Husband: Sampson PIERSOL

Born: 1764 in Chester County, Pa. Married: Died: Unknown Father: B. PIERSOL Mother: R. (. PIERCEALL Spouses: Living: Beaver County, Penn. Notes: The 1790 Census lists four children, two girls and two boys. At the time of the Revolutionary War, Sampson lived on Peters Creek in what is now Allegheny County, Pa., according to his Revolutionary War pension application. He lived there until 1796, when he moved to Beaver County. During the Revolution, Sampson served as a private in the militia and an Indian spy. (3) Sampson's Revolutionary War pension application says: "That he entered the service of the United States as a private soldier a volunteer in March in the year 1781 under Captain Joseph Sipeney in a company of Indian Spies. That he served in said company under said Captain Sipeney during the summer of the year 1781 six months and the summer of 1782 from March until sometime in June when the he volunteered and joined the company commanded by Captain Andrew Hood under Colonel Crawford in his campaign against the Indians at Sanduskey. That he marched under said officers to Sanduskey and was in the battle at the time of Crawford's defeat. That he returned with the remnant of Colonel Crawford's army after his defeat at Sanduskey and joined his former company under said Captain Sipeney after being absent in Crawford's campaign about six weeks. That he continued under said Sipeney until the first of October A.D. 1782 making in all eleven months under Captain Sipeney and six weeks or a month and a half in Crawford's Campaign against the Indians at Sanduskey along the frontier up and down the Ohio River partly in the counties now called Allegheny and Beaver and partly on the north side of said river and after pursued and chased the Indians from the frontier settlements.'' "Pennsylvania Archives'' lists Sampson among the privates in Capt. Cunnigham's company of Washington County militia. He also served in Capt. Andrew Hood's company on the ill-fated campaign led by Col. William Crawford in June 1782. (4) Crawford's force was sent against the Indian villages near Sandusky, Ohio, believed to be the source of attacks on the settlements. However, the Indians received word of the troops' approach and were able to evacuate the villages. A battle did erupt and the militia held its own during fighting on June 4. But the next day, the Indians were re-enforced and Crawford decided to withdraw. While the militiamen prepared to retreat, the Indians attacked and scattered them. Many were captured and killed. Col. Crawford was captured, scalped and burned at the stake. (5) The Revolution on the frontier was far different from that in the East. Instead of English soldiers, the primary foes were Indians stirred to action by the British and their sympathizers. Indian raids meant scalpings, kidnap and torture. The settlers often replied with equal savagery. The Indians continued to be a threat until 1794, when they were vanquished by troops under Gen. Anthony Wayne. (6) Sampson was listed as a lieutenant in the 4th Company of the First Regiment of the Allegheny County militia on May 1, 1792. He was promoted to captain in 1794, according to "History and Genealogy of the Pearsall Family in England and America." Sampson may have been such an avid fighter because his father had been killed by Indians several years before, according to the Pearsall family history. Records show Sampson paid taxes in 1791 in Mifflin Township, Allegheny County, which was formed from part of Washington County. (7) He moved to what is now Beaver County in 1796. At the turn of the century, Beaver County was established. Sampson appears on the tax listsof the new county's Sewickley Township in 1802. At that time he owned two 200-acre parcels, two horses and two cows. (8) Sampson took an active role in Beaver County's government. On Aug. 15,1803, Sampson was appointed as one of the first two justices for the county's fifth district, which was north of the Connoquenessing and east of the Big Beaver, population 116. (9) He also served as county commissioner from 1831 to 1834. He was a Democrat. (10) The rest of this account follows "The History and Genealogy of the Pearsall Family in England and America Vol. III,'' which was published in1928. However, that history has some gaps and tends to paint rather flattering portraits of its subjects. Although Sampson was a prominent citizen and did hold public offices, it is unlikely he was as powerful a man as the history makes him out to be. The Pearsall history claims Sampson was not only a leader among his fellow frontiersmen, he was like the "lord of the manner.'' He acted as attorney for Eastern proprietors who owned huge tracts of land in Western Pennsylvania. He conducted their business on the frontier and represented them in disputes. The history states: "The land belonged to the Hon. Benjamin Chew and the Hon. William McKean, well known historical characters in Pennsylvania history. It is interesting to read their letters to Sampson Peirsol wherein they defer entirely to his judgment as to the disposition of their vast domain in Beaver County. At the death of William McKean he devised certain of these lands to Andrew Pettit of Philadelphia, who, and his children also, depended upon the advice and assistance of Sampson Peirsol. No doubt there were many men who under similar circumstances could have directed the settlement of a wilderness, but there are very few who could have retained the friendship and confidence of the settlers to the same extent as Sampson Peirsol. For as long as he lived he was father, counselor and advisor to the whole community which radiated from his farm. In a well-worn book found among his papers he records the names of over fifty of his neighbors for whom he was practically transacted all their business. Sampson Peirsol performed this duty for very little remuneration, in fact it seems to have been thrust upon him by the insistence both of great landed proprietors and by those who they sold their lands.'' Among Sampson's contributions listed in the history is the foundation of a small church. On March 20, 1830, Sampson was among the original members of the Mouth Pleasant Bible Class. A church building was later built on his farm in North Sewickley and he was buried there. Sampson died Aug. 8, 1842. (11) The Piersols are buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Beaver County, near Ellwood City. (1) Sampson's tombstone at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Beaver County, Pa., says he was 78 years old at the time of his death in 1842. The "Daughters of the American Revolution Patriot Index,'' page 522, says he was born June 7, 1764. "Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Book, Vol. 98,'' page 288, lists his year of birth as 1764. It is listed as 1765 in "The Genealogical and Personal History of Beaver County,'' page 506, and "Inventory of the County Archives of Pennsylvania, Beaver County, No. 4,'' page 375. It is listed as "circa 1764" in "History and Genealogy of the Pearsall Family in England and America Vol. III,'' page 1452, which is also the source for the names of Sampson's parents. Sampson's application for a pension for his Revolutionary War service -- 522937 -- says he was born "in Chester County in Pennsylvania. I think in the year 1764 in June or July. I have now no record of my age." The application was filed March 6, 1834 in Beaver County and Samson said he was 69 years old. (2) "The History and Genealogy of the Pearsall Family.'' (3) Pension application and "DAR Lineage Book, Vol. 98.'' (4) "Pennsylvania Archives,'' Series 6, Vol. 2, pages 239 and 392, respectively. (5) "A History of Northwestern Ohio,'' pages 29 to 42. (6) "The Indian Wars of Pennsylvania.'' (7) "Pennsylvania Archives,'' Series 3, Vol. 22, page 649. (8) "Complete Index of Remaining Tax Records, Beaver County, Pa., 1802-1840,'' page 6. (9) "History of Beaver County, Pa.,'' page 123. (10)``Inventory of County Archives of Pennsylvania, Beaver County, No. 4.'' (11) Date comes from his tombstone. His will was registered Aug. 10, 1842, according to Beaver County Will Book B, page 303.

Wife: S. KASTER (OR CASTER)

Born: Died: Father: Mother: Spouses:

Children

01 (M): Jacob Scudder PIERSOL Born: 16 OCT 1785 in Allegheny County, PA  Allegheny County, Pa.is now Beaver County Died: 1851 Spouses: Rachel STILLY

02 (F): R. PIERSOL Born: Died: Spouses:

03 (F): M. Ann PIERSOL Born: 1787 Died: Unknown Spouses:

04 (F): E. PIERSOL Born: Died: Spouses:

05 (F): S. PIERSOL Born: Died: Spouses:

06 (M): T. S. PIERSOL Born: Died: Spouses: