Jerry & Joanne's
Southern Connections



John Poage of Rockbridge County, Virginia

csa_bar
 
John Poage first appears in the Orange County records in June 1739 as head of a
commission which viewed and located a road from the North Mountain in Beverley
Manor to the top of the Blue Ridge and thence to the bounds of Goochland County.
His older brother, Robert Poage, first appeared in records of Orange County Court
on May 22, 1740 to "prove his importation" with the view of taking up public lands.
The record notes that Robert and his wife, Elizabeth [sister of Wm Preston] and nine
named children came from Ireland to Philadelphia and "thence to this colony". John is
said to have been twelve years younger than his brother Robert and to have had but two
children before 1740.

                                                
                                                           Generation 1 

ROBERT POAGE, brother of John, was born in Ireland ca.1700 and died before March 1774.
He married Elizabeth Preston, sister of William Preston.

Annals of Augusta County by Waddell, pp 258-259--                                 
[Immigration]  Robert Poage at his own expense. . . . Mr. Poage settled on a plantation 3 miles north
of Staunton . . . in Beverly's Manor. . . (on a track) of 772 acres. . . . he acquired other lands directly
from the government. . . . July 30, 1742-- 306 acres on the west side of the Blue Ridge "provided the
grantee should pay a fee rent of one shilling for every 50 acres annually on the feast of St. Michael the
Archangel." 


Scotch-Irish Chronicles Page 216--                                                              
Robert Poack's (sic) will-- October 20, 1773 and proved in court March 6, 1774. Sons named:
John, Thomas, Robert, George and William Daughters named: Martha Woods, Elizabeth Crawford
and Margaret Robertson. To all but John and Thomas he left only "one pistol" each, having "provided
for them otherwise."
Two daughters not mentioned in the will --Mary and Sarah --may have died
before it was written. One is thought to have been the wife of Major Robert Breckinridge, son of
Alexander, and left 2 young sons, Robert and Alexander, who became prominent in KY.

Note: The "pistole", a common coin in Virginia at least until the 1760s, was a Spanish gold coin, sometimes called a doubloon.

In Augusta County near Stauton is a memorial to Robert Poage--

Sacred to the Memory of 
ROBERT POAGE 
Immigrant from Ireland -- 1739 
Elder in Augusta Stone Church -- 1740 
Justice. First Commissioner of the Peace 
Augusta County -- 1745 
Died in 1774 
And to the Memory of his Wife 
Elizabeth Preston.



JOHN POAGE was born in Ireland ca 1715 and died October 1802 in Rockbridge County. He married (1) "Miss Bogess". She died ca. 1739, probably in childbirth. John married (2) Jean Beggs/Boggs. She was born ca. 1717, probably in Ireland, and died July 1802 in Rockbridge Co. VA. Both John and Jean are reported as buried in the graveyard at High Bridge Presbyterian church, but are not named in a printed list of burials there. 
             
Dr. Diehl’s Founders of Falling Spring, Rockbridge Notebook:  "John Poage seems
to have been married twice. His first wife, by whom he was the father of a son, John, Jr.
was a Miss Bogess. . . second marriage was to Jane Boggs/Beggs . He bought a 214 acre
tract of land in 1749 in the "Fork of the James" about the same time as Alexander
Beggs (Boggs, Baggs) and the men may have been brothers-in-law. " 
                                                                  
" a purchaser of 250 acres on Falling Springs was "Alexander Beggs, or Boggs, or Baggs --
the spelling of names in the early records of the frontier was always by sound... It may be
surmised that Poage and Beggs were brothers-in-law."
Spelling was a bit creative; variations
of Poage include Poague, Pogue, Poage--sometimes within the same document. But it's also easy
to see by looking at old ledgers, that a bigger problem is poor handwriting and fading ink make it
 difficult to distinguish an e from an a or o. It's also helpful to keep in mind that double ss was often
 written f , or ff.
 
 Rockbridge Country Roads Directory, courtesy of Mike Gardebled.In 1749 early settler
John Poague bought a 214-acre farm on a small tributary of North River (now Maury
River) known as Poague's Run. He and his descendants built a home place on what they
called their Oak Bank Farm, a mill on Poague's Run, and a store on the old Valley Road.
Poague Lane is about 1 mile south of Alexander Beggs' homestead on Forge Road.
Poague Run is a small stream and traverses a winding path of about 10 miles. This area
is just east of Glasgow near the George Washington Nat'l Forest.

