John Van Metre aKA Jan Joosten Van Meteren
John Van Metre, also spelled Van Meter, was born Jan Joosten Van Meteren, son of Joost Janse Van Meteren. John is our intrepid John Van Metre the Indian Trader and Guide. He was also known as John of New York, John of Virginia and the John the First of Berkeley. He was a well known frontiersman and horse breeder.
John van Metre
son of Joost Janse Van Meteren and Sara DuBois.
Born: Before 14 Oct 1683 in Marbletown, Ulster County, New York, Colonial America.
Baptized: 14 Oct 1683 in Kingston, Ulster County, New York, Colonial America. Sponsors were his grandparents: Jan Joosten and Macyke Hendricks.
Died: Between 13 Aug 1745 and 3 Sep 1745, dates will was written and will was probated, at the age of 61 in Frederick County, Virginia, Colonial America (now Berkeley County, West Virginia).
Married 1st: 1705 Sara Bodine in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Married 2nd: 1710 Margaret Mollenaur in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Find A Grave: Memorial #79887491 burial details unknown, although one contributor states that John was buried in a family cemetery on his farm near Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Sarah Bodine daughter of Jean Bodine and Marie Crocheron.
Born: 1687 in Staten Island, Richmond County, New York, Colonial America.
Died: 1709 at the age of 22 in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America. Most likely at the time of or shorlty after their daughter Maria’s birth.
Find A Grave: Memorial #159372394 burial details unknown.
Margaret Mollenaur / Miller daughter of Hendrick Adriensen Mollenauer, Sr.
Born: 1687 in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: 13 Aug 1745 Frederick County, Virginia, Colonial America (now Berkeley County, West Virginia).
Find A Grave: Memorial #79887545 burial details unknown, but likely on the family farm near Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Note: Some believe that Margarets mother was Catherine Crom, daughter of Macyke Hendricks, but whether Macyke had a daughter, Catherine is under debate. It would also mean she would marry her own nephew, which is not likely. Her mother may have been Catherine, but we’ll probably not know who she descended from. Her father may or may not have been the brother of Joost Adrieaensen Mollenauer of Pinacker, South Holland, Netherlands (husband of Lisbet Crom). See my post on The Crom Children. Please share if you have evidence regarding Catherine and/or the Mollenauer line.
Table of Contents
John Van Metre 1683-1725
John Van Metre was born in 1687 in Marbletown, Ulster County, New York. His father, Joost Janse Van Meteren is thought to be the John Van Metre the Indian Trader by some. I do believe he was an Indian Trader and scout and raised his son, John, the oldest, to follow in his footsteps. Joosts son John would then later become THE famous John Van Metre the Indian Trader. As he grew older he would accompany his father on his scouting expeditions and learn the ways of the Indians, the waterways and the land. He would become known as John Van Metre the Indian Trader, John of New York, John of Berkeley and John of Virginia.
He and his family can be found in Somerset County, New Jersey between 1705 and 1725, where he married twice. It appears all of his children were born in Somerset County, New Jersey.
After his father disappears from the records, John is found in Salem County, New Jersey, where he purchased a large tract of land along with his mother, his uncle Jacob DuBois, Jacobs sons and brothers Isaac and Henry. My post New Jersey History-Colonial America covers the records where and how they divided the land in New Jersey. I didn’t find any evidence that he lived in Salem County, as his mother and two brothers did. He eventually sold his share of the land.
It’s difficult to know exactly when he moved his family to Maryland, but most likely about 1727, as he acquired his Maryland land grant on November 3, 1726. See my post History of Maryland for a brief history and timeline of this colony.
John The Indian Trader - Is this Story True?
There is a story that has circulated about John Van Meter the Indian Trader being involved in a war between the Delawares and Catawbas. The following are two accounts and their sources.
From “History of the Valley”, page 52, by Samuel Kercheval:1
“Tradition relates that a man by the name of John Vanmeter, from New York, some years previous to the first settlement of the valley, discovered the fine country on the Wappatomaka. This man was a kind of wandering Indian trader, became well acquainted with the Delawares, and once accompanied a war party who marched to the south for the purpose of invading the Catawbas. The Catawbas, however, anticipated them, met them very near the spot where Pendleton courthouse now stands, and encountered and defeated them with immense slaughter. Vanmeter; was engaged on the side of the Delewares in this battle. When Vanmeter; returned to New York, he advised his sons, that if they ever migrated to Virginia, by all means to secure a part of the South Branch bottom, and described the lands immediately above what is called “The Trough,” as the finest body of land which he had ever discovered in all his travels. “
However, J. Thomas Scharf’s “History of Western Maryland” Vol II, page 12042 recounts what I believe is the same battle and does not mention John Van Metre at all. Perhaps there were two different battles???
“Tradition informs us that a bloody affair occurred on the Antietam near its mouth between 1730 and 1736, between the Catawbas and Delawares. The few particulars known are as follows: The Delawares had made an incursion far to the south, and in returning had committed some gross outrages on the Catawbas, and on their retreat were overtaken near the mouth of the Antietam by the exasperated Catawbas. A terrible conflict ensued, which resulted in the slaughter of all the Delawares with the exception of one man, who escaped after the battle was over. It was, however, only for a time. Every warrior among the Catawbas showed a scalp with the exception of one. he felt this to be a disgrace, adn set out inpursuit of the fugitive, whom he did not overtake until he reached the Susquehanna River, where he killed and scalped him. This battle took place on what is now known as the coke-yard of the Antietam Iron-Works, three miles from Sharpsburg.”
What I found in the West Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol II, p. 16 follows:3
John Van Meter was an Indian trader, was well acquainted with the Indians of the north, and especially with the Delawares, and tradition says he had a band of Indians equipped at his own expense which went with him on expeditions when required by him.
I can see our John Van Metre exploring the land with the Delawares and being attacked by the Catawbas, but would he lead a war party? The story has taken on a life of its own and is repeated in various biographies. I will let the readers form their own opinion. Either way, it’s clear he traveled with the Delawares in his many explorations.
Prince Georges County, Maryland About 1730
The land granted to John Van Metre on November 3, 1726 by Lord Baltimore, a tract of two hundred acres and called Metre’s Run, was believed to be located in the area that the Monocacy Battle was fought during the Civil War. This was in Prince Georges County (now just south of Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland).
“He also acquired other lands in Maryland, some of which lay upon the Antietam Creek in what is now Washington County, and it was while he was a resident in this province that he cast wistful eyes beyond the Potomac, upon the rich virgin land of the great valley leading southward and dreamed of larger conquests.” 4
John Van Metres decision to sell his land in New Jersey is found in the record of a deed dated March 25, 1730, by which “John Van Metre of Prince George’s Co., Md., yeoman, conveys to Cornelius Newkirk, of Salem, N.J., 200 acres of land, being part of the original grant of 3,000 acres made by Col. Coxe to the du Bois and Van Metres in 1714; and out of which 400 acres was set apart as John’s dividend, the other moiety of 200 acres having been previously sold to Elisha Bassett. To this deed, the witnesses were Catherine Van Metre, John Miller and William Burkitt. Again, on the 23rd of March 1734, John Van Metre conveys to his brother Isaac a certain tract of land of undetermined quantity, out of which 110 acres had previously been sold to John Tyler.5
John Van Matre was perhaps long familiar with this part of the country (Maryland), and may have traversed while following the trails with the Delaware Indians southward from the headwaters of the Delaware, which rose in the mountainous country adjacent to the Dutch settlements in Ulster County, New York. Patuxent River to the western limits of Lord Baltimore’s palatinate. This county was indebted much of its earlier population to the emigrants from Pennsylvania and eastward.
The border troubles between the two Provinces of Maryland and Pennsylvania had much to do with its settlement, and the disputes between these proprietary governments led many settlers of the adjacent counties of Pennsylvania to remove to the valley of Frederick, to the Monocacy and its neighboring streams.
The Dutch element, perhaps, were the first to establish themselves in these localities; coming down from New York by way of Pennsylvania, they were found in western Maryland as early as 1725. One of the most traveled paths from the German settlements of Lancaster and York counties, Pennsylvania, which led to Maryland was the Monocacy-Conococheague road, which was evolved from an Indian trail. The Conococheague road led southward from a point five miles west of Codorus creek in York County, Pennsylvania, where the Monocacy road makes a bend toward the southwest, and led to Fort Conococheague in the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania, then to Fort Frederick on the Potomac.
For those living on the east side of the Delaware, in the counties of Salem and Cumberland, New Jersey, they were only obliged to cross the Delaware River to reach Christiana [Wilmington] or New Amstel [New Castle] and from these points proceed, by much frequented paths, to the head of Elk and from there by the waters of the Chesapeake and its tributaries reach their destination via the Potomac Falls [Harpers Ferry] in the Valley of Virginia.
John Van Metre may have traveled from New Jersey to reach the Monocacy. Other friends may have traveled from New York. It is probably due to him that his friends and relatives began to colonize along that stream, for here were found the Eltings, Vernoys, Croms, Van Metres and other families from the Hudson River communities.
The following is an interesting account of our Van Metre’s time in Maryland from The Pioneers of Old Monocacy:6
In a survey dated 21 April 1724, John Van Metre acquired some 300 acres in Maryland that he called “Metre”. It was the sixth parcel to be surveyed within the area of present-day Frederick County. Then, a year and a half later, on 18 November 1725, he had another Maryland parcel surveyed and this he called “Meadow””. Here he and his family lived until about 1735. Together with its subsequent Resurvey, his land extended along Carroll creek. It is now the southeastern part of the city of Frederick, stretching from today’s intersection of South Market and South streets eastward through a portion of the Fair Grounds. On it he built what was subsequently described as a “Dutch frame house 18 x 14 feet, clay and white-washed outside with a stone chimney, a log house 20 x 16 feet, a frame house covered with shingles, a house raised four feet from the ground 18 x 14 feet covered with boards.”
On 20 February 1725 John Rolfe and Ranier Snowden, Quakers from the town of Salion, Maryland, declared that Adam Strangler was indebted to them. John Van Metre stood “pledge and security” for Strangler. After a hearing before the Prince George’s County Court of June 1727, Snowden was fined 622 pounds of tobacco for bringing “false clamor” against strangler. Subsequently, in the June court of 1728, John Van Metre paid a five-pound debt of his own to his Lordship.
