Look Back: A trail of patriots
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Following the Treaty of Paris in 1783 ending the Revolutionary War, tough times faced the thousands of soldiers who fought for the creation of the United States of America. Many were due back-pay and few other than officers received pensions. Land grants issued by states and the federal government were issued to some, based primarily on rank and time of service. Federal grants were issued in the yet unsettled North-West Territory, causing many officers to obtain land parcels in the area of what is now Marietta, Ohio. It is written that the Mound Cemetery at Marietta holds the remains of more officers of the Revolution than any cemetery in the country.
* Wood County patriots -- Throughout the hills and fields of Wood County the remains of more than a score of patriots, veterans of the Revolutionary War and residents of Wood County, were interred years ago. Nearly that same number of patriots are thought to have been buried here, but whose gravesites are not known. The following are excerpts from "Grave Marking Activities of The Captain James Neal Chapter West Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution:"
* James Athey -- Son of Ann and Robert Athey, born probably Prince George's County, Maryland, ca 1753; served during the Revolutionary War in the 4th, 8th, and 12th Virginia Regiments, Continental Line; married Rebecca McAtee. Migrated to Wood County, Virginia, 1807 and owned land on Big Run. Died Williamstown, Wood County ca. 1825 and is buried in the Burnt Hill Church Cemetery.
* Samuel C. Barrett -- Born February 1758, Samuel enlisted in the Revolutionary War in the fall of 1776 for a 3-year term as a private, Second Virginia Regular Line at Shenandoah County. Samuel Barrett died in Wood County, Va (now WV), September 1838 at the age of 80. He is buried in the Matthews Cemetery.
* John Enoch Bills --Born in Hampshire County, Va, in 1763, he enlisted there in the Fall of 1779 and served fifteen months. He served under his uncle, Captain Enoch. John was drafted twice and volunteered once. In May of 1853, his wife Mary Bills of Wood County, applied for a pension stating she married John Bills July 1818, and he died in Wood County in July 1852. John Bills is buried in Newland Cemetery.
* John Brookover -- Born in Maryland about 1760. Enlisted at Carroll Manor, MD, at the age of 18 to escape a hard taskmaster. He served 18 months as a private. Applied for a pension, Wood County 1833. A resident of the Boaz area, he is buried in the Owens Cemetery.
* Samuel Butcher, Jr. -- Enlisted 1778 as a Lieutenant from the Loudoun County, Va. Militia and served the required three months. About 1815 Butcher, with his wife Hannah and his younger children moved to a large tract of land in the bend of the Little Kanawha River in Wood County (W.) Virginia. Their farm became known as Butcher's Bend. He died in 1844 at the age of 87 and is buried in the Kincheloe-Van Diver graveyard near WVU-P at Cedar Grove, Wood County.
* Jacob Deem -- Born April 1764 at Frederick County, MD., he joined the militia in May 1781. His commission as ensign at age 17 was signed by Governor Mifflin of Pa. He married Eva Ann Cox in 1787 in Pa. and died Wood County, Va. after June 1850. He was originally buried in the Hill Cemetery near Pettyville. His remains were later moved to the Mt. Zion Cemetery at Mineral Wells.
* Thomas Douglas -- His birth date is unknown. Thomas was a private in the 5th Va. Regt. of the Revolution. It is not known why or when Douglas came to Wood County. He died about 1812 and interred in the Burnt Hill Church Cemetery.
* James Foley -- Being one of the early settlers and Patriarch of the Foley families of Wood County, he arrived here about 1803, acquiring land just east of what is now the Parkersburg city limits. Foley died in 1808. His second wife, Mary, with whom 11 children were born, died in 1835. James Foley and his wife are buried in the Dils Cemetery.
To be continued...
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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.