Ashby Ranger taken prisoner to Quebec
As we cover 1759 in this year of 2023, we run into a Ranger of Captain Ashby's Company who was captured and was exchanged back. He petitions for pay from the House of Burgesses on 8 March 1759.
William Istobe, a Ranger in the 2nd Company of Rangers Captained by John Ashby (Captain Jack), was taken prisoner.
The claim is that he was captured off the Patterson April 1756 which is the river near Fort Ashby.
The Indians and French hauled him eventually all the way to Quebec.
And then he was transported to England for an exchange of prisoners.
He was gone 22 months, so testifies his neighbor.
His neighbor happens to be a member of the House of Burgesses.
And the certificate testifying this was submitted by Captain John Ashby.
Other than those two testimonials, the House could find no corroborating truth, but awarded William Istobe a payment of 21 lbs. anyway.
The only two corroborations of the truth come in the form of a testimonial.
One testimonial is by Captain John Ashby.
A "Return" submitted 21 Oct 1755, lists William Isotobe as a member of Captain John Ashby's Rangers, which by the way also lists Daniel Morgan. This list states William Isotobe, 7 Sept 1755, 5 foot 9 inches, "dark," aged 45 from England, occupation farmer. It doesn't list Prince William County Virginia where he is alleged to have a House of Burgess neighbor. This is from page 53, Virginia's Colonial Soldiers, by Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck, 1988, Genealogical Publishing Company.
The other testimonial confirms William Isotobe's absence. His neighbor, who again to state, also happens to be a Member of the House of Burgesses, testifies that William Isotobe showed up 22 months later.
But despite these 2 testimonials, the House of Burgesses notices there was no proof of his imprisonment offered.
That claim of imprisonment is quite a round trip of being prisoner at Fort Duquesne, then Montreal, then Quebec, then in a prisoner exchange is sent to England.
The House does vote to compensate William Isotobe.
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Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 3/14/2023, updated 3/15/2023, updated 3/18/2023, 3/19/2023
Table of Contents
Patterson Creek near Fort Ashby
Petition by William Isotobe for compensation
House of Burgesses 3rd Session states on March 8, 1759;
Also a Petition of William Istobe, setting forth. That he was a Soldier in Captain Ashby's Company of Rangers, and in an Engagement with some Enemy Indians on Patterson's Creek, in April 1756, was by them taken Prisoner, and carried to Quebec, where he remained nineteen Months, and was then transported to England, and exchanged, and praying the Consideration of this House, were severally presented to the House and read.
Ordered, That the faid Memorial and Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Claims; That they do examine into the Allegations thereof, and report the fame, with their Opinions thereupon, to the House.
House of Burgesses 3rd Session
page 55, February 22, 1759, to April 14, 1759
No Evidence but 2 Testimonies
House of Burgesses 3rd Session continues on March 15, 1759, on another page: Mr Bland, from the Committee of Claims, reported, That the Committee had, according to Order, had under their Consideration the Petition of William Istobe, to them referred, and had agreed upon a Report, and come to a Resolution thereupon, which he read in his Place, and then delivered in at the Table, where the said Resolution was again twice read, and agreed to by the House, with an Amendment; and the said Report and Resolution are as follow:
Your Committee upon examining into the Petition of the said William Istobe was not able to collect any Evidence to prove the Truth of the Allegations thereof,
TESTIMONY but not evidence:
other than that it appeared by a Certificate from John Ashby, Captain of one of the ranging Companies,
that the Petitioner was enlisted as a Ranger in the said Company, the eighth of September, 1755, and continued in the Service until the first of April, 1756, when he was taken Prisoner by the French or their Indians; and at that Time there was due to him two Months Pay, which he has not received.
TESTIMONY but not evidence:
And that by the Information of one of the Members of this House, who lived near the Petitioner's Place of Abode, in the County of Prince William,
before his enlisting as a Ranger, that from the Time of his being taken Prisoner to the Time of his Return Home, was near twenty-two Months, nineteen Months of which Time the Petitioner alledged he was a Prisoner in the Goals of Fort Du Quesne, Montreal, and Quebec, and suffered great Hardships ; and thereupon,
Compensation is Rewarded
Resolved,
That the Petitioner ought to be allowed the Sum oi £ 21 for his Pay, and as a Recompence for the Injuries he suffered during his Captivity and Imprisonment.
Ordered,
That it be an Inftru(5lion to the Committee of Claims to make the faid Allowance in the Book of Claims.
House of Burgesses 3rd Session
page 55, February 22, 1759, to April 14, 1759
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