Note: Henry Yoho (1745-1845) was a son of the original immigrants Johannes Joho and Susanna Lau
(Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris)
Pension Application of Henry Yoho S7996
State of Virginia
County of Monongalia
On this 25th day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two,
personally appeared before the County court of Monongalia now sitting Henry Yoho a resident of said county, aged eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he believes it was in the year 1776 that he served in the Virginia militia, at a station on Whitely creek now in Green county [sic: Garards Fort on Whiteley Creek in Greene County] Pennsylvania then called Virginia under Lieut. Samuel Swingler, two months.
That in the month of June 1777 he marched as a volunteer of the Virginia militia, under Lieut. William Cross of Capt John Minor’s [pension application S2840] company from Jarretts fort [sic] on Whitely creek to Fort Pitt, where we encamped on Grants hill for one month, thence placed in the fort at the head of the Ohio the troops he believes being under the command of Col. [John] Gibson.
That he remained at Fort Pitt three months and then descended the Ohio in keel-boats to a fort at the mouth of Wheeling creek for the purpose of burying Capt. Foreman and his company, who were killed by the Indians about eight miles below Wheeling (William Foreman), Grave Creek Massacre, 26 Sep 1777].
That he remained at Wheeling the residue of his time and was discharged by a general discharge after having served four months.
That during the year 1778 he served as a spy under the celebrated Capt. Whetzel [John Wetzel] three months and during all this time was engaged on the waters that empty into the Monongahela and Ohio in this part of Virginia – that he served as a soldier in Capt. Cross company attached to Col. John Evans regiment of Virginia militia, and marched to Big Beaver on the Ohio and to the head waters of the Muskington [sic: Muskingum River], at which places he assisted to build Fort McIntosh and Lawrance [sic: Fort Laurens on Tuscarawas River], from which service he returned home on Christmas day, being discharged at Fort McIntosh, that he was about on this service six months.
That about the month of July in the year 1779 he turned out as a volunteer under Lieut. Jacob Cline in a regiment of Virginia militia commanded by Col. Laughlin to go on expedition against the Indians under Gen’l. Clarke [sic: George Rogers Clark] – that he went with about three hundred regulars and three hundred militia from Red stone fort (near Brownsville Pennsylvania) in keel boats, that Whetzel and himself went before the troops as spies – that he went on to the falls of the Ohio at Louisville where we were stationed, and in the following winter remained about forty or fifty miles above the falls.
That himself Whitzel and others during the spring and summer of 1780 spied the surrounding country, and was discharged in the fall after about eighteen months service.
That during the year 1781 he was stationed at Masons fort on Buffaloe [Buffalo] creek now in Brooke county Virginia – that whilst there he left Masons fort to go to Wheeling fort in company with Henry Baker & Peter Stanater [possibly Stalnaker] on Horse-
back, that in passing a very narrow path Stanater was shot with four balls, that Baker & himself wheeled their horses, and seven Indians faced them and shot at him and Baker his horse received two wounds and fell, and he a wound through the hip – that the mare soon sprung up, and he forced his way through the indians, without further injury although they reloaded and fired at him.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or an annuity except the
present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State—
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Henry his H Mark Yoho
And at the same time, personally appeared before the said court, Peter Haught [pension application S6981], a resident of said county, and made oath, That he has been personally acquainted with Henry Yoho, who made the above declaration in his presence, for about five years.
That he recollects Yoho’s being a private in Capt Cross’ company in McIntoshs
campaign, and from his knowledge of Yoho, for he was always considered one of the bravest and most daring men in the county and of good character. he has no doubt that all his declaration contains the truth. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Peter his X Mark Haught
And at the same time personally appeared before the said court Stephen Gapen [S8545] a resident of said county, and made oath. That he hath read the foregoing declaration of Henry Yoho, and he believes it contains the truth – that Yoho was always considered a good soldier and done much service in this part of the country, during the Revolutionary War – that he served in the year 1777, in Capt Minors company, as stated by said Yoho and he knows that Yoho served
in the same company as by him stated. Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] Stephen Gapen
Morgantown 25 Sep 1832
Honbl. Lewis Cass Sec of War
I enclose you the declaration of Henry Yoho at his request – this is the man so celebrated in our border wars, and probably no man except Whetsel [probably Lewis Wetzel] encountered so many hardships and run so many risks of life – he is the most sprightly man of his age that I ever saw – the court and a crowded audience were held in perfect silence at the narration of his “soldier says” – An answer directed to him here will be very acceptable, for like most of his fellows, he is very poor, and I understand lives from house to house.
