties, Va. The names Garrett and
Jesse persisted in the family. A Jesse Pendergrass sold land, 1808 Opequon,
Frederick county. Garrett Pendergrass (Jr.) was killed, 1777 at
Harrodsburg, Ky. Dr. Garrett Elliot Pendergrass, born at Harrodsburg, KY,
1776, was an eminent physician, who died at Cincinnati, Ohio, 1850.
Commodore Garrett Jesse Pendergrass, 12th Commodore of the U. S. Navy, born in
(now) Carroll county, KY, 1802, was a son of a Jesse Pendergrass and Miss Moore.
A Map of the area in southern Jefferson county, KY where they lived, showing the
forts, paths, etc. |
At
the time this state, Kentucky, drew up a petition of rights to send to the
assembly of Virginia and the Congress asking to become an independent state,
Garrett Pendergast was deputized to carry the petition due to his having
been friendly with Indians and able to do more with them. It has been
reported erroneously that Garrett was killed by Indians when carrying this
petition which is untrue. He was outside of the Fort when he was
killed. See the notes above.
From the Virginia Legislative Papers,
From originals in the Virginia State Archives: Deposition of John Gibson in
regard to Delaware Indians: Augusta County S. S. Personally
appeared before me John Gibson one of his Majesties Justices for the County of
August, Garet Pendergrass, who being
sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God Deposeth and Saith that he left
the Delaware towns, on Muskingum on Monday last, that he was informed there by
some of the Delaware that a number of their people had lately come from Detroit,
that on Babee a French Trader had held a Council with them and that he desired
them immediately to strike the White people that the Wiandots and all other
tribes would join that he would furnish them and at the same time offered them
ammunitions for that purpose. He also told them the white people were not
quite round them and intended soon to fall on the Indians that they sold Babee
they could not join in anything of the kind as their head men and made a firm
peace with their Brethren the English and refused receiving any ammuniction from
him and further saith not. Sworn and subscribed this 20th July 1775
at Logstown Garret Pendergrass Junior. Before me.
John
Gibson Captain
Joseph Bowman's Company, January 24, 1778 at
Fort Harrodsburg and Neighboring Stations, from Collins History of Kentucky, Vol
I: Joseph Pendergrass, Michael Pendergrass, Thomas Pendergrass.
Cases Heard By the
Kentucky Court of Appeals 1792 & Later Abstracted by Bill Utterback
These are abstracts of appellate cases which were heard by the Kentucky Court of
Appeals, which was created when Kentucky was granted statehood in in 1792.
Appellate cases can often provide genealogical information, even if the only
such information is the location of the parties involved and when they were
there. Many of the cases in the early appeals time frame are associated with
land disputes. Primarily, the issue involved warrants for surveys on land that
was already claimed by preemption. The cases were brought to prevent another
individual from settling on land through treasury or military warrants which had
been settled earlier by what was commonly known as "squatting".
The abstracts present the
essential information in these appellate cases, as found in the Opinion of the
Kentucky Court of Appeals. The case files themselves, which would contain the
actual depositions, petition and answer(s), and other materials are no longer
extant for Kentucky appellate records until 1863, due to a fire. Copies of the
full opinion (to be scanned and sent via e-mail attachment) in any case can be
requested from me at billco@ARN.NET .
Users should be aware that given
names are not always shown in the case opinions. In some cases, only the
surnames are shown, especially for neighbors and others who may be corollary
parties to the case. In addition, in the early Appellate Court decisions, the
county in KY is not always given. In the "Other Names" field, be aware that
these names, unless identified as a neighbor, witness, or other particular
individual, may have no relationship to the plaintiff or defendant in the case,
and that there is no other information in the opinion to identify these people
more specifically. Plat maps of some of these land surveys are included in the
opinions. These have been noted in the abstracts by: [plat map]. Additionally,
it should be remember that these cases represent only those which were appealed
- there were undoubtedly many dozens of others which were filed, and decided, at
the lower court level, but which the losing party did not appeal.
This is a part of a continuing
project by this contributor to abstract cases heard before the Kentucky Court of
Appeals, which came into existence in 1792.
The information contained in these abstracts is public domain
material. The format and arrangement is © 2006-2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Abbreviations:
(W) = Witness (N) = Neighbor
(TW) = Treasury Warrant (MW) = Military Warrant (PE) = Preemption Claim
NG = Not Given OGI = Other Genealogical Information HAL = Heir-at-Law
COUNTY: Not given CASE:
Brackett Owens & Joel Jackson v. Aquilla Whitaker & Daniel Sullivan DATE: May
Tern 1795 CASE TYPE: Land
OTHER NAMES: Johnathan Smith, 1780, 134 acres on MW; Margaret
Pendergrass (N); ---- Holman(N); Nicholas Mereweather;---- Porter (N) OGI:
A. Whitaker, PE of 1000 acres; George Wilson intermarried with Margaret
Pendergrass; Daniel Sullivan (deputy surveyor at time; Meret Price acted as
witness; Whitaker left the district and returned in January 1784; Squire Boone,
pilot for Sullivan; William McCoy, surety on bond. [Very long case]
CITATION: 1 Hughes Rpts. 123
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COUNTY: Shelby CASE: Joel
Jackson & Bracket Owens v. George Wilson & Margaret, His Wife, Late Margaret
Pendergrass
DATE: May Term 1795 CASE TYPE: Land
OTHER NAMES: Nicholas Merewether; John Porter (W) [Margaret ’s agent]; ----
Holman (N); Daniel Sullivan (Deputy Surveyor); Aquilla Whitaker; Squire Boone
(Surveyor & Witness); William Pope (W); Benjamin Pope (N) OGI: Margaret
Pendergrass: PE, 17 Nov 1779; Improvement made 1777; 1400 acres, total;
Jonathan Smith, assignor to Brackett Owens & Joel Jackson; Richard Taylor &
Robert Breckenridge (W’s); William Roberts (W); Silas Ashby (W); William
Taylor (W); David Standeford (W); David Gwynn (W); Jonathan Boone (W) [Deputy
Surveyor]; Garrett Pendergrass, husband of Margaret; Samuel Shannon (N); Henry Ditto
(W);
Robert Elliott (W) {Long case]
CITATION: 1 Hughes Rpts. 155
Notes for MARGARET ELLIOTT: After her husband was killed
in March, 1777, it appears from records below, that Margaret worked and earned
money via the army/military, for George Rogers Clark; and a substantial amount for
those days. I can't help but think this was the way Garrett Pendergrass
was awarded for his service after he died.
Per George Rogers Clark Records:
6315-4-463-464- July 22, 1780: Top document. No. 12.
State of Virginia Account of
Margaret Pendergrass? for cooking 12 days for 5 men of Col. Clark's mess;
and supplying of milk and butter at sundry times.
Paid $168 by William Shannon. Names: Thomas Vickroy.
6935-4-861-
October 11, 1780: Bill of Exchange for $1,440 sent by
Will Shannon at Falls of Ohio to Treasurer of Virginia
for payment to Mrs. Margaret Pendergrass for sundries furnished troops
stationed in the Illinois Department under command of George Rogers Clark.
7765-4-1382-1383-October 13, 1780: Top document.
Account of the state of Virginia with
Margaret Pendergrass for whiskey received by William Shannon of the
Illinois Department. Names: John Handley.
7705-4-1325-1326-October 14, 1780: Bottom document.
George Rogers Clark and William Shannon at Falls of Ohio sent Bill of exchange
to Virginia Treasurer for payment
of $4,150 to Margaret Pendergrass for sundries furnished to Illinois
Department troops.
14682-9-94-101-January 1, 1782-Continued: Kennedy,
James Sullivan, John Philips, George Slaughter, William Shannon, John Byrne,
Mary Pendergrass, Thomas Philips, Col. Bowman, William Pope, Sandford
Edwards, Aquilla Whitaker, John Standley, Samuel Wills, Simon Triplett, Mary
Christie, James Wright, Jacob Valmoth, James Trabue, Daniel Trabue, Abraham
Hamponstall, James Merriweather, James Dosant?, Col. Crockett, William Savago,
Benjamin Kuykendall, William Henderson, Capt. Robert Patterson, Arthur Lindsay,
Hugh Faber, David Standeford, James Dickory, William Tomilinson,
Capt. Robert Elliott, Philip Chapman, Moses Kimbrough, James May, Hugh McGary, Charles Gratiot,
James Young, George Hart, John Favour, Mark Thomas,
Lazarus Ryan, Frederick Michael, Benjamin Logan, John Logan, M. Single, John
Brown, William Hogan, Daniel Gass, James Brown, John Trabue, James Lloyd, James
Kerr?, Nathaniel Hart,
George Wilson, Patrick Shields, Samuel Johnson, Joseph
Kimbrough, William Marshall, John Bowman, Samuel Smith, Josiah Baker, Simon
Fletcher, Reuben Kemp,
Richard Chinoweth, Newton Harris, James Sherlock, Philip Dejean, John
Beckley, Robert Saunders, Daniel Rogers, Thomas Askins, Alexander Robertson,
John Grant, Richard Barbour, Michael Stucker, Jacob Stucker, John Williams,
Gabriel Madison, William Preston, Robert Buchanan, John Jameson, Henry Hanagar?,
William Harrison, George Davidson, John Crittenden, Jacob Morris, Charles
Bradford, Abraham Miller.
Items listed: beef, whiskey, boats, gun/rifle,
boarding and attendance for wounded, iron, planks, salt, buffalo beef, bear
meat, horses, medicine, tallow. Reference to Falls of Ohio, militia, Illinois
Regiment, troops, Harrodsburgh Garrison, Shawnee Expedition, Kaskaskia Indians,
Kentucky county, Lincoln Militia, Kent Militia, spies, Fort Jefferson, mouth of
Ohio River, soldiers, muskets. Very fine handwriting. Many names are listed more
than once.
15303-9-501-504-April 7, 1782: Appears to be an
abstract of warrants issued for several months. Names: John Montgomery, William
Myers, William Stoll, Gabriel Madison, William Bryan, William Koll, James
Southall, Capt. John Rogers, Herman C. Allen?, Col. George Slaughter, Evan
Shelby, Isaac Taylor, James Hunter, Nathaniel Randolph, William Shannon, Robert
Todd, Samuel Sills, George Noahs?, Thomas Quirk, Charles Charleville, Monsieur
McCarty, Richard Chinoweth, John Bowman, Philip Dejean, Robert Saunders, David
Johnson, George Rogers Clark, John Williams, Philip Barbour, Stephen Arnott,
James F. Moor, William Preston, Aaron Downs, James Sutton, John Duncan, James
Sullivan, Richard Campbell, William Sullivan, Elisha Freeman, William
Glasscock?, John Byrnes,
Major Pendergrass, (I think this should be Margaret) Absalom Miller, Sanford Edwards, James Dosart, William
Savage, William Briscoe, Benjamin Grohdall?,
Capt. Robert Elliott, Philip Chapman, Moses Kimbrough, Mark Thomas, ?
