The Aleshire Family
Perhaps the first thing that needs
to be clarified is the variant spelling of the name that we know as
Aleshire. During the early days of
colonial settlement all vowels were used interchangeably; thus, the name
Aleshite is also found spelled as Elshite.
Phonetically or as it sounds when it is pronounced, the name was
Ellscheid. At times, the German
masculine form was used making the name Ailshiter or even Aleshiter and then
the spelling evolved to Aleshite or Elshite when it was written by English
clerks in colonial court records. Also,
it was normal for a person’s middle name to become that person’s called name if
he or she were of Germanic descent.
 |
| Koblenz, Germany |
European records indicate that Johann
Conrad Elscheid [christened on the 21/22 Jan 1708 in Honnefeld Parish,
Rhineland Pfalz, Prussia [now Koblenz, West Germany]] was the same person as
Conrad Ellscheid [Elscheit] who arrived in the port of Philadelphia aboard the
ship, Anderson, on the 21 Aug 1750.
[Note: Ralph B. Strassburger and William J. Hinke, edited a volume entitled, "Pennsylvania German Pioneers, List of
Ships To Philadelphia" in 1934 for the Pennsylvania German Society of
Norristown, Pennsylvania which cites ships passenger lists such as the one
noted above showing Johann Conrad Elcheid. This listing cites Hugh Campbell as
the captain of the ship, Anderson,
which sailed from Rotterdam by way of Cowes.
On this same list are other Shenandoah Valley names: Reinhert [Rinehart],
Fuhr [Furr, Fur], Kawffman [Kauffman], Horn, Houser, Kreiger, Schmith [Smith],
Schneider [Snyder], Cuntz [Koontz], Weis [Weist,Weast], Miller, Betz [Bentz, Pence]
as well as many others.]
It is known that Conrad Elscheit, a
miner from Niederhonnefeld, Prussia, Germany married Maria Catharina Goessel,
the legitimate daughter of Christopher Goessel from Hardert in Rengsdorf,
Rheinland, Prussia, Germany on 29 Sep 1747. Conrad Elscheit was the son of
Henrich Elscheid [born ca. 1659-buried 23 Feb 1747] and Catharina Neitzert [born
ca. 1662-buried 8 Apr 1729]. Henry
Elscheit and Catherine Neitzert were married on the 4 Nov 1698 in Jahrsfeld,
Prussia. Henrich Elscheit was the son of Johannes Elscheid [born ca. 1600’s-died
aft. 1708] of Ellingen, Prussia. His
wife, Catherine Neitzert, was the daughter of Amalia Neitzert, who was his [Johann
Conrad Elscheit] godmother.
Not far from the Belgian border is a
town called Ehlscheid. Nearby are Niederhonnefeld,
Rengsdorf, and Hardert. All are located in what we know today as West Central
Germany.
 |
| Koblenz, ermany |
Known children of Johann Conrad and
Maria Catharina Goessel Aleshite [Elscheid] were as follows:
1. 1. Benedict Christoffel Aleshite who
married Elisabeth Williams on the 13 Nov 1776
in Rockingham County, Virginia.
He died in Mason County, Virginia [West Virginia] in 1820.
2. 2. Conrad Aleshite was born in 1753 in
Shenandoah County, Virginia. He died in
Meigs County, Ohio in 1842.
3. 3. Henry P. Aleshite [Sr.] was born on
the 19 Feb 1754 in Powell's Fort, Shenandoah County, Virginia. He married Mary Elizabeth Hahn in Shenandoah
County, Virginia on the 13 Nov 1776. Henry P. Aleshite [Sr.] died on the 2 Jun
1845 in Page County, Virginia. His
family and military records are cited below.
4. 4. John Conrad Aleshite was born on the
23 Dec 1755 at Smith's Creek, Shenandoah County, Virginia. He married Susannah Pangle on the 25 Feb 1784. John Conrad Aleshite died on the16 Mar 1847
in Page County, Virginia. He also served in the American Revolution.
5. 5. Jacob Aleshite – His obituary states
that he died in Revolutionary War. According to some sources, he married June
Judon on the 18 Feb 1783.
6. 6. Christian Lion Aleshite married Christina
Pangle on the 25 Feb 1784 in Shenandoah County, Virginia in a double wedding
with his brother, John Conrad and Christina Pangle, their wives being sisters).
