The Shannon Gap Road: A Dream Come True

 On Monday, October 12, 2026, I received a gift: the privilege of seeing the Rich Valley, Virginia home of my grandfather’s childhood from the top of Walker Mountain where he likely once stood to view it for the last time. Here’s how it happened.

One story my grandfather Clint Troutman told his children revolved around the time he left his Rich Valley home about the year 1909 at age twenty-two to claim his bride. The love of his life, Mary Ann Waggoner, had gone west with her family to Missouri, and Clint’s plan was to follow them to wed his beautiful Mary. However, his parents, especially his mother, so we were told, did not approve of the match, so he had to slip away in the night.

Prior to leaving, however, during an argument with his brother James, who called him Shoat, Clint said, “Sometime soon, and it won’t be long, you will look for Shoat, and Shoat will be gone.” And as Clint told it, a few nights later, when family members were asleep, he tiptoed out the door and began hiking over Walker Mountain. When he reached the peak, he turned for a last long look at the valley of his birth, his youth, his home, swallowed a lump in his throat, turned and walked on to Marion to board a train bound for Mexico, Missouri where he and Mary were married on October 27, 1909.

This romantic story filled me with wonder. Where was the place he stopped to view his valley home? For years, I imagined it was an overlook on Highway 16 at the top of the mountain that provides a view of the valley. But it was too far down the valley and the view did not include his home. Then, I learned that highway 16 wasn’t build until the 1930s when the CCC went to work on it.

Fast forward to the summer of 2025 during a visit to the valley, I learned from my cousin Hal Campbell (third cousin on the Pratt side) about the Shannon Gap Road. This road had been the way over Walker Mountain from the part of the valley where the Troutman family lived starting about 1860. Now it was much overgrown and nearly impassable. Not to be deterred, Hall and his son set out to clear the brush and other obstacles from it. This road, I believed, was likely to have been the path Grandpa Clint had taken when he left home. Hal offered to take me over the road to the top of the mountain. A year and a half later, I took him up on his offer. 

What a thrill! Not just the ride, but the view. The road was rough and a bit treacherous, especially when we drove over a rock slide and our vehicle bottomed out on a rock. Our hardy chariot seemed un-phased, and we continued our journey. Reaching the top where there was an electrical tower, we stopped and drank in a spectacular view.

Hal pointed out landmarks to me—his home, the Rich Valley Presbyterian Church and cemetery where our great-grandparents, Daniel and America Troutman are buried, as are 2x great-grandparents, Nicholas and Sally Pratt,  who are also Hal’s 2x great- grandparents. In a photo below, I’ve marked the locations. And I couldn’t leave out a picture of Hal and the vehicle that took us over the mountain road. 

I’m deeply grateful for Monday’s “dream come true” journey. As I pondered the beauty of the mountain, the valley, the historical significance of this place where my ancestors lived and died, where the only traces of them are gravestones in the cemetery, I thank the Lord for this place and the people. Empty for decades, the Troutman house is over grown with weeds, weathered and collapsing, and the Pratt house located above the Rich Valley Presbyterian Church is gone. 

I’m reminded of a scripture: “As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. The wind has passed over it, and it is no more, and the place acknowledges it no longer” (Psalm 103:15-16 NASB1995). But the next two verses add a promise: “But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember His precepts of do them.” (Psalm 103:17-18 NASB1995). Although few descendants of the Troutman family live in the area, none of them named Troutman, the valley is teaming with descendants of the Pratt family, like Hal and Lynn and their sons, who carry on the traditions of generosity, stewardship of the land, and faithfulness to God. Thanks be to God!

 

Hal points out landmarks in the valley to me.

Our transport to the mountain top, Hal and his side-by-side. 

 

 

 

 

 A portion of the Shannon Gap Road.

 

 

 

 

  

Locations marked with red arrows: McCarty-Campbell home (far lower left); Rich Valley Presbyterian Church and Cemetery (above and r. of Mc-C home); approximate location of the home of Daniel and America (Pratt) Troutman (lower right of center).

 

 

120th Troutman Reunion, North Carolina 2024

 The Troutman family in North Carolina knows how to throw a reunion. This year they celebrated the 120th. As usual, Brent Warren and the members of the board did a superb job of making it special. Being from out of state, I was asked to give a response to the welcome. Brent told me just to tell what the reunion means to me. So I thought about it. What does this reunion mean to me? Two reasons came to mind: stability and continuity.

I’m in awe of families who have stayed in one place for generations. They have a wonderful sense of place, of belonging, of rootedness, of stability. That’s the Troutman family of North Carolina. Many of them have lived on Troutman Farm Road, or in the vicinity, ever since our progenitor, Jacob Troutman, whom we call The Pioneer, arrived there and built his cabin in about 1785.

Not so much, my branch of the family. We are the wanderers, those who strayed from the fold. My great-grandfather, Daniel Absolum, a grandson of Jacob’s, left North Carolina about 1868, and drove a herd of horses into Rich Valley, Smyth County, Virginia—or so the story goes. There a young lady caught his eye, and he ended up marrying her. When he took her home to meet his family, however, she did not acclimate. She wanted to go back to Virginia, so he took her. There in the valley of Virginia, they raised their ten children. My grandfather Clint Troutman was their ninth.

At age 22, Clint followed the family of the love of his life, Mary Ann Waggoner, when they moved to Missouri, and there he married her. Later they migrated to Wayne County, Nebraska, where they raised their five children. My father Verne Troutman was their fourth.

In 1936, when Verne was 22 years old, he and his brother Jim took a load of horses by train to Rich Valley, Smyth County, Virginia to sell. Jim went home, but Verne stayed. That summer, he and his uncle, James Henry Troutman traveled to the Troutman Reunion in North Carolina. It was the first time a descendant of Daniel’s had returned to the home place. Verne wrote home to his father in Nebraska what a great reception the Troutman family had given them, particularly, Tays Troutman, a second cousin.

Back in Virginia, Verne started a business and met the love of his life, Lois McIntyre. He married her in 1940. About two years later, they moved back to Nebraska where Verne started farming and they raised their four children. I am their third. In 1960, we moved to Florida, then two years later to Missouri, then back to Virginia in 1967.

Later when married, my husband and I moved numerous times over our 55 years together. We have lived in Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, back to Indiana, and now Pennsylvania. So I have sometimes wondered where I belong. I have a deep connection to Nebraska and to Virginia and to Indiana—and although I have never lived in North Carolina, I feel connected to this state, too, because of this reunion. My father brought us here as teens. Then I came later in 1972 with him and his two brothers and a sister. Then my husband and I brought our children once. Then in 2004, the 100th reunion, we rallied a group of about thirty of my Nebraska cousins to come. Myron and I have come a half dozen or so times since then. The more I come, the more I realize what a sense of stability is here, a sense of place, a sense of belonging that I don’t feel elsewhere.

The second reason this reunion means a lot to me is continuity. Since 1784 when my 3x great-grandfather, Jacob Troutman, moved to Iredell County from Rowan County, his descendants have lived in this place. The Troutman name is everywhere around here—on mailboxes, on businesses, on the fire station, even the town name. Not so where Daniel lived in Rich Valley, Virginia, nor where Clint lived in Wayne County, Nebraska. There’s no longer anyone named Troutman in either place—except on tombstones in cemeteries. This reunion grounds family members in family history, continuing family traditions and reminding us of our faith. We meet to remember those who have passed away in the previous year, we sing hymns and pray, a pastor gives a short speech, and when we meet in the schoolhouse, we sing a family clan song, hymns and patriotic songs, and we pray and celebrate our heritage under God.

As I have researched my family history, I have looked for evidence of faith in previous generations, which is sometimes difficult to find. Most ancestors didn’t leave a testimony of their faith, except maybe in a will that commits their souls to God. Sometimes a baptismal record will at least show that they belonged to a church. Maybe one was a preacher. But when I come here, I see the evidence of the faith passed down through the generations.

The Holy Scriptures remind us to tell the stories from one generation to the next, so that the heritage of faith will not be forgotten. Among many, here are three:
 
“Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation” (Joel 1:3).

“Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord” (Psalms 102:18).

“One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts” (Psalms 145:4).

So what does this Troutman reunion mean to me? For all of us it provides stability, a sense of place and a sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves; it gives continuity, that there is hope for future generations as we tell our stories of family and of faith in God. May the tradition continue for years to come.

