PENSIONS: Cumberland County, KY - William Fergason 1833 *********************************************************************** Taken from the National Archive Pension File for Wm. Fergason Submitted By Lisa Perry on 7 July 2000 *********************************************************************** Affadavit for Revolutionary War Pension Application by Wm. Fergason 1833 Note: Wm. Fergason, a Revolutionary War veteran, was 69 years old when he applied for a pension in 1833. Pension file documentation indicates that he was authorized a pension of $60 per annum. Following William's death on 9 December 1834 in Habersham County, GA, Judah Fergason, received a widow's pension until her death in 1862. Son, Andrew J. Ferguson, applied for continued benefits in 1868. State of Kentucky Cumberland County Be it Remembered that on this 30th day of Sept 1833 before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and state personally appeared William Fergason a Resident of the County of Cumberland aforesaid and State of Kentucky aged Seventy years next May 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 7th 1832. About the lst of June in the year one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty in the County of Amelia state of Virginia he became the substitute for John White a drafted Militiaman for three months and immediately entered the service of the United States as a private militiaman in Capt. James Johnson Company, Thomas Jett Lieut. He does not now recollect the name of the ensign. He was marched on to Hilsborough where he was joined to Colo Harry's(?) Regiment and was stationed at Hilsborough for some time but constantly scouting or rangeing the neighbourhood that is scouting parties and this declarant out taking his term whenever called or ordered in this way. They continued untill towards the first of August when he was marched on and joined General Gates army where he remained untill after the fatal battle of Camden. Soon thereafter his term of service expired and he was Honorably discharged by his Capt. He immediately volunteered under the said Capt. Johnson for three months longer and marched back to Hilsborough. He was soon thereafter around to guard some prisoners to Winchester still belonging to the same Regiment. But the Colo did not go nor was he in the Battle of Camden, having a short time previous to the Battle been sent on to peace or this declarant was informed he states that he went on with his Company in the last mentioned tour to Winchester where he was kept untill his time expired. When he was again Honorably discharged by his Capt. having served three months faithfully in each of the tours. He then returned home. He again in the month of January or February he does not recollect which but it was soon after his return from Winchester volunteered for three months under Capt Gabriel Fulks, Lieut John Fulks. He still being in Amelia County Virginia was marched on to Dan River where he was joined to Colo Duval's Regiment. He was kept marching to various places in continued service untill they were marched to Guilford Courthouse where the Battle was fought having previous thereto driven General Green's army after the Battle of Guilford. He was marched on to Deep River in North Carolina at a place called Bells Mills, where he was again Honorably discharged by his Capt having served out his full term of three months and then returned home. A few days after he returned home there was a Call for Men and he again volunteered under Capt Charles Erby for three months, Lieut Jennings, does not recollect the name of the ensign. He was marched to Richmond, Virginia and there joined Colo Mead's Regiment; marched then to Petersburg and there had a small skirmish with the British. He continued in that neighbourhood for some time then marched on to Fredericksburg and was there discharged having met General Wayne at that place. He states that immediately after his return home, he enlisted for and during the war in the Virginia State Line under Capt. Charles Erby and immediately entered the Service of the United States as a private soldier and was marched to Norfolk, from there to Richmond and to various other places having joined Colo Duval's Regiment at Richmond. He was finally marched on to Little York where he was at the Siege and Surrender of Cornwallis. Some time thereafter he was discharged by his Capt. He states that all of the service was done and performed in a Corps Called into Service by Competent authority, that he was in the field or in garrison at the time his services was performed he (xxx) employed in any civil pursuit and for which he claims a pension. He states that he cannot positively state the length of time he served as a militia soldier in the last tour and engagement mentioned but positively states that it was not less than six months. He states that soon after he quit service he left his papers with his mother, his discharge among them. He began to travel from place to place and did not suppose his discharge of any use to him. They were by his mother last as he supposes so it is she has been dead for many years. He knows not were they are but verily believes they have been lost for many years in the way before stated; therefore he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he an procure who can testify to his service. He is informed that he cannot receive a pension for his last tour as an intested