HISTORY OF THE CEMETERY
Nearly 250 years after the Revolutionary War, 18 patriots who served as soldiers or engaged in patriotic or civil service during the Revolutionary War will be permanently honored with a Daughters of the American Revolution commemorative marker in the Poke Run Cemetery, 1091 Poke Run Church Road, Apollo, Pennsylvania.
The patriots being honored for their Revolutionary War service are as follows:
| John Adams | Nathaniel McBrier |
| Adam Carnahan | John McConnell |
| David Carnahan | Samuel McLaughlin |
| James Chambers | William McLaughlin |
| John Craig | James McQuilkin |
| William Elwood | John Morrow |
| John Guthrie | Isaac Sadler |
| Mary Erwin Lochry Guthrie | Joseph Thorne |
| Richard Hockley* | Boltzer Trout |
The America 250! Committee of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution is already preparing for the 250th Anniversary of our nation in 2026. Marcia Shavlik, Nebraska State Regent, was serving as State Chair of the America 250! Committee when she decided to look for the grave of her chapter’s namesake patriot, Major Isaac Sadler. She was a member of the Major Isaac Sadler – La Belle Vue Chapter, located in Omaha, Nebraska. The chapter was organized in 1911 by Blanche McKelvy, a direct descendant of Major Isaac Sadler.
It was originally believed Major Isaac Sadler was buried in a grave in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and had a DAR marker and stone at his grave. After much genealogical research, those facts were proven incorrect. Mrs. Shavlik found that based on Major Isaac Sadler’s Revolutionary War pension and other historical documents, he was in an unmarked grave in the Poke Run Cemetery. Linda Chicka of the Poke Run Presbyterian Church shared that in the 1940s, the church’s Trustees, with the help of local Boy Scouts, had tossed out old worn away and broken headstones over the hill near the cemetery.
During the genealogical research for Major Isaac Sadler, it was noted that the church website stated as follows: “Tradition says there are at least twelve Revolutionary War soldiers buried at Poke Run, but to date only eight graves have been confirmed and located.” The President of the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian Church, Doug Ross, granted permission to the Nebraska Daughters to proceed with their project and provided a copy of the church’s history book published in 1940 (revised 1977). Thus, the chapter members expanded their research about the additional Revolutionary War soldiers who may have been interred in the cemetery. Chapter Chaplain Ellen Ramsey-Pagett spear-headed the genealogical research for the remaining patriots, and Chapter Regent Mary Kay Bothwell then reviewed and analyzed the applications before they were sent to Washington, DC for approval. Due to the number of applications being submitted to the DAR for approval, it was necessary to obtain the personal permission of President General Denise Doring VanBuren as well.
Ultimately, 18 applications were approved by Historian General Laura McCrillis Kessler on June 21, 2022. Of the individuals approved, five are new DAR recognized patriots, and one of those is a female patriot. Some of the patriots are in unmarked graves. In September 2021, new military stones were placed in the cemetery by members of the Poke Run Presbyterian Church for Isaac Sadler and John McConnell. Other military marker applications have been submitted to the VA by the Presbyterian Church and are currently pending.
The Major Isaac Sadler – La Belle Vue Chapter will also be placing a separate DAR Revolutionary War marker in front of Major Isaac Sadler’s military stone at the dedication ceremony because he is their namesake patriot. A descendant of Major Isaac Sadler donated the funds necessary for his marker.
The Massy Harbison-Fort Hand Chapter in Pennsylvania, under the leadership of Ellen Rupert, collaborated with the Nebraska Daughters in fundraising for the commemorative marker, securing the gravestone, and other local assistance as needed. The two DAR chapters will be placing the commemorative marker together in honor of these patriots.
Descendants and other family members of these 18 patriots are especially welcome and encouraged to attend the dedication ceremony. Please contact Amy Wilkinson at the Poke Run Presbyterian Church at 724-327-5563 if you are planning to attend so that appropriate plans can be made to accommodate and recognize those in attendance.
Quote by Mrs. Shavlik: “We currently live in a divided country, and it is our hope that we can come together as a nation in the 250th Anniversary of our country’s founding. Our Revolutionary War patriots lived, fought, and sacrificed for us. We will always remember.”
DEDICATION EVENT
Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 1:00 p.m.
The dedication of this marker will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. in the Poke Run Cemetery, 1091 Poke Run Church Road, Apollo, Pennsylvania.