Descendants of Daniel A. Troutman at the reunion, 12 Oct. 2024.

One more item of importance to maintain stability and continuity is preservation, which I must add. Back in the day (about 1972) when I went to the reunion with my dad and his siblings, we trekked through the woods and fields to the location of Jacob Troutman's cabin. It was nearly covered by weeds and undergrowth, but we could still peer inside, walk around it and see the old stone chimney, the sloping porch roof and such. I took pictures. At the 2004 reunion, we trekked through the woods again, only to see the porch roof broken down and the house falling to the ground. Today one of the family members, Sam Troutman, has taken on the task of rebuilding the old house on the original stone foundation and including the old chimney. Sam is preserving the old house so that this family history continues. Thank you, Sam!

 

My dad (r) and his siblings with Tays T. (suit) and Blanche (white hair), 1972.

Front of Jacob's cabin, 1972

Back of Jacob's cabin, 1972

The front of rebuilt cabin today, a work in progress

Stone chimney, inside cabin 2024

The stone foundation 2024

Back of rebuilt cabin and the builder, Sam T. (blue shirt)

Troutman Family Reunion 2024, The Nebraska Branch

Eugene Mahoney State Park, Ashland, Nebraska, site of the family reunion of the descendants of Clint and Mary Troutman this past September 29, is a long way from York, PA. But family calls and we must travel. This is about living family members--mostly. Only one tombstone photo.

First, Myron and I drove from York to Anderson, Indiana, our home of thirty-five years, and spent two nights and a day, then we drove on to Nebraska. But this time, on the way, we took a detour from our usual route, I-74 northwest from Indianapolis to I-80 west across Iowa. For years as we have sped through Iowa on I-80, we have talked about visiting Centerville, Iowa, home of Myron's 2x great-grandparents, Isaac and Elizabeth Brokaw. But it's off the beaten path of the interstate highway, so we said, another time, maybe. This was the time. Instead of going to I-80, we detoured from I-74 and took IL state road 136 west to Keokuk, Iowa, then a little jaunt north on IA state road 218 to state road 2 west through southern Iowa. 

 We arrived in Centerville about 2:00 p.m. or so to see lawn chairs lined up around the court house square. "Is there going to be a parade?" we asked a man on the street. "Yes," he said. "Tomorrow is pancake day." He proceeded to tell us all about the celebration to come, an annual event, sort of like a fall festival, but they offer free pancakes to the community. The town hosts two parades, one for kids and one for adults, then there are bands, and games, and in the evening a queen contest. 

 We walked around the square and found the information center, got a brochure about the big day, and walked to a historical museum. There we asked about how to find the cemetery, and a woman gave us a map of it so we could find the graves of Myron's ancestors. Her directions were perfect, and we found the grave stones easily. 

Despite the fact that the Centerville detour added hours to our travel day, it was worth every minute. We love small towns and their celebrations, and Centerville had the spirit. If only we could have stayed another day to eat pancakes, but Nebraska beckoned us onward.

After dark, we arrived at Mahoney State Park where our cousins greeted us, but we were road weary, so with hugs and a promise to meet for breakfast, we collapsed on our beds. 

Next day, to recovering from surgery, our cousin Connee and her husband couldn't come to the reunion, so after lunch, nine of us took the reunion to them. Pics below.

                                                Myron, John and Verna

                                                Jack, Ginger, Sharon, and Judy

Zola and Connee                     

Sunday, sunshine and mild temperatures made reunion day the best. Our numbers were small, but we had a great time. I missed getting a picture of Matt and the teenagers and Roger and Roxanne Meyer, descendants of Clint's brother J. W. "Bud" Troutman--so glad they could come--but here are some of our smiling faces:

                                                    Virginia's family;

                                                Neville's delegation;

         Carl's family wins the prize for the most attending, and Matt's family adds more; Jen gets the prize for bringing Grandma T's date pudding--it was the best!

                              Verne's family, w/o John and Myron, but they're pictured above.

