Genealogy Report: Descendants of John Waggener
Descendants of John Waggener
29.MAJOR ANDREW4 WAGGENER (JOHN3, HERBERT2, JOHN1) was born Abt. 1740 in Virginia, and died May 27, 1813 in Bunker Hill, Berkeley Co., West Virginia.He married MARY CHAPMAN Abt. 1763 in Virginia.She was born 1746, and died Unknown.
Notes for MAJOR ANDREW WAGGENER:
Major Andrew Waggener is without question the most famous Waggener. He is a historical figure, who served with General George Washington in the American Revolution. It has been reported that he also served earlier in the French and Indian War, but I have concluded that this was not true. I believe that the records of the bounty land earned by his uncles Thomas and Edmund, and passed to him by his father John, have been misinterpreted as having been earned by his service. Andrew's name does not appear on any of the army records from that period.
Andrew was reportedly born in the early 1740's. I believe that his parents moved from Essex County to St. George's Parish in Spotsylvania County, somewhere between the early to late 1740's. As such, he could have been born in either of these counties. It is most likely that he spent most of his childhood in Spotsylvania County.
Andrew's name appears as a witness on a number of property records in Spotsylvania County, between 1761 and 1767. Two of these involve his parents, who were still living there, but who apparently moved to Culpeper County in this time period also. It seems very likely that Andrew met and married his wife, Mary Chapman, in Spotsylvania County, and that they had at least one or two children there. In the indenture below from August 8, 1771, Andrew is described as living in the County of Frederick. Presumably this is where he was living during the Revolutionary War.
The land conveyed in the indenture, is the bounty land mentioned above that was earned by the service of Andrew's uncles Thomas and Edmund Waggener in the French and Indian War. I believe that it was about 4,000 acres, and that it is in what is now Mason County, West Virginia. Andrew probably never saw this land and apparently passed it on to his sons Andrew, James, and possibly Thomas. They reportedly took possession of it in about 1815.
It is not known at this point, exactly when Andrew joined the army. He must have had some military experience prior to the American Revolution, which means is is likely that he was in the army by at least the late 1760's or early 1770's. He must have joined Washington's Continental Army shortly after he began to form it in 1775. He was commissioned a Captain in the Continental Army on June 20, 1776. I came across a letter written to Andrew dated October 1, 1776, in which he is addressed as the Commanding Officer of Fort Pitt in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Andrew fought with General George Washington at the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776. The British had assigned Hessian troops to garrison at Trenton, New Jersey. Under the command of Colonel John Glover, American soldiers ferried one attacking force across the ice-clogged Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776. These troops assembled swiftly, then silently marched towards Trenton. They took the Hessians by surprise and captured 1,000 prisoners on December 26.
Andrew was also at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, where General Washington, in a brilliant maneuver, outwitted the British commander, General Charles Cornwalis. The American troops were occupying a precarious position along the high ground of Assunpink Creek. Cornwalis was convinced that the Continental Army could not escape, and ignored the advice of his officers who wanted him to attack at once. While he waited until daybreak, the Continental Army circled around the enemy's flank and attacked from the rear.
Andrew's troops were an important element at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. This battle was won by the British and the Americans suffered 700 casualties. The Americans were attacked from the front and the right flank. All accounts of the battle agree that the troops led by Captain Waggener and Porterfield behaved more gallantly that any others. If all had shown the desperate valor of these men, the Battle of Brandywine would have been won by Washington and Philadelphia saved.
Andrew was with General George Washington at Valley Forge, for the winter of 1777-1778. In early December, General William Howe had put his British troops into winter quarters in comfortable Philadelphia. Washington meanwhile, had his 10,000 troops on the snow and ice covered slope of a low hill next to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The men were supposed to receive decent rations of meat and vegetables, but a stingy Continental Congress sent little. Many also lacked decent uniforms, blankets, and shoes. Men began to die at a rate of 400 a month (a total of 2,500) from starvation, exposure, and disease. Others deserted. By May of 1778, only about 4,000 Continentals were left, with Andrew among them.
In June of 1778, Washington broke camp at Valley Forge when he learned that British General Henry Clinton was marching his army of 10,000 troops to New York City. Washington went after him in hot pursuit.American General Charles Lee was ahead of Washington's troops and felt the sting of his attack first, when the British wheeled savagely to repulse the Americans at Monmouth Court House, New Jersey. Lee disobeyed orders to attack and instead ordered a retreat. Clinton saw his opportunity and rushed up reinforcements and the American retreat became a rout. Washington arrived and managed to rally the disorganized colonial army. Andrew was wounded at the Battle of Manmouth and spent four months recovering from his wounds. When he returned to service, he was transferred to the 8th Virginia on September 14, 1778. On December 15, 1778, he was promoted to Major.