Lawrence, George McAdoo, Evan Baker, Simon Fletcher, James Sherlock, James
Volvo?, Charles Clinton, William Toor, James Powers, Thomas Points, Henry
French, Hugh.
15646-9-701-706-May 6, 1782: Accounting for money
issued for various dates as late as December 6, 1790. Reference to French money
and paper money and pounds, and interest earned. Names: Adam Bingoman, John
Maurey, Henry Croucher, Andrew Steel, Thomas Vickroy, Zephaniah Blackford,
George Wilson, William Shannon, James Sullivan, ? Pendergrass.
17505-10-1089-1096-Abstract from Capt. William Shannon's
vouchers of sundry expenditures in the Illinois Department. Dated entries from
June 4, 1780-May 28, 1781. Items and services: rum, boats, beef, horses,
salt, rent of store, whiskey, taffia, corn, flour, flat bottom boat, canoes,
wagons, barrels, express, saddle, brandy, barges, indian meal, deer skins,
cheese, butter, bear meat, planks, tar. Names: Gidion Jarrat, Matthew Willey,
William Minurtry, Mary Christy.
George Wilson, Daniel Standeford, Jacob Mires, David Douglas, Margaret
Pendergrass, James Sullivan, Thomas McGee, Jacob Vanmeter, Thomas Bull, John
Folkes, William Pope, Morias Hansborough, William Provance, John Phillips,
Monsieur Carbonneaux, John Floyd, Aquilla Whitaker, John Handley, Thomas
Vickroy, David Standeford, Dennis Springer, Thomas McCarty, Moses Kuykendall,
Isaac Kellar, Uriah Johnson, John Asturgus, Hardy Hill, Willis Green, Samuel
Culbertson, Robert Taylor, James Asturgus, Jacob Pyeatt, Galloway and Mitchell,
James Galloway, James Wright, John Miller, Benjamin Price, Samuel Hinch,
Jarret Williams, Isaac Morrison, James Keller, John Howe,
Richard Loyde, Jonathan Rogers,
8429-5-419-422- August 10, 1780: Top document.
Duplicate filming. Capt. Benjamin Roberts order to issue 4 pounds of flour for
the wounded man at ? Pendergrass.
6763-4-739-740- August 4, 1780: Second document.
Capt. Benjamin Roberts order to issue flour rations to the wounded men, who came
from Col. Clark and who were living at B. Pendergast.
6923-4-847-848- August 14, 1780: Second document. No. 52. Capt. Benjamin
Roberts order to issue 5 pounds of flour for 2 wounded men at
William Pendergast [house], who were sent down the River by George
Rogers Clark at the Falls of Ohio.
6925-4-849-850- August 16, 1780:
Top document. Capt. Benjamin Roberts order to issue 4 pounds of flour for the 2
wounded men at William Pendergast [house]
at the Falls of Ohio.
6936-4-862- October 16, 1780: Bill of Exchange
for $150 sent by Will Shannon at Falls of Ohio to Treasurer of Virginia for
payment to Mrs. Margaret Pendergrass for
sundries furnished troops stationed in the Illinois Department under command of
George Rogers Clark.
10672-6-800-803- May 6, 1781: The commonwealth of
Virginia [account] with William Shannon. There are 4 pages for the document,
which listed the cash received of the Treasurer in February of 1780. Entries
refer to accounting credit and interest as well as payments. Names:
George Wilson, James Francis Moore, James Sullivan, Adam Bingoman, John
Marney, Andrew Steele, Thomas Vickroy, Zephaniah Blackford, Patrick Kennedy, and
Mr. Pendergrass.
11916-7-279-280- July 10, 1781: Fourth document.
John Crittenden order to Major George Walls to issue a tent to
Col. Pendergast. Names: William Johnson.
Notes for Margaret
June 1, 1780 - Margaret
Pendergrass bought 600 acres Jefferson County Land Entries at
Pendergrass Settlement, pg. A110
August 8, 1783 - pg. 29 Indenture June 13, 1783
Margaret Pendergrass sold land/lot in downtown Louisville....
May 6 1784 - Administration of the Estate of Garrett Pendergrass
deceased, is granted unto George Wilson and Margaret his wife, who gave Bond and
Security according to Law, in the penalty of 1500 and c. (Early Kentucky Wills,
J' Co, KY. Wills, pg 115).
May 7, 1784 - Ordered that James
Quertermous, Peter Newkirk, Francis Chain, and Jas. McCauley, or any three of
them, being first sworn to appraise the personal Estate and Slaves if any of Garrett Pendergrass dc'd and return an inventory to the
Court (Early KY Settlers, pg 120).
August 8, 1788 - Indenture George Wilson and
Margaret his wife
to Daniel Gregg and Patrick Carrol, for 35 pounds, Lot No. 41 on the new
plan of the town of Louisville, originally drawn by the said Margaret Wilson,
then Margaret Pendergrass as an inhabitant
of the said town and
deeded to her on June 4, 1783. Witnessed William Johnson, William
Sullivan, Mark Thomas and William Pope. Recorded Aug 8, 1788
September 8, 1789 - George Wilson & Margaret
Admin of Garrett Pendergrass, deceased, V. Richard Jackman, in Chancery,
continued at costs of defendant.
October 18, 1791 - George
Wilson, Margaret his wife, vs. Richard Jackman, dedimus granted to
complain tent to take the depositions of John Skelding and Edwin Young, as
witnesses on their behalf.
June 21, 1799 - pg. 106, Indenture
Jesse Pendergrass and Elizabeth Pendergrass,
his wife to William Sullivan. Whereas the trustees of the town of
Louisville by their indenture dated December 9, 1785, did sell to the said
Elizabeth, who was at the time Elizabeth Moore, Lot No. 6 in the 20
acre range of lots in the town of Louisville. And whereas the said
Jesse Pendergrass has since intermarried with the said Elizabeth,
since she has attained the age of 21 years, and the said Sullivan has purchased
of Jesse and Elizabeth Pendergrass the said lot of 20 acres for $200, this
indenture witnesses the conveyance thereof witnessed by David Brown, William
Harris and Samuel McGary. Recorded June 27, 1799
December 18, 1800 - Jefferson County, KY Records Vol
5, Michael L. Cook, C. G. Kentucky Record Series Pg. 10 - Indenture:
Jesse Pendergrass to James Francis Moore, for 300 pounds, a tract of
land now in the possession of Moore by virtue of Pendergrass intermarrying with
Elizabeth Moore. Bounded by William Madison, James McCauley and others
containing 150 acres. Witnessed by John Harrison, Abraham Field and Thomas
Hite. Recorded July 10, 1801.
April 8, 1801, pg. 13 Indenture:
Jesse Pendergrass to Thomas Carrico of Nelson County
for $1,090.00 330 acres in Gallatin County, Kentucky on the North side of
Kentucky River, beginning on River bank at the mouth of the first gut below
ASAHEL ROLLINGS, thence north east, being part of said
Pendergrass's settlement and preemption.
In the spring, Captain Wilson and wife joined Mrs.
Pendergrass and all came to the present site of Louisville, but not caring
to locate at this place, came twelve miles south and bought land on the stream
which they named Pennsylvania Run Creek.
They built block houses from the trees on their land. Among the
first was the church they named Pennsylvania Run. They had come from
Pennsylvania and were God fearing Presbyterians. These two sisters, Jean and
Margaret Elliott, were the daughters of John Elliott.
SOURCE:
Written by Julia E. Young, Article
written on May 19, 1932 and printed in the Jeffersonian. Louisville, KY.
Notes for MARGARET ELLIOTT: This from Washington County
Historical Society 135 West Washington Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740.
My
dau. Margaret. She appears to have married Garrett Pendergrass, the younger,
"late of Bedford Co., who was killed at Harrodsburg, Ky., March 28, l777.
Bedford Co., Penn; May 18, 1779, Letters of Admr. on estate of Garrett
Pendergrass, late of Bedford Co., Penna., were granted to James Elliott, highest
creditor. They had a son, Jesse, born prior to 1777, who married Betsy
Moore, in Shelby Co., Ky., Apr. 24, 1797, (2) Garrett Elliott Pendergrass, b.
1776 at Harrodsburg, died 1850 at Louisville, Ky. (3) Patience Pendergrass mar.
in Shelby Co., Ky., Sept. 18, 1797, Thomas Theobald, Her brothers Jesse and
Garrett Pendergrass were her witnesses: (4) Polly Pendergrass, no record.
Margaret Pendergrass,
after the death of her husband Garrett, (Garrett died in 1777) she
married George Wilson between August 1783 and May 1784.
Court records of Jefferson Co., Ky., show that Jesse
Pendergrass, an infant son and heir of Garrett Pendergrass decd., made proof by
the Oath of Margaret Pendergrass, widow of said descendent, that the said
Garrett
acted under a warrant or brevet as second in
command of a company of guides to the Armies Commanded by General Forbes in the
year 1758, and by General Stanwix in 1759. That he was engaged in the said
service by Col. Adam Steven and continued therein till he was regularly
discharged.
Louisville Courier Journal June 5, 1898 Vol. XC New
Series-No.10749 NAVAL HEROES OF OTHER DAYS Commodore Pendergrass a
Jefferson County boy AN INTERESTING CAREER A Fighter of the Old School and
His Record GREAT BATTLE ON THE LAKES The Elliot Family Also Resident of
the County (written for the Courier-Journal)
See the above
article here, courtesy of Carolyn Zeagler, who found the article on
Microfilm at the Louisville Public Library in 2005.
Jefferson County, KY Court Records: Colonel Richard
Taylor, Robert Breckinridge, James Meriwether, Abraham Hite and William
Johnston, or any three of them, to settle the accounts of
George Wilson as Guardian of the heirs of Garrett Pendergrass,
dec'd, and make report.
and this:
Thomas Theobald made proof to the Court that Jesse
Pendergrass, Garrett Pendergrass, Patience Theobald, Polly Pendergrass and Nancy
Rawlings are the children and heirs of Garrett Pendergrass, dec'd. Ordered
certified.
In 1800, Deed Books indicate David Barber lost his land
that included “one tract of five acres on Beargrass Creek including Barber’s
Mill” to George Wilson.
In May 1801,
George Wilson sold the
Fait-Barber property to Frederick Geiger. That same month, Geiger contributed
money to build a bridge over Beargrass Creek along Bardstown Turnpike. A road
was constructed from the Bardstown Turnpike north to the Ohio River. The
orientation of this street is continued in the present-day street grid pattern
throughout much of Butchertown.