It's good to reconnect with cousins. Many years ago, we were young and playing on the grounds of Uncle Jim's farm or exploring Uncle Carl's store in Winside, and such. We had family dinners at one home or the other and we were one big family. Some of our cousins have passed on and we miss them, so we look forward to the big reunion in the sky someday. Now we're scattered here and there, and our bones are getting creaky, but we make it back as often as possible to see reconnect and preserve the family tradition. Families are the best! 

 God bless us, every one!

Revolutionary War Patriot Ancestors #6 and #7: Aeneus Campbell, Sr. and Jr.

“A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4).

In the late 1980s I helped Dad compile information for a Troutman family history. When we finished, my mother asked me, “Now that you’re finished with the Troutman ancestors, will you see what you can learn about my McIntyres?” I was delighted to do it, and it’s been a different kind of  adventure. Dad’s were mostly German immigrants; Mother’s were Scots. Turns out, my mother has as many or more Revolutionary War patriots as my Grandma Mary. Wish she were here today for me to share about them. But then, maybe she has met them in heaven.

With the help of a Campbell cousin in North Carolina, I learned about Aeneus Campbell (#A018526), a 5x great-grandfather. There are actually two men, father and son, with the same name, both who served in the war. The elder Campbell is the first patriot I found for my mother. He and the others are all ancestors of her mother Fannie Mae Myers: Me > Lois McIntyre > Fannie Mae Myers > Omie Allen Deal > Jane Campbell > Belt Campbell > Aeneas Campbell, Jr. (#A204644) > Aeneas Campbell, Sr.

Aeneus, Sr. was born in Scotland about 1730. Haven’t found a record for his arrival in the colonies, but he first lived in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. From there, he moved to Loudon County, Virginia about 1755 where he became the county’s first sheriff. His son Aeneus, Jr. was born in Loudon County in 1757. He also came just in time to serve the Fairfax Company as lieutenant during the French and Indian War. He bought a plantation called Raspberry Plain (it’s still there, Google it), which had a jail in the yard, a 12-foot-square brick building, conveniently located for the sheriff.(1) He also built the first courthouse and was among the first trustees of the town of Leesburg. In 1760, he sold Raspberry Plain to Thomas Mason and moved back to Maryland, and from there he served in the American Revolution. He helped raise a company of men in Frederick County called the First Maryland Battalion of the Flying Camp.(2) He is credited with raising and supplying the company at his own expense.(3)

The Flying Camp and the Maryland Battalions were heavily involved in the bloody battle of Brooklyn Heights during which Washington’s army suffered heavy casualties.(4)

Aeneus Campbell, Sr. first married Lydia (surname uncertain), who was the mother of three known children: Esther, Aeneus Jr., and Ann, as proven by descendants who submitted DAR applications. Lydia died about 1768. Later, Aeneus married Henrietta Cheney, 24 Dec 1793.(5) It’s likely that he had another wife between Lydia and Henrietta, but I haven’t seen the evidence. Input from those who have sources is welcome. Aeneus Sr. died in 1812 in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Aeneus, Jr. was born 3 October 1757 at Raspberry Plain. He served during the American Revolution as a lieutenant in the militia in Captain Harwood’s Company, Upper Battalion of Montgomery County.(6) He first married Sarah Hickman in 1778.(7) They had one known daughter, Mary born about 1781. Sarah died about 1790, and Aeneus, Jr. second married Eliza Ann Belt, 25 Feb 1791. They had nine known children: Thomas, Elijah, Humphrey, Esther, Asa, Ruth, Belt, Elizabeth, and David.(8) Aeneus, Jr. moved his family to North Carolina about 1796, as did the Belt and Turner families from Maryland, with whom the Campbells had intermarried. Aenaus Jr. died in Iredell County, NC on 15 Oct. 1828.(9)

Other men from the Maryland-to-North Carolina families from whom my mother descended—the Belt, Turner, and Dent families—also served in the Revolution. It’s a pleasure to share them with you. More to come. 

Campbell cousins at grave of Aeneus Campbell, Jr., Iredell Co., NC

____________________

1. Harrison Williams, Legends of Loudon (Richmond, VA: Garrett & Cassie, Inc. 1938), p. 102. This book may be viewed online, full text: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38130/38130-h/38130-h.htm

2. Williams, p. 103.

3. Williams, p. 104.

4. For more on the Flying Camp and 1st Maryland Regiment: https://revolutionarywar.us/continental-army/maryland/ . Also, to learn more about the Battle of Brooklyn, see https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/brooklyn . Also, for an engaging account of the battle, read Patrick O’Donnell’s The Indispensables.

