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John Greathouse (Source: (1) Photocopy from pension application records, Application for land grant for War of 1812 Service for John Sr Greathouse, Have copy from National Archives., (2) Roane Co WV handwritten document, Copy of Estate Settlement for John Sr Greathouse, Handwritten copy submitted to Roane Co WV commisioners., (3) Greathouse Pointe Internet Website, http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/2064/index.htm., (4) Bishop, William H, History of Roane County., (5) "Greathouse, John Murray "A Partial History of the Greathouse Family in America" #7 in Bull. Series pub by the Washington Co AR Histor.l Society 1954.", (6) Roane County WV Family History 1989., (7) Mylott, James P, A Measure of Prosperity A History of Roane Co, (1984 Mountain State Press, Charleston, WV), page i Prologue "Background to Settlement: 1795-1850".) was born Mar 1778 in possibly in what later became Harrison or Mason Co, VA or PA, and died 04 Jul 1866 in Roane Co, WV. He married Sarah McDade 17 Sep 1806 in date of marriage bond in Mason County, VA (Source: Jarrett, Sandy - Family Information on Internet.), daughter of James McDade and Rachel Tanner. She was born Abt. 1783 in possibly in Hampshire Co, VA, and died 30 Jun 1869 in Roane Co, WV.
It is believed John Greathouse, Sr., a son of ?, was born about 3/1777 or 1778. It is said he was born in Harrison or Mason Co. John died July 4, 1866. His death date is confirmed through records in National Archives from his application for land grant for service in War of 1812. In addition, Ted McMullen has photos of his tombstone in Roane Co, WV reflecting his date of death.
A John Greathouse is showing on Mason County Personal Property Taxpayers 1809-10-11-12-13 & 14.
War of 1812: John entered from Mason Co, VA in 1814 and was discharged in Norfolk VA after about 3 months service.
The handwritten copy of discharge (from National Archives) states:
John Greathouse having performed a three months Tour of duty in the service of this United States at Norfolk in compliance with General Orders of the United States Adjutant General of the Commonwealth of Virginia bearing date the 8th day of March 1814 is hereby honourably discharged August 29th 1814. Signed (appears to be George Hastings) Lt Col. Commdt. 4 R.bn.(?)
From National Archives (photocopy of handwritten documents) John Greathouse's application for land grant from service in War of 1812:
State of Virginia
County of Roane
On this 4th day of August AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty six personally appeared before me, John W Cain, justice of the peace within and for the county and State aforesaid John Greathouse aged seventy-four years, a resident the Roane County in the state of Virginia who being duly sworn according to law declares that he is the identical John Greathouse named in the within and the accompanying discharge of the date of the 29th of August 1814 and hereto admits he was drafted soldier according to general orders in the company commanded by Mathew McKown of the 4th regiment of the Virginia militia commanded by General Porter in the war of 1812 that he was drafted in the county of Mason sometime in May in the year 1814 for the term of three months and continued in actual service in said war for the term of three months and was honorably discharged at Norfolk on the 29th day of August AD 1814 as will appear by my discharge herewith annexed. He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty land to which he may be entitled under the act granting Bounty land to certain officers and Soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States passed September 28th 1850 and the amendatory act thereunto belonging never having received or knowing that he is entitled under any former act of Congress.
John X(his mark) Greathouse
Test:
Aquila Ware
John Roach
July 5th 1856 Mr. Alfred Cain Reedy post Roane County Virginia
I request that you will prosecute my claim of Bounty Land under act of September 28th 1850 and the amendatory acts thereto belonging if I am entitled. You are authorized to review my land warrant. I was drafted soldier in the company commanded by Captain Mathew McKown in the war of 1812. I resided in the state of Virginia County of Mason when I entered the service.
