1. JOHN1 CAPE, LT. COL. was born March 1744/45 in Amelia County, Virginia, and died Aft. June 30, 1836 in Russell County, Kentucky. He married SARAH (SALLY) WILLIAMS Bef. 1770. She was born ABT 1745 in Virginia, and died Aft. 1818 in Kentucky.
Notes for JOHN CAPE, LT. COL.:
The following was found in the Russell County Library, Jamestown , Kentucky:
"ABSTRACTS OF PENSION PAPERS OF REVOLUTIONARY AND 1812 WAR SOLDIERS WHO SETTLED IN THE COUNTY OF RUSSELL, STATE OF KENTUCKY"
Cape, John s.30916 Virginia
The above named soldier was living in the county of Russell state of Kentucky, when he applied for a pension on the date of January 4, 1833, aged 87 years.
He stated that he was born in the county of Amelia, state of Virginia, date of March 1745.
He enlisted in the county, of Amelia, state of Virginia in 1776.
He moved from Amelia County to Bedford County, Virginia, where he remained untill 1794 when he moved to Lincoln County, Kentucky. After living there a few years he went to Cumberland County, where he lived until 1830 and then moved to Russell.
Charles Thurman made affidavitt in the county of Cumberland, State of Kentucky, date August 31 1833, at the age of 72. He knew him in Amelia County, Virginia, both before , during and after the war.
No other date given.
(NOTE: Adair County, Kentucky was a part of Lincoln County in 1794.)
Some researchers (Michael C. Watson, who is a descendant) believes he was a private in the Rev. War and was promoted to Lt. at the end so he could recieve a larger land grant. Watson thinks he was a Lt. Col. in the Kentucky Cornstalk Militia. It was called "cornstalk" because they did not have rifles to carry when they drilled and they carried cornstalks instead.
RUSSELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY WILL BOOK 1 PAGE 149
I, John Cape of Russell County being aged and infirm as to bodily strength but of disposing mind and memory and full anxious to dispose of the little which I possess: I do hereby make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills or codicils heretofore made by me and do declare this to be my last will and testament. 1st- my will is that my just debts be paid if any I owe, but at this time I do not recollect that I owe any. and that my funeral and burial be paid and all estate that I leave at my death either real or personal or mixed money or debts owing or coming to me in any way whatsoever, I will and bequeath to my grandson John Blankenship, son of my deceased daughter Jenny. I am induced to devise my property to my said grandson in perference to my other relatives because of his taking care of myself and wife for many years and my wife until her death and myself since.
In testamony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of July 1836.
Signed John Cape
Witnesses:
William Owens, Parish Garner, Hugh Helms, William Buster, and Martin Coffey.
Probated July term of Court 1837.
The following was written by Anita L. Dennis 322 N. Grant, Garnett, Kansas
John and Mary (WORSHAM) CAFE
Jan 4, 1833 at age 87, John Cape applied for a pension based on his Revolutionary Service (S.309161). According to his statement at that time he was born in Amelia Co. VA. in March 1745, "agreeable to the information of my parents, which I believe to be true". (l)
30 Nov 1773 John Cape and Mary his wife of Amelia Co. VA sold to Henry Worsham of Amelia Co. for 35 pounds and "Diverse other good Causes and Considerations" a tract or parcel of Land "During the said Mary Cape's natural Life, it being the one-third part of the tract of land Drury Worsham DiBseast Formerly lived on in the said County of Amelia Joyning the Wolf Branch including the Plantation..." John Cape signed; Mary made her mark. Witnesses were Mathew Jackson, ?Jhity Jummavant?, and Jeremyah Cri~ttenton. From this deed I infer that Mary was probably a daughter of Drury Worsham, one of three children, and that Henry was her brother. Drury could possibly be a brother who died leaving no heirs but three siblings. The fact that ~the land was sold only during her lifetime may indicate that another deed would be found c1795 when she seems to have died.
