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.
State of Service: VA
Qualifying Service: Private / Patriotic Service
Birth: 1753 / Prince George / VA Death: aft 24 Mar 1837 / Mercer / KY
Qualifying Service Description:
Spring of 1776 – fall of 1778, enlisted in Captain Theodoric Bland’s Virginia Company of Dragoons, later Richard Call’s Company in Colonel Theodoric Bland’s Regiment of Dragoons/1st Continental Light Dragoons.
December 1777 – April 1778, encamped at Valley Forge.
Fought in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth.
Fall of 1779, enlisted and served eighteen months in Captain Edward Jones’ Company in Colonel John Green’s Regiment, Virginia Continental Line.
Spied on Native Americans in Kentucky County.
Fall of 1782, served three months in Captain Doherty’s Company under Brigadier General George Rogers Clark, and fought against the Native Americans at the Battle of Piqua
Additional References:
Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13634, John Kirkland, Virginia; Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Lad Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service (NARA microfilm publication M804, roll 1496); Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs; National Archives, Washington, D.C.; https://catalog.archives.gov/id/196124592.
“Search the Muster Roll,” database, Valley Forge Muster Roll, https://valleyforgemusterroll.org/search-the-muster-roll/, for Kirkland, John, Virginia
Spouse: (1) Mary Talley; (2) Barbara XX/Walker; Children: Nancy; John Jr; Abraham; Isaac; William; Alexander; Mary/Polly;
John Kirkland was born in 1753 at Prince George, Virginia, and was raised at Dinwiddie County, Virginia. He proclaimed in his Revolutionary War pension statement that he enlisted at Petersburg, Virginia, in 1776 in Captain Theodore Bland's Company of Light Dragoons for two and one half years.
After enlistment, Kirkland first marched to Williamsburg where his company was employed with Captain Dandridge's Company in collecting provisions in the neighborhood and as a guard. He was later at Trenton, Elizabethtown and Newark. He said in his pension statement, "When the British sailed around for the Delaware we returned and were stationed at different places above Philadelphia and when the British advanced on that place my Regiment with the main army met them at Brandywine, where we had a severe battle which lasted until nearly night as well as I now recollect. Stephen Brigade first gave way and we then retreated back and were stationed not far from Germantown...At Monmouth we had another severe battle with them. General Lee brought on the battle but General George Washington had to come up and restore some unfortunate order which he had given my company." In the fall of 1778, Kirkland was honorably discharged at Winchester, Virginia.
Kirkland married Mary Tally, 14 May 1783, at Lincoln County, Kentucky District, State of Virginia. John Kirkland's known children, as stated in his will, are William Kirkland (born 1785); John Kirkland (born 1790); Mary "Polly" Kirkland Gabbert (born 9 November 1792); Nancy Kirkland Collier (born about 1792); Alexander Kirkland (born 1794); Isaac Kirkland (born 25 December 1796); Abraham Kirkland (born 25 December 1796); and Jacob Kirkland. It has been proven that John's wife, Mary Tally Lirkland, is the mother of said children. Kirkland's second wife is Barbara Walker. There is no documentation of Barbara and John having had children.
Kirkland further described his service: "After that period I was in the Militia Service for 12 months but do not consider that important." He moved to Mercer County, Kentucky, where he said he "...performed several Militia Tours and guards as an Indain spy and was also with General Clark three months against the Indians on the Big Miami in the fall of 1782." His son John Kirkland, Jr., said of his deceased father, "...he began at age 80 receiving a Revolutionary pension of $100 per annum." John Kirkland, Sr., died at Mercer County, Kentucky, after March 1834.
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