"Charles Grogan, the progenitor of what became the Clinton CountyGrugan Family, arrived in America on or about August 5, 1773. The nameof the vessel on which he arrived is not known but he entered throughthe Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began his voyage fromNorthern Ireland.
On August 5, 1773 Charles Grogan and one Robert Sands are found on alist of indentures in Philadelphia. At that time, Charles isindentured to James Hamilton of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania for aperiod of two years and three months with a salary due him through theduration of the indenture.
It appears that Charles stayed in the Paxtang area at the expirationof his indenture and likely continued farming. He became active in theRevolutionary Militia at an early date and next appears in officialrecords on August 12, 1777 as a Private on a muster list with Capt.John Rutherford's Company, 4th Battalion under Colonel Robert Elder,as it stood at Middletown on its march to Philadelphia.
Charles again appears on a militia muster roll in 1778 with Capt.Andrew Stewart's Company of the 7th Class of the Fourth Battalion ofLancaster County Militia commanded by Col. Robert Elder. In April of1779 he has a third appearance as a Private with the "PaxtangVolunteers" on a list of those who marched to Bedford County withCapt. John Rutherford's company assigned from Capt. Whitley's company.Charles' last appearance on a militia roster comes in 1779 where heappears as 3rd Class on return of the 7th Company of the 4th Battalionof the Lancaster County Militia commanded by Robert Elder.
During his time in Lancaster County it is believed that Charlesbefriended the Burney family, also of Scotch-Irish descent, where hemet and married the sister of one James Burney. James appears severaltimes on the militia rolls originating in the same area as Charles andafter the American Revolution he relocates following the SusquehannaRiver north into the Buffalo Valley, Northumberland County,Pennsylvania which later would become part of Clinton County. Charles,and probably his wife, followed his brother-in-law north and purchasedhis own farmland for what is believed to be the first time. For theyears 1783 and 1784 Charles appears on Federal Supply Tax transcriptsfor "Buffaloe Township" in Northumberland County, taxed on 100 acres.
In October of 1787 Charles' name appeared on a treasurer's report as acontributing member to the Reverend Hugh Morrison and the BuffaloCross-Roads Presbyterian Church. This church was located four milesdue west of what is now Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. It is possible he isin an unmarked grave in this area.
Early in 1790, Charles Grogan met an early fate. He was likely in hisearly to mid 30's and froze to death near his home. No tombstone orgravesite has yet been found and his burial location has mostcertainly been lost to time. The following quotation from ColemanGrugan, as printed in Maynard's Historical View of Clinton County,sheds light on the untimely death of Charles and the story behind thesurname change from Grogan to Grugan which remains to this day:
"My grandfather seems, at least, to have been a good penman, andsigned his name Grogan. He died while his children were small, and theschool teacher spelled the name as it is now written. Charles Gruganmarried the sister of James Burney {Nancy Burney}, already mentioned,and lived in Buffalo Valley, this State, and it is said was doingwell, till one cold winter night, in returning home from a woodchopping with a yoke of oxen, the drifting snows of the valley becamehis winding sheet. This happened five months before his son James wasborn, consequently he was one at least who had never seen his father."
The Pennyslvania Gazette Item#70670, 22 Sep, 1784 says:
"An improved patented Farm of 220 acres situate in Buffalo Valley onthe west branch of the Susquehanna but 10 miles from Sunbury in thecounty of Northumberland, half cleared, and buildings erected thereonis now in the tenure of Charles Grogan."
Residences & events:
8/5/1773 Paxtang Twp, Lancaster Co, PA where he was indentured for 2yrs 3 mo.
1786 Buffalo Twp, Northumberland Co, PA when he appeared in the PATax & Exoneration list