Nelson Co., KY Deeds
Pg. 399 - 10 October 1791 – Acknowledgement of Margaret Wilson, wife of
George Wilson to sale of 400 ac. to John Kennedy.
Pg. 142 - 11 May 1791 – George Wilson, wife Margaret, to John Kennedy, 200
pounds, 400 ac. on Wilsons Creek, near Dr. Smith’s Station.
Pg. 144 - 14 June 1791 – William
Smiley, wife Rachel, to Robert Wilson, 100 pounds, 330 ac. waters of Fitches
Fork of Cox’s Creek, adj. John Fitch.
|
Garrett Pendergrass and Margaret American Elliott
had the following children:
i |
Mary/Polly Pendergrass,
born before 1777, died before 1818. could have married a Mr. Talbot,
|
ii |
Nancy Pendergrass,
born before 1777 when her father was killed. according to Nelson County,
KY marriage records, Nancy married a "Rollings, Sale" May 8, 1789 - Family
traditions are that Nathan had claimed he had six brothers, that two died in
"the war" and two were killed by Indians. Whether that is true or not is
uncertain. We do know that some of them were Asahel (died in Knox County,
Indiana in 1814), married to the former Nancy Pendergrass. Nelson
County Bonds, Marriages and Consents: 1785-1800, Vol 1, includes
ministers' returns, sureties, parents (when given on bond & consent) and
complete index - Nelson County Genealogists. Rawling,
Aseal & Pendergrass, Nancy, Bond: 14 May 1789, Married: 18 May 1789,
Signed bond: Chrisly Romine - Note from George Wilson, stating Rawlings is
a stranger & asking the clerk to issue a license, Married by John Wittaker, from
Minister Return From a post on the internet: I am interested in the Pendergrass family
because of Nancy Pendergrass' marriage in the late 1780's to Asahel Rawlings.
They had several children before Asahel died sometime between 1804-1816. Nancy
remarried in 1816 in Knox County, IN to Isaac Yates (Yeats). By about 1820 she
appears in the Illinois Census (Edwards County). She had several siblings
(Jesse, Garrett, etc.) I believe she was the daughter of Garrett Pendergrass,
who appears to have been killed by Indians in the late 1700's in KY. I have some
material on Jesse and his land dealings in Missouri in the early 1800's as well
as a lawsuit involving much of the Pendergrass children that took place in the
early 1800's. Would welcome replies. Ed -
wiessej@msn.com
Children: Eleanor,
married James Rawlings, Nancy, married Alexander Banks, Moses, married three
times, possible other child named Michael, but little evidence. Asahel and
Nancy lived in Kentucky until the early 1800s. They eventually settled in
Knox County, Indiana where Asahel died in 1814. Nancy remarried to Isaac
Yeats (or Yates), in Knox County, Indiana in 1816. No further reference to
Isaac, except for a Knox County deed from about 1817/19.
Nancy was living
in southeastern Illinois (Lawrence, Edwards Counties) during the 1820 Census,
but after that, she appears to have died. She had to begun to use the
Rawlings Name again.
|
iii |
Jesse Pendergrass
b. 1770? -this the Jesse Pendergrass referred to
in a deed below indicating Jesse Pendergrass sold land in VA, and was heir at
law of Garrett Pendergrass, and his older brother, was presumed dead? Which
brother is he referring? Obviously from this he is not the oldest.
I don't know where to look for another brother.
|
iv |
Garrett
Elliott Pendergrass, M.D., 1776-77 Harrodsburg,
Married first 1798, Louisville, KY to Mary Brooks, they divorced, and he
married second 1823 in Louisville, KY to Susannah D. Richardson,
children: Margaret America Pendergrass. I read somewhere he accused her of
running around on him. I can not find another marriage record for her, but
she had another child, a daughter, Louisa Brown; and Louisa married William
Furnace in 1840 or so. Given the average age of marriage for a woman, she
was probably born around 1812 or so, but that is just a guess. Another
marriage for Louisa, widow of William Furniss, married Samuel Frederick Oct 23,
1833. Her mother in
her will, mentions this daughter and her other daughter, Margaret America
Pendergrass who died young in the cholera outbreak. Somewhere I read she
was born in Havana (Margaret America). Her father, Garrett E. Pendergrass,
M.D. lived in Havana for quite some time.
Deposition
taken 9 Feb 1828 at the land office of Patrick H. Pope, Louisville, KY
Deposition of Garret E. Pendegrast: taken 9 Feb 1828 at the land office,
Louisville, KY The deponent ... says that he went to school to
Mr. Priestly in Bardstown; that when the school broke up, which was in the
month of September, he returned to his step-father's, Major George Wilson, being
the place where John C. Beeler now lives; that the deponent knows that Joseph
Donohoe lived at that time at the Fish Pools, or at Romine's near said Fish
Pools, and the latter being the place where old Mr. Gailbreath now lives; that
at that time there was a cabin without a cover near the road and near the place
where the Complainant Saunders lives or where Mrs. Rogers lives; the said cabin
was in the woods & no fences about it and no one living in the cabin; and that
it is his impression that it was in the fall of the year 1793 that sd. Donohoe
lived at the Fish Pools or at sd. Romine's and that he lived there some time
before the year 1793 & further the deponent says that the course from the Fish
Pools to said cabin was about a point East of South and that it was about a mile
& a half on a straight line from the said Fish Pools to said cabin. And
further the deponent sayeth not. Signed G. E. Pendergrass
The Kentucky
Gazette - Wednesday, March 22, 1797 Six Dollars Reward
Lost from the plantation of Leonard Young, near Bryant's Station, a black horse,
five yrs old, fifteen hands high, trots, branded with 'O'. I believe on
his rear buttock and a tear? on his off? hip. G. Pendergrass, Lexington
Cincinnati Gazette, Weekly Journal, July 25,
1850
On Thursday, July 24th, 1850 at his residence on
Market Street, Dr. Garrett Elliott Pendergrass, a native of Kentucky and among
the oldest of her sons, born at Harrodsburg in 1776, nature had been kind to him
in endowing him with a firm and strong memory.
He received a liberal education under the care of Dr. Priestly and at the
Transylvania University at an early period of its history. Studied medicine with
the distinguished Dr. Rush in Philadelphia and became eminent in his profession
which he practiced usefully throughout his long life. His ancestry was efficient
members of the Revolution with Great Britain by land, sea and in the Indian Wars
in the Western Country.
Notes
for GARRETT ELLIOTT PENDERGAST: 1797, July 5
Garrett Pendergrass releases Jesse Pendergrass from any expense connected with
suit to recover any part of estate of Garrett Pendergrass, des'cd, Jesse
Pendergrass having made a general sale to Garrett of all his rights in the
estate of Garrett Pendergrass, deceased, with certain exceptions. July 5, 1797
Witnesses: Jno Harrison, Tho M. Winn, recorded July 5, 1797 [B1, p 215] (Early
Kentucky Settlers, pg 403).
Notes for MARY "POLLY" BROOKS: Child of
Joseph Brooks, I have a synopsis of his will (Joseph. His Daughter, Mary
"Polly" Pendergrass and his granddaughter through Mary, Margaret America
Pendergrass are both mentioned in his will. I also have a copy of Mary's
will.)
1821 "Early Kentucky Settlers" pg 280 Pendergrass,
Mary..................................May 13, 1821
Child
of GARRETT PENDERGAST and MARY BROOKS is:
i. MARGARET AMERICA PENDERGAST
(went to Havana, where she wrote a will, which I have a copy of)
|
v |
Patience Pendergrass,
she was born before 1777 when her father died and marries Thomas Theobold in
1797, Shelby Co., KY. she was more than likely named for her
grandmother, Patience Quigley, Margaret Elliot's mother who married John
Elliott.
Thomas Theobald's, Will, Jefferson Co., KY, July 25, 1816-Aug 13,
1816 Nuncupative will. Substance of what was considered to be last
will of Thomas Theobold: first that immediate application be made at
County Court, at his expense, "obtain bill of divorcement of niece, Nancy
Pendergrass, from her absconded husband John Baxter," she to receive her bed,
support, etc. so long as she remain single. After paying debts, residue to
be divided among children. Slaves to be hired out for support of children
until youngest becomes of age, then slaves divided among them, except Harry to
be freed. Will hitherto made, and in the hands of his brother, to be void.
Signed by Walter Pearson, Rich. Dowling and James H. Overstreet [B2, p41]
B1,
pgs. 200-201 Jefferson County Court
Theobald, Thomas heirs. At July Court, 1832, on motion of William Prior
[sic], one of the children and heirs of said Thomas, it was ordered that Wm
Farquar, Saml Dickinson, Wm. Reed and Frederick A. Kaye divide slaves and real
estate amongst his three children and heirs: Garrett I., and William P., and Margaret
(I've seen Ameila too, not sure if Margaret and Ameilia are the same person.
Theobald. (Wm and Garrett having reached the age of 21). |
|
Nathan Pendergrass
(from
the family story) Nathan was stolen by the
Indians while he was still a small child, and never heard of again, only by
supposition. Many years afterward an Indiana Chief was slain in battle and found
to be a white man. A most striking resemblance to the Pendergrass family was
observed by the ones who saw him, which gave rise to the story that he was the
long-lost boy of Margaret Elliott Pendergrass. Fortunately this discovery was
not made until after the death of Mrs. Pendergrass, and thereby her grief was
not intensified by living to learn that the little babe once so dear to her
heart had attained unto manhood in savagery, and whose tomahawk would have been
lifted against her had the opportunity offered. |
Certificate Book of the Virginia Land Commission 1779-1780 By the
Kentucky Historical Society Excerpts regarding
Pendergrass/Pendergrass, etc. (Cert iss'd for 1400 fees &c pd)
Jesse Pendergrass
Heir at Law to Garrett Pendergrass deceased this day claimed a
settlement & preemption to a tract of Land lying on the Kentucky
River about 5 Miles from the Mouth on the North side thereof where
there is a large Hickory Bottom by the said Decedents improving the
same & raising a Crop of Corn in the year
1776 satisfactory proof being made to the Court they are of
the Opinion that the said Pendergrass has a right to a settlement of
400 Acres including the said improvement & the preemption of 1000
Adjoining & that a Certificate issue accordingly. Cert Iss'd for 1400 fees &c pd D. D. to Mr. Pendergrass William Woodard this day claimed a Settlement & preemption
to a tract of Land lying on the waters of Breasheir's Creek about 4
or 5 Miles below the 3 Forks of the s'd Creek a branch of the Salt
River, by improving the same in the year 1776 & residing in the
Country 12 Months before the year 1778 satisfactory proof being made
to the Court they are of Opinion that the said Woodard has a right
to a settlement of 400 Acres of Land to include said improvement &
the preemption of 1000 Adj'og & that a Certi issue accordingly. Cert iss'd for 1400 fees &c pd D. D.
