Pension Application of James Trenor: S30170
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
[The copy of the application filed in
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
December 14, 1923
Francis B. Culver
Sir:
In response
to your letter dated the third, ult., you are advised that it appears from the
papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S.30170, that James Trenor was
born March 24, 1757, in the vicinity of Dublin, Ireland, from which place he
sailed in April 1775, arriving in Baltimore, Maryland, the following June, that
in May 1776, while residing in Bedford County, Virginia, he volunteered in the
Cherokee Expedition commanded by Colonel William Christian. He served at
various times eighteen months in the
After the
Revolutionary War he moved to
He was
allowed pension on his application executed November 11, 1833 while a resident
of
Respectfully,
[No signature]
Commissioner.
Posters Note: James Trenor was married to Elizabeth Goggin on April 4, 1786 in
Elizabeth Goggin was born April 8,
1758 in Bedford, County; She died September 27, 1826
in
Last Will
& Testament of James Trenor
This Last Will and Testament of James Trenor was transcribed from a copy of the
original will which is located in Botetourt County Court House, Fincastle,
Virginia
In the name of God, Amen: - I, James Trenor, of the county of Botetourt, and
the state of Virginia, being at this present of sound mind and disposing
memory, for which I thank God altho' appertaining
fast to the grave and feeling my bodily infirmity and calling to mind the
uncertainty of human life and being desirous to dispose of all such earthly
estate as it has pleased God to bless me with, I give and bequeath the same in
the manner following that is to say. (Paper marked B). Imprinces:
I recommend my soul to God, in humble hope of mercy, through Jesus Christ, and
my body to the earth and request that it may be deposed by the side of my
spouse in a plain decent and orderly manner, without ostentation or funeral
obsequies; Item 1st. I desire that all just debts and funeral expenses be paid,
and that my executor here after named shall sell, immediately after my decease,
as much perishable property as will be sufficient to defray the same, in the
usual manner that such sales are conducted, taking care to get substantial
security for the purchase money, with legal interest from the date, if not
punctually paid, and the balance to be assigned to my creditors for their
respective claims when properly established according to law. Item 2nd. I give and bequeath to my grandson, Garwood Goggin Trenor the plantation, where he and his father
George H. Trenor, now lives on the waters of Sinking Creek, a branch of New
River in the county of Botetourt, containing 220 acres, be the same more or
less surveyed by Robert Anderson, Deputy under Col. William Anderson, Principal
Surveyor of Botetourt, on the 18th of June 1832, and recorded in his office in
Book No. 5, and page 222, formerly known by the name of William Thompson's
place, being part of the 400 acres purchased of Gen. James Breckenridge and
Patrick Lockhart, and part of 100 acres purchased from Robert Anderson, and
part of 420 acres purchased from James and Mary Lockhart, heirs of Patrick
Lockhart, and also two negro slaves to wit: Charles and Milly
and her future increase to his heirs so long as slavery is tolerated in this
state provided, however, that his father, George H. Trenor is to have the use
and occupation of the land and slaves during his natural life, provided, also,
that if the mother of the said Garwood G. Trenor, shall have more children by
the said George H. Trenor, then and in that case, I give and bequeath the said
land to be equally divided between Garwood and his brother or brothers, if any
should be, and one third of the slaves and to the female or females, if any
should be, the other two-thirds of the said slaves, still reserving an interest
in and to said land and slaves to the said George H. Trenor's
wife Sarah, if she outlives him, during her widowhood and no longer. Also, I
give and bequeath to the said Garwood G. Trenor, one plain bed and furniture. Item 3rd. I give and bequeath to the Worshipful Court of
Botetourt County, in trust for my son James Rowland Trenor, the upper part of
my land where on I now reside on the waters of Sinking Creek, a branch of New
River, in the county of Botetourt, formerly known by the name of the Thompson's
place, containing 460 acres, be the same more or less surveyed by Robert
Anderson, Deputy for Col. Wm. Anderson, principle surveyor of this county, on
the 19th of June 1832 and recorded in his office in Book No. 5 page 224, being
part of 400 acres purchased from Gen. James Breckenridge and Patrick Lockhart
and part of one hundred acres purchased from Ro. Anderson and part of 420 acres
purchased from James and Mary Lockhart, heirs of Patrick Lockhart, deceased, including