4 Jan 1833 John Cape made his declaration of revolutionary service before John Vaughan, JP of Russell Co. KY. Due to illness he was unable to appear before the court in Russell Co. 14 Jan 1833, but a trio of Blankenships, John, Jesse, and John, vouched that they knew him and believed he served as stated; their good character was attested to by the Justice of the Peace. 14 Aug 1833 John Cape appeared before James Belk, JP, to amend his statement of 4 Jan 1833 made to John Vaughn, JP, stating that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he could not swear positively to all the particular incidents, but according to the best of his recollection he served first one year as a private volunteer militiaman in Capt. Param? Booker's Company and Col. Lynch's regiment. In 1778 he entered the service of the United States as lieutenant in Capt. James Martin's Company, continuing in service from that time until the surrender of Cornwall in 1781. During that time he was either in the field or in garrison, and was not employed in any civil pursuits. Most of the time he was under the command of Col. Crockett or Col. McDowell. He stated that there was no clergyman residing near him, nor did he know of any one who could testify as to their belief of his services, he having mostly lived in a remote part of Russell and Cumberland counties for many years and for the last several years having been so much afflicted that he had been but little from home. Since making that declaration, he had discovered that he could prove his service both as a private and as an officer by the testimony of Charles Thurman of Cumberland Co. KY. Thurman, age 72, made affidavit in Cumberland Co. KY on Aug 3, 1833 that he had known John Cape in Amelia Co. VA before, during and after the war. John Cape had no proof of his birth, no longer had his commission, nor his discharge papers, nor did he remember who signed them, but said that "at the time I received it I knew what was a good conrmission and know mine was a genuine one." In addition to the colonels he had mentioned earlier, he stated he was frequently with Generals Green, Lafayette, Washington and others. The application was not allowed for the time set forth. There was a notation that the militia of Virginia performed their service in tours, and that his being ready to perform service when required did not constitute a claim for that time. (2)
Not everyone supported John's assertion of Revolutionary service. One Henry L. Green of Russell Co. KY wrote the Secretary of War as follows:
There is one John Cape living in this county who is drawing a pension for revolutionary war service.
This is to inform you that he is not entitled to it. That it can be proven by two different persons in this county that his only connection with the war was to dress deer skins and make them up and sell to the British.
Very Respectively Yours,
Henry L. Green
P. S. There are several other Tory's drawing pensions in this County whose pensions ought to be stopped.
The letter was found in John Cape's military record files. (3)
After the Revolutionary War John Cape moved from Amelia Co. to Bedford Co. VA where he lived until 1796. (4) In 1785 John Cape bought 116 acres on the north side of Orrix Creek in Bedford Co. VA from John Sanders. (5) 10 Aug 1795 John Cape and Mary his wife sold this land to John Patrick of New London. (6) Franklin County was just south of Bedford County.
In 1794 John Cape bought 200 acres on Island Creek and Otter River in Bedford Co. VA from James Cummins. (7) On 2 Nov 1796 John Cape of Bedford Co. VA sold this land to Thomas Holt of Campbell Co. VA for 150 pounds. No wife was indicated on the deed. In 1773 John Cape had a wife named Mary. Seemingly John's wife Mary died between 10 Aug 1795 and 2 Nov 1796. However, 25 Apr 1791 John Cape married Mary Mann in Bedford Co. VA., so the John on the 10 Aug 1795 deed could have been John Jr. while the 2 Nov 1796 deed was John Sr; the deeds don't necessarily pinpoint the death of John Sr.'s wife Mary. However, given that no wife relinquished dower on the 1796 deed, it seems that Mary had died prior to that date, and that John married the Sarah referred to in his will at a later date, but prior to 1810.
The Bedford County Court Order Book #10 1790-95 records that John Cape was "fined according to law". It seemed that, in common with many others, he had not done his share in keeping the road in repair. I did not note the exact date.
John Cape, Sr. moved to Lincoln Co. KY in 1796; after a few years there he moved to Cumberland Co. He was listed on the first tax list for Cumberland Co. in May 1799 with 200 acres of land on Cumberland River, and four horses. Only those tax lists on the south side of the Cumberland are extant. (8)
In Nov 1799 leave was granted to John Robertson and John Cape to keep a ferry on the Cumberland; they gave bond of 20 pounds; George Robertson and John Cape were security on the bond. (9) At a guess the sons were running the ferry and the fathers gave bond???
In Mar 1801 John Cape got a land grant for 250 acres joining John Logan and Crow's Improvement on the south side of the river in Irish Bottom. Joel Crow got 150 acres joining John Cape at the same time. Between 1798 and 1805, John Cape Sr. acquired 575 acres on the Cumberland River from the State of Kentucky; John Jr. got 200 acres. John Cape owned Shoestring Bottom, originally known as Bunch's bottom until renamed for its shape by boatmen; it was located opposite Irish Bottom. What became Whetstone Precinct was called "Kingdom of the nine Johns" for men surnamed Steel, Bailey, Carty, Willis, Robertson, Cape, Wright, Crawford, and Self. (lO)
In 1809 in Cumberland Co. Polly Cape married William Ward and Susanna Cape married John Jameson. Susanna was the daughter of John Cape, Jr.; Polly probably was also.
In 1810 both John Cape and his wife were listed as 45+; John, of course, would have been 65. In their household were two boys under ten and one between ten and sixteen and one girl 10-16. (11)
7 Oct 1818 John Cape, Sr. and wife Sarah sold land to John Cape, Jr. (12)
16 Feb 1819 John Cape, Sr. made a deed to John Norent and the heirs and legatees of the estate of John Norentt. (l3) 26 Oct 1821 John Cape, Sr. and wife Sally sold land on Willis Creek to James W. Radford. (l4) John Cape, Sr. sold Mark Marlow land on West Fork of Indian Creek. (l5) 6 Jan 1825 Thomas Cook sold land to John Cape, Sr. (16) 6 Nov. 1828 James W. Radford and wife sold John Cape land on Willis Creek. (l7) 15 Jan 1830 John Cape sold land to William Burchett. (l8) John lived in Cumberland Co. until 1830 when he moved to Russell Co. KY; this was probably when he moved in with grandson John Blankenship.
In 1831 John Cape Senr. was listed on the Russell Co. tax rolls with two 50 acre parcels on Willis Creek in Cumberland Co., KY, entered, surveyed, and patented by himself; he also had four horses. John Cape Jr. had one horse and listed no land. John Cape the son of John Sr. had gone to Missouri c1819; his son John remained in KY and is presumably the John Jr. referred to here.
The 1832 lists are missing; in 1833 John Cape Sr. listed 150 acres in three parcels in Cumberland Co.; John Jr. had three horses. The 1834 lists are not extant. In 1835 John Sr. showed only the tithe, no land, no horses. John Jr. had a horse. John B. Cape had 61 acres on Crocus. In 1836 the same three John Gapes were shown on the Russell County tax rolls. Ours was listed thusly: "Cape John the old buck born in the year 1732 able to pay." If accurate, this would have made him 104; his Revolutionary pension application gives his birth year as 1745, which would still make him a quite respectable 91 in 1836. In 1837 John Cape Sr was listed for the last time on the tax rolls: "one hundred years old". John on Crocus was also listed as John Sen.; perhaps he was listed after our John died.
30 Jul 1836 John Cape, Sr. of Russell Co. KY, "being aged & infirm as to bodily strength, but of disposing Mind & Memory and fully able to dispose of the little estate which I possess" said, "My will is that my just debts by paid if any I owe, but at this time I do not recollect that I owe any". He bequeathed everything to
·his grandson John Blankenship, son of his deceased daughter Jinney, choosing to leave everything to John Blankenship rather than to "other relation" because his grandson had taken care of him and his wife for many years until his wife's death and of himself since. (19) The will was probated in July 1837. John Blankenship was the son of #191 Jane (Cape) Blankenship Crow and brother of #95 Letty (Blankenship) McFall.
382.1 Jane Cape married David? Blankenship. (See Blankenship Record #190-191.)
382.2 John Cape married Mary Mann 25 Apr 1791 in Bedford Co. VA. Field Mann was surety. Mary certified that she was of age. (20) John is listed as a colonel of the Cumberland Co. KY militia under David McNair in the War of 1812. (21) The Cumberland Co. militia was active in the affair of the Raisin and in the Battle of New Orleans. (22) 2 Feb 1813 John Cape Jr. and wife Polly sold land to William Goggins; in 1818 they sold land to Zachariah Philpot & John Thomas . (23)
(1) Russell Co. KY Pension Files
(2) Russell Co. KY Pension Files; some of papers from National Archives from Carol Kinney
(3) typed copy from Carol Kinney
(4) Russell Co. KY Pension files
(5) Bedford Co. VA Deed 7-583
(6) Franklin Co. VA Deeds 1-168
(7) Bedford Co. VA Deed 9-323
(8) Wells, Joseph William, History of Cumberland Co. KY, The Standard Printing Company, Louisville, KY. 1947
(9) History of Cumberland Co. KY
(10) History of Cumberland Co. KY
(11) U. S. Census 1810 Cumberland Co. KY
(12) Cumberland Co. KY. Deeds Abstracts & Indentures Butler & Smith, C-477
(13) Cumberland Co KY Deeds Abstracts & Indentures Butler & Smith
(14) Cumberland Co. KY. Deeds, Abstracts, & Indentures, Butler & Smith, D-404
(15) Cumberland Co. KY. Deeds, Abstracts, & Indentures, Butler & Smith, E-338 (16) Cumberland Co KY Deeds Abstracts & Indentures Butler & Smith, E-493
(17) Cumberland Co Deeds Abstracts & Indentures Butler & Smith, F-441
(18) Cumberland Co KY Deeds Abstracts & Indentures Butler & Smith,
(19) Russell Co. KY Wills 1-49
(20) Early Virginia Immigrants
(21) Index to Commmissioned Officers of Kentucky, War of 1812; KY Hist. Sec. 22 History of Cumberland Co. KY; in KY Hist. Sec.
(23) Cumberland Co. KY. Deeds, Abstracts, & Indentures Butler & Smith
CAPE RECORD compiled by Anita L. Dennis, 322 N. Grant, Garnett KS; rev 11 Aug 1997
More About JOHN CAPE, LT. COL.:
Comments: He was a Rev. War Vet. He may have been n
Fact 11 (2): related to or be the same John that was
Fact 12 (2): married to Mary in the same Va. County. Most
Fact 13 (2): researchers think they had more children.
Notes for SARAH (SALLY) WILLIAMS:
The name Sarah comes from the D.A.R. records.
Children of JOHN CAPE and SARAH WILLIAMS are:
