Revolutionary War Soldiers Series: Remembering John Ferguson Sr.
Editor's note: Next year, the United States of America will celebrate its semiquincentennial, its 250th anniversary. The semiquincentennial marks the first nationwide celebration of America's birth since the bicentennial in 1976. Of course, America's independence cannot be celebrated without also honoring the efforts of the Revolutionary War soldiers that led to independence. The Waw-wil-a-way Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, along with the Southern Ohio Genealogical Society will be presenting a series of articles featuring Revolutionary War soldiers who lived and died within the borders of Highland County.
By Betty F. Crum and Pat Young
Waw-wil-a-way Chapter Daughters
of the American Revolution, 250 Project
John Ferguson Sr. was born in Ireland in 1757. His Revolutionary War record can be found in the National Archives.
Ferguson served as a private in the Army in Noah Abraham’s Company, Cumberland County, Maryland Minute Men and in the Pennsylvania Militia under Col. Dunlap.
He is listed in the Official Ohio Roster and is listed on the plaque on the Highland County Courthouse.
Ferguson arrived in Highland County with his wife, Janet (Weir), before 1817 when he would have been about age 60. No doubt, he came with his children. His son, John, married Sarah Patton on June 10, 1817 in Highland County.
His son, William, married Elizabeth Patton on April 11, 1827. This might have been a second marriage for William as he would have been age 39.
John’s other children as listed on DAR applications were James, who died at birth; Elizabeth, who did not marry; and Mary, who married James Watts on Jan. 27, 1825 in Highland County.
John Ferguson and Janet Weir were married in Cumberland County, Pa. on June 3, 1786. John died Feb. 20, 1838 and is buried in Fall Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery. His grave has been marked by Waw-wil-a-way DAR chapter.
The NSDAR database shows that his great-granddaughters, Jessie and Georgiana Ferguson, honored his service with their applications in 1913 when they lived in Troy, Ohio.
Sources: NSDAR database and files of the Waw-wil-a-way Chapter NSDAR.