Sanford Ransdell
Encyclopedia
Sanford Wesley Ransdell was an early American pioneer and soldier in the Battle of Tippecanoe
. Ransdell was born in Orange County, Virginia
on September 11, 1781. He was a descendant of Edward Ransdell who was a signer of the historic Leedstown Resolutions a document written up in defiance of the Stamp Act
.
. Soon he emigrated to the frontier of the Indiana Territory
where he was an early pioneer. He met and subsequently married, around 1808, Rhoda Sampson, the daughter of William and Sarah (Coleman) Sampson in Harrison County, Indiana
. William Sampson had served in the American Revolution with the Virginia
troops. Their first child Frances Laura was born on March 15, 1809.
."
At quarter to five in the morning on November 7, 1811 Ransdell’s regiment of eighty men, under the command of Spier Spencer
, took part in the Battle of Tippecanoe at Tippecanoe Creek. This company occupied the right flank where according to General William Henry Harrison
the fighting was, "excessively severe," and that the men of Ransdell's company, "bravely maintained their posts." Despite "having suffered so severely, and having originally maintained their posts."
During the fierce fighting two horses were shot dead from under Ransdell and his left thumb was shot off. The captain of the regiment, Spier Spencer
, the first lieutenant Richard McMahan and the second lieutenant Thomas Berry were all killed in action. Ransdell was eventually mustered out at Corydon on November 24, 1811.
In a message sent to the U. S. House of Representatives, General Harrison had this to say about Ransdell's company, "With equal pride and pleasure, then, do I pronounce that, notwithstanding the regular troops behaved as well as men ever did, many of the militia companies were in no wise inferior to them. Of this number were the mounted riflemen, commanded by Captain Spencer. To them was committed the charge of defending the right flank of the army. That it could not have been committed to better hands, their keeping their ground (indeed gaining upon the enemy) for an hour and a half with unequal arms against superior numbers, and amid a carnage that might have made veterans tremble, is sufficient evidence."
A year later Ransdell participated in the War of 1812
and served as a first sergeant in the 5th Regiment Indiana Militia in Captain Jacob Zenor's Company from October 20 to November 18, 1812. For his actions on November 7, 1811 and his wartime service he would be awarded 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of land.
by 1820 and again later to Vigo County, Indiana
. On March 15, 1827, their daughter Frances married Noah Beauchamp, Jr., the son of the blacksmith Noah Beauchamp
.
In 1840, Noah Beauchamp, Sr. stabbed his neighbor George Mickelberry to death over a dispute. This famous incident culminated in a prolonged manhunt and trial that dragged both Ransdell and Rhoda into the witness box.
Ransdell witnessed the coroner's inquest regarding Mickelberry’s death and was called to testify for the defense. Rhoda was also called to testify at the trial to verify that Mrs. Mickeberry had changed her story. Mrs. Mickelberry had previously stated various details to Rhoda and Elizabeth implying that if it had not been for Mickelberry’s daughter Delilah Decker, by a previous marriage, the killing would not have taken place.
Ultimately, their testimony in favor of their daughter’s father-in-law proved fruitless: Noah Beauchamp, Sr., was hanged on December 30, 1842. The family continued to live in Vigo County with the notorious incident hanging about them for over a decade before eventually moving away to Cumberland County, Illinois.
In 1854 both Ransdell and Rhoda died from an epidemic. Ransdell died in Cumberland County, Illinois on July 30, 1854. The two were buried side by side at Berry Cemetery in Toledo, Illinois
.
Battle of Tippecanoe
The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought on November 7, 1811, between United States forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory and Native American warriors associated with the Shawnee leader Tecumseh. Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa were leaders of a confederacy of...
. Ransdell was born in Orange County, Virginia
Orange County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,881 people, 10,150 households, and 7,470 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile . There were 11,354 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
on September 11, 1781. He was a descendant of Edward Ransdell who was a signer of the historic Leedstown Resolutions a document written up in defiance of the Stamp Act
Stamp Act
A stamp act is any legislation that requires a tax to be paid on the transfer of certain documents. Those that pay the tax receive an official stamp on their documents, making them legal documents. The taxes raised under a stamp act are called stamp duty. This system of taxation was first devised...
.
Indiana Pioneer
By 1803, Ransdell was living in Mercer Co., KentuckyMercer County, Kentucky
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 20,817. Its county seat is Harrodsburg. The county is named for General Hugh Mercer...
. Soon he emigrated to the frontier of the Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
where he was an early pioneer. He met and subsequently married, around 1808, Rhoda Sampson, the daughter of William and Sarah (Coleman) Sampson in Harrison County, Indiana
Harrison County, Indiana
Harrison County is a county located in the far southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana along the Ohio River. It is divided into twelve townships, and the county seat is Corydon, the former capital of Indiana. The county is part of the larger Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan...