CAPTIVES OF ABB'S VALLEY, 1942 edition, p. 13.John was a farmer and his house
stood along the old Valley road, somenine miles southwest of Lexington in the Fancy
Hill district to thesouth side of Poague Run, the place now called Oak Bank, the name
ofthe voting precinct. The old road passed in front of the house whichfaces eastwards
but is now a hundred and forty yards southeast of theValley Pike, US Route 11. . . a
structure of hewed logs laid skin-to-skinand weather-boarded with a mateal (sic)
roof and a stone chimney topped withbrick... There are other old Poage homes in the
Fancy Hill district and many ofthis line and name sleep in the graveyard of the Falling
Spring church, as well as in the old graveyard at Old Providence church.


Sampson, Mrs. -- KITH AND KIN, p. 139 -- names Jean Somers as the wife of John Poage
of Rockbridge.  Miss Caroline Poage Allen, in a letter written from Liberty, Indiana  in 1893,
 states that he married first .... Bogess (first name unknown) by whom he had one child, John,
and secondly to Jane Boggs; that Jean Summers was the mother of Martha Beggs, and sister
of Jane Summers who was her owngrandmother on her Allen side; and that she was positive
John Poage was only a half brother to her grandfather, Robert Poage.
                   
[Ed. Note: I’m still puzzling over the tidbit above, but will share it anyway.]


Chalkley’s Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish: (Court Records of Augusta County, VA 1745-1800):-
August 19, 1751- Qualified as Capt of Troop of Horse. (Militia)
August 19, 1757- Robert and John Poage to be summoned to say whether either will administer on
estate of Robert Renix, decd., they being nearest of kin.... 
Aug 16, 1759- John Poage and Saml. Henderson qualify adms. of Elizabeth Robinson, decd,
Mathew Robinson, heir-at-law refusing... 
Nov. 23, 1762- John Poage, gent., took the usual oaths to his Majesty, &c., which were ordered
 to be certified....
June 21, 1763- Member of new commission (33 members) ...John Poage.

The following minutes for the meetings of the Vestry, would indicate the John was a very
active--and possibly a very opinionated--member. This is not the only time he objects to the actions
of another who differs on religious or political issues. 

AUGUSTA PARISH VESTRY BOOK. ADMINISTRATORS' BONDS:-
21st November, 176 7  Page  427--                                                                 
Vestry met. Following have subscribed a declaration in Vestry to be conformable to the Doctrine
and Disciplin of the Church of England according to Law, viz: Col. John Buchanan, Mr. George
Mathews, Mr. James Lockhart, Mr. Jno. Buchanan, Mr. John Archer, Mr. Sampson Mathews,
Mr. John Poage, Mr. Wm. Fleming. £3 levied for Robt. Shanklin, Clerke at Cap. Harrison's in
yeare 1763 be paid to John Shanklin. Daniel Perse and wife appointed to take care of the poor
at the poor house for one year.
Page 431.--
Clerk ordered to make up an account of expense of keeping the poor prior to 1765 (before
erection of the poor house), and since that time, so that it may be determined whether the poor
house is a burden or not. George Skillern resigns as Vestryman and John Madison chosen
in his stead. Following Vestrymen object to Israel Christian's signing the proceedings because
he refused signing the Declaration in Vestry, viz: Sampson Mathews, James Lockhart, John Poage,
George Mathews, Mr. John Buchanan.
May 15, 1770- Qualified vestryman... 
17th August, 1762.- John Poage enters 200 acres on south side of South Branch, opposite Shelton's tract on Earhart's Branch. 
17th August, 1762- Same enters 1,000 acres on head branches of Wolf Creek and Sinking Creek, branches of Greenbrier and New River.--John Archer. 
16th November, 1762- John Poage entered 3 full entrys of land on a branch of Back Creek
called the Valley, opposite to Jno. Miller's on Jackson River.--James Lockhart. 
17th November, 1772 (DEED BOOK NO. 19.ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE)---John Poage to Rev. John Craig, John Anderson,
Robert Poage, Alexander Blair, James Allen, Sr., Alexander Walker, Michael Dickey,
James Henderson, Andrew McComb, James Allen, Jr., George Moffett, being the
session and regularly chosen for the Congregation of Augusta or Stone Meeting House
and appointed as Commissioners to act in behalf of said congregation and to accept and
take a title for a tract of 27 acres for the sole use of a Dissenting Presbyterian Congregation
as a place of Public Worship. Patent to John Poage, 14th July, 1769, corner old brick kiln. [p.527]
1783 - Tax Assmt. Lexington, VA                                                                    
John Poage Household:  2-free white males 1-slave, Fillis (over 16 yrs. old);  4-horses; 16 cows. 