The British once more tried to take control of the South. They overwhelmed the American forces at Savannah, Georgia, and soon took control of the state. Next, the British, under the command of General Henery Clinton, decided to seize control of Charleston. There General Benjamin Lincoln, in command of 3,600 American troops, prepared to withstand the assault. The siege officially began on March 25, 1780.Andrew was taken prisoner at Charleston on May 12, 1780, in an early skirmish. He remained a prisoner of war for almost 6 months, and was exchanged in November 1780.
Andrew witnessed the surrender at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, where Cornwalis turned his sword over to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, who declared, "I have the honor to inform Congress that a reduction of the British Army is most happily effected." When the British Prime Minister, Lord North, heard of the crushing defeat at Yorktown, he is said to have cried, "O God! It is all over."
Andrew retired from service on January 1, 1783. He was granted a life pension of $120 a year. He was also reportedly granted 2,131 acres of bounty land in Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia), and 6,222 acres in Fincastle County, Virginia (now Botetourt County, Virginia).His stipend during the time was was $40 a month, compared to infantry men who received $6.67 a month. Unfortunately, the paper money issued by the Continental Congress was worth only 10 cents on the dollar in 1779, and only 1 cent by 1781, which is probably part of the reason the land bounties were given as an incentive.
After the war, Andrew and family moved to Berkeley County, and apparently took possession of the 2,100 acres of bounty land there. I am not sure what happened to the 6,200 acres in Botetourt County, but it seems likely he never saw that either. Andrew reportedly remained in Berkeley County for the rest of his life, and died there in Bunker Hill in 1813.
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From Virginia County Records, Volume 1, Spotsylvania County 1721-1800, edited by William Armstrong Crozier, 1978:
****** Spotsylvania County Records, Deed Book F-1761-1766. December 7, 1761. John Waggoner of St. Geo. Par., Spts. Co., to Robert Bradley of same Par. and Co. L30 curr. 300 a., remainder of a tracttaken up by George Dowdy, etc. Andrew Waggoner, Ann x Waggoner, Sophia Waggoner. Dec. 7, 1761.
(John Waggener is Andrew's father, Sophia is his aunt, and Ann is probably the wife of his uncle James.)
****** Spotsylvania County Records, Deed Book F-1761-1766. July 15, 1762. Ephraim Beazley of Spots. Co. and Winne, his wife, to John Partlow of Caroline Co. L35 curr. 150 a. in Spots. Co. Wm. Allen, Andrew Waggener, David Partlow, Saml. Partlow. Sept. 6. 1762.
****** Spotsylvania County Records, Deed Book F-1761-1766. Nov. 7, 1763. John Waggener of St. Geo. Par., Spts. Co., and Rachel, his wife, to Ephraim Beazley of same Par. and Co., L60 curr. 122 a. in Spts. Co., purchased by sd. Waggener of Thos. Graves and Eleanor, his wife, as by deeds, April 4, 1758. Thomas Coleman, Andrew Waggener, Robt. Goodloe. Nov. 7, 1763.
(John and Rachel Waggener are Andrew's parents, Thomas Coleman is probably his 2nd cousin.)
****** Spotsylvania County Records, Deed Book F-1761-1766. June 1, 1764. John x Payn and Frances, his wife, of Spts. Co., to Thomas Coleman of Spots. Co. L13 5s 7d. curr. 49 a. on N. side Rilay River, in Spts. Co. Edward Herndon, Daniel Trigg, Isaac Bradburn, Andrew Waggener. June 4, 1764.
****** Spotsylvania County Records, Deed Book G-1766-1771. March 16, 1767. Thomas Roy and Margaret, his wife, of Spots. Co., to James Chiles of same Co. L12 curr. 100 a. in Spots. Co. Joel Lewis, Thos. Ashman, Nathaniel x Haggard, John Waller, Andw. Waggener, Lewis Young, Lewis Shackleford. Dec. 7, 1767
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From Sandy Fortner:
There is an indenture, made August 8, 1771, between "John Waggener of the County of Culpepper, oldest brother and Heir at Law to Thomas Waggener, late of Culpepper in the First Virginia Regiment, and to Edmund Waggener, late ensign of the said Virginia Regiment, now both deceased, of the one part; and Andrew Waggener of the County of Frederick, oldest son of said John Waggener."
The indenture is for parcels of land on the Ohio River, (part of 200,00 acres apparently granted by proclamation to veterans of the French and Indian War), "which the said Thomas Waggener and Edmund Waggener were entitled as Officers in the said Virginia Regiment and under the proclamation of the Honorable Robert Dinwiddle," and which "the said John Waggener bearth to the said Andrew Waggener and for his better advancement and for the further consideration of Forty Pounds of rent (tax) money in hand paid to the said John Waggener to the said Andrew Waggener."
As noted above, I believe these parcels totalled about 4,000 acres, and were located in what is now Mason County, West Virginia. Andrew himself probably never even saw this land, but I believe his sons Andrew, James, and possibly Thomas, took possession of it in about 1815. The land came to be known as Waggoners Bottom. See the notes of Andrew Chapman Waggener for an account of the Waggener Colonization Party.
