James Noland, My First Cousin Six Times Removed
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Week 13 – Prompt: Family Pattern
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JAMES NOLAND (MARYLAND / KENTUCKY BRANCH)
James Noland was a Revolutionary War patriot and the son of Daniel Noland and Henrietta Smallwood of the Maryland branch of the Noland family. He was one of four brothers who served during the Revolution, including Ledstone, Stephen, and Jesse. Daniel was the brother of Stephen Edward Noland, and Henrietta was the sister of Susannah Smallwood—making the Maryland and Fairfield Nolands double cousins.
James Noland was born in 1740 in Charles County, Maryland, and died December 26, 1833, in Estill County, Kentucky.
Early Life and Migration
James followed the same migration pattern as others in this branch of the family, moving south from Maryland through Virginia and into North Carolina. By the time of the Revolutionary War, he was living in Loudoun County, Virginia, and later relocated to Rowan County, North Carolina.
After the war, he remained in Rowan County for many years before moving west about 1812 to Estill County, Kentucky, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Marriage and Family
James Noland married Barbara Saunders on December 26, 1774, in Loudoun County, Virginia. Barbara later stated that she was between fourteen and fifteen years of age at the time of their marriage.
They established their household first in Virginia and later in Rowan County, North Carolina, where they raised a large family. Known children include:
Stephen (b. June 6, 1776; later of Indiana)
Silas (b. October 11, 1778)
Rasha (b. July 29, 1781)
Francis (b. ca. 1785)
John (b. June 9, 1792)
Additional children are indicated in family testimony, though not all are fully documented.
Revolutionary War Service
James Noland began his Revolutionary War service in 1775, enlisting in Loudoun County, Virginia, as a Minute Man under Captain Simon Triplett, with John Thornton as Lieutenant and William Grayson as Colonel. He served a twelve-month term and was stationed at Hampton, Virginia, and later at Bell Haven (now Alexandria), where he was present when the Declaration of Independence was announced.
After completing his initial term of service, he moved to Rowan County, North Carolina, where he continued in the war effort, fighting Loyalist (Tory) forces in the backcountry. He later served as a captain of militia, commanding a company raised in Rowan County under Colonel Francis Locke and Major John Johnson.
James described multiple engagements with Tory forces, including a skirmish near the Moravian settlements. He stated that he served more than two years in total, including time both as a private and as a captain, and that a reward had been offered for his capture by Loyalist forces.
He reported that his written discharge from his initial service was destroyed when his home in North Carolina was burned.
Life During the War
Barbara Noland’s later pension declaration provides additional insight into their wartime experience. While James was engaged in military service, she maintained the household and worked the fields to support the family.
She recalled British troops passing through their area, taking provisions from their home while James was away. She also described events surrounding the southern campaign, including the movement of British forces through the region prior to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.
Later Life and Migration
James and his family remained in Rowan County, North Carolina, until about 1812, when they migrated west to Estill County, Kentucky. There he lived for more than twenty years.
He was widely known in the community, and multiple residents testified to his long-standing reputation as a Revolutionary War soldier.
Pension and Death
James Noland applied for a Revolutionary War pension on November 19, 1832, in Estill County, Kentucky, at the age of ninety-two. His claim was supported by testimony from his brother, Jesse Noland, and by others who had known him for many years.
He was granted a pension based on his service as both a private and a captain during the war.
James Noland died on December 26, 1833, in Estill County, Kentucky, the anniversary of his marriage to Barbara.
Widow’s Pension
Barbara Noland applied for a widow’s pension in 1838. Her declaration confirms their marriage date and provides detailed recollections of their life during the Revolutionary War.
She later moved to Indiana to live near her children, where she continued to receive her pension.
Note: For consistency, I’ve used the spelling Noland throughout. In the records, the name appears in several forms, including, Nolen, Nowland, and Nolin.
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