Person:Josiah Marcum (1)

Early Life

In Bedford County, Josiah Markham was bound to Thomas Markham for apprenticeship.

Children

It is possible that all his children were by Eda, not split between his 2 wives as many online commentaries indicate (with little consistency in how the children are split). See notes on Eda McDonald's page for evidence suggesting that she was alive in 1824.

1829 Revolutionary War Pension Application

Josiah Marcum
State of Kentucky
Lawrence County

Josiah Marcum, as a Revolutionary soldier, this day comes into court and produced his declaration, which was sworn to in open court and ordered to be recorded and certified to the Secretary of War, which is in the words and figures following, to wit: On the 13th day of July 1829 personally appeared in open court of record for the county of Lawrence, aforesaid, JOSIAH MARCUM, resident of said county, aged about 75 years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the pension made by the Act of Congress of the 18th of March 1818 and the 1st of May 1820; that the said Josiah Marcum enlisted for the term of one year on the ? day of January, 1780, in the state of Virginia, in the company commanded by Capt. Boyes (Boyer?) and the regiment commanded by Col. Campbell in the line of the state of Virginia, in the Infantry Continental establishment, that he continued to serve in said corps until the month of May 1781 (being about three months over the time of his enlistment) when he was discharged from the service in Crowell County, State of North Carolina. That he hereby relinquishes all claims to a pension except the present, that his name is not on the role of any other state except Kentucky, and the following are the reasons for his not having made an earlier application for a pension, to wit: He never until a few weeks since was able to find anyone with whom he served and by whom he could prove his service; that for may years past he has been infirm and pennyless (sic), from which cause he was unable to travel to such place as it was to him most probable he could procure evidence of his services and it was quite lately that he was able to procure such evidence. And, in pursuance of the Act of Congress of thy 1st of May 1820, I do solemnly swear that I was a resident of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent hereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the U.S. in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not, nor has any body in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts due me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto answered by me. Described, to wit: One rifle gun worth about $10, one heifer worth $4 and one bed and furniture worth about $10.

                             JOSIAH X MARCUM
                             his mark

The following changes has taken place since the year 1818: at that time I had one horse worth about $30, and two cows and calves worth then about $10 each, and some little household furniture of but small value, not exceeding the sum of $5. The horse I swaped (sic) and the one I swaped for is since dead; the cows and calves I have since disposed of for necessary support, and have been chiefly dependent upon the charity of my countrymen. I have no family except my wife Polly. My occupation has been that of a gunsmith but from age, infirmity and loss of sight I have for some years past been totally unable to pursue it.

                             JOSIAH X MARCUM
                             his mark

Sworn to and declared in open court this 13th day of July 1829 before us, the subscribed Justices of the Peace for the county court of Lawrence County, and we do certify that it is the opinion of the court, from the evidence before us, that the said Josiah Marcum has rendered the services to his country as in declaration set forth and that we are of the opinion that the stated value of the property set forth in his said delcaration does not exceed the sum of $24. And that it is the further opinion of this court that from the indigent circumstances of the said applicant, he does stand in need of assistance of his country for support.

                             J.P
                             RICHARD CHAMBERS
                             HENRY GUYZER (Geiger)
                             ISAAC BOLT
                             LEWIS RIGLESBY

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements

Pension Application of Josiah Marcum S8999 State of Kentucky } Lawrence County Sct } On this 2 day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before Silas W. nd Robbins, judge of the Lawrence Circuit Court now sitting, Josiah Marcum of said County & State aged 73 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 Act of Congress passed 7 June 1832. th That he was born on the 2 day of May 1759 as he was always informed, but never saw any nd record of his age, in Chesterfield County, Virginia but removed to the County of Prince Edward when only four or five years old. He afterwards when young removed to Bedford County in the State of Virginia and volunteered in the spring immediately preceding the defeat of Gen’l. Gates [defeat of Horatio Gates at the Battle of Camden SC, 16 Aug 1780] – he does not remember the exact date — He volunteered in the Virginia State Troops under Capt. Tate – his christian name he thinks was Matt or Nat. [Nathaniel Tate] his Lieutenant’s name was Goggins, he thinks his given name was Stephen [Stephen Goggin] — The Regiment to which he was attached was commanded by Col. Campbell – his given name not recollected [probably Lt. Col. Richard Campbell] – he entered the service for 18 months and served out the whole time and was discharged in Hillsborough Court House in North Carolina. From Bedford when he enlisted, he was marched into North Carolina and was in Gates’s defeat or rather driving a baggage waggon in the vicinity of the battle which was but a short time after he entered the service. He was under Gen’l. Stephens [sic: Edward Stevens] who was under Gen’l. Gates — After the defeat of Gates he was marched to Hillsborough where head quarters were for a portion of the army, and spent the winter there and on scouting parties. He was still under Gen’l. Stephens who commanded the Eighteen months men and he was put under Gen’l. [Nathanael] Greene at the battle of Guilford [Guilford Courthouse NC, 15 Mar 1781] or was driving a baggage waggon near there – Greene having succeeded Gates in the command of the Southern army. He was discharged in the fall of the year for he remembers after his discharge, on his way home, the fruit in the orchards was ripe and many persons refused to let soldiers have any. He was discharged at Hillsborough N. Carolina. His discharge was signed by his Captain, but he had it washed up in his pocket about 20 or 25 years ago. One David Layer commanded a regular company and Capt. Newel [probably Newell] commanded another. He knew Col. Bluford [sic: Abraham Buford] & Gen’l. [John] Butler & many other officers. He further states that he has no documentary evidence and knows of no person by whom he can prove the whole of his service whose testimony he can procure – but Silas W. Outen, Edward Burgess and David Adkins knows of his having been in the service. He was a drummer a part of the time he was in service. 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 this day & year aforesaid. Josiah hisXmark Marcum I David Adkins do hereby declare that I saw Josiah Marcum, the above petitioner, beating the drum in one of the Companies stationed at Hillsborough just before the defeat of Gen’l. Gates. I was a fifer and we were marched out with a portion of the army together, but after we marched from Hillsborough I did not see him again to my recollection. Sworn to & Subscribed this 2 Nov. 1832 David hisXmark Adkins nd Stephen Marcum states that he has seen the discharge which his father received when he left the revolutionary war. It was about 35 years ago that he saw the discharge and remembers well that the discharge stated that his father had served out the term of Eighteen months. He with another individual examined the papers of his father for a bill of sale of a negro woman and found the discharge and they had some conversation in relation to the revolutionary war and the old man then and at other times told many anecdotes of things that took place whilst he was a soldier. [signed] Stephen Marcum The amendatory petition or Declaration of Josiah Marcum to his original petition or Declaration made on the 2 of november 1832 before the Lawrence Circuit Court. He states that he enlisted nd instead of volunteered as stated in his first declaration and considered the terms volunteered as synonimous with enlisted. That Edward Burgess was the Serjeant who enlisted him in Bedford County Virginia in the spring of the year, he thinks in March or April – the year he cannot state but it was before Gates was defeated at Camden. He went into service as a Drummer and continued a Drummer only a few weeks, for he was marched to Hillsborough in North Carolina directly after his enlistment and after his arrival there, there being many better drummers than himself, in a few days, he went into the ranks as a private and therefore only claims as a private. In his former Declaration he stated that he drove the baggage waggon – he will now state more precisely – He was always mustered in the service as a soldier, but was frequently with others detached to guard the baggage waggons, and, being an excellent hand to drive the waggon, he was frequently ordered to drive the waggon. At the battle of Camden, he would correct his former statement in this particular – he was guarding the baggage waggons or driving one – for he sometimes in the same day would be acting as a guard and occasionally as driver and the driver take his station as guard. This was also his situation at the battle of Guilford. This he knows well and therefore positively states that he did enlist for 18 months as a private and served out his time & was honorably discharged. The number of days that he ever drove a baggage waggon all put together could not exceed Thirty. He states that after going out, he continued in service for the full term of Eighteen months, and never left the service until finally discharged at Hillsborough, the second fall, after his enlistment. [6 Nov 1833] Josiah hisXmark Marcum He states that a part of his service whilst in the army was under Capt Edmonson he thinks his given name was Richard [possibly Richard Edmondson]. Edward Burgess states that Josiah Marcum an applicant for a pension, was enlisted by him as a Sarjeant, either in the year 1778 or ‘79 – however it was in the same year that Gates was defeated at Camden. It was in the Spring of the year and entered service for Eighteen months as continental troops. He knows that said Marcum went out under Capt. Nat. Tate and served out his full term of 18 months. Marcum acted as Drummer only a few days and until we joined the main army – then he acted as a private Soldier. He was in Gates’s defeat at Camden & was discharged after the expiration of said enlistment at Hillsborough in North Carolina. Marcum was enlisted by this affiant in Bedford County Virginia. We were under the immediate command of Gen’l Stephens – this affiant was not always with the Army but was sent off sometimes to enlist more soldiers – he always saw Marcum in the army whenever he brought in new recruits. He has known him since he was a boy. This affiant has been on the pension roll [application S35806] for six or seven years and the reason he understands why Marcum was not on the roll was because he was worth too much [to apply under the act of 1818]. [6 Nov 1833] Edward hisXmark Burgess

Historic Marker

1. ↑ Pension Application of Josiah Marcum S8999 State of Kentucky, Lawrence County.

   See text on page

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Find A Grave.

   includes a digitized image page 220 from the WV Heritage Encyclopedia with a biography of his grandson Rev. Jacob M Marcum - this mentions that Josiah died in March, 1846.