The Courts of 1729, 1731, 1732 and 1734 appointed John Van Metre Constable of Monocacy Hundred, which at the time extended from the mouth of the Monocacy River northward to Pennsylvania, eastward to include a part of today’s Carroll County and westward to encompass all the lands of western Maryland as we know them today. It was a vast area and in 1729 the Constable of “Monocoughsin” Hundred reported to the Court that he had received many “abuses in the execution of his office insomuch that he is afraid to comply with the order of the Court and humbly prays for protection.” In answer, the Court ordered Joseph Mounts and John Gratharm to join in authority with Van Metre.
In 1735 John Van Metre also joined the move to Virginia. He sold his farm animals and removed himself and his family into Virginia where he died ten years later. On 18 July 1745, just before his death, John Vanmetre of Frederick County, Virginia, appointed his “well-beloved friend Baltis Foutt of Prince George’s County” as attorney to effect the sale of “Meadow” to Michael Raymer.
Although he had lived in Maryland for only a little over a decade, John Van Metre left an indelible imprint on the Frederick County area: it was he who had begun actual settlement in this area and, at least indirectly, it was he who had been responsible for the area’s discovery by the German element passing through from the north.
John Van Metre’s children also played important roles in the early settlement of both Maryland and Virginia. John Jr. [Johannes], the eldest son, had 200 acres surveyed on 01 August 1729 “at the mouth of Beaver Run,” now Carroll creek which flows through the city of Frederick. Called “Pipe Meadow,” his parcel was contiguous with his father’s “Resurvey on Meadow” and extended their joint holdings from present-day downtown Frederick all the way to the Monocacy River. Apparently, John Jr. [Johannes, Sr.] died at Monocacy fairly early, leaving two small children, John III [Johannes, Jr.] and Johanna, who inherited their father’s land. Jonas Hedges, son of Joseph Hedges, Sr., later took the two children with him to Virginia, where he was appointed their guardian. Joanna later married William Burns from Virginia.
Carroll Creek and Monocacy River, Maryland showing Van Metre properties.7 Some assume the Isaac Van Metre noted is Johns brother, but there is no evidence his brother Isaac owned property or lived in Maryland. Isaac stayed in Salem County, New Jersey until about 1740 at which time he removed to Virginia. The Isaac on this map is most likely John Van Metre’s son Isaac, and John Van Metre Jr. is most likely his son Johannes aka John.
Current Maryland Counties Map
Frederick County, Maryland place names:
- 1654 Calvert and Charles Counties were formed
- 1696 Prince Georges County was formed from Calvert and Charles Counties.
- 1748 Frederick County was formed from Prince Georges County.
- 1776 Montgomery County was formed from Frederick County.
- 1788 A section of Montgomery County was set off to form the District of Columbia.
Current Counties Map of Maryland. John Van Metre’s property “Metre’s Run’ was located in what is now Frederick County, but was then Prince Georges County.8
Virginia 1727
In “A Story of A Van Matre Family“, by Joseph M. Van Matre unpublished and written about 1985 (copies handed out to the family), page 6, he states “In 1727 Jooste Janse was the advisor in Germanna, Spottsylvania County, for the Governor. He also equipped the Delaware Indians at his own expense and explored down south in Virginia. He urged his sons to go south to get some of that good farmland. His sons, John and Isaac, had grants for 40,000 acres but sold half of it to Jooste Hite.”
Okay, so was Joost Janse still living? Or did the author assume it was Jooste Janse and it was actually John? Since he didn’t name a source, I can’t verify one way or the other.
The beautiful “Valley of Virginia” lies beyond the western slopes of the Blue Ridge. The Shenandoah enfolds it on the south at the Potomac and its branches on the north and west. Lord Fairfax called it “The Northern Neck,” and its settlement may fairly be said to have begun with the actual granting of an immense area of land in what then was Spottsylvania County, Virginia, by Governor Gooch and his Council, at Williamsburg, Virginia, to John and Isaac Van Metre, 17th June, 1730.9
Virginia Land Grants 1730
In 1730 John and his brother Isaac personally visited the Royal Governor of Virginia, William Gooch at Williamsburg, which was then the capital of the colony. Their purpose was to petition the governor for a grant of land in the vicinity of the south branch of the Potomac.
John and Isaac Van Metre secured a patent from Governor Gooch, then Colonial Governor of Virginia, for forty thousand acres of land, of which half was sold to Jost Hite. John settled in Berkley County, Virginia, near what is now Martinsburg, West Virginia and Isaac proceeded west to the South Branch of the Potomac [Old Field] in Hampshire County, Virginia (Now Hardy County, West Virginia), where he established Fort Pleasant.
The following land grants were approved June 17, 1730 are from the original journal of the Governor and Council of Virginia, session 1721-1734, for John and his brother Isaac:10
” John Vanmeter [3] setting forth that he is desirous to take up a Tract of land in this Colony on the West side of the Great Mountains [Blue Mountain] for the settlement of himself & Eleven children & also that divers of his Relations & friends living in the Government of New York are also desirous to move with their families & effects to Settle in the same place if a Sufficient Quantity of Land may be assigned them for that purpose & praying that ten thousand acres of land lying in the forks of Sherando [Shenandoah] River including the places called by the names of Cedar Litch & Stony Lick and running up between the branches of the sd. River to complete that Quantity & twenty thousand acres not already taken up by Robert Carter & Mann Page, Esqrs or any other lying in the fork between the sd River Shenandoah and the River Cohongaroola & extending thereto Operkon & up the South branch thereof may be assigned for the Habitation of himself his family & friends.
The Governor with the advice of the Council is pleas’d to give leave to the sd. John Vanmeter to take up the sd first mentioned tract of ten thousand acres for the Setlmt. of himself & his Family. And that as soon as the petitioner Shall bring on the last-mentioned Tract twenty Families to inhabit or that this Board is satisfied so many are to remove thither Leave be & it is hereby granted him for surveying the last-mentioned Tract of Twenty thousand acres within the limits above described in so many Several Dividends as the petr. & his sd. partners shall think fit….. provided thasd. Vanmeter & his family & the said twenty other families of his Relations and friends do settle thereon within the space of two years according to his proposal.” MSS. Journal of the Governor and Council (1721- 1734.) p.363
——-
“Isaac Vanmeter of the Province of West Jersey having by his petition to this Board Set forth that he and divers other German Families are desirous to settle themselves on the West Side of the Great Mountains in this Colony he the Petitioner has been to View the lands in those parts & has discovered a place where such Settlement may Conveniently be made & not yet taken up or possess’d by any of the English Inhabitants & praying that ten thousand Acres of Land lying between the Lands Surveyed for Rob Carter Esqr the fork of Sherundo [Shenandoah] River & the River Opeckon in as many Several Tracts or Dividends as shall be necessary For the Accommodation & Settlement of ten Families (including his Own) which he proposes to bring on the sd Land
The Governour with the Advice of the Council is pleas’d to order as it is hereby Ordered that the sd Quantity of ten thousand Acres of Land within the Limits above describ’d & that if he brings the above Number of Families to dwell there within two Years Patents be granted him & them for the same in Such several Tracts & Dividends as they shall think Fit & in the Mean time that the Same be reserv’d Free from the entry of any other person.”
Unfortunately there was a dispute regarding the land grants. The subject of Land Grants is a long and complicated one and had a major impact on our Van Metre family.
In earliest times, the English, Dutch, and French crowns controlled the granting of land, normally through each colony’s government, but sometimes through agents, proprietors, companies or partnerships. Basically, the King claimed ownership of the colonial land, and distributed it according to a variety of laws subject to his approval. No matter that the land was already occupied by native tribes. What land could not be purchased could be taken by treaty or by force.
In the case of our Van Metre families, the Virginia Governor and Council, had the authority to grant lands, but there were conflicts to the property lines between the land granted by the King in 1649 to Lord Culpeper, which would later be passed down to Lord Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord of Fairfax.
To add to the confusion, the Van Metre’s sold part of the land to Jost Hite and later bought some of the land back, as needed for family. See my post The Virginia Land Grants for the full story.
The Northern Neck of Virginia – The Fairfax Grant
In the survey of Isaac Van Metre’s grant: “Survey extended from the north bank line of the Sherando river northward to the Operkon river then following its flow embracing the land and prairies, forests and streams and their sources lying betweixt thereof—said Operkon and ye said Sherando [Shenandoah]; Both lines showing monuments for courses and measures.”
Lord Fairfax’s grant, from the crown ante-dated these and all other grants; but at that date it was assumed that the great Colepeper Grant, which had been curtailed to the Northern Neck, then Fairfax’s grant, did not extend beyond the Blue Mountains, and that the Potow-mack [Potomac] River was wholly East of these mountains; and it was not until about 1736-1737, that Lord Fairfax, the father of Lord Thomas through his agents, discovered by survey that his grant covered an empire, more than he supposed. Below is the 1736-1737 Fairfax Survey. The Pink area is the boundaries mentioned in John Van Metre’s Grant. Until the survey of 1736-1737 it was assumed (even by Fairfax himself it is believed) that the Fairfax Grant only extended to the Blue Mountain (East of the Shenandoah River). As you can see in the map below, the Van Metre Grants fall within the boundaries of the Fairfax Survey, but on the West side of the Blue Mountains.
The Northern Neck Proprietary was not seized during the Revolutionary War as Lord Fairfax had been a resident in Virginia since 1735 and was not considered an alien.
The property disputes were not finally settled until after principals and their children had been dead many years. The courts sustained Van Metre, and confirmed title to all assigns for interest in the Van Metre grants purchased from “Jost Heitd,” the legal battles were fought to a finish in 1802. 11
Survey of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1736 & 1737. The pink area is the outline of the Shenandoah River, up to the Potomac and down the Opequon River, which is the boundaries in John Van Metre’s Grant.12
Current Map of the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Areas that were included in the van Metre 1730 Land Grant. Jost Hite is said to have settled in Winchester, Virginia.
