Captain James Booth

Capt James Booth BIRTH unknown DEATH 16 Jun 1778 Marion County, West Virginia, USA BURIAL Captain James Booth Memorial Eldora, Marion County, West Virginia

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16583131/james-booth

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA with the rank of Captain. DAR Ancestor # A012187

Rev war vet Capt. of militia on western frontier

17__-1778

Captain Booth migrated from the Valley of Virginia to this valley in 1768 and founded the first settlement here in 1772. He was fired upon and killed by a party of Shawnee Indians on the near shore of the stream about 200 yards below here and lies buried at this spot. He was a highly esteemed man of education nd character, a surveyor, pioneer, settler and patriot. A friend of General Washington under whom he served as an officer and with whom he made a surveying and exploring expedition in the Great Kanawha Valley.

http://rondan.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-lineage-of-john-booth-of-ind...

"My 4th great grandfather, John Booth was born about 1768, although there are other dates that have been given. He was the son of Captain James Booth and Nancy Stalnaker. Captain James Booth was killed by Indians in 1778. His story can be found in the book, History of Harrison County, West Virginia from the Early Days of Northwestern Virginia to the Present, Morgantown, WV: Acme Publishing Co, 1910, page 71. This book can now be seen on Google books. On page 20-21: "In the year 1771 Captain James Booth and John Thomas settled on Booth's Creek on land that was afterwards owned by the Martin family and others shortly followed. Captain Booth was afterwards killed by the Indians and his loss was severely felt by the inhabitants in his neighbor-hood." On page 35: "John Booth, heir of James Booth, in the forks of the Monongahela River, to include his settlement made in 1771." And these entries go on and on in this book as well as other books that we have come across detailing the history of this area.

John and James went to Shelby County, Kentucky sometime after the death of their father. Sarah Booth married Evan Thomas and they went to Jennings County, Indiana. Bathsheba Booth married Alexander McClelland and they settled in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Little is known of their mother. There supposedly were other older children of Captain James Booth, but little documentation can be found on them. When John went to Kentucky he married Sarah Kinder, the daughter of Peter Kinder and Dolly See. They finally settled in Jefferson County, Indiana where John applied for a pension for service in the Revolutionary War but was rejected. All of these documents along with the Court case back in Loudoun County, Virginia involving his grandfather, Robert Booth, gives us good genealogical material. As I make each following post I will be putting these documents on the blog for all Booth descendants to share."

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements and Rosters

Virginia documents pertaining to James Booth VAS1757

Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris and David Houchin. Revised 15 Dec 2016.

[The following are from digitalcollections of the Library of Virginia under McClelland, Alexander.] State of Virginia } To wit

Harrison County } [14 Nov 1836]

Be it known that before me Jacob Coplin a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid personally appeard Christopher Nutter [pension application W5434] in his 77 year of age and made oath in due form of Law that he was well aquanted with Captin James Booth in the time of the revolution War and that the said Captin James Booth was a Captin of a Compeney of Rangers and was as he beleave he was under pay of the goverment and that the men at the difrint forts was enlisted under him and did actifley scout and rang along the frontier of the northwestern frontier of Virginia and that the said Captin James Booth was killed in the service of the goverment by the Indians on a Creek that emtes in to the West fork of mononghala [sic: Monongahela] River and is Called Booths Creek after Captin Booth which Creek is in the present County of Harrison [now in Marion County WV] and that he beleaves Captin Booth was killed in June 1778 [16 Jun 1778]

Robert Husted [Robert Hustead W2804] of Fayett [sic: Fayette] County Pennsylvania being sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he was born in the year seventeen hundred and fifty five that he served three or four years under Captain James Booth who was commander of a Company of Ranging Spies on the western frontiers of Virginia (now Harrison Monongalia and Lewis Counties that this deponant thinks according to the best of his recollection that the said Captain James Boothe was killed by the Indians while in the service of the United States about the year seventen hundred and seventy eight or nine and this deponat assisted in Bureying the said Capt James Booth. That this deponent is certain that he served under the said Capt Booth in the time of the revolutionary war after the decleration of Independence. This deponant further saith that Bathsheba McCleland wife of Alexander McCleland [Alexander McClelland R6620] of the said County of Fayette is the reputed daughter of the said Capt. Booth that this deponant was aquainted with the family of the said Captain Booth and saw the above mentioned Bathsheba and also her Brother John Booth at the house of their father the said Capt Booth when they were children this deponant knows the said Captain Boothe to have Been a Brave Soldier a good commander and deserved well to be reward by his countery Robert hisXmark Hustead

