Abram Penn, also known as "Abraham Penn" (December 27, 1743, in

Caroline County, Virginia Caroline County is a United States county located in the eastern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The northern boundary of the county borders on the Rappahannock River, notably at the historic town of Port Royal. The Caroline county se ...

– 1801, in

Patrick County, Virginia Patrick County is a county located on the central southern border of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 17,608. Its county seat is Stuart. It is located within both the rolling hills and valley ...

) was a noted landowner and Revolutionary War officer from Virginia.

Family life

Poplar Grove home of Col Abram Penn Patrick County Virginia

He married Ruth Stovall (1743- 1800?), and they had seven sons. Their children were: 1. George Penn, married Miss Gordon and moved to New Orleans. 2. Lucinda Penn, married Samuel Staples. 3. Gabriel Penn, married Jinsy Clark, of Patrick Co., VA. 4. Horatio Penn, born in Patrick County, Virginia on November 14, 1775, and died on September 27, 1838. He married Nancy Parr and moved to Missouri. They are buried at the Penn Cemetery in Ralls County, Missouri (8 miles East of New London). 5. Polly Penn, married Charles Foster, of Patrick Co., VA. 6. George Greensville (or Green) Penn, married 1st Miss Leath, of Manchester, VA; 2nd Martha Reed of Bedford Co., VA. 7. Thomas Jefferson Penn, married 1st Frances Leath of Manchester, VA; 2nd Mary Christian Kennerly, of Amherst Co., VA. 8. Abram Penn, married Sally Critz and moved to Tennessee. 9. James Penn, married 1st Miss Leath, of Manchester, VA; 2nd Mary Shelton, d/o William & Pattie (Dillard) Shelton. 10. Luvenia Penn, died young. 11. Edmund Penn, married Pollie Ferris of Patrick Co., VA. and moved to Kentucky. 12. Phillip Penn, born in March 1792 and married Louise Briscoe of Bedford Co., VA. They made their home at "Poplar Grove" plantation in Patrick County, Virginia. The plantation is no longer standing, although the grave of Colonel Penn is still in the family cemetery on this site.

Lord Dunmore's War

Abram Penn served with General Andrew Lewis (soldier) at the Battle of Point Pleasant in Lord Dunmore's War, 1774. "Abram Penn served Virginia as Captain of the Militia in Dunmores Campaign against the

Shawnee The Shawnee ( ) are a Native American people of the Northeastern Woodlands. Their language, Shawnee, is an Algonquian language. Their precontact homeland was likely centered in southern Ohio. In the 17th century, they dispersed through Ohi ...

Indians. He commanded a fort at Culbertson's Bottom and a company in the Battle of Point Pleasant, in which the Indians were defeated October 10th 1774."

Political life

He lived as a landowner in

Pittsylvania County, Virginia Pittsylvania County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 60,501. The county seat is Chatham. Pittsylvania County is included in the Danville, VA Micropolitan Statistical ...

(later formed into

Henry County, Virginia Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 50,948. The county seat is usually identified as Martinsville; however, the administration building (where county offices are located ...

, where he served on the Committees of safety (American Revolution) in both counties and as delegate to the

Virginia House of Burgesses The House of Burgesses () was the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly from 1619 to 1776. It existed during the colonial history of the United States in the Colony of Virginia in what was then British America. From 1642 to 1776, the Hou ...

from Henry County, along with Robert Hairston. Commissioned by the Governor, he administered State and Federal oaths to the officers of Patrick County at its first court, June 1791. In the early years of the county, Abram Penn and seven of his sons served as "Gentlemen Justices."

Revolutionary War soldier

He formed a militia company in the county and was made Captain in 1779. During the Revolutionary War, Penn advanced to the rank of Colonel and in the winter of 1780–1781, organized the only body of Revolutionary troops from Henry and adjoining counties. He led his regiment to join General

Nathanael Greene Major general (United States), Major General Nathanael Greene (August 7, 1742 – June 19, 1786) was an American military officer and planter who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War. He emerge ...

in North Carolina, March 1781, for the

Battle of Guilford Court House The Battle of Guilford Court House was fought on 15 March 1781 during the American Revolutionary War, near Greensboro, North Carolina. A 2,100-man British force under the command of Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis defeated Major General Na ...

but arrived a day late and met the retreating forces heading back home. Later he and his troops joined General Greene in defense of the Carolinas, fought in the

Battle of Eutaw Springs The Battle of Eutaw Springs on September 8, 1781, was the last major engagement of the Revolutionary War to be fought in the Carolinas. Both sides claimed a victory. Background In early 1781, Major General Nathanael Greene, commander of the ...

, and continued in service through the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. His service in the American Revolution is summed up by a local historian: "He was a man of resolute purpose, magnetic, with a vigorous intellect and a commanding presence. When one considers how he gathered up men from this section drilled them into soldiers, and fought them like veterans against the British, he is in a class by himself, and should be forever honored as the highest type of patriot in the wilds of the forest primeval. He died in 1801, and was buried at Poplar Grove in Patrick. To his descendants, he left his sword brought back from Yorktown, and a name that will be cherished by his countrymen through the ages." The

Daughters of the American Revolution The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (often abbreviated as DAR or NSDAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a patriot of the American Revolutionary War. A non-p ...

have given him the Ancestor Number: A088474 in recognition of his service.

Legacy

There is a historical marker placed by the Virginia Department of Historical Resources at Patrick Springs, Virginia. It reads: "Col. Abram Penn, 1743-1801. 200 yards south is "Poplar Grove," Penn's old home and burial place. At age 21 he "won his spurs" leading a company under General Lewis at Point Pleasant. During 1780-81 he organized the first Revolutionary troops from Henry and adjoining counties, and led his regiment to aid General Greene in the

and the

. He helped organize Patrick County." The Patrick County chapter of the

Stuart, Virginia Stuart is a town in Patrick County, Virginia, United States, where it is the county seat. The population was 1,408 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 census. The town of Stuart was named after Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, of nearby Ararat, ...

, is named in his honor. The unincorporated community of Penn's Store is named for Col. Penn and his descendants.The professor and novelist

Robert Penn Warren Robert Penn Warren (April 24, 1905 – September 15, 1989) was an American poet, novelist, literary critic and professor at Yale University. He was one of the founders of New Criticism. He was also a charter member of the Fellowship of Southern ...

is a descendant of Col. Abraham Penn. The Abram Penn Highway in Patrick County is also named for Col. Penn, who died in 1801.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Penn, Abram 1743 births 1801 deaths People from colonial Virginia House of Burgesses members People of Virginia in the French and Indian War People of Virginia in the American Revolution American planters People from Caroline County, Virginia People from Patrick County, Virginia