Elizabeth Zane

Ancestor Number

A130537 »

Date of Birth

July 19, 1759

Place of Birth

Moorefield, Westmoreland County, Virginia

Date of Death

August 23, 1823

Place of Death

St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio

Spouse(s)

Ephraim McLaughlin, Jacob Clark

Children

Minerva Zane, Mary Ann McLaughlin, Sarah Nancy McLaughlin, Rebecca McLaughlin, Hannah McLaughlin, Ebenezer Clark, Catherine Clark

American Revolution Service

Ammunition bearer at the “second siege” of Fort Henry

State of Service

Virginia

Donor

The West Virginia State Society

Elizabeth “Betty” Zane was born around 1760 near the south branch of the Potomac River, in August County, Virginia, to William Andrew Zane and Nancy Ann (Nolan) Zane.

Betty’s brothers were Ebenezer, Silas, Jonathan, Isaac and Andrew. At an early age, Betty moved to what is now Wheeling, West Virginia. This was a hostile area due to the taking of the American Indians’ land. The Zane family helped build Fort Henry in 1774. The garrison was built on a hillside overlooking the Ohio River and was practically impregnable.

On September 11 and 12, 1782, a large American Indian force, under the direction of British renegade, Simon Girty, attacked Fort Henry.

The fort was under the command of Colonel David Shepherd. Inside the fort were approximately 40 men and boys, along with 60 women and children, including Betty.

During the second siege, called “The Last Battle of the Revolution,” Colonel Shepherd found his powder supply exhausted. The nearest source was more than a hundred yards away in the cabin of Ebenezer Zane. American Indians and British spies were on the alert on all sides of the fort with arrows and rifles. Betty stepped forward with the simple assertion, “I will go,” and convinced the men that she was the logical volunteer. Young and fleet of foot, she was strong enough to carry an ample supply of powder. Betty successfully made the trip to her brother’s cabin, poured as much powder as she could carry into her apron, and sped back to the fort.

Betty rendered service in the capacity of ammunition bearer. Her Ancestor Number is #A130537.

Betty married twice. Her first husband was Ephraim McLaughlin and her second husband was Jacob Clark. Betty’s children were Minerva Zane; Mary Ann, Sarah Nancy, Rebecca and Hannah McLaughlin; Ebenezer and Catherine Clark.

Betty died around 1828 at St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio, and is buried at the Walnut Grove Pioneer Cemetery.