John Van Metre Sells his Maryland Property
On November 9, 1739 John “Vanmatre of Orange County, Virginia” entered into an agreement to transfer title to his first survey, “Metere,” on the Menockecy River to Joseph and Thomas Palmer, who also came from Westchester County, New York to live in the area of the Van Metre settlement. They were to pay £80 each December for three years for the 300 acres. Joseph Palmer later sold his interest to his brother Tomas and went back to New York. An additional 58 acres were added by Thomas, who had “Palmer’s Choice” surveyed on November 21, 1741. Its beginning point was “near the uppers ide of the land [“Metre”] he [Palmer] now lives on.” In 1752 Thomas Palmer used most of “metre” for a resurvey which he called “Palmerzaner.” This he conveyed to Abraham Crum on May 13, 1754.
John Van Metre's Deed of Gift
On September 17 1744, John signed the following Deed of Gift:13
JOHN VAN METRE’S DEED OF GIFT
1744, Sep. 17 Deed of gift from John Van Metre of Frederick Co. Va. for love and affection to Isaac my eldest son, Henry second son, Abraham third son, Jacob fourth and youngest son; Maudlena, wife to Robert Pewsey my youngest daughter, Solomon Hedges Esq1., Thomas Shepherd, James Davis, and Robert Jones, sons in law–gives, grants, etc., all stalyons, geldings, mares and colts, running in the woods, branded on the left shoulder with letter “M,” to be divided equally, the part to my said daughter shall be appropriated to her use, and under the care of my executors named in my will. 4 young mares and their increse to each of my grandsons Johannes van Metre, son of Johannes deceased; and the same to John Lissige, son of my daughter Rachael deceased when they shall arrive at the age of 21 years. If the within mentioned Robert Jones do not quit-claim to a pretended right to 100 acres of land and other pretended demands on me, the said John Van Metre, for which he hath no right, then the proportion of said creatures shall be given to my daughter, Mary, wife to said Jones and to her children at the discretion of my executors.
John van Meter.
Witnesses: Jonas Hedges, Joseph Carroll [Fredrick Co. Va., Records].
John Van Metre died between 1 Aug 1945, when he wrote his will and 3 Sep 1745 when his will was probated.
John Van Metre's Will
On August 13, 1745 John Van Matre signed the following will:14
WILL OF JOHN VAN METRE
In the name of God Amen, the Thirteenth day of August one thousand seven hundred and forty five, I. John Van Metre in Frederick County in the Colony of Virginia being sick in body but of sound mind and Memory praise be given to God for the same and calling to mind the uncertainty of this Transitory Life, am willing through Divine Assistance to settle and Dispose of those Temporal blessings which it hath Pleased God beyond my Deserts to bestow upon me and therefore making this my Last Will and Testament Disannulling all other wills and Testaments heretofore made by me, &c. Imprimis, I commend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, hoping thro the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ it will be accepted and my body to be Interred with Decency at the Discretion of my executors hereafter named. I also will that all my Just Debts and Demands whatsoever in Right of Conscience is Due to any to be Discharged and paid (as also funeral expenses) By my executors and as to my Real and Personal Estate, I Will, Dispose Devise Give and Bequeath it in the manner following, that is to say.
First my will is that my well beloved wife Margerat Van Metre Have the third part of my moveable estate, also one room which she likes best, to Dwell in, in my dwelling House, and one third part of the Orchard next the Run with the keeping of one Riding Horse and two Milch cows, Linnin and Wolling Yarn to be wove her Bed and Bedding the said Room and Liberties to be by her possessed during Her Dureing Life, without controle hinderance or molestation of any person whatever.
Second, Item, I give Will Devise and bequeath unto my son Abraham Van Metre and his Heirs Lawfully Begotten, a Certain Parcel Tract of Land Bought by me of Francis Prichard on Opekan Run against the Land formally Bequeathed to him, said Tract Begins at an Elm Tree being the East corner of the said Tract between a Line Tree Hickory Saplin and aforesaid Elm Saplin By Opekan Run side thence down the same to the Beginning Tree of afsd. Pricherds Tract, thence South Fifty five Degrees West, one Hundred and Ten Poles, to the afsd. Beginning Elm Tree, containing by Estimation one hundred acres of land be it more or less. Provided there should be no Heirs Male or Female of my said Son or Sons (Hereafter named) Live to arise to the age of Twenty one Years, that then after the Decease of my s’d son or sons afsd. or their Heirs, that then their part of Land to be equally Divided amongst the rest of my Surviving Devisees 3d hereafter mentioned. Furthermore I also give Unto my s’d son Abraham Van Meter on Certain Tract of Land being and Situate on Opequon Run in the County afrs’d and to his Heirs Lawfully Begotton being part of Four hundred and Seventy five acres of Land Bought of Jost Hite, Beginning at or about two yards below a Pine Tree on a high Bank on Opeckon Run called the Allan Hill, and running thence by a Division Line North Sixty five Degrees East sixty Polls, to a small Hickory thence North Twenty Degrees West Twenty Eight Poles to a Black Oak then North Twenty Degrees West Sixteen Poles then North Fifteen Degrees East two hundred and nine Poles to a Spannish Oak another corner of the Original survey Thence North twenty Degrees West sixteen Poles to the First Beginning head of the survey of the original Tract by Opeckon Run side near a White Oak marked thus IVM, then up Opeckon Run to the Beginning Pine, containing by estimation Two hundred and thirty seven acres of Land be it more or less &c. the same I also Give Devise and Bequeath to him my son Abraham and his Heir Lawfully Begotten, Under the same Restrictions and Limitations as I have Bequeathed unto him the above mentioned Land Bought of Francis Pricher, also I Give Devise unto my said son Abraham (a son of my wife aforesaid thirds of my Movable Estate and Legacies are paid) an equal proportioned. Childs’ part therefrom as well as Lands to be Disposed of if any there be as of all things else &c.
Fourth I also Will, Give Devise and Bequeath unto my son Abraham Van Metre and to his lawful Heirs the Southernmost part and half moiety of four hundred acres of land for me and in my name to survey for him his Heirs afrs’d which land I have Jos Hite’s Bond for procuring a Pattent, which if he shall not obtain the said Pattent he is to have the said Bond for Recovering so much as will amount to his share or Proportion according to his dividend of s’d Tract and the same Land to be held and enjoyed by him under the same Restrictions and Limitations as the above mentioned Land Namely the Land Bought of Francis Pricher &c.
Fifth, I Devise Will and Bequeath unto my son Isaac Van Meter and his Heirs Lawfully Begotten one Part or Tract of Land being part of the Tract of Land whereon I now Dwell, Beginning at a Bounded stake at the end of Sixteen Poles in the first Line of the Original Tract Running thence with the said Line South Thirty Degrees West Sixty full perches, then South Eighty one Degrees East One hundred and Eighty Eight Perches, the North Five Degrees East Ten Poles then South Eighty one Degrees East One hundred and Eighty Poles until it intersects the line of the Intire Tract then North one hundred Poles to two white oaks at corner of the Intire Tract then North Fifty two Degrees West Fifty Poles to a Black Oak another Corner of the Intire Tract then North Eighteen Poles then South Seventy-six Degrees West to the Beginning Stake, containing by computation Two hundred and Fifty acres of Land be it more or less. Provided the said Isaac Van Meter make sale of the Land he has at Monocacy and deliver one fourth part of the price thereof to his Brother Jacob and the other three fourths to be either applied toward improving the Land herein Bequeathed otherwise laid out in other Lands and the s’d. to be held under the same Restrictions and Limitations, as those lands Will and Bequeathed, to my son Abraham as aforementioned. Also I Give and Devise unto my said son , Isaac Van Meter after my afs’d wife’s thirds of my Movable Estate and Legacies are paid an Equal proportional Child’s part arising therefrom as well of my Lands which arc to be Disposed of if any there be as of all also my Movables &c.
Sixth Item, I Give Devise and Bequeath unto my son Henry Van Meter his Heirs Lawfully Begotten one certain Parcel Tract of Land situate and being in Frederich County on Opeckon Run whereon the said Henry now dwells. Beginning at the Spannish oak standing by Opeckon at a Lick in the Branch of s’d Run and running thence into the woods East Twenty Poles to a Black Oak thence South Eighty three Degrees East Ninty two Poles to a White Oak then East one hundred and fifty one Poles to a Hickory in a Line of the original survey thence down the same to a Run that falls into Opeckon Run thence down the same into Opeckon Run where a Spring is at the mouth thereof then up Opcckan Run to the Beginning Spannish Oak containing by estimation about four Hundred acres of Land be it more or less, with Liberty to such as possessed the land below the mouth of the said Run to get the water and have and possess part of the said Spring at the mouth of said Run, and hold and enjoy the said land under the same Restrictions and Limitations as my son Abraham and his Heirs &c. and if my said son should decease before his wife Eve. . . . Also I give and Devise unto my said son Henry after my aforesaid wives third of my Movable Estate and Legacies are paid an equal proportional Child’s part arising therefrom as well as my lands which are to be disposed of if any there be as of all else &c.
Seventh — Item I will Devise Give and Bequeath unto my son Jacob Van Metre and his Heirs Lawfully Begotten, one piece or tract of land, being part of Tract whereon I now dwell. Beginning at a Bound Hickory standing at the end of the Eighty Poles in the first Line of the Original and running thence with the said Line North Thirty Degrees West Fifty six Poles then South seventy one Degrees East two hundred and twenty four Poles then North sixty six Degrees East Twenty four Poles then North Eighty two Degrees East Eighty Poles then North Eighty five Degrees East one hundred and Forty Poles then North fifteen Degrees west twelve Poles to a Black Oak being one of the corner trees of the original Tract then North Forty two Degrees West Eighty two Poles to a Hickory then North sixty eight Poles until it intersects Isaac Van Meter’s Line thence traversing the several Courses of the said Isaac’s Line to the Beginning Containing by estimation two hundred and thirty three acres of Land with that part of the Plantation whereon I now dwell together with all the Houses, Orchards on the said part Parcel, Tract of Land excepting as before excepted unto my wife to hold and enjoy the same tinder the same Restrictions and Limitations as is aforementioned unto my son Abraham and his Heirs &c. Also I give Devise and bequeath unto my said son Jacob after my wifes Third part of my Movable Estate and Legacies are paid an equal proportional Child’s part arising therefrom as well as my lands which are to be disposed of if any there be as of all else &c.