Sworn and subscribred before me a Justice of the peace of the said County of Fayette this 22

day of November 1836./ Richard Patton State of Virginia } Towit Harrison County } [2 Dec 1836] Be it known that before me Joshua Robinson a Justice of the peace in and for the County and state aforesaid personaly appeared Moses Hustead [Moses Husstead S9600] in the 88 th

year of his age and made oath in due form of Law that he was well acquainted with Captain James Booth in the time of the revolutionary war this deponent knows that the Captain Booth was killed By the Indians in the time of the Revolutionary war and that this deponent he assisted in Buriying him Moses hisXmark Hustead State of Virginia } To wit Harrison County } [3 Dec 1836] Be it known that before me John Cather a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid personaly appeared Temperance Cochran [widow of James Cochran W6743] in the 77 th

year of her age and made oath in due form of law that she was well acquainted with Captain James Booth in the time of the revolutioary War and that the said Captian Booth was killed by the indians in the summer of 1778 and that his famely was in Koons fort at the time that the said Booth was killed this deponent further saith that Bathshaba McCleland the wife of general alexandria McCleland of Fayett County Pensylvania and hir Brother John Booth ware the reputed Childeren of Captain Booth and that so far as she knows they are both alive Temperence hirXmark Cochrane Anthony Koon [Anthony Coon S9213] of Harrison County Virginia being Sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he is in the Eighty third year of his age according to his Parents account – and that he was well acquainted with Captain James Booth in the time of the Revolutionary war who Commanded a company of Rainging Spies who did Raing and Spie along the North westeren frontier of Virginia Now Monongalia Harrison Lewis and Tyler and that his Men war stationed at different places part being kept at Joseph Koons fort [either on West Fork River near present Enterprise WV or on the west bank of Coon's Run three miles from the West Fork River near Killarm] and part at Thomas Nutters on Elk Creek [now in the Nutter Fort section of Clarksburg WV] and this deponent further saith that he served under the said Captain Booth three Months as a rainger Between Nutters Station and the ohio River and did draw pay and Rations for the saim and he thinks his service was in the year seventy six or seven this deponent then entered the service of the unite states under Captain David Scott [S25425] and left the settlement But has allways understood that Captain Booth was killed in the service of the united states this deponent knows Captain Booth to have been a brave man and a good Commander this deponent kows Bathsheba McCleland wife of Alexandria McCleland of Feyett County Pensylvania to Be the reputed daughter of Captain Booth and has seen hir and hir Brother John Both at their fathers house on Booths Creek Both of which he understands to be yet alive [5 Dec 1836] Anthony hisXmark Koon State of Virginia } Towit

Lewis County } [9 Dec 1836] Be it known that before me Phillip Reager [Philip Reger] a a justice of the peace in and the County of Lewis and state of virginia personally appeared John Cutright [W6626] in the 82 nd

year of his age and made oath in due form of law that he was well acquainted with Captain James Booth who Commanded a Company of Rainging Spies and this deponent further saith that he inlisted unde Captain Booth for Eighteen Months But that he dose not Remember the year that he inlisted but remembers that it was in the spring of the year and that Captain Booth was killed By the Indians while the said Cutright was in the service under him and this deponent served the remainder of his time under Booths [undeciphered word] leuitenent but dos not recollect the year or the month that his Captain was killed but this deponent [undeciphered word] that the said Booth was not killed for a long time after his inlistment he remembers that Booth and his men assisted in building Nutter fort and this deponent was with Captain Booth on a scout down the waters at Middel island [Middle Island] Creek near the ohio River. this deponent was not acquainted with Booths famely but understod that they ware in Koons fort Captain Booth was often in Nutters fort and was an active man and kept his men allways on the elert Rainging or Spying but often spying being sent two and two in different directions the said Cutright was part of his time at Nutters fort and other part at wests fort on hackers Creek [near present Jane Lew in Lewis County] from which places he with one Companion wood be sent out two and three days at a time John hisXmark Cutright Virginia Lewis County to wit [12 Dec 1836] personally appeared Before me the subscriber [Minter Bailey] one of the Commonwealths justices of the peace for the county aforesaid David W Sleath [sic: David W. Sleeth S6111] in the 75 th