March 16, 1785- John Poage refused to act as Justice on account of age.    
John served for over 20 years as a justice. One of his early official letters
provides some insight to his personality and wit:



Re: Frame vs Hooks.  
To Mr. Robert Hooks.


     Sir:  
                                                          
Margaret Frame complains to me that you have taken advantage of her son in a bargain of gun swapping. I find there was a little deceit used, for you refused to stand to your agreement, for if you had not known you had the best of ye bargain, you would have been willing to have taken your own again. But I desire you will take your own without giving the widow any more trouble, or you may depend that I will take care to do both you and her justice.

From, sir, your,                                               
 (Signed) John Poage. 
This 10th February, 1763
 

Jean Beggs Poage died in July 1802, and John Poage died in October of the same year. 
Both have been reported as  buried in the graveyard at High Bridge Presbyterian cemetery,
but neither are named in a printed list of burials there. John had ten children. This list of them,
with dates of birth and names of spouses, comes from Samuel Lattimore Houston, dated
Indianapolis, Ind, March 28 1915.

   1. John POAGE b: 27 FEB 1738/39 in Augusta Co., VA                                           
   2 .Grizelda \ Grizel "Grace" POAGE b: 24 FEB 1740 in Augusta Co., VA               
   3. Martha POAGE b: 20 DEC 1742 in Augusta Co., VA                                            
   4. Robert POAGE b: 18 AUG 1745 in Augusta Co., VA                                             
   5. William POAGE b: 12 JUL 1747 in Augusta Co., VA                                             
   6. Ann POAGE b: 12 OCT 1749 in Augusta Co., VA                                                  
   7. James POAGUE b: 17 MAR 1752 in Augusta Co., VA                                       
   8. Jonathan POAGE b: 4 OCT 1754 in Rockbridge Co., VA                                          
   9. Thomas POAGE b: 6 FEB 1756 in Rockbridge Co., VA                                         
 10. Rebecca POAGE b: 24 JUN 1764 in Rockbridge Co., VA. 
 
 

Generation 2

Children of John Poage 
 
All but John, Jr. were the children of his second wife, Jean. 
 
1. John Poage, Jr, born 27 January 1737/38; died 1789 in Botetourt Co. VA4.John and Elizabeth Mitchell.5 His mother was "Miss Boggess", who died during or shortly after his birth.Diehl's Rockbridge Notebook reports that John Jr. migrated west with his wife's siblings, . Gillett reports he died in Botetourt Co. and includes the abstract of his will (below). If John Jr. and the Mitchells did migrate west, it seems he at least returned to Virginia before his death.
                             
Recorded 15 Apr 1789, Botetourt Co. Will Bk. A, p. 268.                               
Executors: wife,Marthew, friends John Allen, Jonathan Poage, George Poage.
Wit: JohnMitchell, Betsey Mitchell, Rachel Poage

"... touching what Worley [sic] Goods it has pleased God to bestow on me
 --Rail and Personal-- to be propegated to the Seport of mydearly and well
 beloved Wife Marthew and rasing and schooling my Children ... " 

Note: His children were not named in will, but are generally reported as: Jonathan,
John, Robert, George, Andrew M, and Nancy. 
 

2. Grizel Poage, born 24 February 1739/40 in Augusta Co. VA. She married (1) David/John McCroskey6,7;8 born in Scotland; died Bef. 17 June 1788 in Augusta Co. VA. She married (2) Joseph Walker February 1791. 
 
