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SOURCE: A Chronicle of the SEE family and their Kindred

The brothers, George, Michael and John See left records which prove that each took part in the defense of their country against both the Indians and the English and helped to establish American independence.

George Ludwig (See) Zeh b. 1689 d. 23 Aug 1751
m. Mary Margaret (JUDY) (Tschudi) Judy b. 1699
d. 14 Feb 1758
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Frederick See (1712-1763) was the oldest son of George and Margaret Judy See.
He married Catherine, the daughter, perhaps of Abraham Vanderpool who came to Pennsylvania in 1738. At that time the Sees were still in Bucks County. They were the parents of six children: Lois, George, Michael, Catherine, Elizabeth and John.
MICHAEL SEE JR. (1751-1792) SON OF FREDERICK SEE
married Elizabeth Morris in 1776. She was the daughter of William Morris, pioneer of Kanawha, who settled about twenty miles above the present site of Charleston, West Virginia. Elizabeth, born August 8, 1753. It has been stated that Michael See's widow married Captain John Van Bibber, commissary at Fort Randolph.
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GEORGE SEE (1749-1854) SON OF FREDERICK SEE
The lives of the two brothers George and Michael See ran parallel. Together they had experienced the massacre on Muddy Creek, Indian captivity, participated in the battle of Point Pleasant, served under Captain Arbuckle in border warfare, established their homes in Greenbrier and later both moved on down the Kanawha Valley.
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Michael See (1730)
married Barbara Harness (1732) daughter of Michael Harness in 1750. They were the parents of George, Adam, Mary (Polly), Hannah, Christina, Barbara, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Dorothy (Dolly).
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George See, the youngest child born 1732, and his wife Christiana were the parents of seven children. Her family name has never been learned. Their children were: sons George, Adam and John, and daughters Phebe, Mary, Elizabeth and Catherine.
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JOHN SEE (1757-1846), SON OF FREDERICK SEE
He was married to Margaret Garrat. He enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776 under Captain Arbuckle in Greenbrier County Virginia for the term of one year for the purpose of defending the western frontier of Virginia from the incursions of the hostile Indians.
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List of Prisoners going to Fort Pitt under the command of Capt. Lewis Nov. ye 15th 1764.
Michael See
George See
Mary See
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JOHN SEE'S PETITION FOR PENSION:

Henry County September term 1832

On this 29th of September in the year 1832 appeared before the Honorable Henry Circuit Court (it being a court of record) in the State of Indiana, John See aged 75 years who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and doth upon his oath make the following declaration in or on/ac to obtain the benefits of the provisions of the act of the 7th of June 1832: That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776 under Captain Arbuckle in Greenbrier County Virginia for the term of one year for the purpose of defending the western frontier of Virginia from the incursions of the hostile Indians.

He was then marched to the mouth of the Kenhawa where they remained for nearly twelve months and in the meantime they erected a fort at the mouth of the said Kenhaway and was discharged in September 1777 having served one year.

That he thinks it was in the year 1779 he enlisted in the Army of the United States for the term of three years in Bottetourt County Virginia under Captain Lapsely in the 12th Virginia Regiment in General Scott's Brigade, from thence he joined the main army at a place called West Camps in Pennsylvania under the command of General Washington. We then went into winter camp at Valley Forge, at this time your applicant was under the command of Captain Breckenridge, from Valley Forge the main army was marched to Monmouth, New Jersy, where a battle was fought where your applicant engaged with the rest of the army. The army was then marched to White Plains, they re turned to New Jersy and went into winter quarters in Middleboro. During the next winter the army encamped on the North River and your applicant was discharged the next Spring at Camden, South Carolina, having served three years. During this service he was in the battle of Monmouth under General Washington at Stony Point, General Wayne and in Germantown under General Washington and the aforesaid John See, the applicant, relinquished every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state or territory in the United States.