Very respectfully yours, John X (his mark) Greathouse
Test: J.W. Cain
John Roach
On Muster Roll as private in Captain Matthias McCowan's Company, from Monongalia, now Preston County
*** Source--Wiley's "History of Preston County" page 292-293
John settled on Spring Creek in what is now Roane Co WV sometime in the early 1800's probably about 1830. In Jackson County Personal Property Book for Jackson County 1831 is one John Greathouse (3 horses, mares, colts, mules - Total Tax 18. White Males 16 & up -- 2.
In the archives notes shows: Dec 27/68 (1868) Letter to same (Alfred Cain, attorney for John Greathouse) to establish death of soldier & date. (Apparently the land grant was not processed prior to his death since there was correspondence after his death regarding the claim)
In archives records there is a statement signed by William Burditt (Burdette?) and Robert Burke that they both know that John Greathouse is dead, that they saw him buried and the said Robert P. Burke made the coffin, and that John Greathouse died on the 4th day of July A.D. 1866. The statement was sworn to on the 2nd day of March, A.D. 1869
The following information is taken from son Edward's obituary (1897):
John Greathouse, father of Edward, left Harrison county at the beginning of the present century came to what is now Roane county, settling a short distance below Spencer on Spring Creek near where John Walsh now lives. Here in this almost unbroken wilderness the boy Edward was born and grew to manhood. His father's home was one of hospitality and good will. All travelers might shelter under his roof and be fed from his table without thought of a charge. All denominations worshipped at their home, for churches there were none, and the congregations were always pressed to remain for meals.
In the Roane Co Family History Book of 1989 Irvin Greathouse submitted the following information:
John Greathouse b abt 1778 came from Harrison County and settled on Spring Creek just above the mouth of Nancy's Run abt 1815. He owned a large tract of land below Spencer. He was of German descent. He was a cousin to Samuel Tanner, the early settler. He was in the War of 1812 John's wife was Sarah born abt 1782 and her maiden name could be McDade. They had 6 known children: Jim, Sam, Edward (Neddy) b 1807 m Matilda Blosser; Sarah b 1828 m Mathew McMullen; William H b 1809 m Nancy Hicks and John Jr. b 1811 m Phebe Casto. These pioneer Greathouses are descendants of the Greathouses of Rev War fame and more directly of Capt Daniel Greathouse.
Another issue concerns the children attributed to John, and again, documentation is scarce. A questionable child is Isaac, reported to have been born around 1803. Since there is no mention of Isaac nor his descendents as heirs in the estate settlement for John, I have omitted him as John's son. 2 other sons, Solomon and James, predeceased their father, but their descendants are showing as heirs in the estate settlement. (There is a conflicting report that Solomon deserted his family, assumed the name of Solomon McDade & fought in the Civil War). Also, Isaac's birth date pre-dates John's marriage to Sarah, so there should have been a marriage prior to 1806. John was 28 in 1806, so it is possible. There is a record in Harrison Co of a John Greathouse marrying Pheby Thompson in 1793, but in 1793 -- he would have only been around age 16. There is also a child, Betsy Greathouse born about 1805 who is reported to be John's daughter, but I have no further information for her. She may have died as a child. Isaac and Betsy could have been children of a first marriage considering their dates of birth. A third child attributed to John for whom I have no further information and is not named in the estate settlement is Wyllie B Greathouse. Joyce Stinnettt's records show Wiley died in 1864, so he may be a son and pre-deceased his father. John's son, William H had a son Wiley reported to be born in 1838, so Wyllie B is probably a grandson who was raised by John and Sarah, since his father James is not in the 1850 census, and his mother Nancy is living next door.
In addition, some descendants of John G. Greathouse born in Harrison Co 10/6/1812 say he was the son of John & Sarah Greathouse; others claim him to be the son of Gabriel and Rachel Husted Greathouse. Since we have a record of a John Jr., son of John, it is felt this is not correct.
Handwritten copy Appraisment Bill of the Estate of John Greathouse was submitted to Roane County records October 9th, 1866 and was signed by A. G. Ingraham, Thomas Hardman and James C Springston. (Capt. Albert G Ingraham served in Civil War; Thomas Hardman was father of Druzilla Hardman Ingraham -- married to A. G Ingraham).
