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John L. Elliott will require no introduction to residents of Elliott Co., KY named for his son, Judge John M. Elliott who was assassinated at Frankfort, KY in 1879, and he should be recognized by other East Kentuckians. How many will know him as Isaac Lowe, an alias he used for about twelve years in Russell Co., VA and Scott Co., VA? In the biographical sketches which I have consulted, I found no mention of this; yet his use of this name seemed to be known by many residents of Eastern Kentucky who had lived previously in Southwest Virginia.
According to his own statements, John L. Elliott was born 30 September, 1794 (1850 census of Carter Co., KY, District 1, No. 520, gives his birthplace as Kentucky); he left Kentucky as a boy at which time his father lived in Bath Co., KY; went to Russell Co., VA and "changed his name to Isaac Lowe to avoid being found."
There was a John Elliott who bought 100 acres 7 January, 1808 in Russell County on waters of Clinch River, which he and wife Mary sold 6 February 1810. They bought 40 acres 1 February, 1814 on Copper Ridge, Russell County, which they sold in 1818; there is no apparent connection with John L. Elliott, alias Isaac Lowe; however, this may be the John Elliott charged with murder in 1816 in Russell County, dismissed because of extenuating circumstances. The author of an article on the assassination of Judge Elliott, in which he stated that the Judge's father once killed a man, may have been mislead by this event.
In Russell County Court Minutes, Book 4, page 421, there is a reference, 3 November, 1812, to Isaac Lowe, Samuel Ritchie, Jr., James Cook, and John Dunkin, all previously placed under a good behavior bond, which was extended six months for Isaac Lowe and Samuel Ritchie, Jr. About this time Isaac Lowe must have married Jane Ritchie, born 24 February, 1795 in Prince Edward County, VA, as census records indicate their first child was born 1812.
On 13 September, 1813, under the name of Isaac Lowe, John L. Elliott entered service in the War of 1812 at Dickensonville, Russell County. He was appointed a 4th corporal, but due to an injury he received while erecting barracks at Norfolk, he was unable to perform military duty and was discharged 12 March 1814.
Scott County, VA was created in 1814 from parts of Russell County, Lee County, and Washington County. On 17 February, 1815, Isaac Lowe was recommended as a Lieutenant in the Third Company of the county militia, and on 29 July 1816, Isaac Lowe of Scott County bought from John Alley and wife Mary of Franklin County, Indiana Territory, for $360, 240 acres on south side of Clinch. Isaac Lowe (Low, Loe) was on the personal property tax lists of Scott County 1815 through 1822. The lengthy will of Samuel Rictchie who died about 1819 in Scott County named as a legatee Jane Lowe, formerly Jane Ritchie, daughter of friend Frances Kendrick (Kindrick); and the 1820 census of Scott County listed Isaac Lowe: one male and one fremale, 16 to 26, and four males under 10.
When Morgan County, KY was organized in 1823, John Elliott was taxed for 200 acres on North Fork of Licking. In Morgan County Court, 10 January 1825, on the motion of Peter Amyx, surveyor of Morgan County, John L. Elliott and William Lewis were qualified as his deputies. In 1829 John L. Elliott was taxed for 400 acres on North Fork, 1,430 acres on Sandy, and 200 acres on Grassy; his acreage continued to increase in ensuing years. He was listed in the census of Morgan County in 1830 and of Carter County in 1840 and 1850, and died in October 1855 soon after the rejection of his application for a pension (not for bounty land) because of the disability incurred during his service in the War of 1812.
Descendants of John L. Elliott say that he was a son of James S. Elliott (1770-1857) and his first wife, Hannah Scott, residents of Floyd County, KY (Morgan County area) before August 1809. If this is true, how was John L. Elliott related to Ephraim Blaine Elliott, born 1774 in Pennsylvania, who was taxed 1810 in Montgomery County, KY, "set off" 1811 to Bath County and taxed there until 1820, listed alone in 1820 census of Floyd County, over 45, taxed 1823 Morgan County and living 1830, 1840, and 1850 with the John L. Elliott family? A son of John L. Elliott was named for him. The only family date which I found regarding the older Ephraim B. Elliott was his consent, 22 December 1817, in Bath County for the marriage of his step-daughter, Polly Fitzjarrel, to Robert Warren.
PENSION APPLICATION
State of Kentucky )
Morgan County ) This
day personally appeared before the undersigned William Lykins, County Judge
for the County of Morgan and State of Kentucky, Edward Vest, who being
first duly sworn states that he served in the War of 1812 against Great
Britan at Norfolk. That while he was there he served in the 5th Regiment
& that John L. Elliott served in the 4th Regiment. That said
Elliott was then known by the name of Isaac Low. That he was under
Captain George W. Kemp. That while he was in the service he was engaged
in raising barracks & while thus engaged a log fell on his leg and
broke it about three inches above the left ankle. That he Isaac Low
was confined sometime with his broken leg which was was broke sometime
in January 1814. Tht he acted for a while in the capacity of 4th
Corporal & after his leg was broke he was unable to perform mililtary
duty but for a short time until he was discharged. That he was discharged
the 12th day of March 1814 & that this fffiant served under Captain
Wiley Jones & was discharged on the 10th of March 1814. That
he was acquainted with the sid Elliott while in the army by the name of
Isaac Low but since they have both located in Kentucky he is known by the
name of John L. Elliott and that he is the identical and selfsame man that
he is the identical Isaac Low (now Elliott) that served as he has stated
in his declaration for a pension & that he has stated the names of
the officers correctly & that he served as he stated.
