AMERICAN REVOLUTION IN VIRGINIA: Some Terry Men

 According to one source (Valley Forge) the following men from Virginia were in the Continental army:

William Terry, 3rd Va Rgt. and a Sgt. Thomas Terry, 3rd Va Rgt. The 3rd Regiment was formed in February 1776 at Alexandria and Dumfries. Companies recruited men from Prince William, Fauquier, Stafford, Louisa, Fairfax, King George, Loudoun and Culpeper Counties. Post the conflict two men named William and Thomas disappeared from Botetourt Co., Tax Lists. It is known that there were two Tory men by that name in the state that left (possibly to Canada) but it is unknown if they were the same. Two men of the name Thomas and William do head into Tennessee and Kentucky but there are no proven associations for them. Early 1780's there is a Jessy Terry in Botetourt Co., working land next to Miles and William Terry (elderly father of Miles) and he leaves ca 1784. A Jessy Terry does show up in Tennessee early but again no proof. One line has linked him to a Thomas Terry with wife Sarah Kincaid (this Thomas has a haplogroup of I-01) and moved into Wilkes Co., Georgia.

A Gideon and Vincent Terry were listed from Va and in the 7th. The 7th Regiment was formed in February, March, April, and May of 1776 at Gloucester County Courthouse. Companies recruited men from Halifax, Albemarle, Botetourt, Gloucester, King William, Essex, Middlesex, Cumberland, King and Queen, Orange and Fincastle Counties.

In the 14th Va Rgt. was listed a Nathaniel, Obediah, and John Terry.  The John Terry listed with the 14th is issued clothes in about 1776.  In 1776 the son of Wm Terry would have been only about 15 to 16 years of age. Not impossible but, given the fact the the other two Terry men listed in the 14th are known descendants of the eastern band of the Terry in Virginia (have have a distinctly different DNA than those in Augusta-Botetourt) it causes some thoughts to bubble. The grave of the John Terry of Perry Co., Indiana indicates he was in Lambert's 14th Va Rgt. So.....The 14th Regiment was formed in February 1777. Companies recruited men from Halifax, Pittsylvania, Hanover, Bedford, Albemarle, Fincastle, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Goochland, Louisa, Charlotte and Lunenburg counties. The 14th was one of those at Valley Forge. Although ill for several days, this John Terry was there.

The 12th Rgt. recruited men heavily from Botetourt and western areas of Va. The 12th Regiment was formed in February 1777. Companies recruited men from Hampshire, Berkeley, Botetourt, Dunmore, and Prince Edward counties. State Troops recruited men from Botetourt, Augusta, Hampshire, and Frederick counties and West Augusta District.

Local Militias were active in communities as well. They had been established early and had protected communities from previous conflicts with native tribes, marauders, and just the lawlessness of establishing new communities in the wilds of Virginia. Every able bodied man (and that could include young men as young as 12) were expected to be willing and capable of responding to a call to arms in time of need.