Hello Pyle Family: This is my first post to the list, however, you've seen some of my PYLE family information posted by Ron Pyle. We descend from the same William PYLE (b. ca 1776) in PA, moved to VA as a child, and to Ross Co., OH, by ca 1806 -- and whose parents have remained elusive. William named his eldest son Zachariah...so Ron and I have always studied everything we could find about any Zachariah. In our search, I came across his pension files at the Ft. Wayne Library. If you've not seen this, it's a wealth of new information. Enjoy...Rachel Meyer VIRGINIA - Zachariah PILES - Monongalia Co., VA, pvt in the regiment commanded by Col. Vanmeter for 11 months (8 was written first - crossed out). Inscribed on the roll of Virginia at the rate of $36.66 per annum to commence the 4th day of March 1831. Paid at Morgantown. Arrears of $182.20; plus semi-annual allowance of $18.33 = $209.98. State of Virginia, County of Monongalia On this 25 day of September in 1832, personally appeared before the County Court of Monongalia, Zachariah Piles, a resident of said county, aged 75 years, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congrefs pafsed June 7, 1832. That he believes it was in the fall of the year 1776, he marched under Capt. Owen Davy to a station on the head of Buffaloe creek and afterwards removed to the West for River now in Harrison Co. to guard the inhabitants of this country from the Indians that he was three months in that service as a volunteer. That in the spring of the year 1778, he marched from his residence on the South Branch of the Potomack River near to the town of Romney, under Capt. Archibold Higgins in a regiment commanded either by Col. Hite or Vanmetre (which he cannot recollect) and crofsed the mountains on Braddock's trail and crofsed the Monongaahela River below the mouth of the MYohagania and from thence to the mouth of Big Beaver Creek on the Ohio - that Genl. McIntosh ws there at the time - that he was one of the soldiers that assisted to build Fort McIntosh near the mouth of said creek - that he marched oe days march in the direction to Tuscarora and was taken sick and sent back to Fort McIntosh that he was discharged by his captain, that he returned home late in December of the year 1778 after an absence of more than six months. That about the year 1780 he entered as a volunteer in this county under Capt. David Scott as a scout to protect the inhabitants on the frontier - that he was engaged in this service two or three months. That on the 16 of March in the year 1777 he was performing the duty of a scout against the Indians on the waters of Dunkard Creek and was wounded in the heel by a ball, and four of his companions were killed and four taken prisoner. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or an annuity except the present he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state. Sworn to and subscribed --- Zachariah Piles (his mark) And at the same time personally appeared before the said court Peter Haught, a resident of said county and made oath that he has been personally acquainted with Zachariah Piles, who made the foregoing declaration in hsi presence for upwards of 57 years - that he knows that the said Piles served under Capt. Wiggins and in McIntoshes campaign as stated in his declaration and the he was wounded on the waters of Dunkard Creek in the year 1777 and he believes that the said Piles did serve as a ranger or spy under the said David Scott, who he was personally acquainted with. Signed Peter Haught (his mark) The Court declares their opinion that the foregoing applicant was a Revolutionary War Soldier and served as he states. On this 23d day of April, 1833, personally appeared in open court before the County court of Monongalia now sitting, Zachariah Piles, the same person named in the foregoing declaration, and on his oath doth make the following additional declaration. That he served the United States a period of not lefs than six months in McIntoshs campaign as stated in his former declaration... That he is confident it ws not lefs than two months that he served as a volunteer under Scotts company as heretofore stated...that the company ws raised to serve the whole season but as the inhabitants were unable to supply us in profifsions we were discharged a short time before harvest and he thinks they commenced their scouting about the first of March...that Scott promised to see us all paid but we never received a cent... That he was born in Frederick County Maryland, on the 15 of July 1758, and when about ten years of age, his father removed his family into the county of Monongalia aforesaid where he has ever since resided...that he has the original record of his age being his father's eldest child...that he recollects Col. Broadhead, Col. Gibson, Col. Evans, Col. Hite, Major Vanmetre and a great many other officers in McIntoshs campaign...that he never received any written discharge...that he has been for many years personally acquainted with Col. James Scott, Col. Dudley Evans, Capt. John Evans, Capt John Dent, Col. Ralph Berkshire, and many other old and respectable inhabitants of said county who he believes can testify as to his character for veracity and general belief in his services...that no clergyman resides in his neighborhood. Signed...Zachariah Piles (his mark) We, Dudley Evans and James Scott, residing in Monongalia County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Zachariah Piles, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declarations