Jacob Persinger

Jacob Persinger Jr

  • American

The Persinger family is among the oldest in the Valley. Jacob Persinger, Sr, (1716-1789) came to Pennsylvania from Switzerland in 1735. He arrived in western Virginia with his wife and family about 1750. During that decade, the dangers to settlers in the Valley were great, due primarily to the outbreak of the French and Indian War. By 1756 the General Assembly had ordered the establishment of a chain of forts through the Valley frontier, starting at a point seven miles below Warm Sprinqs in Bath County on Jackson's River. It is thought that Persinger settled near the head of Roaring Run where he built a grist mill later known as Rook's Mill. He served with Dickinson's Rangers in 1757, the year of the reputed kidnapping of his wife and son by Indians. The tale of Persinger's son, Jacob Jr, has become a part of the folklore of the Valley. While many stories both real and fictitious are told of the courage and resourcefulness of the settlers against the Indians, Persinger's story seems unique. Not only does the tale deal with the boy's captivity but also with his subsequent search for his identity after his return to civilization.

According to the Jacob Persinger legend, during Jacob Sr's absence in 1757, an Indian war party came to Roaring Run and took Rebecca Persinger and her son prisoners. One version of the event states: "A group of pursuers followed a trail left by Rebecca by tearing off bits of clothing and leaving them hanging on bushes along the way ... the trail was lost at Paint Bank and Rebecca was never heard from again.... In 1763 as a result of the Treaty of Paris, Chief Cornstalk of the Shawnees was required to give up his prisoners in an exchange that took place near Iron Gate, Va. Jacob Persinger Sr. claimed the 10 year old boy and gave him the name Jacob, Jr. The young boy did not like the ways of the white man and ran away to return to the Indians several times, only to be returned upon orders of the chief. Jacob Jr. doubted that he was the son of Jacob Sr." [Howard Humphries, The Persingers of Alleghany County, Va 1750-1965. Virqinia, Historic Landmarks Commission files, unpublished manuscript.]

As in all the different versions of the story, Persinger's life with the Shawnee became embellished through its telling from generation to generation. All stories agree that he wanted to remain with his captors and preferred Indian ways throughout his life. In this vein the tale continues, "In 1778 he married Mary Kimberlin. She refused to live in his teepee so he built her what was reported to have been one of the finest farm houses in the county.

Persinger served in the Revolution and is listed as a corporal in the Virginia Militia. According to tradition, Persinger was a farmer but preferred hunting and fishing to the agrarian life. He died in 1841, leaving his son John, "the whole of my estate both real and personal except as hereinafter named." John died tragically in 1842, killed by a slave, Blue, who became the first person to be executed legally in Alleghany County. Lee Persinger, Jacob's great nephew, became the sole owner of the 283-acre property in 1858. - NRHP, 6 March 1982


Timeline

Y/M/D Description Association Composition Place Locale Food Event
Y/M/D Description Association Composition Place Locale Food Event
1749/01/19 Jacob Persinger Jr is born in Pennsylvania Born
1757/00/00 While Jacob's father (Jacob) is serving with Dickinson's Rangers, a Shawnee war party raids Persinger's grist mill (Rook's Mill near head of Roaring Run) and takes his mother, Rebecca Persinger and himself captive. Jacob is taken to Old Chillicothe, Ohio. Captive Roaring Run Furnace Eagle Rock
1763/00/00 After the Treaty of Paris, Chief Cornstalk of the Shawnee returns white captives near Iron Gate, Virginia. Captive Alleghany County
1775/09/06 Jacob Persinger enlist in the Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War, serving from 6 September 1775 to 1 November 1776 with Captain Matthew Arbuckle, obtained the rank of corporal Soldier
1776/05/15 Captain Matthew Arbuckle departs Fort Pitt with a company of Virginia militia to build a fort at the Great Kanawha Soldier Forks of the Ohio Pittsburgh
1776/06/00 The first Fort Randolph is built at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers Soldier Fort Randolph Point Pleasant
1776/06/00 The first Fort Randolph is built at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers Soldier Point Pleasant Battleground Point Pleasant
1778/00/00 Jacob Persinger builds a log house for his wife, Mary Kimberlin Architect Persinger House Covington
1840/03/00 Jacob Persinger passes away, he is buried in the Persinger Cemetery on Potts Creek, Incline Hollow, Covington Died Incline Hollow
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