MySource:Glamberson/Agnes Wilson Rev. War Widow's Pension Application filed on the basis of her husband James Wilson's service

Wilson, James (wife Agnes), service from Va., File Number W9012

Contents: Son of Abraham. b. Dec 10 1763 in Caroline Co. Va. & res. there --- d. Aug 12 1829 at Falmouth, Pendleton Co. Ky. ---

State of Kentucky Pendleton County

On this the third day of April A.D. 1841 personally appeared before me Wm. Woodrow a Justice of the County Court for the County aforesaid, the same being a Court of record, offers Agnes Wilson, a resident of the town of Falmouth in the County aforesaid, aged seventy years and upwards, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled: "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;" That she is the widow of James Wilson dec. who was a private in the war of the revolution and departed this life on the 12th day of August 1829 in the town aforesaid. That the said James Wilson served as private in the army of the revolution and as such in the battle at Camden South Carolina and also as such in the battle of Guilfort Court House, North Carolina, also as such fought in a skirmish or battle at Williamsburg, Virginia and also in said army previous to and at the taking or surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Little York, Virginia, and also at other battles and skirmishes, as she has often heard him and others detail. - And after Cornwallis surrendered he was a tour of service at Wenchester Virginia guarding British prisoners for several months. -

That she was born and raised in Caroline County Virginia in the same neighborhood in which her said husband was born and raised, and of her own knowledge knows that he as early as the year seventeen hundred & eighty joined the army and went a tour to the South, -- the Virginia troops, while yet quite a youth and after the battle at Camden South Carolina in which he was, returned home to Caroline County Va. and shortly after his returned home, he left again for the army then in the South and served in the same and was at the battle at Guilfort Court house North Carolina, whether there his services in the South were under one or more terms or tours or only one she is not able to state, or whether two, three, six or twelve months tours she cannot state; but she very well remembers that his first absence and service in the South at the period the first of these battles were fought was the longest he continued absent on service at one time, whether his absence was under one engagement for one or more terms she cannot state, but she feels confident he returned home from the South in the period between these two battles or events and then left again for the South and was both at the battle at Camden and Guilfort. She further states that the residence of her father was very near Bowllin green Caroline County Va., & within about four miles of the residence of the father of her said husband, and that her husband and herself went to School together, and while she was quite young she was affianced to him before he went into active service; and that after his last return from the South, he was absent from home, in the army, in Virginia a number of times for periods shorter or longer how long she does not know- But she destinctly recollects that shortly after his last return from the South, he again left for and joined the army and was at the siege and the taking of Little York and surrender of Lord Cornwallis and afterwards was several other shorter tours between the taking of Cornwallis and the final peace in eighty three. Col. Nicholas Long, then Capt. or Major accompanied him while out, in one or more of his tours. - He was also commanded while in service by a Col. Matthews and a Col. Johnson - She feels entirely confident from the best of her memory his services in the army were between one and two years if not quite or more than two years. - The precise period or periods he served in active service she is not able to state, since it was before her enter marriage with him, yet during the pendency of a relation between them, that his absence was not without the deepest interest to her, though when married, after the perils of the times had passed, she was very young. - That she was married to said James Wilson at her father's house, whose name was John Pickett in Caroline County, Virginia, October the 16th seventeen hundred and eighty seven; and she and her said husband thereafter resided in Caroline, until the fall of the year 1796, when they together with four of their children and family removed to Scott County Kentucky, not far from Georgetown; and about two years thereafter in 1798 they removed to this section of the country, now Pendleton County, Ky., where she has resided ever since, and now resides, her husband having died in the year before stated. She further states that she does not remember the precise day or month in which her said husband first entered the services; further than that is was in the year 1780, when the Virginia troops generally marched towards the South to meet Cornwallis. Her father lived immediately on the great thoroughfare leading them to the South, and she well remembers the troops marching byher father's house on their way to the South, and her husband's returns and also his return from Little York after the taking of Cornwallis and his frequent conversations about the events of the South, with those who were his brothers in arms from Virginia, both as to Gates' defeat - the battle of Guilfort & the taking of Little York & surrender of Cornwallis. Neither can she state the precise day, month or year, when his tour or tours ended and he finally returned with others discharged from the service.- But she has often not only heard him detail many incidents of the aforesaid three events, to those who were present at them with him and also to others, but the strugles and events which occured with him and others at an skirmish or battle at Williamsburg.Va. and also events which occurred after the surrender of Cornwallis while guarding prisoners at Wenchester she thinks;- That it was only -- few months or weeks, to the best of her recollection, after her husband's first return from the South, before he again left for the army in the South and then returned after the battle of Guilford and shortly after his second return again left for the army and remained until after the taking of Cornwallis at Little York.- After the taking of Cornwallis her husband again served service tours or was again absent in the army but how many or how often between that and the final close of the war in 1783 she is not able to specify. - She is under the impression and belief that he served principally as a volunteer or to save his father from going, whose services and protection were deemed important at that period to his family. She states that her husband, from information, went during his services as far as Camden S.C. and home to Caroline again and his second time as far as Guilfort Court House N.C. and then home again and thence to Little York and other places either before or after the siege and probably both.- Whether his services were in the State or continental line or both she does not know, but that with the exceptions of his services in the South his tours were confined to Virginia both before and after the surrender of Cornwallis.- She further states that she has no documentary evidence to support her claim, as to her marriage or her husband's services; further than the family record, hereto attached (marked "A") taken from their family Bible, and which she states is in the hand writing of her husband, showing the state of their marriage and their births and the births of their children.- That during the life of her husband he always refused, having an ample of competency, to avail himself of the proffered gratuities of his country, for his revolutoinary services in the way of Pensions, alleging that he needed it not; he always was reputed well known revolutionary soldier and as such recognized by all his contemporary acquaintences of that period who knew him in his younger days as well as by reputation, with his often life acquaintences and by reason thereof frequently urged to apply for his proffered claims to the government; but he uniformly refused upon the grounds that he needed not the aid of his government. She refers to the affidavits hereto annexed for further proof of her husband's said services & her marriage with him - And also declares that since the death of her husband she has not been married; but now is and since his death has been his widow relect.

