Jacob C Biffle (1763 - 1844)

Born 2 Mar 1763 in Rowan County, North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah Isabella (Hicks) Biffle — married 1832 (to 16 Feb 1844) in Maury, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 16 Feb 1844 at age 80 in Hampshire, Maury County, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Jacob Biffle was a North Carolina colonist.

Jacob Biffle served with Sullivan County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Jacob was born in 1763.^[1] His birth occurred in Rowan County, North Carolina on 2 Mar 1763,^[2] and he was named Jacob C Biffle/Biffel. He was the son of Johann Adam Biffle (born Germany)^[3] and Catherine Henckel (born Pennsylvania).^[4][5]

Jacob grew up on the frontier, in Rowan County, North Carolina, which had no western border at the time, except the Blue Ridge mountains were not to be crossed.^[6] Sometime between August 7, 1778, and July 29, 1779, the Biffle family moved west through the Yadkin Valley, over the mountains to the south side of the Holston River, which was Indian lands, closed to white settlers.^[7]

At age 16, Jacob was called up by the militia, in 1779 or 1780, for a three months' tour of duty.^[8] Probably Jacob Biffle's brother, John Biffle; his brother-in-law, John Jacob Eller, Jr.; and his friend, John Weaver, soon to be another brother-in-law, were in the same militia, but there is no proof.^[7]The British were doing all they could to keep the Indians stirred up. The settlers all were vulnerable to Indian attack, and all had to do what they could to help one another survive. Many families fled the area because of the danger.^[6]

His group rendezvoused on Watauga River under Col. Shelby and Genl. Cambell. They marched across the Yellow Mountain to King's Mountain, where Ferguson was defeated. Col. Sevier was along when they crossed the Yellow Mountain. Cols. Cleveland and McDowell joined them after they crossed the mountain. Ferguson was killed in the battle; many of the British were killed and a good many prisoners were taken. Nine Tories were hung by Cambell; another was ordered to be hung but he made his escape.

They then marched on towards Moravian Towns. One night two Tories broke custody. One escaped, but the other was shot and crippled, and was hung. The next morning the nine were hung upon a pine and a post oak. They went to the Yadkin River, where they were discharged by their officers, and went home.

The year that Cornwallis was taken, he was called out under Col. Shelby and Cap. Topp, at the same place and marched over the same mountain. They marched across North Carolina into South Carolina, frequently skirmishing with the Tories; marched near Charlestown and took a hospital containing (he thought) about 80 prisoners. They hunted the Tories in different directions. They then returned to the Santee River, where they were dismissed by the Col. and returned home in small parties. In crossing the Yellow Mountain, the Indians wounded and plundered one of his mess-mates, James Medlock.

Shortly after his return, in the March after (he thought) the Indians (Cherokees of Lower Towns) harassed the frontiers. He was called out in class (he thought) under Col. Shelby at Big Creek on waters of Holston River, their rendezvous. A big snow fell about the time they met. The officers, Shelby and others, thought the weather too bad for all to go; he then called for volunteers. Jacob was one who went.

About 30 volunteered, with Cap. King commanding and Cap. Amy [or Arny?] acting as their commissary. They hunted the Indians along the frontier. At one place they discovered an Indian sitting over a fire. Cap. King shot and killed the Indian, and immediately another jumped up. Several fired and killed him also. They were engaged along the frontiers all the time of this trip.^[8]

When he first moved over the mountains, the area was called Sullivan County, North Carolina. A few years later it became part of the State of Franklin, which only lasted about four years.^[9] Some years after the war, in 1787, Jacob moved with his family to Burke County, North Carolina,^[8] and in 1791 when Buncombe County was formed, he found himself living in the new county.^[10]

In the fall of 1786, John and Elizabeth (Biffle) Weaver, Jacob's sister and brother-in-law, left where they were living in Happy Valley, in present Carter County, Tennessee (formerly Watauga Settlement before it became a part of Washington County, North Carolina in 1777), crossed the Appalachian Mountains by way of the Bald Mountain in present Yancey County, North Carolina, and continued on until they came to the beautiful valley later called Rims Creek, in Burke (present Buncombe) County, North Carolina. Elizabeth's parents, Adam and Catherine (Henckel) Biffle, her two brothers, Jacob and John Biffle with their families, plus William Deaver and family arrived from Sullivan County, North Carolina^[7] probably about 1788.^[6] After a few years Jacob moved further west,^[8] and again found himself in a new county in 1808 when Haywood County was formed from Buncombe County.^[11] In 1810, he moved to Maury County, Tennessee,^[8][7] where he lived until his death.^[5]

Jacob was married to Mary "Polly" Deaver,^[5] probably about 1786 in Sullivan County, State of Franklin, which had been formed the year after he returned from military service.^[9] They were the parents of eight children:

1. John Barnett (1785-11 Jan 1836), married 1814 to Mary Chambers^[12]
2. Valentine (8 Sep 1787- 11 Feb 1855), married 14 Sep 1841 to Elizabeth Koonce^[13]
3. Elizabeth (abt. 1788-8 Apr 1843), married William Columbus Burns
4. Nathan (17 Mar 1792-3 May 1853), married Ursula Isom^[14]
5. Susan (1793-13 Jul 1836), married 1810 to Miles Burns (24 May 1784-12 Oct 1836)
6. Jacob (abt. 1794-abt. Sep 1830), married Eleanor Victoria Akin
7. Milia Emily (1 Jun 1795-28 Mar 1871), married before 1815 to Samuel Akin^[15]
8. Catherine Love (abt. 1796-May 1854), married before 1830 to John Williamson Akin^[16][17]

In 1832, Jacob was married to Hannah Isabella (Hicks) Meek,^[5] probably in Maury County, Tennessee.^[6]

Jacob Biffle passed away in 1844,^[1] on 16 Feb in Maury County, Tennessee. He is buried in Pisgah Cemetery, Hampshire, Maury County, Tennessee.^[5]

Research Notes

Census records, deeds and other records should be added to establish migrations.

