Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters

Transcription

1 Souern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters Pension Application of James Blake W17318 Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris State of Nor Carolina } S.S Court of pleas & q r Sessions Orange County } November Term, On is e 26 day of November, 1841, personally appeared before e Court of pleas and quarter sessions, for said County, now sitting, John Blake a resident of said County, aged 51 years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, do on his oa make e following Declaration, in order to obtain e benefit of e provision made by e Act of Congress, passed June 7, That his Dec d. faer James Blake enlisted in e Army of e United States, in e year of 1780, wi one Captain Moore, as he has understood, and in e Regiment Commanded by Col. Wells of e Virginia Continental Line. at he does not remember e name of any oer Captain under whom it is said his Dec d faer served, except at of Captain Moore. Major Decloman [sic: Christian Charles de Klauman] was also of e Regiment to which his faer was attached. This Declarant has also furer understood at his faer was under Marquis Lafayette and Gen l. Washington. That his Dec d. faer served only under one term of enlistment, as he understands. That his Dec d. faer was living in Souampton County Virginia, when he enlisted and enlisted at Longs old fields in said County. That he was in e engagement at Green Springs under Lafayette in May 1781 [sic: Battle of Green Springs Plantation, 6 Jul 1781], and in e fall following was at e Siege of Little York. Alo is Declarant cannot procure any testimony at his Dec d. faer served longer an e Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, in October [19 ] He his nevereless pursuaded at, his faer remained longer in e Service, but failing to procure e requisite evidence, he inks it would be just and equitable, to claim Nineteen Mons Service, for his Dec d. faer, to wit, from e 20 of March 1780 to e 20 of October, In proof of his faers Revolutionary Services, and Identity, is Declarant has Caused to be procured e evidence of Thomas Blake [pension application S6662] of Montgomery County, N.C broer of his Dec d. faer. Said affiant states at his Dec d. faer James Blake aforesaid, was in e United States Service in e war of e Revolution Twelve mons and upwards & was married he inks, in 1778 or In furer proof of his Dec d. faer s Revolutionary Services, he has Caused to be procured, e affidavit of Brittain Bowers, a resident of said County of Orange formerly of Souampton Va who states, at his Dec d. faer, enlisted in e mon of February or March 1780 and proves furer at e s d. deceased was in e Service in e Spring following, and at e Siege of Little York, in e fall following, (1781).) From which evidence it appears at his Dec d. faer was in e Service as a private of Infantry upwards of Nineteen mons, and for which Service, is Declarant Claims a pension. This Declarant furer sets for upon his said oa at, from e evidence furnished he believes at e marriage of his faer and moer took place eier in e year of 1778, or That his faer had married before his enlistment. at in e year of 1789, his faer, as he understands moved from Souampton County, Virginia to Wake County in is State, and died a few mons after settling in Wake County. That in e year of 1804 or 1805 his moer moved to e Village of Chapel Hill, in is County (Orange) and resided ere till her dea, which occured on e 26 day of July, one ousand eight hundred and irty Nine at when she died she left but two children surviving, to wit, e Declarant and Mary

