Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Randolph County, Illinois

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Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Illinois by Mrs. Harriet J. Walker, Reprinted for the web.

In the preparation of this work, every effort has been made to obtain the records of these soldiers, to verify them, and to ascertain their places of burial. This has been accomplished in various ways, by ascertaining the names of all who were pensioned and where the application was made. This does not always locate the burial place owing to the changing of the boundary lines of the counties of the state, making it necessary to obtain from the U. S. Treasury department the time and place of payment of the last pension.

Revolutionary War Graves of Soldiers Buried in Randolph County Illinois:

The history of no part of Illinois exceeds in interest that of the settlement of Randolph county, and Kaskaskia was the great center of interest. Beautiful for situation and as a commercial point, it became alike attractive and prospectively important.

The French here held sway for many years, and were succeeded by the British. Only a few years passed, however, before that intrepid warrior, George Rogers Clark and his band of faithful followers quietly took possession of this part of the territory and planted the Stars and Stripes, in 1778, first at old Fort Massac, then at Kaskaskia. It was but natural that the men who came with Clark should have been charmed with the location and the outlook for future homes for themselves and their families. They were well fitted for the hardships which a new country entailed and for dealing with hostile tribes of Indians which might harrass them. The first considerable American immigration was in 1780 when a colony of pioneer settlers reached Kaskaskia from the Southern states, to be followed by many from the country east of the Alleghanies. Among the number were many soldiers of the American Revolution.

Randolph county is the burial place of many soldiers. Doubtless many were buried where the ever-changing current of the Mississippi river has washed away the land, thus making it impossible to locate their graves. The remains of some of these pioneer-patriots were removed to a cemetery on the hill overlooking the little railroad station called Fort Gage, where the State of Illinois has erected a monument to their memory which bears the following inscription, "Those who sleep here were first buried at Kaskaskia and afterward removed to this cemetery. They planted free institutions in a wilderness and were the founders of a great commonwealth. In memory of their sacrifices, Illinois, grateful, erects this monument. 1892."

In the following lists are many soldiers who came with Clark, and also those who were from the Southern and Eastern states, all of whom lie buried in Randolph county.

JOSEPH ANDERSON was a soldier under George Rogers Clark; he settled on Nine-Mile creek about five miles from Kaskaskia, where he died.

BENJAMIN BYRUM was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, in 1773. In the spring of 1781 he came to Kaskaskia. He showed his discharge papers from the service and an oath of fidelity taken at Fort Pitt. He did not live long after coming to Illinois.

MELLINGTON COUCH was in the battle resulting in the surrender of Cornwallis. It is not known from what state he enlisted. He is buried at the Preston U. P. cemetery, six miles from Sparta. He first resided in Marion county. "Family History."

JOHN CLENDENIN was a native of Virginia and served in the troops of that state. After the war he removed to Kentucky, settling in Green county; from there he came to Randolph county, Illinois, locating where the city of Chester now is. He resided on a farm now known as the Porter farm. "Virginia Records."

JAMES CURRY was a soldier with Clark; he settled near the other soldiers with whom he came, not fear from Kaskaskia. James Curry had a thrilling experience with the Indians. He and Levi Teel were out hunting and took possession of a cabin built by David Pagan, which was unoccupied, to remain over night. During the night the Indians appeared, and as Teel stood by the door with one foot near the "cat hole," an Indian thrust his spear through his foot; attempting to pull it out, they pinned his hand, thus nailing him to the floor. Curry would not listen to Teel, who advised opening the door, but went to the loft and fired, killing three; he then tumbled the whole roof, as it was not nailed on, down on the Indians, killing the chief and disabling the others which caused the remaining number to flee. Curry helped Teel to reach Kaskaskia, where he remained until he recovered from his wounds. James Curry was chosen by Clark to undertake any desperate or hazardous service. He lived and died on Nine-Mile creek. One day he, with Joseph Anderson, was out hunting. As he never returned, it is supposed that he was killed by the Indians and his body taken away by them. "County History."

JOHN DODGE was a native of Connecticut, was a trader at Sandusky, Ohio, before the Revolutionary War. He strongly favored the cause of the Colonists, and as a result was arrested by the British who carried him to Detroit and later to Quebec, when he escaped in 1779. In that year he was recommended by Washinton to Congress as a man who would be useful in the West. He went to Virginia and was appointed Indian agent. Coming to Kaskaskia he rendered aid to Clark in the work there. He died before 1800 and is doubtless buried in Kaskaskia. "County History" and "Connecticut in the Revolution."

