Cornelius Washburn
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Cornelius V Washburn (abt. 1765 - abt. 1836)

Cornelius V Washburn
Born about in , Bedford County, Pennsylvaniamap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , , , , and [half]
Husband of — married 1 Jul 1791 (to 1816) in Mason, Kentucky, United Statesmap
Husband of — married 16 Apr 1822 (to 1832) in Clermont, Ohio, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Father of
Died about at about age 71 in , , , United States of Americamap
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Profile last modified | Created 10 Mar 2016
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Contents

Biography

Cornelius was born about 1765 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. (Findagrave says Washington County, but that county was not formed until 1781.) Cornelius was the fifth of six known children and the third of four known sons of Jeremiah and Rebecca Devore Washburn.

When was Cornelius Washburn born?

Although Findagrave and some other sources say Washburn was born c 1765, others say he was born in 1774. For example, "In 1774, before the Revolutionary War, Jeremiah's family, three children and a pregnant wife made the long journey west to the Ft. Pitt area, the most western frontier of the colonies. Cornelius Washburn's mother, Rebecca (Devore) Washburn, gave birth to Cornelius while 'on the trail' west."
From Winkler and Dennis, Fallen Timbers, 1794, p10:
Joe Beagle in"The Washburns of Brown Co, Ohio" at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kentuckywashburn/Brown%20Co%20Washburns.html has a good discussion about the 1765 vs 1774 debate. He writes:
Now many researchers have taken the story that Jemima Hankins tells Mr. Draper about the family going west in 1774 and that has Cornelius being born then as showing when Cornelius was born. I think that Mr. Draper was confused by what Jemima told him and wrote these facts down incorrectly. As far as I know this is the only place in the Draper MS that has Cornelius Washburn born in 1774. Later in the MS, Jemima says that Cornelius was 68 years old when he went west to the Yellowstone Country in 1832. This would make his date of birth 1764. What Jemima Hankins actually said to Mr. Draper and why he wrote that information down incorrectly, we will never know, but that statement has mislead many researchers over the years. Hopefully, the following will help correct this mistake.
After more study of the Draper MS and other sources, I believe that the 1765 date of birth is correct for Cornelius Washburn, though no one seems to know exactly when he was born and different dates are given by different people.
I am basing my belief that Cornelius Washburn was born in 1765 on the above statement of Phebe (Washburn) Grant, dau. of George Washburn plus the following:
We have documented proof of the date of birth of Nicholas Washburn--April 19, 1767:
  1. Tombstone of Nicholas Washbrun, Washburn Cemetery Cain Twp. Fountain Co. IN--died Nov. 5, 1851, 84y 6m 18d
  2. 1850 Census Cain Twp. Fontain Co. IN--Nicholas Washburn age 83, male, gunsmith, born NJ.
  3. In the will of Jeremiah Washburn, he states George is his eldest son, Joseph, his second son, Cornelius his third son and Nicholas, his fourth son. If Nicholas was his fourth son and born after Cornelius, his third son, and Nicholas was born in 1767, Cornelius would have to have born before Nicholas and therefore Cornelius could not have been born in 1774.
  4. Also from the Draper MS--MS3BB page 52 "State of Indiana, Rush County" On this 23d day of November, A.D. 1850, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the County & State aforesaid, Nicholas Washburn aged eighty three years, a resident of Fountain County & State of Indiana, who being duly sworn according to law, declared that he is the identical Nicholas Washburn who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Simon Kenton in the Indian war of 1786"
  5. Draper MS 3BB page 53--from letter dated Feb. 27, 1747 from David G. Devore, "I think however that Nicholas his brother can do more than any one else--He is about eighty years old, but is a man of strong mind & I consider fully able to give a clear & sensible account of the doings (?) of his brother.
  6. Draper MS 3BB page 39--I do not know who the writter of this letter is but he states, " In May 1843 he (referring to Nicholas Washburn) was residing in Walker, Rush County Ind-aged 76 yrars,..."
  7. Phebe Parker Laycock, second wife of Nicholas Washburn was born in 1766, so this closely matches 1767 for birth of Nicholas.
  8. If Cornelius was born in 1774, he would have been just 17 years old when he married for the first time July 1, 1791 which is not impossible, but unlikely.
  9. Considering that Nicholas was born in 1767 and Cornelius was 2 years older than Nicholas, his date of birth should have been 1765 and if George was 8 years older than Cornelius and 10 years older than Nicholas, his date of birth should have been 1757.