              Augusta Co. Will Bk VIII Page 74.-- 
       David McCoskry's Will (abstract): 09 March 1787

To wife, Grisel, until son John arrives to 21 years, executrix; to son, John, testator's
plantation; to daughters, Elizabeth, Jean, Martha, Ann, Esher, Agness; to oldest daughter,          
Elizabeth, daughter, Esther; to wife and children, land on Licking Creek in Kentucky.

Executors wife Jonathan Poage, James Tedford. Teste: Jno. McKemey. Wm. Morrows,
Robert Cooper, Henry Venus. Proved, 17th June, 1788, by Morrow and Cooper. Mckoskry
and Poage qualify. Tedford appears and declines to qualify. 


3. Martha Poage was born Bef. 1740, and died February 1786 in Shawnee Indian Camp, OH.
She married James Moore, Capt.. He was born 1740, and died 1786 in Abbs Valley, Tazwell Co. VA


From Carolyn Szabad:
 “ Martha married Captain James Moore, and they settled in Abbs Valley in Tazewell County,
just to
 the west of where the town of Pocahontas is now. In 1785, their oldest son James was taken
captive
by a Shawnee war party led by Black Wolf and was later sold to a French Canadian family
named Ariome.
The same chief led a raid on the Moore farm the following year and killed most of the
family. Martha, four
of her children and Mattie Evans, a visiting cousin were taken captive. After a
series of really awful events,
only the daughter Mary and Mattie Evans remained. James found them
and they eventually were able to return
to Virginia where Mary married Samuel Brown, and James
married Barbara Taylor and they lived in Tazewell CO. James and Barbara's daughter Martha Poage
Moore  married Abraham Still, who was a Methodist minister. Abraham, who was born in NC and
lived for a while in TN, was conducting services in the New River Valley between 1820-24. The Stills
with their children were relocated to Macon County MO when the Methodist Church split over slavery.
He was a serious abolitionist. His son Andrew Taylor Still was the founder of the practice of osteopathy.
My ancestor, Abraham and Martha's son Thomas Chalmers Still married Martha Ann Allen of Cooke
Co TN. They went west to CA with one of his brothers - not sure which one. Lots of good covered
wagon in the 1860's stories. Their daughter Aruna, born near San Luis Obispo, was my great-grandmother.
 it is purely an accident (with a Karmic twist!) trhat I have ended up back so close to the home of my
ancestors. Augusta Co. Records (from a law suit over property left by the Moore family)-- ... Moore was
 killed with part of his family by the Indians, in 1786. Danl. Harman deposes, 1806 that he has known
 the Abb's Valley by that name 46 years. George Peery, brother of Thomas, deposes 1806. Cap. Moore
and Robert Poage were brothers-in-law. Moore's wife was Poage. Cap. Moore was killed by Indians in
July, 1786. When Robert Poage left this country he went to Georgia. Joseph Allen swears, 1806,
that William Mitchel of Kentucky is a material witness. Mitchel said he went with Poage to Abb's Valley in 1772. There was then a cabin called Blangy's or Ballanger's...." 


Children of Martha Poage and James Moore are:                                                               
   i. James Moore, born 1770.                                                                                          
  ii. John Moore, born 1774.                                                                                           
 iii. Jane Moore, born 1780.                                                                                             
 iv. Mary Moore, born 1776.

 
4. Robert Poage was born 18 August 1745 in Augusta Co. VA; died 23 September 1793 in Howard Co. GA. He married Margaret Mitchell in Virginia; born ca. 1745; died 30September 1793 in Howard Co. GA9

Kercheval’s A History of the Valley of Virginia--  In the Autumn of 1775, Capt. James Moore removed
with his family from Rockbridge county to Abb's Valley [Tazewell Co.], having cleared some land the preceding
spring, and raised a crop of corn. A short time afterwards, his brother-in-law, Robert Poage,settled near to him
in the same valley. The place was exceedingly secluded, and these two families were ten or twelve miles from
any other settlement of whites. As this had been a favorite hunting ground of the Indians, they often visited it.
Indeed, there was scarcely a ear in which these families were not compelled to leave the valley and takeshelter
in a fort in the Bluestone settlement.In the spring of 1782, the Indians attacked the house of Robert Poage at night.
They burstthe door open, but finding that there were several men in the house (there happened to be three besides
Mr. Poage), they did not attempt to enter the house, but after watching itfor some time, went off; and the next
morning killed a young man by the name ofRichards, who had been living for some time at Capt. Moore's. He had
gone out early in the morning to put some deerskins to soak in a pond about a quarter of a mile from thehouse; and whilst engaged at the pond, he was shot and immediately scalped. At this time the families forted again in the Blue-
stone settlement; and soon afterwards Mr. Poage removed to Georgia.
10
 5.  William Poage, born 12 July 1747 in Augusta Co. VA.; died 1781 of wounds received in the Battle of Guilford
Court House. 11   He married Ann. (surname unk.)12
 