Eighth, Item, I will Devise give and Bequeath unto the Heirs Begotten [on] the body of my daughter Sarah wife to James Davis, one Piece or Tract of Land, part of the Tract of land whereon I now dwell Beginning for the same at the first Beginning Tree of the Intire tract and Running thence South Thirty degrees West Sixteen Poles to a stake then North Seventy-five Degrees East two hundred and ninty two Poles to a cross the Intire Tract then around the several courses Joining Rebeccas land to the Beginning Containing by computation two hundred and Twenty acres of Land, more or less to be held under the same Restrictions, Titles, Limitations as aforesaid. Also, I give and Bequeath unto my said Daughter after my said wife’s Thirds of my Moveable Estate and Legacies are paid an equal proportional Child’s part arising therefrom as well of my Lands who are to be Disposed of if there be of all else. Provided, and it is my Soul Intent and Meaning that James Davis together with his wife Sarah give Good and sufficient security unto my Executors, for the sum of her Proportional part of my Moveable Estate arising to be paid unto their Heirs, equally divided amongst them when they shall arrive at the age of twenty one years, and on Refusal of such security the Proportional part so arising to remain in the hands of my Executors until the Heirs aforesaid arrive at the age aforesaid &c.
Ninth, Item, I will Devise Give and Bequeath unto my daughter Mary wife of Robert Jones and to the Heirs of her body Lawfully Begotten one certain piece or Tract of Land being part of the Tract whereon I now Dwell beginning at a large White Oak by a Hole in the Ground it being a corner of the original Survey of the Whole Intire Tract and Running from the said oak South twenty one Degrees West two hundred and eight Poles then South forty two degrees west forty two Poles to a White Oak by a Mead on a corner of the Original Tract thence South forty two Degrees East Sixty Poles thence North Fifty four Degrees East three hundred and forty Poles until it Intersects the Line of the Intire Tract then with the same eighteen Degrees East Sixty five Poles to a Hickory Corner of the Original Tract thence North Thirty Degrees East eighty poles to the afs White Oak by Spring it being another Corner of the Original Tract then North Fifteen Degrees West Seventy Poles thence South Eighty three Degrees West Eighty Poles to a Black Oak then South ten Degrees West Fifty six Poles to a stake by a corner of a fence then East by the said fence to another stake then thirty Degrees then West one hundred and sixty four Poles to another stake then Northwest sixty six Poles to the Beginning containing by estimation three hundred and fifty acres of Land be it more less the same to be held and enjoyed under the same Restrictions and Limitations above mentioned in the Lands Willed and Bequeathed to my son Abraham Van Metre and his Heirs &c. Also, I give and Devise unto my said Daughter Mary wife to the said Robert Jones after my afsd Wife’s Thirds of my Movable Estate and Legacies are paid an Equal Proportional Child’s part arising therefrom as well of my Lands which are not to be disposed of if any there be as of all else, Provided, and it is my Soul Intent and meaning that Robert Jones With his wife Mary give Good and sufficient security unto my Executors for the sum of her proportional part of my Movable Estate, arising to be paid unto their Heirs equally divided amongst them when they arrive to the age of Twenty one years, and on Refusal of such security, the proportional part so arising to remain in the hands of my Executors until the Heirs afsd arrive afsd.
Tenth, Item, I Devise Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Rebecca wife to Solomon Hedges, Esq., and to her Heirs Lawfully Begotten of her body one parcel or Tract of land being part of the tract I now Dwell on Beginning at a corner marked Black Oak the lower most corner on the east side of the meadow and running with the lines of the Original Tract North Thirty three Degrees West One hundred & ten Poles to a Black oak then South Seventeen Degrees West one hundred and Fifty eight Poles to a Hickory then South Sixty Degrees West and Ninty five Poles to a Black Oak then South Fifteen Degrees West one hundred and thirty six Poles and in a corner of the other Tract then crossing the said Tract North seventy nine Degrees East one hundred and sixty Poles until it shall intersect the Line of the Intire survey then with the same North Twenty five Degrees East two hundred and forty four Poles to the Beginning Black Oak containing by estimation two hundred acres of Land and meadow be it more or less to be held and enjoyed by the Heirs of the said Solomon and Rebecca Lawfully begotten of her body under the same Restriction and Limitations as is mentioned to Abraham Van Meter’s Heirs, &c. Also I give and devise unto my said Daughter Rebecca after my said wife’s Thirds of my Movable Estate and Legacies are paid an Equal Proportional Child’s part arising therefrom as well as of my Lands which are to be disposed of if any then be as of all else, &c. Provided, and it is my soul Intent and meaning that Solomon Hedges and Rebecca his wife give Good and sufficient security unto my Executor’s for the sum of her Proportional Part of my Movable Estate arising to be paid unto their Heirs Equally Divided amongst them when they shall arrive to the age of Twenty one years and on Refusal of such Security, the Proportional part so arising to remain in the hands of my Executors until the Heirs afsd arrive at the age afsd &c.
Eleventh, Item, I give Devise and Bequeath unto my Daughter Elisabeth Wife to Thomas Shepherd and to the heirs of her body Lawfully Begotten One Certain Tract or piece of Land being part of the Tract whereon I now dwell beginning at the South corner of the above Devised Land and running thence with the same North Fifty four Degrees East Three hundred and Forty Poles until it shall Intersect the Line of the Intire Tract thence Traversing the Lines of the Intire Tract round to the Beginning, containing by computation three hundred acres of Land. Also one other Tract of Land Lying situate and being in Prince George’s County in the Province of Maryland known by the name of Pelmel. Beginning at a bounded Ash standing at the upper end of a Tract of land called Antetum Bottom on the Bank of Potomack River containing one hundred and sixty acres of Land according to the Certificate of Survey under the same Title Restrictions and Limitations as in afsd Bequest and Devise unto my son Abraham Van Meter and his Heirs. Also if Robert Jones should be scarce of Water or his Heirs, or anyother the Devises or their Heirs into whose Hands the Lands shall come into, then it shall and may be Lawful for them to Digg a Trench to Convey the Water from the Run into the said Land with [out] Interruption of him the said Thomas Shepherd or his heirs aforesed. Also I give and Devise unto my said Daughter Elisabeth wife to Thomas Shepherd after my afsd wife’s Thirds of my Movable Estate and Legacies are paid an equal Proportional Child’s part arising therefrom as well of my Lands which are to be Deposed of if any there be as of all else &c. Provided, and it is my Soul Intent and meaning that Thomas Shepherd and Elizabeth his wife Give Good and sufficient security unto my Executors for the sum of her proportional part of my movable Estate arising to be paid unto their Heirs equally Divided amongst them when they shall arrive at the age of Twenty one Years, And on Refusal of such security the Proportional part so arising to Remain in the Hands of my Executors until the Heirs afsd arrive at the age afsd &c.
Twelvth, Item, I Devise Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Magdalena the sum of twenty shillings, as her full Legacy whereby when paid or tendered to her by my Executors is discharged and fully acquitted from any Right Title or Interest or in or to my Real or Personal Estate and I do Devise Will and Bequeath unto her Heirs Lawfully Begotten on her body a Certain Tract or piece of Land being part of the Tract whereon I now Dwell beginning at a marked Red Oak saplin being a corner of the original survey of the Intire Tract and Running thence North Thirty Degrees East Twelve Poles, then South Seventy one Degrees East two hundred and twenty four Poles then North sixty six Degrees East twenty four Poles then North Eighty two Degrees East Eighty four Poles then south Eighty Poles then south ten West fifty six Poles then East twenty Poles then North West sixtysix Poles to a white oak by a Hole being a corner of the survey of the Intire Tract then with the Line of the same to the beginning Black oak saplin Containing by estimation two hundred and fifty acres of land be it more or less to be held and enjoyed by the heirs of my said Daughter under the Limitations and Restrictions according to the Devise made to my son Abraham van Meter’s Heirs, &c. Also I give and Devise unto the Heirs of my said Daughter Magdalena after my wife’s Thirds of my Movable Estate so arising to remain in the hands of my Executors until her heirs arrive to the age of Twenty one years and then equally between them and for want of such Heirs to be equally divided amongst the other Devisees &c.
Thirteenth Item, I will Devise Give and Bequeath to the son of Daughter Rachael deceased (viz) John Leforge a certain tract of land containing two hundred acres being part of four hundred acres of land which my son Abraham Van Meter hath Divided to him, which two hundred acres of Land are to be held and enjoyed under the same Restrictions and Limitations and Intails as aforementioned &c. as also two Breeding Mares, and if it so happen that he should die that then the said mares shall be given to his two cousins namely Johannes Van Meter son of Johanes Van Meter deceased and Joana daughter of the said Johanes deceased &c.
Fourteenth, Item, I will Devise and Bequeath unto my Grandson Johannes Van Meter son of my Eldest son Johannes Van Meter Deceased and to his Heirs Lawfully Begotten a certain parcel of Land being the uppermost part of the afsd four hundred and seventy five acres of land which I purchased of Jost Hite Beginning at the afsd Pine Trees mentioned in the second clause of my Bequest to my son Abraham Van Meter out of part of the same Tract and running thence with the same Division Line Between him and my son Abraham North sixty Degrees East sixty Poles to a small Hickory Saplin standing on the Line of the Survey of the whole Intire Tract then with the same South twenty three Degrees East two hundred and Fifty seven Poles to a White oak standing at a corner of the original survey and is the uppermost corner of the Land mentioned in Jost Hite’s Deed then running with the Line of the said Deed to Opeckon Run and Down the same to the afsd Pine Tree containing by estimation two hundred and thirty eight acres be it more or less. Provided the said Johanas Delivers an equal share of his Land at Monokasy or the value thereof to his sister Joana Daughter of Johannes Van Meter Deceased, then this Land Willed and Bequeathed to my Grand son Johannes Van Meter is to be held by him Under the same Restrictions and Limitations as aforementioned in Abraham’s Bequest, Also I will that my said grandson Johannas have two Breeding Mares, &c.