that we believe him to be 75 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion. Signed Dudley Evans, Jas. Scott Sworn to 22 of Jul 1833, This day Zachariah Piles, a resident of Monongalia Co., appeared and made oath, That he believes it was in the month of October on the march from Fort McIntosh to Tuscarara that he was taken sick. That he was immediately taken back to the fort, where he remained and was enabled to assist in guarding the fort until he ws discharged in the month of December as stated in his declaration...and ws paid for all the time. That he cannot state more with precision that he has done his services...that he is aged and infirm...that he cannot recollect to make a more perfect statement... Signed Zachariah Piles (his mark) I, Zachariah Piles, at the requisition of the Secretary of War, give the following narration (?) my age and revolutionary srevice to wit: I shall be 77 years old the 15 of July next...in the year in which the war commenced, and in the next succeeding years (I can't ___ which nor can state in what year after war did commence) I volunteered in ______ City, in Monongalia County under Capt. Owen Davy, we went - about 20 men - to the head of Buffaloe Creek ( ????) and built huts remained there several weeks and we then went to ________ West Fort Haggards Vally (?) and built huts there also, at the ____ ____ ____ ____ after the foregoing service there was a fort built on Dunkards Creek, called Strader's Fort. This fort was built in the year in which the war commenced. My family lived near this fort on the opposite side of the creek. I went to live with my father - he, after the war broke out, went out (?) ____ east of the Allegheny Mountain and left my brother & myself at the Fort to take care of the place and property, to sowe a crop on his place. My brother and myself remained at the Fort and my father's place for ____ years when we first settled there. The people -- I CAN'T READ THE REST OF THIS - BUT WILL GO BACK AND TRY TO TRANSCRIBE IT FROM THE MICROFILM LATER...LOOKS TO INTERESTING TO LEAVE OUT. SOMEONE SENT THE FOLLOWING IN FOR THE BENEFEIT OF SUSANNAH - HARD TO READ ALSO: ...I have had acquaintance and intercourse of 20 years with the decendants of the first settlers, that if reliable tradition is taken, our most authentic history of Border Warfare is but the meagre authoress of the true history of this interesting region. Piles carried to his grave a wound that every after disabled him, receivedin the leg, in 1782, whilst a comrade who was with him was shot down and scalped by the Indians. He claimed to have served under McIntosh for years 1778 and 1780 - Captain Cates (?) Company and marched by Pittsburgh and Beaver to the Tuscarawas in what is now the state of Ohio. I would respectfully refer you to a statement containing the declarations and statements of Richard Tennant that I sent sometime since with the application of Jacob G. Haught, for arrears claimed on behalf of the heirs of Peter Haight, the declarations of claimant were at full in relation to the mentioned service of Zachariah Piles, as to Peter Haight.. The course of the government toward Piles and Haight was repulsive to the moral sense and patriotism of this whole neighborhood and from what case leaves of the feelings pervading this community at the time... I write you a fuller explanation than you may have received in relation to Mrs. Piles claims for a pension. Mrs. Piles, I am informed, made her application in open court in Feb 1857, that her claim was suspended because the application was too late. I think there must be misapplication in this respect. The act of Feb. 1853 certainly ...to benefit ...those entered ...their claims. Zachariah Piles, died in Nov 1840, aged about 82 years and was one of the earliest settlers and pioneers in the county, having come from the South Branch when a boy, in 1775, or 1776. (RON - WHERE DO THEY MEAN - THE SOUTH BRANCH?? COULD IT POSSIBLY BE THEY CAME FROM MD TO PA THEN TO VA?) For 20 years of his active life, from 1775 to 1795, he participated in contests with the Indians, who during that period made frequent eruptions on the settlements here. In no part of the country were Indian alarms and atrocities more frequent than in Western Virginia and Pennsylvania.... VIRGINIA - WHEELING Susannah Piles, widow of Zachariah Piles, who served in the Revolutionary War as a private. Inscribed on the roll at the rate of $36.66 per annum to commence 3rd Feb 1853 - Certificate of Pension issued 22 Apr 1858 and send to Hon S. Clemons. WEST VIRGINIA, Susannah Piles, widow of Zachariah Piles, who served in the Revolutionary War as a Private in VA, Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of $96.00 per annum to commence on 3rd Feb 1853, Received payment 1868. Certificate of Pension issued 21 Nov 1868 and sent to Morgantown, WV. State of VA, Monongalia Co: Be it known that 23rd day of Feb in 1857 personally appeared Susannah Piles, resident of said county, aged 71 years, being duly sworn on oath doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the Certificates of the provisions made by the Act of Congrefs pafsed Jul 7, 1838, Mar 5 1843, Jul 17 1844, Feb 2 1848 and Feb 3 1853, granting pension to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War...that she is the widow of Zachariah Piles who was a soldier in the Rev. War and a pensioner of the U.S. upon the VA Agency and resided in said county when he was denied a pension for the proof of his services