Welcome to the Fort Henry Chapter, National Society, Sons of the American Revolution, located in Wheeling, West Virginia, site of the Second Siege of Fort Henry, September 11-13, 1782, Last Battle of the American Revolution depicted in the image below.
Our Chapter:
The Fort Henry Chapter was chartered by the West Virginia State Society’s Board of Management on April 26, 2014 as its tenth chapter. An Organizational Dinner was held on October 23, 2014 to re-establish the chapter, which had folded in 1990. Guests of honor at the dinner were First Lady Billie S. Brock and NSSAR President General Lindsay C. Brock who installed the chapter officers.
The Chapter takes its name from the fortification built in the summer of 1774 above the Ohio River at what is now 11th and Main Streets in Wheeling, West Virginia. That year pioneers in the Wheeling area were subjected to an increasing number of raids by Native American tribes. In April the murder of Mingo leader Logan’s brother, sister and niece by Daniel Greathouse and his men at Yellow Creek near present day Steubenville, Ohio, escalated violence and sent a wave of panic among the settlers. The construction of the fort was undertaken by Ebenezer Zane and John Caldwell and completed by 400 soldiers from Fort Pitt under the command of Major William Crawford. Known originally as Fort Fincastle, it was named after John Murray, the 4th Earl of Dunmore and Viscount Fincastle, who was the last Royal Governor of the Virginia Colony. The fort was renamed for Patrick Henry, famous for his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, who assumed the Governor’s office after Lord Dunmore was compelled to retreat from Williamsburg by the events of the American Revolution.
Fort Henry was besieged in 1777 by a force of Wyandot, Mingo and Shawnee warriors, and again in 1782 by a contingent of British soldiers and their Native American allies. The second siege is widely acknowledged as the Last Battle of the American Revolution. Two of Wheeling’s most famous acts of frontier heroism took place at both sieges: the leap of Major Samuel McColloch off Wheeling Hill in 1777, and Betty Zane’s dash from the fort to the Zane blockhouse and back to the fort with gunpowder in 1782.
The National Society, Sons of the American Revolution was incorporated on January 17, 1890 and later chartered by the United States Congress on June 9, 1906. Prior to this date a number of state societies were formed in the 1880’s. The first Congress of the National Society was held in Louisville, Kentucky on April 30, 1890 – the 101st anniversary of George Washington taking the oath of office as President of the United States.
2020-22 Fort Henry Chapter Officers:
James Harrison Frey, President
John Albert Hargleroad III, Vice President
Lloyd Dale Smith II, Secretary-Treasurer
James Gary Auber, Genealogist & Registrar
Erik Alan Schramm, Sr., Esq., Chancellor
Rev. Joseph Robert Andrews, Chaplain
Andrew Philip Gamble, Historian
I am looking to obtain reproductions of these photographs. How may I get them?
All of these images are in the public domain. However, you might want to contact Laura Carroll, archivist at the Ohio County Public Library to obtain high resolution images. I’m sure they would assist you if you are willing to credit the use of them to Archiving Wheeling. I’m sure they will want to know how you plan to use them.
Looking for information and location of the (c) 1780’s Bedelion’s Mill in Wheeling and any info on the Purdy family which lived “above the Mill”. My ancestor, James Purdy and family, lived there until massacred in 1789. His wife, a son and 2 daughter’s survived. Thank you.
I am a descendant of the Bollings and Randolphs. I visited Cobbs off Enon Church Road and saw a sign that was established by Fort Henry Chapter. Based on my research and understanding, the site of the old Cobbs Plantation was always called “Cobbs” and not Cobbs Hall. Cobbs Hall refers to a different property. Different Locations: Cobbs Plantation and Cobbs Hall are located in different counties—Chesterfield County for Cobbs Plantation and Northumberland County for Cobbs Hall.
Different Families: Cobbs Plantation is primarily associated with the Bolling family, while Cobbs Hall is linked to the Lee family.
although the original Cobbs Plantation structures no longer exist, whereas Cobbs Hall has been preserved. Can I talk to someone about this and verify accuracy? Thanks! Email or Text is best: prutowski@me.com or text 5125077460
I believe you have the wrong chapter. We are located in Wheeling, WV, not in VA.