John Henry Antes Jr. (1736 - 1820)

Born 5 Oct 1736 in Frederick, Montgomery, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Jul 1820 at age 83 in Nippenose Township, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ben Kanski [send private message]

Biography

John Antes Jr. is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-104142
Rank: Lt. Col.

Lt. Col. John Antes Jr. served with Northumberland County Militia, Pennsylvania Militia during the American Revolution.

John Antes Jr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A002859.

John Antes was born 5 Oct 1736. John Antes is well known for building and defending Antes Fort during the Big Runaway in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. He came to the area in 1772 where he built his home and lived until his passing. He passed away in 1820 and is buried in Antes Fort Cemetery. ^[1]

Military Service During the American Revolution

Lt. Col. Northumberland County Militia, Pennsylvania Militia, also Captain, Builder & Defender of Forts Antes.^[2]

When Indian hostilities broke out, he was appointed the captain of a company of 58 militiamen in the Second Battalion under Colonel James Potter, for the defense of the frontier in January 1775. By May 1777, he commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel of the Fourth Battalion of the militia.

Antes Fort and the Great Runaway

Antes fort was built on John's homestead in 1777. It had a stockade surrounding it. It's location has not been found but we do know that it was built on the plateau of the east side of the Antes Creek and overlooked the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

It held a gristmill at the mouth of the Antes Creek. There is no positive date for the stockade but we do know that by the time Indians became hostile it was built. The fort was on the hill overlooking the mill. The fort became a refuge for local settlers having a militia on hand that kept the communication routes open to Fort Muncy.

As tensions rose and battle came closer to the small communities in the northern and western branches of the Susquehanna River the need for protection increased. In the early summer news came that a group of Native American warriors were on their way west to destroy all of the settlements along the river and Colonel Hunter sent word to evacuate the region. Colonel Hepburn's messenger had some difficulties in delivering the message and so Robert Covenhoven and his companion delivered the message.

With the settlers floating down towards Fort Augusta and the settlements abandoned parties burnt their homes. Only Fort Antes and the Wallace House survived. He was one of the first settlers to return to his home after the Great Runaway.

Civilian Life

1775 - 1776 Justice of the Peace

1782 sheriff of Northumberland County.

1808- 1817 Governor of Pennsylvania

Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Ben Kanski, Thursday, August 22, 2013.
2. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed June 12, 2020), "Record of John Antes", Ancestor # A002859.

• Pa Forts : Fort Antes
• Find A Grave: Memorial #31126096 Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 June 2020), memorial page for LTC John Henry Antes (5 Oct 1736–13 Jul 1820), Find a Grave Memorial no. 31126096, citing Fort Antes Cemetery, Antes Fort, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Dee Antes Winters (contributor 47068075) .

Acknowledgements

• Thank you to Christopher Gorman for creating the profile Feb 2, 2014.
• Thank you to Ben Kanski for creating Antes-9 on 22 Aug 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Ben and others.