Revolutionary War Pension Application of Matthew Varner Oglethorpe Co, GA Submitted by Debra Tumlin dltumlin@aol.com Matthew Varner Revolutionary War Pension Matthew Varners War Record Personally came before me John F. Zuber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said Party - Sarah Walker, who being duly sworn, saith that at the commencement of the war of the Revolution, she lived in Rowan County, state of North Carolina, on the Yadkin River about one mile from the residence of John Varner, the father of Matthew Varner, the applicant for a pension from Oglethorpe County in the state of Georgia that she was well acquainted with the family and that the said Matthew Varner must have been some ten years of age or older at the beginning of the war that she herself was nearly grown, married during the war and long enough to have two children before its close. She has no record of her age but believes herself to be between eighty and ninety. Her husband has been dead upwards of twenty years. She was some five or six years older than the applicant, Matthew Varner. She does not recollect to have seen him in service, but she remembers well that both he and his brothers were absent from home somewhere during the latter years of the war and she understood then and always has since and has no doubt of the fact that they were in the American Army. The family has resided by the applicant, Matthew Varner, for near a half century and know him to be the same person to whom she refers on the persons part of his affidavit and that he has always been respected and esteemed as a Revolutionary soldier. Sworn to and subscribed before me her this twenty first day of June 1845 Sarah (X) Walker mark In presence of Geo. Nickleson I further certify Sarah Walker, whose name appears to this affidavit is personally known to me, that she is a respectable old citizen of Oglethorpe County State of Georgia and is a creditable witness, in Testament, whereby I swear hers unto, set my hand officially. John F. Zuber J.P. I, George H. Lester, Clerk of the Inferior Court for the county of Oglethorpe, State of Georgia, I hereby certify that John F. Zuber, whose name appears to the above and foregoing is and was at the time of this ------ the same -----Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly ----- and that the signature of ------- to be his own genuine. Given under my hand and seal of office this twenty third day of June 1845. (Seal) George H. Lester, Clerk I.C. I, Geo. F. Platt a justice of the Inferior Court for said county do certify that Geo. H. Lester is Clerk of the Inferior Court of said county and commissions as such, and that full credit should be given to his signature as such and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine. Given under my hand this twenty third day of June 1845. When he entered the first mentioned Service it was under Capt. Francis Gordon and Maj. Joll Lewis. After this first three months of this twelve he was a mounted man and served the riders of that time under Capt. Robert Gillispie. He then lived in Rowan County, State of North Carolina. He was first marched with some British Officers (prisoners) to General Greens encampment at Bacons Bridge, South Carolina where he remained six weeks. next proceeded to Salisbury and from thence to Cedar River where the Cavalry were collected in a considerable body to serve that region. Returned and was discharged near Hillsborough at Col. Bentons Mills on the Eno. He acts all this while as the substitute of George Varner since discharged. One three months tour, he performed under Capt. Wm. Cole, Col. Wade, and Generals Butter and Caswell. Entered the Service from Rowan as a substitute but cannot recollect the name of the Principal. Set out just before the defeat of Gen. Gates by Cornwallis. Fought the British at Bettys Bridge on Drowning Creek. Thinks the enemy were commanded by Gen. hector McNeil and one Fanning. The other three months tour he acted as the substitute of one Benjamin Daniel. He was again under Capt. Wm. Cole and General Davidson. Was on the banks of the Catawba together with some three or four hundred men where an unsuccessful stand was made against the British Army under Lord Cornwallis. General Davidson was killed and the troops dispersed. He fell lower down and attempted to reach Guilford in time for the engagement, but failed to do so. Followed the enemy to Hickory Hill where he was discharged under the idea that he had the small force. This service, he thinks, was in 1781 and immediately after the defeat of Colonel Tarleton by General Morgan at the Cow Pens. Has no documentary evidence and he knows of no person living and within reach whose testimony he can procure, to testify to his actual service except William Henley of Dekalb County and State of Georgia, whose affidavit he has procured and in the same that is hereunto assured, ever to any pension or annuity except declaration by Matthew Varner in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. State of Georgia, County of Oglethorpe, on this fifth day of November in the year of the Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. Personally appeared in open court before us Burwell Pope, Peter W. Hutchinson, and Robert Freeman. The Inferior court of said County and State now sitting for ordinary purposes, Matthew Varner a resident of said County and State, age 60 years or over who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration by Matthew Varner in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1732, that he served altogether eighteen months in the Revolutionary War, twelve months respectively at two other periods. That ------- opinion that after the investigation of the matter and of the --------- the ------- prescribed by the war department that the above mentioned applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies it appears to them that ------ who signed the proceeding certificate is a clergyman, resident of the count of Oglethorpe, State of Georgia, and that John Ellis who signed the same is a resident of the same place and is a credible person and their statement is entitled to credit. P.W. Hutchinson J.I.C Robert Freeman J.I.C. Burt Pope J.I.C. I William F. Smith, Clerk of Inferior Court, sitting on a court of Ordinary in and for the county of Oglethorpe and state of Georgia, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of application of Matthew Varner for a pension. In Testimony ------- I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this fifty day of November, in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. William F. Smith The following interrogations were answered and subscribed in open court by the applicant Matthew Varner. 