5.  Maryland Marriages, 1655-1850, Frederick County, 24 Dec 1793, Henrietta Cheney and Aeneus Campbell, Ancestry. 

6. R1627V (pension file); Archives Of Maryland, Vol 16, p 373; Archives Of Maryland, Vol 18, p 49.

7. U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900, David Campbell; Ancestry.

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid.

NSDAR Patriot Ancestor #5: Thomas Dunn #A132948

Thorn Spring and Crab Creek were Dunn locations

.

Grandma Mary’s pioneer ancestors flourished in southwestern Virginia. I wonder if she had any inkling how deep and firm her roots grew there. This time it’s 5x great-grandfather, Thomas Dunn: Me > Verne Troutman > Mary Waggoner > Eli P. Waggoner > Anna F. Harman > Henry Harman > Mary “Polly” Dunn > Thomas Dunn.

Thomas Dunn was born before 1745, place is uncertain. Some researchers think he was born in Ireland, others think it was northern Virginia. I haven’t found proof of either place.  Numerous men named Thomas Dunn in Virginia make it difficult to pinpoint his parents. Some Ancestry trees connect him to Thomas Dunn and Lucy, but this man’s will does not include a son named Thomas.1 

Our Thomas married Mary Fickle, daughter of Michael and Margaret Fickle.2 To them were born seven known children: Thomas Dunn II, Mary Polly (my ancestor), Rachel, Elizabeth, Esther, John, and Margaret.3

The Dunn, Harman, and Thompson families were closely associated. Their children and grandchildren intermarried.

In 1755, when Shawnee attacked the Ingles family killing Colonel Patton and others, and capturing Mary Draper Ingles among others, family lore claims Thomas Dunn to have been among the men who set out to track the kidnappers.

In March 1769, William Preston surveyed 320 acres of land for Thomas Dunn on “Macks Run, corner Col. Patton.”4 Thomas Dunn also received a deed for land on a branch of Crab Creek.5 In addition, he bought land on Thorn Spring, which was in court in dispute, years later.6

During the Revolution, Dunn served in the Montgomery County militia in Thomas Ingles’ Company and later as a juror.7 During that time, jurors had much more responsibilities than they do today, including questioning the defendant and doing their own research, even questioning the lawyers and judges.8

When he died, Thomas Dunn owned a sizeable estate of 2,115 acres to be divided among his seven children.9

My supplemental application for Thomas Dunn has been submitted but not yet verified. So we’ll see if I provided sufficient proof of lineage. It’s always a challenge.

Interested in learning how to join Daughters of the American Revolution? Send me a message. It's a great service organization.

________________________

1 Alabama Surname Files, Expanded, 1702-1981, n.p., Thomas Dunn, Jr., Ancestry.

2 Frederick County, Maryland, Probate Administration Accounts Liber A-1 folio 385: Will of Michael Fickle, written 20 Nov 1770, probated 3 Jan 1771.

3 Mary B. Kegley and F. B. Kegley, Early Adventurers on the Western Waters, abstract of Wythe County Deeds, 1809: Partition Deed of 7 parts to heirs of Thomas Dunn.

4 Kegley and Kegley, p. 41-42.

 5 Ibid, p. 183. This deed resulted in a lawsuit years later regarding the rightful owner of the land.

 6 August County, Virginia, Chancery Records, transcribed by Eric D. Ausmus, posted on Ancestry, 22 Dec 2012. 

 7 Summers, Annals of Southwest Virginia, Vol. 1, p. 734; Virginia Magazine of History & Biography, Vol. 47, p. 35. Sources listed on DAR.org > GRS > Thomas Dunn #A132948.

