Born in Berkley County, Virginia, in 1750, son of Edward and Susannah Heath Colgan, William enlisted into the service of the United States Army on August 1, 1777. He was assigned to the Third Regiment of the Virginia Line as a private in the Light Dragoons under the command of Colonel George Baylor and Captain Cadwalder, near Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia. Later, after the death of Baylor, William Washington, George Washington's second cousin, took over the command and placed them with his 4th Regiment of Light Dragoons. William Colgan committed for a three year term.
He was present at the Battle of Monmouth in the stifling heat of June 28, 1778. Following a six month stay at Valley Forge in the winter, this battle was a test for the colonial forces which they met well.
A few months later on September 27, 1778, Colgan's regiment was surprised at 2 a.m. in the morning by British forces at Old Tappan in New Jersey. The U.S. forces were sleeping in several barns when the British silently approached, killing all the pickets before they could sound a warning. Commander Baylor was captured and sixty-seven men were either killed, wounded or captured. William Colgan was one of the captured.
According to a deposition filed at his pension hearing, Colgan was held by the British for a month after Tappan and then brought back to his regiment in a prisoner exchange. (Ironically, the night before this surprise attack, the whole regiment had been given new uniforms and accessories, and they enjoyed great pride and excitement for that one day.) Since Baylor was killed, so the survivors were joined with Major William Washington's unit.
William Colgan was discharged on August 1, 1780, after his three year service. He married Eleanor Long on March 19, 1782, according to the marriage records of Berkeley County, Virginia. It seemed they had children Eleanor, Mary, Hannah, Daniel, Suzanne, and William.
Before 1818, William Colgan moved to Champaign County, Ohio, where he applied for a pension that year in the court of common pleas. He was deposed as was a fellow soldier, William Weaver, in front of Judge Alexander McBeth, to testify to his service to the United States. Colgan told of his capture and being taken to New York and then to the Sugar? House for a month. He then was conducted by a British guard to Elizabethtown point for his exchange. He stated that he served his full term and was honorably discharged at Halifax in North Carolina on the first day of August, 1780. William Colgan was 58 years old when he applied for his pension and in reduced circumstances, needing the assistance of his country.
William Weaver stated that he often heard Daniel Colgan, William Colgan's brother, read letters that he had received from his brother. Weaver was acquainted with William at the time of the enlistment. The judge approved the request.
On 24 August 1820, William Colgan came back to court, perhaps to pursue an increase. He testified that he had not disposed of any property as to qualify for more nor has he any extra income.
He stated he was a reed maker "which occupation by __ of my remote situation I have not followed for many years, but labour as far as I am able as a husbandman unable to work but little in consequence of age and rheumatism... My family consists of my wife, aged fifty-eight years who is feeble and scarcely able to do things around the house, a daughter aged eighteen who has no particular occupation other than assisting in the care of the family and a boy aged fourteen years who is as capable of working as most boys at that age."
He listed his property as a one man cart, three small young cattle that he bought on credit and hadn't paid for as yet, a swine pig, one table and chairs, a cupboard, 2 furnitures, grain growing, on rented land of which he was to give in kind for rent, and he listed his debts.
In the 1830 census, he was still in Champaign County with one son and two daughters. His wife had died, apparently. Remembering that Defiance County was then a part of Williams County, his will was found in the Williams County Records. He wrote it on January 5, 1837, and he died in October of that year. So, sometime between 1830 and 1837, William Colgan moved to our area. His son, Daniel, was found in the 1840 census in Williams County, so perhaps they came together so son could care for father; that answer may never be known.
In William Colgan's will, probated April 14, 1838 (after his death on October 25, 1837), he ordered his debts to be paid and funeral expenses. To his oldest son, William, he gave $100, and the same to his eldest daughter, Hannah Hamilton, widow of John. To his second daughter Susannah Ford, he left one bed and bedding, she having received $100 earlier. To his third daughter, Eleanor Halton, he gave $100, while his fourth daughter Mary Major was to receive $493.38 to be paid out of a sum of $1354.70 due to William from Samuel Sargent of Lucas County when it was collected. Mary should also receive two beds and bedding, one side saddle and one Bible.
To his second son, Daniel Colgan, he gave the sum of one dollar, he having received the sum of $125 earlier. Then the residue of the estate was to be divided among the five children, share and share alike. William Semans of Defiance was to be executor.
A small appraisal was completed that noted one grey mare, $41; 1 saddle, $5.50; 1 portmanteau, 50 cents; 1 spy glass, $1 and 1 horse or saddle blanket, 50 cents. He gave three years to his country, and lived a spare and humble life afterward, ending up in Evansport, Ohio at the end.
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