In recognition of the 250th celebration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the DAR America 250! Committee of the Botetourt County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is placing a spotlight on members’ Patriot ancestors who helped the country achieve American Independence. Our Patriot Ancestors are men and women whose service to the American Revolution has been documented through careful research. Whether they served as soldiers, provided supplies, or performed essential public service, their contributions have been proven by previous members of DAR. Lieutenant John Phelps, Jr. and Caleb Heptinstall are Patriot ancestors of DAR associate member Sheila Campbell. Both of these Patriots are in her maternal grandmother’s line.
Lieutenant John Phelps, Jr. was born around 1740 in the area that later became Bedford County. He was the son of Colonel John Phelps and Mary Catherine Gibson. He married Jemima Turner in the early 1760s, and together they raised several children before her death around 1772. During the American Revolution, John served as a first lieutenant in the Virginia Militia, representing Bedford County. After the war, he married Susanna Younger, with whom he had additional children. A respected figure in his community, John Phelps lived his entire life in Bedford County, where he died on September 28, 1801, leaving behind a legacy of military service and family devotion.
Caleb Heptinstall (c. 1762-1824) was born in Virginia, likely in King George County. As a young man, he served as a soldier in the 1st Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. After the war, Caleb settled in Franklin County, where he married Lize “Tege” Greer in 1796. He became a substantial landowner, holding more than 600 acres on Gills Creek, where he raised a large family. Census records show that he managed both farmland and enslaved laborers, reflecting the era’s realities. Caleb wrote his will in October 1824 and died soon afterward, with his estate settled by 1833. Remembered as both a Revolutionary War soldier and a Virginia landholder, his legacy lives on through his descendants and his recognition as an American Patriot.
These ancestors’ families lived in Bedford and Franklin Counties for generations. Although these two Patriots were not blood relatives, their families became connected through the marriage of Caleb’s son, William Heptinstall, and John Phelps’s granddaughter, Permelia Phelps, on December 7, 1819.
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-profit, non-political organization open to any woman who can document her lineage to a Patriot who contributed to the success of the American Revolution. Founded over 135 years ago, it is focused on service to the community through its mission of Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism. If you are interested in joining our chapter or have questions about membership, contact our Membership Chair Emily Talbot-Guillote by email at [email protected], or Registrar JoElla John at [email protected].
