Archer Family

Notes

Nathan Archer

The youngest son of Captain James Archer, Nathan Archer was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania in 1797.

He came to Noble County, Ohio with his father in 1809. He married Rebecca Morris, the daughter of Issac Morris who is thought to be the nephew of Robert Morris, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, as well as a financier of the Revolution.

Nathan Archer born 1797 died 1845
married Rebecca Morris born 1802 in Ohio, died September 1850, Noble Co., Ohio
children:
Simon Archer born 1826 married Elizabeth DeLozier
Stephen Archer born 1824 married Nancy Grandon
Henry Archer
Thomas Archer married Nancy Thomas
James Archer married Jennet Smith
Rose Archer
Teener Archer
Lucinda Archer married Jesse Ball
Sophia Archer married Simon Archer
Elizabeth Archer married James Warfield

Nathan Archer is buried in Archer's Ridge Cemetery, Enoch Township, Noble Co., Ohio, near old St. Michael's Cemetery.

Although Nathan's father, Captain James Archer was married twice, it seems likely that Nathan's mother was Sophia McClelland, as Nathan appears to have named a child Sophia after his mother.

note from: "The Archer Family" book This book has many errors

James Archer

In the early years of the 19th century, 5 families, Enochs, Crows, Grandons, Morris's and Archer's, from Northwestern Virginia and Pennsylvania, settled in what is now known as Noble County, Ohio;" a place of settlement known as the East Fork of Duck Creek, lying between Crum Town and the source of the stream."Many feel that the congregation of these families represent the earliest settlements within the limits of Noble Co.
James Archer, of Irish extraction and one of the sons of Patrick Archer came from Greene Co., Pennsylvania and settled in Stock Township on the East Fork of Duck Creek around 1809 in an area referred to as "Archers Settlement".
James's father, Patrick, came from Ireland, likely Kilkenny, to America, probably settling in and around Monongalia County, Virginia, Brooke County, Virginia and Ohio. It was James Archer, however, who ultimately continued the westward movement to Noble County.
Being from a devout Catholic family, James Archer, Sr., served in Captain David Owens Company of Frontier Rangers in 1776 as ensign. When Owens was dismissed, James Archer succeeded him as Captain, proving himself many times to be a fearless commander and a foe of the Indians.

His determination to make the frontier of Greene County, Pennsylvania safe from the redskin tribes may have brought about the deaths of his father-in-law, and the McClelland family as well as part of his own family at the massacre by Indians at Double Bridge, ( now the sight of a McDonalds Restaurant in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. Historical accounts indicate that in 1783, Indians fell upon the McClelland and Archer families who lived in the same cabin. Eight or nine members of the two families were killed, a few escaping from the clutches of the savages. Two of James Archer's daughters, Elizabeth and Susan were tomawked, scalped and left for dead; Elizabeth ultimately dying of the wounds inflicted, with Susan miraculously recovering, advancing into womanhood, and bearing several children.

James Archer's name appears in War Department Records showing that he served the the Revolutionary War as a Lieutenant with his name mentioned on a return from Monongalia County, Virginia for the expedition to the Indian Country". He also served as a Captain in the First Battalion Pennsylvania Militia in Washington County in 1782.

The reason for Captain James Archer's movement to the Noble County Wilderness, obviously went with him to the grave, but speculation is that James and his sons were exceptional hunters and the game that inhabited the area served as an attraction for the Archers. Another story, although less plausible, is that Captain James Archer was possessed with tracking down the slayers of his family, staying in hot pursuit of them. Whatever the reason, James Archer brought his family to Noble County, Ohio by horseback, cutting their own road a portion of the way.

Soon after their arrival a heavy rain raised the waters of Duck Creek to the point that Archer's cabin was in immediate danger of being washed away. The family took refuge in the loft of the cabin and kept warn by keeping coals in a kettle. It was this same cabin in which the first Catholic services in the area around Duck Creek were held, and in which visiting priests from Wheeling stayed at the invitation of Captain Archer.

According to Ira F. Archer Sr., now deceased, but who related much information on the Archer history, James Archer built his cabin near a bank of the East Fork of Duck Creek and close by, the cabin began a sloping elevation of a knoll which he chose for a cemetery. This cemetery is known today as the old St. Michaels Catholic Cemetery, located in Stock Twp., RT303 and State Route 78, on the old Archer homestead, now owned by Albert Archer.

The cemetery is now in disuse, but in it are buried two on James's sons; Michael and Simon. Much speculation abounds as to where the remains of the old soldier, Captain Archer is buried; the prevailing theory being that he was not layed to rest in the old Catholic Cemetery, but rather in the unknown grave section of the Temperanceville Catholic Church Cemetery now referred to as St. Mary's Church, the church formerly called St. Dominics Catholic Church.

