Pension Application of Thomas Carson S31596 VA
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris. Revised 18 June 2018.
State of Kentucky, } Sct.
County of Butler, }
On this 8th day of October 1832, personally appeared before the Justices of the County Court of said County, Thomas Carson, a resident in the County of Butler and State of Kentucky, aged seventy two 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 provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776, with Capt. Terrel [sic: Henry Terrell VAS2184] and served in the 5th Regiment of the Virginia line, under the following named Officers. That he enlisted in the month of February 1776, under Capt. Henry Terrel, 1st Lieut. John Goggins [John Goggin VAS2183], 2nd Lieut. Thomas McReynolds Ensign Robert Watkins – and served in the 5th Regiment of the Virginia line, commanded (at times) by Col. Charles Scott & Josiah Parker – the latter was Lt. Col. – untill about May 1777, when he was permitted to join Col. [Daniel] Morgan’s rifle regiment, in which he served untill February 1778, being two years from the date of his enlistment, when he was discharged. That he resided in Prince Edward County, Virginia, when he enlisted. That he marched to Williamsburg about April 1776 – from thence to Suffolk, thence to Norfolk, and remained there untill September, when he marched to Williamsburg – thence to Little York, and took shipping in October and sailed to the head of Elk [now Elkton MD] – from thence to Philadelphia and again took shipping and sailed to Trenton, thence by Amboy to chatham in New Jersey, and joined Gen’l. Washington in November. That he marched with Gen’l. Washington to Trenton and was in the battle at that place [26 Dec 1776], and remained with him untill about May 1778 when he joined Col. Morgan – who shortly thereafter marched to Somerset Courthouse, where the British were stationed, and attacked the piquet guard and retired. That a few days thereafter, he was again in an attack upon the piquet guard of the British at the same place. That he was in three several attacks made by Col. Morgan as the British were retreating from Somerset Court house to Amboy – and was also under Gen’l. [Horatio] Gates at the defeat of Gen’l. Burgoyne in September 1777 [Battle of Freeman’s Farm 19 Sep 1777; Battle of Bemis Heights 7 Oct 1777] – and with Col. Morgan in a battle in Chesnut hill [sic: Chestnut Hill] about 30 miles from Philadelphia in November.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
The deposition of John Porter [W26329], taken in Morgantown, Butler County and State of
Kentucky, on the 9th day of July 1832. This deponent being of lawful and first duly sworn, deposeth as follows:
Question. How old are you?
Answer. I am seventy three years old [undeciphered word]
Question. Were or were you not in the service in the Revolutionary War, and if so, state what corps?
Answer. I was. I enlisted in 1776 in the 5th Regiment of the Virginia Continental Line for two years, under Capt. Tyrrel or Terrel.
Question. Were or were you not acquainted with Thomas Carson, and if, state what you know of his service?
Answer. I was. He enlisted in February 1776 as a private for two years, in the 5th Regiment of the Virginia Contintal line, with me and served therein untill June 1777, when he was transfered to Col. Morgan’s regiment of riflemen in said line, where he served untill February 1778, making the full two years, the time for which he enlisted. I served with him the whole time, and know that he discharged the duty of a good orderly soldier the whole period.
Question by Thomas Carson.
Do or do you not know that I am the same identical Thomas Carson, who served in the
Virginia Continental line from February 1776 untill February 1778, as stated by you?
Answer. Yes. I know that you are the same.
And further this deponent saith not.
[The following are from rejected claims in the Library of Virginia. The file also contains similar records of John Porter.]
STATE OF KENTUCKY. Butler County
THIS day [8 Sep 1824] Thomas Carson personally appeared before me John Wilson a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid and made oath that he enlisted in Virginia in the year 1776 for three years in Capt Henry Terrel’s Company in the Fifth Virginia Regiment on the Continental Line, commanded by Col. Charles Scott and that he continued serve in said [undeciphered word] under Capt Terrel untill Nov 1776 at which time said Company was attached to Capt Scrugs [Gross Scruggs VAS2185] company and in the spring 1777 Capt [William] Fowler commanded said Company and that some time in June 1777 he was detached to Col Daniel Morgans Regiment but before he was detached to Morgan he was commanded by Col Josiah Parker as well as he recollects and that after such attachment Capt William Henderson [R14952] commanded him until he was Discharged and that he was honourably discharges at the Valley Forge in Pennsylvania and he served out his time for which he Enlisted and through the course of time he has lost his Discharge and he never has received his Land Warrant for said service.
STATE OF KENTUCKY, Butler County TO WIT.
THIS day John Porter personally appeared before me John Wilson a Justice of the Peace for the county aforesaid and made oath that he the said John Porter Enlisted at the same time that the above Thomas Carson did and in the same Company and Regiment on the Continental line and that (his) the said Thomas Carter’s affidavit contains the truth to the best of his knowledge and recollection and that he served out his time for which he enlisted and was honourably Discharged [9 July 1832]
I Thomas Carson, aged 72 years past, do upon oath testify and declare, that I entered the service in the 5th Regiment of the Virginia Continental line as a private, in February 1776 having enlisted for two years. That I served therein untill June 1777 when I was transfered to Col. Morgans Regiment of riflemen in which I served as a private untill February 1778, the full time of my enlistment when I was regularly discharged but have lost my discharge.
I John Porter aged 73 years, do upon oath testify and declare, that I am well acquainted with Thomas Carson who signed the above declaration in my presence. And know that he enlisted in February 1776 in the 5th Regiment in the Virginia Continental line as a private for two years and know that he served two years the full time of his enlistment for I served in the same company with him the whole two years.
NOTE: A document in the federal pension file states that Thomas Carson died on 18 Jan 1840.
https://revwarapps.org/s31596.pdf
