REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY ILLINOIS


These soldiers lived and died in Franklin County Illinois


Daniel Bayne / Bain. Served as a Soldier. Lived Virginia. Pensioned. Born 1760 VA. Died 1838 Franklin Co., IL. 1 st Wife: Sarah Ross. 2nd Wife: Susannah (Dozier) Airey. Ref. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11

Abel Dortch. Of Mecklenburg Co., VA., born 1759, died 1835 Franklin Co., IL. He served as a Private in the Virginia Continental Troops. After the war he removed to Tennessee, and from there to Franklin Co., IL. Pensioned in Franklin Co., IL, 25 Sept 1833. Age 73. Pension # S-32221. This soldier is not listed in the new patriot index. Ref: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8

John Farris. Served as a soldier out of Virginia. Pension # R-3455 VA. He was a resident of Frankfort, Franklin Co., IL when pension claim was rejected (act of June 7, 1832) "not on rolls, no proof of service". Probably died in Franklin Co., IL. 1818 Franklin Co., census gives 3 white males +21 and 16 other white inhabitants. 1830 Franklin Co., IL census gives John Farris Sen'r, aged 60-70, with 2 younger males and 3 younger females. Not listed in the 1840 Franklin Co census. Not listed in the new patriot index. Ref: 1, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13

Benjamin Hancock. He served in the army out of NC, and died by 1840. Honor Roll says he is buried at the Liberty Cemetery, Cave Twp., Thompsonville, Franklin Co., IL, in section 26. Roll Of Honor says he is buried on a farm. Revolutionary Soldiers Buried In Southern Division (7) says he is buried by 1840 on the McCreery farm in Franklin Co., IL. The Liberty Church and Cemetery is located at Thompsonville, IL. There is a marker in front of the church that reads: "First settlement in Franklin County made here in 1804 by the Brownings, Jordans, Estes, & Wm. Barbrey who was killed by Indians and buried near; Jordan Block House built 1/4 mile southeast in 1809; Liberty M.E. Church organized 1825 by Alexander McCreery and wife, Henry Yost and wife, Sion Mitchell and wife, John Waller and wife, Rev. Ben J. Hancock who was a revolutionary soldier, and others. This memorial erected August 10, 1918". Ref: 6, 8, 10, 14

John Hooker. Served as a Soldier in the Revolutionary War out of Granville County, NC. Coming to Illinois, he lived in Franklin County, where he applied for a pension, (act of June 7, 1832). Pension # R-20384 was not granted because of having served less than six month's. He served only 4 month's service. He is said to probably be buried in Franklin Co., IL. The 1818 Franklin Co., IL, census gives John Hooker, 1 white male +21 and 6 other white inhabitants. The 1830 Franklin Co., IL, census gives John Hooker, aged 80-90, 1 female probably his wife aged 80-90, and 1 female 40-50. Ref: 1, 6, 8, 13

Andrew Johnson. Served as a Soldier out of NC. His pension # was R-5599. He was a resident of Franklin Co., IL when he applied for a pension under the act of June 7, 1832. Pension claim was suspended for "no proof of service". He was born 1750 and died 1826 in Franklin Co., IL. Ref: 1, 5, 6, 8

There appears to be a lot of confusion on John Johnsons. There are three different listings from three different sources. I will list all three.

John Johnson. Served as a Soldier from NY. He was living in Frankfort, Franklin Co., IL, when his pension claim # R-5604 NY (act of June 7, 1832) was suspended because of "no proof of service". His wife's name was Caty and he probably died in Franklin Co., IL. Ref: 1, 5

John Johnson. (NJ) Franklin County. Ref: 6, 8

Jasper Jones. Served as a Corporal from CT. He was born before 1759 and died after 1780. He is buried in the Browning Hill Cemetery at Buckner, Franklin Co., IL. His wife was Lucy Clark. Roll Of Honor says he served as a Private and is buried in section 9 of the Browning Hill Cemetery in Browning Township of Franklin Co., IL. The Index Of Pension Applications gives Jasper Jones, CT., BLWT.6020-100-Pvt. Iss. 9-29-1790 to George Smith. No papers. Ref: 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10