soldier unless he can prove his service by two witnesses unless his name is on the Roll. He presumes it is there to be found; but if it is not he must relinquish any claims for that tour as he has no expectation that he will ever be able to procure proof as to his actual intestment and service. He is now so afflicted from bodily infirmity that he is unable to make search and now living so far from the place of his services & no old acquaintances here it is entirely out of his power to make search. Indeed he is unable to attend Court for the purpose of making this declaration and if therefore his name is not on the Roll, he hopes that his pension for militia services will be allowed him, he relinquishes any other if his name is not on the Roll. He hereby relinguishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name is not on the pension ROll of the agency of any state. 1. Where and in what year were you born? Answer: I was born in the County of Amelia state of Virginia on the Eleventh day of May one thousand seven hundred and sixty four, agreeable to the information of my parents and the family register which I have often seen and read all of which I beleive to be true. 2. Have you any register of your age? If so, where is it? Answer: I have none now. I once set it down in a testament and by accident it is thrown out. 3. Where were you living when Called into Service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live? Ans: I lived in Amelia County Virginia when Called into Service and continued that as my home untill after the final close of the war when I moved to and settled in Bedford County Viriginia where I lived several years. Then I moved to Hawkins County now in the state of Tennessee, then North Carolina, from there I moved to the County of Pendleton state of South Carolina where he remained untill the year one thousand eight hundred. When he moved to the County of Franklin, State of Tennessee where he remained untill the year eighteen hundred and thirteen when he moved to Cumberland County Kentucky where he now lives. 4. How were you called into Service? Were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute, for whom? Ans: I served as a substitute for John White a drafted militiaman. The second, third and fourth tours I was a volunteer. The fifth and last I was an intested soldier in th Virginia State Line. 5. State the names of the regualar officers who were with the troops you served with such Continental and militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service. Ans: (xxx), Marion, DeKalb, Green, Gates, Wayne and many others were with the troops and the general circumstances of my services I have stated in the foregoing point of my declaration. 6. Did you ever receive a discharge from service and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? Ans: I received written discharges for each of my tours signed by my respective Captains all of which has been lost as theretofore stated. 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and (xxx) belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. Ans: I am well acquainted and live a near neighbour to the Rev. William Crop, Lewis Wright and many others all of whom would speak well of my character if they were present. Subscribed and sworn to the day and year above, (Signed) William Fergason We, William Crop a clergyman residing in the County of Cumberland State of Kentucky and Lewis Wright residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Fergason who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be the age he states, that he is reported and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that a pension what he is such afflicted with bodily infirmity. Subsecribed and sworn to the day and year afore. (Signed) William Ferguson, Wm. Crop, Lewis Wright State of Kentucky Cumberland County I, John Noland, one of the Commonwealth Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Cumberland and State of Kentucky do hereby certify that William Fergason this day signed the above declaratio and was duly sworn to the same before me, and I do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he states and further certify that the Rev. William Crop who has signed the presenting certificate is a Clergyman residing in the County of Cumberland State of Kentucky and that Lewis Wright who has signed the same are all residents of the County and State aforesaid and that they severely subscribed said Certificate and was duly sworn to the same before me on this day and I further certify that the said, William Fergason is much afflicted by bodily infirmity and I further sertify that the Rev Wm. Crop and Lewis Wright are credible persons and that their statements is entitled to credit given under my hand as Justice aforesaid the day and year, (Signed) J. Noland J.P.C.C. Kentucky, Cumberland County I, Milton King, Clerk of the County Court for said County, do hereby certify that John Noland Esq. whose signature is subscribed to the foregoing affadavits of William Crop & others, is a Justice of the peace in (xxx) in said County, duly qualified, that his official acts are entitled to credit, and his signature is genuine. Given under my hand and the seal of my office in Burkesville, this 19th day of October 1833, (Signed) M. King *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net. ***********************************************************************