The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Birth: 01 Jan 1721 London / / England Death: 19 Sep 1823 / Pickaway / OH
Qualifying Service Description:
1780-1781, he served as a Private in the company of Captain William Berryhill, Lieutenant-Colonel James Johnston, Cumberland County Militia,1st Battalion.
Official roster III: Soldiers of the American Revolution who lived in the State of Ohio. Wilbur R. Branthoover, compiler. Veterans Affairs, Ohio. Reprinted by the Ohio Society Daughters of the American Revolution (OHSDAR). 1959
John Gay Sr. was born in 1721 in London, England, the son of Henry and Mary (Daughtery) Gay.
He married Barbara Bone in 1762 and had ten known children:
John was born in 1769 and married Margaret Brady.
Joseph was born in 1770.
Catherine was born in 1772 and married Samuel Morehead.
Susannah was born on 1 November 1772 and married George Hitler.
Peter was born on 10 February 1777 and married Elizabeth Hayes.
Elizabeth was born between1780-1790 and married Jacob Thomas.
William was born in 1781 and married Mary Ann Hayes
Sarah was born about 1788.
Mary was born in 1791 and married William Van Dorn.
Jacob was born on 12 February 1791 and married Amy Herbert.
John served as a Ranger in the French and Indian War and was with General Braddock at his defeat in 1754. He also served under General Wolfe at the capture of Quebec in 1759. He enlisted in the Continental Army at age 54 and served throughout the war. He served as a private in Captain William Berryhill’s Company in Lieutenant-Colonel James Johnson’s Battalion, Cumberland County Pennsylvania militia.
He lived in Maryland and later moved to Pennsylvania. He came to Ohio in the fall of 1799. His flatboat was frozen in the Ohio River, and he did not land at Portsmouth until the spring of 1800. He then came north by wagon and settled on Pumpkin Run in Section 8 of Pickaway Township.
John paid taxes in 1812 for Pickaway Twp Section 10 SW ¼.
The Patriot died on 19 September 1823 and was buried in a grave on his farm on Gay-Dreisbach Road in Pickaway Township. The grave was marked by Arthur St. Clair Chapter OHSSAR.
Sources:
SAR Patriot Research System P-164951
DAR Patriot Index A043720
PA Archives 5th Series, Vol 6, Pg 880, 101
Pickaway County Probate Court # 0-268
DAR Official Roster III, Soldiers of the American Revolution that Lived in the State of Ohio, Pg. 139
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