Notes |
- The parentage of Isaac Runyon remains entirely unknown; however, researchers frequently assert that he was a son of Joseph Runyon and an unknown wife (who is also sometimes identified as Hannah Stout, but this is not convincing). Alternatively, he is identified as a son of John and Elizabeth Freeman Runyon. Unfortunately, there is no supporting evidence for either of these presumptions, but, nevertheless, it seems reasonably certain that Isaac was born in New Jersey about 1738 (reportedly in Middlesex County) and descends from the original Huguenot immigrant, Vincent Rongnion. He married Geertje (Charity) Hageman, who was a daughter of Adrian and Mary Hageman and it would seem obvious from her name that she was of Dutch ancestry. Moreover, Isaac and Charity Runyon evidently moved to Frederick County, Maryland, in the early 1750's and settled in the vicinity of Taneytown, which lies near the border with Pennsylvania. In support of this, the will of Hendrick Sortore, Sr., made August 3, 1793, in Somerset County, New Jersey, mentions thirteen acres that he had previously purchased from Isaac Runyon. One may suppose that this land was sold when the Runyon family left New Jersey; however, this awaits definitive confirmation. Indeed, it would appear that even while living in Maryland, Isaac still maintained connection to New Jersey since it is known that in 1761 or 1762, Johannis De Mott paid Isaac Runyon for masonry work "around the window frame behind the pulpit" at the Neshanic Church in Somerset County. The church still exists; however, no other record of this transaction has been found. In addition, Isaac Runyon later stated in a Revolutionary War pension petition of 1819 that he had served in Capt. Bruce's Regiment of the New Jersey Militia.1 As a matter of chronology, it seems more likely that this service was in the French and Indian War rather than the Revolution; however, this is not at all clear. Concomitantly, on September 8, 1767, Adrian Hageman, Isaac's father-in-law, bought one hundred and sixty-one acres in Frederick County from John Logsdon for £112 and paid in Pennsylvania currency. Accordingly, it may be supposed that the Hageman's moved from New Jersey to Maryland at this time. Within this context, Adrian Hageman made a will on December 2, 1773, which mentions his wife, Mary, his daughter, Geertje (Charity), his son-in-law (although not mentioned by name), and grandsons Adrian (or Adron) and John Runyon. The will was proved on January 20, 1774, and two original copies are known to exist, viz., one in the court house in Frederick County and one in Annapolis.
Isaac Runyon served in the Revolutionary War, first in Frederick County as a corporal in Jacob Goode's Company and is listed on September 12, 1775, as one of eighty-two men (sixty-eight privates).2 Subsequently, Isaac along with his son, John, served in Captain Frederick Edwards' Company of the Montgomery County militia (forty-four men signed for duty).3 He then served with Captain William Campbell's Regiment of Virginia Militia and, again, with Captain Edwards' Company, which was attached to Colonel Walter Crockett's Regiment. Isaac and John were at or near the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina in March of 1781. (Captain Edwards' muster roll, dated March 26, 1781, indicates both Isaac and John Runyon as privates.) This service was substantiated by an affidavit made on Decemberr 29, 1819, by John Prestoke, who also asserts that he knew Isaac Runion in 1780 and that he then resided in Montgomery County, Virginia, on or near Pine Run. (This part of Montgomery County was later organized in 1790 as Wythe County.) Clearly, this implies that the Runyon family migrated to Montgomery County about 1780 and is further supported by the sale of one hundred and sixty-one acres on Great Pike Creek, Frederick County, Maryland, to John Logsdon on June 27, 1777, by Isaac Runion and Mary Hageman. Obviously, this is the same land purchased by Adrian Hageman in 1773 and, furthermore, the deed describes the parcel as one corner on Farquhar's Run and adjoining Bedford and Bedford Amendment tracts. Similarly, on August 9, 1779, Adrian Hagerman's widow, Mary Hagerman, daughter, Geertje (Charity), and son-in-law, Isaac Runyon, sold land to Jacob Stimmeli for £1200 current money. The graveyard in which Adrian Hagerman was buried was located on this property and the widow and Runyon heirs were granted a free right of access to the grave site. The name of Isaac Runnion (Runyon) appeared on the Land Tax List of 1782 for Montgomery County as owning one hundred and forty-six acres valued at twenty pounds on which he was assessed four shillings. Subsequently, it is reported that in 1783 Isaac Runyon bought