General Notes

The Cogar Family

The derivation of the word Cogar, as it now is spelled has been changed from
German to English. It has in some branches of the family, undergone several
changes in the past 200 years.

many immigrants from Europe, with the exception of the English, have left out
letters and changed others, in their proper name, so as to be so near English
as possible and this today their names have become anglinized.

It is interesting to study and know how this one branch of the family have
spelled their name from time to time.

In Germany and later, even after coming to America, many of them spelled this
name Koger, as many still do. But some branches spelled it Cowger, others
Coger and still others in the present form of Cogar.

Shortly before August County, Virginia was organized in 1745. One Nicholas
Koger died in Orange County and his estate was offered for probate there on
August 26, 1743, by his brother Jacob Koger and Adam Miller. It is known that
he was of German blodd and his name was spelled then as it is now.

All of the Cogars in Braxton and Webster Counties of West Virginia, are
decendants of 2-E Peter Coger, a Revolutionary War Soldier. He came to
Nicholas County from Franklin County, Virginia. His son 3-EJ Jacob Cogar
settled on the little Kanawha River, in what is now Braxton County, West
Virginia sometime before 1840.

2-E Peter Coger, a son of ! - Jacob Koger and his wife Lucinda Crum, was born
at the Koger home on the "Hawksbill of the Shenandoah River" in the year of
1753. He was anative of Virginia.

Veterans Administration Washington, D.C.

The record of Peter Coger, is furnished herein as shown in the papers on file
in his claim for pension S 10481, based upon his service in the Revolutionary
War.

Peter Coger was born in the year of 1753, "in the state of Pennsylvania" or
"on the Hawksbill of the Shenandoah in Virginia" both statements made by the
soldier. The names of his parents are not shown. In one statement he says
that he was taken to Virginia as an infant and was reared in Augusta and
Rockingham Counties of that state.

While a resident of Rockingham County, Virginia, Peter Coger volunteered in
July 1777, served as a private in Captain Jeremiah Ragan's Virginia Company,
marched to Point Pleasant and continued in service for six months. He
enlisted in April 1778, served as a private in Captains Abraham Bowman's and
Abraham Kellar's companies in General George Roger Clark's expedition against
the indians, was in the battle of Vincennes and was discharged May 8, 1779.
He enlisted in the spring of 1780 and served in Captain Jeremiah Ragan's
Virginia company for three monthe, shortly after which he enlisted and served
three months in Captain John Hopkins Virginia Company. He enlisted in the
spring of 1781, served as private in Captain George Cressman's Virginia
company, was stationed a part of the time near Fredericksburg and was
discharged after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis.

Peter Coger was allowed pension on his application executed December 3, 1832,
at which time he resided in Lewis County, Virginia. His name was borne on the
pension rolls as Peter Coger. In 1837, the soldier was residing in "a remote
corner of Kanawha County, Virginia.

Peter Coger made no reference to wife or children. He stated that his
brother, Jacob Coger, entered service with him in 1778 and served under
General George Roger Clark against the indians and that they returned to
Rockingham County, Virginia together.

There is no claim for pension of file based upon services in the Revolutionary
War for a Jacob Coger, Cogar or Koger.

A.D. Hiller
December 31, 1937 Executive Assistant Peter Coger S. 10481
To the Administrator