William McElyea. Served as a Private in the NC troops in Capt. Alexander Brevard's Tenth Regt. until March 1783. He drew a pension in Franklin Co., IL. S-33084. He was placed on the pension list on Dec 12, 1833 at the age of 75. On the 1840 census of pensioners he was aged 82. He drew bounty land for his services - BLW 47903-160-55. He was born c1758 and died after the 1840 census and is buried in section 22 of the Denning Cemetery located at Orient, IL, which is in Denning township. I think the Denning Cemetery might have been on the land that William McElyea owned. His wife's name was Frances. Shawneetown Land Records shows 18 Aug 1817 that William McElyea of Gallatin Co., IL, bought land near the line of White and Edwards Co., IL. The 1818 census of Franklin Co. shows Wm. McEya with 2 white males in the household +21 and 10 other white inhabitants. The 1830 Franklin Co. census shows William McElyea, aged 70 - 80 and living alone. The 1840 census of Franklin Co. shows William McElyea, aged 82, Revolutionary War Soldier, and also Wm. McElyea aged 80 - 90 with 1 young boy aged 5 - 10, and 1 female aged 50 - 60 and 3 younger females. Denning Cemetery was chartered 31 Aug 1911 and is recorded in misc. record I., pg. 215 in the County Clerks office of Franklin Co., IL. From McElyea Family in America: William was born in 1758 in York Co., PA., the son of the Irish immigrants Laughlin and Mary (Powers) McElyea. Laughlin and Mary had 6 known children: Patrick, William, John, James, and Mary. William died in Franklin Co., IL, on March 1st, 1845. He married 1st, Cloe, but divorced Feb 15, 1831. He married 2nd, Frances. There is evidence that he might have been married once before his marriage to Cloe. It is not known when members of this family left NC but according to pension papers of Patrick Henry and William McElyea they lived in Virginia and several counties in Tennessee. Family tradition indicated that William was in Franklin Co., IL,by 1804. By 1820 he had 7 children under 16, and one son +16. A Franklin Co. tax list showed he owned 10,000 acres on Big Muddy (River). [Big Muddy River goes through Denning township]. According to Patrick Henry McElyea's pension application based on his Rev War service this family arrived in NC May 16, 1771 during the battle of Alamance. This was a battle between the Regulators and the Royal forces under the command of Governor Tryon. Both Patrick Henry and William McElyea said in their pension application that they enlisted from Caswell Co., NC. Ref: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16

Joseph Minzies. He enlisted as a Private at Salisbury, NC in 1781 and served 18 month's in Capt. Edward Yarbrough's Company in the 3rd Regt. of NC troops. He was placed on the pension roll on Aug 28, 1830, transferred from KY. He was on the 1840 census of pensioners at the age of 95 living with a Daniel Miner. His widow, not named, drew a pension, # W-2148. Joseph was born 9 Apr 1755, and died 14 Apr 1849 in Franklin Co., IL. His 2nd wife was Margaret Karnatser. [also called Minns/Mings, there are Mings in Franklin now.] Ref: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

William Rogers. He served as a Soldier out of VA. Half pay. He was pensioned. Soldiers # was R-17514 VA. He drew bounty land for his services, BLWT 2369-300. Residence was in Frankfort, Franklin Co., IL, when pension claim was rejected (act of June 7, 1832) "not six month's service." He is buried in Franklin Co., IL. Listed in the 1818 census of Franklin Co., IL, as 1 white male +21 and 3 other white inhabitants. Ref: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8

