The Buckner is oldest son of John & Polly Rowe Pittman b 1748 VA, served in Rev in George Rogers Clark's unit from Virginia tasked to guard the frontier, meaning Ohio River area; married 1st in Virginia and had son Jesse - wife maybe Nancy Harris who died in childbirth or shortly after. Married 2nd or 3rd in Louisville, Kentucky Ann Smith; lived in KY/IN area through 1780's; moved to Adams County, MISS by 1790's (early land grant); wrote family in GA in 1803 & mentioned eight children, three of whom were married. No names. This is the group Ora Coons is looking at. Waiting to see what he had come up with. Suziwood also looking for possible children of Buckner in IN/ILL/Ohio area. His son Jesse lived early life in GA and moved to Miss with several of his children where he died 1836. Lynne== VSWR96A@prodigy.com (MR MICHAEL D SELZER)

Buckner stated in letters written 1802-03 from Fairchilds, Adams County , Mississippi Territory, that he then had eight children, three of whom were marrried. ______________________________________________________

Jesse Pittman ancestor (b. abt. 1770 in VA?; married Nancy; and d. abt. 1843 in MS).....Now I do see a possible connection as a result of a recent letter that I received from John R. Pittman in Alabama. He states, in part, "Buckner served with Virginia Troops in the Revolutionary War; thereafter went west. While passing through Nashville, Tennessee, he encountered the Tory responsible for the injury to his mother, Mrs. John (Mary Rowe) Pittman. Buckner shot the Tory and killed him. The Tennessee officials refused to indict him for this deed. It is believed his first wife died leaving an infant son, Jesse Pittman, born December 8, 1769 in Virginia. Jesse was reared by his grandfather and grandmother and was mentioned in his will."

REV - served in Virginia Regiment. While passing through Nashville, TN, he encountered the Tory responsible for the injury to his mother during the Revolutionary War. Buckner shot the Tory and killed him; the Tennessee authorities refused to indict him for his deed. He moved west and in 1802-03 letters were received by the family from Fairchilds, Adams County, Mississippi from him. These letters stated that he had eight children and three of them were married.