100 acres, by patent bearing date the 15th day of March 1803, adjoining Robert
Wiley's Bellevue seat and John McIver's old place, also three negro slaves
to-wit: a negro boy named London, and two female slaves Abby and Patsy her
daughter, and their future increase to them and their successors in trust so
long as slavery is tolerated in this state, provided, however, that the said
James R. Trenor is to have the use and occupation of the said land and slaves,
and their future increase during his natural life provided that his present
wife known by the name of Ann Lake, should survive him, then and in that case
her present son Napoleon and daughter Elizabeth and any other children she may
have by her said husband James R. Trenor, she is to have the houses, spring and
orchard adjoining the houses, the meadow on the N.E. of the spring branch, the
barn and the barn-field and all the cultivated land from the fence adjoining
the graveyard up towards Bellevue, and one-third of the slaves, for the support
and education of her children until they come of age or married, and she
remaining his widow and supporting a chaste character and no longer her
deviation will forfeit inheritance after his death. The S.W. side of the
spring-branch and all the land above the graveyard to be rented out for the
support of my two grandchildren, Alexander and Lucinda until they arrive at
full age or married, and if she forfeits her interest in and to said land and
slaves, I give and bequeath the whole 460 acres of land with its appurtenances
and all the slaves to the son of my only brother, George H. Trenor, dec'd named Valentine Lawless Trenor, aged about 34 years
(if living) and to his heirs forever, provided that he is dead. I give and
bequeath said land and slaves to my four sisters to wit: Mary, Esther, Susannah
and Ann and to their heirs forever. Item 4th. I give
and bequeath to the male children of my daughter Polly Kyle McIver all the land
below the division line run out by Ro. Anderson, Deputy under Col. Wm.
Anderson, principal surveyor of Botetourt County, containing 161 acres to the
same more or less being part of 420 acres purchased from James and Mary
Lockhart, heirs of Patrick Lockhart dec'd, and
surveyed 22nd day of October 1831 and recorded in Col. Anderson's office in Book
5 page 223 which includes Thomas Reynolds' improvement at the big spring lying
and being in the county of Botetourt, on the waters of Sinking Creek, a branch
of the New River, and to their heirs forever, provided however, that their
mother Polly K. McIver is to have the use and occupation of the said land
during her natural life. Item 5th. - I give and
bequeath to my grandson Alexander Trenor all the land above the mouth of the Pucket's spring branch, 205 acres be the same more or less,
being part of 220 acres purchased from James and Mary Lockhart heirs of Patrick
Lockhart, deceased, lying and being in the county of Botetourt, on the waters
of Sinking Creek, a branch of the New River, surveyed by Ro. Anderson a deputy
of Col. Wm. Anderson, principal surveyor of Botetourt County, on the 18th day
of June 1832, and recorded in his office in Book No. 5 page 224, and it is my
will and desire that it shall be rented out immediately after the expiration of
David Ferrell's lease which will expire on the 10th of March next, for cash for
the benefit of Alexander and his sister, Lucinda, until they are of age, or
married, the rent to be applied in clothing and giving them a good English
education. I also give and bequeath to the said Alexander two negro boys named Drry and Hartwell, and one girl named Louisa and her future
increase to him and his heirs so long as slavery is tolerated in this state,
but if he should die before he is of age or married, then and in that case I
give and bequeath the said land and slaves to my four sisters and my nephew
Valentine Lawless Trenor, all in the kingdom of Ireland to their heirs forever.
Also the said Alexander all ciphering Books and one half of my printed Books,
my bed and furniture one secretary and bookcase provided however, that if the
said Alexander should die before he becomes of age or married, then and in that
case the above property is to revert to his sister Lucinda and to the heirs of
her body. Item 6th. I give and bequeath to Thomas Eaken Of John's Creek, in trust for my grandson Alexander
Trenor, one young sorrel filly named Venus to be sold immediately after my
decease, on two years credit with good security and if not punctually paid with
interest from the date and the money when collected to be loaned out yearly on
interest to good and sufficient men with security as aforesaid until said
Alexander is of full age or married, and if said Alexander should die before
that period, the money arising to revert to his sister Lucinda to be paid out
in a Judicious manner in purchasing for either of the survivors a young horse
or mare, bridal, saddle, bed and furniture if the money will accomplish them.