ABOUT DAR (DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION)
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With nearly 190,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations. For additional information about the DAR, please visit www.dar.org.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PATRIOTS
John Adams
(Ancestor #A203612)
John Adams was born before 1752. He died before February 20, 1800. in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He served as a Private in the Pennsylvania militia as a Ranger on the Frontier. He also fought in the Sandusky Expedition and was reimbursed by the government for a loss of a horse, saddle, bridle and sundries. John Adams is buried in Poke Run Cemetery and has a Department of Veterans Administration grave marker.
Adam Carnahan
(Ancestor #A019301)
Adam Carnahan was born around 1743. He resided in Newton, Cumberland, Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War. He was a Private in Cumberland County militia’s 1st Battalion, 5th Company, 5th Class. He served under Captains Patrick Jack and John Hodge. In 1790, he supported to retain the Reverend Samuel Porter as pastor of Poke Run Presbyterian Church. Adam Carnahan died on December 7, 1815; he is buried at Poke Run Cemetery. His personal burial stone states he died in the 72nd year of his age, respected and lamented by all who knew him.
David Carnahan*
David Carnahan was born before 1753 and died before December 13, 1825. While residing in Hempfield, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, he paid the supply tax of 1783 which helped fund the Revolutionary War efforts. In 1790, he supported to retain the Reverend Samuel Porter as pastor of Poke Run Presbyterian Church.
James Chambers*
James Chambers was born in 1749. He served in Colonel Archibald Lochry’s Regiment under Captains David McKee and Moore. In 1781, while serving under Captain Nehemiah Stokely at Stokely’s Glade, he was captured by the Indians and taken prisoner. He was released in January 1783 and made his way back to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. For his dedicated service, James Chambers was granted a pension by the government (pension # S9171). In 1790, he supported to retain the Reverend Samuel Porter as pastor of Poke Run Presbyterian Church. He died June 24. 1847, at the age of 98 years. He is buried at Poke Run Cemetery and has a personal burial stone and a Department of Veterans Administration burial marker.
John Craig
(Ancestor #A027244)
John Craig was born in 1753 in New Jersey. During the Revolutionary War he was residing in Derry, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. He volunteered and served as a Private in Captain John Shield’s Company in Colonel Pomeroy’s Regiment and in Captain Wilson’s Company in Colonel Pomeroy’s Regiment. He also protected the frontier lands in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, while serving in Captain James Moore’s Company of Pennsylvania militiamen. He was granted a pension for his dedicated service (pension # S8253). John Craig died on March 14, 1848, at the age of 87 years. His remains are interred at Poke Run Cemetery.
William Elwood
(Ancestor #A038154)
William Elwood was born around 1758. While residing in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; he served in the 1st Battalion of Pennsylvania under the command of Colonel James Johnson and in the 8th Battalion of Pennsylvania in Captain John Jack’s Company. At the end of the war he moved to Franklin, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, where he remained until his death. He died before February 22, 1832.
John Guthrie
(Ancestor #A048609)
John Guthrie was born before 1769 and was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1777. He resided in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War. In 1790, he supported to retain the Reverend Samuel Porter as pastor of Poke Run Presbyterian Church. He died in March 1797 and has the oldest surviving burial stone in the cemetery.
Mary Erwin Lochry Guthrie*
Mary (Erwin) Lochry Guthrie was born around 1755 and is the daughter of Joseph Erwin who also served during the American Revolution. She was first married to Colonel Archibald Lochry. He died while out on an expedition in 1781. She was a patriotic woman and in 1783, while residing as a widow in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, she paid the supply tax to support the war efforts. Mary (Erwin) Lochry married Captain John “Jack” Guthrie, who was one of Colonel Archibald Lochry’s right-hand men. In 1790, her husband, Jack Guthrie, supported to retain the Reverend Samuel Porter as pastor of Poke Run. Mary died sometime after May 4, 1791.
Richard Hockley*
Richard Hockley was born before 1762. He volunteered as a Private and served in Moorhead’s Pennsylvania Independent Company. He re-enlisted and served in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment until the end of the war. For his committed serviced through the duration of the war, he was granted Peirce Certificates. In 1783, while residing in Spring Hill, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, he paid the supply tax to support the war effort. In 1790, he supported to retain the Reverend Samuel Porter as pastor of Poke Run Presbyterian Church. He applied for and was granted a pension from January 1813 until his death on April 9, 1818.
