Revolutionary Pension Application, 1832 - Thomas Crawley - Amherst Co. VA, Pittsylvania Co. VA Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th June A.D. 1832. State of Tennessee ) October Sessions of the Court of White County ) Pleas and Quarter Session A.D. 1832 On the ninth day of October A.D. 1832 appeared before the Worshipful the Justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of White and State aforesaid, now in Session, Thomas Crawley a resident of the County of White and State of Tennessee aged seventy seven years, who being first duly sworn in open Court according to law, doth on this oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832. That he entered into the service of the United States as a volunteer in a corps who were known by the title of Minute men, that he enlisted in Pittsylvania County, in the State of Virginia, under Captain Abraham Penn, in the Regiment of Colonel Edward Carrington, held their rendezvous at Pittsylvania Court house, in the month of January 1776, they first marched to the town of Peterburg, thence to look into the conduct, and bring to order some Scotch merchants who resided there. They thence marched to old Jamestown by the way of Cabin point; they were for a while stationed at Jamestown; thence they marched to Williamsburg where they were also for a while stationed; they thence marched to Guinn's island, and while there performed some firings at a long distance at old Lord Dunmore; but it was thought without much, if any effect. The troops were then returned to Williamsburg and there stationed; here they were stationed on the 4th day of July 1776, the day of the Declaration of Independence. The troops were thence marched again to Jamestown where they were stationed until discharged, having performed a Campaign of eight months. His second tour of service was an enlistment for one year. He enlisted in Pittsylvania County Virginia under Captain Samuel Scott, in the Regiment of Colonel Habersham and in General McIntosh's Brigade; this service was intended for and rendered in the State of Georgia; they held their rendezvous on Hies River, marched to Hillsborough, North Carolina, stationed there for a while thence to Camden, South Carolina, stationed a while there, thence to the Sister ferry Savanna River, thence to Ebenezer in the State of Georgia, thence to Savannah town where they were stationed from two to three months, was present and a spectator of the duel fought between Gen. McIntosh and Button Gwinnett, while here were sent out on several scouts where some skirmishes were had; once with the Florida Scouts, and others with Tories of whom they brought in at one time forty. Thence were marched to Golphins, Cowpers on Ogeechee River to a treaty taking with us ten Indians who were hostages, given up by the Creek Indians, the better to secure the treaty; thence, to Phillips's Fort, thence to Long Creek where they were stationed nearly three months, while there the Indians stole their horses, they pursued the Indians, had an engagement in which a Captain Dooley fell, with the loss of six others, and three wounded who escaped, the Indians kept their ground. This applicant continued in service, did much more actual service in being sent back to Virginia after some deserters until he was discharged. The time of his entering this service was in 1777. His third term of service was a voluntary enlistment in the Company of Captain John Davis and was attacked to the Regiment of Colonel Charles McDowell in the Brigade of General Butler, this enlistment was from Guilford County, North Carolina, the time of service for six months. This enlistment was in February 1779. They took up the line of march from Guilford Court house, thence, to Salisberry, thence to Charlotte, then to Golphintown on Savannah River, thence down to the high . . . River and into Georgia, meaning to storm a British fort on Briar Creek, but finding that the British had evacuated they returned to South Carolina, thence to Bacon's Bridge, while there had a skirmish with McGirt and his Florida Scouts, killed seven of his men, we having but one man slightly wounded; thence to Simmon's old field from thence on the 20th June we marched on Stone Fort, fought that Battle but had to retreat. Thence retreated to the same old field and was there discharged. His fourth term of Service was performed as a substitute for William Astill in Guilford County for a time of three months this was taken in the year 1779. His captain was Archibald Campbell, in the Regiment of Colonel Hamright. This applicant pursued the main army, overtook them at the smoky ____, in South Carolina and was there received. After remaining there sometime were marched into Charlestown where they were stationed and employed in fortifying the town until the term expired and they were discharged. His fifth term of service was a voluntary enlistment in Charlestown under Captain George Lemmon; in the Regiment of Colonel William Lytle; this enlistment was in about 1780, and on the same day that he was discharged as above stated, he enlisted for another term of three months; the reason of this second enlistment was that General Sir Henry Clinton seemed to be menacing the safety of Charlestown, and it was thought that this discharge of our corps at that junction would greatly weaken General Lincoln under this consideration this applicant with many others enlisted as aforesaid. They lay in Charlestown until sometime in April, when Clinton laid close siege to the town, and after a siege of thirty two days, General Lincoln surrendered the town on the 12th day of May 1780, and himself and his army prisoners of War. This applicant was retained a prisoner with Clinton for ten or eleven days, and then was paroled, and permitted to return home; and never being exchanged for until after the . . . performed no further actual service during the War of the Revolution. Questions by the Court 1st. When and in what year were you born? Answer. I was born in Amherst County in the State of Virginia on the 25th day of April 1755. Q. 2nd. Have you any Record of your age and if so where is it? Answer. My Father had a family Record of the ages of his children, which record I have often seen; but have it not now in my possession or the power to pro__ it. Q. 3rd. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live? Answer. I lived in Pittsylvania County in Virginia at my two first enlistments, and at my three last, I lived in Guilford County, North Carolina; from Guilford County I removed to Surry county, from Surry County, North Carolina, I moved to White County, Tennessee where I now live. Q. 4th. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute, for whom? Answer. My first, second, third and fifth tours were voluntary enlistments, and my fourth tour was served as a substitute for William Astill. Q. 5th. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who served with the . . . Answer. . . . third tour, joined General Lincoln, knew Colonel John Armstrong a Regular Colonel in the fourth and fifth tours were constantly with General Lincoln's Regulars. And in addition to what has been already said of the general circumstances of my services, I will only add that while lying at Bacon's Bridge, I was sent with others to Charlestown with some prisoners. Q. 6th. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? Answer. From my regular enlistment for one year, I received a discharge in writing signed by Captain Samuel Scott, from my third enlistment for six Months I received a written discharge signed (as I think) by General Lincoln, and these are the only written discharges; and they by time and accident are both lost. From my first enlistment in the minute service I was not regularly discharged, but we were disbanded at old Jamestown and held liable to be called again to go against the Indians but we never met again. My Parole from Clinton is also lost. Q. 7th. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution. Answer. I would name Joseph Cummings, Esquire, Thomas Hill, William Shropshire and John White, Sen. And this applicant further states upon his oath that he has no documents, any evidence, whereby he can prove any part of his services, nor does he know of any person whereby he can prove any part thereof except Peter Baker (who was also a soldier of the Revolution, whose affidavit will accompany this declaration and is marked exhibit A.) by whom he can prove his service at Stone fort. And this applicant hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except . . . (Submitter note: There are some parts I was unable to copy.) Submitted by Jerry McClure **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************