William Givens

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA. DAR Ancestor #: A045500

William Given BIRTH 21 Mar 1746 Augusta County, Virginia, USA DEATH 29 Sep 1793 (aged 47) Bath County, Virginia, USA BURIAL George W. Cleek Cemetery Warm Springs, Bath County, Virginia,

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110499610/william-given

• William Given
• BIRTH 21 Mar 1746
• Augusta County, Virginia, USA
• DEATH 29 Sep 1793 (aged 47)
• Bath County, Virginia, USA
• BURIAL
• George W. Cleek Cemetery
• Warm Springs, Bath County, Virginia,

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110499610/william-given

Another Version Of The History Of William Given of Bath County, Virginia

by Jeannette Cogar Rhodes

Many histories and several researchers have delved into the life and times of "William Given of Bath". Many errors have been made and many questions remain unanswered. It is the hope of this descendant to offer new ideas regarding William's life.

It has not been established exactly when William Given came to the area of Virginia, nor who his parents were. Early historians erred in claiming his father to be Captain Samuel Given, "the immigrant," or of his son Captain John Given. (1) It has been told that William Given was raised in the home of Captain John Given (2) and that he had a sister Agnes Given who was the first wife of Adam Bratton. (3)

It is a fact that William Given, an unmarried man, purchased 552 acres on the Great Calfpasture River in 1763 from a Thomas Weems. (4) Weem's early neighbors were Alexander Dunlap who had 525 acres in 1742, Robert Bratton who had 834 acres by deed in 1745, and Robert Gwin who had 544 acres obtained in 1745.

On 21 March 1764 in Augusta County, Virginia, William Given took out a license (5) to marry Agnes "Nancy" Bratton, who was then seventeen years old and a daughter of Robert Bratton and his wife Anne MacFarlane, the widow of Alexander Dunlap. (6) Anne MacFarlane Dunlap Bratton came to Virginia with her first husband Alexander Dunlap and located on Dunlap Gap (now Goshen Pass) in 1742. It is claimed that they were the first settlers on the Calfpasture. Alexander Dunlap died in 1744 leaving Anne with four young children. In 1745 she married Robert Bratton. (7)

William and Agnes Given sold the 552 acres on the Calfpasture in 1766. (8) Another deed dated 16 August 1769 and delivered on 7 April 1772 to the Augusta court shows a purchase by William of 244 1/2 acres from his father-in-law Robert Bratton and Robert's associate Ralph Lafferty. (3) This land was located on Jackson's River. It is possible this land was purchased in addition to an original patent on Jackson's River from the Colony of Virginia. (10/11)

When the young family removed to Jackson's River is uncertain. This was to become the home of their family and where the remainder of their children were born. All but one child, John, were married there. (12) The Given homestead eventually became part of Bath County when it was established in 1790/91. (13) William was a promoter of the new county and he had signed a petition requesting the new county's formation as early as 1778. All of his neighbors signed the same petition, and twelve years later the Virginia Assembly approved the formation of Bath County. (14)

William Given died in the fall of 1793. (15) He left his wife of twenty-nine years, four married children, Robert, Sally, Gregory, Jenny Berry and William, and ten children at home. In his will he names his wife "Nancy" and gave her "her bed and furniture and all her body clothes…also the best horse or mare that I have that she will choose…and an equal part of the personal estate for her natural life…" She was also allowed to live in the mansion house "unmolested" and to have a decent and sufficient maintenance. The mansion and plantation were to be given to the younger sons, Samuel, Adam, James, John, George, and Henry. He gave to his son William the land which had been purchased from David and Isaac Gregory on Back Creek of Jackson's River. The six younger sons were to share in the personal estate with their younger sisters Mary, Isabel, Ann and Peggy. He also willed to his eldest sons Robert and William and daughters Sally and Jenny six pounds each. (16)

