On this 23rd day of June in year 1835 formally appeared before me William Babb an Acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid AARON COLLIER a resident of Lee County in the state of Virginia said 85 years for it who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated. This affidavit states that he was born in Bedford County in the state of Virginia on the 15th day of January in the year 1750. That he lived in Montgomery County, Virginia when he first entered the service of the United States as a volunteer under Captain George Parris that the object of this call for volunteers was to attack the Indians on the frontier. The call was made by Col. Wm. Preston that the Company to which this applicant belonged met at the house of William Bobit from thence to Col. Prestons and from thence to the mouth of Big Stoney Creek. Here was a Fort called Hatfield's Fort. At this fort they were stationed as well as he now remembers about two weeks guarding the Frontier from the Indians. From this fort they had to retreat having heard that a large body of Indians were in the neighborhood of the fort and intended to attack it. That they marched about ten miles up New River and thence up Sinking Creek to near its head where they halted and were stationed about two months at a fort called Lucas Fort. At this fort, his term of service expired. He was discharged by his Captain and returned home. This term of service lasted three months. This applicant states that owing to old age and the consequent lapse of memory he will not state positively the time he entered this term of service but to the best of his recollection he entered the service in the month of June in the year 1780.
This applicant further states that hath again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer under the same Captain George Parris. He cannot state positively the time but to the best of his recollection it was in the month of October in the year 1781 or 1782 for he has a very imperfect recollection of dates. That the call for volunteers was made by Major Claid to the Tories who had collected as it was understood some place on the Yadkin River. That the company to which this applicant belonged met at William Bobits. Here Major Claid took the command from Bobits. They were marched up New River to the mouth of Little River thence up Little River to near its head thence across the Blue Ridge down to the Mulberry Fields. Thence to the head of the Cataba River. Here they received word that the Tories were collected at the shallow pond of the Yadkin which caused them to be marched back keeping in sight of the Mulberry Fields and thence on to the shallow pond of the Yadkin. Here within about a quarter mile of the pond they met the Tories on a ridge at the fork of the road and had a battle with them in which the Tories were defeated having about eight of their men killed and seventeen wounded. The loss on the Whig side was one killed and about three wounded among whom was Captain Parris. That the Company remained on the battle ground all night and from thence they were marched down the river a few miles and halted at a wash house till the next day. From thence they returned to the Fort and having placed the wounded Captain on a litter they brought him to the Moravin town where they left him under the care of a doctor. Being discharged at this place they returned home. He thinks his discharge was signed by Claid his Major. That he never took any care of his discharge thinking that it would be of no use to him so that he cannot tell now what became of it. This applicant further states that the dates heretofore set down by him many be incorrect, but they are to the best of his recollection which is very incorrect. He states that his last term of service lasted three months. This applicant further states that he has no record of his age but there was one which he left with his son in the state of Virginia.
He further states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. This applicant further states that he lives in Lee County Virginia which joins Hawkins County and the reason he applied in Hawkins is that a part of his testimony, that is those who have been acquainted with him for a number of years lived in Hawkins and he could have his friendship attended to more conveniently. This applicant further states that there is no Clergyman in his neighborhood but that he is well known to Robin Chiles and Benjamin Davis and Jonathan Pridemore, William E. Thomason who can testify as to his character for veracity on their behalf of his service as a Soldier of the Revolution.
This applicant states that since the Revolution he has been living in Virginia the most of the time in Lee County where he now lives. He states that he never received a conscription. This applicant states that he cannot state positively the length of time he served for he may have served longer than the period above set forth. But to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods above stated making six months in all and for such service he claims a pension. This applicant further states that the reason he has not applied for his pension before this is that he has been unable to get about and is at this time scarcely able. This applicant states that he is very infirm and unable to attend court. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present one and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any state, or (if any) only on that of the Agency of the state of Virginia.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me.
William Babb Aaron X Collier