Volume 14 , Issue 44

Pendleton County, (West) Virginia Pioneers

As we continue our research into the history of Pendleton County, (West) Virginia, we find that one-half of Highland county was a part of Pendleton prior to 1847.

We know that Pendleton County was named in honor of Edmund Pendleton. Edmund Pendleton was born on a plantation in Caroline county, Virginia, 6 September 1721.

Edmund was a planter, but attained great eminence in his profession of the law. He was a member of the House of Burgesses from 1752 until the breaking out of the Revolution in 1775. As a member of the Virginia committee to protest against the Stamp Act, he took a strong, conservative ground. After the flight of Lord Dunmore, the royal governor, he was President of the Committee on Public Safety. He was virtually at the head of the state government from 17 August 1775, until 5 July 1776.

Pendleton was then succeeded by Patrick Henry, the first governor under American independence. In the same year he presided over the convention which framed the first state constitution, and he drew the declaration of Virginia in favor of American independence. In connection with Thomas Jefferson and George Wythe, he revised the laws of the state in order to harmonize them with an altered condition of affairs. As President of the Court of Chancery, he was at the head of the state judiciary from 1779 until 1795. He was also president of the Virginia convention that ratified the Federal Constitution. He died 23 October 1803, at the age of 82 years.

Settlers Before 1760

The following pioneers arrived before or during the period of the Indian war. The time of arrival is given after each name. A date with a star means the person was living here in the year named, the precise year of arrival not being known.

• Alkire, Henry, 1752*
• Bograd, Anthony, ?
• Bright, Samuel, 1754
• Burner, Abraham, about 1745
• Burnett, William, 1759
• Conrad, Ulrich, 1753
• Cunningham, James, 1753
• Cunningham, John, 1753
• Cunningham, William, 1753
• Davis, John, 1753
• Dice, Mathias, 1757
• Dunkle, John, 1753
• Dyer, Roger, 1747
• Eckard, Michael, 1754
• Evick, Christian, 1756*
• Freeze, Michael, 1753
• Goodman, Jacob, 1753
• Gragg, William, 1757*
• Harper, Hans, 1756
• Harper, Philip, 1758*
• Hawes, Peter, 1750
• Hevener, William, 1756*
• Keister, Frederick, 1757*
• Mallow, Michael, 1753
• Miller, Mark, 1757*
• Moser, Peter, 1753
• Moser, Andrew, 1750
• Osborn, Jeremiah, 1752*
• Patton, Matthew, 1747
• Patton, John, Jr., 1747
• Peterson, Jacob*, 1758*
• Propst, Michael, 1753
• Reed, Peter, 1752*
• Ruleman, Jacob, 1753
• Scott, Benjamin, 1753
• Seybert, Jacob, 1753
• Simmons, Michael, 1753
• Simmons, Leonard, 1753?
• Skidmore, Joseph, 1754
• Smith, John, 1747
• Stephenson, William, 1747
• Swadley, Mark, 1756
• Vaneman, Peter, 1754
• Westfall, Abraham, 1752
• Wilson, Charles, 1756*
• Zorn, Jacob, 1756*

Naturalizations of Pendleton Pioneers Before the Revolution

The records of Augusta state that the individuals named below produced a certificate of their having received the sacrament, and took the usual oaths to his majesty's person and government, subscribed the abjuration oath and test, which is ordered to be certified in order to their obtaining warrants of naturalization. Since the name of Henry Peninger occurs twice, his naturalization does not seem to have been perfected in 1762.

• 1762 - Ulrich Conrad, john dunkle, George Hammer, Nicholas Hevener, Sebastian Hoover, Frederck Keister, Gabriel Kile, Michael Mallow, Henry Peninger, Henry Pickle, Michael Propst, henry Stone, Mark Swadley, Lewis Wagoner
• 1763 - Neorge Coplinger, Leonard Simmons, Gicholas Simmons
• 1764 - Valentine Kile, Jacob Peterson
• 1765 - Jacob Harper
• 1773 - Michael Hoover
• 1774 - Jacob Eberman, Philip Harper, henry Peninger

Form of Colonial Land Patent

The following is a form used for "Colonial Land patents:"

George the Third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the fAith, etc. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Know ye that for divers good causes and considerations, but more especially for and in Consideration of the sum of _______ of good and Lawful Money for our Use paid to our Receiver General of our Revenues in this our Colony and dominion of Virginia, We have Given, Granted, and Confirmed and by these Presents for us our Heirs and Successors Do Give, Grant, and Confirm unto _____ _______ one certain tract or parcel of Land lying and being in the County of Augusta. (Here follows a description of boundaries and location). With all Woods, Under Woods, Swamps, Marshes, Cowgrounds, Meadows, Feedings, and his due Share of All Veins, Mines, and Quarries, as well discovered as not not discovered within the Bounds aforesaid, and being part of the said Quantity of _____ Acres of Land, and the Rivers, Waters, and Water Courses therein contained, together with the privileges of Hunting, Hawking, Fishing, Feeding, and all other Profits. Commodities, Hereditaments, whatsoever to the same or any Part thereof belonging or in any wise appertaining: To have hold, Possess, and Enjoy the said Tract or Parcel of Land, and all other the before said premises and every Part thereof, with their and every of their Appurtenances unto the said _____ _____, heirs and Assigns forever: To the only use and Behoof of him the said _____ ______, his Heirs and Assigns forever: To be held of us our Heirs and Successors as of our Manor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent, in free and common Soccage and not in Capite or by Knightly Service: yielding and paying unto us, our Heirs and Successors, for every Fifty Acres of Land, and proportionably for a greater or lesser Quantity than Fifty Acres, the Fee Rent of one Shilling yearly, to be paid upon the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, and also Cultivating and Improving three Acres, part of every fifty of the Tract above mentioned, within three Years after the Date of these Presents: Provided always that if three Years of the said Fee Rent shall at any time be in Arrears or Unpaid, or if the said _____ _____, his Heirs and Assigns do not within the Space of three Years next coming after the Date of these Presents Cultivate and Improve three Acres, part of ever Fifty of the tract above mentioned, Then the Estate hereby Granted shall Cease and be Utterly Determined, and thereafter it may and shall be lawful to grant the same Lands and Premises with the Appurtenances unto such other Person or persons as We our Heirs and Successors shall think fit. In Witness whereof we have Caused these our letters-Patent to be made. Witness our Trusty and well-beloved ______, governor-General of our said Colony and Dominion at Williamsburg, Under the deal of said Colony the ___ Day of ______, One Thousand and _____, In the _____ Year of our Reign.

Signature of the royal governor ____________ ___________

The original of the above was signed in 1761 by Lord Botetourt and was issued in favor of Jacob Harper. The printing on the parchment is unpunctuated, and after the custom of that day it is full of capital letters. "Free and common socage" was when land was held through certain and honorable service, as by realty to the king and the payment of a nominal sum of money. The tenant "in capite" held his title immediately from the king, as in the case of nobles and knights. The feast of St. Michael is September 29, and in a liberal sense it referred to the fall of the ear. "Lady-Day," spoken of on page 69, is March 25.

Form of Indenture To An Apprenticeship

The following form of Indenture to an Apprenticeship is as filled out for use, with proper names being suppressed.

THIS INDENTURE Witnesseth, That I. J --- R----, an Overseer of the poor for Rockingham, by an order from the said court to me to and by these Presents to bind G____ M____ to learn his Art, Trade and Mystery of a Waggoner, to serve the said C___ P____ form the Day of the DAte hereof, for, and during, and unto the full End and Term of Thirteen Years and Nine Months, during all which Term, the said Apprentice his said Master faithfully shall serve, his secrets keep, his lawful commands at all Times readily Obey: He shall do no damage to his said Master, nor see it to be done by others, without giving notice thereof to his said Master: He shall not waste his Master's Goods, nor lend them unlawfully to any: He shall not commit Fornication, nor commit Matrimony within the said Term. At Cards, Dice, or any other unlawful Game, he shall not play, whereby his Master may have Damage. With is own Goods, nor the Goods of others, without License from his Master, he shall not buy nor sell. He shall not absent himself Day or Night from his said Master's Service, without his Leave, nor haunt Alehouses, Taverns, or Playhouses, but in all things behave himself as a faithful Apprentice ought to do, during the said Term. And the said Master shall use the utmost of his Endeavors to teach, or cause to be taught or instructed, the said Apprentice int he Trade or Mystery of a Waggonmaker, and the said Master to teach him to Read and Write and Cipher as far as the Rule of Three, and at the Expiration is to give over to the said G____ M_____ Six Pounds ($20), and procure or provide for him sufficient Meat, Drink, Clothes, Washing, and Lodging, fitting for an Apprentice, during said Term of Thirteen Years and Nine Months. And for the true Performance of all and singular the Covenants and Agreements aforesaid, the parties bind themselves, each unto the other, firmly by these Presents. In witness whereof, the said Parties have interchangeably set their Hands and Seals hereunto. Dated the Ninth Day of February, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Nine, and in the year of the Commonwealth the Fourteenth.

