David Kinnison Hoax

David Kinnison Hoax

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2020

Our eldest son restored a historic cemetery in Muskingum County, Ohio in the 1980’s and received his Eagle Scout.   His life intwined with me, an avid history and genealogy buff.  He and his brothers were charter members of the Kendall Coles Chapter, Children of the American Revolution Chapter in Burlington County, New Jersey,  They visited the United Nations in New York and Independence Hall in Philadelphia.  It was no surprise that the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution invited him to write an essay for their Eagle Scout Scholarship program in 1988.  Preparing for college is daunting and leaving no leaf unturned John Ian Klaiber decided to meet the challenge. 

John was to complete the application, attach a four-generation chart and write a patriotic theme, in less than 500 words   SAR supplied suggestions that they might want to utilize which included members of the Boston Tea Party. 

Yours truly had been telling my sons about information I was discovering on David Kinnison who claimed to have been the last survivor of the Boston Tea Party.  While our family bible did not mention him as a possible ancestor there was an 8x10 glossy photo of the memorial of David Kinnison in the back of the Feyler Family Bible that graced our living room table.

My son got honorable recognition for his essay, went on to college with a math scholarship and grew into a remarkable man with a wonderful family. 

Five hundred words does not do the story of David Kinnison justice.  However as I sat down to write about this Kinnison hoax, I realized I had kept not only the typed 500 word essay my son had written but also his first hand written attempt which, over the essay word limit was more detailed.

I am going to take liberties about copyright infringement, and as a proud mother utilize my then 17 year old son’s version of the story.

David Kinnison Patriot or Scoundrel

Compiled by John Ian Klaiber September 1988

Family stories, passed form generation to generation, quip patriotic deeds of David Kinnison, “last survivor of the Boston Tea Party.”  A picture of his memorial is in our family bible., possible ancestor of my 5^th great grandfather, William. Research is slowly proving this David is not our ancestor, nor the person he proclaimed to be. Yet the true story adds color, and intertwines patriotic deeds of many who formed America.

Kinnison was a colorful imposter, who fooled all Chicago. He claimed to be 115 years old. He presented a vial of tea to the Chicago Historical Society, declaring it a portion saved during the Boston Tea Party.

David told his story everywhere and to support statements, he displayed a certificate for a Revolutionary Pension.  He claimed participation in numerous battles and events including Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill and events of importance of Cornwallis’ surrender. He said he was a messenger for General’ Washington, Lafayette, Putnam and Montgomery, that he helped stretch chains across the Hudson to prevent British ships from sailing upstream and was a witness when Benedict Arnold defected to the British.

No one questioned the fact he claimed attending the surrender at Yorktown, while claiming he was captive of Indians in New York. He returned to Vermont until he war of 1812. And the colorful story continues.

At this time he claimed to be 77 years old. He claimed he was injured in the hand in battle near Williamsburgh, Canada in 1813. H also claimed he survived the Massacre of Fort Dearborn August 14, 1812.

Once again, David returned to farm, this time in New York. He moved to Chicago after a few years.  There David stated he outlived 4 wives and all but 7 of 22 children.

In truth, he did try to enlist in Massachusetts in 1781, but was rejected because he was only 4 feet, 9 inches tall. He also gave his age as 17 which would have made his birth 1764 as opposed to his claim of 1736.

On February 2, 1813 he enlisted, stating age 42 (birth 1771). In 1818 he applied for a Revolutionary War Pension, stating he was 56 (birth 1762).  None of these ages agree with the other. David was around 7 years old during the Boston Tea Party, was not in the Revolutionary War, and was about 65 years of age (not 115) at the time of his death.

Kinnison was wounded November 1, 1813 as claimed. He was discharged unfit for further service and received a disability pension.  David renounced this and applied for the Revolutionary Pension, describing 3 years service in Massachusetts (where he was actually rejected for height).  He was lucky, the Pension Office failed to investigate and approved his application.

His stories spread through Chicago and with proof of pension was accepted as a hero.  While his antics can’t be approved, his story adds to the color and history of our nation.

Bibliography

 Chicago Sun- Times. “The People Place”. Bob Hergutn. July 1, 1979David Kennison and the Chicago Sting. Albert G. Overton. (manuscript & cover letter 3 August 1979)National Historical Magazine. “The Last Survivor. The Story of a Veteran of the Boston Tea Party.” Vivian Lyon Moore. NSDAR, December 1940, p. 40Revolutionary Pension File #942782. National Archives. Military Service Records. Washignton, D.C.: Selected and non-selected documents.Story of the Boston Tea Party. Mary Kay Phelon, p. 101.The Kenison Story. Mabel Azeltine Rapp. April 1968

At the time our eldest son wrote the above essay, I was well on the way of discovering and documenting the true heritage of William Kinnison born 21 March 1789 Virginia, married 14 July 1808 Agnes Waddell, Bath County, Virginia and died March 1860 in Mercer County, Ohio.

William was the 2^nd son of David Kinnison BUT not the David Kinnison who perpetuated such a hoax.  William’s father, David Kinnison was born 7 June 1767 at beautiful Little Levels, Greenbrier County, Virginia. He married Susannah Hughes in Greenbrier 24 January 1786[i]  David had a land grant for 300 acres at a place known as Fryers Holes near John McNeel.[ii]  He had property in Bath County as well.  David Kinnison died 13 September 1835 in Pocahontas County, Virginia. 

In 1991 hubby and I decided to take an overnight camping trip to Pocahontas County, Little Levels and Kinnison Mountain.  Our youngest son Matthew was busy digging a koi pond in the back yard and wanted to complete his own project.  After making arrangements for some adult supervision, we headed out on our own adventure. 

With a wonderful truck camper we entered the valley which covers the southern end of Pocahontas County near Hillsboro. One of our stops was McNeel Cemetery in Hillsboro.  The valley is breathtaking.

 We drove to the top of Kinnison Mountain seeing beautiful trout streams.  (Hint if you have a camper do not try utilizing gravel short cuts on the side of a mountain.  The road was so narrow we finally backed up for several miles to the main access road!)  Top over Kinnison Mountain and we stopped for a short visit at the Cranberry Visitors’ Center (near Richwood).  We walked a bit of their boardwalk, while stretching our legs.  But time was short, we needed to get back home to see the koi pond. We both vowed we would go back some day.

We left the valley with my understanding of what a rich history our own Kinnison family left us.  We didn’t need a hoax to understand our Kinnison heritage.  Our David was seven years old when his father Charles Kinnison marched with the Greenbrier Volunteers into Ohio, the Battle of Point Pleasant and into history. 

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[i] Kinnison to Hughes, (1786), Virginia, Greenbrier Marriages: page 71; Greenbrier Courthouse, , Virginia

[ii] Library of Virginia (LVA), "Land Office Patents and Grants," database, (: accessed ), Card 4 David Kinison.p 718.