Week 44 #52Ancestors: Trick or Treat

There is always a bit of trickery in the pursuit of ancestors. Just when you are hot on the trail of proving another generation, it seems to lead to more questions. In John Ogan’s story, a discovery was made as I uncovered a new document connecting the Ogans and McDaniels.   He was a character witness for Margaret McDaniel's application for a widow's pension for John McDaniel (aka McDonough and McDonald). My hope was this testimony would lead to another generation of Ogan's and perhaps shed some further light on the McDaniel line.  The paper trail seems to end thus far.   However, some interesting clues are worth pursuing:

U.S. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application (Source Ancestry.com)

Margaret McDonough's excerpt, "I was married to my husband John McDonough the spring after peace was made 1783 in Frederick County in the State of Virginia in which county he was living when he first went in to the service of the United States. I was then living within three miles of him and I think I was about ten years old.  I recollect of his joining the army of the United States at Winchester in Frederick County State of Virginia but I don't now recollect whether he In listed or not. I always understood from him in his lifetime he served during the war. I never knew him return to the neighborhood in Frederick County ____ and during the war.  My husband always was called McDaniel but I think his right name was McDonough.  I am unlearned and so was my husband that I cannot tell how his name was speld.  I have heard my husband in his lifetime relate a great many ____ circumstances that took place in time of his service. I do not now recollect the names of any officers he told me about except Morgan and Washington.  I also heard him state a great many battles he was in but I do not now recollect any but Brandywine and gates' defeat at Camden he was shot through the leg in time of his service but at what place I do not know.  I always understood from him he was a regular soldier during the war but if he did not inlist at Winchester in Frederick County State of Virginia he did inlist somewhere in the state of Virginia.  He returned home after the war was over in the same County and we were married and moved to the state of Tennessee Hawkins County where he died on the 14th April 1833.  I also certify that owing to great bodily infirmity I am unable to go before a court of record to make the following declaration I certify with my name or husbands is not on the roll of the agency of any state.  Sworn the day above mentioned.

Margaret [her X mark] McDonough

Another character witnesses was Malissa Sutton's stepfather, Peter Wolfe and in another part of this application it is mentioned that Margaret McDaniel had left her husband's paperwork with her son-in-law but the name of the son-in-law was not mentioned.  Can I say "groan?!"  Here is Peter's testimony in support of the pension:

I Peter Wolf resident of Hawkins County do certify that I was well acquainted with the late John McDonough for twenty years. I always heard him say he was a revolutionary war soldier and I further certify that I believe him to have been a soldier of the revolution given under my hand this 25th March 1834.

Peter [his X mark] Wolf

Following Peter's testimony is John Ogan's statement of support:

On this 29th day of March 1834 personally appeared John Ogan resident in the County of Grainger and state of Tennessee and after being duly sworn saying he was well acquainted with the late John McDonough fifty years he was acquainted with him in the state of Virginia.  He always understood he was a revolutionary war soldier five years or during the war.  I recollect his telling me he was intitled to land for his service in the war and since he came to this county he told me he sold his claim he was intitled to for his service.  I believe him to have been in the service of the United States.  I had an uncle told me he served five years in the service with McDonough.  He inlisted as well as I now recollect in the state of Virginia.  I recollect of my uncle saying he, John McDonough, was a very brave soldier sworn to and subscribed the day and year before mentioned before me.

John Ogan

Okay so now I turn to Ogan's who served from Virginia and discover Thomas Ogan.  I don't have his pension paperwork but he served under Col. Dan Morgan for the 7th and 11th Regiments and a McDonough/McDonald/McDaniel isn't mentioned in the rosters I have found thus far.  Thomas Ogan was awarded 100 acres of land in any of the districts appropriated for satisfying the bounties of land due to the late Army of the United States.  He moved to Rockingham County, Virginia where he died about 1813.  His Wikitree page states he moved his family to Frederick County, Virginia sometime around the Revolutionary War.  If this is John Ogan's uncle then another Ogan line living in the area was Peter Ogan who married Phame Bevin.  The Hopewell Monthly Meeting notes record the dismissal of Phame Ogin (former Bevin) in 1769 for "marriage out of unity." In 1793, Peter Ogan obtained two Virginia land grants.  The first was for 233 acres in Hampshire and Frederick Counties on the Great Road from Winchester to forks of the Cacapeon, County line. The second was for 97 acres in Hampshire County on Cacapeon. There is also a road petition in 1794 signed by Peter Ogin and John Ogin in Frederick County, Virginia.  These are the documents I have found to date connecting these Ogans.

Let's add another twist to this by documenting John Ogan's first appearance in Hawkins County, Tennessee is Captain Allen's Company 1811 early tax records.  As I read the list, I discover a John Bray.  Who is this individual?  There is a John Bray who enlisted in the Revolutionary War in Hampshire County, Virginia in 1777 and served in the 12th Regiment of Virginia under Captain William Voss and discharged at Yorktown in Pennsylvania by Colonel Morgan.  A look at a roster for the 12th Regiment in 1777-1778 shows John Bray and there is also a John McDonald!

Roster of the 12th Virginia Regiment in 1777-1778. Source: Ancestry.com

All I can say is the more I write about the Ogans, McDonough/McDonald/McDaniels (whatever the name is) and Brays then the more bunnies there are to chase!!

Source: clipart.email