James Pugh (abt. 1749 - 1810)

Born about 1749 in Chester County, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Jane Jenny (Patterson) Pugh — married 1796 in Randolph North Carolina

Descendants

Died 1810 at about age 61 in Randolph County, North Carolina, USA [uncertain]

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James Pugh is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A106132.

James Pugh was born about 1749 in Chester County, Pennsylvania and his parents are Elizabeth (1709–1794) and Thomas Pugh, Sr. (1705–1797).

About 1755 his parents moved the family from Pennsylvania to North Carolina.

In May 1768 the Regulator Advertisement #9 went into circulation and was signed by Thomas Pugh, Sr. and his sons James, John, Enoch, and Jesse Pugh and sons-in-law John Fruit and William Walker. James and his brothers and their father were all involved in the regulator rebellion.

On 16 May 1771 the rebellion came to a head with the Battle of Alamance in North Carolina, James Pugh has been mistakenly named as one of the men hanged, but documentation and sources show otherwise. If the man hanged in 1771 was indeed named James Pugh, then it most certainly was not THIS James Pugh, ironically James' brother Enoch Pugh did die in 1771, probably on 16 May 1771 in the battle. Their father, Thomas Pugh, Sr. turned in the estate papers and Enoch's estate was probated in February 1772.

James Pugh married about 1776 in Randolph County, North Carolina, USA to Mrs. Jane "Jenny" (Patterson) Ward (1754–1830), daughter of Isabella and Nathaniel Patterson; and widow of Thomas Ward.

In 1780 he served as a road overseer in Randolph County, North Carolina. ^[1]

The last Will of his father, Thomas Pugh, Sr., mentioned his living children, Peninah (Pugh) Walker, John Pugh, Thomas Pugh and James Pugh who was named executor. ^[2] James received the 221 acre property and his father's farm. ^[3]

On 01 April 1800 James Pugh paid for the marriage bond of Thomas Ward (his stepson) and Elizabeth Pugh (his niece). ^[4]

On 26 Oct 1802 James Pugh paid for the marriage bond of James Ward (his stepson) and Martha McDaniel. ^[4]

On 18 May 1806 James Pugh paid for the marriage bond of Jacob Pugh (his nephew) and Dorcas Glascow. ^[4]

James Pugh made his own Will on 14 February 1810 which mentioned ...

- his wife Jane and their two children Jane and Jesse

- his brothers, Thomas Pugh, John Pugh

- sister Peninah (Pugh) Walker

- Thomas Ward (his wife's deceased husband) and their son, William Ward

executors: wife Jane and his "trusty friend" Jacob Pugh (who was also his nephew)

witnesses: his 3 stepsons, Minus, William & James WARD. ^[5]

He passed away in 1810 and was buried at the Old Campbell Cemetery, later known as the Pugh/Fruit/Campbell Cemetery near Liberty, Randolph County, North Carolina, USA. ^{[6] [7] [8]} The small family cemetery was put on the adjoining corners of the land owned by the Pugh, Fruit, and Campbell families. It is located in a wooded section of land, near the back of the farm.

In May 1810 his estate was in the probate court of Randolph County, North Carolina, USA. ^[9]

Children

1. Jane "Jenny" Pugh, b: 29 Apr 1797; m: Joel McDaniel
2. Jesse Enoch Pugh, b: 25 May 1802; m: Nancy Reece.

Will

In the name of God Amen, I, James Pugh, being very in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, therefor calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and testament - that is to say, I mindfully and first of all, I recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it; and for my body I resign it to the earth, to be buried in a decent Christian like manner at the discretion of my exit not dwelling, but that of great and general resurrection I shall be ____ it again by the love of almighty God.

And as having such worldly estate where with it hath pleased god to ____ me in the life I give, divine and ______ of in the following manner.

First, I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife, Jane Pugh, all my estate, both real and personal, during her life of widowhood to be to her use and the maintenance of my children.

I further will that when my beloved daughter, Jenny Pugh, shall marry or arrive to the age of eighteen, and then shall be given to her as a marriage fraction, one likely have a mare saddle and bridle, two cows, two ewes, one good bed and furniture and other household furniture at the discretion of my estate.

I further will that may either conceive there is any property which is necessary to be attached to the estate for the maintenance of my beloved wife and children that they may _____ _____ the same to sale to the best advantage and the net proceeds to be placed in the hands of a guardian to the only use and behalf of my beloved daughter Jenny.

