Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension Application of John Patton R8012
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
[A note in this file states that “the declarations which were sent to the District Atty. Singleton like the one in this rejected claim were burnt up in in the Clerks Office at Clarksburg Va in Aug 1836.” “District Atty. Singleton” was Washington G. Singleton who investigated many pensioners and applicants from Lewis, Harrison, and other counties of present West Virginia. For details see pension application S6111 of David W. Sleeth.]
John Patton – Applicant.
I the undersigned John Patton being called on by W. G. Singleton agent of the Pension officer for a narative of my Revolutionary Services and statement of my age, give the following to Wit — I was born in Brocks Gap [possibly in Augusta, now Rockingham County VA]. am in my 88 year of age and have lived at my present residence for th the last sixty odd years. during the war of the Revolution, I lived where I now live – and was forted all the time in the Summer season during the war, at Mud Fort and McKays Fort [probably Fort McCoy on Muddy Creek in Greenbrier County]. I was forted at the first mentioned fort during the Summer Season for five years. this Fort was within one Mile of my settlement right and place of residence. The latter For was in sight of my home, at which I was forted during the Summer Season for many years – All the people that lived in this settlement at which I lived forted with me in the Summer Season as before stated. in the Winter Season we would disperse & return to our respective settlements – when forted it was our practice and custom to work our fields as well as we could adjacent to the Fort – we would turn out all in a body and work our respective places by turns until we got through the whole. it was our custom to select two of our own body as centinels or guards.
Whilst some were working others would be watching or guarding. all of us participated in both imployments – we remained thus imployed all the time we were forted as above stated – there was no attack made by the Indians or any one else at either of the Forts at which I was. – when an attack was made on Donley’s Fort [sic: Fort Donnally at present Frankford] some miles distant from my station I was sent out as a Spy – and was in that Service one day and night only – I was never enlisted - drafted or volunteered in any Regular Service. All the Service I done during the war of the Revolution was in the manner above detailed. “I was forted for a number of years” — David W. Sleeth & George Gellelan [see note below] wrote my Declaration. – the Statement made to them of my Revolutionary Services was in substance the same now made – I swore to my Declaration before Gellelan I was unable at the time of making it to go to Lewisburg the [Greenbrier] County Seat – my Declaration was read to me, but I dont know what amount of service I alledged to have done nor can I now tell how much I did do – In addition to the forgoing I was at “the Battle of the Point” (the Junction of the Ohio & Kenhawa) in the year 1774 [sic: Battle of Point Pleasant at the junction of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers, 10 Oct 1774]
— In Witness of all which I hereto subscribe [my] name — I made a settlement right and [three illegible words]
Witness Wm. R. Woods. John Patton
A Copy W. G. Singleton
Memo. After the forgoing statement had been made by Patton I read his Declaration to him, which he states was false in most particulars and that he furnished his own arms and amunition and received no pay — W. G. Singleton Febry 11, 1835
NOTE: “George Gellelan” was probably George R. Gillelan in the 1830 federal census of Greenbrier County, and George R. Gillilan, 56, farmer, in the 1850 census.