The Battle of Grassy Run

In 1790 Cornelius participated with Simon Kenton in the Battle of Grassy Run, about twenty-five miles east of Cincinnati, in Jackson, Clermont County, Ohio.

For a .pdf containing the story of the battle, from the Grassy Run Historical Arts Committee, click here.

1820 census

Cornelius Washburn appears  in the 1820 United States Federal Census living in a household of eight persons, four males (1 age 26-44 [actually Cornelius would have been c55 years old) and four females (all minors under 16).

For a larger view of the 1820 census entry below, click here.

1820 Brown County, Ohio, census entry for Cornelius Washburn

" Name: Cornelius Washburn; Home in 1820: Eagle, Brown County, Ohio; Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820.

Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2; 16 -18: 1; 16-25: 1; 26-44: 1.
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 3; 10 thru 15: 1.
Number of Persons - Engaged in Manufactures: 1.
Free White Persons - Under 16: 6
Free White Persons - Over 25: 1
Total Free White Persons: 8
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 8.[1]

From Findagrave.com

Capt Cornelius "Neil" Washburn
Birth: 1765, Monongahela, Washington County, Pennsylvania; Death: unknown, USA.
During the War of 1812, Neil was Captain of Kentucky volunteer scouts (they called them "spys"), and as was the custom, was thereafter entitled to be addressed as "Captain Washburn". (Charles Brinkley, a descendant, Aug 2015).
FRONTIER ADVENTURES - 41:
In 1792 the Indians again invaded Kentucky, stealing horses, burning houses and killing some of the inhabitants as they had done the spring before. Simon Kenton was called upon to head a party of thirty-seven men to follow the savages and avenge the death of those that had been slain. They crossed the Ohio River a short distance below Limestone and followed the trail in the direction of Little Miami River. When near the east fork of the river, they heard, the tinkling of a bell and the party halted to learn its meaning. Kenton in company with Cornelius Washburn, a young man of tried courage and deadly aim, advanced cautiously and saw an Indian on horseback slowly approaching. The bell upon the horse's neck was used to attract the attention of deer, for strange as it may appear, these animals will stand stock still, listening to the bell, until the horseman is almost upon them. Washburn took deliberate aim and shot the approaching horseman through the heart. Returning to the main body
THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND - 42:
Kenton consulted with his men in regard to their future course. Kenton felt certain that this Indian was not alone, and that the main body was not far away. Sending Washburn in advance, the party moved silently forward. Washburn soon returned with the information that about a mile in advance he had heard the sound of many bells and concluded that the horses were feeding, and the Indians encamped not very far from them. Calling a halt and arranging his men in position to defend themselves if attacked, Kenton selected Washburn and started out to locate the camp. It was getting dusk when he came in view of the camp of the enemy. They were encamped on the bank of the east fork of the Little Miami just above the present residence of Michael Stroup, and within the present limit of Highland County. (The County of Highland, Ohio, by Klise, 1902)
Cornelius V. Washburn married Jemima Masterson, daughter of John Masterson, in 1791. His marriage bond was 50L, furnished by the bride’s father, John Masterson, bondsman. They moved to Ohio and settled in what is now Brown County. Four children were born to this union: John, Rebecca, Rachel and Jemima. John died young, leaving a wife and four small children (see Seth Washburn). Rebecca was killed by a falling tree at the age of four. Rachel married her cousin Cornelius Harlow (son of Elizabeth (Washburn) Harlow, sister of Neil), Jemima married Henry Hankins.
Neil’s wife Jemima, died in 1816, and in 1822, he married Elizabeth MARTIN. By this second marriage he had three children, a son and two daughters, the eldest being Sarah Ann Washburn, who was the grandmother of Evelyn Merrifield, compiler of these records. His son George, unmarried, died from the effects of exposure suffered in the Mexican War. One daughter went to Illinois where she died. Sarah Ann Washburn married Samuel J. Shannon about 1839. She was born May 5, 1823, in Brown County, Ohio. Samuel J. Shannon was born Jun 12, 1818, in County Clare, Ireland. Their children, all born in Ohio, were: Reuben P/Aug 22, 1842; Margaret E/Aug 4, 1849; Mary Ann/Mar 20, 1844; Nancy J/Jan 9, 1852; William J/Mar 19, 1846;Silas P/Nov 29, 1854; Thomas S/Jul 7, 1857; Benjamin F/Sep 8, 1866; John Wesley/Jan 15, 1859; Lydia C/Jul 18, 1871; Abraham L/Jul 24, 1861; Edward W/Dec 9, 1873; Leah L/Dec 16, 1863.
Mary Ann married a Shinkle; Margaret E. married a Philips; Nancy J. married a Crampton; Leah L. married a Shaw; and Lydia C. married a Wilmoth. John Wesley was the father of Mrs. Merrifield, our correspondent, and he was married to Flora Parker, a descendant of the pioneer Webster and Parker families on Jan 3, 1893.
Children of John Wesley and Flora (Parker) Shannon: Evelyn Elois, born in IL, 1893. Charles Harold, born in MI, 1901, John Maurice, born in IL, 1898, Elmer Earl, born in MI 1903, Samuel Lester, born in MI 1899, and Donald Arthur, born in MI, 1905.
In 1832, Elizabeth (Martin) Washburn died, leaving three young children. Sarah Ann was placed in a convent, probably Ursuline, here in Brown County, which was established at St. Martin’s Parish in 1823. If her brothers and sisters were also placed there, we have no record.
In the fall of 1833, Neil Washburn was hired by a fur trading company to head a hunting and trapping expedition to the Yellowstone River. At the end of the season in Mar, 1834, the party left for home. Some of the group wanted to travel overland; but Neil and companion chose the river route. They were to meet later at a designated location. The land party reached the place of rendezvous and waited five days for Neil and his companion to arrive. Seeing some of Neil’s hunting gear and his friend’s clothes in the possession of some Indians, they broke camp and headed for home -- it being apparent that the two had been ambushed and killed by the Indians. Of this episode, Mrs. Merrifield says:
“I challenge a statement made by Jemima Washburn Hankins in 1833, to Dr. Leyman Draper, (see the Draper papers), wherein she states that Neil went from the Yellowstone River to the Columbia River, that she had received letters from him, the last being in February, 1839, wherein he stated he would be home in May, 1840. We will never be certain of the fate of Cornelius V. Washburn, all we can be sure of is that his bones lie somewhere in the West.”
(Compiled by: Evelyn Merrifield who is the great-granddaughter of Cornelius and Elizabeth (Martin) Washburn.
HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF BROWN COUNTY, OHIO)