Nathaniel McBrier
(Ancestor #A014307)
Nathaniel McBrier was born around 1748 in County Down Ireland. He was a Private and volunteered for service in the 6th Co., 4th Battalion, Cumberland County militia commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Culbertson and Captain Patrick Jack. He resided in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War. He died January 18, 1835. He, along with his two wives, Elizabeth and Margaret, has a personal stone in the cemetery that is a tall obelisk. Nathaniel McBrier was one of the founders of Poke Run Presbyterian church and donated 5 acres of land for the purpose of building their first church. In 1790, he also pledged support to retain the Reverend Samuel Porter as pastor of Poke Run Presbyterian Church.
John McConnell*
John McConnell was born in 1754. He served as a private in the Revolutionary War from August 1777-August 1779 in the 8th Pennsylvania Continental Line under Captain Eli Myers and Commander Colonel Enos McCoy. Private McConnell was a resident of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania at the time of his military service. He died on May 25, 1832. In 1790 he pledged support to retain the Reverend Samuel Porter as pastor of Poke Run Presbyterian Church.
Samuel McLaughlin
(Ancestor #A077900)
Samuel McLaughlin was born before 1756 and died sometime after September 17, 1828, in Allegheny, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. While residing in Westmoreland County, he served as a Private in the Pennsylvania militia as a Ranger on the Frontier in Captain Hugh Goudy’s Company. In 1790, he supported to retain the Reverend Samuel Porter as pastor of Poke Run Presbyterian Church.
William McLaughlin
(Ancestor #A077919)
William McLaughlin was born in 1740. While residing in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, he served as a Private in the Pennsylvania militia as a Ranger on the Frontier in Captain William Guthrie’s Company. In 1790, he supported to retain the Reverend Samuel Porter as pastor of Poke Run Presbyterian Church. He died on June 6, 1828, at the age of 88 years and his remains are interred at Poke Run Cemetery. His burial marker was placed by his son James.
James McQuilkin
(Ancestor #A076433)
James McQuilkin was born in 1749 in Scotland. He served as a Private in the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment under the command of Lt. Col. Henry Miller. Land documents indicate he was a resident of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, during the Revolutionary War. He died on December 10, 1802, at the age of 53 years. He has a gravestone marking his remains at Poke Run Cemetery.
John Morrow
(Ancestor #A133548)
John Morrow was born about 1756. While residing in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, he served as a Private in the Pennsylvania militia as a Ranger on the Frontier in Captain George Vance’s Company. In 1790, he pledged support to retain the Reverend Samuel Porter as pastor of Poke Run Presbyterian Church. John Morrow died on November 19, 1804.
Isaac Sadler
(Ancestor #A099026)
Major Isaac Sadler was born in York County, Pennsylvania on May 14, 1740. He enlisted in 1776 and served as a private in Captain Stevenson’s Company. He then re-enlisted on September 13, 1777, in Captain Stevenson’s Company, and on October 2, 1777, he was elected Major of the company. He served in the Revolutionary War until October 11, 1777. During the Revolution, he was a resident of York County, Pennsylvania. He died on June 20, 1843, in Franklin Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
Joseph Thorne
(Ancestor #A101848)
Joseph Thorne was born before 1755. Based on legal documents, he died sometime before 2 June 1797. While residing in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, he served in the Pennsylvania militia as a Ranger of the Frontier in Lt. John Shields Troop of Light Horse Company. He also served in the Westmoreland County militia, 8th Class under the command of Captain Joseph Pearce. Joseph Thorne was one of the founders of Poke Run Presbyterian Church.
Boltzer Trout
(Ancestor #A116176)
Boltzer Trout was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1757. During the Revolutionary War he was residing in Frederick County, Virginia, where he served in the Virginia troops as a Private. He served in Captain John Nicewanger’s Company, Colonel Gibson’s Regiment, Captain Isaac Zane’s Light Horse Troop Company, Colonel Darke’s Regiment under Captain Job Bell. He was in the Battle of Yorktown and was present when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington. He received a pension for his dedicated service (pension # S7749). Boltzer Trout died on July 5, 1837, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He is buried at Poke Run Cemetery. He has a deteriorated personal gravestone and a Department of Veterans Affairs grave marker.
*denotes a new DAR approved patriot