Margarett Pendergrass this day claimed a
right to a settlement & preemption to a tract of Land lying on
Bresheirs Creek about 8 Miles below the head of said Creek on the
South side by improving the same in the year 1777 and residing 12
Months since her Settlement satisfactory proof being made to the
Court they are of Opinion that the said Margarett Pendergrass has a
right to a settlement of 400 Acres including the s'd improv't & the
preemption of 1000 Adjoining & that a Certificate issue accordingly.
Present James Barbour Gent. -- Cert issd for 1499 fees &c pd D. D. to
M. Pendergrass Margret
Pendergrass for an in behalf of
James Elliott
this day claimed a settlement & preemption to a tract of Land lying
on the first large Run that empties into Kentucky above Cedar Creek
on the Opposite side by the said Elliott's improving the same &
residing in the Country 12 Months before the year 1778 satisfactory
proof being made to the Court they are of the Opinion that the said
Elliott has a right to a settlement of 400 Acres of Land to include
the said improvement & preemption of 1000 Acres adjoining and that a
Certificate issue accordingly -- Cert issd for
400177 Margarett Pendergrass Assee of Edward
Wilson by Jno Todd Jun'r this day claimed a preempt'n of 400 Acres
of Land at the State price in the district of Kentucky on Acc't of
the s'd Wilson making an Actual settlem't in the year 1778 lying on
a small branch of Wilson Creek on the North side of a branch of the
Rolling fork of Salt River about 10 or 12 Miles South East of
Bulletts Lick to include the s'd Wilsons improvement Satisfactory
proof being made to the Court they are of Opinion that the s'd
Pendergrass has a right to a preemption of 400 Acres to include the
above Location & that a Cert. issue accordingly.177
Kentucky Historical Register, Vol.
21, pp. 45, 47, 52. |
The Commonwealth of Kentucky, to
the Sheriff of Jefferson County, greeting: We command you to summon Garrett
E. Pendergrass, Margaret America Pendergrass, Elizabeth Pendergrass, widow of
Jesse Pendergrass, Ann Eliza Pendergrass, James F. Pendergrass, Garrett
Pendergrass, Jesse Pendergrass, Hero Pendergrass, and Elizabeth
Pendergrass,
Heirs of the sd. Jesse dec’d. by the said Elizabeth their guardian and item,
Garret Theobald, Prior, alias Pryor Theobald, and Amelia Theobald, Heirs of
Patience Theobald, dec’d., who was Patience Pendergrass, by James H. Overstreet,
their guardian ad item, heirs of Margaret Wilson, who was Margaret Pendergrass, deceased, to
appear before the Judge of the Circuit Court for the Jefferson Circuit, at the
Court House in Louisville, on the 12th day of our present February term, to
answer a bill in Chancery in our said Court exhibited against them by Daniel P.
Sullivan, William Sullivan, Edward Tyler Jr., and Rebecca his wife, who was
Rebecca Sullivan and Sophia Sullivan, the last being under the age of twenty one
years, sues by her next friend Edward Tyler Jr., heirs of William Sullivan,
dec’d., and this they shall in nowise omit under the penalty of one hundred
pounds – and have then there this writ. Witness, Worden Pope, Clerk of our said
Court, at the Court House aforesaid, the 18th day of February 1820, and in the
28th year of the Commonwealth.
Worden Pope
Daniel P. Sullivan William Sullivan Edward Tyler Jr. and Rebecca his wife & COMPLAINANTS Sophia Sullivan by the said Tyler her next friend
Against
Garret E. Pendergrass, Margaret America Pendergrass,
Elizabeth Pendergrass, Ann Eliza Pendergrass, James F.
Pendergrass, Garrett Pendergrass Jesse Pendergrass, Hero Pendergrass & Defts. Elizabeth
Pendergrass, the last six being the children
and heirs and the seventh, the widow of Jesse Pendergrass, dec’d., Garrett Theobald, Pryor Theobald, and Amelia Theobald, children and heirs of Thomas and Patience
Theobald, dec’d., and Alexander Pope
This suit is brought by the complainants as the Heirs of William Sullivan,
dec’d. for legal [title] to the half acre lot No. 130 on Market Street in
Louisville, founded on an obligation of the said Jesse Pendergrass for his own
and the share of the said Garrett Pendergrass in and to said lot – also on the
obligation of Mary Pendergrass, for her one fifth part of the said lot - also on
the obligation of Patience Theobald and Thomas Theobald, for her one fifth part
of the said lot, and also on the obligation of Asahel Rawlings and Nancy his
wife for her one fifth part.
The said lot was conveyed to Margaret
Wilson who died intestate, by the trustees of Louisville as a claimant under Amasa Frizzell, and the said Jesse
Pendergrass, Garrett Pendergrass, Nancy
Rawlings, Mary Pendergrass, and Patience Theobald being her children and Heirs –
the said Garrett Pendergrass having disavowed the sale of his interest in the
said lot by the said Jesse Pendergrass his brother, dec’d. – and asserting a
claim and right to the whole lot as Devisee of the said Frizzell, by his will
the said Garrett alleges was [suppressed] and that he can establish – and the
said Pope claiming the western half of said lot under a purchase of the whole
lot upon execution of [Quinz] & Churchill against said Wm. Sullivans Admr. and
Heirs –
The said Garrett E. Pendergrass
has compromised the claim of the said Alexander Pope to said western half of
said lot and has [?] his [release] and conveyance of his right and interest
thereof for the sum of three hundred & fifty dollars and also with the said
Edward Tyler Jr. for himself and his wife and the said Daniel P. Sullivan and
William Sullivan and John C. Sullivan, Guardian to the said Sophia Sullivan
appointed as such by the county court of Jefferson in this state with authority
in each power to compromise disputes in their land titles – and by agreement
between the complainants and the said Alexander Pope and Garrett E. Pendergrass
each party are to pay their own costs – and it appearing to the court that the
said Jesse Pendergrass died insolvent, that the said Asahel Rawlings also died
insolvent, and that the said Nancy Rawlings afterwards sold and conveyed her
part of said lot and that the said Thomas Theobald died in doubtful
circumstances, and the said Patience having died without making a deed for her
part of said lot, it is the opinion of the court that the said compromise is
beneficial to the complainants and that the said compromise ought to be
confirmed – Therefore, at the request of the complainants and the said Pope and
Garrett E. Pendergrass, it is ordered and decreed that the compromise and [?]
aforesaid be and the same is hereby confirmed and that each party pay their and
his own costs
The Jefferson Circuit Court under the act of assembly in such cases provided is
hereby requested to receive approve and record the above decree in the same
manner as if the parties had appeared in court and asked for the same
Recorded in court February 5, 1822
From: Kentucky Court of Appeals Deed Books (O-U) VOL. 3, by Michael L. Cook,
C.G. and Bettie A. Cook, C.G., Cook Publications, Evansville, Indiana (1985).
p. 56 Indenture, February 2, 1818, Nancy Rollins, formerly Nancy
Pendergrass, of
Palmyra, Illinois territory, to Isaac Watkins of Shelby County, Kentucky.
Whereas Nancy Rollins is a daughter and one of the heirs of Margaret Pendergrass
who afterwards intermarried with George Wilson, and Margaret Wilson has since
deceased, and Nancy Rollins is also heir of Polly Pendergrass, her sister,
dec’d, formerly of Louisville, Kentucky, and whereas Nancy Rollins, by virtue of
the said estate has become entitled to many tracts of land in Kentucky and
Indiana, and other property, which Nancy Rollins has now sold one-half interest
in the two said estates to Isaac Watkins (the other half being conveyed to
William Littell, Esq., of Shelby County) for $1,000. Now this Indenture
witnesses the conveyance of the one-half interest. Recorded Shelby County,
Kentucky, February 23, 1818, and by the Kentucky Court of Appeals, February 26,
1818.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky, to the Sheriff of Jefferson County, greeting: We
command you to summon Nimrod H. Moore, Elizabeth Moore, and John Jones to appear
before the Judge of the Circuit Court for the Jefferson Circuit, at the Court
House in Louisville, on the 1st day of our next October term, to answer a bill
in Chancery in our said Court exhibited against them by Samuel M. Quartermous &
Ann his wife, James F. Pendergrass, Garrett J. Pendergrass, Hero Pendergrass &
Elizabeth Pendergrass, the said Hero and Elizabeth being infants under the age
of 21 years, sue by the same James F. Pendergrass their brother and next friend,
and this they shall in nowise omit under the penalty of one hundred pounds – and
have then there this writ. Witness, Worden Pope, Clerk of our said Court, at the
Court House aforesaid, the 3rd day of August 1824, and in the 33rd year of the
Commonwealth.
Worden Pope
From a copy of an petition by Nimrod H. Moore, administrator of the estate of
Jesse Pendergrass, to the Superior Court for the Territory of Missouri at St.
Louis Missouri.
”The petition of Nimrod H. Moore Administrator of the estate of Jesse
Pendergrass deceased. Respectfully shewith: That letters of administration,
dated the sixth day of January eighteen hundred & seventeen, have been duly
granted to your petitioner on the estate of the aforesaid Jesse Pendergrass, who
died intestate in the State of Kentucky about the 22d day of January 1813.
That the said intestate at the date of his decease, was possessed of no personal
property, and of a claim of only one tract of land containing four hundred [?]
situated in the county of New Madrid in the Territory aforesaid.`
Samuel Quartermous and Ann his wife, James F. Pendergrass, Garrett J.
Pendergrass, Hero Pendergrass, and Elizabeth Pendergrass, the said Elizabeth an
infant by James F. Pendergrass
Against
Nimrod H. Moore and Elizabeth, his wife June 1826
Note by Ed Wiessing – “Hero’s name crossed through here.” |
Notes for Jessie Elliot Jesse Pendergrass an infant son and heir of Garrett Pendergrass dec'd, made
proof by the oath of Margaret Pendergrass Widow, of the said deceased, that the
said Garrett acted under a warrant, or Brevet, as the Second in command of a
company of guides to the armies, commanded by General Forbes, in the year 1758,
and by General Stanevix, in the year 1759 - That he was engaged in the said
Service, by Colo. Adam Steven and continued therein till he was regularly
discharged; that he received Lieutenants pay, and that he was an inhabitant of
Virginia, at the time of entering into the Service, and also at that time of his
death, and that he the said Garrett never in his lifetime, not the said Jesse,
since his death, to the knowledge of the said Margaret even before made proof of
such services, in order to obtain a Certificate thereof; or even obtained any
warrant for such Services, under the King of Great Britain's proclamation of
1763. Pendergrass - WILSON, GEORGE - Erected the first courthouse in Louisville (1784) at a
cost of $309.79. (Info from the book, Louisville Panorama by R. C.