year of his age and after being sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he enlisted under Captain James Booth who Commanded a Companey of Raingers whoes head quarters was kept at Nutters fort his out posts were at Koons and Wests forts this deponent Listed on the first day of May in the year of [page damaged] 1777 and did Rainge and Spy under the said [page damaged] Booth until the Summer of 1776 when Capt [page damaged]th was killed by the indians this deponent kn[page damaged] that Captain Booth was a Commtioned officer and received his orders from Cornel Sampson Mathews of Agusta [sic: Augusta] County Virginia and that they were entirely employed in Rainging and Spying in that part of Virginia Composing the Countyes of Harrison Lewis and Tyler some times Rainging in Companyes and at times going as spies being sent two and two out for three days at a time and benteen[?] toward the forts at [undeciphered word] Boothe was a brave man and an active officer and his loss much felt by the settelment Koons fort was Broken up in consequence of his death the said Sleeth inlisted for eighteen months and Continue the service under Booths subalterns Freeman and Radcliff to the best of his recollection about five months before the time of his enlistment expired State of Virginia

Lewis County to wit [15 Dec 1836] Be it known that before me James Malone a justice of of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid personally appeared Pheby Cunningham [Phebe Cunningham, widow of Thomas Cunningham W4166] in the seventy seventh year of hir age and made oath in due form of Law that she was well acquainted with Captain James Booth who Commanded a Company of Raingers or Spies in the time of the Revolutionary and that his men was stationed at different forts this deponent heared her Father tell hir mother that Booths commition had Come and she veryly believes that it was more than three years before his booths death She also believes that Booth Commanded a Company of volenteers Before he receved his Commition William Tucker was his Comisery [Commissary] at Koons fort and furnished his men their Ratioshends [rations] after Booth received his Commition phebe hirXmark Cunningham State of Virginia } Harrison County } Towit [6 Jan 1837] Be it known that before me John Cather a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and state aforesaid personally appeared John Tucker [S6274] his age not known but beleaves that he is upwards of ninety years oald and made oath in due form of Law that he was personally acquainted with Captain James Booth who Commanded a companey of raingers in the revalutionery war and had his soulders stationed at different forts to wit Nutters Wests and Koons & thes forts was in what is now Harrison and Lewis countyes and his men did rainge and spy between said forts and the ohio River this affiant served under Booth before he was Commtioned and at least two years afterward he further saith that Booth was the first Commtiond officer that they had amongst them to the best of his knowledge and that Booth was killed by the indians while in the service of his Countery said Booth was killed in the summer season but des not remember the year this affiant was well acquainted with Booths famely and knows Bathsheba McCleland wife of general Alex McCleland of Feyette County Pensylvania to be the Reputed daughter of Captain Booth John hisXmark Tucker Petition of Alexander McCleland for the Pay &c due for the services &c of Captain James Booth

Jan’y 30 th

1837/ ref’d to Claims 1837 Feby 15 th

Rejected “ 16 th

Reported Auditors Office Feb 2 1837 – This claim is rejected there being no evidence in this office in support of it, or any proof of services rendered Jas E Heath Jan’y 13 th

1838 Ref’d to Claims Documents [undeciphered word] of the petition of the heirs of Capt James Booth, taken from the office of the Clerk of the H[ouse] of D[elegates] under an order of the House Wm McCoy

July 7 1837

John Sleeth Sergt.. . . . . . . . . . . $130

John Tucker private.. . . . . . . . . . 104

Joseph Parsons [S8942].. . . . . . . 104

James Brown [S6718]. . . . . . . . . 104

Thos Cunningham. . . . . . . . . . . . 104

For 13 months Service each under Capt. Jas Booth

[The above five soldiers were named in a petition filed by David W. Sleeth (S6111), son of John Sleeth, which is in the pension application of Thomas Cunningham (W4166).] To the honorable the Senate & House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia in General Assembly met.

The petition of Alexander McClelland on behalf of himself & his wife Bashaba McClelland late Bashaba Booth one of the daughters & heirs at Law of Captain James Booth of the revolutionary army; and in behalf of the other children & heirs at Law of the said James Booth late of the State of Virgini dec’d.

