Robert Vance (abt. 1746 - 1818)

Born about 1746 in Spotsylvania (later Frederick) County, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Jean (White) Vance — married 24 Mar 1775 in , Culpeper County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 18 Aug 1818 at about age 72 in Coraopolis, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Captain Robert Vance served with 9th Virginia Regiment (1776), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

"According to family tradition, Robert Vance married Jean White on 20 Mar 1775. Jean was thought to be born in 1746, a date used in four SAR applications. Their home was reported as being about one-fourth of a mile from Fort Vance, which is consistent with the 1937 historical marker. No information could be found on where or when Robert met Jean, but they were married about three months after Robert served in Lord Dunmore’s War. Robert and Jean had ten children; the first was David, born 1777 while Lt. Robert was serving in the 13th VA Regiment at Fort Pitt. It should be noted that Indian hostilities had increased dramatically in 1777 and continued through 1782. Westmoreland County was a very dangerous place to live; many early settlers fled to safer locations in the east. Their second child, Sarah was born 1779, probably while Capt. Robert was on leave of absence from the 9th Virginia Regiment. Their third child, Samuel was born 1781. Jean died in May 1834 and is buried in Three Springs Cemetery in Holiday’s Cove, Hancock County, WV."^[1]

Birth

Mar 1730 Frederick, Virginia, USA^[2]

Death

18 Aug 1818^[3][4]

Marriage

Husband: Robert Vance

Wife: Jean White

Marriage 24 Mar 1775 Culpeper, Virginia, USA^[5]

Captain Robert Vance was a patriot of the Revolutionary War and an early pioneer in the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania area. He was born about 1736 (more likely 1746) in Virginia to Samuel and Sarah (Colvill) Vance. He married Jean White on 24 March 1775 in Culpepper, Virginia. They were reportedly the parents of David, Samuel, Sarah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Jane, Robert, John, William, and Andrew. Captain Vance died on 18 Aug 1818, according to the Vermont Gazette, in Pittsburgh.

Some of his accomplishments may have been embelished over time, but it is indisputable that he served his country with great devotion from 1776 to 1781.

According research from the City of Coraopolis, Vance is reputed to have been the first permanent white settler in the area that is now Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. He took up settlement near Montour's tract about 1773. For the protection of his small group of neighbors and his own family against attacks from hostile tribes, Vance built a stockade which became known as Vance's Fort or Fort Vance. He served in the French and Indian Wars at the Braddock expedition under the command of George Washington. He is also reputed to have been charged with the secret burial of General Braddock after Braddock's defeat.

Vance served in the Revolutionary War in the 9th and 13th Virginia Regiments eventually gaining the ranks of lieutenant and Captain. Some sources say he served at Valley Forge.

In a letter written to his brother Sam on August 2, 1792, we hear the words of one aging patriot to another - both who had grown old in the service of their country:

August 2, 1792 "We have 11 of a family and I am growing old and not able to do much, but the boys is growing up to help me, and I have no reason to complain... Oh, Sam, let you and I be very busy and up and doing while it is day. For the Lord cometh wherein no man can work. There is no work done in the grave were we are fast a hastening. Let us try to make our Call and Election sure by getting an interest in Jesus Christ and a hiding place to cover us from the wrath of God that will surely overtake a Christless world. I hope you will set a pious and Exemplary Life before your children for example is more powerful than precept and heads of families have a great charge the charge of precious souls the value of one of which is worth more than ten thousand worlds. May God grant his grace to each of us and able us to discharge every duty incumbent on us and prepare us here in the Kingdom of Grace for the enjoyment of Himself in the Kingdom of his Glory."

The following death notice was found by Mary Vance Norfleet in the Vermont Gazette, October 12, 1818: "At Pittsburgh, Capt. Robert Vance in the 71st year of his age. In the death of this aged citizen, the small residue of revolutionary band again suffers diminution." Based on this report, Robert was born 1746-7, which is more in line with known birth dates of his siblings.

Robert Vance's grave site was lost for over a century. Two newspaper articles, one from the Pittsburgh Press and the other from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announced the rededication of his gravesite. ________________________________________ From William Vance: In the "Montours Presbyterian Church: One Hundred and Fifty-Seventh Anniversary, September 1 and 2, 1935. Homecoming, Sunday Morning and Afternoon, Vance Memorial Services, Monday, Labor Day", there is a biographical sketch of Captain Robert Vance and his family. The pamphlet lists the children of Captain Robert Vance and Jean White as follows:

1. David, born in 1777, married Ann Pinkerton
2. Sarah, born in 1779, married William Fergeson
3. Samuel, born in 1781, married Nancy Newell
4. Elizabeth, born in 1783, died in infancy*
5. Joseph, born November 14, 1784, died in infancy*
6. Jane, born May 8, 1786, married Squire James McCabe
7. Robert, born June 10, 1788, married Margaret Moore
8. John, born June 19, 1790, married Kate Atchison
9. William, born June 21, 1792, married Rachel Vanetta
10. Andrew, July 27, 1794, married Nancy Byers*

Sources

1. ↑ http://historyarchives.org/misc/Cpt-Robert-Vance-VFA-vol-30-No-1-Feb-2014.pdf
2. ↑ Source: #S21
3. ↑ Source: #S21
4. ↑ Source: #S531 Note: Record submitted after 1991 by a member of the LDS Church. Search performed using PAF Insight on 22 Apr 2005 Data: Text: Robert VANCE; Male; Birth: About 1736 Winchester, Frederick, Virginia; Death: 18 AUG 1818; Father: Samuel VANCE; Mother: Sarah Colville; Spouse: Jean WHITE; Marriage: 24 MAR 1775 , Culpeper, Virginia; No source information is available.
5. ↑ Source: #S531 Note: Record submitted after 1991 by a member of the LDS Church. Search performed using PAF Insight on 22 Apr 2005 Data: Text: Robert VANCE; Male; Birth: About 1736 Winchester, Frederick, Virginia; Death: 18 AUG 1818; Father: Samuel VANCE; Mother: Sarah Colville; Spouse: Jean WHITE; Marriage: 24 MAR 1775 , Culpeper, Virginia; No source information is available.

• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A117359
• https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25943627
• Source: S2 Abbreviation: Family Records of JaAnna Nelson Title: Family Records of JaAnna Nelson Author: JaAnna Nelson Note: These are compiled records from many sources researched by JaAnna Jean Bowen Nelson Repository: #R494 Italicized:
• "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3WM3-SXF : accessed 2015-04-16), entry for Robert /Vance/.
• http://historyarchives.org/misc/Cpt-Robert-Vance-VFA-vol-30-No-1-Feb-2014.pdf
• http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/?p_id=A117359&action=full
• http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?MarkerID=60831
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25943627
• Gaupp, F.A., “Montours Presbyterian Church, One Hundred and Fifty-Seventh Anniversary, September 1 and 2, 1935,” p. 4 “1736 is undoubtedly the year Robert Vance was born in Culpeper, Va.” published by the church in 1935.
• death notice/obituary in the Vermont Gazette (Bennington, VT), Vol. X, Issue 5, p. 3 published Tuesday, October 13, 1818. Also, Salem Gazette (Salem, MA) Vol. XXXII, Issue 82, p.3 published Friday, October 9, 1818. Also, the Commercial Advertiser (New York, NY) Vol.XXI, Issue 60, p. 2 published Tuesday October 6, 1818.
• Vance, John Henderson II, application to the John Stark Chapter of the Ohio Society Sons of the American Revolution accepted 4 Dec 1957 assigned State No. 4919 and National No. 82884, “Capt. Robert Vance b. 1729 d. 1819.”
• Pinkerton, Tom, “Parents of Captain Robert Vance,” VFA Newsletter Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 79-82 (1987).

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Vance-317 created through the import of Ancestors of JaAnna Bowen Nelson.ged on May 28, 2011 by JaAnna Nelson.