The Matriarch of Fort Amanda - Amanda's Mother

 

Jane Hopkins Pogue - Amanda's Mother

In the year 2000, we learned that Fort Amanda was named for the builders 12 year old daughter, Hannah Amanda. During the long journey to discover that, I also discovered some interesting facts about Amanda's mother, a woman, who like countless numbers of other wives and mothers throughout history tend to be forgotten by history. What follows is my attempt to pay respect to a woman who is an integral part of the story of Fort Amanda. The woman; Jane Hopkins Pogue.

Jane Hopkins was born in Virginia on September 14, 1767, the daughter of John Hopkins and Jane Gordon. Jane and her family moved to the area of Mayslick Kentucky sometime prior to 1791. It was there she met and married young Robert Pogue on June 4, 1791. Their children born between 1792 and 1808 were:

John Hopkins Pogue - b. Sept 24, 1792
William Lindsay Pogue - b. May 24, 1794
Edwin Philander Pogue - b. Mar. 27, 1797
Amy Pogue - b. May 24, 1799
Hannah Amanda Pogue - b. Mar 4, 1801
Jane Isabella Pogue (a twin)- b. Apr. 1, 1803
Robert Pogue (a twin) - b. Apr. 1, 1803
Robert Cunningham Pogue - b. Aug. 20, 1806
Ann Eliza Pogue - b. Jun. 19, 1808

In the summer of 1794, Jane looked after their 2 young children John and William while her husband went to serve with Anthony Wayne's army and was engaged in the battle at Fallen Timbers in August of that year.

When war broke out again in 1812, as usual the Kentuckians were the first to rise to the occasion and they did so in glorious fashion. Most of the deaths suffered during that war were those of Kentuckians, but that's another story.


It should be remember that the dreadful winter of 1812 -1813 was just as brutal in Kentucky as it was in Ohio and all the while, Jane Pogue kept vigil over of family and farm.

We sometimes perceive frontiersmen and women as illiterate, usually signing documents with an "X" but as you'll see from the following letters, everyone in the family was not only literate, some if not all eventually went to the university, including Amanda.

While her husband was on active duty, Jane wrote several letters to her husband at Fort Amanda, including the following written November 30, 1812. No spelling has been changed but the meanings are clear. In it she wrote:

  November 30th, 1812

My deare husband I sent Edwin to see Mr. Marshall and showed him the agreement beetween Walker and yourself. I have enclosed his letter to you that he has writen to me. I sent Edwin to se the man that was owing you wheet a soon as the milldam and race was finished with a request to diliver there load. I would not have been so uneasy, but Mr. Walker has been threatening you with heavy damages. He has not said an illnatured word to me yet. But has talked very short to Bill and some of the neighbors. He wishes me to borrow the wheet and says he must start again Chrismes. Before wheet took a reise I purchased 200 bushels lest there should be some
failurs, same I got for half a crown A bushell but It cannot be got for less then three shillings in cash and will soon be three and sixpence. I have been reading of the gallent conduct of G. Tupper and I am much gratifide thareat, when our Mayslick horsmen came home, many of them said he ought to be shot, others that they would Rather kill him than an indian. But that is Mayslick patriotism you know. We are all in health and long very much to se you again. The children join in love to you and their brothers. I Add no more But remain you loving wife untill death
J. Pogue Col. R Pogue

P.S. we have not got all our corn in yet But we shall quit it and git our wheet out. I have done everything in my power to fulfill the contract with walker indeed more than was convenient. Your contract says as soon as you conveniently can after water comes But I will still persevere.

  

After the War

While on a business trip to Washington in 1816, Robert wrote the following to his wife Jane:
 

  Washington City, 29th Feby, 1816
Dear Jane:-- I suppose your anxious to hear from me. I have had very disagreeable weather on my journey, but enjoyed good health. Our friends in Rockingham is well. I did not call at Augustia. I have presented my petition to Congress on account of Berry's land and the prosepect at present is favourable but theri is no knowing hos soon that my be blasted. I shall be better able to judge on Saturday next. I have seen James Brown who tells me he is not hear prepared to pay me any money, but has no doubt but them notes sent by Wilson will be paid off. He says if I had written to him, he should have instructed his agent specially to take them up, and would write now if I thought Wilson would not have left Orleins before a letter could make out with the payment of two of the notes and forward the other two on next fall after he makes sail of his crop of sugar, but if I insist on it, the whole money shall be raised as soon as he gits home.

 I expect to leave this place on Monday next for Richmond and from thence to Kentucky. I shall likely stay a few days in Augusta to rest and see my friends. This is one of the tirisomest places I ever was in and the poorest tables that ever I was at in what is called good tavern. Beef sells in market for 16 Dollars pr 100 not of a good quality, everything else is eatabel in proportion. I have heard no forin news that is interesting. Their is no part of the Union that is moure favoured with plenty than Kentucky nor no part that is less gratefull to the giver. 

The people for 50 miles round this city, it appears to me, is not able to supply this town with provitions without infringing on the necessities of their own families. You can scarecely walk the street without meeting a Beggar that is rely so through necessity. The Drawn butter that we use for the purpose of pouring over Boiled fish looks like grewel and can not in justice be called anything else and a small portion of tanted butter mixed with it. One family in Kentucky I am of opinion, uses as much solid food in one year as six of the same size does in this country. Take the country through. As for high living on fish and oysters their is but few Kentuckyians that would fatten on them. I discover my mind turns much more on any affairs at home when abroad, than it does when there, which teaches me this lesson that it is our duty and interest to turn our attention more immediately to the business that is within our reach, for the business that is done when the mind is absent might as well be let alone for nothing short of mistakes and disorder is the consequence. Give my love to all the family, etc. I ever remain your affectionate husband,

Robert Pogue

 

Family Tragedies

Deaths of Family Members

Aug. 17, 1800 - Daughter: Amy Pogue died at the age of 15 months

May 1804 - Son:Robert Pogue (twin of Jane Isabella) died at the age of 1 year.

