Fort Henckel Militia Muster Rolls

June and September 1775

 

Fort Henckel, aka Hinkle’s Fort, was located deep in the Allegheny Mountains in West Augusta, western Virginia, when it was built in 1761-62 by Johann Justus Henckel (Hinkle), Sr. (706-1778), other members of his family with perhaps help from neighboring settlers.   The location near Riverton, Pendleton County, West Virginia, in what is known as Germany Valley. 

 

The fort was built as a protection  for Henckel, his family, and other pioneers against the Native Americans who frequented the valley from time to time. 

According to an article on a Hinkle family website, the fort became the only outpost in Pendleton County for the patriot forces during the American Revolutionary War.  While it has been generally that John Justus Henckel, Sr. served as commander of the fort and furnished supplies to the troops of the Virginia Militia who were quartered there, solid primary proof of his service and that of the Virginia Militia who were headquatered there including the North Fork Military Company which had been organized by settlers early in the Revolutionary War.  Until now!

From time to time, old records turn up.  Recently, Stephanie Mitchell, a researcher from the Midwest and a descendants of the Hinkle, Teter, Vandeventer, Cassel, Lambert, Bible and other Pendleton County, West Virginia families, unearthed two OLD record in a 1672 French Bible of another of her ancestors, Joseph Louis Cheuvront  (b. France 1757, d. Harrison County, now West Virginia, 1832) .  This well- preserved Bible contains the Militia Muster Rolls for John Skidmore’s Company at Fort Henckel (modern spelling Hinkle) for June 6 and September 8, 1775.  When you get to the page with several images, be sure to double click on each one to get a larger image and a transcription of the names as recorded from the original by the owner.

 

The best part of Stephanie’s find is the recognition these listings give to these forty-nine men for their service to our fledgling nations.  Of course, the proof these muster rolls provide to the descendants of these men for eligibility in organizations such as DAR is important too.  Copies of these pages are now a part of the holdings of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.

 

Before Summer 2007, Stephanie’s story of her “big find” and other explanations as she knows them will be linked to this page.  Check back to read it! 

 

Other links which may be helpful in your research:

 

Henckel/Hinkle Website*

Hinkle Descendants*

 

*HCPD is not responsible for the accuracy of information on these or any other sites linked to our site.

 

If you know of other sites that might be helpful to the researchers of the men on these lists, please contact the webmaster.  She will add them at her earliest convenience.