Samuel PORTER - According to John Dunkins story, Porter was also taken prisoner. He lived at Martin's Station. He and Isaac Ruddell were both accused of being Tories and both were aquitted in Fredrick Co., VA.
Name: Samuel PORTER
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Birth: 1757 Guliford County, North Carolina
Death: 1815 Russell County, Virginia Age: 58
Father: Patrick PORTER
Mother: Susanna Ann WALKER
Misc. Notes
From Jerry Jones, via e-mail received October 23, 1998:
In 1778, members of the Grand Jury included Samuel Porter, Thomas Sharp, Georg Maxwell, and John Vance. This Grand Jury considered cases of bastardy, adultery, fornication, selling liquor without a license and above the set rates and failures of surveyors to keep their sections of roads in good repair.
At the 1778 court, Samuel Porter, along with John Duncan and Andrew Colvill were securities in the sum of 600 pounds for the faithful administration of the testate by John Kinkead. ["William King and Virginia Watkins, Their Ancestors and Descendants" by Maellen King Ford; file from Duncan Surname Association]
Samuel's will was recorded on March 8, 1820. ["James Litton, 'The Wayfaring Stranger'" by Dorothy Gable, 1964, page 181+; file from Duncan Surname Association]
The following from a file of James Porter:
Samuel Porter born ca 1735, Ireland, married Elizabeth Dunkin, 1770, in Virginia, daughter of Thomas Dunkin and Elizabeth Alexander, born 1750, died APR-11-1845, Jackson Co. Mo. Samuel died 1820, Castlewood, Russell Co. Va.. Samuel was a vet. of Rev. War -- Wounded while a Private in Capt. David Gass's Co. under the command of Col. Bowman, during and attack upon the Shawnee towns on Oct. 18, 1779. Pvt. in Capt. Charles Gettis' Co., Militia Martin's Station. Their home in Virginia was near the Temple Hill Cemetery, Castlewood, Russell Co.
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Colonel Arthur Campbell to
Virginia Governor Benjamin Harrison
Regarding the Treason Trial of Samuel Porter
Washington, Feb 10th 1783
Sir,
By a letter dated the 3d Instant, just received from Col. Martin our Indian Agent, I am informed that a Confederacy is attempting to be formed, under the influence of the Commandant at Detroit, between the Northward and Southern Indians. Departures from the former having actually made their overtures to the Cherokees and had passed on to the Creeks and from thence to Augustine. The professed object of this formidable combination is to destroy our Western Settlements in the course of the ensuing Summer. I expect Col. Martin will write fully on this subject and beg leave to refer your Excellency to his intelligence, and explication that can be given by Major Reid.
Samuel Porter taken in the year 1780 from Kentucky, I was informed when in Richmond last, by his fellow captive a Mr. Marshall, that on his arriving at Detroit he took the oath of Allegiance to the British King, and behaved in several respects in an unfriendly manner to his Countryman. Porter was lately liberated with a number of other of our Citizens in Canada and has reached this country. I understand intending to stay some time. This man is of a trying inquisition [illegible], and not a native of Virginia. I consider, I therefore as my duty to give your Excellency this information least he should be one of those emissaries from the enemy deffered by the Resolves of the Assembly.
I am Honorable Sir
Your most Obedient Servt.
Arthur Campbell
Sir, There are several captives now in this country of known fidelity to America that consider Mr. Marshall [illegible].
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William Russell to
Virginia Governor Benjamin Harrison
Regarding the Treason Trial of Samuel Porter
Please your Excellency, Aspenville 25th Sept. 83
The bearer Samuel Porter, is one of the unhappy prisoners, who returned from Detroit last winter, in a state of the greatest distress having lost all his property by the enemy just before, and at the time he was taken.
His attachment to his country and particular attention to the care of his family (I am led to think) induced him to imbrace the earliest opportunity to return to this part of Virginia; where he has lived ever since the year sixty nine, in credit and esteem among his neighbors; and all who knew him, considered him an honest industrious man; he was a near neighbor of mine till, I engaged in the continal [continental] service, and repaired to head quarters, to execute my duty in the army; which was in the beginning of seventy seven. I left him considered by all, who knew him, a firm friend to the American causes and acquaintance to this country (after my going to the army) considered him in the same light to the time he was taken.
Since his return to this neighbourhood Colonel Arthur Campell I expect through malice, exhibited information against him to your Excellency of mal conduct, in adhering to the enemy while in captivity at Detroit. Your Excellency, I have understood, upon the information, was pleased to direct Colonel Campbell, to have an inquiry relative thereto, perhaps when Major Read left Richmond for the Indian country, in April last; and Porter was immediately ordered by Colonel Campbell, to confinement on the plantation he lived at; his helpless family without any support of bread, but what the generosity of the neighbours furnished, attending in the time, two courts for trial, by Colonel Campbellís direction; yet wood not suffer the inquiry to take place; and did last court postpone the trial without fixing any time, for that purpose; or of signing his reasons for so doing. I am led to think with the rest of Porterís acquaintance in this country, that he is unjustly charged; and being his security for appearance, have advised him to wait upon your Excellency, to pray your Excellencyís farther attention to his case; and to direct his trial in a reasonable time, or to grant such other indulgance, which from the nature of circumstances, your Excellency may, in wisdom judge right. Pardon me sir, to say, I fear Colonel Campbellís present close attention to affect a new state, in this part of the country; will engage his time, to the neglect of any individual among us.
I am, with due respect, your Excellencies most obed; very hum. Servt. W. Russell
Spouses
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1: Elizabeth DUNCAN
Birth: 1750 Lancaster County, Pennsylvannia
Death: April 11, 1845 Jackson County, Missouri Age: 95
Father: Thomas DUNKIN (-1756)
Mother: Elizabeth ALEXANDER (1709-)
Misc. Notes
From Jerry Jone, via e-mail received October 23, 1998:
Elizabeth also was taken prisoner to Canada during the Revolutionary War. ["James Litton, 'The Wayfaring Stranger'" by Dorothy Gable, 1964, page 181+; file from Duncan Surname Association]
Marriage: 1775 Knox County, Kentucky
Children: John (1783-1853)
James (1786-1851)
Thomas Duncan (1788-1837)
Tabitha (-1847)
Hugh (-~1837)
Samuel (->1815)
Martha