Also, in trust for the said Alexander one large silver soup spoon engraved with
J.T., six silver table spoons engraved with J.T., six silver Tea spoons
engraved with J.T., and one sugar tongs engraved with J.T., also 9 silver coat
and 9 silver vest buttons, also one house-case containing seven large and six
small double flint bottles and two large glasses to be delivered to him when he
comes of age, or married, and if he should die before that period they are to
revert to his sister Lucinda, with the exception of the house-case, bottles,
glasses and silver buttons, which I give and bequeath to Garwood G. Trenor and
his heirs forever. Item 7th. I give and bequeath to my
granddaughter Lucinda Trenor one negro girl slave named Charlotte and her
future increase, to her and to the heirs of her body so long as slavery is
tolerated in this state, and if her father, James R. Trenor should die before
she becomes of lawful age or married, then and in that case the said slaves are
to be immediately hired out for her and her brother Alexander's benefit until
said Lucinda is of age or married, but if the said Lucinda should die without
children and in that case I give and bequeath the said slaves and their
increase to her brother Alexander and to his heirs so long as slavery is
tolerated in this state. As I have no power or control over his father, James
Rowland Trenor's property, I can only recommend and
earnestly request that he will give his daughter Lucinda, on her marriage, her
mother's bed, bedstead and furniture and silver teaspoons. Item
8th. I give and bequeath to my four sisters in
(Signed, sealed, and published by the said James Trenor in the presence of us,
who have subscribed our names in his presence)
Source of Will: Stephen A. Taylor [email protected]
James Trenor, born 24 March 1757 in Dublin, Ireland, married on 14 April 1758 at Liberty, Virginia {now Bedford}, marriage bond was issued in Rustburg, in Campbell Co. to Elizabeth Goggin, born 8 April 1758, a daughter of Stephen Goggin and his first wife. Stephen was also from Ireland. James Trenor was opposed to the English domination of Ireland. He left Ireland and came to America. He volunteered in the Cherokee Expedition {Holston River Area near Kingsport,Tennessee} in May 1776, commanded by Col. William Christian. He was appointed Sergeant on November 7,1780 in Col.Gibson's Company (Virginia Troops). He also served as a substitute for Samuel Pepper after moving to Montgomery County, Virginia. He was promoted to Commissioner of Spies on 1 May 1781. He was honorably discharged 1 January 1782 from Lt. Col. Gorken's 3rd. Regt. He moved to Botetourt County, Virginia and was Deputy Sheriff in 1784 under Patrick Lockhart. He also served as Commissioner of the Revenue for Botetourt County from 1801 - 1822. James sailed from Ireland in April 1775 and arrived in Baltimore in June 1775. He entered service from Bedford County, VA in 1776 and served until 1779. He taught school in Montgomery County, Virginia. He entered service again in 1780 and served until 1782. Page 687 DAR Patriot Index: James Trenor, died 3 July 1834; married Elizabeth Goggin; Sgt.P.S., Virginia. The Revolutionary War Records of James Trenor will be found in Revolutionary War Files # 30,170. Pension Records & Credentials, Washington, D.C.. Will of James Trenor (see above) and Deed Books in the Clerks Office, Botetourt County Courthouse, Fincastle, Virginia. and Family Bible. James was married to Elizabeth Goggin by the Rev. Jon. White Holt on 14 April 1786 at Liberty, Virginia. James Trenor's family bible (which was owned by Craig Trenor) was printed in Edinburgh by Mark and Charles Kerr, his majesty's printers in the year 1739. James Trenor homesteaded about 900 acres of mountain land in Craig County, Virginia near the Sinking Creek area west of Roanoke. Elizabeth: She died at Sinking Creek (Craig County), Virginia.