LINCOLN COUNTY, NC - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - Capt. Phillip Null Sr. (1752-1834) ----¤¤¤¤---- History of the Null Family PUTNAM'S PAST Capt. Phillip Null Sr. (1752-1834) By Charles Ray Harper Probably the foremost revolutionary war patriot that ever settled in the Kanawha Valley. Capt. Null went off to war early, and carried his musket for seven years in the war from New England to South Carolina. Capt. Null as a pvt. then enlisted in Capt. George Hudson's Heidelberg Company, Lancaster Battalion of Pennsylvania. In 1776 he was most likely in battles of Halem Heights, White Plains NY and at Fort Lee across water from Harlem and Manhattan Island NY. He was also likely at Brooklyn Heights Long Island NY from Aug 27, 1776-Nov 18, 1776. On Dec. 25, 1776, Christmas Day, he was one of 2400 men picked to cross the Delaware, with Gen. George Washington. He was with Gen. Washington when they won a battle at Trenton NJ the next day, Dec. 26, 1776. After an appeal by Gen. Washington, Capt. Phillip Null was one of 200 men who volunteered to go with the general to battle of Princeton NJ on Jan 3, 1777. In 1777 he was a private in Capt. Geroge Null's 4th Co. First Lancaster Battalion of Penn, just before that he was in Capt. Moore's Co. 2nd Battalion Lancaster Co. of Penn. Capt. Phillip Null a non-comissioned officer, when with Gen. Washington at Valley Forge during the bad winter of 1777 and 1778. Philip Null was at Brandywine Creek Sept. 11, 1777, meet Major Gen. the Marquis de Layfayette, was wounded (the general) at battle of Germantown Oct. 5, 1777. Later Gen. Washington sent Phillip Null down to North Carolina to help put down Tory uprisings, was captured by Torries who slit his throat, and left him for dead. He was found by his future wife's family, who took him home where his future wife, Margaret Beauchamp (1755-1826), sewed him up, and saved his life. Phillip Null was leading a company of militia at Battle of Camden SC Aug. 16, 1780 where the British troops routed Gen. Gates. The Swamp Fox, and Col. Andrew Pickens skimishes with the British. They where the only forces left to fight in South Carolina. Capt. Null was with Col. Andrew Pickens at Battle of Cowpens under the wagoneer Gen. Daniel Morgan (Pickens promoted to General because of job done by Cap Null and the rest of their men). There is a very good chance Capt. Null was at Battles of King's Mt. Oct 7, 1780 and Ramsour's Mills June 20, 1780, near his home in Lincolnton NC. He also served under the gamecock Gen. Thoma Sumpter, and was under the Swamp Fox (Frances Marion) in Battle of Eutaw Springs Sept. 8, 1781 and other battles. The Great morgan victory at Cowpens and battle of Eutaw Springs, pushed the British up to their end at Yorktown, VA. Capt. Phillip Null was with Gen. George Washington at the surrender at Yorktown Va. Oct. 19, 1781. Capt. Phillip Null also knew and served with the Quaker General Nathaniel Greene. The Torries forced his wife out of their house in Lincolnton, Lincoln Co. NC. She had to beg for food for her children. Margaret Beauchamp toughed it out. Capt. Null had a tavern and a goal (jail) at this home in Lincolnton, Lincoln Co, NC Capt. Null was born in 1752, near Wrightsville, York Co. PA. Died 1834 of Cholera at Pt. Pleasant VA (WV) on his way to see his son Henry in PA. Married Margaret Beauchamp (born Apr. 13, 1755 York Co, PA, died in 1826 on Poca River, Kanawha Co, WV (now Putnam Co, WV). Married 1779 Lincolnton, Lincolnton Co, NC, now Rutherford Co, NC. Daughter of Jacob (Pierre) Beauchamp Bushong 1735-1812 and Juliana Wingle. Capt. Null son of John Null who died in York Co. PA (Will- Oct. 27, 1765) Both Bushong and Null families came from Alsace-Lorraine France. Capt. Null built 3 houses - 1st was where Joseph Academy now stands, 2 story built between 1770-1774 2nd house & 1st house built at Lincolnton, Lincon Co NC. 2 story house had a tavern, and a goal (jail) house got layed off in 1791 in records, and 3rd house on Poca River, now Putnam Co. WV. House built about 1803. In 1799 moved family over the mountains back to Pennsylvania, Westmoreland Co. He had officers warrants in NC and SC 200 acres in Wadel's line NC, 500 acres near Clemson, old Pendleton Co SC, 1795 back to 1779. Also had other land grants 350 acres on Catawba River NC, 250 acres high shoals NC He traded these officers script for 1600 acres on Poca River Kanawha Co VVV (now Putnam Co WV) Captain Phillip Null discovered coal on Poca River (at mouth of in 1790) from Hardesty Hist- of Putnam Co 1886. He was helped by his friend Gen George Washington getting the land. He moved his family here in about 1803, after his 1600 acres he also had 3 land warrants for 370 acres in Kanawha Co VA (WV) July 15,1829. Book 1, page 260 Kanawha Co WV. Children of Phillip Null Sr. 1. Margaret (Peggy) Null. 1780-1875. Lived in Buncombe Co NC. Married Frederick Burnett (17701854). 