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: Captain / Civil Service
Birth: 1724 / Fauquier / VA Death: 08 May 1799 / Nicholas / KY
Qualifying Service Description:
Capt., Infantry, Fauquier Co., VA Militia
DAR cites
COURT APPOINTED APPRAISER FAUQUIER CO
ROAD VIEWER
Additional References:
SAR Patriot Index Edition III (CD: PP2210, Progeny Publ, 2002) plus data to 2004
McAllister, J.T, Virginia Militia in the Rev War, Virginia. Hot Springs: McAllister Publishing Co, 1913, pg 201
J.H. Gwathmey, Hist Reg VA in the Rev, 1775-1783, 1938, pg 546
Hardy, Stella Pickett, Colonial Families of the Southern States of America: A History and Genealogy of Colonial Families who Settled in the Colonies Prior to the Revolution, New York, New York : Tobias A. Wright, 1911, pg 381
DAR cites:
GOTT, FAUQUIER CO VA COURT RECS 1776-1782, pg 95
PETERS, MILITARY RECS, PATRIOTIC SERV & PUB CLAIMS FROM FAUQUIER CO COURT MINUTE BOOKS, pg 34
Spouse: (1) Sybil Sabina Farrow/Farrer; (2) Mary Obrine; (3) Rhoda Dent Chinn Children: Nancy; Eli; Thomas A; Lucy C; William; Sarah; Ilai; John Jr;
NOTE: This cemetery is in Nichols County, which in 1799 was still part of Bourbon County
The headstone has the inscription that includes "CAPT 3 REGT VA ARTY REV WAR"
Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
This little cemetery is located just north of the intersection of Maysville Road and Barterville Road on the property of the Forest Retreat Bed and Breakfast, just past the their tennis court. Private Property
Author: Mark Andrew Davis
John Metcalfe Jr. was born about 1724 in Fauquier County, Virginia, the son of John Metcalf Sr.
He married his first wife, Sybil Sabina Farrow/Farrer, in about 1745.
Charles was born on 23 September 1752 and married Elizabeth Wright.
William was born in 1758 and married Elizabeth Barnett.
John III was born about 1760 and married Amelia “Miley” Shackleford.
Christopher was born about 1761 and married Sarah Shackelford, sister of Amelia.
James was born on 5 August 1762 and died unmarried.
Eli or Ely was born on 13 November 1768 and married Sally Pickett
Isaiah “Ilia” was born on 10 December 1770 and married Susannah Carr.
Elizabeth was born about 1766 and married McClanahan Moore.
Mary was born on 8 March 1754 and married John Rogers.
Nancy was born about 1771 and married John Davis.
His second wife was Mary Obrine and they married in about 1775.
Hannah was born about 1776 and married Gabriel Ament.
His third wife was Rhoda Dent Chinn and they married in about 1784.
Thomas A. was born on 20 March 1780 and married Nancy Mason.
Bela died without children.
Sarah was born on 1 November 1784 and married Oden.
Lucy was born on 28 October 1785 and married Henry Ogden.
Rhoda married Hughes.
A letter was written by Charles Metcalfe, grandson of John Metcalfe Sr., details family names and relationships:
“My grandfather had a very numerous family of children having had 3 wives, by his first my own grandmother he had 7 sons and 3 daughters Viz: Charles, William John my father, Cristopher, James never married lived to be very old (died not many years since at Joel Fort’s in Robertson Co. Tenn. Mrs. Fort was his niece), and Ely and Ila and three daughters, Elizabeth, Mary and Nancy. His second wife had only one child Hannah who married Ament. The last wife raised five children Viz. Thomas and Bella, Sarah Oden, Lucy Ogden, Rhoda Hughes.”
During the Revolutionary War years, he was appointed by the Fauquier County Court as an appraiser and road viewer.
There is a story that seems to have originated with the book Colonial Families of the Southern United States of America. The author of that book states that Jon Metcalfe “[he] raised a company of troops in Fauquier Co., of which he was made Captain, and served with distinction in the Revolutionary War.” However, in a search of the Fauquier County, Virginia Minute Books failed to find any evidence among all the entries for officers of the county militia to support such a claim. No mentions of a Captain John Metcalfe were found among any contemporary records, including a search of pension applications that might have referenced him as an officer. The only county military mention of John Metcalf is as an Ensign:
Fauquier County, VirginiaMinute Book for 1781-1784, page 15. A man named John Metcalf from Fauquier County is recorded as an Ensign in August 1781 in the Militia. This could be our John Metcalfe, his son John III, or another man of the same name.
The next year we find that John Jr [b. abt. 1724] taking on an indenture.
Fauquier County, VirginiaMinute Book for 1781-1784, page 68: September 1782. “Order that the Church Wardens of Hamilton Parris bind John Lowry to John Metcalf Jun to learn the trade of a stone mason.”
Without further evidence, we cannot confidently state that John served in the military during the Revolutionary War. He does qualify for SAR Membership as a Patriot for his Civil Service. If contemporary records are found, please contact the author of this biography.
John Metcalf Jr. died on 8 May 1799 in Nicholas County, Kentucky. It is unknown where he is buried, but there is a modern monument in Forest Retreat cemetery in Nicholas County, Kentucky.
Sources:
McAllister, J.T., Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War, Virginia. Hot Springs: McAllister Publishing Co., 1913, page 201.
Gwathmey, John H., Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution: Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, 1775-1783, Virginia. Richmond: Dietz Press, 1938, page 546.
Hardy, Stella Pickett, Colonial Families of the Southern States of America, New York. New York: Tobias A. Wright, Publisher, 1911, page 380.
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