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Peter DeMOSS

Male 1752 - 1841  (88 years)


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  • Name Peter DeMOSS 
    Birth 11 Nov 1752  VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Birth 10 Dec 1752  VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Birth 11 Dec 1752  VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Will 25 Mar 1835  Pendleton County, KY Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial 1841  Pendleton County, KY Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Death 26 Sep 1841  Pendleton County, KY Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Death 27 Sep 1841  Pendleton County, KY Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Probate 4 Oct 1841  Pendleton County, KY Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial 1965  Grandview Cemetery, Mentor, Campbell County, KY Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • (1) According to most sources, Peter DeMOSS was born in 1752. According to some sources, Peter was born in NJ; according to other sources, Peter was born in VA. According to some sources, Peter's parents were Charles DeMOSS and his wife Fannie; according to other sources, Peter's parents were Louis DeMOSS and his wife Margaret. The compiler has chosen to follow the position set forth in Edith Susanna (DeMoss) Caughron's book, The DeMoss Family in America; namely, that Peter was born in VA in 1752, and that Peter's parents were Louis DeMOSS and his wife Margaret.

      (2) Caughron, Edith Susanna (DeMoss), The DeMoss Family in America, Neodesha, KS: 1951, pp. 44, 46-47, 53-55:

      Peter DeMoss, b. in Virginia, Nov. 11, 1752, served in the Rev. War, enlisting Aug. 14, 1775, at Winchester, Va., in Cap't. John Neville's Co., 4th Va. Reg.; served until a short time before the Capture of Lord Cornwallis; removed to Ky., where he was living in Pendleton Co., in 1841, and died there that year. His children: Samuel, John, Mary Grigg, David (deceased), Sally Barker, Lewis and Charles and Catherine.

      * * *

      PETER DEMOSS, REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER

      Peter DeMoss (b. Nov. 11, 1752, Va.-d. Sept. 26, 1841) m. May 27, 1777, in Va., Katherine Houseman (b. Sept. 16, 1758-d. July 4, 1842), dau. of David Hauseman. (WILL of 1794. Berkeley Co., W. Va.) and wife Polly Seitpan. David was son of Christopher (Christian) Houseman who, with his family emigrated from Holland to America in early part of the 17th century. He died en route, and his family completed the voyage and settled in Berkeley Co., W. Va., near the Maryland line.-Information from Mr. J. R. W. Crum, Union Hall, Va., R. R. No. 2, Box 16.

      Peter DeMoss and wife Katherine both died on their plantation, near Mentor, Ky., and are buried on the hill graveyard on it. There my husband and I visited in July 1939 and saw the graves. Theirs and another there are box graves with inscriptions clearly legible on the slabs. . . .

      WAR RECORD of Peter DeMoss (1752-1841).

      "Peter DeMoss enlisted at Winchester, Va.. August 14, 1775, served in Captain John Neville's Company, 4th Va. Regiment, and in Colonel Charles Scott's Va. Regiment, and in Captain Waggoner's Company, Colonel James Woods 12th Va. Regiment; was in the battle of Monmouth, after which he was transferred to the Wagon master's Department, and served only a short time before the surrender of Cornwallis."

      "He was allowed pension on his application executed Oct. 21, 1818, at which time he was aged 66 years and resided in Pendleton Co., Ky. He was also pensioned under Act of 1832."

      "In Act of 1820, soldier stated that his family then residing with him consisted of his wife, aged 62 years, and a son John, aged 18 years."-From Veteran's Administration, Washington, D. C.

      At one time the pensioner certified that he had lived in Pendleton Co. 34 yrs. and that prior to that resided in Clermont Co., Ohio. (Note: His home in Pendleton Co., Ky., was just across the Ohio River, east of Neville, Clermont Co., Ohio. He served under Captain Neville in the Rev. War.)

      Mrs. Ben (Belle R.) Curtis, of 1332 E. 27th Place, Tulsa, Okla., wrote that Peter DeMoss, Am. Rev. War Vet., was over 6 ft. tall, slender, blue eyes, light hair, and fair. She has the old high-boy that was in the flood of 1812 in the old Peter DeMoss home; and gave the old waffle iron from the old home fireplace to the Oklahoma kitchen, in Constitution Hall, D. A. R.. Washington, D. C.

      * * *

      While on the old Peter DeMoss plantation [in July 1939], we [the author and her husband] visited the burying ground, on a hill west of the old brick house (which had been vacant for sometime.) The view from this hill is beautful, with the Ohio River east of the brick house, and the N. & M. railroad between the house and the hill. . . . Easily seen from the hill is the sharp bend eastward the river makes just to the west of Foster, Ky. Across the river, Neville, Campbell [sic; should be Clermont] Co., Ohio, is seen. On the hill, I paused to copy TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS, as follows:

      1. Sacred to the memory of Peter Demoss, who departed this life Sept. 1841, aged 88 yrs. 9 mos. 16 das." (This on a horizontal slab over the grave, body buried beneath the soil, box built of brick, with mortar disintegrated so we could see daylight through and the ground below.) A D.A.R. marker on the slab bears the words: "Revolutionary soldier, Peter Demoss, 1757-1841. Placed by Rebecca Boone Chapter, D. A. R." . . . [Note by compiler: Peter was reinterred in Grandview Cemetery, Mentor, Campbell County, KY, in 1965. Assuming that Peter died on 26 September 1841, and was 88 years, 9 months and 16 days old at the time of his death, Peter would have been born on 10 December 1752, according to the compiler's calculation. Elsewhere in this book, the author states that Peter was born on 11 November 1752. ]
      2. Box grave, slab inscription. "Sacred to the memory of Katherine, consort of Peter Demoss, who departed this life July 4, 1842, age 83 yrs., 10 mos., 18 das." [Note by compiler: Katherine was reinterred in Grandview Cemetery, Mentor, Campbell County, KY, in 1965. Assuming that Katharine died on 4 July 1842, and was 83 years, 10 months and 18 days old at the time of her death, Katherine would have been born on 16 August 1758, according to the compiler's calculation. Elsewhere in this book, the author states that Katherine was born on 16 September 1758.]

      * * *

      COPY MADE BY MRS. G. L. CAUGHRON, JULY, 1939, WHILE IN KENTUCKY, OF A DOCUMENT IN OFFICE OF CIRCUIT COURT OF FALMOUTH, KENTUCKY, (recently found on some old shelves, waterstained and hard to decipher).

      State of Kentucky, Sct. (Certificate).

      Penndleton Circuit Court, October term, 1820.

      On this 19th day of October 1820, personally appeared in open court, the same being a court of record by an Act of the General Assembley of the State aforesaid, Peter Demoss, who is now on the pension roll, agreeable to the provisions of Congress, entitled an Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War (passed on the 18th day of March 1818) aged sixty eight years, resident in Pendleton County, in the state and circuit court aforesaid, who being duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath declare he served in the Revolutionary War as follows, viz.: In the month of August in the year of 1775, he enlisted at Winchester, Va., under Captain John Neville and the 12th regiment (in the Virginia line) commanded by Col. Charles Scott, for during the war, and served as a soldier until the expiration of the war; but never obtained a regular discharge, owing to neglect and other causes not within his control. He further states that his original declaration (by virtue of which he was placed on the pension list under Act aforesaid) was made in the month of July or October 1818; and the number of his pension certificate is 5083. And in pursuance of the Act of the 1st of May, 1820, he further states on oath that he was a resident citizen of the United States on the 1st day of March 1818, and hath not since the time of (word illegible) by gift or sale or in any manner disposed of his property, or any part thereof with intent so as to diminish it as to bring himself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled: An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War, passed on the 18th day of March 1818; and that he does not now have any person in trust for him, any property or securities, contracts or debts against him, nor has he any other income than that which is contained in the schedule heretofore annexed and by him subscribed: which schedule is in the words and figures following, to wit: 345 acres of 3rd rate land, principally poor, rolling and broken, 200 acres of which is not paid for; about 25 acres clear and nearly worn out by cultivation; one mare, 12 head of cattle, including 7 calves, and yearlings; 7 head of sheep; twenty head of hogs, including10 shoats and pigs; one plain cupboard and some cupboard ware; five pieces of [illegible]; one set of knives and forks, and some few other household and kitching furniture, to the value of perhaps twenty dollars; necessary bedding and clothing not included in the above schedule. Said Demoss further declared on oath in open court, that he is a farmer, but that owing to old age and infirmity he is unable to earn a support by manual labor; and that his family consists of his aged wife, now sixty two years of age, who is also infirm, and his son (John Demoss) of the age of 18 years.