8 David Barton, "Courts of Justice," The Founders Bible (Newberry Park, CA: Shiloh Road Publishers, 2012) p.330.

9 Augusta County, Virginia, Chancery Records.

NSDAR Patriot Ancestor #4: Adam Waggoner #A133663

Purported to be Adam Waggoner, c. 1790.*

Another of my paternal grandma Mary’s pioneer ancestors is 5^x great-grandfather, Adam Waggoner: Me > Verne Troutman > Mary Waggoner > Eli P. Waggoner > Jacob Waggoner > Elias Waggoner > George Waggoner > Adam Waggoner, probably born before 1730 in Germany. Name spellings vary from Waggoner/Wagoner/Wagner/Waganer/Wegener, and probably more. It’s spelled Adam Wagner in the DAR database. My grandmother used the Waggoner spelling, so that’s what I prefer.

 

But it’s Adam Waganer on a list of Palatines arriving in Philadelphia on the ship Nancy, on September 14, 1754.[1] Following that is a list of signers of an oath to the British Crown, which includes the name Johann Adam Wagner: same ship, same day, same man, two name versions. He is said to have arrived with a wife, name unknown, and two sons, Jacob and George. [2]  Children born in America were Margaret, Daniel, David, Christina, Sarah, Rebecca, Elizabeth and Mary. Later to wife #2, known only as Jane, were born Anne and Susannah.  All but Margaret, Elizabeth, and Mary were named in his 1785 will.[3] The date of his exit from Germany coincided with an exodus of Moravians escaping persecution, but whether he was Moravian or not is uncertain. Later his children affiliated with the Methodists.[4]

 

Adam’s whereabouts and activities are unknown until his name appears in a land record in Augusta County, Virginia on 18 December 1769. To get there, he had surely followed the Great Road through the Valley of Virginia. He purchased several properties in and around the area and lived in Montgomery County during the American Revolution. Records indicate that he was educated, and in his will he left provision for his minor children to be “schooled.” When he died in March 1796, he left substantial land holdings to his children. [5]

 

As patriotic service, he supplied certain items needed by the colonial army.  When the military confiscated people’s property for military use, the owners were given a voucher to turn in later to be reimbursed. Adam submitted his voucher, and it was duly recorded.[6] He claimed the Washington County militia took one steer valued at £3. Also, he “provided 13 diets at 13/, pasturage for 11 horses of the Montgomery County militia at 19/, and a mutton, the total being £5.12.10.”[7] Whether he ever received compensation for his losses is unknown. Also, in Montgomery County, he took the oath of allegiance and is listed on a militia company roster led by Captain McCorkle.[8]

 

*Posted on Ancestry, this appears to be a photo taken of a portrait, as there was no photography in 1790. An attempt was made to contact the person who originally posted it to authenticate it, but no reply. So if JeanRoot97 sees it here and objects to my using it, just let me know and I will remove it. Comparing to photos of two of A. W.'s great-grandsons, sons of Elias, the likeness is striking.

 

David N. Waggoner, H. & N. p. 14.

Adam E. Waggoner, H & N, p. 43.

 

---

[1] Ralph Berger Strassberger, Pennsylvania German Pioneers: A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808 (Norristown [PA]: Pennsylvania German Society, 1934), Vol. 1, p. 591, 593. Can be viewed on Hathi Trust.

[2] Thomas C. Hatcher and Nancy Nash, The Adam Waggoner Family of Tazewell and Montgomery Counties Virginia, 1750-1996 (place n/a: publisher n/a, 1996) p. ii, 1.

[3] Virginia, Montgomery County, Will Book B (1720ca-1786ca), p. 80, will of Adam Waggoner

[4] Hatcher and Nash, pp. 190-196.

[5] Hatcher and Nash, p. 176.

[6] Abercrombie & Slatten, VA Rev Pub Claims, Vol. 2, pp. 685, 687.

[7] Hatcher and Nash, p. 346, as qtd. from Early Adventures on the Western Waters, by Mary B. Kegley, p. 764).

[8] Ibid., p. 1.

NSDAR Patriot Ancestor #3: Andrew Thompson #A113833

 

Point Pleasant rail bridge over Kanawha River, 2014.

 

My 4^x great-grandfather, Andrew Thompson, is another of my paternal grandma Mary’s pioneer ancestors: Me > Verne Troutman > Mary Waggoner > Rachel Havens > Mary Jane Thompson > Bryant Thompson > Andrew Thompson.