Again referring to Ira Archer's comments surrounding James Archer's burial sight, "in an attempt to gratify the last wish of the old Captain, preparation was made to transport his remains to the old homesite at Grave Creek ( on the Ohio River, some distance from Wheeling, West Virginia) where possibly his first wife Sophia was buried. Provisions were hastily made to transport Captain Archer's body to its final resting place, only to be confronted by extremely bad weather with constant rain making the roads next to impossible to travel. This, combined with the rugged hilly terrain, made it impractical to travel further, or to carry out the last request of the Captain. The route taken had led the funeral party to another early Catholic settlement called Tenperenceville. It was finally decided to bury James Archer in this cemetery where the remains now rest in an unmarked grave. "

It is felt that Captain James Archer was married twice, his first spouse, Sophia McClelland, daughter of Robert McClelland, sometimes referred to as "McClellan", and his second wife Jane Linicum or "Lincicome". There seems to be evidence that Sophia McClelland was alive as late as 1792 when she joined her husband in a sale of a tract of land in Ohio County, Virginia. This would lead one to believe that she was the mother of most of the Archer children.

There also seems to be some confusion as to actually how many children James Archer fathered, with the number ranging from 11 to 15. The best information shows the sons of Captain Archer to be James Jr. who fought in the indian wars after the Revolution; Joseph, Michael, Simon, Jacob, and Nathan, while his daughters were, Nancy, Rachael, Polly or Mary, Elizabeth, Susan, Jane and Sarah.

Known for their large families, none of James's children had less than ten children with Nathan and James Jr. having 13 children while Jacob Archer had 23 children by two wives.

James Archer was a Roman Catholic, and most of his children held to their father's faith for many years as noted by the fact that Michael, Simon, and Nathan Archer and their families established St. Michaels Roman Catholic Church in 1841. The three other brothers, James, Joseph, and Jacob, however, became Methodists.

Conflict arises again, as to exactly when James Archer passed away, A marker in the East Union Cemetery, although not the grave of Janes Archer, indicated his death in 1830, but a newspaper article that appeared in the Daily Jeffersonian in Cambridge, Ohio , mentions of his death in 1837.

James Archer Sr. born 1747 died 1830-1837
married #1 Sophia McCelland
married #2 Jane Lincicum

Children:

James Archer Jr. born 15 October 1779 died 14 August 1856
married Rebecca Enochs on 2 July 1799

Joseph Archer born 1785
married Phebe Enochs

Michael Archer born 1792 died 19 July 1847
married Rhoda Grandon

Simon Archer born c.1796
married Rhoda Enochs

Jacob Archer born 1796
married Sally Grandon on 28 October 1875

Nathan Archer born 1797
married Rebecca Morris

Nancy Archer born 1780
married Elisha Enochs

Rachel Archer born 1785
married George Hupp

Polly Archer born 1799
married John Moore

Elizabeth Archer
married George Harris

Susan Archer born 1784
married John Preble on 3 December 1804

Jane Archer born 20 February 1778 died 1816
married Henry Church

Sarah Archer born c. 1796
married George Church

notes by: "The Archer Family" book This book has many errors

Patrick Archer

Patrick Archer seems to have come to America from Ireland sometime in 1700's as the Archer name has been prominent in Kilkenny since as early as the 11th century. Little is known about Patrick Archer's arrival to America, however, the first evidence of his mark was the Archer settlement east of Fort Jackson (Greene Co., Pa. ) about 1774. Here Patrick Archer took up land in the vicinity of the old double bridge, Waynesburg, Pa.

William Rhodes, the owner-operator of a trading post at Fort Jackson, recorded in his journal that the Archers were the first Catholic family to settle in that area. Rhodes described the Archers as a family of roving hunters and that Patrick was coaxed by his son, James, to settle in the area, bringing his entire family with him. Again according to the rhodes journals, the children of Patrick Archer were James, Joseph, Michael, Simon, Betsy, Polly, and Nancy.

Patrick Archer born in Ireland

Children:

James Archer born 1747 died 1830 - 1837
married Sophia McClelland

Joseph Archer

Michael Archer
married Elizabeth Wells

Simon Archer
married Nancy Church

Betsy Archer
married William Wells

Polly Archer

Nancy Archer
married George Fee

notes by: "The Archer Family " book This book has many errors

to the Archer Cousins Genealogy

to the Archer Association Genealogy

WEBMASTER

[ Old Colonial Page ] [ Archer Descendants Page ] [ Genealogy Page ]
Produced and Maintained by Lawrence A. Boyle labrover@aol.com

Hit Counter