William Van Cleave, I

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA (Soldier). DAR Ancestor # A117473

William VAN CLEAVE was born in 1743 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He died in 1787/88 in Mercer County, Kentucky. William was approximately seven years old when his family moved from the vicinity of New Brunswick, New Jersey, to Rowan County, North Carolina. Before 1764 he married Abigail Frost. William and his family were among the Van Cleave sons who were said to have accompanied the Boones to Kentucky in 1775, and William was said to have participated in the resultant skirmishes at Fort Boonesborough and Bryant's Station. There are two stories about William's involvement in the American Revolution. One source said that he was a drum major in the war. The other said that his wife was a Tory and that she prevented him from serving in the war. William did receive grants for "preemption land" which was available to persons who served in the Revolution, but the grants could have been based upon his service with the Boones in Kentucky. The land was in Paint Lick Creek in Mercer County, Kentucky. William made his will on September 2, 1786, and it was probated in Mercer County in February 1788. When he died his holdings in land including 1000 acres.

According to James William Van Cleave in Errett Van Cleave's, "History ofthe Van Cleave Family, The McMullen Family, The Taylor Family," 1946, pg.2, "Billy, son of Aaron Sr. married Abby, or Aunt Abby, as Aunt Betsy Van Cleave called her. She was a Torry and her sympathies were with the King's party. Pestering bands of British and Torries were prowling about the country--pilfering houses and often killing people that stood out for Liberty and Independence. They often sought for Billy, but he would flee and keep hidden until they went away. It seems that his wife, Abby was inclined to betray him to the Torries, anyway he fled when he saw them coming. At such times, (this was in North Carolina) when they would come to Billy's house the soldiers would commence their pilfering when their Captain was out of the house. Benjamin would say, 'Captain, you do not allow your men to take property, do you?' The Captain would say 'No' and give orders for his men to put things back; but when his back was turned they would come and take the things again such as garments and household articles. Benjamin often told them to let the household property alone.He had no arms but stood at the back of a chair, intending, if attacked by the soldiers to defend himself with the chair. They never came to blows and finally the band of Torries would go away. This was in the days of the Revolution.

• Residence: resided at Kentucky with Daniel Boone at Boonesboro, KY
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Dec 22 2021, 1:26:12 UTC