 

Census records suggest that Andrew Thompson was born between 1751 and 1760.[1] A Bible record says he died in 1840 at age 90.[2] Some claims on Ancestry give his middle name, his parents’ names, and his birthplace in Ireland, but I haven’t seen proof of any of it, so if my readers have sources, please share your bounty. About 1774, Andrew married Nancy Anna (possibly Reed, but not proven that I know of). An 1849 deed recorded in Wythe County, Virginia made by John, Andrew, Amos, and Bryant Thompson of Wythe County, Virginia, and Francis Thompson of Lee County refers to land inherited from their father, Andrew Thompson, Sr. In addition to the sons named above, his estate settlement names daughters  Mary Helvey, deceased, to her children, and Nancy, who married Charles Havens.[3]

 

During the American Revolution, Andrew lived in Montgomery County, Virginia. His service during the war included the rank of ensign in the Battle of Point Pleasant and appointment as a Justice of the Peace in Montgomery County.[4]

 

In the western regions of the colonies, where Andrew Thompson lived, the American Revolution often centered on battles with Indians resulting from unrest in the east and unresolved issues from the French and Indian War (or Seven Years War). Summers notes John Adams’ assertion that the Revolution actually started in 1760 when the Britain imposed taxes that the colonists deemed unfair and lacked their representation. In 1764 they organized against this oppression in Boston (and in North Carolina, I might add; see my previous post). In 1765, the Stamp Act was passed and the Sons of Liberty organized against it. In 1766 the Brits taxed tea; in 1768 they sent troops to Boston. About that time, Virginians passed an agreement not to import. In 1770 the Boston Massacre happened. In England, parliament remained determined to thwart all opposition to taxation in the colonies, which set colonists’ minds to further resistance.[5] 

 

In order to distract colonists from problems in the east, the British promised the Shawnee that if they allied with them against the colonists in western settlements, the King would keep the colonists from crossing the mountains into Indian territories. This action, the Brits contended, would also impress the colonists with their need to depend on the Redcoats to protect them from attacks on their settlements. So at the same time the Brits allied with the Indians against the colonists, they were attempting to convince the colonists that they were their protectors against Indian attacks.

 

Dunmore’s War and the Battle of Point Pleasant was an example of this duplicity.[6] In short, Governor Dunmore commanded Colonel Andrew Lewis to raise an army of 1000 men from the western counties of Virginia to fight against a huge Shawnee force led by Cornstalk gathering on the Kanawha River at Point Pleasant. Meanwhile, he told Lewis that he would take a contingent of British regulars from northern Virginia to meet up with him and assist in the battle. Dunmore dawdled and delayed and never arrived, leaving Lewis’ outnumbered colonists to wage the battle on their own. After a hard fight with many killed on both sides, including several of Lewis’ officers and his brother, the battle ended at nightfall with the colonists holding the field. Cornstalk and his men left.

 

Summers asserts that the underrated Battle at Point Pleasant on October 10, 1774 was the first full-scale battle of the war. It greatly reduced the threat of Indian attacks on the western frontier and allowed the colonists to focus their fight against the British army in the east.

 

Thankfully, Andrew Thompson survived or I wouldn’t be here today.

---

[1] 1830 U.S. census, Wythe Co, VA, p. 360, line 5, Andrew Thompson Sr.; NARA series M19, roll 200. Also, 1840 U.S. census, Wythe Co, VA, p. 118, line 20, Andrew Thompson; NARA series M(n/a), roll 579.

[2] Records taken from Thompson Family Bible, notarized 15 Sep 1831, J. E. Wagner, Notary Public, Mercer County, WV.

[3] Wythe County, Virginia Will Book #6, pp. 69-70, 373-376; Office of the Clerk, Courthouse, Wytheville.

[4] Livia Simpson-Poffenbarger, Battle of Point Pleasant (Point Pleasant, VA: The State Gazette, 1909) p. 94. Also, L. P. Summers, Annals of Southwest Virginia (Abingdon, VA: L. P. Summers, 1929), vol. 1, p. 683. The DAR recognizes four levels of service to qualify someone as a patriot ancestor: military, public, civil, and oath of allegiance. Thompson’s service was both military and civil. The full text of these sources can be found on Hathi Trust (hathitrust.org).

[5] Simpson-Poffenbarger, p. 12, 18.

[6] Ibid., p. 13.