Jonathan Roach [34705]

  General Notes:

May have been born July 29, 1761 according to Jim Roach on Roach genforum.

Living near Peter Davis on the 1810 census Monroe Co., VA. Also noted on pg 183 of the 1820 census Monroe Co., VA. Jonathan Roach is on the 1830 Monroe Co., VA census pg. 36A as being between 60-70 with female aged between 70 - 80. Also in the home in 1830 are five other males (one 40-50, two 20-30, one 10-15, and one 5-10) and one other female 20-30.

In "A History of Orange County, Virginia by W.W. Scott" online at http://ls.net/~newriver/va/oran1.htm is noted that Jonathan Roach is on a muster roll of Capt. Ambrose - Madison's Company of foot in the Regiment of volunteers Guards at the Barracks in Albemarle County, whereof Col. Francis Taylor is Commander, to June 1, 1779 ... Jonathan Roach is listed as are John Davis and Lewis Davis

Roach, Jonathan Monroe Co. VA militia pension started: April 1, 1833 age 73 in 1833 (Rev. War Pensions) $80.00 annual allowance and $240.00 amount received.

"The Revolutionary War pension records of Jonathan Roach (c.1762-1840) of Monroe County, VA, contains two images of what appear to be Bible pages, with the names of his children. The first page (at least the copy I have) is almost impossible to read but shows what looks to be "Aney Meddes dater of (???????)." I know that he had a step-daughter Annie Meadows who married George Ballengee. Does anyone have a copy of this page and can you decipher who she was a daughter of?? I have seen references to a Lewis Meadows as her father but no source is ever given." Query by Arley Meadows on the Monroe Co., WV rootsweb message board dated Sept. 16, 2003. No reply as of July 24, 2005.

From Tim Roach on Roach Rootsweb message board, "His estate was probated in Jul 1840 at Monroe Co., VA. Jonathan Roach's Revolutionary War Pension File provides a great deal of information about his military service. He served as a guard for the prisoners captured with General Burgoyne at Saratoga, and served under Captain Madison, Major John Roberts, and Colonel Taylor. Discharged in May of 1781, he substituted for James Craig in the Rockingham County militia; in his second term he went through Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg, and Yorktown - and he was discharged eight days before Cornwallis surrendered. Jonathan and Ruth had eleven children, and the pension file contains two pages out of the family Bible on which their names and birthdates are listed: Elijah, John, Jacob, Rebecca, Rhoda, Rachel, Lethe, Caty, Mary, Lanty, and Isaac. Ruth had a daughter Anna by her first husband Lewis Meadows. (Revolutionary War Pension File. National Archives. Copy.)
According to the Court Order Book for Monroe County, Virginia, Jonathan spent some time as Supervisor of Roads in that County. The Greenbrier Court Order books record that he was ordered to "view the way from the mouth of Wolf Creek to the wagon road at Konrod Keller's and report to the court." Jonathan also served as Constable for Greenbrier County. (Helen S. Stinson. Greenbrier Co., West Virginia. Court Orders 1780-1850. Moorpark, Ca. pp. 124, 134.)
In his will Jonathan gave his soul to the merciful protection of the almighty God, "hoping the divine redeemer merits to meet with a joyful resurrection." His wife Rutha was given the house and feed for one cow; Isaac Roach received about 54 acres of land; John Roach, the rest of the estate. Lanty, Elijah, Rebecca Fleshman, Rhoda Meadows, Rachel Perry, Letha Handley, Caty McNeer, and Mary Handley were bequeathed a dollar. (Will of Jonathan Roach. Monroe Co., Virginia. Copy.) "

Jonathan married Ruth Anna Unknown [15642] [MRIN: 11798] in Oct 1782 in Rockingham County, VA. (Ruth Anna Unknown [15642] was born about 1763 and died after 1850.)