. William Sampson had served in the American Revolution with the Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
troops. Their first child Frances Laura was born on March 15, 1809.
Wartime service
On September 6, 1811 Ransdell enlisted as a mounted rifleman in a regiment known as the "Yellow JacketsYellow Jackets (Indiana)
The Yellow Jackets were a mounted militia company from Harrison County in the Indiana Territory. The company numbered sixty men and officers and saw action as part of the expeditionary force dispatched to put down the American Indian uprising during Tecumseh's War...
."
At quarter to five in the morning on November 7, 1811 Ransdell’s regiment of eighty men, under the command of Spier Spencer
Spier Spencer
Captain Spier Spencer was an Indiana militia officer who commanded a company of mounted riflemen known as the Yellow Jackets at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Spencer County, Indiana was named in his honor....
, took part in the Battle of Tippecanoe at Tippecanoe Creek. This company occupied the right flank where according to General William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
the fighting was, "excessively severe," and that the men of Ransdell's company, "bravely maintained their posts." Despite "having suffered so severely, and having originally maintained their posts."
During the fierce fighting two horses were shot dead from under Ransdell and his left thumb was shot off. The captain of the regiment, Spier Spencer
Spier Spencer
Captain Spier Spencer was an Indiana militia officer who commanded a company of mounted riflemen known as the Yellow Jackets at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Spencer County, Indiana was named in his honor....
, the first lieutenant Richard McMahan and the second lieutenant Thomas Berry were all killed in action. Ransdell was eventually mustered out at Corydon on November 24, 1811.
In a message sent to the U. S. House of Representatives, General Harrison had this to say about Ransdell's company, "With equal pride and pleasure, then, do I pronounce that, notwithstanding the regular troops behaved as well as men ever did, many of the militia companies were in no wise inferior to them. Of this number were the mounted riflemen, commanded by Captain Spencer. To them was committed the charge of defending the right flank of the army. That it could not have been committed to better hands, their keeping their ground (indeed gaining upon the enemy) for an hour and a half with unequal arms against superior numbers, and amid a carnage that might have made veterans tremble, is sufficient evidence."
A year later Ransdell participated in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and served as a first sergeant in the 5th Regiment Indiana Militia in Captain Jacob Zenor's Company from October 20 to November 18, 1812. For his actions on November 7, 1811 and his wartime service he would be awarded 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of land.
Noah Beauchamp Affair
The Ransdells moved to Floyd County, IndianaFloyd County, Indiana
Floyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 74,578. The county seat is New Albany. Floyd County is the county with the second smallest land area in the entire state...
by 1820 and again later to Vigo County, Indiana
Vigo County, Indiana
Vigo County is a county located along the western border of the U.S. state of Indiana. Vigo County is included in the Terre Haute, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Terre Haute....
. On March 15, 1827, their daughter Frances married Noah Beauchamp, Jr., the son of the blacksmith Noah Beauchamp
Noah Beauchamp
Noah Beauchamp was a blacksmith and an Indiana pioneer. He was also the first person to be legally hanged in Parke County, Indiana, after murdering his neighbor, George Mickelberry, over a dispute.- Early life :...
.
In 1840, Noah Beauchamp, Sr. stabbed his neighbor George Mickelberry to death over a dispute. This famous incident culminated in a prolonged manhunt and trial that dragged both Ransdell and Rhoda into the witness box.
Ransdell witnessed the coroner's inquest regarding Mickelberry’s death and was called to testify for the defense. Rhoda was also called to testify at the trial to verify that Mrs. Mickeberry had changed her story. Mrs. Mickelberry had previously stated various details to Rhoda and Elizabeth implying that if it had not been for Mickelberry’s daughter Delilah Decker, by a previous marriage, the killing would not have taken place.
Ultimately, their testimony in favor of their daughter’s father-in-law proved fruitless: Noah Beauchamp, Sr., was hanged on December 30, 1842. The family continued to live in Vigo County with the notorious incident hanging about them for over a decade before eventually moving away to Cumberland County, Illinois.
Last Years
The Randells had a total of nine children the last one Daniel was born in 1835 and would serve as a private in Company A. 7th Regiment of Illinois during the Civil War.In 1854 both Ransdell and Rhoda died from an epidemic. Ransdell died in Cumberland County, Illinois on July 30, 1854. The two were buried side by side at Berry Cemetery in Toledo, Illinois
Toledo, Illinois
Toledo is a village in Cumberland County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,166 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cumberland County.Toledo is part of the Charleston–Mattoon Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.