Rolstone, David Revolutionary War Pension S7431 - Rockingham Co., Virginia ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Harriet Welch Missing page added by Thomas Reherd Flory ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Virginia 12661 David Rolstone of Rockingham in the State of Virginia who was a Pri in the Company commanded by Captain Hopkins of the Regt commanded by Col Long in the Va Militia line for 6 mo 25 days Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 22 Dollars 75 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831 Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of May 1833 and sent A.C.Bryan Harrisonburg Va Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $ 45.50 Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sep 33 11.37 ----- $ 56.87 Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832 Recorded by Geo B. Whiting Clerk Book E Vo. 6 Page 24 ------------------------------------------------------------------ (Letter in pension file) June 6, 1932 Mr. Damass Barnes David Rolstone - S.7431 Shady Side Academy Drawer G., Oakland Station Pittsburg, Pennsylvania Dear Sir: Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to David Rolstone, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S-7431, based upon the military service of David Rolstone in that war. While residing in Rockingham County, Virginia, he enlisted and served as a private with the Virginia Troops as follows: from June, 1776, fifteen days under Captains Hopkins and John Rice; from September 20, 1780, three months in Captain Robert Cravens' Company under Colonel Stubblefield; from early in July 1781, in Captain Richard Ragan's Company under Major Long, was at the siege of Yorktown and was discharged October 20, 1781. He was allowed pension on his application executed September 17, 1832, while residing in Rockingham County, Virginia, where, he stated he had always lived. There are no data as to his family. Very truly yours A. D. Hiller Assistant to Administrator ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (Transcription of David Rolstone's declaration) State of Virginia and County of Rockingham to wit: On this 17th day of September 1832 personally appeared before the Justices of the County Court of Rockingham now sitting David Rolstone a resident in the County of Rockingham and State of Virginia aged 71 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he was born in the County of Rockingham (then a part of Augusta) in Virginia, on the 20th of October in the year 1760 and has resided in the same place ever since but has no record of his age, he believes the record kept by his father has been lost. In June 1776 he was drafted into the militia service as one of Capt Hopkins company and marched under Capt John Rice to Greenbrier. When he reached the fort which he had been called out to defend the Indians had dispersed and he was only retained a short time, he thinks he was out about fifteen days. This service was performed before he was sixteen years of age, he had been enrolled under that age, and agreed to serve against the Indians believing it would be received in lieu of another tour. In September 1780 he thinks about the 20th of the month, he was drafted as a militia man under Capt. Robert Craven and Lient Wm. Smith, and was marched to Hillsborough N. Carolina and joined the Head Quarters of Col Stubblefield of the militia at that place. From Hillsborough he marched to Cheran Hills S. Carolina. From this place he was detached with a small party of about 18 or 20 men down the Pee Dee River to take possession of some boats and bring them up the river to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. After serving three months from the time of joining Head Quarters he was discharged and returned home in February. He was not in any engagement during this time and was under the command of Cpol Green but was not immediately with his army. Early in July 1781 he was drafted under Capt Richard Ragan and marched through Virginia and joined Head Quarters below Richmond, on York or Pamunkey river. After remaining at that place two or three days he was detached on a scouting party of about 200 men under the command of Major Long of the militia, and continued between Yorktown (which was then occupied by the British) army and the American Armys, until the latter marched to the siege of York. He served at York during the siege and was discharged on the 20th of October, the day after the capitulation of the British army, having served three months and ten or eleven days. He never received a written discharge and has no documentary evidence whatever of his service. For the proof of his services he relies on the testimony of George Argenbright who served in the same company during the siege of York - and of Andrew Huling who served in the same company in the Carolinas, who will be produced in Court for that purpose. For his character for veracity in and the belief in his revolutionary service in his neighborhood, he refers to Henry J. Gambill Esq. Clerk of this Court, Robert Gray Esq. Commonwealths Attorney, Co. David Henton on of the Justices of the Peace, Joseph Banks Esq. High Sheriff and Maj. Daniel Ragan son of the Capt. Under whom he served, Dr. Craving (?) and the older neighbors generally. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or 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 the day and year aforesaid. David Rolstone Mr. Michael Meyerhoeffer a clergyman and residing in the County of Rockingham and David Steele residing in the County of Rockingham hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Rolstone who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 71 years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid M. Meyerhoeffer David Steele And the said Court do hereby declare, their opinion, after its investigation of the matte, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the above name applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states, and this court further certifies that it appears to them that Michael Meyerhoeffer, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the aforesaid county, and that David Steele Esq. Who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same County, and is a credible person, and that their statements is entitled to credit. I Henry J. Gambill, Clerk of the Court of the said_______ [Note that it seems that the word "county" should have occurred either just before or just after this page break, but does not appear in the National Archives microfilm.] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of David Roalston [sic] for a pension. In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and affixed the seal of my said office, this 20th day of September in the year 1832, and in the 57th year of the Commonwealth H. J. Gambill Clerk of Rockingham County Virginia"