Susan Wylie Day & Her Horrific Demise

 

By Teresa Martin Klaiber, October 2022

 

Susan Wylie was the daughter of James Wylie.  She married Nathaniel Day circa 1737, probably in Pennsylvania. Susan and Nathaniel had five known children.  Several of the children were born while residing in Plumstead Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  Susan’s daughter Martha,  is this compiler’s ancestor. Martha married Charles Kinnison who was a Greenbrier volunteer at the Battle of Point Pleasant. I have blogged about the Kinnison’s before.

 Susan’s father, James Wylie, is mentioned when amounts were paid to John Campbell for his burial and the notation that seven gallons of liquor were at the funeral, 30 January 1761.  A good send-off.

 Most history books and researchers have state that Susan’s husband, Nathaniel Day,  died in 1754. They go on to state that Susan and her children then migrated to Virginia with her father.  But at least one version states that Susan’s husband was scalped and survived. There is a pay statement to a Nathaniel in 1757 opening speculation.  This compiler believes this could be either Susan’s husband or the son. Nathaniel (Jr.), even if born in 1738 shortly after his parent’s marriage, was only about 19. Nathaniel Day received pay for service in the Company of William Preston in November 1757 along with John Day, another son of Susan Wylie Day, born circa 1742, who was still in his teens. (Ref. Draper Manuscript Collection. Papers of Col. Wm. Preston, Volume 6QQ, item 114; microfilm roll #101.)  Nathaniel Jr. did fight in Dunmore’s War (1774).

 Pocahontas county publications tell the story of the massacre.  The genealogy of county formations shows Pocahontas not formed until 1821.   John Day states that the Indians came into Botetourt County. (Botetourt was not formed until 1770 from Augusta.)

 The beautiful Cacapon River flows for some 81 miles. Capon Springs lays within Hampshire County today. Some accounts place Susan’s death in adjoining Frederick County. The Cedar Creek watershed encompasses a large portion of southwestern Frederick County. The massacre is attributed, by John Day, to Shawnees.

  The time-frame was during the French and Indian Wars. Many of the Indians travelled long distances in alliance with the French Canadians.  In June 1756 Fort Vause was attacked by French, Ottowa, Miami and Shawnee.  While many Cherokee volunteered in the company of Captain McNutt (Annals of Augusta County p 129/130).  So many sad, bloody tales. Leevice Vause was captured, taken to a Shawnee camp, but escaped. The Levisa Fork, a tributary of the Big Sandy River and named in her honor. The Annals of Bath County tell of another massacre near Jackson’s River in 1756. 

 Various accounts of the Wyle family have been repeated about the tragedy that unfolded from Indian attacks.  At least one version states Susan’s husband was scalped but survived.  Yet another indication that he migrated to Virginia and this compiler wonders about the 1757 pay stub.  The events of the Indian attack of the Day family in 1756 were given in great detail by their son John but he never mentioned his father. 

 Some say Indians attacked the farm while the family was working in the fields.  The youngest child David was killed instantly.  Susan, Martha and Sally [Sarah] were taken prisoners by the Indians and marched over the mountains in the Cacapon River area of Frederick County.  Martha said that her mother remarked to her friends that she believed the Indians intended to kill her and when asked why she thought that she said that they had given moccasins to all the prisoners but her and left her bare foot.  The History of Pocahontas County says that all were ready to move when  a warrior walked up to Mrs. Day and with his war club struck her a stunning blow between her shoulders, knocking the breath out of her, and then in an instant lifted her scalp-lock.  She was left there in a state of insensibility and it was never known whether she recovered consciousness or died immediately.

 A party of twenty,  under Captain Fry, had set out to try and retrieve the prisoners, among them was Susan’s son John, about 14 years of age.  Years later when Susan’s son, John applied for a military pension he gave the following account:

 "The Shawnee Indians had come into Botetourt County in the said State of Virginia and killed my brother David Day and taken my mother and two sisters, Sally Day and Martha Day, prisoners, and also took some other property and made for their towns, the first night the Indians camped on a mountain, between Cape Capen (sic) River and Cedar Creek and at that camp killed my Mother, Susan Day … Captain Fry raised twenty men of which I was one. We followed said Indians, and when we came to the Indian camp aforesaid, there lay my mother dead, and stripped naked, her head skinned (sic): and we lifted her and laid her between some rocks and laid some rocks over her: and we followed on after the Indians, and the second day came in sight of them at their camp, and I raised my gun to shoot one of them, and just as I was about to draw trigger, I saw one of my sisters rise up right before the muzzle of my gun between me and the Indian: and I was so alarmed at seeing my sister rise before my gun that I involuntarily hollored, which so alarmed the Indians that they broke and ran, leaving the prisoners, and what they had at the camp, and run with all their might: and we got the prisoners, and what property the Indians left at the camp, and brought all safe to the fort."

I recommend the following for my readers:

 Church Records of Pocahontas Virginia LDS 1017649 item 3

 White Pole Meeting House by Frank Johnson

 Descendants of Christopher Day of Bucks County Pennsylvania, compiled   by J. Edward Day, 1959 

 "Our Pioneer Ancestors" written by Ruth Hendrick De Verter...

 Genealogical History of William Henry Kinnison of Angus, Nuckolls, County, Nebraska, Don E. Kinnison,   2nd Ed, 1981 LDS #1035948, item 5

 Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, West Virginia by Wm T. Price 1901

 

Kinnison Brothers: Indian Fighter’s, Pioneers, Spy’s and Soldiers

Kinnison Brothers: Indian Fighter’s, Pioneers, Spy’s and Soldiers

By Teresa Martin Klaiber 2020

It is between 194 and 204 miles from beautiful, peaceful, Little Levels, West Virginia to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, by improved roads.  As a genealogist I strongly encourage, if able, visiting as many ancestor’s homes as possible.  Several things will happen on such visits. You will have a better understanding of those that went before you. Some, including myself, feel drawn to an area.  I know I did when we visited Kinnison Mountain.   

Following the Kinnison’s journey, I felt bone chilling sadness, on a dreary fall day standing beside the eighty-four foot monument, listing dead and wounded, where the Battle of Point Pleasant, in today’s West Virginia occurred October 10, 1774.  I pondered the distance from Little Levels to Point Pleasant, by foot.

Yes, it was damp and cold where the Kanawha River is greeted by the Ohio River.  The one thing missing on the monument is the names of the Native’s that died that horrible day.  Seventy-five Virginians lost their lives and one hundred forty were wounded.  Among those wounded was Charles Kinnison.[i]

The Kinnison’s had migrated from Pennsylvania  to Virginia in the early 1740’s.  Charles born about 1725 had brothers Edward, Jacob and Nathaniel.  They had a much younger sister Hannah, as well.

The first appearance in Virginia I have of Charles Kinnison/Kenison is a survey[ii] for 205 acres on the north west side of the Greenbrier in what was then Augusta County, Virginia in April 1769.  Botetourt was formed from a part of Augusta and by 1770 Charles Kinnison is taxed in what was then Botetourt County.  I believe that he had been  married to Martha Day for several years by then as at least one son David was born 7 June 1767.

Martha Day was born about 1741 in Plumstead, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Nathaniel Day and Susan Wylie. Her father served in the French & Indian Wars.

Migrating to Virginia, her family was attacked in 1756 by hostile Natives. Her brother John later wrote concerning the capture of his mother and sisters. 

"Shawnee Indians came into Botetourt County and killed my brother David and had taken my mother and two sisters Sally and Martha prisoners. The first night the Indians camped on the Mt. Cape Caper and Cedar Creek and at that camp killed my mother Susan Day formerly Susan Wyle, d/o of James Whyle. Capt. Fry raised 20 men of which I was one and we followed and when we came to the Indian camp aforesaid there lay my mother dead and striped naked, her head skined, and we lifted her and laid her between two rocks and laid some rocks over her and followed on after the Indians”.

They followed the Indians and on the second day “I raised my gun to shoot one of them and just as I was about to draw trigger, I saw one of my sisters rise up right before the muzzle of my gun between me and the Indians...”     The girls were rescued. Rescued by her brother and at least 19 others Martha  and  Charles Kenison/Kinnison settled on White Pole which would later be Greenbrier County. 

Much has been written about the Battle of Point Pleasant giving varied accounts of events leading up to the battle. The southern division, alone, is said to have had eleven hundred men while Lord Dunmore added another fifteen hundred.  I do not think there is a clear roster of all that were there, and certainly not of the Native tribes, beyond their leaders. Reading the lists of those known participants, more than several surnames are included from both my hubby’s and my lineage. How sad that there is no true list for the Native Americans who lost their lives.