2 Blake, bo of Lawful age. That after e dea of his faer, his moer did not afterwards marry, but remained a widow till her dea. That his moer had a family Bible, in which were entries showing e date of his faer s dea, and e ages of e several Children, but he does not now know what has become of said family Bible. The Declarant hereto annexes e affidavit of Thomas Blake of Montgomery County, N.C. and which he believes to be genuine and true. Said affidavit is marked A. He also annexes e affidavit of Brittain Bowers of e aforesaid County, which is Declarant believes to be genuine and true said affidavit is marked B. This Declarant also annexed e letters and official certificate [not transcribed here] of James Hea, Auditor, Richmond, Virginia and which evidence, e Declarant also believes to be genuine and true. The said John Blake furer Declares at, his Dec d. moer never applied for a pension, as he ever understood, and is under e impression at she never was apprised of e benefit of e provision of e Act of Congress of e 4 July, 1836, nor did he himself obtain any correct knowledge of said Act, till since e dea of his moer. Sworn and subscribed e day and year aforesaid. [signed] John Blake A State of Nor Carolina } Montgomery County } On is e 18 day of November 1841, personally appeared before e undersigned one of e acting Justices of e peace in and for e County aforesaid, Thomas Blake, a pensioner residing in e said county aged 98 years. Who being first duly qualified according to law depose and sae as follows: to wit: Question by Magistrate. Were you acquainted wi James Blake of Souampton in Virginia? Answer. I was: He was a broer of mine. Q. Did your broer e aforesaid James Blake serve any as a soldier in e United States service in e war of e Revolution? Answer. as a private of Infantry he did serve e United States in e war of e Revolution; e precise leng of time, I do not remember; but would say it was twelve mons and upwards. Q. Under what officers did s d. James Blake serve? Answer. Under Colonel Wills & Maj. Decloman. Q. In what year did your broer James Blake enlist in e United States Sirvice? Answer. I do not remember e year, but ink it was in 1780 or ereabout. Q. Was your broer James Blake in e United States service as a private of Infantry after he was married? Answer. he was. Question. In what year was he married and to whom was he married? Answer. I do not rember e year, but ink it was in 1778 or 79 to Sally Clifton. Q. Did you see em married? Answer. I did. Question. Did you not always understand at ey was lawfully married. Answer. I dd. Question. How long since your broer James Blake died? Answer. I do not correctly know, but understand it was soon after he left Virginia, for N. Ca. say about 50 years ago. Q. Where do you understand at Sarah Blake e widow of your broer James now lives?

3 Answer. in Orange County, N. Ca. Q. Did you ever understand at e aforesaid Sarah Blake, was married after e dea of her husband, e aforesaid James Blake? Answer. I never did. And furer is Deponent Sai not. Thomas hisxmark Blake B State of Nor Carolina } Orange County } SS On is e 25 day of November, 1841, personally appeared before e undersigned one of e Justices of e peace in and for said County, Brittain Bowers, a resident of e aforesaid County, aged 79 years. Who being first duly sworn according to law depose and sai as follows, to wit: at he was born and raised in Souampton County State of Virginia. Question by Magistrate. Was you acquainted wi e late James Blake, formerly of at County, & subsequently of Wake County, Nor Carolina? Answer. I was: my faer lived only about one mile and a half from said James Blake. Question. Do you remember anying of said James Blake serving e United States, in e war of e Revolution, and if so, how long did he serve and under whom? Answer. I saw said James Blake enlist in e United States Service at a General Muster, at Longs old fields, in e mon of February or March, 1780 in said County of Souampton. Question. How long did James Blake enlist for? Answer. I do not precisely remember, e leng of time, but would say at it was eier for 18 mons or two years but raer ink it was for two years. Question. Where did you last see said James Blake, in e service? Answer At Greensprings in e State of Virginia, and and e Siege of Little York. and at he served as a private of Infantry. Question. Was said James Blake married when in e United States Service? Answer. He was. Question. Whom did James Blake marry? Answer. Sally Clifton. Question. When did James Blake move to Nor Carolina? Answer. Soon after e Close of e Revolutionary War, James Blake and his broer-in-law Josiah Clifton moved to Wake County, N.C. where I have I have understood said James Blake died about 50 years ago. Question. Have you been acquainted wi said widow Sarah Blake, since e dea of her husband? Answer. I have. I came to Chapel Hill in is County about e year of 1803, and soon after my settling at Chapel Hill, said Sarah Blake moved to at village. & I after saw her and was entimately acquainted wi her till her dea. Question. When did she die? Answer in July, I ink, Two years ago. Question. Did you know her to be e widow of e Identical James Blake, above mentioned? Answer. I do. Question. Did said widow ever marry after e dea of e aforesaid soldier, James Blake? Answer. She never did. But remained e widow of e aforesaid James Blake till her dea. Question. How long did said Blake serve, to e best of your recollection and belief in e War of e Revolution? Answer. I saw him enlist in e mon of February or March 1780, and e last I saw of him in e Service was at e Taking of Little York, in e October of e next year. And wheer said James Blake served