Jan. 1, 1827 - Daughter: Hannah Amanda Pogue McDowell died at the age of 25.

May 21, 1827 - Daughter: Jane Isabella Pogue Mackey died at the age of 24 (4 months after the death of her beloved sister Hannah Amanda).

Aug. 14, 1833 - Husband Robert Pogue died at the age of 66.

Aug. 18, 1836 - Son: John Hopkins Pogue died at the age of 43 (yellow fever)

Sept. 1, 1836 - Son: Robert Cunningham Pogue died at the age of 20 ( 2 weeks after visiting his brother John)

Oct. 10, 1838 - Daughter: Ann Eliza Pogue Garrison died at the age of 30

Nov. 27, 1841 - Son: Edwin Philander Pogue died at the age of 44

NOTE: Jane Hopkins Pogue outlived 8 of her 9 children. Her second oldest son, William Lindsay Pogue outlived his mother and died at the age of 87 in 1881

Their lives

The Pogue's eventually became wealthy tobacco farmers at one time owning several thousand acres of land in Kentucky. Tobacco is still being raised on the site of the old Pogue homestead. Little is known about their day to day lives other than they were a very religious family and they owned several slaves, one of whom "Davie" accompanied Pogue to Fort Amanda. Several of their graves are located in the old family plot in a woods near the original farm.

Pointing to the wooded area where the graves were discovered

This is what the area looked like before we started clearing the area.

Jane Pogue's last will and testament was written the day before her death. From this we can assume that she had been ailing for sometime and knew the time was near. On October 15, 1846, she wrote the following will:

 Last Will and Testament of Jane Pogue
Wife of Lt. Col. Robert Pogue

I Jane Pogue of Mason County Kentucky, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament.

First I desire my burial conducted and completed in the manner I have repeatedly desired and not necessary to be repeated and my burial and funeral expenses (including a plain monument for myself and late husband each) to be paid.

Second - I set apart out of the first money arising from my estate a fund sufficient to purchase the freedom of Charles Canterberry and direct that he be purchased and set free so soon after the collection of said fund as the same can be realized after sale on the usual terms and credits.

Third - I desire the real estate I now own to be rented out for four years after my decease and then to be sold to the highest bidders (desiring that some one of my grandchildren will prepare him or herself to purchase) on a credit of instal(l)ments equal to one year and this with all other moneys arising from my estate after specific legacies to be equally divided among my seventeen grandchildren, Eli, Elizabeth, Robert, Franklin, Amanda, and Maria, children of E. P. Pogue, Henry, Amanda Jane, Robert, William and Harriet, children of W. L. Pogue, Andrew W., son of Jane I Mackey. Eliza Jane daughter of John W. Pogue, Robert, Samuel, John and Gideon children of Ann E. Garrison. Should any money be left from my personal estate after the purchase of Charles it is to be lent out at interest until the money arising from my land is collected.
I have given to each of my granddaughters, Elizabeth Jane and Amanda Jane a feather bed and bedding, a carpet the former, the carpet now in the lower South room which beds and carpets are to be excluded from the computationin making the distribution as above provided, and they are now to be considered as forming no part of my estate.

I hereby nominate and appoint William L. Pogue the Executor of this my last will and testement desiring that he should not be required to give security for the performance of his duties as such.
In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 15th day of October 1846.
Jane Pogue (seal)

Signed sealed and published by the testatrix in presence of us and w have signed and witness and seal the same in presence of the testatrix.
John H. Shanklin
James H. Shanklin

Mason County 1st December Court 1846
The last will and testament of Jane Pogue deceased , was produced in court and proved by the oaths of John H. Shanklin and James H. Shanklin the publishing witnesses hereto and hesame is ordered to be recorded.
Sworn to by William L. Pogue the Executor therein named who executed bond in the penalty of four thousand dollars conditioned as the law requires. And upon his motion it is ordered that probate be granted him in due form.
Attach John James Key MC
Copy attach Robt. A. Cochran MCM CO. Ct.

The following day; October 16, 1846, 79 year old Jane Hopkins Pogue passed away. As a young girl, she had watched her father march off to fight in the American Revolution. As a young woman she saw her own husband march off to fight in 2 wars and countless engagements with troublesome Indians. In addition to tending to the needs of her young family, she had to manage the family farm while her husband was away. Jane raised 8 of her 9 children to adulthood and in the end buried 8 of them as well as her husband. The only child left to mourn their mother was John who survived his mother by 35 years, dying at the ripe old age of 87.


The stone to the left is that of Robert Pogue, builder of Fort Amanda. The stone on the ground to the right is that of his wife and the subject of this writing, Jane Hopkins Pogue (1767 - 1846)

The story isn't over yet for Jane Hopkins Pogue or the Pogue family itself. I will continue to learn more about this family because their lives are far too interesting and their contributions to our country far too many to condense to a small writing.

Grave of the namesake of Fort Amanda - Hannah Amanda Pogue