Buckner Pittman was the oldest son of John and Polly Pittman. According to family biographer Lona Elrod, he served with Virginia troops in the Revolution. Additional information was provided by William C. Pittman of Huntsville, Alabama, which describes Buckner PittmanÙus service with George Rogers ClarkÙus Illinois Regiment. ÙSGeorge Rogers Clark convinced Governor Patrick Henry of Virginia that an aggressive strategy was needed on the northwest frontier, and a passive defense could only lead to disaster. Clark was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Virginia Line, and was authorized to enlist seven companies of 50 men each Ùtto march against and attack our western enemies.Ùu Those who participated in the operation were promised liberal land grants by Thomas Jefferson, George Mason and George Wythe.
Surprisingly, the records for those who fought the American Revolution on the western front seem to be more detailed and complete than those who fought on the eastern seaboard. The muster roll of Captain Robert GeorgeÙus Company of Artillery in the service of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Illinois Department, from 4 June 1799 to 3 December 1781, shows that Sergeant Buckner Pittman enlisted 1 May 1780 and was present for muster. (George Rogers Clark and His Men, published by Kentucky Historical Society) ... The fact that he was a senior non-commissioned officer not long after his enlistment date suggests that he had prior military service ... He was paid at the rate of 10 dollars per month, not by the Commonwealth of Virginia, but from the personal fortune of George Rogers Clark, as were the other officers and men of the Illinois Department. ÙtFew served Virginia and the Illinois Department longer or more faithfully than Capt. Robert GeorgeÙus Company of Artillery. His company transported guns, cannon and wagons. In Kentucky the use of artillery began in 1782 by the militia when Col. Clark captured a cannon in Illinois and mounted it at Fort Nelson (George Rogers Clark and His Men).Ùu
The Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution by John W. Gwathney identifies Buckner Pittman as the master boatman at Fort Jefferson which suggests that he was George Rogers ClarkÙus US Navy in the northwest whose duty it was to move troops on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers for the military operations, and perhaps move supplies provided by the Spanish up the Mississippi to Fort Jefferson. In the spring of 1780, Governor Thomas Jefferson authorized George Rogers Clark to begin construction of Fort Jefferson to stake out the western boundary of Virginia on the Mississippi River. The fort was located near Ironbanks (now is Kentucky) on the east bank of the Mississippi River, just south of the junction of the Mississippi and the Ohio Rivers, thus providing a strategic location for controlling traffic on the two rivers as well as a source of protection for settlers in the region. With a wary eye on Spanish claims to the east bank of the Mississippi farther south, Governor Jefferson hoped to give Spain a signal that this region was United States territory. The strategic nature of the fort thus required skillful riverboatmen to fulfill the military objective, and Buckner Pittman, as the master boatman at Fort Jefferson, helped to achieve that objective. The construction of Fort Jefferson on the hunting grounds claimed by the Chickasaws provoked an attack on the fort in the summer of 1780 by that tribe. James Logan Colbert, the Resident British Officer in the Chickasaw Nation who led the attack with his son William, was also smarting from the raid of Navy Captain Thomas Willing down the Mississippi in 1778. Willing, a former member of the Continental Congress and business partner of Robert Morris, the financier of the Revolution, was ordered to Ùtmake prize of all British property on the Mississippi,Ùu An order that he executed with a vengeance. Colbert correctly percieved that the Americans were establishing a base from which incursions into the southwest territory could be made down the Mississippi, and decided that it was time to attack. In his book, The Chickasaws, Arrell M. Gibson describes the attack ... ÙtThe Chickasaws bloodiest action against the Americans occurred in 1780. It grew out of George Rogers ClarkÙus conquest of the British northwest. To provide the Americans with a base from which to launch a similar campaign into the British southwest, Clark was ordered by Governor Thomas Jefferson of Virginia to build a fort below the mouth of the Ohio in Chickasaw territory. Jefferson also intended for the post to serve as a depot for arming northern Indians. His plan was to send them into the Chickasaw Nation to harrass the towns and soften the Chickasaws for conquest. He regarded them as the stalwarts of the British defenses south of the Ohio River and the key to destroying British power there. The post, completed in April 1780, and garrisoned with 100 men, was named Fort Jefferson. Settlers collected around the post and opened farms. Chickasaw squads on the upper ring of StuartÙus defenses discovered the American invasion, notified StuartÙus deputy in their nation, and urged reinforcements. James Colbert led a Chickasaw army to Fort Jefferson, ran the settlers inside the post, burned their houses, and set up a siege. For nearly a year, Chickasaws swarmed around the fort, cut off its supplies, killed and captured stragglers from the garrison and at one time subjected the fort to such a close and protracted siege that that only the timely arrival of reinforcements saved it from destruction.Ùu ClarkÙus army retreated from Fort Jefferson in June, 1781. Buckner Pittman, whose three-year enlistment with ClarkÙus Illinois Regiment began 1 May 1780, arrived on the scene shortly after the fort was completed in 1780, and was most likely one of the 100 men participating in the action against the Chickasaws.ÙT
William Pittman concludes his discussion of Buckner PittmanÙus service with a contemporary description of the attack from Temple BodleyÙus Volume I of History of Kentucky: ÙSProvisions being scarce & a party went to Kaskaskia for provision, which the Indians well knew: the(y) informed the commander of the fort that the(y) had sent a number of wariers to take their party sent for provisions & the(y) should have no relief. Colbert, who commanded the Indians, sent a flag into the fort, and informed the commanding officer to surrender the fort, as he well knew their situation for provisions, & that the troops & famelys should be kindly treated & taken safe to his nation - otherwise he would put them all to death, which alarmed the soldiers & officers & militia & ... the commanding officer informed Colbert who carried the flag he would hold a consil with his officers and the militia officers & give him a answer that evening. Accordingly a counsil was held .. Colbert in the evening returned with his flag - the militia immediately prepared themselves for battle having some swivels in the block houses which commanded the lower grounds - some Indeans, who were friends & was with the militia in the block house, fired on Colbert and his flag & wounded Colbert so that he fell - the Indians finding their commander wounded gathered all their force and at night began a tremendous fire on the fort advancing up from all quarters till they were crouded very close. Capt Owen who commanded the block houses had the swivels loaded with rifle and musquet balls and leveled them amongst the croud which dispersed the Indians and firing ceased & the Indians marched away.ÙT
Shortly after the war, Buckner killed a member of the Tory raiding party that ransacked his parentsÙu house and crippled his mother. Although the shooting took place on a street in Nashville, Tennessee, he was not indicted. He moved to Fairchilds (later Adams County) in the Mississippi Territory, where he married and raised at least eight children. The family still has letters from him to his relatives in Georgia written in 1802 and 1803. His son Jesse, by a first wife who died shortly after giving birth, remained in Georgia and was raised by his grandparents. In her history of the Taylor family, Ann Bloomquist suggests that James and Martha Taylor Pittman had Jesse in their household since family letters to the Taylors mention him several times. Also mentioned in an early family biography from Mrs. Estelle America Cash Pike. She recalls her father, Dr. Noah Bee Cash, and his cousin, Marquis DeLafayette Pittman, both serving in Company C., CobbÙus Legion, Georgia Calvary, CSA., were encamped in Virginia during the War Between the States. There they met a Mrs. Hikkuk (perhaps a phonetic spelling) who told them she was a daughter of Jesse Pittman.