4 longer an e taking of Little York, I do not now remember. And furer is deponent sai not. Brittain hisxmark Bowers State of Nor Carolina } SS Montgomery County } On is e 6 day of October 1842 personally appeared before e undersigned one of e Justices of e Peace in and for e County aforesaid Thomas Blake a resident of said County of Montgomery, aged 98 years, and a United States pensioner who being duly sworn according to law depose & sai as follows to wit: That he was born and raised in e County of Souampton, in Virginia, That he had a broer by e name of James who was a soldier in e United States service, in said War of e Revolution, and served as well as is affiant can now recollect as follows: Some time in e fall of 1776 as well as is deponent can now recollect, his said broer served in e Virginia Line under Col [Hugh] Mercer of e 3 Regement, was in e Brandywine Battle [11 Sep 1777], and in a weeks ereafter, his time of service was out and he returned home. In e spring of e year when Cornwallace was in Virginia [1781], his said broer James again joined e service as a mounted soldier & was under e same Col. Mercer & Lafayette was in e engagement at Governer Berkleys [sic: William Berkeley s] old place on James River and also at e taking of Little York, and in a week or two afterwards was discharged & returned home, having served as a mounted private part of e time In all six mons he inks. My deceased broer also was wi me in several militia 3 or 4 tours under Col Wells In all about 6 mons. I did not serve any myself in e Virginia line but my broer did. There was service at he performed in 1780 but I do not recollect e leng of it. There were six broers of us and we were all Independent boys some of us served longer some shorter. James may have served oer times & no doubt did at has escaped my recollection Q. was James Blake your broer in e service after he was married? answer He was. What regiment was he in at e Battle of Brandywine? Answer. e ird Virginia Regiment, I ink, under Col Mercer. Q. Where did he serve besides in e spring & fall of 1781? Answer. He was under Col. Mercer again, as a mounted rifleman e early part of e Campaign under Lafayette, and at e latter part of e Campaign a private of Infantry and as such was at e taking of Cornwallace. Q. When was your broer James married? A. some time in August 1778 To Sarah Clifton. Q. Where was your broer James Blake living when he died? A In Wake County in is State. Q. Where was his widow living [several illegible words] did you understand when she died? A. In e Village of Chapel Hill, in Orange County, in is State. Q. How long do you understand it has been since e dea of your said Sisterinlaw Sarah Blake? A. About 3 years. Q. Where did you understand at your broer James Blak died? A Soon after he moved to Wake County. Say upwards of 50 years ago. Q. Did your sister [sic] Sarah Blake marry after e dea of your broer James? A I never understood at she did. And furer is deponent sai not. Thomas hisxmark Blake State of Nor Carolina } Cumberland County } st On is 31 day of January in e year 1842 personally appeared before e undersigned, one of e acting Justices of e Peace in and for said County Mary M Blake, aged 82