She further declares that she was married to the said James Wilson on the 16th day of October in the year Seventeen hundred and eighty seven, in Caroline County Va. about four miles from Bowllin green by the Rev. Taylor an Episcopalian preacher; that her hasband the aforesaid James Wilson died at Falmouth Pendleton County Kentucky on the 12th day of August Eighteen hundred & Twenty nine; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service; but the marriage took place some years after the war, but previous to the first day of January Seventeen hundred and nonety four. --- at the time above stated. Sworn to and signed,

• • Agnes Wilson**

---

State of Kentucky Grant County

On this the 24 day of August A.D. 1841 personally appeared before me H. Woodyard a

justice of the County Court for the Country aforesaid the same being a Court of record

appears Mary Theobalds the widow of James Theobalds decd. She the said Mary being a

resident of the county aforesaid aged about seventy eight who being duly sworn according

to law doth on her oath make the following statement and affidavit. That she is the

sister of JAmes Wilson decd., late of Falmouth Pendleton County Ky. in which town he

died some years since and left him surviving his wife Agnes as his widow and relict, who

now resides in Falmouth Ky. being the widow of said James. She further states that the

said James Wilson decd. and herself were the children of Abraham Wilson and both born in

Caroline County Virginia from before whence the both removed to Kentucky. Her said

brother and family removed from Caroline County some years before the affiant- While in

Caroline County Virginia the family of said James as well as herself and family lived

some short distance from Bowlen Green, until they and herself moved to the West. That

her said brother married in Virginia, in Caroline County, the said Agnes now his widow,

that her maiden name was Pickett. That said James was married within two miles of this

affiant's father's, and the day after the marriage her brother said brother brought his

wife to this affiant's father's house with the marriage company. That she was well

acquainted with said Agnes while single and here ever since up to the present time well

known and been well acquainted --- with her and knows her now as the widow (having only yesterday seen & been in her

company ) of her brother and his surviving wife. She was not at teh wedding herself; on

the day thereof she remained at home & next day received, at her father's house, the

wedding company and knows as well, and certainly, as tho she had been present

personally, that they were actually and duly and lawfully married according to the ---

grements? of the laws of the land. This affiant further states that her said brother the

late husband of said Agnes, was in the revolutionary services, and served in the army

--- rather armies of the revolution, both before and after taking the surrender of the

British army at Little York and at the siege thereof. but as to the precise time he went

out and returned home, or how many tours, and the length of each, she cannot, owing to

the great length of time and the many events which have since occurred in her life,

pretent?, as to date & length of services or number of tours specially to state. She

well and distinctly remembers -- the first time her brother went into service was with

the Virginia troops & to the south shortly before the battleof Guilfort Court House in

North Carolina. That he, the said James and her father and others of the neighborhood

left in the summer in the army for the South, that her father, she thinks, returned home

under furlough leaving JAmes in the army before the battle at Guilfort and a very

shortly after her father had returned home they heard that the battle had been fought,

upon which news, owing to the uneasiness of her father, as to the fate of her brother