7. 7. Peter Aleshite married Margaret
Koontz on the 23 Aug 1789 in Shenandoah County, Virginia.
8. 8.8. Michael Aleshite married Philadelphia Wright on
the 4 Aug 1789 in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Michael Aleshite died in 1845 in Meigs County, Ohio.
 |
| 1885 Map Page County, Virginia |
Henry P. Aleshite [Sr.]
Alishite Henry Sen[Sr.]
Fought in Revolutionary
War, 4th Virginia Regiment, Continental Line --Historical Register of
Virginians in the Revolution, Gwathney.
Also in the 8th
Virginia Regiment, Continental Line-National Archives Military Records, Fold 3.
1820 VA Census Index,
Henry Alishite, Sen. Shen 166 Pine Twp
1840 Pensioners Census; Henry
Aleshite living with Conrad Aleshire.
SELECTED FINAL [REVOLUTIONARY]
PENSION PAYMENT VOUCHERS, 1818-1864
Aleshite, Henry Richmond 1832 [this is the date of the Act to pay vets]
Page County, VA., 29 Oct 1845, Mann Almond [signature], administrator of Henry
Aleshite Sr., late pensioner [former private] who resided in this county for 13
years and previous thereto in Shenandoah County, appoints James Brown Jr.
attorney to collect arrears due from 4 Mar 1845 to 2 June 1845, the date of his
death; witnesses H.J. Prinz J.D. Stover.
Willliam C. Lauck, Clerk of the Court of Page County, certifies that letter of
administration were granted on Henry Aleshite's estate on 28 Jul 1845 to Mann
Almond with John H. Roads, security.
Henry Aleshite, Sr. was living in the household of Conrad Aleshite, his son in 1840. Henry Aleshite, Sr. did
not leave a widow but left the following known children:
1.
Jacob Aleshite
2.
George
Aleshite
3.
Conrad Aleshite/Aleshire
4.
Elizabeth Aleshite/Aleshire was born ca.
1790 and died ca, 1860 in Page Co., Virginia.
She married John Cave, the son of Reuben and Frances Ann Jenkins Cave,
Sr.
5.
Sophia Aleshite/Aleshire Sophia was known as Suffie or Soffia Pence
as she married Peter Pence. This couple
were cited in The Pence Family
published in this blog, Of Days Gone By,
at www.BillieJoMonger.com on
the 11 Sep 2016.
6.
Henry Aleshite/Aleshire
All
of the above children were of lawful age. Clerk acknowledges that the order
book carries spelling of "Aleshire" in error. Richmond, 27 Dec 1845,
J. Brown Jr. collected $19.55.
 |
| Betsey Ross Flag |
HENRY
ALESHITE’S REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION [Fold3].
Aleshite,
Henry Revolutionary War Pension Claim. S.29.579.
Virginia
23.392 - Henry Aleshite Sr. of Page in the State of Virginia who was a pr.[private]
in the __ commanded by Captain Steed of the Regt. Commanded by Col. Bowman in
the Va line for two years.
...
Certificate
of pension issued the 17th day of Jan 34 .... Harris, Luray Va.
......
State
of Virginia
Page
County Court
Be
it remembered that on this 24th day of Sept b. 1832, personally appeared in
open court .... Henry Aleshite Senr. a resident in the said County of Page, and
State of Virginia, aged 78 years, who being first duly sworn according to law,
doth, on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the
benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
That
he entered the service of the United Sates and served as herein stated.
He
was born in the valley of Powell's Fort in the County of Shenandoah on the 19 February
1754, and was consequently 78 years old in Feb. last past. He enlisted for 18
months in the county of Shenandoah in Capt. John Steeds company of Regulars in
the year 1778, and marched to Valley Forge Pennsylvania and joined the 8th
Regiment commanded by Col Abraham Bowman. The 8th and the 4th Regiments were
afterwards put together and then commanded by Col. John Nevill, in Gen Scott's
Brigade Va. Line. From Valley Forge we marched in pursuit of the British into
the Jerseys, and overtook them at Monmouth, in which battle I fought, on Sunday
the 28th day of June 1778. From Monmouth we marched into the state of
Connecticut, and finally laid at West Point. We reached West Point in July and
remained until fall, when we returned into Jersey, and laid between Middlebrook
and Boundbrook, where we remained through the winter and until late into the
spring, when my term of service having expired, I was regularly discharged. Tho'
that discharge has long since been lost, and I reached home just in the
beginning of harvest.
 |
| Road of March |
In
the spring of 1781 he was drafted into the militia for a tour of 3 months,
under Capt. Jacob Pennywit, and marched with some other companies to Petersburg
Va. and was engaged in the skirmish or battle which was fought at that place in
May 1781. His regiment was commanded by Col. John Slaughter, and the Brigade
commanded by Brigadier Gen. Edmond Stevens. From Petersburg we marched to what
was called Mebbin Hills 18 miles below Richmond, at this place he was
discharged, and returned home, but only remained at home four days, when he was
again drafted for 3 months more, under Capt. George Prince, and marched to
Newcastle on the Pamunkey River, where for some cause Capt. Prince was
discharged from the service and our company was then commanded by Captain
Lynchfield Sharp during the remainder of the tour. We then marched to Ruffin's
Ferry, and from thence to Williamsburg, and from thence to the siege of York,
and he was engaged in that siege. After Cornwallis and his army were taken, he
was detailed and marched in guarding the prisoners to Lahewtown in the County
of Frederick, [now Front Royal, Virginia] where his term of service expired and
he was again regularly discharged. His Regiment, during this last tour was
commanded by Col. Elias Edmonds, and the Brigade was still under the command of
Genl. Stevens.
 |
| Fort Pitt |
Before
he enlisted at all, he had served a tour against the Indians as a volunteer.
There were two companies marched from the County of Shenandoah, one under Capt.
Thos. Buck, who is believed to be yet living near Front Royal in the cty. of
Fredk., and the other company, in which deponent [despondant] was commanded by
Capt. Michael Rader [Reader]. We joined Capt. Lucas's company from Berkeley -
Capt. Niesmanger's [Nieswanger’s] from Frederick - Capt. ____ from Rockingham -
and Capt. Foreman's from Hampshire, and also some other companies, and marched
to what was then called Fort Pitt. From thence we went down the Ohio by water,
to Fort Wheeling, and from thence we marched by land to Point Pleasant. He was
present at the Point, when the Indian King Cornstalk was killed, - and two
other Indians and a white man who had married Cornstalk's daughter, were also
killed. He was privy to all the particulars of that affair. He had volunteered
for 6 months, but our service being no longer necessary, we were discharged at
the end of four months, leaving only a guard at the Point. We were not
commanded by a field officer, except for a short time, by Genl. Hand. His
discharges are all lost or destroyed.
He
hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the
present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of
any state.
Sworn
to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
In
presence of.
John
Prince
John
Ruffner
_(illegible)_
Freisner
his
Henry
( + ) Aleshite
Mark
We
Christopher Keyser, a clergyman residing in Page County, and John Keyser [a revolutionary
soldier] residing in the same county, do hereby certify that we are acquainted
with Henry Aleshite Senr. Who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration; that we believe him to be 78 years of age; that he is reputed and
believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a revolutionary
soldier, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed the day
and year aforesaid.
Christopher
Keyser
his
John
( + ) Keyser
mark
"
Selected records from Revolutionary War pension and bounty-land-warrant
application files", microcopy no. M805, Roll 9. National Archives and
Records Service, Washington, DC.
Notes
by Billie Jo Monger:
1.
The
militia action reported by Henry Aleshite involving the Native American Chief
Cornstalk at Point Pleasant, WV is not the same engagement as the Battle of
Point Pleasant which occurred in 1774 during Lord Dunmore's War.
 |
| Chief Cornstalk News Article |
2.
Chief
Cornstalk survived several years after that engagement. He was murdered in November 1777 while he,
his son and several other Native Americans were being held under a truce.
3. Capt. Niesmanger's
should be Capt. Nieswanger.
Below
is yet another Aleshite brother who also fought in America’s War for
Independence.