In the Fall 1774 calls went out to militia to protect the frontier.  Charles Kinnison joined the Botetourt Company.  They would be known as the Greenbrier Volunteers and would march to Point Pleasant under John Stuart’s Company.  They would make that 194/204 mile march on foot.  It is said to have been a fatiguing nineteen day march.[iii]  John Stuart’s company was  flank movement that successfully made Cornstalk retreat. 

 On the fateful day 10 October 1774 they faced natives commanded by Cornstalk, Blue Jacket , Logan and others.  Hungary and tired they were facing a horrific battle.  Author/historian, Wills De Hass gave a detailed, glossy description:

“There stood the combatants-terror, rage, disappointment and despair riveted upon the painted faces of one, while calm resolution and unbending will to do or die were marked upon the other…The rifle and the tomahawk now did their work with dreadful certainty…”

Wounded and exhausted Charles Kinnison would survive and make it home to his family having several more children. In his 70’s  Charles Kinnison and Martha Day Kinnison would make a estimated 254 mile trip, from Virginia, to Pike County, Ohio between 1810 (where he appears on the Bath County census) and 1817 where his will was probated in Pike County, Ohio. Son, Nathaniel (m. Polly Slavens) purchased land from Asa Mounts the same year in Pike.[iv]  Charles daughter Sarah “Sally” married Reuben H. Slaven in Bath County and migrated to Pike County. Son Charles Kinnison Jr. also migrated to Ohio settling at Berlin Cross Road in Jackson County.

Martha acted as administrator of the estate of her husband  and received $30.00 for her dowry.  She also collected two notes on behalf of her husband but it took two years to receive the money.  It is not known how much longer Martha lived after 1820.[v]

Charles  older brother, Edward Kinnison appears in Lord Dumore’ War, as well as being in the Battle of Point Pleasant with his brother Charles.[vi]   He first appears on a survey in Frederick County, British America in 1750.[vii]   He had land on Cacapon in Hampshire before settling in Greenbrier.  He made it back to Greenbrier after his military service.  The Cacapon 400 acres are again mentioned in 1774 and 1778, described as adjoining William Poage and Lazarus Barclay.[viii] Both he and his Lazarus Barkley were exempted from county and parish levies in 1793[ix]. Usually exemption is due to age, and he is said to be buried in McNeel Cemetery, Pocahontas County.

Their brother, Jacob Kinnison, entered the military at the age of 19.  His pension[x] gives details of his service including time at Point Pleasant in 1777/8.   He was at Point Pleasant ten months.  By his own words he stated he resided at Little Levels, Greenbrier.  Besides a stint at the fort, by then, at a much quieter Point Pleasant, by May 1778 he had been relieved and his next service was to guard the frontier settlements of Virginia against hostile Indians.  He lists his service as an Indian Spy, guarding Ellis Fort in the Little Levels of Greenbrier.  He states that he was generally out from three to four days each week and that an oath was administered to him as a Spy. (1778-9).  His last tour as Indian Spy was from May 1782 to October, a total of five years military service. Jacob married Dorcus Hughes in Greenbrier 1 April 1788. He was 77 years old when his pension was filed in 1834.

The youngest brother was Nathaniel Kinnison. He entered Military service, at the age of 18, in the 13th Virginia Regiment, in James Neal Company. as a private showing on the Muster Roll for 20 July 1777.  The 13^th Regiment was formed 16 September 1776 and organized 12 Feb 1777at Fort Pitt with recruitments from various areas including West Augusta District.

He is shown as one of five that deserted 25 August.  Nathaniel had signed for a term of 3 years but received 5 months pay at 12 pounds 10 shilling.  Yet he appears again in a list of Volunteers under Captain Willing in Virginia Continental Volunteers from Fort Pitt in the Expedition Under Capt. James Willing Against Fort Panmure at Natches 17-19 Feb 1778.[xi]

Nathaniel Kennison also appears “taken prison April 1, 1778”  part of Captain Willings company of Marines with the following written statement saying … received the above men...from Capt James Willing with orders to proceed to Illinois and Fort Pitt which men are disposed of (death and desertions excepted) ...such as end of 3 June 1779 having joined service in Virginia...in the Illinois Department under my command...signed in prescense (as spelled) of Brigadier General Clark at Fort Nelson 16 May 1782. [xii]

After his rather rocky service Nathaniel Kinnison returned to Virginia.  In May 1783 he received 300 pounds for killing of a wolf and appears on the Greenbier tax list with 3 horses.  In 1790 Bath county was formed from Greenbrier.  He appears in Bath as surety for the wedding of Hannah Kinnison and Robert Barkley 8 April 1793.

