York County PA Archives Military Records.....Adams, William October 1, 1834
Revwar - Pension 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com August 13, 2006, 2:20 pm

Pension Application Of William Adams, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll #__, Application #S5232
Washington County, PA, October 1st, 1834, William Adams, aged 86 years and 8 
months: “That he entered the army of the United States in the year 1776 under 
Captain William Ross, and served for 2 months in a volunteer regiment commanded 
by Colonel Francis Holton from York County, PA. The regiment to which my 
company was attached was raised principally if not entirely in York County, PA, 
and marched from that place in Harvest 1776, on or near the 15th of July across 
Lancaster and Chester Counties directly to Philadelphia, where we garrisoned in 
the New ?Play House situated in what was then called Irish Town.”

“From Philadelphia, we, about a week after our arrival, sailed to Trenton, New 
Jersey in a shallop. We were landed at Trenton and marched from that place to 
Princeton, where we stayed one night in the college, then we were marched 
directly to Paulus Hook on Long Island Sound, where we were engaged for the 
remainder of two months in erecting stockades, digging entrenchments, and 
preparing to receive the British if they attempted to land on the Jersey shore, 
and to prevent their debarkation if possible. While we were encamped at this 
place, the Battle of Long Island was fought. This took place on the 17th of 
August.”

“All the time we laid at this place, the enemy’s shipping were riding at anchor 
in Long Island Sound near Staten Island, except three, which weighed anchor and 
sailed up the North River. During their passage, all our batteries on the shore 
were firing at them, which done them so much injury that their carpenters were 
compelled to go to work immediately, which we discovered with our spyglasses. 
When the three ships started up, the whole British fleet opened up their 
batteries on our entrenchments, but with little or no effect. Cannonballs were 
afterwards dug out of our breastworks which weighed 59 pounds, and many smaller 
ones. Shortly after theses ships passed up North River, the term for which the 
regiment volunteered expired, and we returned home to York County by the same 
route which we had gone out, without anything occurring worth relating.”

“I cannot now recollect the names of any other officers attached to this 
regiment except the subordinate officers of my own company, to wit, 1st 
Lieutenant Joseph Morrison, 2nd Lieutenant William Adams, and Ensign McCall. 
There were many other officers and men at Paulus Hook while we remained there, 
but I cannot recollect at present, the names of any others but those I have 
mentioned.”

“My second term of service occurred on or about the 12th day of November, 1777, 
and was also for 2 months. On this occasion I served under a Pennsylvania 
draft. When I was drafted, I still lived in York County. I entered the service 
this time under Captain John Caldwell, the lieutenant’s name I have forgotten. 
On this occasion, our company marched alone, having no superior officer to our 
captain, until we formed a junction with General Potter, who then commanded the 
forces west of the Schuylkill River.  We were marched from York County directly 
across the counties of Lancaster, Chester and Delaware until we reached 
the ‘Seven Stars’ five miles from Philadelphia. When we were at the ‘Seven 
Stars’ we were under the command of General Potter whose whole force consisted 
of about a 1000 men.”

“He was stationed on the west side of said river to prevent the Tories and 
others from carrying supplies to the enemy, who at that time had possession of 
Philadelphia, and also to prevent the soldiers from coming out to plunder the 
country. Our object was to starve the British out of the city and with that 
view, we burned many a good stock and barn full of grain. We also frequently 
captured whole wagon loads of provisions consisting of fowls, eggs, pies, 
cheese and etc, which we were allowed to divide among ourselves, and the 
officers took the horses and wagons either for their own use or for the use of 
the government. This smuggling trade was carried on with the city until 
Washington ordered six of them to be hung up with their own wagon lines, which 
checked the trade for a time at least.”