“For
the Philadelphia Saturday Courier
Feb/Mar
1847
Another
Veteran Gone
Died,
at the residence of his son, Col. Jonas Aleshire, in Page Co. Va., on the 18th,
Mr. John Conrad, aged 91 years, 2 months, and 22 days. Mr. Aleshire was of German descent. His immediate ancestors immigrated from
Germany in the year 1749 and settled on the Monongahela near Fort Redstone, now
Browsville, in Pennsylvania. This being
the extreme frontier settlement at the time, they soon found it necessary in
consequence of their unprotected situation and the frequent depredation of the
hostile Indians, to retire farther into the interior. Accordingly, they sunk a pit, into which they
put all their implements of husbandry and other articles inconvenient to remove
in this hasty retreat, and converting it into a lettuce bed to divert the
attention of the Indians, they retired to Cedar Creek, in Fredrick, now
Shenandoah County. Here on the 24th day
of December, 1755, the subject of this notice was born. The settlements were being still annoyed by
the Indians. They erected forts or block
houses to which they retired for safety on any demonstration of hostiles. In the spring of 1756, when but a few months
old, a party of hostile Indians made their appearance in the settlement and
murdered several members of a family named Painter, a neighbor of the
Aleshire's family made a precipitate retreat, but in their haste, entirely
neglected the infant who was sleeping in his cradle, until they had nearly
reached the fort. His sister returned
determined to peril her life for his safety, and cautiously approaching the
house, entered through the window, succeeded in getting her infant brother in
her arms and bore him in triumph to the fort.
She had scarcely left the house, ere the demoniac sound of the savage
war-whoop rent the air and told how narrow was the escape from their blood
thirsting vengeance.
 |
| Washington Crossing the Delaware |
At
the commencement of the war of the Revolution, he was mustered into the
service, and underwent many hardships in the struggle for freedom. He was one of Washington's forlorn hope, that
crossed the Delaware amid the floating ice on Christmas night, 1776, and
attacked and routed the Hessians under Rahl at Trenton.
After
this engagement his term expired and a dissolution of the old army occurred. Though much worn down with hardships incident
to a severe winter campaign, yet he beheld with a patriot's heart and the
critical situation of his country; and with a lofty zeal characteristic of
gallant spirits that periled their all in its behalf, he again entered that
service and in a few days participated in the bloody conflict at
Princeton. He continued in the army
during three tours and was in several of the hardest contested battles.
For
a time, he retired from the field, but was not inactive in furthering the
common cause. His frequent sallies against
the Tories caused them much discomfiture and his name among them struck terror
in their ranks.
In
the last campaign, when liberty and slavery seemed suspended in the balance,
and so nicely equipped that even the most sanguine contemplated these with trepidation--with
a shout of defiance to the British Lion, he shouldered his knapsack and musket
with a firm resolve in the preponderance of freedom. Noble was his resolve! And how noble verified! In the closing scene, near to the side of the
father of his country, he stood before Yorktown. The thunder of the British cannon was no
terror to him. It was familiar to his
ears. His country's freedom was at issue
and the common sentiment was diffused through the ranks of his compatriots in
arms. The struggle was short but
decisive, and with eyes swimming in the tears of joy, he beheld his country's
flag wave in triumph over the ramparts of the enemy.
 |
| East Rockingham-Southern Page Counties as viewed from the top of the Blue Ridge Mountain |
At
the close of the war, he married and settled in Shenandoah, now Page
County. Here there might be many interesting
incidents mentioned in the eventful life of Mr. Aleshire, did not the limits of
a note of this character forbid it; but I will mention the following, as one
somewhat similar is recorded in the life of General Putnam;--
"During
the winter of 1805-6, the wolves were very numerous in the neighboring
mountains and committed great depredations on the sheepfold. The farmers formed hunting parties and ranged
the mountains to destroy them or drive them out. Mr. Aleshire and one of his neighbors Mr.
Charles Keyser, discovered two wolves at a place called Burner's Gap. Aleshire fired and killed one. Then seizing Mr. Keyser's gun, fired, but
missing his aim, the other escaped into its den. The balance of the party soon assembled, and
having exhausted every effort in vain to drive it from its retreat, or to
induce the hounds to enter, Mr. Aleshire with torch in hand, descended into the
den. Finding the wolf with its head
snugly ensconced behind a rock, he laid down his torch, grasped it firmly with
both hands by the back of the neck and brought it out alive."
Mr.
Aleshire was a pious and respected member of the Baptist Church for sixty
years, and the last surviving soldier of the Revolution in Page County. He had voted at every presidential election
from that of Washington to that of Polk.
The
natural decay of age brought his eventful career to a close, and he died
without pang or murmur, with brightest hopes of a happy immortality. Truly the grand Reveille is beating on high!”