Riebel)
In 1800, Deed Books indicate David Barber lost his land that included
“one tract of five acres on Beargrass Creek including Barber’s Mill” to
George Wilson. In May 1801, George Wilson sold the Fait-Barber
property to Frederick Geiger. That same month, Geiger contributed money
to build a bridge over Beargrass Creek along Bardstown Turnpike. A road
was constructed from the Bardstown Turnpike north to the Ohio River. The
orientation of this street is continued in the present-day street grid
pattern throughout much of Butchertown.
Nelson Co., KY Deeds
Pg. 142
11 May 1791 – George Wilson, wife Margaret, to John Kennedy, 200 pounds,
400 ac. on Wilsons Creek, near Dr. Smith’s Station.
Pg. 144
14 June 1791 – William Smiley, wife Rachel, to Robert Wilson, 100
pounds, 330 ac. waters of Fitches Fork of Cox’s Creek, adj. John Fitch.
Pg. 399
10 October 1791 – Acknowledgement of Margaret Wilson, wife of George
Wilson to sale of 400 ac. to John Kennedy.
Seventh
Generation
Jesse
Elliott Pendergrass, born abt 1770?, in
Pennsylvania. On 24 Apr 1797 married
Elizabeth "Betsy" MOORE, daughter of James Francis MOORE & Ann Standiford,
in Shelby County, Kentucky. She was born about 1781 probably in Pennsylvania or
Maryland. (see article left about he and Betsy's house whom descendants
have inherited). According to court records above; Jesse died
intestate in the state of Kentucky January 22, 1813; he was fairly young, around
43 or so.
From an
article I have on the settlement of Harrodsburg, and the fort there, it says
that James Harrod, Abram Hite, Jacob and Jason Sandusky came to the site of the
present Harrodsburg in June, (1774) and along with thirty other men laid off the
town. Per Jefferson County Land Entries, a Jesse Pendergrass bought 400
acres along the Kentucky river 12/7/1779.
From
my cousin Mark, who descends from Jesse and Betsy (through their daughter
Elizabeth: Cat, I live in Nashville. I haven't been back to Fish
Pool in 5 or 6 years. I believe it is still in the hands of maternal relatives
that go back to builder James F Moore. My 4th great grand parents, Theodore
Young and Elizabeth Moore Pendergrass inherited the place from her mother. The
current residents inherited it from Jesse and Sudie Young over a century
ago. The 3rd generation Slack family still farms some of the land, but the
estate is greatly reduced. The outside world has not been kind to the family or
the historical presence of the place. The original cemetery was destroyed by
vandals and then the highway forced the removal of what was left. Mark
At a Court held for Jefferson County on the 7th of March 1781 then the above
proof made. Test John May, Clerk Jefferson County, P. T. from "Early Kentucky
Settlers" Pg 6
“58. “A Large Hickory Bottom,” on the north side of Kentucky River, about
five miles from its mouth. (P. 69.) (Property of Jesse Pendergrass, heir of
Garrett Pendergrass.)” Interpretation. This is the bottom to the southeast of
General Butler State Park and Indian Hills. The nearest fordable crossing on
the Ohio was probably 7-8 miles upstream at Ghent (Ky.) and Vevay (Ind.). It is
likely that buffalo and Indians often crossed the river here. A remarkable
outlying stand of cane occurs along Indian Creek north of Vevay (on State Route
56).
1826 "Early Kentucky Settlers" pg 449-450.
At December 4, 1826,
Court, on motion of Samuel M. Quertermous and others, heirs of Jesse Pendergrass, deceased, it was ordered that Alexander Woodrow and Alexander
Woodrow, Jr., Alexander Galbraith, Joshua McCawley, John C. Beeler, and Nathan
Byers, divide and allot to Quertermous, James F. Pendergrass, Garrett I.
Pendergrass, and Elizabeth Pendergrass, heirs of Jesse Pendergrass that portion
of real estate of James F. Moore, devised by him to Nimrod H. Moore in Jefferson
County and purchased by Quertermous and others.
Survey by Robert L. Woodrow,
deputy surveyor of land, conveyed by Osborn Spring to James F. Moore, showed
tract contained 736 acres, adjoining James Withers' 500 acre survey, and line of
Levin Powell's 2000 acre survey, and Sprigg's 1,100 acre survey. Nimrod H. Moore
is only heir mentioned. Further details of bounds of lands refer to George,
James and David Sullivan's 463 acre survey, Robert Coleman's 12,231 acre survey,
James Wither's 500 acre survey, George Slaughter's 1000 acre survey, John G.
Moore's 1094 acre survey on Lick Run, "Otherwise called Chapman's Run," also
North bank of Salt Block Run, and Pond Creek. Recorded April 2, 1827. [B1, p
148]
An abstract of Elizabeth Pendergrass's Will: Will Book 4, pg. 229
Will dated 13 March 1847, Proved 8 May 1850. Elizabeth Pendergrass gives to
son Garrett J. Pendergrass 6 negro slaves. (Garrett made loans to her since he
came of age). To her daughter Elizabeth Young 2 slaves, and then to Elizabeth
Young's heirs at her death. Household and ketchen furnishings also to
Elizabeth. To my daughter Ann Elizabeth who intermarried with Dr. Samuel
Quertermous, I leave negro, household furnishings, etc., to granddaughter
Margaret Quertermous whom I raised from the 8th year of her age, who
intermarried with William Wells .... To James F. Pendergrass, my son, I leave a
negro. (Elizabeth says she has already advanced James money for education, land
and other slaves and stock animals. She believes he has his part, and he
agrees.) Executors: Son, Garrett Pendergrass, neighbor, Col. John Murphy, Taken
From the Calendar of the George Rogers Clark Papers
Published by McDowell Publications, Rt. 4 Box 314, Utica, KY 42376, 1985
The reel number refers to the reel on which you can find the filmed originals
from the Draper collection. The alphabetical letter is the series identifying
letter, in this case George Rogers Clark Papers. Following the letter is the
volume number within the series and then the page numbers. The page numbers
noted in this published calendar did not always seem to agree with the numbers
designated on the film. Researchers are advised to look several pages before and
after the page number given. The Calendar page has also been noted.
An * before the identifying number means the item has been transcribed and
appears in the publication Some Lynn/Linns Found in the Draper Manuscripts.
Reel #34, Series J, Vol. 51, p. 104 - Calendar 125
Jefferson Co. Ky. "Extracts from the Minute Books of Jefferson Co. Court, copied
at Louisville, Oct. 1846 by LCD." William Linn's will proved; pre-exemption
granted to Leighton White for military service; appointment of Dowdles's Station
as the place for holding court; fixing of rates for tavern keepers; estates of
Samuel Wells and Peter Austurgess administered; Jesse Pendergrass' claim for
warrant under Proclamation of 1763 for services rendered by his father, Garrett
Pendergrass; commission presented by George Rogers Clark as surveyor of the
Virginia State line under the act for surveying lands given by law to the
officers, etc; attorneys admitted to practice; will of Leonard Helm records;
election of delegates to the Virginia Assembly; will of Meredith Price produced;
Col. William Pope mentioned as guardian of sons of William Linn; security given
by Bland W. Ballard as administrator of estate of Bland Ballard; qualification
of Alexander S. Bullett as one of the executors of William Christian. Copy. 7
pp. 1781-88.
Jesse Elliot Pendergrass and
Elizabeth Moore had the following children:
i. |
Ann (Nancy) Pendergrass
born circa 1798 married Samuel Quartermous, she first married
John Baxter and he left her. Her uncle Thomas Theobold took care of her
until she married Samuel Quartermous. Nancy died young, and her husband
remarried and moved to Livingston Co., KY and had several more children with his
second wife.
She and Samuel had a daughter named
Margaret Quartermous; born
circa 1828? she married William Wells. Margaret was only 6 yrs old
when her mother died and she herself died when only 25 yrs old; her
grandmother, Elizabeth Moore Pendergrass, raised her from age 8 as she
indicated later in her will. Her mother Nancy Pendergrass was
about 36 when she died.
Husband: William WELLS, Date of Birth: Abt. 1818, Bullitt Co., KY, Death: Bef. 1860, Jefferson Co., KY. Father:
Thomas WELLS, __Date of Birth: Abt. 1779, Death: 1837, Mother: Mary
"Polly" MILES, __Date of Birth: Abt. 1786, Death: Bef. 1840.
Wife (1st): Margaret QUERTERMOUS, Date of Birth: Abt. 1828
Jefferson Co., KY, Date of Death: 1853, Place of Death:
Jefferson Co., KY. Father: Samuel Martin QUERTERMOUS Date of
Birth: Abt. 1803, date of Death: 1848.
After Nancy/Ann Pendergrass
died, Samuel Quartermous moved to Livingston County and married
Cassandra Beverly. They had several children, these would be Margaret's
half-siblings.
Mother: Ann Elizabeth "Nancy" Pendergrass, _Date of Birth: Abt. 1798,
Date of Death: Abt. 1834.
Children of Margaret Quartermous and William
Wells:
Ann Elizabeth WELLS, Date of Birth: 15/11/1844, Bullitt Co., KY, Date of
Death: 6/5/1913, Place of Death: Judsonia, White Co., AK, Spouse: Jacob
Cyrus JOHNSON Marriage date: 21/12/1865, Jefferson Co., KY
Samuel Thomas WELLS, Date of Birth: 1846, Bullitt Co., KY, Date of
Death: 1913 Columbus, Hickman Co., KY, Place of Burial: Columbus
Cemetery, Hickman Co., KY Spouse: Anna Lena JOHNSON, Marriage date:
2/09/1869
James (F.?) WELLS, Date of Birth: Abt. 1848, Bullitt Co., KY, Bef. 1860,
Place of Death: Place of Burial: Fishpool Plantation Cemetery, Jefferson
Co.,
Garrett Pendergrass WELLS, Date of Birth: 7/3/1853,
Place of Birth: Bullitt Co., KY, Date of Death: Bef. 1860, Jefferson
Co., KY, Place of Burial: Fishpool Plantation Cemetery, Jefferson Co.,
KY |
|
ii |
Garrett Jesse Pendergrass - 1802-1862 - Commodore, U.S. Navy
(info directly below)
|
iii |
Hero Pendergrass, female, b. 1803? under 21 yrs when father died. |
iv |
James Francis, Pendergrass
M.D., born 1804?, our line |
v. |
John Pendergrass, M.D.,
born 1805? disappeared after 1820 with his uncle. Note: A John
Pendergrass married Ann Cody, in Jefferson County, KY on September 26, 1853 by
John Joyce. the license was taken out 5 September 21, 1853. James
Cowan gave oath as to her age, or his approval. If this is our 'John
Pendergrass', then this is either a second marriage or he married later in life.
I have searched and searched for any other records on this John to no avail.