Fifteenth, Item. I will that if any veins or any sort of mines should at anytime hereafter be Discovered on any part of my Lands herein mentioned, Given Willed Devised and Bequeathed, and that the same should arise amount or become of more value than Fifty Pounds that then such Mines to be equally divided amongst my Devisees and every of them to have equal share or proportion of the same with Liberty of Roads to and from the same for Transporting of such mine also Liberty to Digg and make search and Trail for such Mines in Co-Partnership with the rest of the Devisees, &c.
Sixteenth, Item, I also Will Devise Give and Bequeath the sum of Ten Pounds Virginia Money to be paid by my Executors to my grand-children to Johannes Van Meter and Joana Van Meter the sum of Fifteen Pounds when they arrive to the age of twenty one years of age.
Seventeenth, Item I do nominate. Constitute and Appoint my son-in-law Thomas Shepherd, Abraham Van Meter and Jacob Van Meter my sons joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament Impowering them to act and perform according to what is contained in every Clause being Contained in five Sheets of Paper Disannuling and making void all other Wills and Testament’s by me in any wise by me heretofore confirming this and no other as my last Will and Testament.
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Day and Year above Written.
signed John Metor [seal]
Signed sealed Published and Pronounced and Declared by the said John Van Meter as his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us :
his
Edward X Morgan
mark
Andrew Corn
Joseph Carroll.
[Probated at Winchester Va. 3d Sept. 1745].
The will was signed by John Van Metre “John Metor” on August 13, 1745 and states he is sick in body. The will is probated just 18 days later on September 3, 1745, so he died shortly after signing his will, most likely due to poor health.
See the story of his daughter Magdelena and her husband Robert Pusey below for another alternative.
Place Name changes Martinsburg and Shepherdstown
The colonial government in Virginia created new counties as populations grew large enough to sustain them. Virginia grew from 350 in 1610 to 450,000 in the 1770s. In 1863 the State of West Virginia was formed. These changes can cause confusion when dealing with place names and finding records in our genealogy research.
Following is place name changes for current Martinsburg and Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
County and State Changes:
- Orange County, Virginia was formed in 1734, county seat: Spotsylvania
- Frederick County, Virginia was formed in 1743, from Orange County, county seat: Winchester.
- Berkeley County, Virginia was formed in 1772 from Frederick County, county seat: Martinsburg,
- Berkeley County became part of West Virginia in 1863.
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- same as above until 1801
- Jefferson County was formed from Berkeley County in 1801.
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- Mecklenburg, Berkeley County formed 1765
- Renamed to Shepherd’s Town in 1794 in honor of Thomas Shepard.
- Officially changed to Shepherdstown in 1867.
John and Sarah (Bodine) Van Metre Children
1. Sara Van Metre
daughter of Jan Joosten “John” and Sarah (Bodine) Van Metre.
Baptized: 30 Oct 1706 in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.15
Died: 23 May 1769 at the age of 62 in Frederick County, Virginia, Colonial America (present day: Hedgesville, West Virgnia, USA.)
Married: 30 Oct 1730 James Demilt Davis in Orange County, Virginia, Colonial America.
Find A Grave: Memorial #234475582 burial details unknown. She was most likely buried in a family plot near her home in Frederick County, Virginia.
James Demilt Davis son of William James and Elizabeth. (Sandford) Davis.
Born: Oct 1703 in Pilesgrove, Salem County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: 7 Dec 1756 at the age of 53 in Frederick County, Virginia, Colonial America.
Find A Grave: Memorial #243078476 burial details unknown.
James and Sara (Van Metre) Davis Children
- Jacob Davis (1735-1784) married Nancy Williams
- James Davis, Jr. (1732-1796) married Mary Bradley
- Robert Davis (1734- bef 1754)
- John Boyd Davis (1735-1796) married Elizabeth Hubbard
- Edward Davis (1738-1827) married Mary Nancy Cull
- Anthony Davis (1740-1796) married Ruth
- Christina Davis (1742-?)
- Isaac Davis (1744-1796)
- Joost Davis (1746-1796)
- Petrus Davis (1748-1756)
2. Johannes "John" Jansen Van Metre
son of Jan Joosten “John” and Sarah (Bodine) Van Metre.
Baptism: 28 Apr 1708 in Somerse County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: 1732 at the age of 24, due to the influenza epidemic at the family farm “on the Monocacy” in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Married: 1728 Rebecca Powelson in New Jersey, Colonial America.
Find A Grave: Memorial #215103529 burial details unknown, most likely on the family farm “in the Monocacy” in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Colonial America.
Rebecca Powelson daughter of Hendrick and Jannetye (Andries) Pauelson
Baptism: 28 Apr 1708 in Somerse County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: 1735 at the age of 27 in Prince George County, Maryland, Colonial America.
Find A Grave: Memorial #215103529 burial details unknown, most likely on the family farm “in the Monocacy” in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Colonial America.
The following regarding Johannes Van Metre was written in A Genealogy of the Duke-Shepherd-Van Metre Family, page 38 & 39.16
Johannes and Rebecca joined his father in the Monacocy in Prince George’s County, Maryland most likely shortly after their marriage. Both of their children, Johannes, Jr “Honce” and Joanna, were born there.
It is said that his widow, Rebecca, married Benjamin Hedges, son of Jonas Hedges whose wife was Agnes Powelson, a sister of Rebecca, but these statements are unverified. What is known is that during the minority of Johannes and his sister Joanna, they were under the care of their uncle Jonas Hedges and his wife Angelitje (Agnes). Their grandfather, John Van Metre, named them among legatees in his will (1745) and gave them personalty in his Deed of Gift (1744). Some difficulties having arisen in the distribution of the grandfather’s estate, these children appealed to the Court of Prince George’s Co., Md., and by it Jonas hedges was appointed their guardian, 7 Oct., 1747. An action in chancery was taken by their guardian against Abraham and Jacob Van Metre, their uncles, and executors under the will of John Van Metre. Jonas hedges filed his account in Court, as Guardian, in 1751; the wards having probably attained their majority prior to this time.
Johannes had an estate in Maryland called “Pipe Meadow”; it probably lay on Pipe Creek which emptied into the Monocacy in Prince George’s County. Jointly, with his wife Josina’s endorsement thereon, 22 acres of it was conveyed to Michael Raymer, 5 Aug., 1759. This particular piece of property was called: “End of Strife” (Book F, p. 837, Frederick Co., Md.m Records). The original tract called “Pipe Meadow” was composed of 350 acres; and the elder Van Metre on July 18, 1745, had sold 150 acres of .it to theabove Michael Raymer, under power-of-attorney running to Baltis Foutz. A further conveyance was made of the remaining 178 acres which was described as located at the mouth of carver’s run–by young Van Metre–which did not bear the wife’s endorsement–on 21 June 1759 (29 Nov, 1759), to William Burns, the husband of his sister Joanne (Bk. F, p 899). Having disposed of Pipe Meadow, Johannes removed into Berkeley County, Md. (then Frederick Co.), and settled a property on the bank of the Opequon east of the present town of Martinsbdurg, W.Va.–while his sister and her husband, Wm. Burns, located near the present village of Kearneysville, Jefferson Co., W. Va., Johannes Van Metre was very fond of hunting. His death, it is said, was the result of having thrown himself upon the ground while heated, after one of these expeditions, thereby contracting pneumonia.His will is recorded at Martinsburg and was probated 12 Oct., 1818. In it his land is described as being on the road from Opequon to “Traveler’s Rest,” former residence of Gen. Chas. Lee, of the Revolution; and that it shall go to his male issue as a “Home in Common for all my children until the youngest son attains the age of 21 years.” His son Thornton is to hav e his dwelling plantation; and the three sons, Ezra, John and Thornton, “shall be chargeable with the clothing, schooling and support of my daughters: Catharine, Eliza, Josina, and Marie Van Metre.” Then the instrument goes on to say: “Deeming it improper to hold a human creature in bondage during life I direct that my negro woman Hanna shall be emancipated when my son John arrives at age of 21 years, and at that period my executor pay her the sum of $5.00 for each of my chlldren as a token for the attention she has shown toward my family.” “mulatto Mary” is to be emancipate when Thornton comes to age of 15 years. “All my younger slaves to be emancipated when they respectively arrive at age of 28 years and that all their descendants be emancipated when they arrive at same age.” John Alburtis is named as Executor; but by a codicil of later date his eldest son Ezra is made a co-executor with Alburtis.
Johannes and Rebecca (Powelson) Van Metre Children and Grandchildren
- Joanna Van Metre (1732-1801) married William Burns
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William and Joanna (Van Metre) Burns Children:- Elizabeth “Betsy” Burns (1753-1831) married Abraham Van Matre II (son of Abraham Van Matre I and Ruth Hedges).
- Mary Burns (1755-1786) married Isaac Van Metre (son of Abraham Van Metre I and Ruth Hedges).
- Margaret Burns (1758-1839) married Henry F. Whitnack.
- Ruth Burns (1765-1853) married Daniel Colgin.
- Robert Burns (1766-1843) married 1st Rebecca Southwood Burns, married 2nd Ruth Southwood Burns (daughters of Robert Burns and Rebecca Southwood).
- Isabella Burns (1766-1840) married James McDonald
- William Burns (1768-1822) married Magdalena Van Metre (daughter of Jacob Van Metre and Isabella Evans).
- George Burns (1768-1841) married Agnes Hedges.
- Rebecca Burns (1768-1841) married William Van Metre (son of Joseph Van Metre and Margaret Morgan).
- John Burns (1771-1826) married Frances “Fanny” Southwood.
- Hannah Burns (1773-?) married Abraham Van Metre (son of Jacob Van Metre and Isabella Evans)
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- Johonnes “Honce” Van Metre, Jr. (1735-1818) (also spelled Johannes) married 1st Josina Taylor, married 2nd about 1793 (when he was 58) to an Unknown German Woman by whom he is said to have had nine children, several of whom were under age at the date of their father’s death. His will does not mention his wife’s name nor allude to her, and the inference is that he died a widower. It does not appear he had any children with Josina Taylor, although many webgens show the children as hers, perhaps due to the confusion that one of his children was named Josina, and another Thornton Taylor (probably after his first wife).
