Johannes Stoppelbein, or John Stufflebean as he was known in later years, led an adventurous life. This is the latest in my growing collection of Ancestor Life Sketches, written totally by me – not a bit of AI. Maps are from the David Rumsey Map Collections.

As always, the sketch begins with a timeline of John Stufflebean’s life:

1756, 28 Feb – baptized in Kinderhook, Columbia, New York

1775, June – Johan Stufflebane and Johan Stufflebane Jr. took oath of allegiance at Mamakating, Ulster, New York (today part of Deerpark, Orange County, New York)1776 – lived on Neversink Creek in New York about 8-10 miles from the PA-NJ state

1776 – Enlisted in Captain Jacob DeWitt’s Company of Rangers, whose duty it was to guard the frontier. Stationed at New Windsor, New York, and Hackensack and Paramus, New Jersey and other places

1778 – Stationed in New York to spy and guard, but captured by Colonel Joseph Brant’s Indians on Delaware River; crossed the Susquehanna River to Mohawk settlement. He and others were forced to run the gauntlet. Prisoner for 9 months and held about 18 miles below Niagara Falls. {The Delaware River ran along the state line of New York and Pennsylvania near where John lived on the Neversink Creek. The Susquehanna River crossed into New York around the Broome area on the Pennsylvania border.

1779/1780 – Sold by Indians to British man, Col. Butler, and taken to Detroit for 2+ years.

1783 – The Niagara Historical Society (Canada) Publication No 27, (Not Dated), Names Only But Much More, by Janet Carnochan. Page 4 of the Muster Roll of Butlers Rangers, signed by Jacob Ball, 1st Lt, 1783 includes “John Stufflebem, On command to Detroit.” [After about five years as a prisoner, John may have seen an offer to serve with the British as his only chance for escape. Being German speaking, he may have been seen as a safer bet as a soldier than English speaking colonists.]17(83?), 26 April – He and five other men ran away, down the “Lake of Water” (Lake Erie?) for over 100 miles through wilderness to the Muskingum River and then to the Ohio River. They fell in with James Garrard’s company headed to Kentucky.  John Stufflebean stated that he has lived in Kentucky ever since. [Note: James Garrard arrived in Kentucky in 1783 near the close of the Revolutionary War. He settled near Paris, Bourbon, Kentucky and served as governor of Kentucky from 1796-1804.

1790 – Bourbon County, KY tax list includes John Stouffilbeen, one white tithe and 2 horses/mules; 14 July – married Prissy Ross in Bourbon County.

1791 – Bourbon County, KY tax list, John Stufflebean, one white tithe, 1 horse

1792 – Bourbon County, KY tax list, John Stufflebean, 1 male 16+, 6 cattle

1795 – Bourbon County, KY – married Elsee Larrison Ketchum about 14 August, when the bond was filed

1816, 6 Aug – Estill County, KY – John Stoflebeen signed a rental agreement with Thomas Duckam for 200 acres of land in Estill County.

1820 – Franklin County, KY census, indexed as “Lee” Stufflebean, but should be “Jno.” Household: Male 45+, Female 45+, Male 16-25, Male 16-25 (16-18), Female 16-25, Male 10-15, Male -10

1821 – Franklin County, KY tax list, John Stufflebean

1822 – Estill County, KY tax list

1824 – Estill County, KY tax list

1825 – Estill County, KY tax list

1826 – Estill County, KY tax list

1827 – Estill County, KY tax list

1828 – Illinois, probably Vermillion County – John stated he went to visit his brother, Michael, in his pension application.

1830 – Estill County, KY census, John Stufflebeen and wife enumerated

1831 – Estill County, KY tax list

1836 – Estill County, KY tax list – John Stufflebean, exempt

1840 – Estill County, KY census – living in home of David Snowden, listed by name as a Rev. War veteran

1842, 4 March – Estill County, KT – John Stufflebean appeared and gave reasons for removing to Randolph County, IL

1842, 5 Sept – Randolph County, IL – John Stufflebean appears and stated that he intended to live in the county with wife and son Jacob.

1844, 16 Jan – John Stufflebean died at Kaskaskia, Randolph, Illinois

Johannes “Stopplebeen,” the first child of Johannes Stoppelbein and Eva Dingman was born on 28 February 1756 in Kinderhook, Columbia, New York. He described his birthplace in his Revolutionary War pension application as being on the east side of the Hudson River not far below Albany, New York.

This overview includes all the details uncovered so far that can be documented in the life of Revolutionary War soldier and pensioner John Stufflebean.

Part 2 will tell his life story.