from Our Kith and Kin by George B. Marshall
John Vincent, in his application for a pension for services
in the Revolutionary War, said he was born in Kensington,
Middlesex County, England, August 24, 1750. When twelve
years of age he came to Virginia. A Dutchman, to whom he was
apprenticed, mistreated him to such an extent he ran away and joined the Militia when only thirteen years of age. Of his experience in the Colonial wars, there is no record except the statement in his application papers that in July, 1774, he marched from Hampshire County, Virginia, to Chillecothe (Ohio ) as a volunteer under Captain Wallace, Major Crawford and Colonel Boman. He was in the Battle of Kanawha.
In the summer of 1776, he volunteered under Captain Forman, who
was ordered to raise a company to be stationed at Fort Wheeling, and served as an Orderly Sergeant. He was with a detachment of men who were attacked by Indians September 27, 1777, near McMechens Narrows, and was shot in the right leg. All but thirteen of the party were killed. Captain Forman being one of those lost. March 15, 1782, he received a Lieutenant's Commission, and was ordered to go to Charlestown, South Carolina, in Captain Stadels Company, commanded by Colonel Voice.
John Vincent was married December 6, 1778, to Sarah Johnson, a
sister of President Johnsons' father. They lived in Hampshire
County, Virginia until 1796, when they moved to Tennessee, and settled on a military grant. After building a cabin, and clearing a
few acres, John Vincent learned he could not enter the land. So
he moved to Kentucky. The same experience was had there, on Military land. Not discouraged the family started a new home below
Harrison, Ohio, only to learn several years later they had settled on a part of the Symnes purchase. Disheartened, but still courageous, the pioneers decided to get as near the Indian boundary as possible. Going up the White Water (Franklin County, Indiana) on a search for a home site, John Vincent followed an Indian trail for a mile west of the White Water Forks. The Indians said, "Over there Indian Land, here white man live." He was as far as he could go. Selecting a site for a cabin, he went home. His son John returned with him in the
Fall and they built a cabin to which the family moved the next year,
(1804), all their possessions carried on two horses. The family never
had any trouble with the Indians. Bread with sugar on it was one
of the means of winning their friendship,
John Vincent, when out hunting with his relative, Jacob Williams,
gave to several streams in Southeastern Indiana the names they still bear. Yellow Bank Creek, Duck Creek, Bear Creek, Pipe Creek, and Blue Creek.
A Revolutionary War Veteran, Joab Stout, often visited the Vincent home, and the two old soldiers would talk over war experiences. Joab Stout was a Baptist preacher, but possessed no Bible. The Vincent Bible was given to him after the family record was torn out.
In the White Water Valley in the early years of the Nineteenth
Century, were found Baptists, Presbyterians and a few Quakers and
Episcopalians. The Baptists predominated and were the first church
people of the neighborhood to organize a society and hold religious
services. John Vincent became a member of this organization in
1810. In 1812 a church building was erected three miles south of
Brookville, the first Baptist church built in Indiana. It was called
"The Little Cedar Grove Baptist Church."
It is now in the possession of the Brookville Historical Society.
On May 4, 1811, fourteen men living on the West Fork of the White Water, petitioned the Little Cedar Grove congregation for an "arm" of the church. The petition was granted and the West Fork White Water Baptist Society was formicd. Some of the meetings of the organizers were held in the Vincent home. Just when the West Fork church was erected is not known. The land was a gift of Isaac Hastings and his wife. It is thought the deed dated July 27, 1819, was transferred after the completion of the building. The original deed was given to the writer by Mr. Harry Stoops.
The West Fork Church was three-quarters of a mile from the Vin-cent home, and in its graveyard Jeremiah Vincent, who married Martha Hastings, lies buried.
An unfriendly neighbor who sometimes disturbed the congregation by fiddling on his porch during services, was one day burning a field of dry grass when the fire spread beyond his control and destroyed the West Fork Church. Only a grove of trees and a few grave stones mark its site.
Sarah Johnson Vincent attended the Baptist Church with her hus-
band, but remained loyal to her Presbyterian doctrines.
John Vincent and his wife are buried on the land they entered in
1806, and the farm is now owned by Mr. Harry Stoops, one of their descendants.
References, John Vincent's Pension Papers, U. S. Pension Office.
History of Franklin Co., Ind., by August J. Reifel.
John Vincent:
Born, Aug. 24, 1750, Kensington, Middlesex Co., England.
Died, Jan. 26, 1837, Brookville, Indiana.
Married, Dec. 16, 1778, Sarah Johnson, Virginia.
Sarah Johnson.
Born, Feb. 16, 1758.
Died, May 16, 1822, Brookville, Indiana.
Children of John and Sarah Johnson Vincent:
Nancy Nov. 1, 1779, Died, July, 1875. M. June 22, 1802, Allen Simpson.
Rebecky Sept. 12, 1782. M. May 4, 1802, Hiram Brownlee.
Caty June 22, 1785, Died, Apr. 24, 1842. M. Sept. 14, 1806, John Gayners.
Betsy Oct. 29, 1787, Died, May 27, 1881. M. Dec. 22, 1814, Isaac Wilson.
John. Feb. 8, 1789, Died, Aug. 24, 1816.
Polly Aug. 17, 1792, Died, Jan. 30, 1824.M. June 27, 1811, Mr. Wilson.
William Oct. 8, 1795.
Jeremiah. May 20, 1798.
Samuel Sept. 15, 1800, Died, June 12, 1808.
Sarah June 11, 1808, Died, Mch. 10, 1898. M. Nov. 19, 1829, Amos
Martin.