In his original will William Given named his son Robert Given and son-in-law John Berry as his executors. The will was supplemented and the younger sons were not to inherit until they had reached the age of twenty-one, stipulating that if any had an intent to sell, the other brothers were to be given first consideration. He also set aside John Berry in favor of his wife Nancy as executor. His estate was inventoried and was listed as having 5 horses, 30 cattle, 37 hogs, 32 geese, 27 sheep, a Negro man "Will" and "Jack" and a Negro woman "Sall", a variety of books including two bibles, a variety of household items, and sundry articles of men's clothes including 6 hats and a "Great Coat." (17)

Agnes "Nancy" Bratton Given died on 22 July 1827 and was buried in the old Given Cemetery on Jackson's River. She was eighty years old. (18) Both she and William are buried on the family plantation. (19)

In the Upper Cleek Cemetery in Bath County is a tombstone thought to be in honor of our William Given. (20) It is believed by this descendent to be a marker placed in his honor for his military service in the Revolutionary War by a descendant when the Federal Government began to provide for memorial markers to honor our nation's soldiers in past wars. It is natural for a descendant to want his ancestor to have been involved in one of our nation's most historic events, but, as later historians have proven, the service credited to William Given and the claim that his father was Samuel or Capt. John Given as appears on some application papers of descendants who wished to join the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) are in error. The William Given who applied for a pension (21) and who is often mistaken for our William Given, was in fact the son of Capt. John Given. (22) It is easy to see where the confusion might arise. The will of Robert Bratton contains two William Givens as witnesses. One of the WIlliams was Robert Bratton's son-in-law and our ancestor. The other William was either Samuel Given's son William or his nephew, WIlliam Given, son of Capt. John Given.

As for William Given having served in the Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Militia as the tombstone in the Cleek Cemetery states, this is unlikely. William was a mature man (early 40s) who had a large plantation to oversee. He was also the father of seven or more young children, and it is not reasonable to imagine that he might venture north a couple of hundred miles to join a militia regiment. William was well-acquainted with the likelihood of Indian incursions into the Jackson's River valley and had known personally victims from earlier Indian raids.

There is however an interesting "folk tradition" passed along by a grandson of William's relevant to Revolutionary War service by our William Given. Reverend John C. Given of Slater, Missouri, born in 1845 in Bath County, was a son of Henry Given. Rev. Given told the following story which was recounted in the NSDAR application of Florence Gibbs Rawlings, a descendant of William Given's oldest son Robert:

William Given and his eldest son Robert were with the Virginia Militia with General Greene and Morgan in North Carolina after the battle of Cowpens Jan. 17, 1781. William was walking over the battlefield looking for his son. Soon he found a man nearly dead who said "Give me water." He took off his old wool hat, ran to a nearby brook and filled it with water and took it as he supposed to his dying son. Lifted his head upon his knee and gave him the water which he drank and died instantly. William took off his army coat, folded it and put it under the man's head. Straightened out his limbs and folded his arms across his breast. Then stood tenderly and sorrowfully looking down on all that was mortal of his son. Then there came a hand on his arm. Looking around he joyfully recognized his son alive and unhurt. The dead soldier was in every respect like his own son. This is as the story was told by the Rev. John C. Given of Slater, Mo., grandson of William, a very old man, June 26, 1905. (23)

William's son Robert was sixteen years old at the time of the Battle of Cowpens. Earlier historians have confused the service of this Robert Given with another soldier of the same name, but it has always been accepted by descendants of Robert Given that he was a "boy soldier" in the Revolutionary War.

An understanding of the conscription of military soldiers at the time of the Revolutionary War must be addressed. Since early Colonial times the defense of the individual colonies was placed in the hands of local militias. Each of these militias was led by a "respectable" gentleman of the community and enrolled "all and every" able-bodied man over the age of eighteen. Once a month these militias were called forth and "practiced" marching and drilling. Often Militia Day was a day of sport and fun, a gathering for people of the county. The Revolutionary War had two military organizations, the Continental Army which was composed of quotas from each of the colonies, and the local militia units. In Virginia the militia along the frontier were mostly concerned with protecting the settlements from the Indians who had been stirred up by the British as a diversionary tactic.