      Signed: Peter Demoss.

      Sworn to and declared this 19th day of October 1820.

      Signed: John Trimble, Circuit Judge.

      COPY OF PETER DEMOSS WILL, copied from certified copy made by R. A. Thomason, County Clerk of Pendleton Co., Kentucky, Nov. 11, 1938, and sent to Mrs. G. L. Caughron, Neodesha, Ks., by whom this copy is made.

      1841, November 12th.

      I, Peter Demoss, of the County of Pendleton and State of Kentucky, knowing that it is ordained, that all men must die and being advanced in age and frail in body, though sound in mind and memory, therefore make, constitute, appoint and publish, this my last Will and Testament (hereby revoking and disannulling any and former Wills and Testaments heretofore made by me)-I will, give, and bequeath as follows, to wit:

      1st. I will and bequeath unto my beloved son John Demoss, and in ease of his death before me the same becomes payable then to his lawful children the sum of fifty dollars to be paid as herein directed.

      2nd. I will and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Mary Grigg, and in case of her death before the same becomes payable, then to her lawful children, the sum of forty dollars, also to be paid as hereinafter directed.

      3rd. And unto my beloved son Charles Demoss, and in case of his death before the same becomes payable, then to his lawful children, I will and bequeath the sum of fifty dollars to be paid as hereinafter directed.

      4th. Unto my beloved daughter Catherine Herndon, late Catherine Barker, and case of her death before the same becomes payable, then to her lawful children, the sum of sixty dollars, to be paid as hereinafter directed.

      5th. I will and bequeath unto my beloved two grandchildren (the children of my deceased son David Demoss) Leander Demoss and Mary Demoss; and in the case of the death of either, before the age of twenty one years then to the survivor, the sum of fifty dollars, payable when and as hereinafter directed-and in case both die before they arrive at the age of twenty one years, then this legacy is to revert to my heirs jointly and equally, that is my children share and share alike; and my children's heirs shall take per sterpes, in case of either of my children leaving heirs.

      6th. And I also bequeath unto my beloved daughter Sally Barker and in case of her death before the same becomes payable then to her lawful issue, the sum of twenty five dollars, to be paid when, and as hereinafter directed.

      7th. I will and bequeath unto my beloved son Lewis Demoss and in case of his death before the same becomes payable to his lawful issue, the sum of thirty dollars, to be paid when and as hereinafter directed.

      8th. I will, give, and bequeath unto my beloved son with whom I have, together with my beloved wife Catherine resided for a number of years past, and myself and my sd. wife expect to live, so long as we or either of us survive, the plantation tract of land upon which we now live, unto the said Samuel Demoss and his heirs forever; the said plantation or tract of land containing about one hundred and seventy acres lying in the County of Pendleton, Kentucky, upon the Ohio River together with all and singular the appurtenances to said tract of land belonging, I will and bequeath unto my beloved son, the said Samuel Demoss. Nevertheless, this bequest of said plantation is made to my said son Samuel and his heirs, reserving thereout and therefrom, should my beloved wife and mother of said Samuel survive me, comfortable and ample support for my said wife, during her natural life, and it is my desire and wish that she remain with, and live with my said son Samuel during her life. And this bequeast of said plantation to my said son Samuel is made with the condition and proviso annexed, to wit: that he pay and satisfy out of his own means or own estate, within two years after and subsequent to my death, or within reasonable time after proper and legal demand of him subsequent and after the expiration of said two years, the above pecuniary legacies contained in the above seven items or bequeasts, together with 6% per annum interest upon each from the day of my death until paid. But a tender by said Samuel of either or all sd. legacies to those legally entitled shall discharge him from liability for interest from the time of tender thenceforward. But it is further my will, wish and desire, that non-compliance on the part of said Samuel in paying said pecuniary legacies shall forfeit legacy of sd. plantation to him, or operate to effect the same otherwise, further than, give an equitable [lien?] on said land, for the payment of all and each sd. pecuniary legacies, or as a charge or incumberance upon the same until all and each are paid as aforesaid [by?] Samuel.