John Gransor Scarborough. He was born April 6, 1763, the son of William and Elizabeth Scarborough, and raised in Brunswick County, VA. He enlisted first in 1780 in Brunswick Co., VA. as a Private in Capt. Selden's Company, Col. Green's Virginia Regiment. He was in the battle of Guilford and served until April 4, 1781, when he enlisted and served as a Private in Capt. James Gunn's and John Hughes' Company in Col. Anthony Walton White's regiment and continued to serve until June 11, 1783 when he was discharged. He later lived in Todd Co., KY, for three years until 1826 when he sold it and moved to Posey Co., IN, where he lived for 6 years. In the 1840 census of pensioners he was living in White Co., IL, at age 79. He died April 15, 1846 in Franklin Co., IL. He is buried in the Franklin Cemetery, lot 24, in Benton, Barron Twp., Franklin Co., IL. John married 22 Oct 1784 Francis Bennett, born 5 Sept 1763 and died 1842. John and Francis had nine children: Green, Griffin, Wilson, Temperance, Nancy, Rebecca, John Jr., Bennett an M.D., and Sally. John Scarborough's application for pension: John Scarborough, 20442, of Posey County, State of Indiana, who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Selden of the Regt. commanded by Col. Green in the Virginia line, for the term of 18 month's from 1780. Inscribed on the roll of Indiana at the rate of $8 per month to commence on the 10th day of March 1832. Certificate of pension issued the 12th day of May 1832 and sent to the Hon. R. Boon. John Scarborough's declaration: Posey Circuit Court, February Term, 1832. Pleas began and held at the courthouse in the town of Mount Vernon, County of Posey & State of Indiana on the 4th Monday of February being the February term in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two before the Hon'l Samuel Hall, presiding Judge of the fourth Judicial district and Andrew Cavett & Samuel McReynolds special judges of the said county of Posey. Be it remembered that on the third day of March in the year of our Lord 1832 and --etc. --John Scarborough aged seventy years of age and who is a resident of said County of Posey who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the act of congress of the 18th of March 1818 and the 1st of May 1820; that he the said John Scarborough enlisted for the term of 18 months in the year 1780, in the State of Virginia, Brunswick County, in the Company commanded by Selden in a Regiment of Foot commanded by Col. Greene and of which Hows was Lieutenant Colonel in the line of the State of Virginia or the continental enlistment in the next winter the company which he was attached. I joined with my regiment General Green's army in Carolina the next March he was in the battle at Guilford after which as he was on his march to Camden's the 4th Apr 1781. ____ that line, he enlisted in the first Virginia of horse in the regiment commanded by Colonel Anthony W. White and was attached to the company commanded by Captain James Gunn. The next winter he marched with his regiment into the State of Georgia and was under the command of General Wayne where he remained until the [black area on this line] into South Carolina and joined General Green; after the British left Charlestown he _____ to winter quarters. The next spring orders came for discharging but previously to his being discharged on or about the 10th day of June 1783 there was a sale of horses and he the said John Scarborough bid off his for 13 pounds 10 shillings which was deducted from his wages. He the said John Scarborough continued to serve in the army from the time of his first enlistment in the year 1780 as aforesaid on the continental establishment as aforesaid first in the foot or infantry, then in the cavalry or horse as above mentioned until his discharge which was on or about 1783. That at the time of his discharge Captain John Hugh's commanded his company and signed his discharge. That he has lost his discharge it being burnt in a house of his several years since. That he was discharged on or about the 11th day of June 1783 at Sumpters old store near Nelson's Ferry on (Santee?) River in South Carolina. That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present. That his name is not on the roll of any state except Virginia, that his reasons for not making earlier application is because that one ____ made by him in 1821, and another in 1828 have been rejected and in pursuance of the act of the first of May 1820. I do solemly swear that I was a resident of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift late, or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with an intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. Signed, John Scarborough. A brief summary of the six remaining pages: I have living with me my wife aged 68 who is crippled from a fall from a horse. One dau aged 29, and one dau aged 30. His birth date "being 70 next April"; Names personal property; He had received a legacy in 1820 which he used to buy land in Todd Co., KY, where he lived 3 yrs; In 1826 he moved to Posey Co., IN. Application for a transfer: State of IL., White Co., AD 1840. His reasons for moving being - his only son who had removed to Illinois he had no land of his own in Indiana and was not able to pay rent and he thought best to be near to his son: Letters of administration with oath. Benton, Franklin Co., IL, State of Illinois. ---John Scarborough of the County of Franklin, and State of IL, died intestate, as it is said, on or about the 15th day of April AD 1846 --- appoint Bennett Scarborough of Franklin Co. administrator. Ref: 4, 5, 6, 8