The Given family had been involved in militia regiments from an early day and had a long tradition of military service. Nancy Bratton Given was the daughter of Captain Robert Bratton, a man of note and respect in the community and a captain in the Augusta County militia. Nancy's mother's first husband, Alexander Dunlap, had also served in the first militia organization in Augusta County as a "Captain of Horse". Nancy had four brothers along with an "unfortunate" sister. (24) The Bratton and Dunlap children were raised together on the Great Calfpasture River. Nancy's brothers all followed in their father's footsteps and served with gallantry and honor in the Augusta militia. Robert Dunlap had served at Point Pleasant and it is likely that his brothers were there as well. Captain John Dunlap served as a private in the 2nd Virginia Regiment. Lt. Robert Dunlap served as an Ensign and died during the retreat from the battle of Guilford Court House, North Carolina, in 1781. Col. Alexander Dunlap is also credited with having served. He built Fort Clover Lick on the Greenbrier which he later sold to his cousin, Major Jacob Warwick, also a noted Revolutionary War soldier. Major James Bratton served as a Captain during the battle of Guilford Courthouse and called for the retreat. It is said that his half-brother, Robert Dunlap, ignored that order and consequently died in the battle. Adam Bratton also served. Nancy's younger brothers, John and George, were in their mid-twenties and were also likely to have served the militia in some capacity. The fact that Adam and George Bratton were residents of Jackson's River and neighbors of William and Nancy is another indication that they were involved with the same militia unit as the rest of the Givens, Brattons and Dunlaps.

An understanding of the mood of the frontier settlers during the Revolutionary War is also crucial in evaluating the military service of WIlliam Given. The Revolutionary War did not affect greatly the settlers on the western front of Virginia and Pennsylvania with the exception if those who left to join the Continental Army or who served in militia companies actively scouting for Indian threats to frontier settlements. In 1779 the British changed tactics after failing for three years to rout Washington and his troops in the East. They began looking southward to a policy of "divide and conquer." The British march through Georgia and South Carolina into North Carolina was met with surprise and dismay by those western settlers who had been untouched by the war thus far. The Continental Army suffered several serious setbacks in a futile attempt to halt the British advance northward, and when word reached the frontier settlements of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee of the imminent danger, the men "hastened to grab gun and supply" and marched off to meet the enemy. County militias were hastily assembled, and the British advance was stopped in its tracks at King's Mountain and Cowpens. Following these battles the volunteers simply shouldered their rifles and returned home to their families and went on much as they had before. No complete list of these "irregulars" who fought and won King's Mountain and Cowpens has ever been compiled nor is such a list likely forthcoming. Hundreds of men who fought in these battles belonged to no military organization, accepted no command, and when the action ended they faded back into the forest from which they came. (25)

It is plausible to this writer that William Given and his oldest son, Robert, joined their Augusta neighbors and relatives and went south to fight the British in 1780 and 1781. Often family folklore comes forth stating an ancestor served in a war, but not often is a family tradition passed along in such detail as that given by Rev. John C. Given concerning the adventures of his grandfather and uncle at the battle of Cowpens. Consequently this descendant will wave the flag proudly and claim Revolutionary War service for William Given as a militiaman defending his home and country along with his fellow citizens of Augusta County, lacking documentation that he did not serve as related.

Of WIlliam and Nancy's children, by 1820 half were residing in Bath County (Jenny Berry and her husband had died) and half were living in Nicholas County with the exception of Samuel who had settled in Monroe County. Many of Robert Given's children came to Nicholas County and descendants of all of these children lay claim to some Webster County connections.

