Advertisement

ENS John Day Sr.

Advertisement

ENS John Day Sr. Veteran

Birth
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death
4 Dec 1833 (aged 91)
Whitesburg, Hamblen County, Tennessee, USA
Burial
Whitesburg, Hamblen County, Tennessee, USA GPS-Latitude: 36.260768, Longitude: -83.1417661
Memorial ID
View Source
*** US Veteran - American Revolution ***
John Day served as private and a "spy" (scout) during the Revolutionary War from 1776 to 1781
~~~
DAR Ancestor A030904
~~~
RESEARCH NOTE: some researchers say middle name is "Lloyd" others say it is "Tyler" until a source document is provided the middle name will remain empty in this memorial.
~~~

in Caney Creek, Morgan county,Kentucky He served throughout the Revolution, enlisting first in October,1776, when only sixteen years of age, and being mustered out for the last time in September, 1781. He served under Colonels Joseph Cloyd, William Preston and others and took part in a number of engagements with the British and Tories in his section. The last three years he served as spy(scout) or Indian ranger, which speaks well for the woodcraft and discretion possessed by a boy of nineteen. Before the Revolution his family suffered, on one of the inroads of the Shawnee Indians, a terrible massacre, several of them being killed or captured. This made such an impression that the story has been handed down to the present day generation. Source: "History of Kentucky and Kentuckians," E. Polk Johnson, three volumes, Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, MDP, Vol. III, pp. 1291-92. [Clark County]
~~~
John Day, Sr., the son of Nathaniel and Susan Wyly Day, was born June 30, 1742 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. After Nathaniel Day died, Susan Wyly Day took her family to Virginia and settled in the Capon Spring area sometime before 1756. In that year, there was a raid by the Shawnee Indians, and Susan and several of her children were taken captive. John Day, then about fourteen, went with a party to rescue the family. They found his mother and younger brother dead, but were able to rescue his sisters.
John Day, Sr. married Polly Susan. It is believed that she died sometime before 1775. John then married Esther Drennin. While living in Botetourt County, Virginia, John fought in the Indian Wars. He was commissioned Ensign by the Committee of Safety for the Colony of Virginia in 1775, and in 1777 he was appointed Indian Spy. John Day, Sr. fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant. John died in Jefferson County, Tennessee on December 4, 1833. His pension request is on file in the National Archives, SF No. 3252-MDP.

JOHN DAY SR.
Day John Sr., the first child of Nathaniel and Susan Wylie Day was born in Bucks Co., P A, b June 30, 1742, December 4, 1833 in Jefferson Co., TN
He married twice -his first wife Polly Susan his second Ester Drinnon. There are twelve known children. From incomplete records all were thought to be by Polly Susan. They were John Day Jr, Thomas, Jesse Sr, David, Joseph, Levi, Stephen, Mary, Nehemiah, Hannah, Elizabeth and (Hettie) Ester Mehettibelle.
The Day family were known to be skilled wood workers. John and Polly Susan lived for a time in Carroll and Grayson counties VA. Furniture said to have been made by John Day Sr is still to be found in this area.
John Day Sr. moved to Green Co., North Carolina -later Jefferson Co., TN in 1785. -Recorded in- National Archives File No. 5-3252 is his application for a Revolutionary War Soldier pension. The affidavits by John Sr. and John Jr. document much family history such as the year he and his family came to Tennessee.
His own words tell a graphic account of the Shawnee Indian attack an the rescue of his sisters.
John Day established a fort in the Hawksbill Settlement called John Days Fort;, known in 1766 as Fort Cumberland and in 1772 as Kegleys and Prices Fort.
There is also this interesting account "Virginia Malitia in Revolution from Kentucky, March 4, 1834 John Day Sr. died December 4, 1833 at 92 years, Jefferson Co., Tennessee."
John Day Sr. moved his family from Virginia to Green County, N.C. later Jefferson Co. TN "about four years after Cornwallis was taken" (1785) "and lived here ever since." documented in National Archives File# 5-3252
This file also contains John Day Jr affidavit confirming the year his family moved from Botetourt Co., VA to Jefferson Co., TN in 1785.

From: The Preston and Virginia papers of the Draper collection of manuscripts
1833 JULY 9

Day Jr., John. Affidavit relative to Revolutionary service
of his father, John Day Sr. Lived on Greenbrier River until 1785 ; recollections of his father's service in the militia in 1776-77, and later as a spy under Captain Cook; attack on Donnallys Port; Hugh MeKeever, John and
James Bridger, and Henry Baker killed near Days Fort; Mrs. Thomas Drennon also killed. July 9, 1833 Day Sr., John. Jefferson County, Tenn. Pension statement. Born June 30, 1742 in Buck s County, Pa.; removal to Botetourt County, Va. ; capture of the Day family; volunteer under Captain Paxton in 1776 ; Indian spy in Botetourt County under Captain Cook; ranged about Ellis and Day s forts; John and James Bridger killed by Indians; attack on Donnally's Fort; received ensign's commission, Oct. 11, 1775.
~~~
Transcription of the deposition taken from John Day on Indian capture in 1756
"The Shawnee Indians had come into Boutetout [sic] County, Virginia, and killed my brother David Day and taken my mother and two sisters, Sally and Martha Day, prisoners. They took some other property and made for their towns. The first night out the Indians camped on a mountain between Cape Capen River and Cedar Creek and at that campy they killed my mother, Susan Day (formerly Susan Wylie/Wyley), daughter of James Wyley. Captain Fry raised twenty men of which I was one. We followed the Indians and there lay my mother dead and stripped, her head skinned, and we lifted her and laid rocks over her. And we followed on after the Indians and the second day came in sight of them at their camp and I raised my gun to shoot one of them. Just as I was about to draw the trigger, I saw one of my sisters rise up right before my eyes and the muzzle of my gun, between me and the Indians. I was so alarmed at seeing my sister rise before my gun that I involuntarily hollered, which alarmed the Indians and they broke and run, leaving the prisoners and what property the Indians left at camp and brought all safe to the fort.".
[Compiled by Mark D. Persons, [email protected], 22 Aug 2009}
Sources Used:
- "The Preston and Virginia papers of the Draper collection of Manuscripts," 1833 JULY 9.
- "joepayne.org"
- "History of Kentucky and Kentuckians," E. Polk Johnson, three volumes, Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, Vol. III, pp. 1291-92. [Clark County]* Ensign
*** US Veteran - American Revolution ***
John Day served as private and a "spy" (scout) during the Revolutionary War from 1776 to 1781
~~~
DAR Ancestor A030904
~~~
RESEARCH NOTE: some researchers say middle name is "Lloyd" others say it is "Tyler" until a source document is provided the middle name will remain empty in this memorial.
~~~