 

Family links: Parents: Jeremiah Washburn (1738 - 1805), Rebecca Devore Washburn (1742 - 1777); Spouse: Jemima Masterson Washburn (1774 - 1816); Children: Rachel Washburn Harlow (1795 - ____); Siblings: George Washburn (1757 - 1850), Joseph Washburn (1763 - 1853), Nicholas Washburn (1767 - 1851), Elizabeth Washburn Harlow (1767 - 1855), Rebecca Washburn Doty (1799 - ____) [Half-sister].

 

Burial: Non-Cemetery Burial[2]

Click here for Washburn's Findagrave entry.

Citations

  1. ↑ 1820 U S Census, Eagle, Brown County, Ohio; Page 347, NARA Roll M33_86, Image 195 (2 of 10), Ancestry.com. 1820. Transcription URL: http://search.ancestryheritagequest.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=DTn1889&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&db=1820usfedcenancestry&gss=angs-d&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=cornelius&gsfn_x=0&gsln=washburn&gsln_x=0&msrpn__ftp=Brown%20County,%20Ohio,%20USA&msrpn=390&msrpn_PInfo=7-%7C0%7C1652393%7C0%7C2%7C0%7C38%7C0%7C390%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C&MSAV=1&MSV=1&uidh=23h&pcat=USFEDCEN&fh=0&h=312039&recoff=7%208&ml_rpos=1. Image URL: https://www.ancestryheritagequest.com/interactive/7734/4093884_00195?pid=312039&backurl=http://search.ancestryheritagequest.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DDTn1889%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26indiv%3D1%26db%3D1820usfedcenancestry%26gss%3Dangs-d%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26gsfn%3Dcornelius%26gsfn_x%3D0%26gsln%3Dwashburn%26gsln_x%3D0%26msrpn__ftp%3DBrown%2520County,%2520Ohio,%2520USA%26msrpn%3D390%26msrpn_PInfo%3D7-%257C0%257C1652393%257C0%257C2%257C0%257C38%257C0%257C390%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C%26MSAV%3D1%26MSV%3D1%26uidh%3D23h%26pcat%3DUSFEDCEN%26fh%3D0%26h%3D312039%26recoff%3D7%25208%26ml_rpos%3D1&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=DTn1889&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true. Accessed 2 Nov 2017 by Patricia Prickett Hickin.
  2. ↑ Sue McDuffe:), "Capt Cornelius "Neil" Washburn," Findagrave.com. Record added Apr 09, 2010. URL: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=50870714. Accessed 20 Apr. 2017 by Patricia Prickett Hickin.