I am your obt. serv Thos. P. Ray [Clerk of Court]
[“Mr. Singleton” in the following undated document was District Attorney Washington G.
Singleton, who in 1834 investigated many pension applicants from Monongalia, Harrison, Lewis, and other counties in present West Virginia. For details see pension application S6111 of David W. Sleeth.]
Owing to the remote residence of Henry Yoho in the hills of Fishing creek, Mr. Singleton
has not had an opportunity of examining him; and he having, at much inconvenience to himself traveled hither and this day appeared before me and Mr. Singleton being at his residence in Winchester, I have examined yoho and the following is the substance of his statement. I have not seen his original declaration; nor have I inquired of him what it contains. From a comparison of that and the present statement the truth may be ascertained.
The said Henry, having been duly sworn saith, that he was born in Virginia about 18
miles from Winchester, but dont know in what year; he is now in his 85 year. His fathers family moved to Western Virginia when affiant was eleven years old, and he has resided there ever since. That he commenced his service in the war of the revolution as a private in the company commanded by Lieutenant Samuel Singler who was stationed on Whitely creek, now County of Monongalia [sic], at the house of a settler named Duncan
The company was composed of 18 persons some of whom had been drafted, and the others volunteered. Affiant was of the latter.
After remaining a few days at Duncans, the company were marched to Garretts’ fort on Whitely, and remained there one month doing duty, where they were discharged, and their places supplyed by new recruits. The next year affiant volunteered under Capt. Cross and was marched to Pittsburgh. While at that place, intelligence was received of the massacre of Capt. Foreman and the greater portion of his command at grave creek narrows, 10 miles below Wheeling; thither Capt. Cross took up his march, and on his arrival buried 22 of Capt Foreman command, and there from returned to Wheeling and there continued doing service one month when he was discharged having served in this tour 4 months.
The Spring following affiant enlisted under Leutenant Singler for 8 months, served 2 months, when he was permitted by Singler to join Capt. Jno. Whitzal’s company of Spies, and served three months. The country they reconnoitered was between Whitely and the Ohio river near Wheeling, thence to the mouth of Middle Island [Creek]
thence by the way of Fish and Fishing creeks to Whitely.
The Fall following affiant again volunteered under Capt. Cross and joined [Gen. Lachlan] McIntosh and served in his campaign against the Indians. Forts McIntosh on the Ohio River at big beaver and Fort Laurence on Tuscarawa were erected during this expedition. Affiant served 4 months on trip and was discharged on the return of the army to fort McIntosh. Affiant next volunteered in the expedition set on foot by Capt. Clark for new orleans. The troops rendezvoused at Pittsburgh, and were for a short time, stationed on Monturis[?] Island below Pittsburgh, thence they were ordered to Wheeling; and while at the latter place affiant and 39 others were detached as a company of hunters to Kenhawa [sic: Kanawha] under the command of a captain whose name is not recollected.
on arriving at Kenhawa Lewis Whitzal and affiant were sent out to spy the
neighborhood. on their return to camp the next day, the whole command had left, Capt. Clark having, in the mean time come on with his command. Affiant and Whitzal thereupon commenced their march up the Ohio, expecting to meet Capt. Lougher [possibly Lowther] whose company consisted of 60 men and to join them. A few days after affiant and his companions were informed that Capt. Lougher having landed his boat at the call of a perfidious white man, a numerous force of Indians being in ambush rose upon the wites and massacred all of them excepting four privates, whom they made prisoners of. Affiant and Whitzal then left the river and journeyed to Jarretts fort on Whitely. Affiant was about on this expedition 2 months.
Sworn to before me A. Caldwell Judge of the W[estern]. D[istrict] Virginia
[On 17 Jun 1835 Yoho notified the pension office that he had moved to Tyler County 18
months before. A letter from Thomas P. Ray dated two days later stated that Yoho had just recovered from a long illness.
During Singleton’s investigation the Commissioner of Pensions, James L. Edwards,
decided he would no longer count the time that Indian spies were not under the immediate command of commissioned officers. This resulted in Yoho’s being credited with only one year of service and a reduction of his pension to $40 per year.]
Marshall County Va. Oct 24th 1836.
to Jas. L. Edwards Com’r of Pensions
Sir Mr. Thos. P. Ray of Morgantown has communicated to me your letter stating that
you are willing to continue my pension at Forty dollars per year.
Altho’ my poverty compels me to accept it Yet I hope it will not exclude me from
sattisfying you of my right to the pension heretofore granted.
Resp’ly Yrs.
Henry his H Mark Yoho
Attest Henry Deering[?]