John McDonald/McDaniel Revolutionary War Soldier

Have you ever documented a line and published it on Ancestry for years only to one day discover newly published documents that upend your tree?  That's what happened to me when documents appeared on Fold3 for the Guion Miller Roll, 1906 - 1911.  My Sutton line has passed down stories that our line who settled in Claiborne county, Tennessee in the early 1800's were of Native American descent.  So when I saw that these documents were on Fold3, I started entering family names to see what would pop up.  My great-grandfather Noah's brother, John Greenlee Sutton, had applied along with some of my Lawson line.  I was intrigued so started reading through the pages and what did I see but that John named the parents of his mother, Melissa Sutton nee Wolfe, as Peter Wolfe and Margaret McDaniel.  Groan!  All that work on George Stumpy Wolfe and Margaret McCoy is now history.

Now my plan was to start researching Peter and learned that he was George's older brother.  Peter was not well researched so I began looking at the census records and old messages on the discussion forums.  I learned that his wife, Margaret McDaniel was most likely the daughter of John McDaniel (surname was actually McDonald) and Margaret Watkins.  Ha!  My mother's maiden name is Watkins.  I also learned that John had served in the Revolutionary War in North Carolina.  Although some trees show that John was born in Scotland, he states in his pension application that he was born in Virginia in the year 1741.

My cousin, David Brogan, summarized John's service from the application as follows:

On 12 Jun 1776 joined the Guilford County NC Regiment of Militia, the company of Capt. Arthur Forbes (Forbis) regiment of Col. James Martin brigade of Gen. Griffith Rutherford at Guilford Courthouse.  Was in the Cherokee Expedition of Aug to Nov 1776.  Burned thirty-five Indian towns and was in two or three Indian fights.  About 22 Oct 1776 was discharged.  Drafted again Aug 1780, under Capt. Arthur Forbes (Forbis) in the regiment of Col. John Paisley in the brigade of Gen. Davidson, later Gen. Greene and fought in the battle of Guilford Courthouse.  Mustered out Mar 1781.  Served in the neighborhood of Guilford until Sep 1781 guarding against Tories and Indians, with one encounter where four Tories were killed and two wounded.  After six months, his last service was with Capt. Conate?, Capt. Forbes (killed at the battle of Guilford 15 Mar 1781).  Was discharged by Col. Martin, perhaps in Nov 1781.

Could it be that my 2x's great-grandmother was the granddaughter to John?  Well, it did appear so because John's pension application is very long since he died during the application process on April 27, 1833.  His wife, Margaret, then began her application for a widow's pension so more information was provided including information about their marriage in Botetourt county, VA in 1788.  Unfortunately, Margaret also died during the application process on August 7, 1849.  Did the family throw in the towel?  No!  His son, James McDaniel, applied for the pension owed to his father and mother on behalf of the surviving children.  Paperwork continued to build in the file and named the surviving children as Mary Louderback, Nancy Jackson, Margaret Wolfe, and James McDaniel.  James also named his deceased siblings: John, David, Avery, Thomas, Edward, Elizabeth Coffee, and Katherine Taylor.  Finally a bill was sent to the House of Representatives on April 13, 1860 authorizing payment to the surviving children of John McDaniel in the sum of $452.

Now was this the end of my search on Peter Wolfe and Margaret McDaniel? Apparently not as I continued to dig into documents.  I ordered microfilm of probate records for Hancock county, Tennessee hoping to find documents on the death of my 2x's great-grandfather, James Sutton.  Instead I found Peter Wolfe's will and probate.  Another surprise for me.  Peter names his legatees and states that he wants Melissa Sutton and Barbary Caroline Jackson "to have all equal parts with all of my lawful children." What???

I began to dig again and what I have found was Peter and Margaret both had married after their spouses had died.  Although Peter's pension application for the War of 1812 states he married Margaret McDaniel on January 4, 1841, I know that it was most likely much earlier than that.  More research indicates that Margaret was most likely married to Henry Bray who died soon after his will was signed on May 11, 1827 (my 2x's great-grandmother was born on May 30, 1827 according to family records).  Henry Bray names his wife as Margaret but does not name his children. Sigh!  No proof but many clues are found.  For instance, Peter Wolfe's 1830 census in Hawkins county, TN shows 17 free white persons in the household of various ages.  Could be that two families were combined.  When looking at the census page, I see that John McDonough (aka McDaniel) is listed underneath Peter and John is followed by Benjamin Bray.  Benjamin Bray signed Henry Bray's will.  My 2x's great-grandmother named a son McHenry and there is a older McHenry Bray born in 1823 who is most likely a son to Henry and brother to Melissa.  Melissa also names a daughter Margaret.  I also have DNA matches to McDaniels, Brays, and Wolfes.  Why would I have DNA matches to Wolfes?  Because Peter Wolfe and Margaret McDaniel had several children during their marriage.

That ends my story on John McDonald/McDaniel so far.  I am in the process of applying to the DAR in hopes of honoring this line of my family.  It is not an easy process and if it doesn't get approved then I will grumble but know that I am 99% sure I have the right line this time.