===================================================== Declaration of MATHEW ROBERTSON Revolutionary War Claim for Pension, S31338 SOURCE: Micro-copy No. M-805, Roll No. 696: "Selected Records - Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Files". Transcribed by W.B. W a l l, June, 1991. ---------------------------------------------------- State of Kentucky, Russell County, and Circuit(?) Ct.(?) - On this 29 day of April 1833 appeared in open court before the Honl. John L. BONDY(?), Circuit Judge, MATHEW ROBERTSON aged seventy two, who is a resident of Russell County, State of Kentucky, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the Revolution under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That in the year 1779 this affiant came from East Tennessee to the now State of Kentucky, and landed on Point Lick Creek, now Madison County. That in the Spring 1780 this affiant volunteered as a private soldier and served in Captain KENNEDY'S Company and in Col. BENJ. LOGAN'S Regiment, that he was ordered by Captain KENNEDY to assist in rearing and building Kennedy's fort, that he did assist in building said fort, and when the same was completed this affiant remained in said fort as a private in said Company for three whole years, continually under arms and in service, that during the aforesaid time this affiant was in the summer season ordered by Captain KENEDY (sic) to act as a spy to watch the movements of the Indians, and whenever the Indians would come into the country and take prisoners or steal property this affiant was ordered to follow the Indians and retake the prisoners & property, that except when this affiant was out spying as aforesaid or going in pursuit, he was at all times in Kennedy's fort guarding & defending the same, that his Capt. KENNEDY was killed some time before CLARKE'S expedition against the Miami Indians, and Captain JOHN MARTIN was chosen the Captain the successor of said KENNEDY - that whilst under Captain MARTIN the Blue Lick defeat took place in August 1782, this affiant was not in said defeat but was marching under the command of sd. MARTIN & Col. LOGAN to assist and relieve Cols. TRIGG & TODD the Commanders of the unfortunate party, but did not get there time enough, but met the defeated party on the retreat to Bryant's Station, those that remained of the party, that in the fall after said defeat, this affiant marched under the command of Captain MARTIN and in BENJ. LOGAN'S Regiment, a tour under Genl. G.R. CLARKE against the Ohio or Miami Indians, that on said expedition this affiant recollects that many prisoners were taken and much corn burned and the Indians totally defeated, that this affiant returned home under the command of said MARTIN, and again took his post in said fort of KENNEDY'S and there continued until after 1783 when Peace was concluded between the brittish Indians and the United States, this affiant remained in the service in said fort until 1784 when for the first time he with his father left the station and went to farming & clearing land - this affiant got no discharges for all the service he per formed, therefore had no documentary evidence, that he knows of no witness by whom he can prove his service except ALEXANDER REED & WILL MILLER who live at a great distance whose testimony he can not conveniently get because of old age. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity but the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of any agency in the United States. Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. MATHEW (x his mark) ROBERTSON (Seal) Questions put to the applicant by the Court - Q. Where and when were you born? A. I was born in Amherst County, State of Virginia, in 1762. Q. Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? A. I have which shews I was born on the 12th of January 1762. Q. How were you called into the service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute? A. I was a volunteer for all the duty I performed. Q. Where did you live when called into the Service, where have lived since the revolution, and where you now live? A. I lived at Kennedy's Station when I was called into the service, I have lived since that time in Madison County, & I now live in Russell County, Kentucky. Q. Did you receive a discharge from the Service, if so by whom given? A. I received no discharge from the Service. Q. State the names of some of the regular officers & rigments (sic) that were with the troops where you were, and the general circumstances of your service. A. I recollect no regulars that were with the troops where I was except General CLARKE, when on the Miami expedition, Col. LOGAN was the Comd. of the Rigment(sic) to which I belonged but was a Militia Col., all the service that I performed was as a militia man in the fort of Kennedy, and as an Indian spy in & during the summer seasons, no earthly service that man ever performed was done with more privations & hardships than the three years services aforesaid - frequently without lered(?) or meat or any earthly comfort, not even a covering for the night or a shield for winter. Q. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, who can speak of your character for veraci ty, and the reputation of your services. A. I state as persons to whom I am known in my neighborhood JOHN LANE & REUBEN DUNBAR. We, JOHN LANE a clergyman and REUBEN DUNBAR both residents of Russell County Ky. hereby certify that we are well acquainted with MATHEW ROBERTSON who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 72 years of age, that he is a man of credibility and truth, and is believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Indian Wars, and of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. (s) JOHN LANE (s) REUBEN DUNBAR ----------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: The date and place of birth of the affiant were given by him in his answers above. The exact date of death does not appear in the file. However, the final note on the jacket reads, "Dead - Letter to Pen. Agt. Hon. G. A. CALAMELO 25th Feb 1845." __________________________________________________________________________ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genelaogical 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.