http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=gochapman&id=I12277
PROP: 11 NOV 1779 Pittsylvania co., Va.(now Henry Co., Va.) 4
PROP: 3 APR 1780 50 acres were conveyed to John Colyer for services rendered by him during the late war between Great Britain and France, according to the proclamation of 1763, by the King of Great Britain. This warrant was signed by S. Carr.
PROP: 13 JUL 1780 Henry Co., Va. Fishing Fork District of Leatherwood Creek 5
Burial: McClary Cemetery, Renfro, KY, five miles northwest of Mt. Vernon, Rockcastle Co., Ky. It is a large deserted spot and the stone marking their graves has not been located
Military Service: 3 NOV 1791 wounded at St. Clair's defeat near Ft. Jefferson, Ohio
Military Service: Battle of Monmouth 2
Military Service: DEC 1777 at Valley Forge
Note:
Description: Land Grant of Va., shows a grant of 217 acres to John Colyer, by Thomas Jefferson.
Description: Apparently he did not pre-empt the acreage, but sold the warrant to secure money for his immediate needs.
Description: grant of 336 acres.
Revolutionary War soldier. Enlisted 9-4-1791 in the Virginia Continental Line.
Fought at Valley Forge, Braddock's Defeat. Private, Virginia 7th Regiment.
Fought in Capt. Thomas Hill's Co., 7th Virginia Regiment under the command of Col. McClenahan, Revolutionary War.
"He enlisted February 13, 1777 to serve for three years or until the end of the War. His name is borne on the rolls to November, 1779, which later contained no further information relative to his service." Signed by Brigadier General Wahl, Acting Adj. General.
The part of the Revolutionary War about which John Collier spoke most frequently to his children and grandchildren was the terrible winter at Valley Forge, where he was a private in the 7th Virginia Regiment (Capt. Thomas Hill) The following is quoted along the line of this matter from "Valley Forge" (1910) by Rev. James W. Riddle, of Philadelphia:
"The troops arrived at Valley Forge, twenty-one miles from Philadelphia, December 19, 1777 with nothing but tents to withstand the rigors of a very severe winter. The soldiers were at once put to work to build log huts, 14 X 16 feet. Each hut accomodated twelve privates. Officers were not so crowded. The huts were laid out in streets. Straw supported by poles was used for roofs. Straw also was used for bedding for the soldier's bunks.
At first 11,089 men were encamped at Valley Forge. Camp fever broke out. Small-pox became epidemic. Sickness and death and desertion reduced the number to 5,012.
June 18, 1778 the men heard the British were evacuating Philadelphia. Washington broke camp and pushed toward Philadelphia, arriving there as the last of the British were crossing the Delaware. June 28, 1778 Washington and his men attacked Clinton at Monmouth in New Jersey.
Whenever John Collier noticed that his children or grandchildren showed the least indication of wastefulness, he at once would reprimand them, telling them of the suffering at Valley Forge, how he had seen soldiers fight for a kernel of corn; how he and others lacked shoes and sox to keep their feet warm, and as they walked in the snow, would leave the marks of blood from their tender, frost-bitten feet; how some of the soldiers had so little clothing that, when they stepped out of their huts, they had to throw their bedding around them. He well remembered Baron VonSteuben, whose striking personality made an indeliable impression upon all the privates. VonSteuben spoke English only brokenly, but he spoke it or some other language very forcibly. No one could misunderstand his meaning, for his adjectives were strong and pointed. He saw the men hungry, illy clothed. suffering every privation, yet most of them were unwilling to leave and give up the cause of independence so dear to them. Nearby in Philadlephia, where the British and their American Tory friends were stationed, there was plenty of food, plenty of clothing, there was dancing and music and happy times for all, while in this cold and isolated spot a few men were trying to achieve independence for a forlorn cause. While VonSteuben regarded them with admiration and said no cause could fail with such men as that, he yet saw the imperative need of better drilled soldiers and better guns, and he did his part to that end; so well indeed did he aid that Congress recognized his efforts and gave him vast land grants in his old age.
Although the services of John Collier in the war, as shown on old Revolutionary rolls, appears to be limited to two years and nine months, unquestionabley it covered a period much longer than that, extending indeed to the very close of the struggle. Several times he was wounded. Some of the bullets he carried in his body to the grave. Other bullets were placed in the coffin when he was buried. He was present at the Battle of the Brandywine and also at Monmouth, N.J., besides various other battles, the names of which are not now known. One of the stories he told his grandchildren was that, when two warring armies were lying on opposite sides of a river (presumably the Delaware) he and some other soldiers floated down the river on driftwood in such a manner as to draw near the opposite shore, where they took possession of a boatload of provisions belonging to the enemy. Using great caution, they managed to work the boat over to the American side, where their comrades were in great need of supplies. Once in battle he was struck by a bullet that he at first thought had finished him. When he recovered from the shock and hunted out the damage, he found that the bullet had struck squarely on the front of the large silver coin that he wore as a top botton on the fly of his trousers. there was no damage beyond the heavy blow. He told his children that he was present at the dissolution of the army. He recalled how the veterans showed very deep emotion. Their tears run freely down over unshaved faced to lodge on ragged, dirty shirts.
(Story continued under Grizelda's notes)
After his discharge from the Army at the close of the Revolutionary War, John attempted to find his wife and children. He joined a group of discharged soldiers who made their way over the Alleghanies and then down the Ohio River by boat to Kentucky. There he fell ill and for some time he was in a serious condition at Bryant's Station (near the present site of Lexington). On his recovery he started back along the Boone trail, to join his family in Powell's Valley. Meanwhile some traveler from Kentucky had returned to Virginia and en route had stopped to tell Grizelda that her husband was nigh unto deather at Bryant's Station. Hastily she put her children out among neighbors and joined a group of armed emigrants going into Kentucky by a different road. When she finally reached Bryant's Station, it was only to be told that her husband had recovered and started for Powell's Valley. She was obliged to remain at Bryant's Station nearly three months before she found an opportunity to join an armed party going back over the dangerous road to her starting point. The husband and wife were finally reunited. For some years after the War they lived in Virginia, where their son Charles was born in 1786. Shortly after this they moved to Kentucky and settled in what is now Rockcastle County. From there he went north in 1791 as a volunteer in Indian warfare.
It was a proof of the patriotism of John Collier that, when almost fifty years of age, he left his Kentucky home to again aid his country as a soldier. In 1791 he served as a sergeant in Capt. Jacob Tipton's Co., Col. William Darke's First Regiment of U. S. Levies, in General St. Clair's army and took part in the battle of St. Clair's Defeat.(Many more details of the battle and John's "after-the-war" life are told in the Calloway publication.)
By way of explanation, Mrs. A. E. Hart, complier of "The Calloway Family of Virginia" states: "My mother stated that her grandmother (Grizelda Taylor Colyer) said that she was married at Belle Haven in the Episcopal Church". Many details of the wedding day are in the article also.
Pension File is recorded....
Volume 34, Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Applications, Page 97 (excerpt follows)
(W8634, Pa and Va service and agency. Cert. issued 4 Sept 1791, 7 Apr 1814, 27 Aug. 1821 at $8 per mo. )
He was granted a pension 4 Sept. 1791 for service as Sgt. under Capt. James Tipton in Col. Wm. Darke's 1st Reg. of U. S. Levies in 1791; he was in the battle of St. Clair's defeat and served against the Indians in 1790.
This is to certify that it appears from a list in this office of such officers and soldiers of the Virginia Continental Line, during the Revolutionary War as settled their accounts and received certificates for the balance of their full pay, according to the Act of Assembly passed the November session 1781, that a certificate issued on the 2nd day of Aug 1782, in the name of John Collier, as a soldier of infantry; for lb.12.0.0, which cert. that appears to have been delivered to John Shackleford and was given for services prior to Jan 1, 1782 (p. 110)
Given under my hand at the Auditor's office, Richmond, Nov. 22 1844.
James E. Heath
(Another certificate was issued 21 Feb. 1783 to John Collier, sol. of Infantry (see Rev. War records, Vol. 1, Brumbaugh, 1936 Invalid Pensioners, 1835, gives him as a soldier in the Virginia line (res. in Va.)
From John Beardsley - World Connect:
John Collier was a large man, around 180 pounds. He had a good education, and was a Whig. He was a Sergeant in the revolution in Capt. Jacob Lipton's Company of the Virginia Line. "A tradition has it that he was at St. Clair's (?) defeat and was wounded. He crawled off into the wilderness and saved his life by killing a rattlesnake and eating it and dressing his wounds with whisky
from a canteen that was in the family until destroyed by fire in 1888. It is also related that he made it a point to never give anything away that he did not wish himself." - Marietta D. Beardsley
The DAR has him born in 1744.
DESCREPANCIES!!!!! Do Not know which is correct. (JGrumbling 9-2003)
FROM WORLD CONNECT INFO. FROM : David Goode - [email protected]
Marriage 1 Hannah HAMLETT b: ABT 1747 in Amelia, VA
Married: 30 Sep 1765 in Prince Edward, VA
Children:
Sarah Gaines COLLIER b: ABT 1764 in VA
William Thompkins COLLIER b: ABT 1768 in Charlotte, VA
Franklin COLLIER b: 1773 in Charlotte, VA
Hamlett COLLIER b: 17 Jan 1773 in Charlotte, VA
Martha COLLIER b: ABT 1775 in Charlotte, VA
Polly COLLIER b: 1777 in Charlotte, VA
Cynthia COLLIER b: ABT 1779 in Charlotte, VA
Claibourne COLLIER b: 1780 in Charlotte, VA
Coleman A. COLLIER b: 1783 in VA
Lucy COLLIER b: ABT 1785 in VA
Obedience COLLIER b: ABT 1787 in VA
Permelia COLLIER b: 11 Sep 1793 in VA
Moved to Charlotte Co. from Lunenburg/Hanover Co. in 1767. Moved from Charlotte Co., VA to Bourbon/Nicholas Co., KY in 1795.
John Collier bought land on Horsepen Creek from Abraham Martin 7 Dec., 1767 (DB 1, p. 401); lived beside brothers Thomas and Joseph Collier on Horsepen Cr. All 3 from Hanover Co., sons of John Collier. Wife Hannah Hamlett dau. of James Hamlett of Lunenburg Co. John Collier sold his land 5 Oct. 1795 to John Billups (DB 7, p. 145). Bought 400 acres in Bourbon Co., Ky. in Dec. 1797. (Bourbon Co. DB D, p. 308). John Collier left will in Nicholas Co., Ky. rec. Feb. 1820 (Nicholas Co. WB B, p. 70).
CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800, DEED BOOK NO. 11, ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, page 410
Page 588.--15th April, 1764. John Collier and Sicilly to Moses Collier, Â?5, 106 acres in Fork of James.
CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800, DEED BOOK NO. 15, ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, page 479
Page 227.--17th November, 1768. George ( ) Gibson and Isabella ( ) to James Gilmore, Jr., Â?150, 200 acres on North Branch of Collier's Creek. Teste: Moses Collyer, John Collier
FamilySearch.org
John Collier, b. abt 1742, p.b. Hanover Co., Virginia, d. 1818-1819, p.d. Nicholas Co., Kentucky
Father: John Collier
Mother: Elizabeth Merideth
Spouse: Mildred Sarah Vaughn
Note: John Collier's b. 1743, father John Collier b: 1707); Grandfather, John Collier, Sr, b: 3 MAR 1685 is described in these documents furnished via the Gregory family as:
"John was a planter and owned 'Porto Bello' plantaton, York County, Virginia. In 1707 according to Crozier, John Colyer/Collier was a Captain in the Infantry of King and Queen County. IN 1711 Queen Ann granted him land in King and Queen County 'for diverse good causes and considerations'. The Colyers were of noble descent and tract their ancestry even to the Crusades. All of the Virginia Colyers were Whigs during the Revolution. Sanders refer to the fact that during the war, 'Sir George Collier, Rea(r)d Admiral of the British Nac(v)y, was shelling the coast of Rhode Island while his American Cousins, the Colyers of Virgina, were shedding their blood in defense of the Colonies'. Research: Crozier, WM A. FRS>Virginia Colonial Militia, 1651-1776. The Genealogical Assoc, New York.'