Compiled from an Article by “Iveagh,” in the _Belfast_ (Ireland)
_Witness_.
The year 1718 marks an epoch in the history of America, because in that
year a band of sturdy Ulster men turned their faces and fortunes towards
the new world. This early and most important organized company of
emigrants to leave Ireland in the eighteenth century sailed from Lough
Foyle in the year above named, and consisted of about 100 families.
(Marmion’s _Maritime Ports of Ireland_.) These people founded a colony
in New Hampshire which became famous in the history of America. The
emigrants were of as much importance to America as were those of
Plymouth, and from them are descended equally if not more distinguished
men.
In 1727, 3,000 people sailed for the North American colonies from
Belfast Lough. The following year, ships took 1,000 more, and in the
next three years as many as 4,200. The tidings of the success of the New
Hampshire colonists and of those who preceded them to other parts of
America, drew between the years 1720 and 1742 over 3,000 emigrants
annually from Ulster alone. (Gordon’s _History of Ireland_.) This
enormous emigration, for the period, was stimulated by the rich
resources and grand opportunities offered in a new country on the one
hand, and on the other by the land laws and the restrictions placed on
Irish industries.
In 1736 a number of families emigrated from Banbridge, County Down, and
neighborhood; amongst them were members of the Glass, MacDowell, Magill,
Mulholland, Linn and other families. These people settled in the
Shenandoah Valley on the banks of the Opequan, Virginia.
In the beautiful valley of Shenandoah, three miles south of Winchester,
Va., you will find the ruins of the old Opequan Presbyterian Church,
destroyed in the Civil War. From the Donegal (Pennsylvania) Presbytery,
as early as 1736, the Presbyterian settlers received attention, as they
were visited by missionaries and ministers from that Presbytery, making
it the earliest preaching place in the valley. The first pastor was John
Hodge, who may justly be esteemed the founder of the church, as he gave
five acres of land for the church site and graveyard. Mr. Hodge, with
many of his large family, are buried there, as well as Samuel Glass, the
emigrant from Banbridge.
Samuel Glass, the leader of the Banbridge emigrants, took up his
residence at the head spring of the Opequan, after many wanderings
through the then almost pathless woods, naming the homestead Greenwood,
from the grand old forest which covered for the most part the 16,000
acres of land which he had purchased. His son David settled lower down
the river, at a place named Cherry Mead, and Robert, another son, took
up his abode at Long Meadows. James Vance, a son-in-law of Samuel Glass,
resided in the same neighborhood. Another son-in-law named Becket, lived
between the Glass estate and North Mountain.—(Foot’s _Sketches of
Virginia_, second edition.) Samuel Glass died at an advanced age,
honored and respected by all the settlers over a large portion of the
state; he had centered in his person many good characteristics—courage,
thrift, perseverance. In the cemetery, near the old homestead, stands a
monument to Samuel Glass and his wife, erected by his descendants. It is
an obelisk, executed in limestone, standing on a pedestal, in all over
ten feet in height. On the south side is inscribed:
+------------------------+
| To the Memory |
| of |
| SAMUEL GLASS |
| and his wife, |
| MARY GAMBLE, |
| emigrants |
| from Banbridge, |
| County Down, |
| Ireland, |
| A. D. 1736. |
+------------------------+
Samuel Glass had six children: John, Eliza, Sarah, David, Robert and
Joseph—all born at Banbridge. Joseph Glass, the son of Samuel Glass, had
twelve children: Mary, Samuel, Robert, Georgetta, Sarah, Elizabeth,
Joseph, Martha, Ruth, David, Nancy, and Sophia. Joseph Glass, son of
Joseph, son of Samuel, the emigrant, entered the ministry of the
Presbyterian Church. He was much esteemed, and widely known as an
eloquent preacher. Other members of the family also distinguished
themselves.
William Linn, son of one of these settlers, was born at Banbridge and
served under Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, in the wars with the
Indians. In the several encounters which took place he distinguished
himself, and was rewarded with a commission as lieutenant. Soon after
the breaking out of hostilities with the mother country, Linn joined the
First Virginia Regiment with the rank of lieutenant.
An expedition was organized with the object of securing ammunition from
the Spanish authorities at New Orleans. Capt. George Gibson, an
Ulsterman, was entrusted with the leadership of the party, and attended
by Lieutenant Linn, with a detachment of their company, descended the
river Ohio from Fort Pitt on the 19th of May, 1776, reaching New Orleans
on the 22d of September, after a succession of adventures that, in
narrative, more resemble romance than the features of sober truth. The
shores of the Ohio were lined with hostile Indians, and no white man
before had attempted the voyage. Captain Gibson having accomplished his
mission, and being secretly released from prison, in which he had been
confined to remove the suspicion of the British residents, placed
Lieutenant Linn in command.
Captain Gibson took ship from New Orleans, taking with him the powder
for service on the seaboard, and in due course landed at Philadelphia,
and from thence proceeded to Virginia. Linn’s party, with a total
strength of forty-three men, arrived at Wheeling in the spring of 1777,
with the barges containing the supply of powder for the western posts.
The party suffered many hardships and ran considerable risk from the
Indians. For this important and arduous service Gibson was raised to the
rank of major and Linn to that of captain. In 1780 we find Linn a
colonel commanding a battalion at the battle of Pigua or Chillicothe, in
which action he distinguished himself with bravery, his battalion having
borne the brunt of the battle, losing many of its men. Colonel Linn
continued to serve the revolted colonies after they had achieved their
independence. He was ordered to the West to assist in the campaign
against the Northwest Indians, and was killed in attempting to reach a
secret rendezvous at a place called No-Linn-Hill, in Kentucky—a name
acquired from the first exclamation of surprise by a party of his men
not finding him at the spot.