Hi List This was sent to me by a former Regent of the DAR, she was most helpful to me in my Perkins of Greenbrier County research. Betty Jane Perkins New York City One of the most colorful couples to decorate the landscape of early Greenbrier conty was George and Hannah (Keister) Hull. George and Hannah were among the first non-native Americans born west of the Shenandoah Mountains. George Hull was born October 15, 1757 in Augusta County, Virginia and Hannah Keister was born in what is now Pendleton County, West Virginia the same year. George's father, Peter Thomas (a widower) had immigrated from Germany in 1742 with two sons. He married Susannah Dieffenbach in Pennsylvania and moved into the Valley of Virginia. George's half-brother, Peter, was prominent in the political and military life of early Western Virginia. It was he who anglicized the family name from Hohl (with an umlaut over the o) to Hull. George Hull's native language was German, but he learned English and also spoke a little of the Shawnee Indian dialect. Hannah Keister, on the other hand, was the daugher of Friedrich Keister - who served in the American Revolution as a lieutenant. Hannah's maternal grandfather was Roger Dyer. Roger was murdered by Shawnee Chief Killibuck at the infamous Fort Seybert Massacre on April 28, 1758. Family tradition states that Hannah's mother (Hannah Dyer Keister) hid with her behind large rocks and overheard the pitiful cries of friends and relatives being tomahawked to death. George Hull, Sr. served four tours of duty in The American Revolution as an Indian spy and scout. He was sent back to guard the homefront after some Indians murdered women working in a hemp field. He was in the Battle of Jamestown and on the Yorktown Peninsula before the close of the Revolution. George Hull married Hannah Keister in about 1781, probably at the Old Propps Lutheran Church in Pendleton County. They had all their nine children before moving into Greenbrier County about 1812. Their children were: 1. Elizabeth (b. 1782) m. David Bird 2. George Washington (b. Feb. 14, 1787) m. Polly Ann Smith 3. Rachel (b. 1793) m. Joseph Smith (bro. to Polly Ann) 4. Mary (b. 1795 ) - never married. 5 William (b. 1797) m. Nancy Watts 6. Peter (b. June 4, 1800) m. Elizabeth Oldham 7. Hannah Dyer Hull (b. 1801) m. Charles Perkins ( my ggg grandfather) 8 Jesse (b. 1802) m. Elizabeth Ann Cleek 9 James Keister (b. 1806) - never married. some of their children moved to Greenbrier with them. George Hull was a major in the 79th Regiment of the Greenbrier Militia. The militia protected the homes and families of old Greenbrier County. In March, 1818 George was on jury duty at the courthouse. The case involved a charge brought against a lady whose servant had "used insolent language and threatened the life of said plaintiff". The jury found the sassy soul guilty as charged and the jailor inflicted 39 lashes on his bare back. Lashes - well laid on- were a standard punishment for less serious crimes in early Greenbrier. We find old George Hull again in the Greenbrier courthouse in September 1832. Then he came to apply for his Revolutionary War Pension as an old man. "I am frail in both body and mind and therefore I cannot recollect the minutia of my services." he deposed. Nonetheless George Hull lived until September, 1849 and drew his $32.00 monthly pension until he died. Hannah preceded George in death by several years. The two of them are buried in unmarked graves on what was once part of the family plantation, but is now a part of the Monongahela National Forest. George and Hannah Hull were large land holders in the Anthony's Creek District. There is also a biography of George Hull, Jr. and Polly Ann Smith, submitted by Graydon Smales Love (SAR Number 142549) **This is the brother of Hannah who married Charles T Perkins. George and Hannah named their first son after both his father and The Guardian of the Western Frontier; George Washington Hull, Jr.. Washington's work to secure the Virgina Frontier from Indian attack had made him a hero to Greenbrier County long before The Revolution. George, Jr. married Polly Ann Smith (daughter of William Smith and Mary Ann Wright) on August 9, 1812. They moved from Anthony's Creek into the part of Greenbrier county that later became Fayette County, West Virginia.. George, Jr. died on June 3, 1870 and Polly Ann died seven years later. Their children were prominent participants in the early life of Fayette County. They were: 1. James Hull (m. Eliza Jane Kincaid). 2. Elizabeth Hull (m. John Williams). 3. Joseph Hull (m. Rebecca Koontz). 4. James Wright Hull ( m. Jane E. Whitman) 7. Rachel Hull married William Hunter Cavendish in Fayette Co. on August 13, 1840. She died in 1900 "Virginia Militia In The Revolutionary War" by J.T. McAllister p. 229 Rockingham Co., Va. Keister, Frederick, Lt. S. Sept. 28, 1778 "Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data From Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records" Vol. 2 - Dabbs through Hyslop compiled by Patrick G. Wardell. P. 350 Hull, George, born fall 1757 Rockingham Co., Va., entered service 1777 Augusta Co., Va., resident of Crab Bottom Settlement (area later Pendleton Co.); resided after Rev. War in Bath Co., Va. for 10 years, thence Greenbrier Co., Va. where pensioned 1832 at about age 74. Letter states soldier's brother Peter also was a Rev. War soldier. Film - S 13317 Reel 1363 (at Nat. Archives and branches) DAR Patriot Index Centennial Edition (3 vols) Part II 1990 Hull, George b 10-15-1757 VA d pre 9-4-1849 VA m Hannah Keister Private and Spy in VA and pensioner. Hull, Peter, Jr. b b 1733 Europe d 1 --1818 VA m. Barbara Ann Keith Capt. VA Hull, Peter Thomas, Sr. b ca. 1713 Germany d a 3-19-1776 VA m. 1 (unknown) 2. Susanna Margaretha Diffenbach Personal service, VA****** Father of George Hull (Personal service was usually material , animals , food or shelter given to Rev. War soldiers by those too old to be active in Rev. War service...such as giving a horse, food, clothing, shelter, etc.) p. 1673 Keister, Frederick b. 1730 Germany d 1815 VA m. Hannah Dyer Lt. VA