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Johonnes was a captain of the 2nd Battalion, Virginia Military and later promoted to the rank of Major, during the revolutionary war. Johonnes Van Metre Children:
- Nancy June Van Metre (1794-1852) married John Alburtis
- Catherine Van Metre (1796-1877) married Lewis Pierce.
- Ezra Van Metre (1799-) married Presilla Pearce
- John Taylor Van Metre (1801-1853) married Mary Gorrell
- Eliza Van Metre (1804-1860) married 1st: William McLean, married 2nd: James Russell
- Josina Van Metre (1805-1889) married Col. John Evans Van Metre [son of Isaac and Mary (Evans) Van Metre]
- Marie Van Metre (1809-1842)
- Thornton Taylor Van Metre (1812- 1851) married Mary Moore
- Unknown Van Metre (died as an infant)
- Nancy June Van Metre (1794-1852) married John Alburtis
3. Maria "Mary" Van Metre
daughter of Jan Joosten “John” and Sarah (Bodine) Van Metre.
Baptized: 6 Apr 1709 in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: 1796 at the age of 87 in Franklin County, Virginia, USA.
Married: 1730 Robert Jones II in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Colonial America.
Find A Grave: Memorial #90777290 buried at Tanyard Cemetery, Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Virginia, USA.
Robert Jones II, son of Robert I and Jane (Evans) Jones. Probably the Robert Jones who was a settler on the Perkiomen in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, and who joined Jost Hite’s Colony in the settlement of the Valley of Virginia.
Born: Nov 1694, possibly in Worcestershire England.
Died: 14 Feb 1775 at the age of 81 in Pigg River, Franklin County, Virginia Colonial America.
Find A Grave: Memorial #90735611 buried at Tanyard Cemetery, Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Virginia, USA.
Robert and Maria (Van Metre) Jones Children
- John Jones (1733-1792) married Marry Rentfro.
- Margaret Jones (1734-1798) married William Cook, Jr.
- Robert Jones III (1736-1834) married Martha “Patsy” Riley.
- Isaac Jones (1746-1781) married Rachael Rentfro.
- Thomas Jones (1748-1830) married Joanna Hill.
- Henry Jones (1751-1831) married 1st: Mary Hamlett; married 2nd: Cassandra James.
- Abraham Jones (1751-1831) married 1st: Rachel Greer, married 2nd: Frances Bohannon.
John and Margaret (Mollenaur) Van Metre Children
4. Rebecca Van Metre
daughter of Jan Joosten “John” and Margaret (Mollenaur) Van Metre.
Born: 1711 in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: 1770 at the age of 59 in Hedgesville, Frederick County, Virginia, Colonial America.
Married: 1735 Solomon Hedges in Monocacy, Prince George’s County, Maryland, Colonial America.
Find A Grave: Memorial #208699015 burial details unknown.
Solomon Hedges son of Joseph and Catherine (Land) Hedges.
Born: 1710 in Maryland, Colonial America.
Died: Dec 1801 in Brooke County, Virginia (now West Virginia), USA.
Find A Grave: Memorial #208699261 burial details unknown.
Solomon and Rebecca (Van Metre) Hedges Children
- Silas Hedges (1736-1811) married Margaret Hoagland.
- Joseph Hedges (1740-1821) married Margaret Van Metre (daughter of Isaac and Alice (Scholl) Van Metre.
- Joshua Hedges (1744-1789) married Elizabeth Chapline.
- Rachael Hedges (1745-1832) married William Vause.
- Catharine Hedges (1748-1797) married Col. George McCulloch.
- Rebecca Hedges (1750-1825) married Arthur Samuel William Roberts.
5. Isaac Van Metre
son of Jan Joosten “John” and Margaret (Mollenaur) Van Metre.
Baptised: 3 Jun 1713 in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: 1745 at the age of 32 in Frederick County, Virginia, Colonial America.
Married: 8 Mar 1741 Elsje “Alice” Scholl in Readington, Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Find A Grave: Memorial #208698883 burial details unknown.
Elsje “Alice” Scholl daughter of Capt. Peter and Deborah (Morgan) Scholl.
Born: 23 Jun 1714 in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: After 1751 in Virginia (now West Virginia), Colonial America.
Married 2nd: 1751 Richard Morgan, son of Richard and Alice (Butterfield) Morgan.
Find A Grave: Memorial #208699261 burial details unknown.
Notes: Many webgens show her death date as 1744 but that would be before her son Jacob was born. She is also said to have married 2nd: Capt Richard Morgan in 1751. I’ve not been able to find her actual death date, but assume it would be sometime later.
Isaac and Alice (Scholl) Van Metre Children
- Peter Van Metre (1738-1822) married Juliana
- Capt. Johannes “John” Van Metre (1740-1819) married Elizabeth Swearingen.
- Margaret Van Metre (1740-1823) married Joseph Hedges (son of Solomon Hedges and Rebecca Van Metre).
- Jacob Van Metre (1745-1838) married Catherine DeMoss.
6. Elizabeth Van Metre
daughter of Jan Joosten “John” and Margaret (Mollenaur) Van Metre.
Born: 1715 in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: June 1793 at the age of 78 in Mecklenburg, Orange County, Virginia, Colonial America (now Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, West Virginia).
Married: 1733 Capt. Thomas Shepherd in Monocacy, Orange County, Maryland, Colonial America.
Find A Grave: Memorial #6827669 buried at Shepherd Burial Ground, Shepherdstown Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA.
Capt. Thomas Shepherd thought to be the son of William and Sarah (Cochran) Shepherd*.
Born: 1 Nov 1705 in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Colonial America.
Died: 25 Mar 1776 in Mecklenburg, Orange County, Virginia (now Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, West Virginia), Colonial America.
Find A Grave: Memorial #6827652 burial details unknown.
*Note: Some claim he is descended from one of the three brothers who first arrived in Boston.
Thomas Shepherd was a Patriot, having served in the American Revolution along with their five sons.
Thomas and Elizabeth (Van Metre) Shepherd were instrumental in establishing the town of Mecklenburg, Virginia later renamed Shepherdstown, (now West Virginia) in their honor.
Soon after their marriage, they crossed the Potomac into the Colony of Virginia and settled upon the grant that Thomas Shepherd obtained from Jost Hite in 1734. Thomas was possibly the son of William Shepherd and Sarah Cochran. Elizabeth inherited her father’s “Pell Mell”, located in Maryland directly across from the river from Shepherstown. She died in 1793 in Shepherdstown, Virginia (later West Virginia) at the age of 78. Thomas died March 25, 1776 in Mecklenburg, Virginia (later Shepherdstown, West Virginia) at the age of 70. The Virginia property lies just west of the Potomac River and about a 30-mile drive east to Frederick, Maryland (just north of the Monocacy settlement.)
Thomas and Elizabeth (Van Metre) Shepherd Children
- David Shepherd (1734-1793) married Rachel Teague.
- Sarah Shepherd (1736-1786) married Thomas Thornburgh, Sr.
- William Shepherd (1737-1824) married Mary Clark.
- Elizabeth Shepherd (1738-1788) married William Brown.
- Thomas C. Shepherd II (1743-1793) married Susannah Hulse.
- John Shepherd (1749-1812) married Martha Nelson.
- Martha Matilda Shepherd (1752-1825) married George McNabb
- Mary Shepherd (1752-1825) married 1st: John Feay married 2nd: Samuel Buchanan.
- Abraham Shepherd (1754-1822) married Eleanor Strode
- Susanna Shepherd (1758-1835) married John Eoff
7. Henry Van Metre
son of Jan Joosten “John” and Margaret (Mollenaur) Van Metre.
Born: 1717 in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: 1793 at the age of 76 in Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia)
Married 1st: About 1736 Eva Pyle in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Married 2nd: 28 Apr 1749 Hannah Bartlett in Virginia, Colonial America.*
Married 3rd: 8 Apr 1777 Elizabeth (Sprigg) Pyle in Ohio County, Virginia, USA.
Find A Grave: This memorial is for the Henry that settled in what is Greene County, Pennsylvania. It does not appear this Henry is the son of Jan “John” Van Metre (different family), but I couldn’t determine who his father actually was. See my post Henry Van Metre for the confusion between the Henry’s. Memorial #120922762 Henry (1720-1803) buried at Garards Fort Cemetery, Garards Fort, Greene County, Pennsylvania, USA.
Notes: *There are several variations of the wives. Some have assumed that Hannah was Hannah Pyle, sister of Eva Pyle which is found in many sources and assume Elizabeth (Sprigg) Pyle was their sister-in-law. Although Elizabeth Sprigg was 1st married to Richard Pile / Pyle, he may be from a Quaker line from Pennsylvania and not related at all. There is also a Hannah Pyle associated with the Quaker line in Pennsylvania. There is a marriage license noted for Henry Van Meter and Hannah Bartlett issued on 28 Apr 1749 in Virginia, which implies that Hannah was a Bartlett, not a Pyle, assuming this is the same Henry Van Metrre.17
Eva Pyle possibly the daughter of Thomas and Deborah (Kymer) Pyle.
Born: Abt 1717 most likely in New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: 1753 at the age of about 39 most likely in Frederick County, Virginia, Colonial America.
Hannah Bartlett
Born: 21 Feb 1720 in Botetourt County, Virginia, Colonial America.
Died: 1775 at the age of 55 in Berkeley County, Virginia, Colonial America.
Elizabeth (Sprigg) Pyle
Born: Abt 1735 most likely in Virginia, Colonial America.
Died: 3 Mar 1790 at the age of 55 in Berkeley County, West Virginia, Colonial America.
The following, recapped for easier readiing, is from A Genealogy. of the Duke-Shepherd-Van Metre Family, by Samuel Gordon Smyth, pages 58-59:18
1745 – Henry inherited, by the terms of his father’s will, “400 acres of land where I now live.”[Berkeley County, Virginia]
1744 – Henry Van Metre is appointed overseer of the road from Noah Hampton’s Mill, on the road to Cape Capon, new James Cody’s.
On April 5, 1757, Henry Van Metre, jointly with his wife Hannah, transfer to Abraham Van Metre a tract of 150 acres of land which had been granted to aid Henry and Abraham by Samuel Bryan
12 Nov., 1747; on the same date Henry Van Metre conveys by deed another tract of land, containing 64 acres, which had been granted said Henry and Abraham Van Metre by Jacob Van Metre. This deed was unsigned, but is acknowledged by Henry Van Metre and his wife Hannah.
Sept 1758 – Henry Van Metre, Joseph Van Metre, John Lemon, Nicholas McIntyre and Edward Lucas, soldiers, of Frederick Co., Va., were paid 7 shillings each for services in resisting Indians; Sept., 1758 (Boogher’s Gleanings of Virginia History, p. 91, and Virginia Colonial Militia, by Crozier, p. 72). They are rated as privates in Capt. Thomas Speak’s Company, Virginia Colonial Militia.
While still remaining a resident of Virginia, Henry kept migrating westward, until he reached what is now southwestern Pennsylvania, the border land then in controversy between the Colony of Virginia and the Province of Pennsylvania. He took up his residence in this territory which later became Bedford, and afterward Washington, then Green counties of Pennsylvania. Here he took up land on Muddy creek adjacent to his brother, Jacob Van Metre.
1772-1773 – His name appears on the assessment roll of Springhill Township, rated as taxable.
July 1773 – Some sort of disturbance of the peace occurred and Henry, Jacob and Abraham Van Metre were indicted by the “Grand Inquest of Quarter Sessions,” July 6, 1773, on two bills, for riot. Theseebills were found and presented to the court of Yohogania Co., Va., which exercised jurisdiction over this part of Pennsylvania.
On 23 February, 1775, Henry is recommended, among others, as a proper person to be added to the commission of the Peace for the County of West Augusta (Virginia jurisdiction).
18 April 1776, Henry Van Metre and Ebenezer Zane were appointed viewers, to view old road from Conrad Walter’s to mouth of Wheeling.
20 August 1776, Henry Van Metre was among those persons recommended to be added to the Commisssion of the Peace for Augusta Co., Va.
25 May 1785 Henry Van Metre’s name appears among those who received warrants for lands for military services; 400 acres were granted in Washington Co., Pa., with 250 additional acres in the year 1786.
In his will dated 3d March, 1790, and probated in 1793, Henry Van Metre mentions his wife Elizabeth and children: Nathan, Joshua, Hester, Henry and Joseph, the latter then deceased as the date of the will, which recites: “My son Joseph Van Metre’s estate which lies on the west side of the Ohio River in the Indian country.” Perhaps his other children had already been provided for.
Although Henry forged his way west and north into Greene County, Pennsylvania, it appears he returned to Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia) for his final days. His son Henry, remained in Greene County, Pennsylvania, where he and his family settled.
During the Revolution, Henry provided Virginia with civil service and patriotic service (DAR records describe his service: member of the peace commission; road viewer West Augusta District).
The children of Henry are assigned to their mothers based on their birthdates:
Henry and Eva (Pyle) Van Metre Children
- John Van Metre (1732-1758) married Sarah Bodine.
- Joseph Van Metre (1740-1790) married Isabella Evans.
- Henry Van Metre (1743-1803) married Martha Margaret Moore.
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Henry and Hanna (Bartlett) Pyle Van Metre Children
- Isaac Van Metre (1750-1798) married Hester Ann Peck.
- Jacob Van Metre (1752-1838) married 1st Catherine Covenhoven; married 2nd: Rebecca Rawlings.
- Ruth Van Metre (1753-1845) married Samuel Gill.
- Hannah Van Metre (1758-1849) married 1st Isaac Hite; married 2nd: John Jackman.
- Nathaniel “Nathan” Van Metre (1760-1822)
- Joshua Van Metre (1762-?)
- Hester Van Metre (1765-?)
8. Rachel Van Metre
daughter of Jan Joosten “John” and Margaret (Mollenaur) Van Metre.
Born: 1719 Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: 1744 at the age of 25 in Berkeley County, Virginia, USA.
Married: About 1736 John Laforge.
Find A Grave: Memorial #228467387 burial details unknown.
Note: Her son, John LeForge is noted in her fathers will and she is deceased by that time(1745). Many webgens show the father as John Laforge Sr. Others show the name Lessige.
9. Abraham Van Metre
son of Jan Joosten “John” and Margaret (Mollenaur) Van Metre.
Born: About 1721 in Somerset County. New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: Before 18 Nov 1783 at the age of 62 in Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia (now West, Virginia), USA.
Married 1st: 1742 Ruth Hedges in Orange County, Virginia, Colonial America, Colonial America (now Berkeley County, West Virginia, USA.)
Married 2nd: 1762 Martha Roberts in Frederick County, Virginia, Colonial America (now Berkeley County, West Virginia, USA.)
Find A Grave: Memorial #160857625 burial details unknown.
Abraham is an ancestor I have followed. You can find his story in my post Abraham Van Metre.
Ruth Hedges daughter of Joseph and Catheerine (Land) Hedges.
Born: 1722 in Salem County, New Jersey, Colonial America
Died: 1761 at the age of 39 in Frederick County, Virginia, Colonial America. (now Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia, USA.)
Martha Roberts daughter of Robert and Hannah Roberts.
Born: 2 May 1727 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Colonial America.
Died: Bef 1780 in Marshall County, Virginia, USA.
Abraham and Ruth (Hedges) Van Metre Children
- Joseph Van Metre (1743-1799) married Margaret Morgan.
- Mary Van Metre (1745-1802) married William S. Gorrell.
- Jacob Van Metre, Sr. (1745-1806) married Isabella Evans.
- Rebecca Van Metre (1746-1804) married 1st: John Spahn; married 2nd: Joseph Morgan.
- Isaac Van Metre (1747-1810) married 1st: Mary Burns; married 2nd Poly Evans.
- Abraham Van Metre II (1751-1834) married Elizabeth “Betsy” Burns.
- John Van Metre (1752-?) married Rebecca.
This is the John who’s 1st wife, infant child and 15 year old daughter were murdered by the Indians in 1778. One of his three sons kidnapped, two of his sons escaping. The kidnapped child, also named John, was located later as an adult and chose to remain with the Indians. He had an Indian wife with no children.(I’ll post this story in a future post).
Abraham and Martha (Roberts) Van Metre Children
- Ruth Van Metre (1794-1815) married Reuben Foreman.
- Hannah Van Metre (1764-1811) married Col. Providence Mounce / Mounts.
- Daniel Van Metre (1768-1802) married Ruth Harp.
10. Jacob Van Metre Sr.
son of Jan Joosten “John” and Margaret (Mollenaur) Van Metre.
Born: 17 Mar 1723 most likely in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: 16 Nov 1798 in Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky, USA.
Married: 30 Aug 1741 Letitia Stroud in Frederick County, Virginia, Colonial America (now Berkeley County, West Virginia).
Find A Grave: Memorial #8757511 buried at Elizabethtown City Cemetery, Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky, USA.
Ensign 12th Virginia Regt. French & Indian War; Capt. Illinois Reg.; Virginia State Troops; American Revolution & served on Committee of observation at Petersburg.
Letitia “Letty” Stroud daughter James and Eleanor (Shepherd) Stroud (aka Strode).
Born: 30 Aug 1725 in Frederick County, Virginia, Colonial America.
Died: 25 Dec 1789 at the age of 64 in Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky, USA.
Find A Grave: Memorial #8757523 buried at Elizabethtown City Cemetery, Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky, USA.
The following story and photos were posted to Jacon Van Metre’s Find A Grave Memorial:
It is often said that he served in the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War (1756-1763) but no record has yet been found.
In the spring of 1779, he applied for permission to take his family and “pass unmolested to the Falls of the Ohio [River].” It was his intent to settle in Kentucky, a virgin territory that lay just to the west of the Appalachian Mountains. The legendary pioneer Daniel Boone had settled there only four years earlier, after passing through the famed Cumberland Gap. Unlike Boone, Van Meter and his family and friends planned to enter Kentucky from the north, by traveling down the Ohio River. Permission was granted on March 23, 1779.
Unfortunately, the Van Meter party was troubled by more than Indians on their journey to Kentucky. As it turned out, they had inadvertently chosen to travel during a period time of severe wintertime weather that was ever afterward known as “the Hard Winter of 1780.” In the spring of 1780 the Van Meter party reached the Severns Valley, in what was then Jefferson, later Hardin County, Kentucky. Jefferson County records reveal that Jake Van Meter, Stephen Rawlings, and Edward Rawlings all bought land from John Severns, for whom the valley was named. To protect themselves from Indians, they immediately built wooden “forts” (probably log blockhouses). Van Meter’s fort was located, according to one source, “near the big spring at the power house on Leitchfield road, for a long time the source of the Elizabethtown water supply.”
Jake Van Meter quickly became one of Hardin County’s most prominent and enterprising citizens. Only a year after his arrival in Kentucky, he helped to organize the Severns Valley Baptist Church, reputed to be the oldest church west of the Allegheny Mountains that is still in existence. He also built a grain mill on Valley Creek and is “said to have raised the first wheat in Hardin County, having brought the seed with him from Virginia.” He also had license to keep a still and a tavern license, which permitted him to allow travelers to stay in his home.
Many years later, the remains of both Jacob Van Meter and his wife Leitita were moved from the family graveyard and re-interred in the Elizabethtown City Cemetery.
Jacob Van Meter Sr. Memorial Plaque transcription:
JACOB VAN METER, SR.
1723-1798
AMERICAN PATRIOT – SOLDIER – KENTUCKY PIONEER.
ENSIGN 12TH VIRGINIA REGT. IN FRENCH & INDIAN WAR.
CAPTAIN, ILLINOIS REGIMENT, VIRGINIA STATE TROOPS
IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND SERVED ON COMMITTEE
OF OBSERVATION AT PITTSBURG.
COMMANDED A COMPANY IN GEORGE ROGERS CLARK’S
EXPEDITIONS TO TAKE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
LED BAND OF 100 PERSONS FROM VIRGINIA TO KENTUCKY.
