Recent Discovery: John Hacker, Pioneer and Frontiersman, Appears in Court Records
Posted by Jane Metters LaBarbara.July 10th, 2017
Blog post by Michael Ridderbusch, Associate Curator, WVRHC.
Recently, while processing our voluminous Harrison County Court records collection at the History Center, a record documenting one of western Virginia’s earliest pioneers was uncovered. Although a routine court record dating from 1809 regarding a financial transaction, it nonetheless includes the name of John Hacker (1743-1823), a pioneer who led the way into Virginia’s western frontier. According to the West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia edited by Jim Comstock, “…he was the first permanent settler in what is now Lewis County.” Though he settled in the region that became Lewis County, this 1809 case fell under the jurisdiction of the Harrison County Court since Lewis County was established later in 1816, from the territory of Harrison County. The Encyclopedia further reveals that “in 1774 Hacker was given a 400-acre grant of land there, near what is now called Hacker’s Creek after him.” His notable exploits included serving in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, including service with George Rogers Clark in the Northwest Campaign of 1778-1779, and serving as a representative of Hacker’s Creek at the peace conference that concluded the Northwest Indian War of 1785-1795.
Harrison County Court Record involving John Hacker and Adam Hickman, 1809.
Detail of Court Record Featuring Name of Pioneer John Hacker,
Referencing Him as “Former Sheriff”, 1809.
The identity of the John Hacker recorded in this court document is corroborated by its reference to his earlier occupation as “former Sheriff of Harrison County”. According to Dorothy Davis’s “History of Harrison County,” he was Sheriff from 1799-1801 — this is indeed the trail blazing John Hacker of the 1700s.
Abstract of Court Record Featuring Name of Pioneer John Hacker,
and of Adam Hickman, 1809.
This glimpse of a pioneer in the public record provides a tangible link to the frontier past of West Virginia that would otherwise be obscured by the mists of time, helping turn legend into history.
For other History Center blog posts related to pioneers, see:
History Center Acquires Vintage Photograph of Historic Frontier Cabin
Records of 18th Century Pioneer Discovered: Documents Tell Story of William Haymond
Sources consulted:
History of Harrison County, West Virginia, by Dorothy Davis
The 55 West Virginias, A Guide to the State’s Counties, by E. Lee North
West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, edited by Jim Comstock
Wikipedia articles regarding the Illinois Campaign and Northwest Indian War.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:53 am
In reference to John Hacker 1754-1824 his Revolutionary War service was as an Indian scout.
Served in Virginia Militia under Capt James Booth 1776 and 1777 as a scout and Indian spy. Source: Common Wealth of VA claim for a pension received 23 Mar 1839.
This is the correct John Hacker as the the Virginia Commonwealth claim listed names of some of his children. The claim was settled after his death in Indiana.