American Revolution Ancestor of Lee Johnson
Spencer Coleman
4th Great Grandfather of Lee Johnson
Spencer Coleman was the 6th generation of the Coleman’s born in the American Colonies. He was born in 1752 in King & Queen County VA. According to his Rev. War Pension Application, at about age 3, Spencer moved to Stafford Co. VA with his father and remained there until he was 15 years old. Then he moved to Shenandoah County VA, where he remained till he was about 23, and married Lucy White. He then moved to Seven Mile Ford, where he remained about one year.
During this year in Seven Mile Ford he was attached to Capt. Frances, under the Command of Col. William Campbell. About the month of May the Company to which he belonged was called out to guard the lead mines on New River, VA. While guarding the lead mines from the Tories, Col. Campbell stated that the Tories were embodied 40 miles away, at the Big Glades, and marched his men to give them battle. The Tories had fled, but not before the Company captured two of the Tories, and recovered one of their own who had been held prisoner. Soon afterwards, Col. Cleveland arrived from NC with a Tory prisoner who had was charged with robbing a peddler, who was hung, while sitting on the trial of a prisoner taken by Col. Campbell. Col. Cleveland and Col. Campbell’s Companies soon met up with the Tories once more at Wallen’s Bottom, where the Tories surrendered.
The next winter he moved down to the Wolf Hills area near present day Abingdon, VA, where he fell under the command of Col. Authur Campbell, brother of Col. William Campbell. Shortly after his arrival, the Company to which he belonged was called out against the Cherokee, who had been killing and plundering on the frontier. Spencer states that he doesn’t remember the names of all the towns that they destroyed, but their actions took them far into southeast TN. He was called out on these Cherokee battles frequently for periods of two to three weeks at a time.
Shortly after his last campaign that he served, he moved down to Watauga District, in what is now TN, and soon afterwards peace was declared. About 1826, Spencer moved himself and family to the present day community of Hopewell, just outside of Vonore, TN. He remained their until his death after 1830.
Spencer has been listed as a veteran of the Battle of King’s Mountain, but mentions nothing of this in his Rev. War Pension. It seems that the Cherokee Expeditions left much more of an impression on his aging mind.
Spencer and Lucy White Coleman had the following children:
Lucy Coleman Raines, b. abt. 1774, Shenandoah Co. VA, married Joel Raines
Jessy Coleman, b. abt 1776, Washington Co. VA, d. aft. 1860 in Monroe Co. TN, married Lydia (Unknown)
Lydia Coleman Vinson, b. abt. 1778, Washington Co. VA, d. Sept. 26, 1848, Newport Cocke Co. TN
Absolom Coleman, b. 1780, Watuaga District/Washington Co. TN, d. aft. 1841 in NC, married Nancy Lillard 1809
Edy Coleman Timmons, b. abt. 1784, Watauga District/Washington Co. TN, married Samuel Timmons
Polly Coleman Mackery, b. March 8, 1788, Greene Co. TN, d. Nov. 15, 1838 Howard Co. MO
William Coleman, b. 1790, Greene Co. TN, d. aft 1870, married Elizabeth Van
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