Contributed by: Mary Ann Nichols, nichols3@leo.infi.net, JAN 1999
Contributed by: Mary Ann Nichols, nichols3@leo.infi.net, JAN 1999
William Martin's Revolutionary War
Pension Application
The State of Alabama
Montgomery County
The application of William Martin made on this the 20th of January AD 1833
before Benajah L. Bibb, Judge of the county court for the county aforesaid
on oath in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress approved July
3rd 1832 the said application being made in open court--
I am seventy years of age - according to my father's register - This
register is in the possession of Walter Ross of Autauga County -- I entered
the service of the US during the revolution in my 17th year--My captain was
John DeJarnette, my Colonel was Thomas Wade, my major was Jonathan Jackson.
This was in Anson County, North Carolina. I remained in the service about
two years in the military as a volunteer. I was in one engagement against
old Col. McNeile, a Tory Col. at a place called Bette's Bridge and Drowning
Creek. My service was in Richmond and Anson Countys in North Carolina.
Walter Ross of Autauga County knows of my services -- Jonathan Jackson of
Anson County probably is living. He knows of my services --I was in a
great number of skirmishes but was in no engagements as I before stated --
My officers were as before mentioned and was services was principly against
the Tories. I never received a regular discharge--my name is not on the
pension role of any state & I do hereby expressly relinquish any claim that
I have to any except the present-
his mark
X
Wm Martin
sworn & subscribed in open court
Benajah L. Bibb
John Goldthwaite - citizen
Peyton Bibb - clergyman
The State of Alabama
Montgomery County
The supplemental declaration of William Martin made on oath in Montgomery,
Alabama before the Judge of the County & Orphans Court of the said county
in the open court this 30th day May AD 1834 in order to obtin the benefits
of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832--Applicant states that he was
born in Caroline County Virginia and in 1774 his father moved to North
Carolina. Applicant states that he is now near seventy two years of age
that his fathers register is in the hand of Walter Ross of Autauga County
in this state. I entered the service of the United States in my seventeeth
year which was in 1777. This was in Anson County, North Carolina. I was
drafted as a militiaman & in my first turn I served three months. The
principal engagements in which I was was at Bette's bridge in the year '78
or 1779 - I was engaged in the service during the whole war at short
intervals. However it was found necessary to raise a scouting party or to
go Tory driving I was called and sometime we were engaged two, three, four
& eight weeks at a time. I think I may say with safety that I was in
active service for more than two years--Our business was to prevent the
gathering of the tories in any strength in Richmond & Anson counties. I
stated before that I could not tell the eactive & specific periods when I
was in the service. The periods of service were short & at short intervals
& all I could say with any degree of propriety is that I was engaged more
than half of my time from the year 1777 to 1781- My officers I have before
mentioned. The grown sons & family of DeJarnette now live in Autauga
County in this state and are all acquainted with me. They can state that
it was the current report on any of this. They knew me that I was always
passed as a good whig He was my captain off. & an for more than four years
- My name is not of the pension of any state & I relinquish all claim to
any ppension but this-- that he has lived in this county four years & in
the State seventeen years. He lived in Autauga Co before moving to this --
sworn to in
Open Court his
X
mark
Wm Martin
Brief in the case of William Martin
County of Montgomery in the State of Alabama
(Act 7th June, 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by
bodily infirmity? -------------
3. How old is he? 70
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period Vol.
Duration of Service - about two years
Rank private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served:
Capt DeJarnette, Col Wade
5. In what battles was he engaged? Bettsbridge & Drowning Creek with the
Tories
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Anson Cty, NC
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses by documentary proof, by
traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in
what respect? Correct, except that he has not stated correctly the date of
the Law under which he claims.
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the
evidence in the case above mentioned.
F. Waugh, Examining
Cler,
March 6, 1833
The State of Alabama
Montgomery County
Before me Thomas Durden a Justice of the peace in and for the said county
personally appeared William Martin who maketh oath & saith that by reason
of old age and the consequent upon of memory he cannot swear positively to
the precise time of service that he performed in the war of the Revolution.
But according to the best of his recollection he was engaged for more than
two years from the year 1778 til 1783 when peace was made. The fidderent
town of servoce were short sometimes for a week and occasionally for three
months as the experiences of the case requered - I know that almost if not
fully half my time was employed in this manner. Our object was to prevent
the gathering of tories in the counties & thier neighborhood as apecified
in my declaration. In every expidition except one in I was under the
command of Capt DeJarnette In the excepted case I was under the command of
Capt George Wilson acquired provisions that had been collected for the use
of the army of Genl Gates. I was thus employed for two weeks. The
provisions wereremoved & the company of Wilson disbanded --After this I was
called out under DeJarnette to go after the tories under Col McNeille- The
British men were in our part of the country. Our only service was
performed against the tories. Our Col was Col Thomas Wade & he caused us
to be called out whenever the country required our aid---To state with
precision when I was called out is more than I can do I went whnever my
officers said it was necessary & when our duty was done he disbanded us
--If this Statement will get me a pension I shall be thankful I have never
received any pay for my duty performed by me. If it is not sufficient I
have no other. I cannot remember every little particular that may now be
necessary--
sworn to before me 1 August 1834
Th Durden, J.P.
his
x
mark
William Martin
Montgomery August
9th 1834
Sir,
I enclose to you the papers of Wm Martin. Then on some considerations
connected with this application which I wish to submit to the Department.
If its head could converse with Mr Martin I am satisfied that his pension
would be granted without hesitation. The family of the person referred to
in his declaration resides in the county adjoining and are well known to
the court to have been in the war of the Revolution and has served in the
army of the US I refer to the DeJarnettes. The son of Col McNeill
formerly represented Autauga County a county adjoining this & it is well
known that his father was a tory-----The mention of these facts would
-(can't read this)-------- -------another enquiry in the Court & no man
could be found who would don to refer to families whom princibily run well
known unless the facts stated were true. The undersaid who has made the
application has resided in this county for a number of years. He is a poor
man & too illiterate to fabricate any story - He is conscientous & was
unwilling to state with more positivity than he has done the periods that
he served. It must have been obvious to the Department that when friends
are being committee that "declarations" have been rather overcharged with
details then otherwise--Every circumstance stated by Martin may be sit down
or strictly true. His character to which the completed testimony by him
obtained warrants the opinion that he would not make any application for a
benefit unless he considered himself entitled to it.
I am
very Respectfullly,
John
A. Campbell
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