Subscribed & sworn to this 29 April 1852.
Acknowleged, etc., 29 April 1852, before William Lykins, County Judge
for Morgan County, Kentucky.
30 April 1855, Francis Garrett, Morgan County Court Clerk, certified
that Williams Lykins was qualified & acting Judge of Morgan County
Court.
State of Kentucky )
Carter County )....18th April 1855, W. L. England & James Debord,
physicians, certified that they had examined the leg of John L. Elliott
(who now represents himself to be about sixty years of age)...that he had
a compound fracture, etc. 18th April 1855, C. H. Steward, J. P., certified
that he was personally acquainted with the above physicians, etc.
18, April 1855, Carter County, Kentucky, Thomas Gallion appeared before J. P. in Carter County...he was resident of Carter County...a soldier in the War of 1812..was at Norfolk & while there became acquainted with John L. Elliott, also in the service, both attached to the 4th Regiment of Virginia Militia..that he then knew him by the name of Isaac Low..that he saw him at Norfolk on crutches...that he is the identical John Elliott that called himself Isaac Low that was in the service..that he himself has obtained one warrant for 80 acres & has now made application for the additional Bounty Land under the Act of 3 March 1855.
Sir: John M. Hazelrigg of the Town of West Liberty, Morgan County, Kentucky
is my authorized agent to attend to my claim for pension who will be unreadable
on the subject & if I am entitled to the same that my certificate be
enclosed to him...18 April 1855.
To the Commission of Pensions
Washington City, D.C.
E. Co. No. 3...24 April 1816...John L. Elliott alias Isaac Low, Carter County, Kentucky, Respectfully referred to 3rd Auditor, July 12, 1855
John L. Elliott, alias Isaac Lowe, Carter County, KY..OWI 13973
REJECTED....Letter August 18, 1855..
State of Kentucky )
Carter County ) On this 18th day of April 1855 personally appeared
before me Charles H. Stewart Justice of the Peace in and for Carter County
& state aforesaid John L. Elliott who being first duly sworn according
to law makes the following declaration for the purpose of obtaining the
benefit of the Act of Congress passed the _____day of_______18___ granting
pensions to certain officers and soldiers who was in the military services
of the United States in the War of 1812 with Breat Britan. That he entered
the service of the United States in the name of Isaac Low but that his
real name is and was John L. Elliott. That the cause of changing his name
was that he left his father before he was of mture age and to avoid being
found he changed his name to that of Isaac Low. That his father then lived
in the County of Bath and State of Kentucky. That he went to the State
of Virginia. That he entered the service at Dickensonville in the County
of Russel and State of Virginiaon the 12th day of September 1813 for six
months as a volunteerhe then being 19 years of age the 30th day of September
1813 now 60 years old the 30 September last past, being born on the 30th
September 1794. That he was put under the command of George W. Kemp, Andrew
Caldwell of Russell County and Ralph Lucas of Giles County, Virginia, was
the Lieutenatns. The John Peter & John Beckly was ensigns that Robert
Taylor was General, ____Koons (Koontz) was Colonel. That he was marched
from Dickensonville to Norfolk. That they arrived at Norfolk on the 16
day of October 1813. That he was appointed 4th Corporal in the Company
by Caldwell & after arriving at Norfolk the appointment was confirmed
by his Captain. That while in the service he was commissioned to assist
in the erection of barracks.. That while he was thus engaged a log fell
on his left ankle and broke his leg some 2 to 3 inches above his ankle.
From this wound he was unable to perform military duty as a soldier any
more, being confined to his bed for some weeks & was finally discharged
on the 12th day of March 1814. That he received a written discharge of
W. I. Washington. That he was lost or mislaid the discharge so that he
cannot find it nok knowing what has become of the same. That he was rendered
unfit for military duty on account of the wound that he received. That
he returned home and has never been as able in that leg as he was previous
to his receiving the wound. That he was young and growing & did not
want to call on the government for a support. That he is now in the decline
of Life and his leg has become paralyzed on account of said wound. That
from the effect of the same that his is not able to perform common labour
for a living. That his leg still fails him the older he gets. He hereby
reliquishes all claim to a pension except the above & that his name
is not on the pension list or roll of any state or territory in the United
States. That he refers to the rolls on file in the War Office for his name
where it will be found as Isaac Low. That he was engaged in the erection
of the barrack on the East side of Lynnhaven, VA (?). That after he received
the wound that Samuel McDavid was appointed corporal in his place.
Sworn to & subscribed the date above written.