Historical data - HEZEKIAH ADKINS
On Wednesday, April 6, 2011, the Highway Marker for Hezekiah Adkins was set, after delays of three years or more. Our Society is very proud to see this marker erected, and wish to thank the West Virginia Department of Archives and History and the West Virginia Department of Highways for their help.
The marker is located on the main Beech Fork Road, near the intersection with Grassy Lick Road. This is about three miles south of the Upper Beech Fork Camp Grounds, which is located at the upper end of Beech Fork Lake. The cemetery is within sight of the marker, about 75 yards off Beech Fork Road.
We will be planning a dedication program for this marker, hopefully sometime within the next few months. We will update information as it is available.
UPDATE
PRESS RELEASE
HEZEKIAH ADKINS DEDICATION
On Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. The Wayne County Genealogical And Historical Society will conduct a Dedication ceremony honoring Hezekiah Adkins, one of Wayne County’s Revolutionary War Soldiers. The dedication will be held at the main building at the upper Beech Fork camp grounds. Our thanks to Matt J. Yeager, Manager of the Beech fork camp grounds, for his assistance in providing the use of the building there.
This will be the fifth Highway Marker commemorating Wayne County Revolutionary War Soldiers to be erected by the Society. Previous markers have been set for Samuel Ferguson, Josiah Marcum, Micajah Frasher and Samuel Hatton. These markers are funded by private donations, along with some matching funds.
The roadside marker has already been set near the grave site, which is near the intersection of Beech Fork Road and Grassy Lick Road, about three miles up Beech fork above the upper Beech Fork camp grounds.
After the ceremony at the camp grounds, we will proceed to the site of the Highway Marker, for the unveiling ceremony and dedication program.Hezekiah Adkins was born September 20, 1759 in Halifax County, VA, the son of Parker and Mary ( ) Adkins. In his Revolutionary War service, he was first stationed at Garrison’s Fort under Captain George Peris. He then served at Farley’s Fort under Thomas Burk, and even later served under Lieutenant Bowen guarding wagons of lead from Chissel’s mines in Virginia to their destination in North Carolina. His last service was as an Indian spy with Edward Hale and Jacob Snidow.
Hezekiah married on October 2, 1784 in Montgomery County, VA to Mary Levon. He then migrated to present Wayne County in the early 1800's. Personal records, as well as church records, indicate that Hezekiah was preaching in the Mud River area as well as the Beech Fork area soon after his migration. Hezekiah died on March 3, 1842.
Our present president, Herb Dawson, will be the Master of Ceremonies. The major speaker will be Ronnie Adkins, the author of the Adkins Family Book. Ronnie will be travelling to Wayne County for that weekend. Also speaking at the ceremony will be Bobby Stephens.
Other officers and members of the Society will participate.
We hope to have several of the local Adkins family members also participate in the ceremony. The Wayne High School JR. R.O.T.C. will serve as the color guard and the Ceredo-Kenova American Legion Post 93 will perform the 21 gun salute at the grave site.
The Upper Beech Fork camp grounds may be reached from either St. Route 52 or St. Route 10. From just below Wayne, take the Wilson’s Creek Road, up the left fork and across the hill to Millers Fork, again across the hill to Beech Fork. When you come to Beech Fork, the camp ground is on the left at the intersection. The trip from Wayne to the camp grounds takes about 25 minutes. From Route 10, take Hughes Branch Road which will take you directly to the camp grounds.
We encourage all of you to be with us and participate in the program. If you have ideas to share or questions to ask, we will try to keep the program updated on our web site, wcghs.com. Or you may call Herb Dawson at 304-393-3792, Howard Osburn at 304-272-3443 or Jarrett Peters at 304-429-2033.
HEZEKIAH ADKINS - Born 20 June (September) 1759 in Halifax Co., VA and died 19 March 1842 in Cabell Co. VA. (What is now Wayne Co., WV) He married Mary (Polly) Lavon on 02 October 1784 in Montgomery Co., VA. Mary was born 25 December 1768 and died 03 March 1855 in Wayne Co. VA Hezekiah’s service record states he resided in Montgomery Co., VA (Sinking Creek) and served as a Private in the Company of Captain John Lucas Garrison’s Fort on the New River under Captain George Peris. He guarded wagons of lead from Chissel’s mines in VA to North Carolina under Lieutenant Bowen. Served as a spy with Edward Hale and Jacob Snidow. (Source: Virginia Revolutionary Pension Applications, Vol I, John Dorman. DAR Patriot Index, pg 21 Revolutionary War Pension Application R.290v)