in Caney Creek, Morgan county,Kentucky He served throughout the Revolution, enlisting first in October,1776, when only sixteen years of age, and being mustered out for the last time in September, 1781. He served under Colonels Joseph Cloyd, William Preston and others and took part in a number of engagements with the British and Tories in his section. The last three years he served as spy(scout) or Indian ranger, which speaks well for the woodcraft and discretion possessed by a boy of nineteen. Before the Revolution his family suffered, on one of the inroads of the Shawnee Indians, a terrible massacre, several of them being killed or captured. This made such an impression that the story has been handed down to the present day generation. Source: "History of Kentucky and Kentuckians," E. Polk Johnson, three volumes, Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, MDP, Vol. III, pp. 1291-92. [Clark County]
~~~
John Day, Sr., the son of Nathaniel and Susan Wyly Day, was born June 30, 1742 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. After Nathaniel Day died, Susan Wyly Day took her family to Virginia and settled in the Capon Spring area sometime before 1756. In that year, there was a raid by the Shawnee Indians, and Susan and several of her children were taken captive. John Day, then about fourteen, went with a party to rescue the family. They found his mother and younger brother dead, but were able to rescue his sisters.
John Day, Sr. married Polly Susan. It is believed that she died sometime before 1775. John then married Esther Drennin. While living in Botetourt County, Virginia, John fought in the Indian Wars. He was commissioned Ensign by the Committee of Safety for the Colony of Virginia in 1775, and in 1777 he was appointed Indian Spy. John Day, Sr. fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant. John died in Jefferson County, Tennessee on December 4, 1833. His pension request is on file in the National Archives, SF No. 3252-MDP.

JOHN DAY SR.
Day John Sr., the first child of Nathaniel and Susan Wylie Day was born in Bucks Co., P A, b June 30, 1742, December 4, 1833 in Jefferson Co., TN
He married twice -his first wife Polly Susan his second Ester Drinnon. There are twelve known children. From incomplete records all were thought to be by Polly Susan. They were John Day Jr, Thomas, Jesse Sr, David, Joseph, Levi, Stephen, Mary, Nehemiah, Hannah, Elizabeth and (Hettie) Ester Mehettibelle.
The Day family were known to be skilled wood workers. John and Polly Susan lived for a time in Carroll and Grayson counties VA. Furniture said to have been made by John Day Sr is still to be found in this area.
John Day Sr. moved to Green Co., North Carolina -later Jefferson Co., TN in 1785. -Recorded in- National Archives File No. 5-3252 is his application for a Revolutionary War Soldier pension. The affidavits by John Sr. and John Jr. document much family history such as the year he and his family came to Tennessee.
His own words tell a graphic account of the Shawnee Indian attack an the rescue of his sisters.
John Day established a fort in the Hawksbill Settlement called John Days Fort;, known in 1766 as Fort Cumberland and in 1772 as Kegleys and Prices Fort.
There is also this interesting account "Virginia Malitia in Revolution from Kentucky, March 4, 1834 John Day Sr. died December 4, 1833 at 92 years, Jefferson Co., Tennessee."
John Day Sr. moved his family from Virginia to Green County, N.C. later Jefferson Co. TN "about four years after Cornwallis was taken" (1785) "and lived here ever since." documented in National Archives File# 5-3252
This file also contains John Day Jr affidavit confirming the year his family moved from Botetourt Co., VA to Jefferson Co., TN in 1785.

From: The Preston and Virginia papers of the Draper collection of manuscripts
1833 JULY 9

Day Jr., John. Affidavit relative to Revolutionary service
of his father, John Day Sr. Lived on Greenbrier River until 1785 ; recollections of his father's service in the militia in 1776-77, and later as a spy under Captain Cook; attack on Donnallys Port; Hugh MeKeever, John and
James Bridger, and Henry Baker killed near Days Fort; Mrs. Thomas Drennon also killed. July 9, 1833 Day Sr., John. Jefferson County, Tenn. Pension statement. Born June 30, 1742 in Buck s County, Pa.; removal to Botetourt County, Va. ; capture of the Day family; volunteer under Captain Paxton in 1776 ; Indian spy in Botetourt County under Captain Cook; ranged about Ellis and Day s forts; John and James Bridger killed by Indians; attack on Donnally's Fort; received ensign's commission, Oct. 11, 1775.
~~~
Transcription of the deposition taken from John Day on Indian capture in 1756
"The Shawnee Indians had come into Boutetout [sic] County, Virginia, and killed my brother David Day and taken my mother and two sisters, Sally and Martha Day, prisoners. They took some other property and made for their towns. The first night out the Indians camped on a mountain between Cape Capen River and Cedar Creek and at that campy they killed my mother, Susan Day (formerly Susan Wylie/Wyley), daughter of James Wyley. Captain Fry raised twenty men of which I was one. We followed the Indians and there lay my mother dead and stripped, her head skinned, and we lifted her and laid rocks over her. And we followed on after the Indians and the second day came in sight of them at their camp and I raised my gun to shoot one of them. Just as I was about to draw the trigger, I saw one of my sisters rise up right before my eyes and the muzzle of my gun, between me and the Indians. I was so alarmed at seeing my sister rise before my gun that I involuntarily hollered, which alarmed the Indians and they broke and run, leaving the prisoners and what property the Indians left at camp and brought all safe to the fort.".
[Compiled by Mark D. Persons, [email protected], 22 Aug 2009}
Sources Used:
- "The Preston and Virginia papers of the Draper collection of Manuscripts," 1833 JULY 9.
- "joepayne.org"
- "History of Kentucky and Kentuckians," E. Polk Johnson, three volumes, Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, Vol. III, pp. 1291-92. [Clark County]* Ensign


Advertisement

Advertisement

  • Created by: Mark Persons
  • Added: Aug 23, 2009
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41014882/john-day: accessed ), memorial page for ENS John Day Sr. (30 Jun 1742–4 Dec 1833), Find a Grave Memorial ID 41014882, citing Bent Creek Cemetery, Whitesburg, Hamblen County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Mark Persons (contributor 47050163).