Some of the following items are listed:
Notes on William F. Pell due 4/5/1858; John W & James W Greathouse due 8/25/1857; Charles M Boggs & L Simmons due April 5, 1863; 1 official receipt of W W Thompson for the collection of a note of Wm Smith due Dec 21, 1856; Note of Wm Burdette due Dec 13, 1864; Henry Stump due 7/20/1859; Due bill on Wm Pool due June 11th 1863; note of Henry Greathouse due March 27, 1861; Open account on Lawson Tanner; Note on John Roach due May 5, 1859; open account on John M. Greathouse.
Some items in estate included 1 clock, 1 cupboard, 1 looking glass, 3 stone jar churns, 1 trunk, tea kettle and 2 old pots and lids, pitch fork, 3 old chairs, 2 old augers, hand saw, square & knife, 1 vinegar keg, 1 lard can, 1 boy horse, 1 boy colt one half of which belongs to E Greathouse, 1 old mare, 2 stands, 1 cut saw, 1 graindstone, 10 head hogs one half belonging to E Greathouse, 1 pari sheep shers, 1 yoke of oxen, 1 brindle cow, 1 plough & hoe, 1 calf, 2 yearling cattle (and other items that can't be read).
Some of the people purchasing items were: Ed Greathouse, Miles Perine, Nancy Kelly, John Greathouse, Joseph Carpenter, Thomas Bartlett, L Simmons, John M Greathouse, Sarah Mullen, Bozzel (Bazel) Wright, J. A. Davis, Isaac Greathouse, Henry Greathouse
Edward Greathouse served as administrator of his father's estate. Have a copy of the handwritten report Edward presented to the County Commissioners 24th day of August 1872.
The estate settlement reports the following dates that money was paid to the heirs of John Greathouse deceased: (Each heir received $13.77 interest in land warrant plus about $45 more)
10/4/1866 John Greathouse
8/11/1866 Elias & Matilda Conly
9/15/1867 Eli & Malinda Conly
7/20/1868 M.A. Simpson, assignee of W.H. Greathouse
7/20/1868 Sam. Greathouse
10/4/1866 Sarah Mullen
11/?/1868 Miles Renir(?) assignee of John Booher assignee of Jane Lanham (?) (appears under James Greathouse settlement) -- James & Nancy Greathouse had a daughter Jane who married a Thomas J Landham in 1863, so this must be the granddaughter of John.
Heirs:
1) Samuel Greathouse
2) John Greathouse
3) Margaret A Simpson -- assignee of Wm. H. Greathouse
4) Edward Greathouse
5) Mary Short, Matilda Statser & Emiline Greathouse -- heirs of Sol Greathouse
6) Malinda Conly wife of Eli Conly
7) Matilda Greathouse wife of Elias Conly
8) Sarah Mullen (widow of Mat Mullen dec'd)
9) Heirs of James Greathouse: Lori Nichols, Nancy Kesley (?), Evaline Greathouse; Miles Renie, assignee of John Booher, assignee of James Lanham(?)
Later the heirs are listed in following order as: Samuel Greathouse, John Greathouse Jr, Margaret A Hoover (late Simpson) assignee of Wm. H Greathouse, Ed Greathouse, Ed Greathouse assignee of Sol. Greathouse heirs, Malinda Connelly, Matilda Connelly, Sarah M Mullen, and other heirs for which Edward is assignee.
Edward Greathouse purchased the interest of Mary Short, wife of Henry Short, Matilda Statser (Starcher) wife of Henry Statser and Rebecca Greathouse, only children of Solomon Greathouse.
Edward Greathouse purchased the interest of Lori (?) Nichols, wife of Joseph Nichols, Nancy Kelly, wife of Fred Kelly and Eveline Greathouse -- 3 heirs of James Greathouse.
John Greathouse purchased items at sale 10/11/1866, and also Sarah Nutter 10/4/1866
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West Virginia Pioneers
1778 - 1866 (88 years)
[1, 2, 3] 
