The following is the Revolutionary War record of JAMES FORD. Thanks to Wayne Bixler for submitting this record. James Ford’s Revolutionary War Record State Of Kentucky ) SS Woodford County) On this the 15 day of February Eighteen Hundred and forty three, before me John Steele an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Woodford State of Kentucky who is by reason of bodily infirmity prevented from appearing in open court being aged, near eighty six years and who after 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 7th June 1832: That he entered the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war in the year 1715 as a minute man and served as such during the year 1775 and 1776 about seven months in all and would march on to the shores of Potomac River and the shore of the Chesapeak Bay, from Caroline County, Virginia and would remain on said shores for a week at a time and sometimes two weeks at a time guarding them in order to prevent the British from burning the houses of the citizens. The British would frequently come in sight of the mentioned shores and then the minute men would fly to arms in order to prevent them from landing and destroying the houses and barns often which they would, notwithstanding the vigilence of the minute men, frequently do. And when they the British would endeavor to ascend the Rappahanock we, the minute men by pushing on, and the river being so narrow, would compel them to return to the open sea. He declares that he cannot remember the duration of the frequent tours, he served as a minute man in the year of 1775 and part of the year 1776, but knows that when all connected together or added together would make at least seven months of actual service. Neither can he remember the names of the officers under whom the aforesaid service was performed. He further declares that when Governor Dunmore was stealing the negroes of the farmers of Virginia he then again was in service and cannot say whether as a volunteer or draughted man, but that his company marched down from Caroline County Virginia to Williamsburgh and below Williamsburgh to a creek or river when they the Americans compeled Governor Dunmore to go aboard of a vessel and sail out into the sea. And after they had thus driven Governor Dunmore then his company returned back to Caroline County Virginia when they were dismissed from service and this tour of service was of at least six weeks duration, and he does not recollect the names of the officers under whom the tour was performed. Neither can he positively. state the year in which it was performed, but states that there were Malitia companies from various parts of Virginia with his company in said town. He further declares that in the year of 1787, when there were British troops in the lower part of Virginia about the last of March was draughted to serve a tour of three months as a Malitia Private under Captain Peyton Starnes and Colonel Philip Johnson and they marched down through Fredericksburgh where they staid a few days awaiting for troops from other counties and then marched down to Williamsburgh and previous to arriving there General Matthews took the command upon himself and after arriving then we would march thereabouts and over the country and remain stationary and there were Malitia Companys from various parts of Virginia with his company during said tour and particularly does he recollect of Culpepper, Louisa, and Hanover Malitia companies being in company with his. And he remembers General Matthews perfectly well who treated his men rather shamefully during his said tour, and Colonel Johnson it was rumored by the soldiers had challenged him (Mathews) to fight him a duel, because he had treated him, Johnson and his men badly, and when said tour of three months had expired he volunteered to serve three months longer and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and continued to serve out said tour which terminated the last of September, and he then returned home to Caroline County Virginia, and during this last tour they continued marching and remaining stationary until they got the British hampered at little York but declarant left before the surrender of Cornwallis - and during this tour there were very many malitia companies with his under the said General Matthews - and during this last mentioned tour or the latter part of this one previous General Wayne joined the army with his regular troops, and he remembers that at the Rackoon ford one of General Wayne's men ----- - ------- and also remembers that General Waynes troops were in a service engagement at James Town and declarant was near but not in this engagement. And General Lafayette regular troops were with the American army during both the last mentioned tours. He further declares that he resided in Caroline County, Virginia when he entered the service and continued to reside there until the year 1794 when he removed to Kentucky Woodford County and has continued to reside in Woodford County ever since and that he has no documentary evidence in support of his claim except a record of his birth which is in the following words "James Ford born this 11th day of May 1757". And further that he knows of no one whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service except his Lady or wife who was married to him before the last mentioned tours were performed - he hereby relinquis his every claim whatever to a Pension annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any state - Sworn to and subscribed this day and ) year aforesaid before me ) (signed) James Ford, Sr (signed) J. Steele J.P. ) ********************************************************************* State of Kentucky, Woodford County John Steele an acting Justice of the Peace in aforesaid county certify that I proforned the following interrogations to James Ford Sr, who answered them as herein after set forth - Question 1st - Where and in what year were you born? Ans . I was born in Caroline County, Virginia on the 11th day of May 1757. Question 2nd Have you any record of your age if so where is it? Ans . I have a record of my age and it is now in my possession in my house. Question 3rd Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live? Ans . I resided, in Caroline County Virginia when called into service and resided in Caroline County Virginia until the year 1794 when I removed to Kentucky what is now Woodford County and have resided there ever since, and now live in Woodford County Kentucky. Question 4th How were you called into service: were you draughted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom? Ans . In 1775 and 1776 I served as a minute man and would fly to arms in a moment for the defence of the county and suppose it was termed volunteer service - when I served a tour in driving Governor Dunmore aboard a vessel I cannot say whether I was draughted or volunteered but am inclined to the opinion that I volunteered and in March 1781 I was draughted to serve three months as a Private and after it terminated I volunteered immediately to serve another tour of three months and was promoted to the rank of sergeant and served the whole of said tour as sergeant - and when the said tour terminated I returned to my home in Caroline county Virginia. And cannot now say whether Colonel Johnson continued to serve as long as I did but know that General Matthews did - I think Johnson did not. Question 5th- State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served; such continental and malitia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. Ans . There were Malitia companies with ours when I served in 1775 and 1776 as a minute man, from various counties. And when I was in the tour where Governor Dunmore was driven on board a vessel there were malitia companies from Cullpepper, Louisa, Hanover and can't say how many regiments. And when I in March was draughted to serve a tour of three months there were malitia companies and regiments from various counties in Virginia - Culpepper, Hanover, Augusta, Rockbridge, etc. and General Lafayettes regular troops were with us and General Waynes regular troops arrived about last of June as this tour was terminating or first of my next which commenced Immediately on the termination of the one mentioned and continued until last of September and which I served out as Sergeant and during which General Lafayette and General Waynes regular troops were with us and the Malitia companies regiments from various parts of Virginia particularly Culpepper, Augusta, Louisa and Hanover. In 1775 and 1776 I served 7 months a minute man on the shores of the Potomac and Chesapeak Bay and Rappahanoc River in guarding them to prevent the British from landing. I served a tour of three months commencing in March as a draught private and marched from Caroline county down to Williamsburgh and continued March thereabouts and remained stationary until said tour terminated and then volunteered and served three months as sergeant and remained stationary and marching in pursuit of Cornwallis troops and marching from place to place until this tour terminated which was the last of September and then returned to my home in Caroline county, Virginia. Question 6th - Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given, and what has become of it. Ans . If I received any discharge before my last service I have forgotten it and if I received my discharge from my last mentioned tour I don't exactly recall it but if I did they have been lost and I can't tell what has become of them. "He further declares that the reason he has not made an earlier application for a Pension is that he did not know by whom be could prove his aforesaid service except his wife and he concluded he had to introduce other positive proof and it was fraught with a great deal of trouble expense etc." Sworn to and subscribed before me this) (signed) James Ford, Sr. day this the 15th day of February 1843) (signed) J. Steele, J.P,W.C. ******* I have tried to leave the wording and spelling as in the original document. Wayne Bixler USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation.