Random Internet References, TAKE WITH GRAIN OF SALT
Samuel SHANNON & Elizabeth McKEE Family
daughter Elizabeth, married William McDOWELL (b. c1763)
their daughter Agnes/Nancy, b. 1794, marr. Hugh Larimer, b. 9 Mar 1780
daughter Mary, perhaps wife of John ROBERTS
son Samuel, of the 1813 will?
son John
probably also Sarah, wife of George Adam Keltz
Janet Warter’s references:
NOTES & SOURCES:
1. "History of the County of Westmoreland", by George Dallas Albert, 1882. Page 103, under a discussion of Fort Ligonier: "When the regular garrison was withdrawn, the inhabitants of the valley kept the structure from falling into ruin, and occupied it during the Revolutionary war. It appears that Capt. SAMUEL SHANNON, a father-in-law of Col. William McDowell, both of them Revolutioners, was intrusted with the supervision of military affairs at the most critical times along from 1777 to 1780."
2. In Albert, 1882, p. 109 -- "It was thus that during this time the salvation of the people was in those ranging-parties which the young men chose to join in preference to the militia or to entering the regular sevice. Of those who, from 1778 to 1780, were prominent in the ranging service we mention James Guthrie, Thomas Stokely, Matthew Jack, Michael Huffnagle, James Smith, Joseph Erwin, William Cooper, SAMUEL SHANNON, Brady, Van Swearingen, the Wallaces, the Barrs, Col. Wilson, the Brownlees, the Shaws. These ranging companies were formed for the most part of the fighting-men who lived nearest to each. They were dressed in the homespun of their own manufacture, and carried their own rifles, knives, and hatchets. When word came that they were needed they hastened together and put themselves under the orders of their officers. It was their duty to alarm the settlers when an attack had been made or was apprehended, and they were to help off the women and children into some place of safety..."
3. Also in Albert, 1882 - p. 695 under Ligonier Twp. (formed 1822 from Fairfield and Donegal Twps.) -- discussion of early settlers. "Frederick Rohrer, innkeeper, from Hagerstown, Md., took up land in 1775 adjoining the mill-tract of St. Clair; Simon Eaker (Eicher), John Ramsey, James Pollock, Garret Pendergrass, Daniel Savoyer, Andrew Bonjour, SAMUEL SHANNON, James Knox, RICHARD SHANNON, Isaac Stimble, Robert McLaughlin, William McKinzie, John Campbell, Thomas Galbraith, an innkeeper in Ligonier, in 1773. St. Clair and Huffnagle both resided in Ligonier town then. Abel Fisher, Henry Kerns, McDowells, Kelsos (now Keltzes)." [Were Samuel & Richard Shannon brothers? Note also the mention of Isaac Stimble & Thomas Galbraith, mentioned in other notes below.]
4. "Old and New Westmoreland", Vol. 1, by John N. Boucher, 1918. Page 378 -- Extracts from the minutes of the Board of War: March 22, 1777 -Moses Young was directed to pay the following persons of Col. Lochry'sBatt'n, of Westmoreland Militia, for Blankets appraised for their respectivecompanies... Capt. SAMUEL SHANNON, 23 pounds 0s. 3d. (others not copied).