two hundred and sixty-seven acres on a branch of New River adjoining Allferd's land. In addition, the name of Isaac Runyan (Runyon) appeared on the Montgomery County Personal Property Tax List of 1782 along with two other individuals both named John Runyon. One of these was almost certainly Isaac's son, but the identity of the other remains undetermined. Within this context, there is evidence that John Runyon married Elizabeth Runner in Montgomery County in 1786.4 This couple later settled in Pike County, Kentucky, and although it is probable that this was a son of Isaac, it is by no means certain. (Indeed, some researchers assert that Isaac's son, John, never married, but was a hunter and Indian scout on the Appalachian frontier.) Concomitantly, a deed of November 27, 1785, indicated that Isaac Runyon purchased eighty acres in Montgomery County from Thomas Guffin for £50. The land was located on Peek Creek, a branch of New River. Subsequently, on February 2, 1789, Isaac sold this same parcel to James Kennard for £45. Likewise, a deed dated May 26, 1786, asserted that Isaac's land adjoined one hundred and fifty acres purchased by Jacob Fouts, assignee of John Montgomery, which included both sides of Runion's Mill Branch. The residence of Isaac Runyon in Montgomery County is further supported by Personal Property Tax List B of 1787, in which his name appears. As noted previously, Wythe County was organized from a part of Montgomery County in 1790 and Isaac's land was evidently included within the new county. Accordingly, Isaac Runyon and his son, John, were listed in Wythe County tax records of 1795. (Concomitantly, Isaac's son, Adam, was listed in the Wythe County Personal Property Tax List of 1793.) Indeed, in 1798 Isaac Runyon, Sr., failed to pay tax assessed in Montgomery County and the collector or assesor, Mr. Hogue, was probably the one who wrote, "gone to Wythe." Even so, delinquent taxes of $1.78 were paid in October of 1798 to John Taylor, the sheriff. Moreover, Isaac Runyon evidently continued to own property in Montgomery County as is supported by a survey of two hundred acres in Montgomery County located on the Sandy Bar Branch of New River and made for Isaac Runyon on June 11, 1802.
Neverthelees, it would seem that by 1806, Isaac Runyon and his family had moved from Wythe County and settled in Tazewell County, Viriginia. Accordingly, Isaac appeared on tax rolls for Tazewell County from 1806 to 1813. He did not appear again except in 1816 and is then identified as a stone mason. Concomitantly, on April 26, 1809, the Tazewell County Court ordered that Isaac Runyan and his son, Adron, be exempted from the payment of levies and poor rates on account of old age and bodily infirmities.5 Accordingly, it is believed that Adron (or Adrian) was the disabled son as affirmed in a pension affidavit made on behalf of Isaac Runyon by John B. George on December 29, 1819. An entry for the household of "Non Runnyan" appears in the population schedule of the 1820 US Census for Tazewell County and consists of two males and one female all above forty-five years of age. It would seem likely that "Non" is a corruption of "Adron", which is in accord with identification of the three individuals as Adron, Isaac, and Charity Runyon. Again, this is supported by the affadavit of John B. George. (In addition, households of Isaac's sons, Benjamin and Joseph, appear on the same page of the population schedule.) Subsequently, Isaac Runyon executed powers of attorney in 1820 and 1821 appointing John B. and Henry P. George, respectively, to collect his pension payment of sixty dollars. However, no power of attorney was executed in 1822, which suggests that Isaac Runyon died sometime in the year 1821. Similarly, his wife, Charity, also seems to have died somewhat earlier, perhaps, in 1820. No burial place is known for either of them. Subsequently, Revolutionary War pension applications were made by Adam Runyon and Mary Runyon May (in regard to her first hisband, William Brabston) in 1832 and 1842, respectively, which support migration of the Runyon family from Maryland to Virginia among other details.6,7
http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Runyon_Isaac.htm
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only two children, Peter and John, can be reliably attributed to Joseph, son of Thomas. Nevertheless, a number of researchers believe that he may have had as many as four more sons, viz., Isaac, Henry, William, and Elijah (as well as having additonal likely spurious children attributed to him); however, there is no definite confirmation of this.3
http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Runyon_Joseph_2.htm
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