During the American Revolution the Virginia legislature passed laws that required an oath of allegiance to the State. Free men of age of majority were required to make the following oath:
"We whose names are hereunto subscribed do swear or affirm that we renounce and refuse all allegiance to George third King of Great Britain, his heirs successors and that, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia as a free and independent State and that I will not at any time do or Cause to be done any matter or thing that will be make known to some one Justice of the Peace for the said State all treasons or traitorous Conspiracies which I now or hereafter shall known to be formed against this or any of the United States of America."In 1777 Montgomery County mustered the militia and required the oath. The result is an interesting list of declared revolutionaries that is useful to family historians.Sworn of Capt. Daniel Triggs company on 13 September 1777:
Archibald Thompson – of diary fame
Blackburn Akers - I think this was the father of the Blackburn Akers who married Susanna Scaggs, daughter of James and Susanna Scaggs.
John Despain - lived and traveled with the Long Hunters
John Scaggs, Junr. – I think this was Henry’s eldest son who was buried in hollow log. The other candidate, John, the son of Thomas Scaggs b. 1728, likely took the oath in the newly formed county of Greenbrier.
Archibald Scaggs – Charles’ eldest son
John Charlton - I think John was the grantee of the land from Zachariah Skaggs, heir-at-law to John Skaggs, in Montgomery County in 1780.
Charles Skaggs - longhunter
Francis Charlton - son of John Charlton
Solomon Akers - son of Blackburn Akers
Samuel Lester - brother to Abner Lester
John Skaggs (Goard Head) - Long Hunter later wounded at King's Mountain
Abner Lester - father of William Lester who married Rachel Scaggs.
Jonathan Elswick
Moses Skaggs – of estate papers fame
John Hankins - married Elizabeth Skaggs, sister to the Long Hunters
John Elswick
Archibald Elkins - married Margaret Bishop, daughter of John Bishop
Hezekiah Whitt - son of Richard Whitt and Susanna Skaggs (sister to the Long Hunters)
John Skaggs – I think he was Zachariah’s father
Henry Bishop - son of John Bishop
Richard Hankins - brother to John Hankins
John Bishop - second husband of Ruth Skaggs Bishop
Valentine Akers - son of Blackburn Akers
Henry Skaggs (son of Aaron) – “hunting” Henry
Zachariah Skaggs - died in 1818 in Russell County, Virginia
Sworn of Capt. Daniel Triggs company on 15 September 1777:
Richard Whitt - Reverend married to Susanna Skaggs, sister to the Long Hunters.
James Skaggs (longman) - James Jr. the Long Hunter
Interesting questions:
- Where was Henry Skaggs the Long Hunter? Hunting in Kentucky? Or was Henry still "on the fence" about loyalty to King George III? Notice they were very specific about which Henry did give a loyalty oath to the State of Virginia.
- Was Richard Skaggs the Long Hunter serving in the Continental Army at this time?
- Was the family of Thomas Scaggs (b. 1728) of Alderson, West Virginia taking the oath in newly-formed Greenbrier County?
Draper's notes indicate that "Henry Skaggs and brothers ... were in 1777 at Shadrack White’s Station in the neighborhood of Maiden Spring Fork of Clinch. -Donna
ReplyDeleteThanks! If Henry was at Shadrack White's station then it's possible he took the oath with the Washington County militia.
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