© January 2005

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

22937 Long Branch Road, Rush, KY 41168

tklaiber@deliverancefarm.com

Micajah Brumfield, often times called Macager, Cager and Cage was sometimes confused with yet another Micajah who married Eleanor Hartwell and also resided in Giles County, Virginia.

Micajah, subject of this biography, enlisted in Captain John Preston’s company to guard inhabitants against hostile Indians during the Border War in 1791. For his service he received a land warrant for 160 acres which which sold and assigned away. In 1798 a petition was signed to form a new county named Tazewell. The new county is bounded by the east by Mercer and Giles Counties. By 1801 Micajah is shown with one black male on the tax roles for the newly formed county.

He married Eleanor Clay 15 February 1802 in Tazewell County, Virginia. According to later affidavits Charles and Polly Stewart were present at the ceremony.

In August 1804 the Commonwealth brought an indictment against Micajah for an offense which was not noted, found guilty and fined $1.00 in Tazewell County. In September George Davidson brought suit against both Micajah and William Clay for delinquent payment on property granted Clay in May. And Micajah found himself in Tazewell court, yet again, on August 28, 1805 when James Moore brought suit against him.

Micajah Brumfield was the father of seven known children. In July 1825 he gave surety for daughter Clary [Clarissa] to marry Gordon C. Coburn in Giles County. In March 1826 he made several purchases at the personal property sale of Hannah Dailey, deceased. The same month he was a witness at the marriage of his daughter Emily to Lorenzo Dow McCormack.

In September 1827 he attended yet another inventory sale, this time purchasing from the estate of George Lybrook. He remains on the Giles County Personal Property tax rolls through 1830.

We next find Micajah Brumfield residing in on the East Fork, Graham survey of Lawrence County, Kentucky in 1833. According to later land descriptions of son William he resided near James Brumfield who is found in the county as early as 1822 in an area where Sandy Furnace was established on Bolts Fork.

Micajah died 28 November 1837 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. His widow, Eleanor applied for a military pension for his service in the Border Wars in December 1853. She also applied for a declaration of widow pension for the War of 1812, in 1872, stating that Micajah was discharged at Norfolk but could not give a description of service and the application was denied. [In the application for Border Wars she says they were married by Rev. Shannon and in the application for 1812 she states they were married by Mr. Lockwood.]