NC, Dobbs, Military, Josiah Stafford Revolutionary War Pension Application **************************************************************************** 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. Submitted by: Billy Markland Date: April, 2001 **************************************************************************** Josiah Stafford Revolutionary War Pension Application-S39091 Josiah Stafford Declaration National Archives & Records Administration M804-2266 Transcribed by Billy Markland 12/28/2000 State of Tennessee On this tenth day of February 1820, before me the subscriber, one of the Circuit Judges of the state of Tennessee for the 6th Judicial Circuit personally appeared Josiah Stafford, aged 63 years; resident in the County of Giles, in the circuit afsd , who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late Act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the united states in the Revolutionary War"-That he the said Josiah Stafford, enlisted for the term of three years, some time in the month of July (the day of the month not recollected) in the year 1777 to the best of his recollection, in what was at that time called Dobbs county, in the State of North Carolina, in the Company commanded by Capt A. Shepherd, of the Regiment commanded by Col A. Shepherd (Col & capt reputed father and son-10th Regiment) in the line of the State of North Carolina and the continental establishment-That shortly after his enlistment, he was marched to the Valey [sic] Forge, where he was transferred to a company commanded by Capt John Ingles, in a Regiment by Col [Harnay?]-That he continued to serve in said corps or in the service of the United States until he was taken prisoner by the British at the Siege of Charleston in South Carolina, from whom he made his escape in the month of July 1780 (his term of service having expired) & returned home-That he never had any discharge in writting [sic]; but his conduct was approved by his officers , & payment for his services rendered. That he was in the Battle of Monmouth-at the Siege of Charleston, & in several inconsiderable skirmishes-and that he is in reduced Circumstances and stands in need of assistance of his Country for support-and that he has no other evidence now in his power/except the jubjoind affidavit of Sarah Gatlin/by which he could prove his said service his Josiah X Stafford mark Sworn to and declared before me the day & year afsd Alfred M. Harris Judge of the 6th Judicial Circuit of the State of Tennessee State of Tennessee On this 14th day of February 1820, before me the subscriber, one of the Circuit Judges of the state of Tennessee for the 6th Judicial Circuit personally appeared Sarah Gatlin aged seventy one years, who by me first duly Sworn according to law, upon her Oath says-That she has been intimately acquainted with the above named Josiah Stafford from his infancy, being his sister-That during the revolutionary war, said Josiah Stafford lived this affiant & her then husband (William [Merton?]), who is now dead-and whilst living there Enlisted himself a regular soldier for the term of three years-He [then?] left the dwelling of this affiant leaving his horse and as she then understood & yet believes, marched with the American troops to the North, where he was gone a long time, when he returned with the Army, [he?] travelled to the South, and was taken, as the affiant understood & believes, prisoner by the British at Charleston. This affiant knows that said Josiah Stafford (who is now present) was after his afsd enlistment, as much at least as three years absent, except the time of his return from the North (when he only remaind a part of one day) = An also [?] understood & believed that he was in the service of his country her Sarah X Gatlin mark Subscribed & sworn to before me the day & year afsd Alfred M. Harris Judge I Alfred M. Harris Judge, as afsd do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Josiah Stafford did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the term of nine months at one time on the continental establishment and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me to the secretary for the department of War pursuant to the directions of the afore mentioned act of Congress-I am also satisfied that he needs the assistance of his country for support-In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 14th Feby 1820 Alfred M. Harris Judge of the 6th Judicial Circuit of the State of Tennessee After having taken the within testimony the applicant informd me that he did, upwards of two years ago, apply for a pension under the afsd Act through Judge McNairy-But he has never recvd any return or answer to said application- Alfred M. Harris State of N. Carolina Secretary's Office 12th June 1820 I William Hill Secretary of State in & for the state aforesaid do hereby certify that it appears from the muster rolls of the continental line of this State in the Revolutionary War that Josiah Stafford a private in Capt Shepards Company of the 10th Regt was mustered on the 5th July 1777 for 3 years-nothing said of his discharge. Given [?] & date above W. Hill