The children of William Given and Agnes "Nancy" Bratton and their spouses were as follows:

1. Robert Given, born 20 February 1765, married Margaret Elliott, and several of their sons and daughters were early settlers in Webster County; 2. Sarah "Sally" Given, born 18 August 1766, married Col. Isaac Gregory and was a pioneer settler of Webster County; 3. Jenny Given, born 27 Match 1770, married John Berry; 4. Mary Given, born 6 August 1771, married William Dinwiddie; 5. William Given, born 18 June 1773, married Virginia Jane Frame and was an early settler in that section of Nicholas County which became Braxton County; 6. Isabella Given, born 17 May 1775, married Isaac Duffield and was an early settler of Webster County; 7. Samuel Given, born October 1776, married Elizabeth Gwin, daughter of David and Jane (Carlile) Gwin; 8. Adam Given, born 24 August 1778, married Nancy McGuffin; 9. James Given, born 23 February 1781, married Elizabeth Graham; 10. John Given, born 9 January 1783, married Isabelle Duffield and was a pioneer settler of Webster County; 11. George Bratton Given, born 11 November 1784, married Margaret McGuffin; 12. Henry Given, born 22 June 1786, married (1) Nancy Mustoe, (2) Elizabeth (Gibson) Slaven, and (3) Margaret (Patton) Wickline; 13. Ann Nancy Given, born 9 November 1788, married Anthony Mustoe whose grandson settled in Webster County; 14. Margaret "Peggy" Given, born 29 January 1792, married John Gibson, and some of their children settle in Webster County.

The above birthdates for the children of WIlliam and Nancy Given were taken from the private papers of James Frame Given.

NOTES

(1) The Samuel Givens Family and Kin, by Jane Tyler Craig Reichlein, 1981. (2) Correspondence with Reichlein, file note from a Kate Gibson to a Birdie (Givens) Pickle. Mrs. Reichlein is now deceased and her records are being sought. (3) Early Western Augusta Pioneers, by George W. Cleek, 1957. (4) Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, compiled by Lyman Chalkley, 1912, Vol. III, p. 398. These are Augusta County court records. (5) Chalkley, Vol. II, p. 277. (6) Robert Bratton Will, Augusta County Will Book 6, p. 492, abstracted to Chalkley, Vol. III, p. 173. The will names William Given as son-in-law and Agnes as his wife. (7) The House of Dunlap, by Rev. James Arthur McClellan Hanna, 1956. Anne's marriage to Robert Bratton is listed in Chalkley, Vol. 1, pp. 67, 298, 54, 388. (8) Chalkley, Vol. III, p. 442. (9) Chalkley, Vol. III, p. 489. (10) "Journal of the Braxton Historical Society," Vol. 16, #4, December 1988, pp. 15-19, article by researcher David Givens. Makes note that Robert Gwin still living at a late age. (11) 4 December 1767, 38 acres on Jackson's River, listed in Abstract of Land Grant Surveys, by Kaylor, 1976, p. 38. 1771 patent on Jackson's River for 329 acres listed in History of Highland County, Virginia, by Oren Morten, pp. 169. Robert Bratton sold the other half of his acreage (244 1/2 acres) to his son Adam who may have sold it to his brother George. Annals of Bath County, Virginia, by Oren Morton, 1917, lists William Given as selling 98 1/2 acres to his son Robert in 1792. (12) Marriages are listed in abstracted marriage records of Augusta County, Virginia compiled by the NSDAR. (13) Orange County was created from Spotsylvania County in 1734; Augusta formed from Orange in 1738, Bath formed from Augusta in 1790. (14) Annals of Bath County, Virginia, by Oren Morton, 1917, p. 106. (15) Will Book I, p. 27, Bath County, Virginia. The will was signed on 24 November 1792, the supplement was added on 29 September 1793, and the will was proved by the December 1793 Court. (16) Some histories claim a son Joseph (believed to be Joseph Gwin, not Given), and a daughter Agnes, born 30 June 1797 and died 22 July 1827 who married a George McGuffin. No Bath County marriage bond or license has been found for this person. The death date is the same as Agnes (Bratton) Given's. If such a daughter were born in 1797 she would have been born four years after William's death. William provides for no unborn child in his will, and considering Virginia's moral code and the high standing of the Given family in the community, it is highly unlikely that Nancy Given had a child after her husband's death. (17) Bath County, Virginia, Will Book 1, p. 30. (18) Dates are from records of grandson James Frame Given who also recorded full birthdates of children. (19) A plantation was defined as any working farm where produce or goods were sold for a profit. (20) Bath County Historical Society Newsletter, 1985, p. 6. A photograph of the tombstone clearly reads "Wm. Given, Cumberland Co, 5th Pa Mil". (21) Pension acts for Revolutionary War veterans passed by Congress prior to 1813 only concerned Continental Army veterans. The Pension Act of 1832 included other soldiers including those who belonged to militia organizations. (22) Samuel Given the immigrant had a son William born in 1729, married Jean McClure. Captain John Given's son William was born in 1762 and married Rebecca Kenny. His pension file is number 31058. (23) NSDAR paper #1792296, Florence Gibbs Rawlins, 1922. (24) Robert Bratton's will is abstracted in Chalkley, Vol. III, p. 173. (25) Gleanings of Virginia History, by Boogher, 1903, pp. 223-4, contains a list of Captain John Given's militia company. No names are duplicated and the list contains a William and a Robert Given. It is known that there were several men of the same name in the community, thus this list appears to be a composite. PP. 224-6 gives the pensions papers for Robert Givens of Lincoln County, Kentucky.