“We spent the whole two months for which we were drafted marching from place to 
place, sometimes in sight of the river, and sometimes 5, 10, 20 or 30 miles 
back into the country. Sometimes we were within sight of the city. On one 
occasion, General Washington ordered General Potter to go down to Philadelphia 
with his command and endeavor to draw out the British forces so as to attack 
him, and then retreat up the river to ?Matson’s Floating Bridge a little below ?
Swainford, where he would meet with the main army and give battle to the enemy. 
We marched down to the ‘Seven Stars’ and encamped, at which place 100 men were 
selected from the brigade of 1000 commanded by Potter, who were to cross the 
Schuylkill and fire into the city. I was one of the 100. We left the main body 
and crossed the river (if my recollections serves aright) under the command of 
Colonel cook and Major ?Eady.”

“As the cocks were crowing for daylight, we fired once into the city and then 
retreated, but the enemy were so much alarmed although they were 7000 strong, 
that they did not commence their pursuit until 10 o’clock in the morning. We 
stayed at the ‘Seven Stars’ until the British come in sight. We then commenced 
retreating, each man being furnished with 48 rounds of ball cartridge. Our 
orders were to turn and fire at every advantageous position. They pursued and 
we retreated, until our whole ammunition was exhausted, which did not lat us 
more than half of the road to ?Swain’s Ford, which is 23 miles from the city.’

“They followed us all the way to the ford, burning all the barns and houses 
which fell in their way. We arrived at the ford about sundown, where we found 
Washington just arrived on the opposite side of the river. During the night, 
Washington transported his army across the river by placing his baggage wagons 
in the stream and laying boards from one to the other, but Behold! When he 
looked out for the enemy in the morning, they had taken advantage of the 
darkness and fled back to the city, and so our decoy failed to effect its 
object.”

“We stayed at the ford for one day, and then returned to our former position 
and employment along the river in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, where we 
were engaged in scouring the country and skirmishing with small forage parties. 
On another occasion, the whole army came out of the city and run us off at full 
gallop until we reached General Washington’s headquarters at White Marsh. Some 
of us lost their hats, some their coats, and some their rucksacks, and all were 
glad to escape with their lives. A short time after this adventure, our term of 
service, which was two months, having expired, the company was marched home and 
discharged.’

“The third time was out in the service I was also drafted for two months, and 
spent the whole term at a place called the Cuckoo’s Nest in York County, 3 
miles from Little York, and 12 miles from my (then) residence. On this 
occasion, I entered the service under Captain Fulton, to the best of my 
recollection, some time in August 1781, and was marched directly to the 
Cuckoo’s Nest, where the company was engaged to guard a large number of  
prisoners. We spent the two months standing guard and building stockades. No 
incidents of importance happened the whole time we lay there worthy of mention. 
The history of two days is nearly the history of the whole two months-a day of 
rest and a day of duty. I belonged to the 4th class, and we stayed at the 
stockade until we were relieved, in October, by a draft from the 5th class. I 
cannot now recollect the names of any other officers who was out with me on 
this occasion, except my captain’s which I have already given.”

	“The reason I did not make my declaration in Greene County where I 
reside, is this: I have only lived in that county a little better than 3 years, 
and consequently, people there cannot be acquainted with my reputation as a 
Revolutionary soldier, whereas I have lived in Washington County at different 
times since 1782 about forty years and am well known to the people. Besides, 
the county town in this county is as near, if not nearer my residence than that 
of Greene. To my recollection, I never received a discharge in any case when I 
quit the service. I know of no person living who has a personal knowledge of my 
services except Rachael Davely, whose affidavit is hereto attached…”

	“I was born in Ireland on the 4th day of February, 1748. I have no 
record of my age. When I was called into service I lived in York County, and 
continued to reside there till  (I think) 1782, when I removed to Washington 
County, where I have lived ever since, except 1 year in Virginia, 18 years in 
the state of Ohio, and 3 years in Green County, in this state. I volunteered 
for two months, and was drafted twice for two months each time. To the 5th 
interrogatory, I have made as full an answer as my recollection will now allow 
of. The 6th is also answered.”

	“I refer to the following named persons who are well acquainted with me 
in the neighborhood where I formerly resided in this county, who can testify to 
my character for veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the 
Revolution: John McCoy, David Frazier, James ?Halures, John Burns, Abraham 
Teagarden, Robert Milligan.” 

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