An Emancipation Paper

This form, Emancipation Paper, was used by a lady of Crabbottom.

Know all men by these presents, that I, A____ B____, of the County of Pendleton and State of Virginia, begin the owner and possessor of a negro man named C____ (otherwise C____ D_____), for divers causes and consideration me thereunto moving, do and by these presents doth set free the said negro C____, slave to all intents and purposes, and by these presents do forever quit claim to said negro C_____, who is herby forever set free and emancipated by me, or my heirs or assigns, over the person and property of the said C____, and he is hereby declared by me (so far as in my power to do) as free to all intents and purposes as if born free. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ___ day of ______, 1825.

Form of Marriage Bond

Know all men by these presents, that we, John M_____ and Stephen E_____, are held and firmly bound unto Henry Lee, Esq., Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the time being, and his successors, in the sum of fifty pounds ($166.67) to which payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves, our heirs, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, and sealed with our seals and dated this 14th day of April, 1792.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage suddenly intended to be solemnized between the above bound John M____ and Elizabeth P____, both of this county, now should there be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, and no damage ensue by issuing a license therefor, then the above obligation to be void, else to remain in full force.

Dated and delivered in presence of (signed signatures here)

Washington's Visit to Pendleton

Washington may have touched the border of this county while surveying for Fairfax in 1748. If so, his only visit was in 1784, while on his return from a business trip to the Monongahela valley in Pennsylvania. At Old Fields, Hardy county, he was the guest of Colonel Abraham Site, September 27-8. While there he was visited by Colonel Josph Neville and other prominent pioneers. On the 29th, he traveled up the South Fork about 24 miles, took dinner at one Rudiborts (Radabaugh?) and then followed a branch (Rough Run?) about four miles. He speaks of the path as very confined and rocky, and leading up a very steep point of the mountain. Eight miles of climbing brought him to one Fitzwater in Brock's Gap. Meanwhile he had sent his nephew Bushrod Washington,up the valley to get some knowledge of the communication between Jackson's River and the "green Brier." This must have taken the nephew directly up the South Fork, and it would have been he instead of the general whom a Puffenbarger tradition says dined with that family,then living at Mitchell's mill.

Lincolns of Rockingham

Rebecca Lincoln, who married Matthew Dyer, was related to the war president. The family is of New England origin and its pioneer settlement in Rockingham was on Linville Creek. In 1785 there was mention of John, a deputy surveyor, and of Jacob, a constable and deputy sheriff. In 1782 a Thomas Lincoln was married to Elizabeth Kessner. The father of the president was also Thomas, and he was born in Rockingham. In 1781 he went with his father Abraham to Kentucky, where the parent was killed from ambush by an Indian in 1786, the Indian being promptly shot dead from the cabin window by a son about twelve years old. He was perhaps the same Abraham who is mentioned in the Rockingham records about 1780.

Pendleton Journalism

The first newspaper in this county was the Mountain News, appearing about 1873 and published by Calvert and Campbell. It and a brief history and was not followed by another until (?), when the Pendleton News was started by J. E. Pennybacker. Failing in the purchase of this pear, the South Branch Review was launched in February, 1894, by B. H. Hiner, Prosecuting Attorney, and J. H. Simmons, Sheriff. In November of the same year the News was consolidated with the Review.

A little later the Review passed into the hands of Anderson A. Martin, editor and proprietor. The equipment of the office was much hove what was usually seen in a town of the class of Franklin and was one of the best county offices in the state. It included a typesetting machine and other modern appliances. In 1896 G. M. Jordan and G. L. Kiser started the Pendleton Advocate, which continued but a few months, when the plant was sold and removed to Moorefield.

A School of 1830

There is mention of the venerable John B. Blizzard, born in 1821, tells of an old field school in Sweedland valley, three miles form Fort Seybert.

The interior of the small, rude log building was more suggestive of a stable than a house, the floor being not of puncheons but of the bare earth itself. There was an hour of noon intermission, but no other recesses. The books used were the english Reader, the Dilworth and the "blueback" (Webster) spellers, and Pike's Arthimetic. The speller was used also as a reader. The Testament was not much employed.Pike's Arithmetic taught the colonial system of currency. later an arithmetic was introduced which used the Federal system of dollars and cents. There were few slates and no blackboard. A prominent feature in the routine of every day consisted in "licking the kids." For this purpose a stock of hickory gads was kept continually on hand. Locking out the teacher to compel a treat was sometimes tried, but not always successfully, so far as the sort of treat desired was concerned. There was always a treat, and it was often of hickory; not of nuts, but a warming and invigorating application of limber sprout.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---