https://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=woodsawh...

Name: William GIVEN 1 2 Sex: M Birth: 21 MAR 1746 in Augusta Co., VA Death: 29 SEP 1793 in VA Burial: Old Given Cemetery on Jackson River, VA

Father: John GIVEN , Capt. b: 1719 in Ireland Mother: Margaret CRAWFORD

Marriage 1 Nancy Agnes BRATTON b: 17 APR 1747 in Bath Co., VA

   Married: 21 MAR 1764 in Braxton Co., VA

Children

   Has Children Robert GIVEN b: 20 FEB 1765 in Bath Co., VA

Has Children Sarah GIVEN b: 18 AUG 1766
Has No Children Janet "Jenny" GIVEN b: 27 MAR 1770 in Bath Co., VA
Has No Children Mary GIVEN b: 6 AUG 1771 in Bath Co., VA
Has No Children William GIVEN b: 18 JUN 1773 in Bath Co., VA
Has Children Isabelle GIVEN b: 17 MAR 1775 in Bath Co., VA
Has No Children Samuel GIVEN b: 3 OCT 1776 in Warm Spgs, Bath Co., VA
Has No Children Adam GIVEN b: 24 AUG 1778 in Bath Co., VA
Has No Children James GIVEN b: 23 FEB 1781 in Bath Co., VA
Has No Children John GIVEN b: 9 JAN 1783
Has Children George Bratton GIVEN b: 11 NOV 1784 in Augusta Co., VA
Has No Children Henry GIVEN b: 22 JUN 1786 in Bath Co., VA
Has No Children Ann Nancy GIVEN b: 9 NOV 1788 in Bath Co., VA
Has No Children Margaret "Peggy" GIVEN b: 29 JAN 1792 in Bath Co., VA
Sources:

   Title: Heritage of Webster County WV 1994

   Repository:

   Media: Book

   Title: Givens Genealogy by Arthur N. Morris - abt 1942 

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@R1651140410@ U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2375::0

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1,60525::64705218

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@R1651140410@ U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2375::0

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1,2375::38577

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@R1651140410@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

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1,60525::64705218

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@R1651140410@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

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Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=120676505&pi...

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110499610/william-given

William served as a Lieutenant in the Virginia Militia under General Andrew Lewis at the Battle of Point Pleasant. He served the Colonies in the American Revolution under General George Rogers Clark and marched with the Highland County Volunteers to the relief of General Green in North Carolina in 1781

Children Sarah Given Gregory 1766–1836

William Robert Given 1773–1820

James Given 1781–1835

Photo Henry Given 1784–1853

George Bratton Given 1784–1858

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110499610/william-given

William served as a Lieutenant in the Virginia Militia under General Andrew Lewis at the Battle of Point Pleasant. He served the Colonies in the American Revolution under General George Rogers Clark and marched with the Highland County Volunteers to the relief of General Green in North Carolina in 1781.

Children Sarah Given Gregory 1766–1836

William Robert Given 1773–1820

James Given 1781–1835

Photo Henry Given 1784–1853

George Bratton Given 1784–1858

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110499610/william-given