Susie Wood Smith submitted this narrative:
Buckner Pittman was married to my ggg-aunt, Ann Smith (also sometimes listed as Nancy, the name of her mother). Ann was born in Pennsylvania & came down the Ohio with her parents & sisters in 1785. Their father, H. Smith, was killed by Indians en route to the Falls of the Ohio at Fort Washington (present-day Cincinnati). They had stopped at Fort Washington to let their cattle out to pasture. One of the cows didn't return & H. Smith & his brother-in-law went to retrieve it, having heard the cowbell in the distance.
The cow had been captured & the Indians were ringing the bell to bring the men closer to them. When H. Smith realized the ruse, he ran - apparently he was quite an athlete & nearly got away - but he was shot while jumping over a wide ravine. The family continued downstream. At one point, Nancy Smith, wife of H. Smith, threw her body over her girls during another attack on the river & somehow they floated to safety. They soon reached Louisville at the Falls of the Ohio, but quickly moved over the river to the Clarksville area. Ann was scalped on the banks of the Ohio in Clarksville & left for dead. However, she did bite her attacker on the calf before passing out. Her hair, which had been nearly completely removed from the top of her head, grew back in white & coarse as a horse's mane. A woman in Clarksville had a braid of that hair up until the early 1900s. I am still in search of it - in hopes that someone passed it down.
Buckner Pittman was in George Rogers Clark's service for three years ( I have the exact dates somewhere), which used the Falls of the Ohio as a camp base. After he had served his time, he planned to go downstream & possibly to return to either Georgia or Virginia. However, he was discharged in winter & had to wait for favorable conditions to cross the falls. A few months later, when he did attempt to cross, his horse fell on him while disembarking the flatboat & he was crippled. He married Ann Smith in Louisville, Kentucky on January 14, 1786. The stayed in Clarksville for a short while as he convalesced, but eventually moved down to Mississippi (we had always heard it was Fairchild Island). That was the last we heard of Ann & Buckner Smith until I heard of the Pittman Society.
Ann's sister Margaret was my ggg-grandmother, married to James Noble Wood. They founded Utica, Indiana, near Clarksville. JNWood was a judge & played quite a large part in the settling of this part of Southern Indiana.
Another sister married a Mr. Ware, a Falls Pilot. Ann's mother, Nancy, lived a long time, born in 1737, she d. 10 Aug 1828 & is buried with my family in Utica. Ann was born c. 1769 according to records around here. The marriage is listed in Louisville. Buckner & the Smith family are noted in a number of area histories.
According to Baird's History of Clark County.... "Nancy (Ann) was about 16 years of age at the time of the scalping, and later she married a Mr. Pittman. Pittman was a Virginian, had served in a military organization known as The Rangers. Their service was in Indiana Territory, and he probably had served under General Clark (this, too has been verified). He received patent for five hundred acres of land, this he sold for a trifling sum, as did many others. After being discharged from the service, he remained in Clarksville awaiting for the spring weather before starting for ihs Virginia home, bidding acquaintances & Clarksville farewell (and, of course, George Rogers Clark, who lived in & founded Clarksville). He mounted his horse, crossed the river below the Falls & as he led his horse off the boat, the horse fell, injuring him so badly as to make him useless. Pittman returned to Clarksville & later married (Ann) Smith & several years after, with his wife & children, left in a flat boat. They floated down the Mississippi, and years after were located on Fairchild's Island, near Vicksburg, Mississippi."