JOHN DOYLE was a soldier with Clark. He settled near Kaskaskia. He was a man of some education and taught one of the earliest schools in the county. He was a French scholar. "County History."

ROBERT BRATNEY was born in Ireland. Coming to America he settled in Tennessee where he entered the service. In 1820 he removed to Illinois, settling near the mouth of Little Plum creek in Evansville township. "County History" and "Tennessee Records."

CAPT. JOHN EDGAR was born in Ireland. He was in the British Navy. When the Revolutionary war broke out he was a resident of Detroit. He openly espoused the American cause and was seized by the British commander and sent a prisoner to Quebec; escaping near Montreal he found his way to the American lines. Entering the service he was made Captain in the navy. Coming West in 1784, he settled in Kaskaskia. He was a man of great wealth for those times. During the administration of Governor Arthur St. Clair he was elected to the legislature which convened at Chillicothe, Ohio. After the war he was appointed Major General of the Illinois militia, and in 1790 was made a judge of the "common pleas court." He died in Kaskaskia in 1832. He was pensioned.

JOHN HILTEBRAND and DAVID HIX were soldiers under Clark. Coming to Illinois in 1780, they settled on the east side of Kaskaskia river near the mouth of Nine-Mile creek, where they doubtless died.

WILLIAM FOWLER was born in South Carolina, where he served in the war. He came to Illinois in 1816, locating in the Harmon settlement. In 1825 he was living in the township of Mary, where he doubtless died. He was pensioned. "County History."

PAUL HARROLSON was from South Carolina, where he served in the war. He came to Illinois in 1802, settling on the west side of the Kaskaskia river near the mouth of Camp creek. He was a man of prominence in the early days. In 1809 he acted as Justice of the Peace and from 1803 to 1809 was commissioner and county clerk. He was pensioned. "County History."

DAVID HOAR served from Massachusetts in the Revolutionary war. He remained in the service after the close of the war. Came to Randolph county, Illinois, where he died. "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in Revolutionary War," also "Pension Reports."

JOHN LAWSON served in the Virginia line of troops. He came to Randolph county, Illinois, and there applied for a pension, which was not granted, as he had not served six months. "Virginia Records."

JOHN LIVELY came from South Carolina in 1805; he was in the war from that state. He was seemingly a soldier by nature, as he also served in the war of 1812. He settled in the town of Central, where he died in 1826. "County History."

CHARLES McNAB was born in Maryland; he enlisted January 7, 1778, was a sergeant in the Sixth Company, First Maryland Regiment, in Capt. Beaty's company; he enlisted again in the Seventh Company of the Third Regiment. He came to Illinois, settling in Randolph county, where he died November 1, 1780. He was pensioned.

HAYDON MILLS, HENRY SMITH and ELIJAH SMITH were soldiers with Clark; returning to Illinois they settled east of Kaskaskia above the mouth of Nine Mile creek. They were doubtless buried there.

JOHN MONTGOMERY was a private with Clark's soldiers, he returned to Illinois, locating four miles from Kaskaskia, where he built a small water mill which was used for many years. He, with many others, was given a tract of land for service in the war. He was a well-known citizen of the county.

DANIEL MURRAY lived in Kaskaskia with his brother William, before the arrival of George Rogers Clark. He gave Clar substantial aid in Kaskaskia; he died there later, being shot in a quarrel over some money affairs. "County History."

DAVID PAGAN was one of Clark's soldiers; coming to Illinois he settled on Nine-Mile creek a few miles from Kaskaskia, where he doubtless buried.

JAMES and RICHARD PILLARS were from Virginia and served in the war in the Virginia line of troops. In 1781 they were in Fort Massac, Illinois, and in 1793 they removed to Randolph county. James died there in 1833 or 1834. A granddaughter of James remembers that he died while at a celebration, or reunion, ofthe old soldiers. Their record of service may be found in Virginia in the Illinois papers--D. III.