Respectfully represents That the said James Booth was captain of a Company of Spies & Rangers raised in Virginia for the defense of her frontiers during the war of the revolution, that the said James Booth dec’d held the rank & Commission of Captain in the regular service & served in that Capacity for about four years in the Revolutionary War as your petitioner is prepared to make abundantly manifest by the clearest & most undoubted testimony & as will also appear by the proof present’d by men who served under him & who in virtue of such Service under the said Booth have been placed on the pension list; your Petitioner refers to the evidence which accompanied his Petition which was presented to your honorable body at its last Session, for the pay due for the services of the said Captain Booth, and the evidences therein refer’d to.

The Undersigned therefore prays your honorable bodies to grant to him & the other heirs of the said James Booth dec’d whom he represents the pay and other Emoluments to which he & they may be considered Entitled in virtue of the death & services of the said Captain James Booth dec’d who was killed by the Enemy while in the service of his country & in defense of Virginia in the war of the revolution as will fully appear by the proof herewith presented or refer’d to and as in duty bound will ever pray

On behalf of himself & wife & the other Heirs of James Both late a Captain in the revolution dec’d Alexander McCleland

Petition of Gen’l Alex’r McClelland on behalf of himself & other heirs of Capt James Booth of the Rev’y Army. Jan’y 2d

1838/ ref’d to Claims/ J. S. Watkins [The following document is very faint.]

To the General Assembly of Virginia your Petitioner, alexander McLeland of the County of Fayette and State of Pensylvania respectfully represents – That he married the only surviving daughter of Captain James Booth dec’d formerly of the State of Virginia. That the said Captain James Booth died intestate in the summer of 1778; leaving a wife who departed this life many years ago, and four [paper damaged] – to wit – a son named John who is [paper damaged] and alive – a daughter named Sarah who married a certain Evan Thomas and who has long since departed this life, and it is believed left children – a Daughter named Bathsheba who is the Wife of your Petitioner – and a son named James, who died some time in the year 1825 or 6 and left Children.

That the said Captain Booth settled in the Western part of Virginia, in the year 1770 or thereabout. That he was an inteligent, active, enterprizing, and brave man; and was commissioned by the [undeciphered word] of Virginia, or the proper authorities of the state a Captain of Rangers, or Scouts; and called into service about the latter part of the year 1774, or first of the year 1775, with his recruits, who were enlisted from time to time for a term of 18 months, or two years, for the defense of the Western Frontiers of the state. That he continued to serve as Captain of Rangers, or Scouts, and to perform the most arduous duties, until sometime in the Summer of 1778, when he was killd by the Indians. That such was the devotion of the said Captain Booth to his duties, and such his zeal in the defense of his country – That sometimes, in the Winter season, he kept his company embodied at his own house, and cloth’d & fed at his own expense, waiting until an opportunity offerd or the Weather [undeciphered word] suitable, for active [paper damaged]ions on the Frontier and as your Petitioner has [page damaged] informed, actually paid many of his men with his own private funds. He believes that the State of Virginia [undecipheed word] reimbursed to him the money thus advanced for her. That he, the said Captain Booth, was never paid by the State for his said services; nor did the state ever reimburse to him the sums of money [several undeciphered words] advanced for her. That since the death of Captain Booth the said claims have never been settled or paid by Virginia to his heirs or to any persons duly authorized to receive the amounts thereof: but that the whole amount thereof remains to this day [undeciphered word] and unsatisfied.

That the delay in presenting their claims has arisen from the following facts – That Captain Booth died Intestate, and there has been no administration on his Estate – That his heirs have lived at great distances from each other – and some one or more of them, have always been infants, or [page torn; unmarried?] women, or under some great disability to prosecute their just claims. your Petitioner for himself & Wife, and for the other heirs of Captain James Booth dec’d respectfully asks that the claims aforesaid may be examined by your honorable body, and if they shall be found to be just to [several undeciphered words] may be allowed [several undeciphered words] of the claim: [page damaged; several undeciphered words] and will [undeciphered word], by the well known fact that the General Assembly has, within a few years past, examined, settled, and made appropriations by law for paying the claims of privates who enlisted in the Company of Captain Booth, and served under his command on the Western frontier; and whose claims for pay, like his, were before unsettled and unsatisfied. your Petitioner respectfully asks for such relief in the premises, as the General assembly, in its wisdom & justices, may think fit to grant.

And your Petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray &c, &c.

