Revolutionary War Pension Application, William Martin, Montgomery, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/montgomery/military/letters/pensions/revwar/wmartin.txt ================================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Mary Ann Nichols ================================================================================ January 1999 Revolutionary War Pension of William Martin 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 eactive & 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 pension 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 Clerk, March 6, 1833 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 & their 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 August9th 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