1st. When and in what year were you born? Ans. In Maryland about 4 miles from Baltimore. Does not recollect the year. 2nd. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? Ans. He has no record of his age. 3rd. Where were you living when called into service; Were you drafted or did you volunteer or did you substitute and if a substitute, for whom? Ans. Lived in Rowan County and State of North Carolina. Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you live now? Ans. Lived at the time in the county of Rowan and State of North Carolina; continue to inhabit there for some years after the Revolution; moved thence to the county of Oglethorpe and state of Georgia where he has resided for upward of thirty years. 4th. How were you called unto service; were you drafted? Did you volunteer? Or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? Ans. By substitution every twelve ---- months for George Varner who died in this county a few years since. Three months for Benjamin Daniel, The other tour, the name of the principal, through the length of time, is forgotten. 5th. State the names of the principal officers who were with the troops when you served; and ------ and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general accumulation of your service. Ans. Applicant wanted to refer to his declaration made this day in open court upon oath as concerning a full answer to this question as the contender. 6th. Did you receive a discharge from the service? If so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? Ans. ------- receiving a discharge from Gordon and Lewis -----------He had long since disposed of. 7th. State the names of the persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify to your character for ------ and this ------- of your service as a soldier of the Revolution. Sworn to and subscribed his before P.W. Hutchinson J.I.C. Matthew (X) Varner Ben Pope J.I.C mark Robert Freeman J.I.C. ___________________________________________________________ 37097 Matthew Varner N.C. Act of June 1832 15 Mo. Pri. 150. Per Annum Matthew Varner Jr. Salmonville Oglethorpe Co. Georgia Georgia DeKalb County Personally appeared before me James Henley. One of the acting Justice of Peace for said county, William Henley, after being duly sworn, impose and saith on oath that Matthew Varner served twelve months or more in the State troops of North Carolina against Great Britain in the Revolutionary War, and served part of his time in Capt. Coals company in General Davidsons Regiment. A part of his time in Colonel Wades Regiment and that the time said Varner commenced his service was about the year `780 off and on until the close of the war. And this person further saith that he was acquainted with the family of the Varners and time of the Revolutionary War against Great Britain. Sworn and subscribed to, before me this 18th October 1832 James Henley Jr. Wm. Henley Georgia Oglethorpe County The petition of Matthew Varner showeth that on the fifth day of November 1832 he made a declaration before the Honorable the Inferior Court of said county and State to enable him to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passes June 7th 1832. In which declaration he was made to say he was upwards of sixty years of age without stating how much over sixty he really believed himself to be, and being destitute of education, (the war of the Revolution coming on shortly after he commenced going to school) he was not able to read the act of congress, neither was he apprised of the fact that it was necessary for him to prove himself of a certain age, but that it was only necessary to prove his services to enable him to obtain a pension; and for that purpose he sent his youngest son, who was then small, to Dekalb county in this state, to his old friend and neighbor during the war to obtain his affidavit in proof of his services. his son being young and small, and not apprised of what should be the character of such an instrument obtained the one which accompanied his declaration, and which was very imperfect in its execution, and also was not properly authenticated, and his application for a pension was accordingly rejected. Wm. Henley died shortly afterwards and it is out of his power to correct the error which was so unfortunately made. He has however obtained the affidavit of Mrs. Sarah Walker, who lived a short distance from the residence of his father during the war, and who has lived within two miles of his own residence in this state during a period of nearly forth eight years, in proof of his service and age, and he prays the department to perceive it as such. North Carolina under the hand and seal of the present incumbent, a certificate of the amount said him for military services by the state of North Carolina, and also prays the department to admit that in support of his claim, he has not been able to obtain any further testimony that what he now submits to the department for its consideration. At that time he was unable, and is still unable to say precisely how old he was from the loss of memory, and the records of his age being lost, but he believed himself to be between sixty seven and eight, and from the best information he can gather he believes himself to be eighty years old at this time, he is now very old and infirmed, and hopes that the testimony which he now submits to the department will be satisfactory, and that he will yet have the gratification of receiving some compensation for the services which he rendered in the cause of his countrys freedom, and by which he contributes in some degree in obtaining that liberty we so much prize, and which is enjoyed by so many millions. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 26th of August 1845 John F. Zuber J.P. his Matthew (X) Varner mark __________________________________________________________ 32377 Georgia Matthew Varner of Oglethorpe, in the state of Georgia, who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Cole of the Regt. commanded by Col. Wade in the North Carolina line for 15 months. Inscribed on the roll of Savannah at the rate of 50 dollars 00 cents per annum to commence on the 4th. day of March 1831. Certificate of pension issued the 13th day of September 1845 and sent to Matthew Varner, Jr. Salmonsville, GA Arrears to 4th. Sept. 1845 $725.00 Some annual allowance ending 4 -------- 25.00 $725.00 Recorded by ------- Book B ------- Vol. 6 Page 105 -------- Revolutionary ------------ Act. June 7, 1832 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Debra Tumlin dltumlin@aol.com ====================================================================