Nancy was about 16 years of age at the time of the scalping, and later she married [Buckner] PITTMAN. PITTMAN was a Virginian, and had served in a military organization known as The Rangers [he actually served under Capt. Robt. GEORGE and George Rogers CLARK in the winning of "The West", or the Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio territory]......He received patent for 500 acres of land, this he sold for a trifling sum, as did many others. After being discharged from the service, he remained in Clarksville awaiting for the springtime weather before starting for his Virginia home, bidding acquaintances and Clarksville farewell. He mounted his horse, crossed the river below the Falls and , as he led his horse off the boat, the horse fell, injuring him so badly as to make him useless. PITTMAN returned to Clarksville and later m. Nancy [Ann] SMITH [m. Jan. 14, 1786 in Louisville, KY], and several years later, with his wife and children, left in a flat boat. They floated down the Mississippi, and years after were located on Fairchild's Island, near Vicksburg, Mississippi. The mother of Mrs. Julia MACKEY, nee MORRISON, of Utica, had in her possession for several years, a lock of white hair, coarse as the mane of a horse, taken from the new growth of the scalp on the head of Nancy SMITH. William MORRISON, father of Mrs. MACKEY, fought under Gen. JACKSON at the Battle of New Orleans. He settled in Utica about the year 1823, dying there about 1867. He deserves a place in frontier history.

Nancy SMITH, mother of Margaret, wife of James Noble WOOD, d. Aug. 10, 1828, aged 102 years. At the age of 96, she bought a new spinning wheel. A neighbor wished to borrow it and the old lady refused to loan, saying, "I've owned several wheels. Other people borrowed and wore them out. I intend to wear this out myself."

This story comes from Baird's History of Clark Co., Indiana, pp. 897-901. Comments by Susanne Wood Smith, a direct descendant and family historian for nearly 20 years.

• Married: Abt 1768 in Virginia Statehood 1788 ¹
• Note: Reference Number:48773
• Change Date: 12 Jul 2001

1. Jesse Pittman b: 8 Dec 1769 in Virginia Statehood 1788

• Married: 14 Jan 1786 in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky ⁴
• Note: Reference Number:51179
• Change Date: 17 Jan 2004

1. Jesse Pittman b: 8 Dec 1789 in Virginia Statehood 1788

1. Media: Electronic
   Abbrev: Lynne Pittman Selzer <lpselzer@earthlink.net>
   Title: Lynne Pittman Selzer <lpselzer@earthlink.net>
   Publication: 2306 Piedmont Ridge Ct.,
   Marietta,Ga.30062
   Date: 21 May 1998
2. Media: Electronic
   Abbrev: April Ann Kyle Bladh <bladhaw@ez2.net>
   Title: April Ann Kyle Bladh <bladhaw@ez2.net>
   Publication: 16253 Lakeshore Drive,
   Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
   Tel(909) 245-4579
   Date: 18 Aug 0097
3. Media: Book
   Abbrev: Robert Lewis (Rel) Davis <reldavis@juno.com>
   Title: "Pittman Family Record" by Lona Elrod)
   Publication: Gainesville, Texas
   Date: 4 Aug 1999
   Text: http://www.netdor.com/reldavis
4. Abbrev: cd 229, Dec 1994 Edition, Banner Blue, GRS 3.04
   Title: cd 229, Dec 1994 Edition, Banner Blue, GRS 3.04