Revolutionary
War Pension Application of
William
Martin
who served in the American Revolution
from Anson County, NC and died in Montgomery, AL
Submitted by "[email protected]"
Application of William Martin
(from National Archives pension application file S27.556 [North Carolina])
The State of Alabama
Montgomery County
The application of William Martin
made on this the 20th of January
AD 1833 before Benajah L. Bibb, Judge of the county
court for the county
aforesaid on oath in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress
approved July 3rd 1832 the said application being made in open court--
I am seventy years of age -
according to my father's register - This register is in the possession of
Walter Ross of Autauga County -- I entered the service of the US during the
revolution in my 17th year--My captain was John DeJarnette,
my Colonel was Thomas Wade, my major was Jonathan Jackson. This was
in Anson County, North
Carolina. I remained in the service about
two years in the military as a volunteer. I was in one engagement against
old Col. McNeile, a Tory Col. at a place called
Bette's Bridge and Drowning Creek. My service was in Richmond and Anson Countys in North Carolina. Walter Ross of Autauga
County knows of my services -- Jonathan Jackson of
Anson County probably is living. He knows of my services --I was in
a great number of skirmishes but was in no engagements as I before stated --
My officers were as before mentioned and was services
was principly against the Tories. I never
received a regular discharge--my name is not on the pension role of any state
& I do hereby expressly relinquish any claim that I have to any except the
present-
his
X
Wm Martin
mark
sworn & subscribed in open court
Benajah L. Bibb
John Goldthwaite - citizen
Peyton Bibb - clergyman
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The State of Alabama
Montgomery County
The supplemental declaration of
William Martin made on oath in
Montgomery, Alabama before the Judge of the County & Orphans Court of the
said county in the open court this 30th day May AD 1834 in order to obtain the
benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832--Applicant states that he
was born in Caroline County Virginia and in 1774 his father moved to North
Carolina. Applicant states that he is now near seventy two years of age
that his fathers register is in the hand of Walter
Ross of Autauga County in this state. I entered the service of the United
States in my seventeeth year which was in 1777.
This was in Anson County, North
Carolina. I was drafted as a militiaman & in my first turn I served
three months. The principal engagements in which I was was at Bette's bridge in the year '78 or 1779 - I was
engaged in the service during the whole war at short intervals. However
it was found necessary to raise a scouting
party or to go Tory driving I was called and sometime we were engaged two,
three, four & eight weeks at a time. I think I may say with safety
that I was in active service for more than two years--Our business was to
prevent the gathering of the tories in any strength
in Richmond & Anson counties. I
stated before that I could not tell the active & specific periods when I
was in the service. The periods of service were short & at short
intervals & all I could say with any degree of propriety is that I was
engaged more
than half of my time from the year 1777 to 1781- My officers I have before
mentioned. The grown sons & family of DeJarnette
now live in Autauga County in this state and are all acquainted with me.
They can state that
it was the current report on any of this. They knew me that I was always
passed as a good whig He
was my captain off. & an for more than four years
- My name is not of the pension of any state & I relinquish all claim
to any ppension but this-- that he has lived in this
county four years & in the State seventeen years. He lived in Autauga
Co before moving to this --
sworn to in Open
Court
his
X
mark
Wm Martin
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brief in the case of William Martin
County of Montgomery in the State of Alabama
(Act 7th June, 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by
bodily infirmity? -------------
3. How old is he? 70
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period Vol.
Duration of Service - about two years
Rank private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he
served:
Capt DeJarnette, Col Wade
5. In what battles was he engaged? Bettsbridge
& Drowning Creek with the
Tories
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Anson Cty, NC
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses by documentary proof,
by
traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by
the rolls?
Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in
what respect? Correct, except that he has not stated correctly the date
of
the Law under which he claims.
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the
evidence in the case above mentioned.
F. Waugh, Examining
Cler,
March 6, 1833
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The State of Alabama
Montgomery County
Before me Thomas Durden
a Justice of the peace in and for the said
county personally appeared William Martin who maketh
oath & saith that by
reason of old age and the consequent upon of memory he cannot swear
positively to the precise time of service that he performed in the war of
the Revolution. But according to the best of his recollection he was
engaged for more than two years from the year 1778 til
1783 when peace was
made. The fidderent town of servoce were short sometimes for a week and
occasionally for three months as the experiences of the case requered - I
know that almost if not fully half my time was employed in this manner. Our
object was to prevent the gathering of tories in the
counties & thier
neighborhood as apecified in my declaration. In
every expidition except one in I was under the
command of Capt DeJarnette In the excepted case
I was under the command of Capt George Wilson acquired provisions that had been
collected for the use of the army of Genl
Gates. I was thus employed
for two weeks. The provisions wereremoved &
the company of Wilson disbanded
--After this I was called out under DeJarnette to go
after the tories under Col McNeille- The British men were in our part of the
country. Our only service was performed
against the tories. Our Col was Col Thomas Wade
& he
caused us to be called out whenever the country required our aid---To state
with precision when I was called out is more than I can do I went whenever my
officers said it was necessary & when our duty was done he disbanded us
--If this Statement will get me a pension I shall be thankful I have never
received any pay for my duty performed by me. If it is not sufficient I
have no other. I cannot remember every little particular that may now be
necessary--
sworn to before me 1 August 1834
Th Durden, J.P.
his
x
mark
William Martin
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Montgomery
August
9th 1834
Sir,
I enclose to you the papers of Wm Martin. Then on some considerations
connected with this application which I wish to submit to the Department.
If its head could converse with Mr Martin I am
satisfied that his pension
would be granted without hesitation. The family of the person referred to
in his declaration resides in the county adjoining and are well known to
the court to have been in the war of the Revolution and has served in the
army of the US I refer to the DeJarnettes. The son of Col McNeill
formerly represented Autauga County a county adjoining this & it is well
known that his father was a tory-----The mention of
these facts would
-(can't read this)-------- -------another enquiry in
the Court & no man
could be found who would don to refer to families whom princibily
run well
known unless the facts stated were true. The undersaid
who has made the application has resided in this county for a number of
years. He is a poor man & too illiterate to fabricate any story - He
is conscientous & was
unwilling to state with more positivity than he has done the periods that he
served. It must have been obvious to the Department that when friends
are being committee that "declarations" have been rather overcharged
with details then otherwise--Every circumstance stated by Martin may be sit
down or strictly true. His character to which the completed testimony by him
obtained warrants the opinion that he would not make any application for a
benefit unless he considered himself entitled to it.
I am very Respectfullly,
John A. Campbell
MORE
ANSON COUNTY REVOLUTIONARY WAR VETERANS
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created by Julie
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