Anthony D. Shotto. Served as a soldier out of SC. He enlisted in May 1780 in Capt. John Land and Capt. Middleton Isbel's Company, Col. Burnett's Regt., SC troops. He was in the battles of Rocky Mount, the siege of Ninety-six, Camden, and Eutaw Springs, serving two years. R-9536 SC, resident of Frankfort, Franklin Co., IL, when pension claim, under act June 7, 1832 was suspended "for proof from SC records." He was born March 6th 1754 in Madrid Spain, and buried in Franklin Co., IL. He came with his father to New Orleans, and to Illinois after the war. Ref: 1, 5, 6, 8

Joshua Tyner. Served as a Private in the Georgia Continental troops. Soldiers # S-32561 GA. Placed on the pension roll March 28, 1833 in Jackson Co., IL, aged 67. He first came to Jackson Co., and then removed to Franklin Co. He was born 21 July 1767, and died 26 Dec 1838 in Franklin Co., IL. His wife was Winifred Teasby. Shawneetown Land Records gives 6 Feb 1817 Joshua Tiner, of Jackson County, IL, bought land in (8S, 1E) Franklin Co., which in 1839 located it in the NW corner of Williamson Co. The 1818 Franklin Co., IL, census gives Joshua Tiner with 2 white males +21 and 14 other white inhabitants. 1830 Franklin Co., IL, census gives Joshua Tiner aged 50 - 60 with a female 50 - 60 and 3 adult children. Ref: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13

Jacob Zall. Of Pennsylvania, rendered Patriotic Service according to one source. By another source it says he served in the PA. troops. He came to Franklin Co., IL, and applied for a pension but having served less than six month's it was not granted. "Penna. Archives". He was born February 16, 1743 in Germany, and died November 16, 1819, and is buried in Franklin Co., IL. His wife was Elizabeth Markle. Ref: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

References:

1. Index Of Revolutionary War Pension Applications In The National Archives-Bicentennial Edition, Revised and Enlarged, by the National Genealogical Society of Washington, D.C. 1976. [Note: There is a complete set of these records on microfilm located at the Brehm library at Mt. Vernon, IL].

2. Shawneetown Land Records, by Lowell M. Volkel.

3. History of White Co., IL, Inter-state pub. Co., Chicago, IL 1883.

4. The New Patriot Index, NSDAR.

5. Soldiers Of The American Revolution Buried In Illinois, by the IL State Gen. Soc.

6. Roster of Revolutionary War Soldiers And Widows Who Lived In Illinois Counties, by Mrs. Harold I. Meyer.

7. Revolutionary Soldiers Buried In Illinois, by Mrs. Harriet J. Walker.

8. Revolutionary Soldiers Buried In Southern Division, compiled 1972 by the Ten Chapters of Daughters of the American Revolution in Division VII.

9. Honor Roll, Franklin County, State Of Illinois, by Illinois Veterans Commission.

10. Roll Of Honor - Record Of Burial Places Of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Army Nurses Of All Wars Of The United States Buried In The State Of Illinois, pub. by the State of IL.

11. Members Papers.

12. 1830 Census Of Franklin County, ILL., by Susan (Doxsie) Dorris - 1993.

13 Illinois Census Returns 1810, 1818, pub by the IL State Historical Library.

14. Cave Township Cemetery Book, Franklin County, Illinois, by the Frankfort Area Gen. Soc.

15. Hamilton County Cemeteries & Probate Index, Hamilton County, Illinois, by Vaught, Davis, Gholson, & Daily.

16. 1840 Census Of Franklin County, IL by Susan (Doxsie) Dorris - 1994.

17. Pioneer Daughters Applications Of Williamson County, (IL), by the Williamson Co. Hist. Soc. 1996.

18. Old Cemetery Records Of Williamson Co., IL, copied by Nannie G. Parks, Librarian, Marion, IL. This collection is held at the Williamson Co. Historical Society located in the old jail building, Marion, IL. Nannie Gray Parks was many years ago a librarian at the Marion library, and had a large collection of genealogical information pertaining to Williamson County.

19. The History Of Williamson County, Illinois, by Milo Erwin.

20. McElyea Family In America, author unknown to me, information given by a Mrs. Hill of CA.

21. History Of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois. Goodspeed pub.

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