5 years widow of Isham Blake deceased who being first duly sworn according to law depose and saye as follows: That she was acquainted wi e late James Blake of Wake County formerly of Souampton, in Virginia, at said James Blake married is affiants sister Sarah Clifton. That ey were married in e mon of August 1776 or 1777 at ey were married by one parson [George] Gurley in Souampton County aforesaid That is affiants broer-in-law e said James Blake was a soldier in e united states service in e war of e revolution as a private of infantry but how long said James Blake served in said War, is affiant does not now remember. My Broer in Law, e said James Blake moved to Wake County in is State about Fifty years ago and I understood died soon after and at my Sister Sarah removed about 40 years ago to e village of Chapel Hill in Orange County where she died a short time since and at her surviving children John & Mary, I understand are Endeavouring to get a Pension, for e Revolutionary services of eir deceased Faer James Blake as aforesaid. This affiant furer states at e said James Blake was in e united states Service after his marriage And furer is affiant saye not. Mary M herxmark Blake State of Nor Carolina } Orange County } On is e 28 day of September, 1842, came John Boudy [pension application W5858] a pensioner residing in said County before me, and after being duly sworn according to Law, make Oa at, in e war of e Revolution he was a private of Infantry in e Maryland line, in e army of e Revolution and was acquainted wi James Blake in e army who was a private of Infantry in e rd Virginia Line, 3 Reg t. and under Col. Mercer he inks, e aforesaid James Blake was of Souampton County Virginia at said Blake was in e army when is affiant joined. Remembers of said Blake being in e battles of Trenton [26 Dec 1776] and Princeton [3 Jan 1777] and at Brandy wine and at Morristown and Middlebrook encampments. Said James Blake is affiant inks was a twelve mons soldier and left e army in e fall or winter after e battle of Brandywine. The said John Boudy furer sets for upon his said Oa, at, during e Siege of Little York in e summer and fall of 1781, he again saw said James Blake of Souampton, Virginia, in e United States Service as a Rifle militia man and was again under Col. Mercer and Genl. Lafayette and at said Blake he inks was eier in e militia or state troops and heard him speak of being under Gen l. [Anony] Wayne in e preceeding spring, in e battle of Green Springs. This affiant does not remember of seeing e said Blake in e service after e Taking of Little York. in e winter following is affiant was marched to e Sou, as a recruit to e Souern army under General Green, and remained in e Sou till e close of e war. And furer is affiant sai not. John hisxmark Boudy State of Nor Carolina } Orange County } This day came personally before me Thomas Jones, one of e Justices of e Courts of pleas and quarter Sessions of said County, John Boudy, a pensioner in said County of Orange, and after being first duly sworn according to Law, depose and sai as follows, to wit: That when in e Norern army in 1776, he became acquainted wi James Blake of e 3 rd Virginia Regiment, who served in said Regiment and was in e Battle of Brandywine under Colonel [Thomas] Marshall, he inks. In 1781, is deponent was marched to e Sou wi e Norern army under General Washington, and was at e Siege of Little York: at ey arived in e vicinity of Yorktown, e last of September, to e best of is deponent s rememberance;) where he saw e aforesaid James Blake in e

6 United States Service as private of malitia. That said Blake was in e Souern division at he was in Captain Forrow s Company, and in Weedins [sic: George Weedon s] brigade of militia. Heard said Blake say at, he was in e previous Spring, in a tour under General Layfayette, and in e Battle at Greenspring, and was ere under Lieut Colonel Mercer. at he remembered of seeing rd said Mercer in e Norern army, in e 3 Virginia Regiment, at said Mercer was attached to e ird Regiment, but had not e command of it. Question. How long did said James Blake serve in e fall of 1781, to your knowledge? Answer. I arrived at Yorktown, on e last day of September, I ink it was, and saw said Blake on e 30 st day of September, or e 1 day of October, in e United States Service, as private of Militia, in Captain Forrow s Company: at he remained in e service to is deponents knowledge till e surrender of Lord Cornwalise. his tour ended and he returned home. Question. How long did you understand said Blake served in e militia, in 1781? Answer. Two tours, making six mons. And furer is deponent sai not. Sworn and subscribed, on e 9 day of February, in e year, of 1843 John hisxmark Boudy NOTE: On 2 Dec 1842 John Blake submitted Additional and Explanatory evidence in e form of Boudy s affidavits above and anoer affidavit by Thomas Blake dated 7 March The latter adds only e following information: I had four broers in e service, besides James Blake Towit Samuel, John, Eeldred and Benjamin. In addition, John Blake stated at he has recently found eir Common Prayer Book, which contains eir family record, and at e entries erein made is Affiant has understood from his Dec d. moer was, in part in e hand writing of his deceased faer James Blake. This family register is transcribed below. Richard Blake was Born September [?] Nansey Blake was born 4 day March 1786 Jones Blake was born Mar 13 day 1788 March [Illegible entry] Thom s Clifton James Blake was marid e 11 of August 1777 [Illegible entry] Salley Lydia Clifton her Book [illegible word] 24[?] April[?] e and given by her to her Daugter Salley Clifton Doroy Clifton was Born 23 April 1856 Lydia Blake was born 21 of Novem e year 1778 Polly Blake Was Born July e Salley Clifton wass born April Sam l Clifton wass born Nov r [last digit illegible] W[?] Casey Mary[?] Clifton Wass Born 22 of May 1760 Josiah Clifton wass born July [page torn] Matew Clifton wass[?] born [illegible] January 1765