6. Ann Poage, born 12 Oct. 1749 in Augusta Co. She married Capt. Isaac Caruthers. 

7. James Poage, born Bet. 1751 - 1752. He married Nancy Hogshead. Their home seems to have been at the Spreading Spring about halfway between Natural Bridge and Buchanan.

Children: John G. b: 31 March 1779
i. Rebecca b: 3 December 1783 Thomas b: 9 AUG 1785
ii. William b: 11 July 1787
iii. Anne b: 1 October 1789
iv. James Moore b: 20 September 1794
v. Eli b: 17 December 1797 
                  

Source:Augusta, Virginia Families, by Jean Gillett.


8. Jonathan Poage was born 04 October 1754 in Rockbridge Co. VA, and died 10 July 1802 in Fancy Hill Dist. Rockbridge Co.13 He married Martha Beggs14 27 March 1794 in Rockbridge Co.15,16,17, daughter
of
Alexander Beggs..  She was born Bef. 1773 18, and died 10 July 1840 in Rockbridge Co. VA.

Although Martha’s exact dob is unknown, she was apparently 15-20 years younger than Jonathan,
causing speculation that he had been married previously.  No such records have been found, however.  
If Dr. Diehl’s speculations were correct, and Jonathan’s mother was the sister of Martha’s father Alexander,  then Jonathan and his wife Martha were  first cousins --not an uncommon event of the times.     



Tax Assessment Year 1783 Lexington, VA
Jonathan is reported in a household with 1 free white male, no slaves, 3 horses, no cows. 
He was not yet married to Martha Beggs.  Others in the area included his future father-in-
law and John, James and Thomas Poage. 

9 Mar 1787- Executor of D. McCoskry Will; Scotch-Irish Chronicles, V III Pg 180...Jonathan Poage
4 Sep 1798-- Verified  value of an estate for Rockbridge County;  Will Bk 2, pg89
                        Appraisal of Robert McFarland Rockbridge County Will Book 2, page 89
                        Verified by Jonathan Poage, James Poague, and Andew (Cumins?)


Marriage bond for Jonathan and Martha was dated 25 Mar 1794.
Bondsmen: Jonathan Poage and Martha’s  brother, Thomas Beggs.
Consent dated 24 Mar 1794, signed by Martha Beggs, daughter of
Alexander Beggs, decd., stating that she was of age.
Wit: Thos. Beggs and  Elizabeth Beggs. Officiated by Rev. Samuel Houston
          [Source: Rockbridge County Clerk's Office; certified copy on file]

   

Children of Jonathan Poage and Martha Beggs are:
  i.    Sarah Poage, born 14 Dec 1797 in Rockbridge Co. VA
19; died 09 April 1845 in Rockbridge Co.  
         VA
20.  She married Thomas James Lackey 08 June 1820 in Rockbridge Co.21,22,23 Thomas 
         was  born 29 August 1788 in Rockbridge Co.
24, the son of James Lackey and Isabella Rowland.
         He died 06 April 1856 in Rockbridge Co. VA
25.  Sarah and Thomas are both buried in High Bridge
         Cemetery.
26
                                         

   ii.   Martha Poage.
  iii.   Ann Poage.  She married Isaac Caruthers.
  iv.    James Alexander Poage, born ca. 21 January 1800 in Rockbridge Co. VA
28; died 11 January 1842 in
          RockbridgeCo. VA.  He married Mildred Elizabeth Wilson 30 May 1833 in Rockbridge Co.
29;
          born 30 Oct. 1816
30.

          James Alexander Poage: Burial-  Falling Springs Cemetery
31


9.   Thomas Poage, born 06 Feb 1756 in Rockbridge Co.; died in Cumberland Co. TN. 
       He married Lydia Cowan in Georgia.