DOWN THE OHIO RIVER ON 27 FLAT BOATS TO SEVERNS
VALLEY IN 1779 – 1780. BUILT ONE OF THE FIRST
FORTS IN KENTUCKY AND HELPED ESTABLISH THE
FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE FALLS
OF OHIO AND GREEN RIVER AT ELIZABETHTOWN.
PROMINENT IN FOUNDING HARDIN COUNTY, ONE OF
ORGANIZERS OF SEVERNS VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH, 1781,
OLDEST CHURCH WEST OF ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS.
CAPTAIN JACOB VAN METER CHAPTER D.A.R. NAMED IN
HIS HONOR.
HIS WIFE
LETITIA STOUD VAN METER
1725 – 1799
MARRIED IN VIRGINIA 1741
THEIR REMAINS MOVED FROM THEIR FAMILY CEMETERY 1965
Jacob and Letitia (Stroud) Van Metre Children
- Eleanor “Nellie” Van Metre (1742-1802) married John Kline.
- Abraham Van Metre (1744-1781) married Elizabeth Kline.
- Rebecca van Metre (1746-1804) married Edward Rawlings.
- Susanna an Metre (1750-1798) married 1st: Rev. John Garrard; married 2nd: Morris Brady.
- Elizabeth Van Metre (1752-1802) married 1st: John Swan Jr.; married 2nd: Thomas McNeil; married 3rd: John Ventrees.
- Rachel Van Metre (1753-1841) married Isaac Pritchett Sr.
- Mary “Polly” Van Metre (1757-1832) married 1st: David Henton; married 2nd: Wiliam Chenoweth.
- Isaac Van Metre (1759-1840) married 1st: Martha Hubbard; married 2nd: Jane Carson.
- Margaret Van Metre (1759-1843) married Samuel M. Haycraft.
- Jacob Jansen Van Metre (1762-1850) married Elizabeth Rhoads.
- John Van Metre (1764-1822) married Dinah Holtzclaw.
- Alsinda Van Metre (1766-1834) married Jacob Rhoads.
11. Magdalena Van Metre
daughter of Jan Joosten “John” and Margaret (Mollenaur) Van Metre.
Born: 1725 in Somerset County, New Jersey, Colonial America.
Died: Before 28 May 1804 at the age of 79 in Mercer County, Kentucky, USA.
Married: 1745 Robert Pewsey
Find A Grave: Memorial #228467533 burial details uknown.
Robert Pewsey son of Caleb and Prudence (Carter) Pusey.
Born: 16 Dec 1715 in Pittsylvania, Chester County, Pennsylvania, Colonial America.
Died: 28 May 1804 at the age of 79 in Mercer County, Kentucky, USA.
Married: 1745 Robert Pewsey
Find A Grave: Memorial #228467533 burial details uknown.
Robert and Magdalena (Van Metre) Pewsey Story
I found the following excerpt from The History of Bryant Family by John W. Bryant, LaPorte, Indiana online at ancestry.com. I was unable to find the book with the original story or able to verify it’s authenticity. I have not found this story in any other sources.
Excerpts from The History of the Bryant family by John W. Bryant, LaPorte, Indiana
FIRST GENERATION
In the early days the Commissary Stores were owned by the British Government, where the settlers could buy on credit. Mr. van Meter (John) and his son-in-law Puzzy (Robert Pusey), had charge of the Commissary on the Potomac River (in Virginia). This store was burned by the Shawnee Indian Tribe, and Van Meter was killed by the Indians (13 Aug 1745).
SECOND GENERATION
Puzzy (Robert Pusey) and his wife (Magdalena) were taken prisoners. They had three daughters. Prudy (Prudence), the oldest one was away at school and was not captured. The two little girls, they never knew what became of them. Puzzy and his wife were in captivity four years. The were held by different tribes of Indians. Puzzy was made ready to be burned at the stake. The Indian Chief’s horse ran away. Puzzy ran swiftly after the horse and brought it back to the Chief, which pleased him so much that he had another white man burned at the stake in his place. He was kept as a servant of the Chief. He married a squaw and had two children. He was a good hunter. He trapped and bought his freedom with 400 beaver skins and was allowed to return to the settlement. He intended to return to the Indians but his wife (Magdalena) arrived there the same day he did. She had been taken north by another tribe of Indians. The Chief’s child was very sick and not expected to live. The Chief intended to have her (Magdalena) and a French girl killed and buried with the child to take care of it in the Spirit Land. The squaws knew this and were very kind to them. They fitted them out with supplies and told then the way to go. They were found by some friendly Indians and taken to a Trading Post. The girl married a French trader. Mrs. Puzzy found out there was a fort 30 miles through the Dismal Swamp. She slipped away one night and ran the 30 miles through the Disismal Swamp. A wolf followed her. She said his howls made her run faster. They made up a purse at the fort and sent her home. She arrived there the same day her husband did.
THIRD GENERATION
Prudy Puzzy (Prudence Pusey), the daughter who was away at school, had married a man by the name of Harper (Harbour). They had sold the property her father owned, which had come to him from King George to him and his heirs forever.
I’m having a bit of a problem with this story.
- First of all it’s pretty clear from Magdalene’s father’s will, that he died due to illness, not from an Indian attack.
- The date 13 Aug 1745 was the date John Van Metre signed his will stating he was ill (and died shortly after).
- Magdalena would have been 20 years old in 1745, a bit young to have three daughters, but not impossible. It’s well known she married Robert Pewsey and had a daughter named Prudence, but there are no other stories about two other daughters.
- Them returning the exact same day, seems a bit off.
- Did they have schools then? If this happened in 1745, Prudence would only be about 3 years old, certainly not old enough to go to school. If at a later date, maybe away for some other reason?
- I have found no other stories supporting this one. Usually a story of this magnitude would have gone viral and been found in a variety of sources.
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I’ll let the reader form their own opinions. If anyone has information supporting this story, feedback is welcome.
Robert and Magdalena (Van Metre) Pewsey Child
- Prudence Pewsey (1741-1816) married 1st: Elijah Harbour II; married 2nd: Thomas J. Flowers.
Citations and Attributes:
- Kercheval, Samuel, Of The Valley of Virginia, Second Edition, Woodstock, Va. John Gatewood, Printer, 1850. Reviewed online at Babel.hathitrust.org: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433081883054&view=1up&seq=7 (Accessed 22 March 2023).
- Scharf, J. Thomas History of Western Maryland being a History of Frederick, Montgomery, Carroll, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties, From the Earliest Period to the present day, including Biographical Sketches of their Representative Men, Vol II, Clearfield Company & Willow bend Books 1995, originally published Philadelphia, 1882, page 1204 Reviewed online at Ancestry.com: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/49188/ (Accessed 22 Mar 2023).
- West Virginia Historical magazine, Vol II, p. 16, reviewed online at Google Books: West Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol II, p. 16 (Accessed 22 March 2023).
- Samuel Gordon Smyth, The Origin and Descent of an American Van Metre Family, 1923.
- Samuel Gordon Smyth, The Origin and Descent of an American Van Metre Family, 1923.
- Grace L. Tracey, John P. Dern, Pioneers of Old Monocacy, The Early Settlement of Frederick County, Maryland 1721- 1743. 1989, p. 69-74.
- Map of Carroll Creek from, Pioneers of Old Monocacy The Early Settlement of Frederick County, Maryland 1721-1743, by Grace L. Tracey and John P. Dern, 1989. p. 70.
- Map of Maryland Counties. By Unknown - http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/maps/stout24.gif, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5257547
- Smyth, Samule Gordon, "A Genealogy of The Duke-Shepherd-Van Metre Family, from civil, military, church and family records and documents,"Lancaster, PA, 1919, pages 21-22, reviewed online at archive.org: https://ia800204.us.archive.org/9/items/genealogyofdukes02smyt/genealogyofdukes02smyt.pdf (Accessed 22 March 2023).
- Council of Colonial Virginia, Vol IV (October 25, 1721-October 28, 1739), published by The Virginia State Library, 1930.
- Thomas Kemp Cartmell, Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia, 1909.
- Survey of the Northern Neck of Virginia, By John Warner (active 1727-1741) - This map is available from the United States Library of Congress's Geography & Map Division under the digital ID g3880.ct000362.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information. Public Domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31539987
- John Van Metre's Deed of Gift; Smyth, Samuel Gordon, A Genealogy of the Duke-Shepherd-Van Metre Family" Lancaster, PA, 1919, pages 30-31 ; Reviewed online at Archive.org: https://archive.org/stream/genealogyofdukes02smyt#page/n5/mode/2up (Accessed 23 March 2023).
- John Van Metre's Will; Smyth, Samuel Gordon, A Genealogy of the Duke-Shepherd-Van Metre Family" Lancaster, PA, 1919, pages 31-36 ; Reviewed online at Archive.org: https://archive.org/stream/genealogyofdukes02smyt#page/n5/mode/2up (Accessed 23 March 2023).
- "Somerset County Historical Quarterly", Vol. 2, 1913-Aug 1745. Baptism Records." page 44. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8P8SDh4F1WubS1yVlJTMl9CbXc/edit. (Accessed 26 Aug 2016).
- John Van Metre's Will; Smyth, Samuel Gordon, A Genealogy of the Duke-Shepherd-Van Metre Family" Lancaster, PA, 1919, pages 38-39 ; Reviewed online at Archive.org: https://archive.org/stream/genealogyofdukes02smyt#page/n5/mode/2up (Accessed 23 March 2023).
- Henry Van Meter & Hannah Bartlett marriage license: Greene, Katherine Glass, Winchester, Virginia and its Beginnings, 1743-1814, page 109. Reviewed online at anchestry.com: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/10573/images/dvm_LocHist000225-00062-1?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&pId=79 (Accessed 26 Mar 2023).
- Smyth, Samuel Gordon. "A Genealogy of the Duke-Shepherd-Van Metre Family." Lancaster, Pa. 1909. Pages 58-59, Reviewed online at Archive.org: https://archive.org/stream/genealogyofdukes02smyt#page/n5/mode/2uppage (Accessed 26 Mar 2023).