Archibald
Dunlap from Augusta County, Virginia was born May 12, 1771, in Campbeltown,
Scotland. He arrived in the American Colonies as a child about 1775 with his
family. I’ve written three earlier blog posts and will leave links at the end.
Since
writing my first Archibald Dunlap Research Log Post,
I proved Archibald Jr. is a son of Archibald Sr. and Betsy Dunlap. Letters exchanged
between Dunlap cousins in the 1860’s solidify the connection between Archibald
Jr.’s children and children of the documented Dunlap’s. Thank you Jerry L. and
Wanda Bostic Dunlap for sharing and publishing the Dunlap Family Letters on
their excellent website Dunlap Family Tree.
While
reading a typewritten transcript of Augusta County, Virginia Marriages
compiled by Annie Walker Burns, I spotted a marriage bond for Wm. Buchman and
Martha Dunlap dated March 3,1835. Burns recorded Martha as the daughter of
Archibald Dunlap. Archibald Dunlap served as a bondsman but I’m uncertain
whether its Archibald Sr. or Archibald Jr. Census records later identified ‘Wm.
Buchman’ as William Buchanan.
Excerpt from
Virginia Genealogies
and County Records
Volume VIII (Eight)
Compiled by Annie
Walker Burns
Box 6183, Washington,
D. C.
Page 68
Early
personal property tax lists place 4th Great Grandfather in Augusta
County, Virginia as early as 1791.
An
1800 personal property tax list revealed Archibald Dunlap owed the tax assessor
60 cents for a tithe and 5 horses.
The
next time I discovered him in an official record was the 1810 census:
1810
Federal Census Enumeration
Augusta
County, Virginia, Page 12/334
Head
of Household: Arch’d Dunlap
2
males under 10 years: sons James and Archibald Jr.
1
male between 10 and 16 years: son Robert
1
male between 16 and 26 years: unknown
1
male between 16 and 45 years: Archibald Sr.
2
females under 10 years: daughters Elizabeth and Martha
2
females between 10 and 16 years: daughters Nancy and Margaret
1
female between 16 and 26 years: unknown
1
female between 26 and 45 years: wife Elizabeth
A
young man and woman lived in the Dunlap household, but their relationship to
the family is unknown.
4th
Great Grandfather Archibald enlisted in the United States Army Dec. 2, 1813, for
a five-year stint. His company commander was Lt. Koontz, and he served in the
Artillery. The Register of Enlistments describe Grandfather as 5’6½” tall, blue
eyes, brown hair, dark complexion and 45 years of age.
I
was delighted to find a physical description of Great Grandfather but was
surprised he enlisted in the army at the age of 45. His enlistment occurred
during the War of 1812 against the British.
The
Army Enlistment Register stated he was a farmer born in Edinburgh, Scotland. My
earlier research place Archibald Dunlop’s birth in Campbeltown, Scotland—not
Edinburgh. Google mapped a five-hour car drive between Campbeltown and
Edinburgh. This is a new development. I must remind myself Grandfather was a small
child when he left Scotland perhaps making his early recollections fuzzy. His
enlistment age (45 years) calculates to a 1768 birth—not matching Scotland’s
People (1771). See Archibald Dunlap
Research Post 3.
I
can think of several scenarios to explain the situation so I’m not ready to
disregard my earlier research. However, I would very much like finding another
birth source.
The
Remarks in the Enlistment Records tell Archibald’s military history. Five months
after enlisting, he was confined for desertion at Fort Washington, Maryland May
31, 1814. I think Grandfather took on more than he could handle physically and was
too old for army life.
Transcription:
D.
R. [Descriptive Rolls] Det. Arty Ft. Washington, Md., May 31/14, In for
desertion – Capt. Jas Reed’s Co. Book US Arty 1812/15, Present Aug 20 & Dec
1814 – D. R. [Descriptive Rolls] Feby 16, M. R. [Muster Rolls] Feby 18, &
M. R. Feby 28/15, Present. Mo
Ret
[Returned] May 31, M. R. & I. R. [Muster Roll & Inspection Return] July
31/15, Discharged, April 30/15, old age & Rheumatism – The remark “In 20th
Infy.” appears opp. his name.
Printed in the
Republican Constellation, Wincester, Virginia
Feb. 5, 1814
As
you can see from the above advertisement, Lt. Jacob Kountz offered $10.00 for
Grandfather Arch’s capture. It’s curious his age was said to be 42 years
contradicting the enlistment register age 45.
His
name appeared in muster rolls in August and December of 1814 as well as
February 1815. Archibald Dunlap was discharged early April 30, 1815 owing to rheumatism
and old age at Fort Washington.
Earlier
Posts:
Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914;
(National Archives Microfilm Publication M233, 81 rolls); Records of the
Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives,
Washington, D.C.