Col Jacob Persinger, Jr.

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA with the rank of CORPORAL. DAR Ancestry #A089554

SAR - Corporal - Captain Arbuckle's VA Company. Husband of Mary (Elizabeth) Kimberlin Persinger. They had 12 children.

I copied this from The Botetourt County Virginia Heritage Book 1770-2000. The story is on page 189, under the heading Jacob Persinger:

Jacob Persinger, Sr. Immigrated from Switzerland on the Mercury in 1735, with his wife, Rebecca and six children. The family name is Perdschinger on the passenger list, but became simplified later.

Circa 1750, the Persinger family migrated from Pennsylvania along the Indian trail until they eventually settled in what was then Botetourt County, which extended at that time as far as the Mississippi River. Jacob, Sr. Built a grist mill on Rich Patch Mountain, now known as Hook's Mill. It is here that the "Indian Boy" story begins.

Jacob, Jr. born in 1753, was approximately 4 years old when he was taken from his father's mill by the Shawnee, along with his mother, Rebecca, and a brother, Paul. Rebecca was killed; but Jacob, Jr and Paul were kept by an Indian squaw in Chillicothe, Ohio until the Treaty of Paris required all prisoners to be released. The exchange took place where the Jackson and Cowpasture Rivers joined to form the James. This occurred in 1763 Jacob, Jr. was claimed by Jacob, Sr and his second wife, Catherine Pence.

Jacob Jr., not liking the ways of the white man, ran back to this Indian mother, The chief had him returned. Again, he ran back to the camp where his Indian mother hid him for a considerable time. When discovered, Chief Cornstalk became very upset and returned him once again to the white people.

One more time the boy found his way back to the Shawnee, where Chief Cornstalk pleaded: "If you care for your Indian mother you will not cause trouble for us again with the white man". Jacob, Jr accepted his fate and eventually became a useful member of the Potts Creek community. He purchased 393 acres of land and married Mary Kimberlain. This young wife refused to live in a wigwam, so Jacob Jr. built a sturdy log home which still stands on Potts Creek and Blue Spring Run. The home is currently owned by descendants of one of Jacob Sr's brothers.

Jacob Jr was a hunter trading skins for a living . He eventually learned to survey, which made him useful during the war in 1774, in which he served under Captain M. Arbuckle and General Lewis as a scout. Tradition has it that while scouting for Indians, Jacob Jr came across one of this indian brothers while investigating a dead Indian. Not wanting to kill each other after a joyful reunion, they devised a plan in which blood from the dead Indian was smeared on each other, blood-curdling war-cries were emitted and each 'brother' headed back to his own camp with appropriate talk.

Jacob, Jr. and wife, Mary, had 12 children: Andrew (born 1752 married Elizabeth Stickelman), Alexander; Joseph; John (Colonel killed by his own slave; Mary (married Samuel Carpenter, Sr); Nancy (married Charles Callaghan); Elizabeth "Betsy" (Married Conrad Fudge)' Sarah "sally" (Married Peter Wright); Martha "Mattie" (married Harvey Rose); Susannah "Susan" (married Jacob Reid); June "Jinnie" (married George Karnes); Granvill (married Henry Clarkson).

Alexander Persinger became a judge and later a member of the Missouri State Legislature for Boone and Montgomery Counties, after 1830.

Information Proveded by Marilyn Persinger Erdmann. Sources: Allegheny Sketches, by Gay Arritt The Life of Jacob Persiner by Joseph Persinger, Moody & McMichael, Publishers 1861 and Persinger family members.

• **Copied from the book: Botetourt County, Virginia Heritage Book 1770-2000 Walsworth Publishing Co, Inc. Available at the Fincastle Historical Society, Fincastle, Virginia

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