2. Elizabeth Null. Married- 1st a Moss, 2nd a Ridgeway (lived with nephew Henry Null) 3. Henry Harrison Null. 1783-1845. Married Elizabeth Pool. Stayed in Westmoreland Co PA. 4, Julia Null. B- 1784. married Jacob Saddler. Stayed Westmoreland Co. PA 5. Gloria Null. B- 1788 NC. Married Ludwig Otterman (1784-1856). Stayed Westmoreland Co PA. 6. Sarah Null. B- 1788. Married Christian Haroid. Stayed in Westmoreland Co PA 7 Frances Marion Null 1789-1800 8. Phillip Null Jr. B- July 27, 1790 Lincolnton, Lincoln Co, NC. Died July 27, 1874 Poca River, Putnam Co WV. Married Jane Fletcher lst (1796-1853) Dau. of William Fletcher. Phillip Jr and Jane were married Feb 15, 1821 Gallia County, OH. 2nd- Sarah A Melton May 30, 1853 Putnam County, WV Phillip Null Jr and Jane Fletcher Children 1. Henry Null B- Oct. 15, 1822 Poca River Putnam Co, WV. Died July 16,1899. 18 mi Creek, Putnam Co, WV. Married lst Loraine Higginbotham dau of Jonathan; 2nd Elizabeth A Rhodes Sept. 21, 1896 Jackson Co, WV Mother of Siles Null. 2. George W. Null B- 1825 Poca River, Putnam Co, WV 3. Andrew J. Null B- 1825 Poca River, Putnam Co, WV 4. John H Null B- 1831 Poca River, Putnam Co, WV 5. Joseph Null B- 1834 Poca River, Putnam Co, WV 6. James Null B- 1834 Poca River, Putnam Co, WV 7. Elizabeth J. Null B- 1837 Poca River, Putnam Co, WV Children of Henry Null 1. Mary Jane Null B- Oct. 25,1851 Putnam Co. M- WH Jeffries 2. Phillip Null B- 1852 Putnam Co. 3. Luvenia F. Null B- May 27, 1854 Putnam Co. M- Daniel Harris (Luvenia and Joanna married brothers) 4. Lewis Null B- March 18, 1856 Putnam Co. 5. Eliza A Null B- March 28,1858 Purnam Co. 6. Joanna Null B- July 11, 1860 Putnam Co. M- Andrew Jakson Harris 7. William H. Null B- Aug 16, 1862 Putnam Co. 8. George Allen Null B- May 25, 1866 Putnam Co. M- Mary Catherine Harrison 9. Lurana Belle Null B- March 4, 1868 Putnam Co. 10. Sarah E. Null B- June 20, 1870 Putnam Co. 11. Marion Silas Null B- June 28,1899 M- Jane Smith 2nd - Della Deal Luvenia F and Joanna married brothers Sons of Caleb and Mildred Harris. Children of John H. Null Born- 1831 Putnam Co. 1. Phillip Null B- 1865 Raymond City, Putnam Co, WV. M- Josephine Ellen Coplan dau of John Coplan. Phillip worked for Raymond City coal mines all his life. 2. Joseph Null died in cave in 1915 Children of Phillip Null and Josephine Null B- 1865 1. Perry Null worked in mines at age 11 2. Iva Null M- Gilbert Workman 3. Homer Null Lived in Poca rt. 1 4. Ella Null M- William (Bill) Hines More infro on Capt. Philip Null Info from story by dau of Capt. Null in Iowa historical and biographical book page 452 - Joseph Otterman maternal grandfather was Capt Philip Null 1752- 1834. Capt. Null took part in many of the most hotly contested battles that were commanded by Gen. George Washington. He enlisted thinking to be engaged in the struggle for only six weeks but he carryed his musket for seven years of that bloody war. Many times, footsore and weary, he continued on the long marches and his loyalty to the cause was severely tested. He went through the hard memorable winter at Valley Forge. At the close of the war he was offered payment for his sevices, but refused the offered money saying that his time aid were freely given to his country. At one time during the war he was in charge of some troops that were crossing the Delaware River previous to the battle of Trenton and Princeton . About this time General Washington came up on foot and got in the way of the advancing regiment. The old veteran in command, not noticing particularly who it was, called to get out the way. Washington looked up, smiled, said nothing but passed on. (Washington and Null were great friends after that, Washington helping Captain Null get land on Poca River Putman County West Virginia later). Capt. Null was embarrassed when he found out who he was ordering around. Capt. Null's wife was driven from her home by the British soldiers and Tories, and had to beg for bread to feed her children. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Charles Ray Harper CharlesRay1@aol.com ___________________________________________________________________