Some sources omit the son, John, from the list of children. The young males in the household already do not agree with the supposed family as listed in Find-A-Grave, showing only two males born before 1800. The number and ages of the females does agree. Perhaps two of the boys under 10 were staying with relatives, although not the grandparents, according to the 1800 census.

Find-A-Grave adds a son William Biffle, born 1 Jul 1803, died 31 Aug 1885 (aged 82); buried in Pisgah Cemetery, Hampshire, Maury County, Tennessee, USA, where others of the family are buried. He married Frances Isom, and had a family.^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Entered by Andi Walker, Friday, December 20, 2013
2. ↑ Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898
3. ↑ Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898
4. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4} Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/13337925/jacob-biffle : accessed 29 June 2021), memorial page for Jacob Biffle (2 Mar 1763–16 Feb 1844), Find a Grave Memorial ID 13337925, citing Pisgah Cemetery, Hampshire, Maury County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Dedman Institute (contributor 49333941).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Kerns, Margaret Ann (Kepner), 729 NW 1101 Road, Urich, Missouri 64788; conjecture based on history and reasoning
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} Some Early History of Rims Creek Valley, by Blanche R. Robertson; A speech delivered by Pamela Ballard for the D.A.R. meeting held at the Asheville Country Club, Asheville, North Carolina, January 13, 1999
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4} U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900, file S3003 Jacob Biffel/Biffle
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/true-story-short-lived-state-franklin-180964541/
10. ↑ Everton, George B. Sr.; Handy Book for Genealogists, fifth edition, The Everton Publishers, Inc., 1969, Logan, Utah, page 191
11. ↑ Everton, George B. Sr.; Handy Book for Genealogists, fifth edition, The Everton Publishers, Inc., 1969, Logan, Utah, page 192
12. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/75235405/john-barnett-biffle : accessed 29 June 2021), memorial page for John Barnett Biffle (1790–11 Jan 1836), Find a Grave Memorial ID 75235405, citing Dabbs Cemetery, Buffalo Valley, Lewis County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Betty Aronson (contributor 47077879).
13. ↑ Tennessee, U.S., Marriage Records, 1780-2002 for Valentine Biffle, Marshall, Maury County, 1808-1867, page 89, frame 216 of 661; No. 613, license issued 14 Sep 1841, solemnized same day
14. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/61912866/nathan-biffle : accessed 29 June 2021), memorial page for Nathan Biffle (16 May 1792–3 May 1853), Find a Grave Memorial ID 61912866, citing Zion Cemetery, Ashland, Wayne County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by JD (contributor 47384907).
15. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/13337082/milia-akin : accessed 29 June 2021), memorial page for Milia Biffle Akin (1 Jun 1795–28 Mar 1871), Find a Grave Memorial ID 13337082, citing Pisgah Cemetery, Hampshire, Maury County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Dedman Institute (contributor 49333941).
16. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/130596805/catherine-love-akin : accessed 29 June 2021), memorial page for Catherine Love Biffle Akin (1796–May 1854), Find a Grave Memorial ID 130596805, citing Pisgah Cemetery, Hampshire, Maury County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Jackie Wood (contributor 47198317).
17. ↑ North Carolina, Buncombe County, Federal Census Population Schedule, page 163 line 4
18. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/26081330/william-biffle : accessed 29 June 2021), memorial page for William Biffle (31 Jul 1803–31 Aug 1885), Find a Grave Memorial ID 26081330, citing Pisgah Cemetery, Hampshire, Maury County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Mary Bob McClain (contributor 46546099).

See also:

• Known Children of Catherine Henkle and Johannes Adam Buffel see https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/10784999/person/25785528065/media/d78d54c3-1fdf-40e9-91c8-3fa7ded2ed85?_phsrc=tuH1560&usePUBJs=true
• https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/12270426/person/12769067595/media/cfeffb43-fbbd-40c6-918a-a9f1d0c25ac4 gallery for a copy of the DAR speech
• Published and referenced family history of Jacob C Biffle (includes militia pay voucher No. 2093 dated 13 Aug 1782 for 20 pounds eighteen shillings six pence in specie--rather a lot for the time. This must have covered services for a long time, or perhaps includes reimbursement for a horse and/or materials furnished)
• https://wilsonfamilytreealbumblog.wordpress.com/family-pages/jacob-c-biffle/
• Jacob Biffle served in the Revolutionary War, DAR database, Ancestor #A009990
• https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/97359/person/-2127247306/media/0f56b079-0867-4f83-bfdc-4543673c7bda?_phsrc=dNA771&_phstart=success

Source has a copy of a family records page from an old Bible, which is not useable due to not having the title page, and entries being marked through, but shows deaths as given above for Susan and Miles Burns. Information from the profile shows her to be Susan Biffle. The deaths were marked out because they had been put in the births column.