James, he left for the army in order to ascertain what had been his fate, immediately

after hearing of --- the news of the battle, and that both her father and her brother, the said James, both

remained in service and from home, until Christmas following she thinks when they both

returned home together form the Army- That her present memory is that when her brother

first went into the army that his Capt. was by the name of Samuel Hawes. She also s----

ly recollects that her said brother was at the siege of Little York the surrender of

Lord Cornwallis, and thereafter guarded prisoners to -----. There was a skirmish at

Williamsburg, Virginia, at which her said brother James was also, if she recollects

correctly. She further states that her brother the said James was two yeats and some months elder

than herself and has always been known and reputed up to his death as a revolutionary

soldier, and recognized & known as such by those so far as she knows, both in Virginia

and in the West, who were themselves revolutionary soldiers, and she knows from her

memory and her father and family and acquaintances, that he was a revolutionary soldier

and served at sundry times in the army of the revolution and her best impressions as to

the length of any one tour was his services in the South and during which the battle of

Guilfort Court House was fought, and that tour was the first he was out, and the longest

at any one time, as above stated. Mary (her X mark) Theobalds

State of Kentucky Grant County

I H. Woodyard a justice of the peace and as such a justice and member of the Grant County Court, a

court of record, duly commisioned and acting as such .

Kentucky 4786 Agnes Wilson widow of James Wilson who served in teh Revolutionary war, as a private. Inscribed on the roll at the rate of 20 Dollars-- cents per annum, to commence on the

4th day of March, 1848. Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of May 1849 and sent to Saml. F. Swope,

Falmouth Ky. Recorded in Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 269 Vol. 3.

[this section appears to be a reproduction of the family bible record as above referred

to. - Ed.]

James Wilson was born December the 10, 1763, and Agnes his wife was born October 1,

1770, and they was married October 16th, 1787.

Ages of their children Fanny was born July 14 1788 Samuel was born September 12 1790 Nancy was born July 3 1792 Lucey was born March 17 1795 Sarah Boutwell was born March 1 1797 William Clark was born March 11 1799 Agnes Woodfolk was born Jany. 14 1801 John Abraham was born December 11 1802 James was born December 23 1804 Dixson was born September 6 1807 Betsey Julia was born Decembr. 10 1809 George Pickett was born July 19 1811

(A)

State of Kentucky Pendleton County

On this the 5th day of January A.D. 1842 personally appeared before me David S. Clarkson

a Justice of the County Court for the County aforesaid, the same being a court of record

, Martin Fugate Esq. a resident of the County aforesaid, aged sixty four years who being

duly sworn according to law, doth on his said oath, make the following statement to wit:

That he was well acquainted with James Wilson the husband of Agnes Wilson who now

resides the widow and relict of said James in the town of Falmouth, County aforesaid.

That he first became acquainted, both with said James and his present widow about the

year 1797 and from thence knew him adn the family up to the death of said James, who

died about the year eighteen hundred and twenty eight or nine in said town leaving him

surviving his widow and relict, the said Agnes now living in said town, unmarried adn

the widow of said James Wilson. That the said James Wilson, was a man of high standing

and good reputation, honor

and honest in all his deportment and relations of life, and his family respectable and

highly esteemed. That said James Wilson from his first acquaintance, up to his death,

was reputed to have been a revolutionary soldier, so taken and viewd by all his

acquaintances, so far as known to this affiant and by his neighbors unhesitatingly

belived to have been. That he (the affiant) does not know of his personal knowledge when

he the said James & his wife were married, yet from the reputation & standing, the

morality & respectability of said James & his said wife, & their family he has no

hesitation in believing that they were duly and lawfully married at an early period of

their lives. This affiant is well acquainted with their children Samuel Wilson, William

C. Wilson, John A. Wilson and James Wilson, sons of said JAmes Wilson and Agnes his late

wife and now his widow and supposes Samuel to be a man of the age of fifty or fifty one

and the eldest of the sons. He also knew their daughter Fanny who married Dixon H.

Kennett, and who some two or years elder than Samuel and the eldest child. He has been

acquainted with Samuel and other sons --- for many years past. His acquaintance with Samuel remained with that of his father and

has continued up to the present time. This affiant was also and is acquainted with the

daughters following of James and Agnes to wit: Nancy Sarah Lucy and Agnes- and has

resided since 1803 in the same county with said JAmes up to his death and widow to the

present time. He further states that he was familiarly acquainted with hand writing of the said James

Wilson, has often seen him write, and has no doubt whatever that the paper marked (A)

and attached to the petition of his widow purporting to be his family record and seeming

to be a sheet cut from a Book or Bible, is wholly and entirely in the hand writing of

said James Wilson.