10  Rebecca Poage, born 1764; died in Botetourt Co. VA.  She married John Allen.


                                                                        ~~~~~~~~

                                                                   See Endnotes Below
                                        Comments? Corrections?  Questions?  Please Write.


                                                      Joanne Merrill Kartak © 2003  All rights reserved.
                             All material contained on these pages is available for the free use of those researching  family origins. 
                                Any commercial use, without the express consent of the host/author of these pages is prohibited.



 Endnotes                               
                                             
  
1.  The Descendants of Robert and John Poage: Pioneer Settlers in Augusta County, VA
      compiled by Prof. Andrew Woods Williamson, et.al
2.  Diehl, George W., Diehl,  Dr. George W;
Founders of Falling Springs, Ch IV, pg 164,
    
Rockbridge Co. VA Notebook. (Compiled by A. Maxim Coppage, III),  
3.  Beggs, William,  bbcyber.com/genealogy/fam00473.htm,  Unverified.
4.  Augusta County, VA Families,  Jean T. Gillett -- [email protected].
5.  Diehl, George W., 
Rockbridge Co. VA Notebook. 
6.  Kegley's
Virginia Frontier 1740-1783; The Southwest,  (VA Hist Soc., Roanoke, VA 1938), Kegley gives
      name as John.  Reported  by some others as David.
7.  Diehl, George W.,
Rockbridge Co. VA Notebook. : Grizel m John McCroskey.
8.  Kegley's
Virginia Frontier 1740-1783; The Southwest.  Named as 2nd husband of Grizel.
9. 
Augusta County, VA Families,  Jean T. Gillett -- [email protected], World Connect Project; rootsweb.com.
10.  Kercheval:
A History of the Valley of Virginia, 4th ed. Author: Samuel Kercheval,  Shenandoah Pub.
       House, Strasburg, Va., 1925Page: p. 382 .
11.  Diehl, George W.,
Rockbridge Co. VA Notebook.
12.
Augusta County, VA Families,  Jean T. Gillett -- [email protected].
13.  Kegley's
Virginia Frontier 1740-1783; The SouthwestDays
14.  Marilyn B. Headley, Angela Ruley, Rockbridge County Marriage Bonds (compiled),
       https://sites.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/va/rockbridge/license.html, d/o Ale'x Beggs.
15.  Marriage Records Rockbridge Co. VA, Witnesses were Thomas and Elizabeth Beggs,  Her father is
       listed as Alexander (deceased)
16.  Mike Gardebled.
17.  Robert Henry Beggs and Clara Beardsley Beggs,
Book O'Beggs,  (Privately printed, 1928), Courtesy of
       Rick Shaul.
18.  ".... I am of age. " Copy of original marrage bond on file..
19.  High Bridge Cemetery Records, Rockbridge Co. VA.  Mike Gardebled photo. Dates on tombstone.
20.  ibid
21.  Rockbridge County, VA Records, Minister: Samuel Houston, Presbyterian Thomas Lackey and "Sally"
       Poage names on bond. In later  bonds issued for their children, their names are always given as Thomas
       and Sarah Lackey.  .
22.  Dodd, Jordan;
Early American Marriages, VA to 1850, Gives bride's name as Sally Poage on marriage
       bond.
23.  Lackey Family Bible (1807); owned by Joseph H Knick, Martinez Georgia.
24.  ibid., Gives date of birth as 1788, which agrees with age on tombstone.  Age given in 1850 Rockbridge
       Census would mean birth was in 1783.
25.  High Bridge Cemetery Records, Rockbridge Co. VA, photo by Mike Gardebled.
26.  ibid.,  On tombstone: " Age 48y 4m 25d. Leckey, Sarah April 9, 1845." Her husband Thomas is buried   
       two spaces away with several of their children buried nearby.
27.  Lackey Family Bible (1807); owned by Joseph H Knick, Martinez Georgia.
28.  Rockbridge Co. VA Cemeteries, LVA, Age at death (on 11 Jan 1842) 41 yrs. 11 mon.  20 days.
29.  Rockbridge County Marriages.
30.  Gardebled, Mike,
My Search For John T. Beggs," Mildred was daughter of James Wilson & Sally
        McCorkle."
31.  Rockbridge Co. VA Cemeteries, LVA.