Vachal Light (1763 - 1850)

Born 1763 in Halifax, Virginia

Ancestors

Died 27 May 1850 at about age 87 in Sullivan, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Private Vachal Light served with Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

Vachal Light is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A209973.

Vachal Light is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: [1]
Rank: Private

Vachel Light was born 1763 in Halifax county, Virginia, the son of William Light [Light-872] and Patience Dillingham [Dillingham-234]. ^[1]

Vachel served as a young Private in the Virginia Militia during the American Revolutionary War. Vachel's service records are documented in Pension Number *S1551. Vachel Light is part of the Light DNA Project: Patriarchs. Vachal/Vachel Light, b 1763 Halifax County, VA, d May 27, 1850, Sullivan County, TN, m Sarah (Barnard?) ^[2]

At the start of the war, Vachel would have been only thirteen years of age, and he would not have been a regular soldier. According to his own sworn testimony, Vachel enlisted in 1780 in the militia of Virginia, and he substituted for one William Hodge a drafted militia man. ^[3]

The state Militia was made up of every able body man who was old enough to fire a gun. After a local skirmish, he would return to his home and business. Vachel served with Captain Cob and Captain Joshua Powell, under the Command of General Muhlenburgh, a local minister. It is said that Virginia’s Maj. Gen. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg removed his robes after preaching a sermon to reveal a Continental uniform underneath, then proceeded to raise an entire regiment from his congregation. ^[4]

Application for membership in the DAR have been filed through descendants of his son Right Light, born of Vachel's wife, Sarah.

DAR Record

Light, Vachal DAR Patriot Ancestor #: A209973 Service: Virginia Militia Rank: Private Birth: 1763 Halifax Co Virginia Death: 5-27-1850 Sullivan Co Tennessee. Pension Number: *S1551. Service Description: 1) Captains Cobb, Joshua Powell; General Muhlenburgh. Spouse: Sarah X ^[5]

Researcher's Notes

DAR records indicate that Vachel died May 27, 1850, in Sullivan county, Tennessee. His F.A.G. memorial gives Jonesborourgh, Washington county, Tennessee as his place of death. There is a photograph of his headstone on his memorial, as well as flags being placed by members of the DAR. The picture identifies some of his descendants, who are DAR members. ^[6]

Sarah Light died in 1850 at the age of 90 according to Federal Census Mortality Schedules (1850-1880). Her estimated year of birth would be circa 1760. ^[7] Vachel and Sarah are buried in the Light Cemetery, in Kingsport, Sullivan county, Tennessee, but her Find A Grave indicates that she is the daughter of John Barnard (1755 - 1812) and Sarah Bachman Barnard Lane (1768 - 1840), which is of course impossible, as she was born too early to be their child.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/vachel-light_16976329
2. ↑ https://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/light/pats
3. ↑ http://www.revwarapps.org/s1551.pdf
4. ↑ https://allthingsliberty.com/2015/11/peter-muhlenberg-the-pastor-turned-soldier/
5. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 13 July 2021), "Record of Light, Vachal", Ancestor # A209973.
6. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=14724&GRid=41953066&
7. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=fls&FLid=107313284&FLgrid=66402114