Samuel Donica/Denike, War of 1812
With the recent realization that Samuel was a possible father of Randall and that Samuel was an 1812 veteran, I looked at a couple of books that I have had for 20 plus years. One is an index of Ohio soldiers in the war of 1812. The other book is of the actual rosters This time I went through all of the D's. I found Samuel Denike. He was on the roll of Nathan Hatfield's Company, recorded on pages 217-218 of Volume 2, of Roster of Ohio Soldiers War of 1812
Did you by any chance ever order his pension papers? Interestingly, there is also a Samuel Denike who was a revolutionary soldier along with his brother Davis Denike. They were from New Jersey. Of course Samuel Donica who bought his first land in Illinois with a bounty land warrant in Adams County in 1818, and I guess he moved to Knox County in about 1840 based on his land transactions. He was 27 when he enlisted on or about July 18, 1812. He was thus born about 1785 in Rockbridge County, Virginia. At the time of his enlistment he was 5' 7"tall, had grey eyes and blk hair.. He enlisted for five years. He enlisted at Chillicothe, Ohio; he was enlisted by Lieut. Kersheval. Discharged August 25, 1817. This date alone makes me very suspect of him being Randall's father. You never know he might have had a leave midyear 1816. Do you recall the 1860 McLean County Illinois census for R. G. Donica put his birthdate at about 1813. Makes you wonder about the bible entry, particularly with all of the Montgomery's in there. It makes you think that the entries were much later and possibly incorrect. We at least know enough now as to where and when to look. Randall may have been born in Kentucky just right across the Ohio River from Ohio. Please tell me your thoughts when you get a chance
Charles