Mtn. Fugate

Sworn to and subscribed this 5 day of Jan. 1842 before me the undersigned a justice of

the peace of the Pendleton County County Court Ky. D.S. Clarkson J.P.

---

State of Kentucky Campbell County

On this the twelfth day of July, A.D. 1841 personally appeared before me George Morris a

justice of the County Court, for the county aforesaid, the same being a Court of Record,

Col. Nicholas Long a resident of the county aforesaid aged eighty seven, who being duly

sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following statement, to wit: That he

well and intimately acquainted with James wilson, who died at Falmouth, Pendleton

County, Ky. and also his wife Agnes. That the said James was this affiant's half brother

and the said Agnes the wife of said James was the sister of this affiant's wife, now

decd. That the said Agnes is the daughter of John Pickett, decd. of Caroline County

Virginia and the said James Wilson, the son of Abraham Wilson, the second husband of the

mother of this affiant. The said James Wilson and his wife the said Agnes, were both

born in Caroline County Virginia, and married in that county, and some years after their

marriage, removed from Virginia to the State of Kentucky, first to Scott County and

afterwards to the neighborhood of Falmouth Pendleton County, in which place the said

James Wilson died, leaving him surviving his wife the aforesaid Agnes. This affiant

distinctly recollects being at the wedding of said James & Agnes and several incidents

of their ---- ---- out the same, but to the name the precise year in which that event

took place he can not, wih certainty. The said Agnes was much younger than her sister

this affiant's wife and was married quite young to said James Wilson in Caroline County

at the house of her father. This affiant further states that during the revolutionary war - when the seat of war was

changed from the north to the south, he distinctly recollects that teh said James Wilson

and his father (this affiant's step father) both were in service in the Virginia

militia, in the South. How long James served in one town in teh south of whether he went

more than one to the south he does not recollect, but he distinctly recollects of having

had various conversations with his said brothers of the events of his services in the

south. That among them, Gates defeat, and the battle at Guilfort Court house in North

Carolina, were frequently and often and familiarly spoken of, and feels confident, and

as much so as of any event, which he does not of his own personal knowledge know, that

James Wilson, was not only in the American army in the Sout, as common soldiers but that

he was both at Gates defeat and at the battle of Guilfort Court house. And his

confidence is founded

upon the frequent conversations held with him and others in reference to those two

battles pend? from the fact that in family events, and among and with all the

acquaintances such has always been taken to have been two of the events which occurred

to him while in service in the south. This affiant further states that he feels confident in his own mind that teh said James

was also at the taking of Cornwallis at Little York Virginia. But from the great length

of time which has since elapsed, he cannot speak with certainty as to the length of time

he served at one town or for how long he went out to service. his impression is that his

services were two months tours at a time, but how long the said James --- --- continued

period served, in fact, he does not remember, but whether the said James went out for

longer or shorter tours, he very well and distinctly knows that the said James Wilson

was always taken, talked of and viewed by all those who knew him and as such knew that

he took a part in the revolutionary struggle, that he had done so faithfully and

honorably, without impectations? of any kind whatsoever of not having performed his duty

as a soldier in any respect whatever. This affiant feels entirely and fully confident

that the said JAmes Wilson while serving, fully served out his respective periods or

tours,and -- time left the army at any one time otherwise than an honorable way.Had such

been teh case, he would have heard of it, and the said James Wilson would not, as he was

always was spoken off by his acquaintances of that period as a faithful & onorable

soldier of the war. Nicholas Long

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written before me the undersigned and I

further hereby certify that Col. Nicholas Long, the above affiant, is credible and that

by reason of his age and corporeal infirmities he cannot without inconvenience attend

any one of the courts of this County to make or give testimony. George Morris J.P.

Campbell County Court

Commonwealth of Kentucky Campbell County I John N. Taliaferro Clerk of the County Court for the county afsd.do certify that

George Morris is now and was at the time of signing the foregoing certificate an acting

Justice of the Peacein and for said county duly commissioned & sworn into office & that

his signature thereto appears to be genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said county at

the court house in Alexandria this 12th day of August A.D. 1841 and in teh50th year of

the commonwealth. John N. Taliaferro Clerk

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Transcribed by Greg Lamberson 29 September, 2010