There is a John Pendergraft in the Jeffersontown Ky 1810 census with 2 boys, one
girl and one woman. Both adults are born before 1765, both being over 45
at the time of the census. One male is under 10, the other is to 16.
There is also a girl to 16. |
vi. |
Elizabeth Pendergrass
~she was 68 yrs old in the 1880 census, making her born in 1812.
Elizabeth Pendergrass married Theodore William Young. Theodore William
Young is the son of John Douglass Young and Eliza Blair of Lexington Kentucky.
Theodore William Young was born around 1808 and died in around 1875 in Jefferson
County Kentucky. The date of the marriage is December 15, 1830 in Jefferson,
Kentucky. (Elizabeth and Theodore are the couple who inherited the Fish
Pool Estate). It is of the Garrett Young family and home. Garrett
Pendergrass Young is listed below.
From the History of the Ohio Falls and her Counties: Mrs. Elizabeth Young
is the widow of Mr. Theodore W. Young, who was born in Lexington in 1818.
When he was a young man he came to Louisville. He was a tanner by trade
and began the tanning business on Pennsylvania Run, in Jefferson county.
This he followed up to the time of his marriage to Miss Pendergrass in 1831.
He then settled on the old Pendergrass farm, where he lived until the time of
his death, in 1875. Mrs. Young is the daughter of Mr. Jesse Pendergrass,
and the granddaughter of Colonel James F. Moore, of Salt Licks fame. Her
brother, Commodore Pendergrass, died while in command of the navy yard at
Philadelphia during the Rebellion. Her grandfather, Garrett Pendergrass,
was killed by Indians at Harrodsburg when on his way to Louisville in the year
1777. Mr. and Mrs. Young were blessed with a family of nine children, four
of whom are married and citizens of Jefferson county and the city of Louisville.
|
Fish Pools & Col Moore’s Spring Description
of Miss Julia Young:
Miss Young, age about 70, is
a descendant of Col. James Francis Moore, who settled Moore’s spring near the
Fish Pools. The Fish Pool Plantation or the Heritage, as Miss Young calls
it, has never been out of the family since. Today, four generations of the
family are living there, Miss Julia’s mother, age 92 yrs; Miss Julia’s sister,
Mrs. Slack and her husband; Mrs. Slack’s daughter, Mrs. Peyton and her husband
and their three children.
Saturday,
April 9, 1955; Audrey and I drove out to the Fish Pools to talk to Miss Young.
The Fish Pools were located on a small branch of Fish Pool Creek that joins the
main creek on the West side less than a quarter of a mile downstream from the
Young’s house, which sits on the high ground in the point formed by the junction
of these two branches of Fish Pool Creek. Almost due West of the house,
below the hill side and within 20 yards of the smaller West for, of the creek
and on the East side of the creek, lies Moore’s’ Spring. Col. Moore’s Fort
was across the creek from the spring about fifty to one hundred yards up the
bank and a little North of the spring. Pendergrass’s station as located on
the same side of the creek as the spring on a bench in the hillside about it and
a little to the south. It was about 100 yards away and the site is marked
today by a grove of old locusts. Straight
up this same branch of Fish Pool Creek about ½ mile or a little less and almost
due South of the spring, was the location of the Fish Pools. There were
five of them, according to Miss Young, who remembers them as a little girl.
They were small deep holes with rocky bridges between them, and all of them
occupied the space of an acre. Miss Young mentioned a boy who had been
drowned in them, also a team. They were in the front yard of Tom Sanders
house, and Tom filled them up. He dumped rock, the timbers of a log house,
which he tore down to build his own place, into the pools. They were all
swallowed up. The furthest pool was I the SW corner of Tom Sanders front
yard; they emptied into the above mentioned small West branch of Fish Pool
Creek, and from the description given by Miss Young they appeared to have been
deep well-like springs.
They were about 20, 25 or 30
feet across; perhaps a little larger. The
buffalo road, which Miss Young described, came up this West branch on the East
side in the flat between the two forks, and not too far from the creek’s bank.
It ran as far as the spring, but where it went from there, Miss Young does not
know.
The Moore & Young cemetery lies on a high point of ground NW of the
spring overlooking the creek. A number of years ago there was some blasting in
the neighborhood, and from that time the water in the fish pools and at the
spring seemed to diminish, as Miss Young recalls. Today the Fish Pools are
filled up and sod growing over them so that their site is no longer visible and
the spring runs a very small stream.
Unfortunately, Miss Young’s
information regarding the time when Col. James F. Moore fist settled there is
questionable. Miss Young is of the opinion that a James Moore married
Audrey Tappan, one of the settlers of the Lost Colony. The colony was
settled 1587 and disappeared from the knowledge of men a few years later.
However Miss Young claims to have documentary proof that her ancestor James
Moore and his wife Audrey Tappan were first brought by the Indians to the Fish
Pools. There James Moore built a cabin on the site of the house now
occupied by the Young’s. James Moore and Audrey Tappan had a son James
Moore, who had a son James Moore, who was the father of Col. James F. Moore.
They were all born at the Fish Pools, which was inhabited continuously from 1593
or thereabouts to the present by some member of the Moore family or their
descendants. It would also make it the oldest settlement in the original
13 colonies, antedating Jamestown by ten or fifteen years.
Miss Young has written a book in
which all this is set forth as well as the astonishing fact that she has
succeeded in tracing her family back to Egypt 3000 B. C. Also many other
startling facts. Macmillan is interested should the book be published, I’m
afraid all the histories are going to have to be revised, and Okalona should
overnight become the most famous spot in the U. S.
However one thing is certain;
that is the precise location of Col. Moore’s spring on the road to the Salt
works; as well as the Fish Pools, both important stops. Also Miss Young’s
description of the Fish Pools themselves accords very well with old accounts,
which never speak of them as ponds. The ponds, on which Pond Creek
Settlement was located, were further west and North of the Fish Pools. In
fact Fish Pool, Fern Creek and Mud Creek all ran into Ash Pond.
|
Pennsylvania Run
At
the time this state, Kentucky, drew up a petition of rights to send to the
Assembly of Virginia and the Congress asking to become an independent state, Garrett
Pendergrass was
deputized to carry the petition due to his having been friendly with Indians and
was able to do more with them. He was sent from Fort Harrodsburg and was
making this journey on horseback, but met a band of unfriendly Indians and was
killed. His wife, Margaret Elliott Pendergrass, with one other woman spent the
remainder of that winter in the fort alone. (Pictures in this paragraph
generously donated by Carolyn Zeagler).
In the spring Captain Wilson and wife
joined Mrs. Pendergrass and all came to the present site of Louisville, but not
caring to locate at this place, came twelve miles south and bought land on a
stream which they named Pennsylvania Run Creek.
They built block houses from the trees on their land. Among the first was the
church which they named Pennsylvania Run. They had come from Pennsylvania and
were God Fearing Presbyterians. These two sisters, Jean and Margaret Elliott,
were the only daughters of Rev. John Elliott, who was the first to translate the
bible into the Indian language.
Written by Julia E. Young 5th
Generation from Rev. John Elliott From the Jeffersonian, Louisville,
Kentucky, May 19, 1932
The Heritage
Nine miles from
Louisville, two miles south of Okolona, on the Preston Street Road is the
Heritage, which has been deeded to the sixth successive generation of one
family. The house stands on a hill overlooking a stream of water called Fish
Pool. In 1745, James Francis Moore procured from the king of England a
deed to a tract of land including what is now known as Jefferson, Bullitt,
Oldham, Spencer, Shelby and Henry Counties. In 1763 a Fort was built on the
present site of The Heritage by negro slaves from Maryland. In the same year
Colonel Moore married Elizabeth Standiford of Virginia. To them was born
a daughter, who in 1797 married
Jesse Pendergrass of Pennsylvania, to whom the
property was deeded by Colonel Moore.
To them were born seven children.
One of their daughters, Elizabeth, married Theodore William Young of Lexington,
Kentucky and they too lived in the Fort until 1837 and then built a frame
addition to the block house, which now used as the dining room of the Heritage.
Living in the home at the present time are Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Young, Miss Julia
Young, Mr. and Mrs. John Slack and their young children. This place is a
treasure trove of early American days, and is conducted along lines as nearly as
possible of these times. There are many interesting antiques and relics,
including salt cellars presented by General Lafayette, 17th century
candlesticks, a desk used by five generations of the family as well as wedding
dresses, jewelry and ancient dolls. Taken from an article published in
the Louisville Times, July 26, 1938. Written by Walter Kiser.
Interesting History Penn Run Church
(Reprinted from the Jeffersonian-14 April 1932)
The Jeffersonian is indebted to Mrs. Lizzie W. Dean, a veteran news writer for
the following interesting bit of history as relates to Pennsylvania Run Church
and its efforts to build a larger house of worship back in 1840. The church
built at that time, with some alterations and additions still stands, has
regular preaching services, and active Sunday school and other organizations. “
Editor Pennsylvania Run Church, 5 January 1840. Whose names are subscribed
promise to pay to the elders of this Presbyterian church, in the place several
sums annexed to our names, for the purpose of erecting a new church, which will
better accommodate the congregation than the one they now occupy. Payments to be
made three, six and nine months after date:
Samuel Rice |
Phil Blankenbaker |
John Thixton |
Eunice Guthrie |
Gideon Pegram |
William Gutherie |
Francis Parris |
William M. Burk |
Robert Woodrow |
Andrew C. Young |
Robartus L. Bell |
Mary Briscoe |
Elizabeth Young |
Thomas Taylor |
William B. Woodruff |
Mr. Gamble |
Margaret Guthrie |
Ortho F. Hoffman |
Moses Cummins |
Sarah McCoy |
Abraham M. Funk |
David Cummins |
Jane McCoy |
Henry Beents |
Andrew Martin |
Mary McCoy |
Elisha Bowman |
Alexander Moore |
Ann McCoy |
Jacob Johnson |
Robert L. Woodrow |
Harvey L. McCoy |
William Farmer |
Amos Seabolt |
Book Vanover |
Bartlett Stivers |
Robert Crump |
Sarah A. Crump |
Robert H. Crump |
Jesse W. Crump |
Susan E. Crump |
Edward J. Hikes |
James C. Hall |
John Murphy |
James E. McConathy |
Mathew Wilson |
J. H. Blankenbaker |
Sarah Augusta |
Benjamin Hause |
|
|
Pennsylvania Run, 26
September 1840 “ At a meeting of the elders, trustees and others, the following
resolutions were unanimously adopted."1.
Resolved first, that owing to the pressure of the times we judge it advisable
not to call on the subscribers to the new church for any money during this
present year.2. Resolved secondly, that if there be any persons however, who
feel inclined and ready to pay their subscriptions, that the money will be
thankfully relieved and employed in procuring materials for the building.3.