      9th. It is further my will, desire, and bequeast that all my personal property of every kind whatsoever, be sold at auction, by my executioners [?], upon such credit as they may deem adviseable and the proceeds of the sale thereof, after first paying such debts as I may justly owe or my death may necessarily incur, equally divided among my immediate children, and in case of the death of either of them their children per sterpes share and share alike, my aforesaid two grandchildren to have one equal share, and my son Samuel to have nothing in the division of the proceeds of the sale hereby directed.

      Provided, nevertheless, should my beloved wife Catherine survive me, then and in that case all and every specie of personal property left at my death, she may see proper to select for her own personal use, or comfort, or desire, or wish to retain, for said purposes, is excepted out of, and is not included in this bequeast, and is not to he sold until her death.

      10th. And I do hereby nominate and constitute my beloved son Samuel Demoss and my son-in-law Elijahe Herndon, them or either of them, my executors to this my last Will and Testament. Made, published, signed and sealed this 25th day of March A.D. 1835.

      And attested in my presents by the subscribing. witnesses:

      Rob't. Taylor
      S. Tho. Hauser.
      G. G. Lighthouse.

      Signed:

      Peter Demoss. (Seal)

      State of Kentucky
      Pendleton County Court

      October Term 1841. viz.:

      Reuben McCarty Clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid, do certify that at a County Court held for the County aforesaid on Monday the 4th day of October 1841, The foregoing instrument of writing was produced in open court and proven by oaths of Samuel T. Hauser and George C. Lighthouse two of the subscribing witnesses thereto, and established by the said Court as the last will and testament of Peter Demoss deceased and ordered to be recorded.

      And therupon Elijah Herndon and Samuel DeMooss [?] the Eexecutioners [?] named in same will appeared in Court and made oath thereto according to law and together with William Rule and Wm. Ellis their sureties executed and acknowledged bond in the penalty of Six hundred dollars with condition according to law wherefore certificate was granted them for obtaining letters of Administration on the estate of Peter Demoss deceased with will annexed in due form of law which said will has been truly recorded in my office.

      Given under my hand this 7th day of October 1841.

      Signed:
      R. McCarty Clk.

      (3) www.findagrave.com:

      Peter DeMoss

      Birth: Dec. 11, 1752, New Jersey, USA [Note by compiler: According to The DeMoss Family in America, Peter was born on 11 November 1752 in VA.]

      Death: Sep. 27, 1841, Pendleton County, Kentucky, USA [Note by compiler: According to The DeMoss Family in America, Peter was died on 26 September 1841.]

      Revolutionary War soldier per DAR; Enlisted in the Army, Aug 1775; Peter reinlisted in 1776 and was assigned to the 12th Virginia Regiment; after Gen. George Washington was defeated by Howe at Germantown, Peter and his two brothers, Andrew and John, and the 12th Virginia Regiment wintered at Valley Forge with Washington; Peter was documented being in the battle of Monmouth, and given furlough afterwards. When he returned to his company, Cornwallis had surrendered to George Washington, and Peter was allowed to return home.

      Peter DeMoss and wife, Catherine, were originally interred on the graveyard property of the family home in Pendleton County. In 1965, they were reinterred in Grandview Cemetery, Mentor, Campbell County, Kentucky.

      Peter was the son of Charles and Fannie DeMoss, husband of Catherine Houseman, father of ten children. [Note by compiler: According to The DeMoss Family in America, Peter a son of Louis and Margaret DeMoss.]

      Burial: Grandview Cemetery, Mentor, Campbell County, Kentucky, USA
    Person ID I18662  Frost, Gilchrist and Related Families
    Last Modified 26 Mar 2024 

    Father Louis DeMOSS,   b. Between 1725 and 1730, MD Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Margaret COWHICK 
    Family ID F8333  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Catherine HOUSMAN,   b. 16 Aug 1758, Frederick County, VA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Jul 1842, Pendleton County, KY Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 83 years) 
    Marriage 27 May 1777  VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F8315  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 26 Mar 2024