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In their books below, Mr. Bockstruck and Mr. Crozier seem to be trying to compile a register of soldiers from the French and Indian War period in Virginia. There are lots and lots of various kinds of lists and pay rolls which seem to have been made during the war, and none of these records mention Andrew. Three of the following records all seem to be essentially the same record, which is apparently some kind of accounting summation, made I think in about 1772. I am guessing Andrew's name is mentioned twice because he is the designated heir of his uncles Thomas and Edmund Waggener. Thomas and Edmund appear often in the the mentioned rolls and lists, and I these records can be found in their notes. The other two records concern some of the land in the above indenture.
From "Virginia Colonial Soldiers" by Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck, Copyright 1988, 3rd Printing 1998:
****** Page 135:List of Balances Due for Sundrys on Account of Their Claims to Land Under The Proclamation of 1754, ..... "Andrew Waggoner, 9.5.3;"...... "Andrew Waggner, 2.13.9;" ....
****** Page 237: List of balances Due from Sundrys in Account of Their Claims to Land Under the Proclamation of 1754. ca 1772,..... "Andrew Waggoner, 9.5.3;" ..... "Andrew Waggoner, 2.13.9:"...
***** Page 316: "Warrant for 1,000 acres issued to Edmund Taylor, assignee of Andrew Waggoner, heir at law of Edmund Waggoner, as proved by certificate from Lord Dunmore."
From "Virginia County Records, Volume II, Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776," edited by William Armstrong Crozier; Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1986:
****** Page 11: "Edmund Wagner, deceased, a subaltern in the Virginia Regiment, entitles to 2,000 acres of land. Andrew Wagner is his heir. March 7, 1774. (Signed) Dunmore, Govr."
****** Page 109: List of Officers entitled to land under Proc. of Gov. Dinwiddle, their Assessment to cover the Expenses of Surveys to secure the Lands, and a List of Balances due from Sundrys on Account of their Claims to Land under the Proc. of 1754. (From Col. Geo. Washington's Ledger.) .... "Mr. Andrew Waggoner, C. Crwa'd, 9.5.3" ..... "Andr. Waggoner, C.C. 2.13.9"....
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From "Old Kentucky Entries and Deeds," by Willard Rouse Jillson, 1987:
Andrew is listed as a grantor on a deed dated January 23, 1805 (Book J, pg. 356) for 2,131 acres. His residence is listed as Berkeley County.
(This is apparently the land noted above which he received for his Revolutionary War service.)
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From Richard Blue:
ANDREW WAGGENER (1740-1813), soldier of the Revolution, resident of Berkeley Co., traded 2100 acres of KY bounty land to COLBERT ANDERSON, JR. for title to the Anderson Mill at Bunker Hill (the mill that still stands there). Later, c1835, the will of Colbert's widow, probate in Frederick Co., names heirs that include: (Andrew's sons) ANDREW WAGGENER, JR. and WILLIAM WAGGENER, and children of AMELIA WAGGENER, deceased (wife of Andrew's Thomas).
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Sources for some of the above: Julia Hunnicutt; an application for membership to the Daughters of the American Revolution, which lists references of Military Records from Hartmen's Register, P. 413, of the Continental Army; The History of Union Co. Kentucky, in a section about Nancy Waggener, making reference to her famous father, and with historical embellishment courtesy of Sharon Shirk.
Children of ANDREW WAGGENER and MARY CHAPMAN are:
| 91. | i. | NANCY5 WAGGENER, b. October 08, 1763, Spotslvania Co., Virginia; d. July 12, 1847, Union Co., Kentucky. | |
| 92. | ii. | JOHN ANDREW WAGGENER, b. 1769, Berkeley Co., Virginia; d. May 01, 1820, Shawneetown, Gallatin Co., Illinois. | |
| 93. | iii. | THOMAS WAGGENER, b. 1771, Virginia; d. Bef. 1816. | |
| 94. | iv. | PETER WAGGENER, b. Abt. 1772, Greenbriar Co., West Virginia; d. Abt. 1830, Allen Co., Kentucky. | |
| 95. | v. | FANNIE WAGGENER, b. 1773; d. Unknown. | |
| 96. | vi. | MARY WAGGENER, b. 1775, Virginia; d. Bef. 1819. | |
| 97. | vii. | ANDREW CHAPMAN WAGGENER, b. October 25, 1779, Virginia; d. October 10, 1862. | |
| 98. | viii. | REBECCA WAGGENER, b. 1782, Virginia; d. 1822. | |
| 99. | ix. | EDMUND WAGGENER, b. Abt. 1784, Berkeley Co., Virginia; d. Abt. 1855. | |
| 100. | x. | JAMES WAGGENER, b. December 09, 1790, Virginia; d. November 21, 1854, Mason Co., West Virginia. |