as a soldier. She begs leave to refer to his declaration and the certificate of Col. Dudley Evans and James Scott now in the files of the pension office. She further states that G. Singlton, Esq., Commifsioner appointed to examine the pension ___ in _____ VA done her husband great injustice in his report on his case from which report his name was dropped from the pension roll and she asks that his name be replaced on said pension roll as she also declares that she was married to the said Zachariah Piles to the best of her knowledg eon the 07 Jul 1813, that her marriage took place in Greene Co, PA, that her maiden name before marriage was Susannah Lezar that she has no record of her marriage. She further declares that her husband the aforesaid Zachariah Piles, died on 15 Nov 1840 in Monongalia Co. and that she has remained his widow since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proofs hereto annexed. Signed Susannah Piles (her mark) County Court Feb. Term 1857 Came into court also John Fetty, aged 84 yars and Gen. E. S. Pindall, aged 56, who say they were personally well acquainted with Col. Dudley Evans now deceased, and Capt. James Scot, now deceased, that they were residents of this county that they were highly credible persons...that said Evans was a Colonel in the War of 1812, that said Scott ws a pensioner of the Rev. War to the time of his death for a number of years previous thereto and that they are disinterested witnesses. Came also into court John Walker, aged 52 and William Price, aged 52, residents of said county, who say that they were personally well acquainted with Zachariah Piles and Susannah his wife, the said Walker for 30 years before the death of said Zachariah Piles, the said price for 15 years before his death. That they lived in the same neighborhood for that length of time before his death, that they, the said Piles and wife, raised a family of children, that they lived together as man and wife, ans was so regarded by their neighbors...that they never heard their marriage disputed...that the said Zachariah always acknowledged the sais Susannah as his wife, that the said Zachariah Piles died 15 Nov 1840, leaving the said Susannah his widow, who still continues his widow - Declaration and testimony approved by the Court...April 1857 Bounty Land Claim, War of Revolution and Indian Rangers - Widows Application 31 Jul 1856 - Wm. Price, J.P. of Monongalia Co. Susannah Piles, aged 70, widow of Zahcariah Piles, who was a private in the company commanded by Capt. Arhchibald Wiggins, Col. Hite or VanMetre under Genl. McIntosh in the War of the Revolution. That her said husband served in 1778 at Fort McIntosh for 6 months and the year 1780 or 1781 that her said husband served 3 months under Captain David Scott as an Indian Spy on the waters of the Ohio River and that her said husband drew a pension under the act of Congrefs of the 7th of June 1832. Susanna and Zachariah were married 06 Jul 1814 by David Worley, J.P., in Greene Co., PA., etc. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which she may be enttiled under the Act granting Bounty Land to certain Officers and soldiers who had been engaged in the Military service of the United States approved the 14 day of May 1836, she also declares that this is hte only application that she has ever made for Bounty Land and that she has never received Bounty Land under any act of Congrefs. Signed Susannah Piles (her mark - shaky) Andrew Brown and Isaac Shriver, witnessed the foregoing and believe her to be the identiacal person she represents herself to be, and still a widow and that said Zachariah Piles died in said county the 15 Nov 1840. We, Andrew Brown and Isaac Shriver, aged 57 years respectively, residents of Monongalia County, State of VA, declare that we have been personally and well acquainted with Zachariah Piles and Susannah Piles, his wife, from the year 1814 up to the time of the death of said Zachariah Piles in the year 1840, and we believe that the said Zachariah Piles and Susannah Piles were married in the state of PA and at the time of their marriage there was no record kept of marriages in said state-- said affiants resided about five miles from where sais marriage took place - were not present at the marriage, they resided in the same neighborhood with said Piles & wife, only about 1 mile from theim tp to the time of his death. They were always reputed in the neighborhood to be man and wife, affiants believed themto be such, etc. Affidavit of Gen. C. Whiting, Esq., on 06 May 1857: Says Zachariah Piles name was stricken from the Pension Rolls by Wm. Singleton, of Winchester, Attorney of the Federal Court, appointed to investigage claims of the kind alleged to have been fraudulently obtained and the reason given is that Piles was too young to have performed the service for which he claimed a pension. About that time cases were fraudulantly made up, but it may be that the claim against these resulted to the injury of many persons, and I have no doubt of it, who were greatly entitled. Many such have been reinstated, and I ask the considerate attention of the Commifsioner to this application of Mrs. Piles. -- Find out more at: http://www.bright.net/~buzmeyer Wohleben Family Online Reunion -- http://www.bright.net/~buzmeyer/wohleben/index.html Auglaize Co. OH GENWEB Coordinator -- http://www.genweb.brightusa.net/index.html Pickaway Co. OH GENWEB Coordinator -- http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohpickaw/index.html