5. Also from O & N Westm'd -- p. 336 - 341 on the Lochry Expedition in 1781, insupport of George Rogers Clark, in which Lochry was killed by Indians and 42 soldiers were killed and 64 taken prisoner. Some portions of the story:"When Lochry's forces reached Wheeling, they found that Clark had gone on thesame day, having left provisions and boats in insuffiecient number, with instructionsthat Lochry should follow them and join the army twelve miles below. But theywere detained four days in Wheeling in preparing boats, and when they reachedthe place designated, they found that Clark had left the day before...Clark promisedto await them at the mouth of Little Kanawha River, but when Lochry reached therehe found only a letter attached to a board directing them to follow...Without a knowledge of the currents of the river, he could...scarcely hope to overtake Clark.Lochry accordingly sent CAPTAIN SHANNON in a boat with seven men, hopingto overtake him and return with some supplies for his company. SHANNON carriedletters to Clark, but had not gone far until he and his men were taken prisoners bythe Indians...the letters which SHANNON carried for Clark gave the true knowledgeof the situation and of Lochry's weakness, and when he was captured they fell into the hands of the enemy...The Indians...sent out in in all directions and collecteda large number of warriors a short distance above the mouth of the Miami, which flows into the Ohio, where they watched and waited for Lochry's arrival. Close tothe mouth of the Miami is an island which, to this day, is called Lochry's Island.Upon this island they posted the prisoners captured with SHANNON, andpromised to spare their lives only on condition that they would hail Lochry andhis troops as they came down the river and induce them to land. Should they failin this way, they were to be tomahawked at once. But Lochry and his troops,wearied with continued disappointments and misfortunes, landed on the Ohioshore, about three miles above this island...It was at the mouth of a small creek,since known as Lochry's creek, about ten miles below the mouth of the Miamiriver. The creek is the dividing line between Ohio and Dearborn counties, in the southeastern corner of Indiana. They landed about 10 o'clock in the morningof August 24, 1781..." [continues with story of the attack and aftermath. Thereis nothing more on the fate of Samuel Shannon.]
6. "Old Westmoreland" Quarterly, Vol. 10, no. 4, p. 31 to 33. "Officers and Menof Col. Archibald Lochry Defeated in Battle 24 August 1781", list compiled byChris McHenry. "Captian Samuel Shannon's Company. Capt. Shannon survivedthe battle but was killed in autumn of 1781 after an escape from the Indians. Heleft 7 children." Lists 5 prisoners and one killed from this Company.
7. Administration of Captain SAMUEL SHANNON - letters granted 06 Oct 1782to ELIZABETH SHANNON and Thomas Galbraith. [Old WestmorelandQuarterly, Vol. 2, No. 4, p. 6.]
8. It appears that the land of Samuel Shannon was sold after his death for debts."Minute Book A, Westmoreland County, 1783 - On motion of Robert GalbraithEaq whether the money should be immediately paid the sheriff by Mr. Samplefor the purchase of a certain tract of land, the property of SAMUEL SHANNON,sold at the suit of John Muffley, or whether a new sale shall award. The Courtorders that the sale be set aside and that a new sale be awarded." [Old WestmorelandQuarterly, Vol. 2, No. 4, p. 24.]
9. Orphan's Court Records, Westmoreland Co., Docket A: 29. "1 Feb. 1791. Before the Justices: Petition of ELIZABETH SHANNON, widowof SAMUEL, late Captain of the Militia of Westmoreland (who was killed byhostile Indians), that she was in 1781 left in a very desolate situation by herhusband going on an expedition against the Indians, being captured, escaping, andthen being killed by Indians; and that she believes herself entitled to a pension."
[Old Westmoreland Quarterly, Vol. 1, No. 1, p. 10.]
10. Orphan's Court Records, Westmoreland Co., Docket A: 85. (no date)."Before the Judges. Petition of ELIZABETH SHANNON of Fairfield Township,widow of SAMUEL SHANNON, a Captain of Militia (who was killed in an expeditionagainst the Indians) under the command of Colonel Archibald Lochry, showingthat the Court on 2 Feb 1791 allowed her 100 pounds in lieu of pension untilthat time, and that she is still a widow upwards of 50 years of age, has noproperty, and works for a living, and requesting the Court to grant her anadditional sum for the period until this time. Ordered by the Court that shereceive 100 pounds to be delivered to Mr. Young, who will apply the money."
Old Westmoreland Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 1, p. 15.]
11. PA Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. iv, 1906, p. 593 - Pension awarded to ElizabethShannon, no date - "Elizabeth Shannon states that her husband, SAMUEL SHANNON,was Capt. in Regt. commanded by Archibald Lochry. While on an expeditioncarried out August 24, 1781 against the Indians he was taken prisoner on the westbank of the Ohio River, tomakawked and killed by an Indian about the middle ofOctober of same year. He was thirty-five years of age at the time of death. Wassurvived by said widow and seven children. Capt. SAMUEL SHANNON was Capt.in Col. Pumroy's Battalion of Westmoreland County Militia. Pension granted to saidwidow." [This document is posted on the Shannon family site - genforum.genealogy.com]
12. Administration Abstracts, Westmoreland Co., Will Bk. 1:59. Admin. ofELIZABETH SHANNON - Letters granted 29 Nov 1800 to William McDowell.Bond: 200 pounds. Sureties: Robert Dickey Esq. [From Old Westmoreland quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 2., p. 13.]
13. DAR Patriot Index, Centennial Edition, 1990 - Part 3 (P-Z) - SAMUEL SHANNON,Capt., PA, b. ca. 1746, PA; d. Oct 1781, m. Elizabeth _____.
14. An IGI record (familysearch.org) has Samuel Shannon b. 1746, d. 17 Oct 1781,married 1767 to Elizabeth McKee, b. abt.1747, d. 29 Nov. 1800. [29 Nov. is actuallythe date of granting letters for the Administration, so she would have died perhaps inOct. or early Nov.]Also, a submission to the Ancestral File (familysearch.org) shows Samuel Shannon, b. 1746, d. Oct 1781 and Elizabeth McGee, b. abt 1750, with 5 children: Mary,Jane, Elizabeth (x William McDowell), Richard, Rebecca. Birthdates all estimated,and no spouses for most children. [Was Elizabeth really a McKee? The DAR recordshave no maiden name for her.]
15. From about 1773 to 1775, several years before the death of Capt. Samuel Shannonon the Lochry Expedition in 1781, his name (or that of another Samuel Shannon) appears inearly records regarding Isaac Stimble and the sale of Stimble's land. (See next several notes.)However, since the Samuel Shannon who died in 1781would have been only about 27 yearsold in 1773, these records might be for his father, if he was also Samuel Shannon. (See mynote 23C below.) At this point, let the reader judge --"Administration Abstracts, Westmoreland Co., 1773-1778: Isaac Stimble (alsoStemble) of Westmoreland County, yeoman. Letters granted 28 Jun 1773 toSAMUEL SHANNON, son-in-law and principal creditor. bond: 200 pounds.Sureties: RICHARD SHANNON and Thomas Burd. Witnesses: Arthur St. Clair andMichael Hoofnagle." [Old Westmoreland Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 1, p. 11].From the wording of this Administration, it seems that this Samuel Shannon wasmarried to a daughter of Isaac Stimble.
16. Partition Records, Westmoreland County, Docket 3 -- 4 items concerningthe estate of Isaac Stimble:"7 July 1773. Petition of SAMUEL SHANNON, administrator of Isaac Stimble,yeoman, dec'd, showing Stimble died leaving no personal estate sufficient to pay his just debts, and requesting the power to sell a small tract of land near Fort Ligonierwhich he did leave. Ordered by the Court to sell this land (page 2)"."2 Nov 1773. Report by SAMUEL SHANNON on the sale of land ownedby Isaac Stimble shows that it was sold to Thomas Galbraith for 147 pounds. Onthe petition of Arthur St. Clair this return was placed under advisement and thendisallowed on 05 Jan 1774. (page 2).""2 Nov. 1774. Petition of SAMUEL SHANNON, administrator of Isaac Stimble, dec'd,show that Stimble died leaving no personal estate sufficient to pay his just debts, andrequesting the power to sell a tract of land in Donegal Twp. and certain lots in FairfieldTwp. whereon two houses and a stable formerly stood, all being near Fort Ligonier,which he did leave. So ordered by the Court. (page 6)"."7 Feb 1775. Report by SAMUEL SHANNON on the sale of land owned by IsaacStimble shows it was sold to Alexander Johnston for 250 pounds. (page 7)." [From Old Westmoreland Quarterly Vol. 1, No. 1, p. 11& 12]
17. Two deeds regarding the land of Isaac Stimble are in Deed Bk A-1, pp. 64 & 65 --both dated 18 Feb. 1775. The first appears to be the disallowed sale to Thomas Galbraith.Second deed: "Alexander (x) Johnston, Fairfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., to ThomasGalbreath, innholder of Ligonier. Land: plantation and tract in Donegal Twp., boundedon east by the garrison, on south by William McKinzie, on west by John Campbell, dec'd.;plus two lots in town of Ligonier whereon two houses and a stable stood, being the landand improvements made by Isaac Stimble dec'd (a location being obtained from the officein Philadelphia in the name of Isaac Stimbel for 300 acres, being the same land, andnumbered #1755). Price 147 pounds Pa currency. Witnesses: SAMUEL SHANNON, Samuel (x) Adams, Thomas Cheney. (page 65)." [From Old Westmoreland Quarterly,Vol. 2, No. 1, p.4.]
18. The land sale above still did not satisfy Arthur St. Clair, as in the April 1775 Docketof The Court of Common Pleas, held at Robert Hanna's, # 54,55, 56 were suits byArthur St. Clair, Esq. against Thomas Galbraith, SAMUEL SHANNON & Alexander Johnson,all for Capias Trespass. [Old Westmoreland Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 4, p. 25.]
19. "A Calendar of the Pennsylvania Land Transactions of Arthur St. Clair, 1766-1818"by Shirley G. McQuillis Iscrupe, 1984. [Old Westmoreland Quarterly, Vol. 5, No. 1,pages 1- 10, 38-39]. This article explains the struggles of Arthur St. Clair over his landclaims around Ft. Ligonier, which seemed to have conflicted with many of the othersettlers there, one of whom was Isaac Stimple. In a deposition, St. Clair states" All thesettlers except one I have purchased out, and had agreed with the Administrator of Stimble and paid him part of the Money for his Claim, and he was to have made a Titleunder the Orphans Court. That fell thro, and he sold to another. Some time ago SAM'LSHANNON now Administror of Stimble entered into the above mentiond Lot by Forcewhen it was rented by me. An Indictment was found against him for the forcible entry,but on his agreeing to take Administration and to make a Title as before mentioned Ipromised to Pay him fifty pounds, and he put me in instant Possession again and I dropped the prosecution..."
20. Isaac Stimble is mentioned on p. 112 of Albert's 1882 "History of the County ofWestmoreland" -- "The sufferings and trials of the people of the valley from the timewhen Isaac Stimble, 'an industrious inhabitant of Ligonier' was shot and scalped on theroad to Bedford...down to 1792, when Mad Anthony had broken them up at theMaumee, and stopped their depredations forever in these parts -- their suffering duringthis period, for reasons very apparant, have not been given to the world..." In Chap, 22,Lower Ligonier Valley During the Revolution.
21. There are several deeds for Samuel Shannon & wife Elizabeth abstracted in Old Westmoreland Quarterly:Deed Bk. A-1:99 - "07 Aug. 1772. Deed. Esther (x) McKee of Carlisle, Cumberland Co.to SAMUEL SHANNON of Bedford County. Land: a plantation tract in Bedford County [Westmoreland was still in Bedford Co. until Feb. of 1773], adjoining ELIZABETHSHANNON and SAMUEL SHANNON, containing 370 acres and 36 perches, surveyedto the said Esther by virtue of an order #3535, dated at Philadelphia 23 Jun 1769, togetherwith all houses, stables, buildings, orchards, etc. Price: 5 shillings Pa currency. Witnesses:John McKee and Andrew McKee." [OW, Vol. 3, No. 1, p. 9]This deed indicates that Esther, John & Andrew McKee were probably relatives ofeither Samuel Shannon or his wife Elizabeth. Note the low price of the sale. It alsoindicates that the Samuel Shannon family likely came to Westmoreland from Cumberland Co.