Acknowledgments

Sources

  • Marriage Records of Clermont County, Ohio, 1800-1850 (Lithoprinted, Unigraphic, Inc., Evansville, Indiana, 1979 ©1997-2016 Ancestry.com), Image 13 of 256. 2-39 MARTIN Elizabeth.
  • Winkler, John F. and Peter Dennis, Fallen Timbers, 1794 : the US Army's first victory. Oxford ; Long Island City, NY : Osprey Pub., 2013.




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Images: 4
Cornelius's cabin in Ohio
Cornelius's cabin in Ohio
Cornelius Washburn was 18 in 1794.
Cornelius Washburn was 18 in 1794.
1820 Brown County, Ohio, census entry for Cornelius Washburn
1820 Brown County, Ohio, census entry for Cornelius Washburn
Battle of Grassy Run, 1790
Battle of Grassy Run, 1790


Comments: 1

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Robert Adams
In the summer of 1790 (this date may be questionable), "Neil" Washburn is said to have ventured with his father from Limestone, Kentucky to the mouth of Eagle Creek, in what is now Brown County, Ohio, for the purpose of obtaining fresh provisions. They were planning to hunt at a nearby "lick," or salt spring, which was frequented by deer. Soon after entering the mouth of the creek they heard a noise further upstream. Neil went ahead, with his father's gun, to investigate and recognized the sound of a tomahawk striking a tree. He discovered an Indian about 15 to 20 feet from the ground cutting bark from a hickory tree to evidently construct a canoe. [See Note] Neil took aim with the rifle and felled the Indian from the tree. He then hastened back to his father, to avoid others who might be in the vicinity, and they quickly re-crossed the river. The next day Neil returned with a party of friends to search for the body, which they found where it had fallen at the foot of the tree. He secured the scalp which he showed to his friends and neighbors as the first trophy of his skill as an Indian fighter. This account can be found in the Illustrated American Advertiser, Vol. V, The Historical Picture Gallery; or Scenes and Incidents in American History, A Collection of Interesting and Thrilling Narratives from the Written and Unwritten, Legendary and Traditionary, History of the United States, by John R. Chapin, with Illustrations by the Author, Published by D. Bigelow & Co., 1856.

I found this tale interesting as I live along a branch stream which empties into Eagle Creek a short distance above its mouth. There is a spring along this stream which may be the "lick" referred to in the account. Before I acquired the property there was a lot of deer hunting here and there are numerous shag bark hickory trees. Eagle Creek was known in earlier times as the Elk River and Simon Kenton's capture by the Indians took place nearby on its eastern side. A trail from which the spring was accessed was known as the Elk River Trail. Parts of it were blazed by an old trapper and hunter named York and it was formerly known as York's Trace. The following description comes from the Seventeenth Report of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1915: "The true course of the trail from its beginning, at the mouth of Elk River, to the Adams County line, as the crow flies, is northeast. It ran up Elk River on the left bank to the Indian spring, or lick, where we are told in history, Boone, Kenton, and Washburn, and their fellow huntsmen were wont to slake their thirst. A little farther upstream they crossed the water to the right bank, supposedly at or near the Logans Gap ford, keeping to the right of the stream until near the sight of what is now called the "Iron Bridge." This particular source gives a very detailed description of the Elk River Trail in its entirety.

  • Note: Hickory wood was used for bows and canoe frames. The Native American mentioned may have been collecting hickory wood.
posted by Robert Adams
edited by Robert Adams

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