Sworn and subscribed in open court this 29th day of Sept. A.D. 1832.

his

Witness John Elliott Clk. John X See

mark

State of Indiana Henry Circuit Court Sept. Term 1832 Henry County

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he stated.

Byrone Cadwallerader Judges

John Anderson

I, John Elliott Clerk of the Court of Henry County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of John See for a pension.

SEAL In testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of this office this 29th day of September A.D. 1832

Witness John Elliott, Clerk

Further record shows that John See's name was inscribed on the roll of Indiana at a rate eighty dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1834 when he received arrears and semi-annual allowance to the amount of two hundred dollars.

Evidently John See's memory at 75 was not so reliable as it was earlier. He surely enlisted in 1777 rather than 1779 for the battle of Germantown was fought October 4th, 1777, and General Washington made winter quarters at Valley Forge December 1777.

From his declarations, John See is shown to be one of the sturdy, rugged soldiers who endured all of the hardship, privation, and suffering that dogged the colonial army through the entire war. John See trudged from the mouth of the Kanawha to White Plains, New York and ended his service after a torturous march through the swampland of the south at Camden, South Carolina; the infantry traveled on foot and usually made their way home from point of discharge as best they could.

We are glad to find this record of compensation for his endurance and valor, found in Virginia Military Patent Records Vo. 10, page 206, December 1797. Warrant No. 4833 for 100 acres, land issued to him in consideration for his services for three years as a private in the Virginia Continental Line in the Revolution.

From a book called War 4, page 352, Virginia State Library is another record: John

See's balance of full pay as a sergeant of infantry in the Virginia Line Continental Establishment, amounting to £58-18s 3d. was delivered to George Clendenen.

John See and Margaret, his wife, were residing in Kanawha County in 1809 for they executed many deeds to lands in the county. The U.S. census 1810, Kanawha County lists the John See family of thirteen members, six boys and five girls, two were over 26 years of age and two under ten years.

Other Kanawha County records include: John See sworn in as grand juror January 6, 1795; August 1, 1796, appointed overseer of the road; however, he seemed derelict in civic duty and was indicted for failure to keep roads in repair March 6, 1797; April l4, 1803, John See was named an appraiser of estate of William Morris.
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OTHER SEES WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY:

WILLIAM SEE (1792-AFTER 1844), SON OF MICHAEL SEE, JR.
Records in the Adjutant General's Office, War Department, show "that William See served as a private in the War of 1812 in a company of infantry commanded at various times by Lieutenant and Captain Andrew Bryan and Lieutenant Moses McClintic, 2nd Regiment (Evans) Virginia Militia." His service commenced September 21, 1812 and ended March 20, 1813. This company was from Mason County.

MICHAEL SEE III (1785-1827), SON OF MICHAEL SEE, JR.
In 1815 Michael enlisted at Point Pleasant in the Virginia volunteers and served as Captain of his own company known as Captain Michael See's Company, 106th Regular Virginia Militia. His service commenced February l8, 1815 and ended March 8, 1815. (From War Department, Adjutant General's Office). He was sent to Norfolk, Virginia, and returned home after an absence of one month in consequence of peace having been declared.

Under an Act of March 3, 1855, entitled "An Act in addition to certain Acts granting Bounty Land to certain Officers and Soldiers who have been engaged in The Military Services of the United States"; Nancy See, widow of Michael See, Captain Virginia Militia, War 1812, received a grant #95,89O for 120 acres issued December 28, l859.

During the Civil War, the See family, as their origin suggests, was sympathetic to the South, but two grandsons, Charles Michael See, 40th Illinois Volunteer Infantry and Vernal Prewett, 111th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, were with Sherman on his 'march to the sea.' Vernal was captured at the siege of Atlanta and spent nine months in Andersonville Prison. Decades later in World War I 1917, numerous great grandsons fought for their country, for which two, George Herman Anna and Hobart Harrell See made the "supreme sacrifice."

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