Deed Bk A-1:98 - "22 Feb 1773. Deed. Thomas Alexander of Carlisle, Cumberland Co.,to SAMUEL SHANNON of Donegal Twp., Westmoreland county, farmer. Land: 300acre plantation and tract in Donegal Twp., with all houses, out houses, barns, stable,buildings, orchards, etc. (it being the same tract granted to Thomas Alexander by virtueof an application dated at Philadelphia 23 June 1769 and numbered 3539, said applicationbeing for 300 acres on the Loyalhanna in Fairfield Twp., part of which has been surveyed.)Price: 5 pounds Pa currency. Witnesses: Robert Hanna and William Alexander."[OW Vol. 2, No. 4, p. 6.]
Deed Bk A-1:74 - "2 Dec 1775. Deed. SAMUEL SHANNON and ELIZABETH his wife,to John Moore (also Muire) of Cecil County, Maryland, blacksmith. Land: 318 plantationand tract in Donegal Twp. on Salt Creek, together with all the houses...etc., it being the sametract granted to ELIZABETH SHANNON by virtue of an application date at Phildadelphia23 June 1769 and numbered 3536. Price: 80 pounds Pa currency. Witnesses: James Pollock,Robert Williams, and RICHARD SHANNON." [OW Vol. 2, No. 2, p. 4]The three properties above were all warranted the same date and are #3535, 3536, 3539 -- indicating that they were likely taken out by related people.
Deed Bk. A-1: 235 - "7 May 1776. Deed. SAMUEL SHANNON of Donegal Twp. toHenry Schlator (also Slatter) of the same place. Price: 80 pounds Pa currency. Land: Twosurveyed tracts in Donegal Twp. on the waters of Champion Run leading from Salt LickCreek; the one tract located in the Proprietaries Office in the name of Esther Magee, adjoining SAMUEL SHANNON, which was surved and returned; the other located inthe name of Thomas McCollum, adjoining lands of Esther McGee. Witnesses: ThomasGalbraith and Moses Watson. [OW Vol. 7, No. 2, p. 17.]
22. The database of Michael S. Caldwell (ID = michaelscaldwell) on Worldconnect has thesesame deeds, and other Shannon data in notes under Mary Shannon (1769-1833), believed tobe a daughter of Capt. Samuel Shannon & Elizabeth. Mary Shannon (6 Jan 1769 -6 Mar 1833) married John Roberts on 12 Sept. 1786. Their 16 children are in the databaseof Michael Caldwell. Also notes on the estate of Mary Shannon Roberts. [Although the evidence is not absolutely firm, I am adding Mary as a daughter of Capt. SamuelShannon & Elizabeth -- Michael Caldwell suggests it, but does not link her.]
23. Samuel Shannon is listed in early court records as the Constable for Donegal Twp. in1776 [OW Vol 4, No. 3, p. 23]. In 1773 he was an "overseerer of the poor" for DonegalTwp., and served as a road viewer (for the Laurel Hill area of the old Forbes Road) in1773 [OW Vol. 1, No. 2, p. 15,16] There are other court records where he is suing or being sued, probably all related to the Isaac Stimble land.
24. Some other items that pertain to the SHANNON families of the Ligonier Valley --A. Administration for RICHARD SHANNON, WB 1:60, " Letters 6 Mar 1800 toSAMUEL SHANNON. Bond 120 pounds. Sureties: George Keltz and William McDowell."[OW Vol. 6, No. 3, p. 13]
Was this Richard Shannon the brother of Capt. Samuel Shannon (died 1781?). BothKeltz and McDowell married into the Shannon family. Wm. McDowell was a son-in-lawof Capt. Samuel Shannon (see my note 1), and George Adam Keltz may have married asister of this Samuel Shannon, based on the age of Keltz (b. 1758), see note B below.There are at least 2 other databases on Worldconnect [Jeff Clark & "Bush"] that haveGeorge Adam Keltz & Sarah Shannon, but conflicting dates for their 10 children.