Pension application of William Eakin R3183 fn29NC
Transcribed by Will Graves 6/23/11
The declaration of John Eakin, one of the Heirs of William Eakin a Revolutionary Soldier, who died in the County of Washington in the State of Virginia on the __ day of May 1834 he makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the benefits of the act of Congress the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 7th day of June 1832 wherein it is provided that persons who served in the War of the Revolution if living on the 7th day of June 1832 shall receive a pension from the 4th day of March 1831.
State of Virginia, County of Washington
On this 26 day of July 1853 personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace, John Eakin a resident of said County aged 54 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare, and make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed on the 7th day of June 1832 Granting pensions to persons who served in the War of the Revolution. That his Father the said William did serve to alternate tours of six months duty in the Revolutionary (war). That in the one tour of duty he served under (he thinks) Captain George or John Scott 1777 and had in his mess in said Company Abram McConnel,1 Served a part of the time and discharged at a place called Baskinridge, that he was at the Battle of the Cowpens and under __Morgan, and one of a Guard, who guarded the prisoners to Charlotte or Charlottesville, that he was stationed at Cheraw South Carolina, that he did serve two tours of six months each, but the Service or incidents or circumstances of each particular tour he cannot designate, but enumerates them as a whole, and that he was honorably discharged from said service, but what has become of his discharges he cannot tell – he therefore prays that the amount of pension due to the said William from the 4th day of March 1831 to the __day of May 1834 be now awarded to his heirs, under said act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832.
S/ John Eakin
[fn p. 24]
Virginia
At a Court continued and held for Washington County the 23rd day of August 1853
Ordered that it be certified that it appears to this court by legal and satisfactory evidence, that William Eakin was a Revolutionary Soldier of the United States, departed this life in this County on the __ day of May 1834, that he left no widow. And it is further ordered to be certified that the said William Eakin had nine children whose names are Mary, Thomas, Elizabeth, Catherine, Jane, Sarah, Ann, John and Milley. That the said Mary intermarried with John Orr, the said Elizabeth married James Scott, the said Catherine married Tobias Smyth, the said Jane married Moses McSpadden and after his death Thomas Montgomery – the said Sarah married David Duff, the said Ann married Abraham Snodgrass, and the said Milley married William Speer.
That the said Mary, Thomas, Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah and Ann are dead, all of whom left children whose names are unknown.
The foregoing is a true copy from the records of the County of the said County of
Washington.
[Attested September 3, 1853 by Jacob Lynch the clerk of court]
The declaration of the Heirs of William Eakin by his son John Eakin in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832, respectfully sheweth
State of Virginia County of Washington: SS
On this 26 day of October 1853 personally appeared in Open Court, John Eakin a resident of the County of Washington and in the State of Virginia, aged 54 years, who first being 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 his Father William Eakin, was a volunteer from the State of Virginia, under the command of Captain George Scott, and that he was honorably discharged, at a place called Baskenridge on the first day of April 1777 after having served out the full term of his enlistment. That his discharge has been lost or destroyed. That the officers who commanded him and with whom he was associated are dead, and removed from whom living testimony cannot be had, that the said William Eakin, and Abram McConnell, were both messmates in Captain Scott's Company – that they were both discharged on the same day – that they both moved to and resided in the County of Washington up to the day of their death, that they both, in the Company of others have been heard to narrate their services in the War of the Revolution, and that the discharge of Abram McConnell is identical to that of William Eakin, which is lost, in the words & figures following (to wit) ["]This is to Certify, Baskenridge April first 1777, that Abram McConnell, a soldier in my company of volunteers from Virginia, have served out the term of his enlistment & is hereby discharged from the service.
Geo Scott Capt.["]
he hereby relinquishes every Claim whatever except the present, and that the name of the said William Eakin is not on any pension roll or agency, in the United States for paying pensions, nor does he ever made application for pension, that the Battles he was in or the Regiment or field officers who commanded him, are unknown, that the said William Eakin was married in the County of Berkeley __ 17__that he died in May 1834 in the County of Washington, that he left no widow, who died in this County of Washington on the __day of 18__that her maiden name was Snodgrass that she was married in the County of Berkeley Virginia
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in the said court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named William Eakin was a revolutionary soldier, and served as stated, the testimony being such as can be relied on by the court.
S/ John Eakin
Eakin, wherein, they did allege that said William Eakin entered the Continental Army in the State of Virginia, Whereas I proof adduced, it appears they were mistaken, that he entered said Army in the State of North Carolina, they now by permission, amend said declaration on file, with the present supplemental one, referring to the former one for all the facts set forth of service, marriage, and identity of the heirs, & &c of him & his widow.
State of Virginia January 23rd 1855
County of Washington: SS, I John Eakin Heir at law of William Eakin deceased of the
revolution, do upon oath, testify and declare, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that William Eakin did enter the service in 17__for the term of __and served as a __ in the Regiment No., __ under the command of Colonel __of the North Carolina line, and that he continued in the service aforesaid until the __. I further declare that he never received a pension from the United States, nor do I believe, he ever transferred his Claim to it in any manner whatsoever, he claims a pension under Act of 7th of June 1832.
Know all men by these presents that I John Eakin aforesaid do hereby constitute and
appoint John W Stevens, to be my true and lawful attorney ….[boilerplate power of attorney language omitted.]
Squire John, son of William Eakin says – the following is what he has often heard his Father say, William Eakin was born and raised in Pennsylvania – moved to Berkly County [Berkeley Courty, now West Virginia] Virginia, served six months, first at the North, or Virginia (with Abram McConnell), he cannot say – then served in the South, was at Cheraw Hills, was in Morgan's retreat when pursued by the British Army, when rear of Morgan's Army crossed the Yadkin River, the British arrived on the opposite Bank in pursuit, main Army halted at Guilford – he and his company was in charge of British prisoners, – took them on to Charlottesville Virginia heard him say, General Stevens was along when they crossed the Yadkin River, does not know, whether he was General in Command – how he got into the southern Army from Virginia – does not remember of hearing him say. After war, moved to Washington County where he died, from the fact of residence in Berkly County Cheraw he made previous declaration, and said, he went from Virginia, – that was his suppositious belief – his Captain at any time of service he cannot designate, but respectfully refers to that part of his proof filed, where he mentioned McConnell & a copy of McConnell's discharge, to show the name of Officers he was under, a part of service in said War, having alleged, that William Eakin served in the Continental line did not know the difference of Service until now informed by my attorney – therefore must probably be mistaken, he may only have performed service, but relies on his proof, to he obtained from Comptrollers Office in the city, which is applied for.
[fn p. 21: On November 4, 1853 in Washington County Virginia, Thomas McConnell, son of Abram McConnell, gave testimony that he has often heard his father say that he, his father, served with William Eakin in the revolutionary war.]
1Abram McConnell R6643
https://revwarapps.org/r3183.pdf