RAWLEIGH RALLS was born in Virginia, and served in the Virginia troops, enlisting in the latter part of the war, when quite young. After the war he removed to Tennessee, and in 1809 came to Illinois, settling first in Monroe county, but later on the beautiful ridge afterward known as Rall's Ridge. He only lived a few years after coming to Randolph county. "Virginia Records."

ROBERT SEYBOK was with Clark's soldiers; he came to Illinois in 1783, and with other settlers was obliged to take refuge in Kaskaskia on account of the Indians.

WILLIAM SHARP was born in Maryland in 1762. He enlisted in the Fifth Regiment, May 29, 1778. He was made Corporal October, 1781; was discharged May 1, 1781. He removed to Illinois, settling in Randolph county, where he died. He was pensioned.

GEORGE STAMM was born in Maryland, where he enlisted at Frederictown in May, 1780, He was both private and musician with Capt. John Smith and Capt. Christopher Orendorff under Col. John Eccleston in the Sixth Maryland Regiment. He came to Randolph county, settling in Kaskaskia, where he died. He was pensioned.

CAPT. JOHN STEELE was a native of Virginia and served as Captain in the Virginia troops. After the war he removed to Tennessee and in 1789 came to Randolph county, Illinois. He was the founder of Steeleville and died on the farm where he located September 11, 1820. "Virginia Records" and "County History."

JACOB STOPPLEBEAN was born in the state of New York. He enlisted in the Albany county militia, Eighth Regiment, under Col. Robert Van Rensselaer. He again enlisted in the Levies under Col. Marinus Willett. The story is told of him that coming home after his first enlistment he met some of his old home friends who informed him that his wife, supposing him dead, married again and removed to parts unknown. Stopplebean re-enlisted and served to the close of the war. He came to Randolph county, Illinois, where he obtained some land. He died there in 1845, and is buried in what is known as the "Hull Graveyard." He was very eccentric, always sitting with his hat on in the house, claiming to be two years younger than General Washington. "New York in the Revolution" and "Traditional Records."

JOHN STUFFLEBEAN served in the war from Pennsylvania. He came to Randolph county at an early date. He died there January 16, 1844. He was pensioned.

LEVI TEEL was a soldier with Gen. Clark; coming to Illinois he settled on Nine-Mile creek. he was severely wounded by the Indians when James Curry saved his life. He died in Randolph county. "County History."

ALEXANDER WHITTAKER served in the war from Maryland. After the war he came to Randolph county, Illinois, and there applied for a pension. "Pension Reports."

ROBERT WHITEHEAD was a soldier with Clark. He came to Illinois, settling near Kaskaskia, dying there at an advanced age. "County History."

HENRY CRUTCHER and JOHN ROBERTS served with Clark. Roberts was a Lieutenant and Crutcher was Quartermaster, and later was appointed Commissioner. He with Roberts rendered service by purchasing treasury notes to aid in prosecuting the war. Both these men lived in Randolph county long after the close of the war and are doubtless buried near Kaskaskia. "County History."

The records of the French who were loyal to the American cause are mostly lost.

Col. Clark, soon after taking Kaskaskia, appointed several men as officers to recruit companies to aid in the conquest of Vincennes. Among the number was Francis Charleville, who was appointed Captain. He raised 50 men who enlisted for eight months from January, 1779. Of the little band of 50 men, only 28 returned to Illinois, and of this number 10 resided in Kaskasia after the war, and were listed as heads of families or members of the Militia later. It would be manifestly unjust to make no mention of these loyal French subjects of the American cause, and we must conclude that the men whose names are here presented were buried in Randolph county, in or near Kaskaskia.

Bazelle Allere

Michael Antere

Daniel Blouin

Antoine Bienvenue, Sr.

Jerome Danis

Joseph Danis or Daney

Michael Danis

Antoine Lavigne

Joseph Richard

Joseph Toulouse

JOSEPH ALLERE was a soldier under Clark and lived in Kaskaskia long after the war.

JEAN BAPTISTE BARBAU, SR., was from New Orleans, born in 1722. he was Commandant at Prairie du Rocher, a justice and deputy county lieutenant. His will is recorded in Randolph county. He died in 1810.

JEAN BAPTISTE CHARLEVILLE and MICHAEL GODIN were officers appointed by Colonel Todd. They lived in Kaskaskia after the close of the war and were heads of families.

NICHOLAS JANIS was made Captain and resided in Kaskaskia after the close of the war. It is not known where he died.

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