Nathaniel Kinnison  died in 1794 giving all his land to brother Jacob with the stipulation he give suitable maintenance for their aged father and mother during their life (not named*)[xiii]. He even gave his father a gray horse and sister Hannah a black mare.[xiv]  [xv]His final appraisal included slaves.

This compiler believes that several researcher’s  incorrectly attribute (because of repetitive use of given names)  the Nathaniel who died in  1794 as son (not brother) of Charles. Further documentation traces Nathaniel and Polly Slavens  to Ohio then back to Virginia showing up in 1821 at Mill Run.[xvi]  Charles Kinnison had honored his brother by naming his eldest son Nathaniel (estimated birth abt 1783).[xvii]  

There is yet a 3^rd Nathanial. Nathaniel’s brother Jacob Kinnison also named a son born in 1796 after the elder Nathaniel, as well.  In 1826 Jacob sold 118 acres of a 235 acre grant of his brother’s to his son Nathaniel, being land left to him by Nathaniel’s will in 1794.[xviii]

Sometimes it takes just one tiny piece of evidence, for genealogists, to put the puzzle in order.  For years, researchers  puzzled over the parentage of the Kinnison issues of Virginia. They had enough to ascertain them as grandchildren of Edward Kinnison/Kennison of Chester County, Pennsylvania who had four sons and two known daughters. 

Edward Kinnison  born the 1^st day 4^th month of 1705 in Chester County, Pennsylvania , is son of Edward Kinnison and Mary Green/Greenaway.[xix]

He appears in the will of his father Edward 4 July 1736 in Chester, County, Pennsylvania, British America.  He along with siblings James, Mary and Hannah received only one shilling at their father’s death.  He appears in a tavern petition in 1737 with his mother, Mary, in 1737[xx]   Eleven years later he appears in a road order in Frederick County, Virginia, 8 March 1748, along with his son Edward Jr.(Edward b. c. 1725) and Nathaniel Kinnison (est. b. 1727). They along with others are requesting a road from William Hugh’s plantation (near Gore, VA).  He (and unk. Wife) are the unnamed parents in Nathaniel’s October 1794 will in Bath County, Virginia, age 89. The 1790 Virginia Census is actually a compilation from tax lists circa 1782.  (The elder Kinnison would be exempt by age paying tax by this time. Son Edward born 1725 continues to pay tax until he also is exempt in 1793.)

James Kinnison born 12 day 10^th month 1712 Chester County[xxi], is one of the brother’s of Edward (s/o Edw.).  The same year that brother Edward and nephews request a road in Frederick County, Virginia, James is witness to the will of Simon Moon in the same county.[xxii]   His sister, Hannah, was also in Frederick County at that time and witnessed the Moon will along with James Kinnison and husband George Hobson.

Brother, William Kinnison was born 13th day 1st month 1711.[xxiii] William and another brother Charles were to receive the remaining property of father Edward at their mother’s death.  Their parent’s estate was not discharged until 1750. By the time of the discharge brother Charles has died.  In the meantime, William married Elizabeth Cunningham in Chesterfield, Burlington County, New Jersey and eventually migrated to Shrewsbury. 

Patriarch, Edward Kinnison of Chester County, Pennsylvania was born about 1675 and a devoted Quaker. When he was 22, he was seriously ill for 26 weeks.  The court paid John Sanger for keeping him during his illness.  By the time he married Mary Greenaway the 11^th day 10^th month 1703 he already owned several lots in Chester.  His intentions of marriage were recorded in several minutes of the Quaker faith. 

Edward is cited as a brickmaker when he purchases 2 ½ acres from James Sunderland in 1702.[xxiv]  He acted as constable in West Chester in 1710 and had a tavern license for many years.  The Kinnison home and property are part of the White Horse Tavern and Inn properties.  In 1728 the family crops burnt and representatives of Goshen MM came to his relieve stating it was “sustenance of his family…”[xxv]  He died 4 July 1736 in Chester County.  As stated before in this publication he left his estate to his wife during her lifetime, after her death to go to son’s William and Charles.  The property was not discharged until October 1750.[xxvi]  The property was not disposed of until March 1754.  The Pennsylvania Gazette, 19 February 1754 gives an excellent description of the property:

“To be sold by publick vendue on the premises 20 Mar, a plantation, situated in Whiteland township, in the Great Valley, Chester Co near the sign of the White Horse, on Conestogoe Road, containing 200 acres of land about 100 acres cleared, and under good fence, 20 acres of good meadow, well water'd, with dwelling house, good spring house, barn, stable and small orchard, the woodland well timber'd. The title and conditions of sale will be made known at the time and place aforesaid, where attendance will be given by Willian Kinnison.”