Alexander McCleland

of Fayette County of the State of Pennsylvania Received of the Clerk of the House of Delegates the petition of Alexander McClelland for the pay &c for the services of Capt. James Booth dec’d & the following accompanying documents. The report of the late Com’e of Rev. Claims A deposition signed by John Tucker the certificates of D Davisson Clerk of Harrison County, another by Anthony Koon & D Davisson Clk &c another by Temperance Cocksand [sic: see endnote] & D. D. another by Chris. Nutter & DD another by Moses Hustead & DD another of Rob’t Hustead & certificate of Thomas Slover Prothonatary another of Phoebe Cunningham & certificate of J Talbot Clk another of D W Sleeth & cert of J Talbot Clk another of Jno Cutright & J Talbot Clk Tabins Lawson[?]

Deliv’d to the Clerk of the Com of Privleges & Elections Jan 17 1838 1838 Jany 17

Reasonable/ 18 Reported/ Feb 13 Bill reported J H Smith [?] presents his respects to Gen’l Harris, and begs leave to call his attention to a Bill, which has gone up to the Senate, in favour of the adm’r of James Booth. The facts in this case are well sustain’d by proof, and are these – First – Capt. James Booth servd 3 yrs as Captain of Rangers or Scouts, from 1774 or 1775 to 1778, when he was kill’d by the Indians. 2nd

He receiv’d no pay. 3rd Six Sworn or Eight men of Booth have been allow’d pay by the Legislation, a few years past, for services render’d under him. 4th

He commanded at one time four Forts on the Western frontier of virginia, and kept up a chain of connexion between them. These facts show, that the claim of Booths adm’r ought to be favourably regarded. It is not believ’d, there will be any opposition to this Bill. Gen’l Harris’s attention to it is respectfully ask’d Richmond March 22, 1838

NOTES:

The initial rejection of McCleland’s petition may be related to the fact that several persons involved in the petition were involved in pension claims that were found in 1834 to have been fraudulent. David W. Sleeth was a leader in a group that perpetrated fraudulent claims and was indicted, together with Jacob Coplin. Moses Husstead was accused of making a fraudulent claim for a pension and acknowledged judgment against him. For details, see my appendix to the pension application of David W. Sleeth (S6111).

Nancy Bleil, a descendant of James Booth, has kindly brought to my attention the following, which can be found on Google Books:

Chap. 310 - An ACT concerning the heirs of James Booth, deceased. (Passed April 4, 1838.) 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That the auditor of public accounts be, and he is hereby authorized and required to issue a warrant on the treasury for the sum of one hundred and thirty dollars, in favour of Alexander M'Cleland, in right of his wife Bathsheba, the daughter of captain James Booth, deceased, who served as a captain of rangers or Indian spies for thirteen months during the revolutionary war, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

2. Be it further enacted, That the auditor be authorized and required to issue like warrants in favour of James Booth, John Booth and Sarah Evans, the three other children of the said captain James Booth, deceased, or in favour of the children of the said James, John and Sarah, upon satisfactory proof that the said James, John or Sarah are dead.

3. This act shall be in force from its passage. For additional details of Booth’s death, see A. S. Withers Chronicles of Border Warfare published in 1831.

According to David Houchin, Temperance Cochran’s husband, James Cochran, was a brother of Nathaniel Cochran, who was taken captive at the same time Booth was killed. See John Hacker VAS1749 for a letter written by James Booth

http://revwarapps.org/VAS1757.pdf

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Captain James Booth -- VA

There have been several accounts written of Captain James Booth's life. It is said that he was born about 1709 in Wales or Delaware. His parents have not been proven. Some accounts say his father was Caleb Booth the "Yarnspiller" and surveyor who was born about1680 in Wales and came to America about 1700. Other accounts say his father was William Booth who was a Justice of the Peace in Frederick Co., VA, for many years. I am of the belief that James Booth's father was William.

James Booth married Nancy Stalnaker in 1735. Some accounts say she was the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Stalnaker, the first permanent settlers west of the Alleghenies. Other accounts list her as the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Truby) Stalnaker. Nancy was born about 1717 in VA, and died about 1787 in Harrison Co, VA (now WV). James and Nancy's children were William, John, James, Daniel, Bersheba, and Sarah. Daniel married Jane Houston. Bersheba married Alexander McClelland, and Sarah married Evan Thomas.

James Booth and John Thomas established a settlement in what is now West Virginia's Monogahela Valley in 1772 by a creek. The settlement is now named Boothsville and the creek is Booth's Creek. Alexander Scott Withers wrote of him, "He was not only an active and enterprising man, but was endowed with superior talents and a better education than most of those who settled in the country." In 1774, he was in command of a group of soldiers at Coon's Fort in Marion Co., VA. Dr. John Booth described him as a "natural born leader" who "played an important role in the early life of the border and became a major spirit in constructing and managing Coon's Fort near his home." Booth was killed on June 16, 1778 while he and several soldiers were working in a cornfield near Coon's Fort. He was attacked by Indians and was struck in the heart by an arrow. William Grundy was killed at the same time. Another soldier, Nathaniel Cochran, was captured and held prisoner. The Honorable Virgil A. Lewis wrote, "Captain Booth had been the chief protector of the infant settlements in the upper valley of the Monongahela, and his death was felt to be a very great loss."

Loudoun County, Virginia Chancery Court Case No. M1892: John Booth of Jefferson Co., Indiana vs. John Booth Jr. of Loudoun Co., Virginia. September 1834.

Estate of Robert Booth – heirs named as Captain James Booth-son, of Harrison Co., VA (now WV), John Booth Sr.-son, Ann Chambers-daughter, and Jane Stump-daughter. Captain James Booth is deceased, heirs named as John Booth of Indiana, Sarah Thomas, wife of Evan Thomas, of Indiana, Barsheba McClelland, wife of Alexander McClelland, of Pennsylvania, and James Booth (Jr.) of Virginia (now WV).

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 24 2020, 11:56:45 UTC

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16583131/james-booth

emorial states:
17__-1778

Captain Booth migrated from the Valley of Virginia to this valley in 1768 and founded the first settlement here in 1772. He was fired upon and killed by a party of Shawnee Indians on the near shore of the stream about 200 yards below here and lies buried at this spot. He was a highly esteemed man of education nd character, a surveyor, pioneer, settler and patriot. A friend of General Washington under whom he served as an officer and with whom he made a surveying and exploring expedition in the Great Kanawha Valley.

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Bio below is from Linda, contributor #46626647

Captain James Booth -- Virginia

There have been several accounts written of Captain James Booth's life. It is said that he was born about 1709 in Wales or Delaware. His parents have not been proven. Some accounts say his father was Caleb Booth the "Yarnspiller" and surveyor who was born about 1680 in Wales and came to America about 1700. Other accounts say his father was William Booth who was a Justice of the Peace in Frederick Co., VA, for many years. I am of the belief that James Booth's father was William.

James Booth married Nancy Stalnaker in 1735. Some accounts say she was the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Stalnaker, the first permanent settlers west of the Alleghenies. Other accounts list her as the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Truby) Stalnaker. Nancy was born about 1717 in VA, and died about 1787 in Harrison Co, VA (now WV). James and Nancy's children were William, John, James, Daniel, Bersheba, and Sarah. Daniel married Jane Houston. Bersheba married Alexander McClelland, and Sarah married Evan Thomas.

James Booth and John Thomas established a settlement in what is now West Virginia's Monongahela Valley in 1772 by a creek. The settlement is now named Boothsville and the creek is Booth's Creek. Alexander Scott Withers wrote of him, "He was not only an active and enterprising man, but was endowed with superior talents and a better education than most of those who settled in the country." In 1774, he was in command of a group of soldiers at Coon's Fort in Marion Co., VA. Dr. John Booth described him as a "natural born leader" who "played an important role in the early life of the border and became a major spirit in constructing and managing Coon's Fort near his home."

Booth was killed on June 16, 1778 while he and several soldiers were working in a cornfield near Coon's Fort. He was attacked by Indians and was struck in the heart by an arrow. William Grundy was killed at the same time. Another soldier, Nathaniel Cochran, was captured and held prisoner. The Honorable Virgil A. Lewis wrote, "Captain Booth had been the chief protector of the infant settlements in the upper valley of the Monongahela, and his death was felt to be a very great loss."

Loudoun County, Virginia Chancery Court Case No. M1892: John Booth of Jefferson Co., Indiana vs. John Booth Jr. of Loudoun Co., Virginia. September 1834.
Estate of Robert Booth – heirs named as Captain James Booth-son, of Harrison Co., VA (now WV), John Booth Sr.-son, Ann Chambers-daughter, and Jane Stump-daughter. Captain James Booth is deceased, heirs named as John Booth of Indiana, Sarah Thomas, wife of Evan Thomas, of Indiana, Barsheba McClelland, wife of Alexander McClelland, of Pennsylvania, and James Booth (Jr.) of Virginia (now West Virginia).