I further will that at my wife's death all my personal estate, save the reservation hereafter, be made sale of to the best advantage and the net proceeds also to be put in the hands of the guardian of my beloved daughter Jenny to her only and sole use.

I further will and bequeath to my well and beloved son, Jesse E. Pugh, all of my real estate and choices in certain to him for him and ____ forever.

Also so one negro boy shall be subject to the maintenance of my beloved wife during her life of widowhood.

I further will that my beloved son Jesse shall have privilege to ___ from the stock in ___ two colts, two calves, two sows.

If both my children should die without I love (?) and before they come of age, I will that all my estate, both real and personal, be ___ to sell and the one half of the net proceeds to be given to my well beloved brother, Thomas Pugh, and the other half to be equally divided between my well beloved brother, John Pugh, and sister, Peninah Walker.

Further be observed that out of my personal estate there is to be taken an estate of Thomas Ward, deceased, the children constituting which will be found in an inventory dated September the third, one thousand eight hundred and eight, signed with my own hand countersigned by my wife, tested by William Ward.

I make constitute ordain and appoint my well beloved wife, Jane Pugh, and my trusty friend, Jacob Pugh, my only and sole estate of their my last will and testament, And I do hereby willingly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former Will and testament what so ever, satisfy and confirming this is and no other to be my last Will and testament. In writing where of I have here unto set my hand and affirmed my seal this day of Feb 1810.

(signature) James Pugh (seal)

Signed in the presence of ...

W. Ward

John Ward

M. Ward. ^[9]

Research Notes

Probably originating from the unscholarly "Sketches of North Carolina" written by Rev. William Henry Foote published in 1846 and still in circulation, the unsubstantiated claim is that James Pugh was and expert sharpshooter and gunsmith that shot 15 of Tyron's men and delivered a pretty piece of oratory on the hangman's platform. The bronze plaque probably got the martyr's name from Foote. The authoritative modern study of the battle mentions neighbors Husband, Hunter and Field but does not mention James Pugh. Furthermore a gunsmith was an unlikely trade for the son of a Quaker family, and 15 men killed in wrong for Tyron's total loss of nine.

quote: "Despite the claims in various published sources, James Pugh was NOT among the men hanged by Tyron. He appears in the 1779 and 1780 Randolph County tax list and the 1790 census, served as road overseer in 1780, had children born after 1771, and he left a Will in 1810, that bequeathed the same 221 acres that he inherited from his father, Thomas Pugh. ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ North Carolina Archives records
2. ↑ North Carolina Wills for father, Thomas Pugh, Sr., dated: 10 Aug 1794; d: 30 Nov 1797; proved: Feb 1798 Randolph County, North Carolina; executor: son. James Pugh
3. ↑ Land Deed records Guilford County, North Carolina; citing Deed book#1
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} North Carolina marriage bonds 1741-1868
5. ↑ North Carolina Wills and Probate records 1665-1998
6. ↑ "Old Campbell Cemetery" graveyard census reading done in 1979, for Randolph County Cemetery Records, IV
7. ↑ Cemetery records of Randolph County, North Carolina in book at Salt Lake City Family History Library on 10 July 2003
8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #67534216 for James Pugh. b: 1749 Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA; d: 1810 Randolph County, North Carolina, USA; buried: Campbell and Pugh Cemetery, Liberty, Randolph County, North Carolina, USA; with gravestone photo
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} North Carolina Wills and Probate records 1665-1998 for Will of James Pugh, dated: 14 Feb 1810; probate: May 1810 Randolph County, North Carolina
10. ↑ Randolph County Genealogy Newsletter v13

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 10 Mar 2023), "Record of James Pugh", Ancestor # A106132.

• 1779 Tax list of Randolph County, North Carolina for James Pugh

• 1785 Tax list of Randolph County, North Carolina for James Pugh

• 1790 USA Census of Randolph County, North Carolina; for James Pugh

• 1800 USA Census of Randolph County, North Carolina; for James Pugh

• Randolph County Genealogical Journal in 1934; v4, #5, p12-13

• "James Pugh, Regulator, Sharpshooter: A Conundrum Unfolded" by Stephen C. Compton & E. W. Caruthers

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Pugh-291 was created on 04 Oct 2011 by Elizabeth Rankin through the import of Rankin-Ridgdill Family Tree.ged