Resolved thirdly, that those persons who have subscribed for the support of the
gospel during the past year, and not yet paid the amount, they are respectfully
requested to pay it over to the trustees to aid in building the church, or it
will be taking in work, which ever may best suit the individuals.
The above list of
names and the subscriptions attached are of much interest to many of their
descendants, two of whom are Mrs. Anna M. Renegar, our editor, and Mrs. Gertrude
Nealy, the latter a great grand-daughter of Robert L. Woodrow, and Mrs. Renegar
a descendant of the McCoys.
The entire list is
still remembered by their neighbors descendants and many of them reverenced
by many of us as worthy Christian leaders and Sunday school teachers. The writer
belonged to the bible class of Beulah church taught be Mr. Jacob Johnson and she
shall never forget his forceful teaching of the scriptures there, nor the
influence of his consistent Christian life on the young.
|
Certificate
Book of the Virginia Land Commission 1779-1780 by the Kentucky
Historical Society
(Cert
iss'd for 1400 fees &c pd)
Jesse Pendergrass Heir at Law to Garrett Pendergrass deceased this
day claimed a settlement & preemption to a tract of Land lying on
the Kentucky River about 5 Miles from the Mouth on the North side
thereof where there is a large Hickory Bottom by the said Decedents
improving the same & raising a Crop of Corn in the year 1776
satisfactory proof being made to the court they are of the Opinion
that the said Pendergrass has a right to a settlement of 400 acres
including the said improvement & preemption of 1000 adjoining & that
a Certificate issue accordingly. Cert iss'd for 1400 fees &c pd D.
D.)
Margaret Pendergrass this day claimed a right to a settlement &
preemption to a tract of Land lying on Bresheirs Creek about 8 Miles
below the head of said Creek on the South side by improving the same
in the year 1777 and residing 12 months since her settlement
satisfactory proof being made to the Court they are of Opinion that
the said Margaret Pendergrass has a right to a settlement of 400
Acres including the s'd improv't & the preemption of 1000 Adjoining
& that a Certificate issue accordingly. Cert issd for 1400 fees &c pd
D. D. to M. Pendergrass Margaret Pendergrass for an in behalf of
James Elliott
this day claimed a settlement & preemption to a tract of Land lying
on the first large run that empties into Kentucky above Cedar Creek
on the Opposite side by the said Elliott's improving the same &
residing in the Country 12 months before the year 1778 satisfactory
proof being made to the court they are of Opinion that the said
Elliott has a right to a settlement of 400 Acres of Land to include
the said improvement & preemption of 1000 Acres adjoining and that a
Certificate issue accordingly. Cert issd for 400
Margaret Pendergrass Assee of Edward Wilson by Jno Todd Jun'r this
day claimed a preempt'n of 400 acres of land at the state price in
the district of Kentucky on Acc't of the s'd Wilson making an actual
settlem't in the year 1778 lying on a small branch of Wilson Creek
on the north side of a branch of the Rolling fork of Salt River
about 10 or 12 miles south East of Bulletts Lick to include the s'd
Wilson's improvement Satisfactory proof being made to the Court they
are of Opinion that the s'd Pendergrass has a right to a preemption
of 400 Acres to include the above Location & that a Cert. issue
accordingly.
|
Elizabeth Moore Pendergrass in the
1810 Jefferson Co., KY Census after her husband Jesse had died in 1813.
1 male under 10 (born 1810-1813) 1 male 16-26 (born 1794-1804) 2 females
under 10 (born 1800-1810) 1 female 10-16 (born 1794-1810) 1 female 16-26
(born 1784-1794) 1 female 26-45 (Born 1765-1784) 1 female over 45 (born
before 1765) |
Garret
above, is Uncle to our line Patrick, but because we have this
picture of him an he was a Commodore in the US Navy during the Civil
War, I've included his information here. This picture was
passed down in family. Garret Jesse
Pendergrass.
Born December 5, 1802 in Kentucky. Garret Jesse died in 1862, he was
60. In 1827 when Garret Jesse was 25, he married
Susan Virginia BARRON. Born in 1806 in Kentucky.
Garrett was a Commodore in the US Navy during the Civil War.
Married: c.23 June 1827 in Norfolk County, Virginia - Note: bond
posted 21 Jun 1827 in Norfolk Co., Gabriel Galt surety, the bride's
father, James Barron, gave consent 1
May
25, 1861; Semi-Weekly Raleigh Register (North Carolina) The
Norfolk correspondent of the Petersburg Express writes:
Mrs.
Commodore Pendergrass, who is a Southern lady, is still in Norfolk.
She refuses to join her husband at the fort—says she will never live
with him again, and it is reported that she will apply for a
divorce. The wife of another reprobate who is at the fort, is in
Norfolk, and has a pistol loaded, with which she says she intends
shooting her liege lord upon sight.
Pendergrass, GARRETT
JESSE, naval officer, was born Dec. 5, 1802, in Kentucky. He was
appointed commandant of the Philadelphia navy-yard, which post he
filled until two days before his death. Under the reorganization of
the navy he was twelfth commodore on the retired list, which rank he
attained in 1862. He died Nov. 7, 1862, in Philadelphia, Pa.Civil
War Union Naval Officer. Commissioned as a midshipman in 1812 at the
age of only nine, and served in the War of 1812. Served in the
United States Navy up to the Mexican war, where he commanded the USS
Boston. Promoted to Captain in 1855, and was the commander of the
United States Navy's Home Squadron at the Civil War's outbreak. On
April 30, 1861, three days after President Abraham Lincoln
proclaimed a blockade of Southern ports, he blockaded Hampton Roads,
Virginia, the first by the Union Navy. Promoted to Commodore in July
1862, he was named commander of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, serving
in that post until his death four months later. He is buried
at the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Commodore
Garrett Jesse Pendergrass (5 December 1802 – 7 November 1862) was an
officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.
Pendergrass was born in Kentucky. He was married to Virginia Barron,
the daughter of James Barron. Upon the Secession, she reportedly
refused to accompany him in his allegiance to the United States and
swore she'd never live with him again.
His nephew was Lieutenant Commander Austin
Pendergrass, who took
command of Congress when she was sunk by Virginia.
By 1832, he had been promoted to Lieutenant. He commanded Boston
during the Mexican-American War in 1846. In 1856, he commissioned
Merrimack, the ship that would later become Virginia.
Subsequently, he held command of both the Home Squadron and the West
India Squadron.
He was in command of Cumberland in 1861, at
the outbreak of the war and, at age 58, one of the oldest officers
in service.
Promoted to Commodore on July 16, 1862, he was
assigned to command the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and held that
position when he died of a paralytic stroke on November 7, 1862. He
is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Virginia's father, Commodore
Barron, killed Decatur in a famous duel;
read about it.1. Susan
Virginia BARRON, daughter of Commodore James BARRON "BARRON:
James, Commodore (1769-1851)" and Elizabeth Moseley ARMISTEAD."
Garrett
Pendergrass and Virginia Baron had the following children:
i |
James Baron Pendergrass |
I am uncertain if Commodore Pendergrass and his wife Virginia Baron had any more
children than the son listed above. A family historian
wrote that they didn't have any
children and he adopted his brother's son, Austin.
Commodore Pendergrass's brother, James Francis, MD, shot a
teacher in a hot dispute (James Francis is my line). He
had to leave town and live out his life in Canada. His
wife had already died and some of the children had to be farmed
out to relatives. From memories of Sarah Virginia
Ragland, b. 1832 @
this
site
There were newspaper articles on Virginia Dunlap published by
the Memphis Commercial Appeal on 28 May 1915, 15 May 1919, and
23 April 1992. From these we get the following stories in her
own words.
"When I was a young girl, about 14 years
old, I think, I boarded with Mrs. Lawrence at the southwest
corner of Third Street and Court Avenue, while I was attending
school in town. Mrs. Lawrence was the widow of a civil engineer
who had laid out Memphis for Mr. Overton. Commodore
Pendergrass, who had charge of the navy yard, also
boarded with Mrs. Lawrence. He made quite a pet of me, because
my name and his wife’s name was Virginia. That year the United
States warship Atlantic came up the river from New Orleans. I
think that it was the first warship that had ever visited
Memphis. Among the officers of the warship were Past Midshipman
Rowe and Lieut. Russell, both handsome fellows, and a dance was
given in their honor. Commodore Pendergrass told
Mr. Rowe he would have to look after me, or he would face a
court-martial. So Mr. Rowe escorted me into the ball room. He
wore one of those old-fashioned high silk hats, which he placed
on a chair in the ball room. I was so flustered that I sat down
on it and mashed it flat."
On Garret's monument in Pennsylvania it reads as follows: Garret
J. Pendergrass Commander in the U.
S. Navy born in Kentucky Dec 5, 1802
Died in command of the Navy Yard at Philadelphia, November
7, 1862 Distinguished for his zeal and ability in the
performance of his duty and for his noble personal qualities. A
friend to his Officers and father to his men. "The Lord knoweth
the days of the upright and their inheritance shall be
forever". On the headstone over the grave of the son of the
Admiral appears the following:
Sacred To the memory of James
Barron Pendergrass, son of Lieutenant G. J. Pendergrass and
Susan Virginia Pendergrass June 21, 1855 -
August 21, 1855
1858 John Dabney Shane, regarding Commodore Pendergrass:
Commodore Pendergrass's father was Jesse Pendergrass. He lived
here 2 or 3 years. Then in 1804 he removed to Mann's Lick. The
father was a plain man, a farmer. The mother was a clever woman,
my mother thought a great deal of her. Dr. Pendergrass, another
son, figured about here a good deal. A great scoundrel. My
mother liked him very much. It strikes one she was a daughter of
James Francis Moore. (Mann's Lick Moore lived at). Moore I know
had a daughter by a first marriage.
|
Eighth Generation
James Francis Pendergrass, M.D. Born abt 1802 in Kentucky
and died around 1868 in Canada, but his remains were brought back and buried at
Fish Pool Plantation, per
family
stories. James Francis married Dorthea Matthews Miller. Dorthea
was the daughter of
Robert Miller and
Cassandra Moore. This
is a first 1/2 cousin marriage - James was the son of Elizabeth Moore and
Dorthea is the dtr of Cassandra Miller, and they were half sisters.
Dorthea
Miller was born in 1809 and must have died either in childbirth with her last
child or shortly thereafter. She had a daughter born who died, Matilda,
around 1840 and I suspect it was that pregnancy that led to her death. The
children are listed with their father in the 1840 census, In the 1850
census Robert and Patrick are living with their grandfather, Robert Miller,
Dorthea's father. In the 1860 Census of Ottawa, IL, the children are
listed with their Uncle Garrett Pendergrast, the Commodore in the Navy.
The listing is follows:
According to an article in the Courier Journal, in 1847 in Louisville, James
Francis
shot a teacher in a hot dispute and had to go to Canada and live out his life.
See what I've pieced together on the
Miller line here.
From "Kentucky: A
History of the State, Perrin, Battle, Kniffin, 8th ed., 1888, Jefferson co.
Biography on Josiah Alexander Ireland, M.D. mentions the following about his
life: "At the age of seventeen he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. James
F. Pendergrass, of Jefferson County; . . ."
James Francis Pendergrass and
Dorothy Matthews Miller had the following children:
i |
James Francis Pendergrast,
born 1827 "during the last years of his life he was
Wharf-master at new Orleans. He died in that city in the '70s. He
married a daughter of Captain Smith.
I have found no record of his being married to a Smith, only Julia Riley. My Notes: There is a
James F. Pendergrass in the 1860 Bullitt Co., KY census, James F. 40 yrs old, born KY (b. 1820) 600 acres,
looks like S. H. Pendergrass, 27 yrs old, then M. J. Pendergrass, female, 6 yrs
old, born 1854, and S. Pendergrass, 2 yrs old, b. 1858, female' must be named
for the mother. I don't know if there are two separate James Francis or if
perhaps he was married once in KY and then once in Louisiana.
What I've found on James: He died in December 5, 1867 in New Orleans.
He married Julia Riley on December 7, 1858. Julia was from Ireland and she
immigrated to the States with her parents in 1852.
They had three children, per 1900 Louisiana, New Orleans census James F., born
May 1866, (his tombstone says 1861 above) Virginia, born Aug 1868, and Sidney, dtr, born July 1862. All
children indicate their father was born in Kentucky and their mother Ireland.
In the 1910 she and her daughters are living, and in the 1920. In the 1930
census she, the mother, Julia, were gone.
|
ii |
Austin Pendergrast, born
1829, died 1874 in Philadelphia. Buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery where his
Uncle Commodore Pendergrass is buried. To
my knowledge there is not stone in the cemetery for him, he could be buried near
his uncle, but I'm not sure.
Austin Pendergrass Rank Information: Midshipman, Passed Midshipman, Master,
Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander Service Dates: 14 Oct 1848, 15 Jun
1854, 15 Sep 1855, 16 Sep 1855, 16 Jul 1862 Military Branch: US Navy Officers
(1798-1900) Death Date: 23 Oct 1874.
|
iv |
John Pendergrast, b. 1830?,
enlisted in the southern army, was captured at Fort Donnelson and sustained a
broken leg in the battle. He was sent to the Gratiot Street prison in St.
Louis (McDowel College). His brother, Austin, who was in the U. S. Navy,
got him out on parole, and it is supposed he died at Alton, IL, in a hospital.
I am guessing at his birth year. There are papers in his Civil war file
indicating the story of his capture was true and that he did die at the hospital
in Alton. He and his brother Garrett enlisted in the Vol 1st Reg Infantry
Confederate Volunteers. |
iii |
Patrick
Pendergrast, born 1832-1909 -
this
is my paternal great great grandfather - "Pat was for many years a well to do
farmer in Vermilion Co., IL. He died there sometime in the '80s.
(this is incorrect as he died in 1909 according to his tombstone in the
Rossville Cemetery. Patrick served in the Civil War for the
Confederacy. |
vi |
Virginia Barron Pendergrast, born 1834?,
Virginia married Dr. Waller Cooper, and after his death she married John W.
Briscoe, by whom she had one child, Frank Pendergrass Briscoe, born September 3,
1857 and died January 21, 1938. She died while her child was very young.
|
v |
Garrett Jesse Pendergrast, Feb 24, 1838-1894
(see
biography from the Vermillion County
History). He and his brother Patrick migrated to Vermilion Co., IL,
Patrick was a successful farmer. Garrett moved around quite a bit and
married later in life to Delia Hardesty. I found them buried in Stanton
Co., Kansas in the Mitchell Cemetery. Garret was in the Civil War and
served for the Confederacy. Both Garrett and Robert below tombstones
indicate they were both born in 1838; I've never heard they were twins, so not
sure.
After Garrett died, Delia married 3/20/1908 Theodore Bauer, 50 Syracuse to
Delia Pendergrass, she was 54 yrs old, married at Coolidge by John Thomas,
Minister, March 21st. By the 1910 Census, Delia is living without him and
listed as "Pendergrass". I don't know if he died or they divorced. She is listed
as Teacher. |
vi |
Robert Miller Pendergrast, b. 1838, died August 11, 1909, according to
tombstone record. According to a family story,
Robert disappeared never to be heard from again. He
married Clarissa Olmstead, 1842-1903; in KY and eventually
he ended up and died in Minnesota. 119 N Boardman Ave, New York
Mills
Otter Tail County Minnesota 56567 Greenwood Cemetery. His stone says
1838-1903. He had daughter Virginia Belinda Pendergrast Kertscher,
1865-1947. A kind souI was able to fill my photo of his stone via
find-a-grave. |
vii |
Matilda Pendergrass, died as infant, ? 1840 |
James F. Pendergrass in the 1830 Jefferson Co., KY Census
2 males under 5, this would be James Francis and Austin. 1 male 20-30,
this is James Francis Pendergrass, MD. 1 female under 5, I have never heard
of this child, and she must have died young? 1 female 20-30, this is Dorthea
Miller Pendergrass
Three
children born between 1825-1830
James Francis Pendergrass in the 1840
Jefferson co., KY census as follows:
Dorthea died before 1840; she had a daughter, Matilda, die young and it might
have been at the same time Dorthea died giving birth.
2 males under 5, (1835-1840) Garrett,
Robert? 2
males 5-10, (1830-1835) Patrick, James Francis? 2 males 10-15,
(1825-1830) Austin and John 1 male 40-50,
(1790-1800) James, father 1 female 5-10. (1835-1840) Virginia
|
Ninth Generation
Patrick Pendergrass was born on 2 Jul
1832 in Louisville, Kentucky. Patrick died on 9 Jan 1909, Vermilion Co., IL; he
was 76. Patrick married Laura Virginia Albert. She was the daughter of Samuel
Albert and Mary Crane Shivley. Laura and her parents were from the Louisville
area as well as the Pendergrass'. The
Albert's
and
Shivley's
were German.
|
|
|
|
Laura Virginia Albert |
Patrick Pendergrass |
Laura and Patrick's Marriage Bond |
Laura and Patrick's Tombstone |
Patrick Pendergrass and Laura Virginia Albert had the
following children:
i. |
Austin
Albert Pendergrass, born 9/30/1863 ~
January, 1949 @ 85 yrs (birth date from bible records), he lived in California
and married
Sarah Lee Herndon, she was from Missouri. They had
at least two daughters, one by the name of Aline, pictured right, who married a
Walter Krause and had a daughter Mary. Aline had a sister named Laura,
obviously named for Austin's mother, Laura Virginia Albert. I
haven't discovered anything on her yet.
His
mother, Laura Virginia Albert Pendergrass, spent a year (circa 1909) out in
California with him after her husband Patrick died. Austin did not attend
his mother's
funeral when she died in 1936, per Helen. A dear friend via the internet
recently contacted me as she had saved a photo album at a church bazaar.
She then sleuthed around the internet and found me, a cousin of Aline's.
See Aline Pendergrass's photo album here.
|
ii |
Susan Pendergrass
(1865-1936);
my paternal great grandmother |
iii. |
George Heafer Pendergrass, born Nov 23, 1873, died @ one year old, buried at the
Rossville Cemetery. |
|
|
People in Picture of Augusta Allen young herndon Carter and Family, Abt, 1915
Monrovia, per George Carter - 2006
From Left to Right: Myrtle Gillette (wife of George Perry Carter)
Augusta Allen Young Herndon Carter William Gilbert Carter (“Gilbert”)
Martha Herndon Bachus (Mattie) Laura Herndon
Pendergrass (KBA’s grandmother) Sarah Lee Herndon (“Sadie”—KBA’s great
grandmother) Florence Bachus (daughter of Mattie Herndon Bachus) Augusta
Bessie Cartter Lerrigo (“Gussie”—partly hidden) James M. Bachus (son of
Mattie Herndon Bachus) Alex L. Bachus (husbans Austin Albert Pendergrass Leora Bachus
(daughter of Mattie Herndon Bachus) Mabel Grace Cartter
|
Patrick
Pendergrass is listed in the 1859 Louisville directory as a brick layer.
From
the 1870 Vermillion County, IL Census:
346a 8 Pendegrass Austin 7
Illinois 346a 10 Pendegrass Jennie 7 Louisiana 346a 7 Pendegrass Laura 32
Kentucky 346a 6 Pendegrass Pat 40 Kentucky 346a 9 Pendegrass Susan 4
Illinois
Author's Note: I
don't know who this Jennie Pendergrass is living with Patrick and Laura; she was
born in 1863 in Louisiana, for certain, but believe she could be a niece,
daughter of his brother who went to New Orleans.
From the 1880 Vermillion
County, IL Census:
Note: I figured out that the Mary Albert above was Laura
Virginia Albert's niece by her brother George Albert who remained in Louisville,
KY.
From the 1900 Vermillion County, IL Census:
214A 14 69 18 Pendergast Custer 19 Louisiana
ed69-pg212a.txt 294B 80 96 1 Pendergrass Laura 62 Kentucky ed96-pg294a.txt
294B 79 96 1 Pendergrass Pat 68 Kentucky ed96-pg294a.txt
I do not know who this Custer Pendergast is, also born in Louisiana, he
could be a nephew of Patrick's as one of his uncles went to LA. He is not
living with our Laura and Patrick, but I suspect a connection based on the girl
(Jennie) who was living with them in the 1870 Census was also born in Louisiana.
James F. Pendergrast, Patrick's brother, was in Louisiana.
Tenth Generation
Susan Pendergrass.
Born on 1 Dec 1865. By the time Susan was born in 1865, the Pendergrass
family has been in the United States for over 200 years ! Susan
died in Illinois on 27 Aug 1936, she was 70. On 13 Oct 1887 when Susan was 21,
she married Charles SMITH, son of Thomas SMITH &
Martha SADLER, in Rossville,
Illinois. Born on 24 Mar 1864 in New York. Charles died in Illinois on 20 Sep
1918, from diabetes, he was 54.They had the following children (my paternal
great uncles and aunts whom I never met.
i |
Thomas Patrick Smith (1888-1961)
- my paternal grandfather |
ii |
Fern Laura Smith - Born in 1890 |
iii |
Edwin ("Eddie") Smith - Born 1892 |
iv |
Ray A Smith Born 1894, died at birth. |
v |
Austin Smith. Born 1895, never married |
vi |
Minnie Virginia Smith (1897-1965) |
vii |
Leo Charles Smith (1899-1973)
|
viii |
Donovan Smith (1902-1980) |
ix |
George Sadler Smith (1904-1986) |
From here, see the
Smith line.
|