Mary was a servant to William Branton/Brinton, also of Quaker faith, prior to her marriage.[xxvii]   She, along with William appear on a petition of the White Horse Tavern and Inn in 1737.  The Goshen monthly minutes states that Mary Kinnison, widow of Edward Kinnison, was disowned on August 17, 1743.  She moved into the colony of Virginia and joined the Church of England.[xxviii]  This places mother, son’s Edward and James, and sister Hannah, along with grandchildren all in Frederick County, Virginia in the 1740’s.

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[i] Compiler’s 5^th great grandfather
[ii] Mary B Kegley and F B Kegley, Early adventurers on the Western waters (Orange, Virginia: Green Publishers, 1980), Volume I page 17/18.[iii] Liva Simson-Poffenbarger. Battle of Point Pleasant October 10, 1774[iv] Ohio, Pike Dbk A p 173[v] Pike County, Ohio, Common Pleas Case #1185, Charles Kinnison, , 1817; Pike County Courthouse, Waverly, Ohio.[vi] Liva Simson-Poffenbarger. Battle of Point Pleasant October 10, 1774[vii] George Washington, JOURNAL of My Journey Over the Mountains, J. M. Toner MD (Albany, NY: Joel Munsell's Sons, 1892), Page 95.[viii] Katherine G. Bushman, "Minutes of the commission appointed to settle claims to unpatented lands on the Wester waters of Virginia, Jan-Ap 1780," Augusta Historical Bulletin (Augusta County Historical Society), volume 13 (Fall 1977).[ix] Bath County, Virginia, County Court Orders Volume 1791-1801, Page 105, 1793; Courthouse, .[x] National Archives, Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty Land warrant Application Files, Fold3.com (N.p.: n.p., n.d.), S16905.[xi] Will Graves; Leon Harris, Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters (http://revwarapps.org/ : accessed ), Continental Volunteers from Fort Pitt in the Expedition Under Capt. James Willing Against Fort Panmure at Natches 17-19 Feb 1778.[xii] Thomas Lynch Montgomery, Pennsylvania Archives Sixth Series (N.p.: Department of Public Instruction, 1907), Volume 2 p 878- 879.[xiii] Parents name not listed[xiv] Virginia, Bath, WBK 1 p 37, 56[xv] Hannah, sister of the Kinnison brother was born 18 Feb 1770, married Robert Barkley in Greenbrier, migrates to Montgomery, Lawrence County, Indiana where she died.[xvi] Frank A. Johnson, The White Pole Meeting House (N.p.: Franklin, West Virginia, 1963), Page 18-19.[xvii] Nathaniel s/o Charles m Polly Slavens[xviii] Virginia, Pocahontas, dbk 1 p 258[xix] Society of Friends (Part of Chester Through Goshen), , Chester MM, Page 74, ; FHL microfilm LDS film #0562989.[xx] "White Horse Tavern & Inn (http://www.whitehorsetavern.org/[xxi] Society of Friends (Part of Chester Through Goshen), , Chester MM, Page 74, ; FHL microfilm LDS film #0562989.[xxii] Estelle Stewart King, Abstracts of Wills, Inventories and Administrtion Accounts of Frederick County, Virginia 1743-1800, an improved edition (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Ind, 1980), Page 22.[xxiii] Society of Friends (Part of Chester Through Goshen), , Chester MM, Page 74, ; FHL microfilm LDS film #0562989.[xxiv] Pennsylvania, Chester, dbk K p 190-191[xxv] Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, Swarthmore, Quaker Meeting Records. Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.[xxvi] Chester County, Pennsylvania, : book H page 539; FHL microfilm[xxvii] Should not be confused with Mary Greenaway Mercer, also of Chester, PA and d/o John & Mariah.[xxviii] Society of Friends (Part of Chester Through Goshen), , Page 92 & 100, ; FHL microfilm LDS film #0562989

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.