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Facts and Events
William Edmiston was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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- American Revolutionary War Veteran
Revolutionary War Pension Information
Information from “Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records”, Vol. 2, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :
- Edmisten, William - entered service 1780 in Amherst County, Virginia, where resided on Headwaters of Pedlar River, as substitute for brother Robert; son of James; moved in 1781 to Lower Creek, Burke County, North Carolina, where he entered service in 1781; returned to Amherst County, Virginia, where he again entered service; moved in 1782 back to Burke County, North Carolina, thence in 1841 to Wilkes County, North Carolina, where he applied for Pension in 1844 age 84; Pension Application rejected, less than 6 months service in a regularly constituted military unit; died 11/21/1847 or 10/14/1848 at home of son John T., Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, North Carolina; children: Susana Blair (resided 1853 in Watauga County, North Carolina), Sally, Robert, Lucy, Emanuel, William, Betsy, Allen, Abraham, Thomas, Suthard, Belinda, & John T.; surname also spelled Edmiston & Edmonson. F-R3243, R898.
William Edmiston's 1844 Pension Application pg1 |
William Edmiston's 1844 Pension Application pg2 |
William Edmiston's 1844 Pension Application pg3 signed William Edmisten |
Letter from North Carolina State Comptroller, 1855 |
1933 correspondence from Pension Bureau R 3243, pg1 |
1933 correspondence from Pension Bureau R 3243, pg2 |
1933 correspondence from Pension Bureau R 3243, pg3 |
This page is for William_Edmiston b ca 1759 In Augusta County, Virginia. Died 14 Oct 1848 Wilkes Co, North Carolina
In 1933 a request was made to the Pensions Bureau, Washington DC, requesting a statement on the 1884 Revolutionary War Pension Application of William Edmisten (the file actually references, William Edmisten, Edmiston, and Edmonson) listed under R 3243. The following is excerpt of reply:
- “The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim R 3243. based upon the Revolutionary War Service of William Edmisten.
- The date and place of soldier's birth are not shown in claim.
- William Edmisten (as he signed) son of James Edmiston (name of mother not stated) applied for pension August 2, 1844. While resident of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Aged 84 years.
- It was alleged that while residing on the headwaters of the Pedlar River in Amherst County, Virginia in August 1780 and served one month as private in Captain. John Jacobs company, colonal Taylor's Virginia regiment, and that he was engaged in guarding Burgoyne's men taken prisoner sometime previous to that period; that he enlisted about October 1, 1780, as a substitute for his brother Robert Edmiston, and served three months as private in Captain Samuel Higginbottom's Virginia Company; that on March 1, 1781 he emigrated to Lower Creek, Burke County, North Carolina,and on the eigth day after his arrival there he was appointed sargent and served as such from April 10, 1781 until September 15, following in Captain William Sumpter's company, Colonel Charles McDowell's North Carolina regiment. That after about two weeks after he returned home to Amherst County, Virginia, he enlisted in Captain Richard Ballinger's company to go to “Little York”, but before reaching there, Cornwallis Surrendered and that he returned home.
- His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of service in a regularly organized military corps.
- In September 1782 the soldier again emigrated to what was then Burke County, North Carolina, until about 1841, the he moved to Wilkes County, in that state. William Edmisten died October 21,1847, or October 14,1848 (both dates appear) at the home of his son, John T Edmiston, in Wilkesburro, Wilkes County, North Carolina. The name of the soldier's wife is not shown in the claim, but he name of the following children appear, Susannah Blair, who in 1853 was living in Watauga County, NC, Sally, Robert, Lucy, Samuel, William, Betsy, Allen, Abraham, Thomas, Suthard, and Belinda (?) illegible, and John T who in 1863 was living in Wilkes County, NC. In 1862, one Lucetta Edmiston aged 22 years, was residing within five and one half miles of Wilkesburo, Noth Carolina, relationship to soldier unknown.”
In his claim William had specified that it was his father James's (James Edmiston) house on the Pedlar River.
From the Aug 24, 1844 deposition of Abraham Sudderth:
- "...after being duly sworn according to Law deposeth and sayeth that he was well acquainted with William Edmiston...that he is a creditable person and that his declaration is entitled to all due credit and he further says that he well recalls that the aforesaid Edmiston was in the service of the United States under Capt. Wm. Sumpter but in what grade or how long he says he is not able to say, and he further says having been acquainted with...Wm. Edmiston from childhood he has reason to believe from his acquaintances with him and from his age and bodily infirmity and from the opinions and beliefs of the neighborhood...that his declaration is true and just and that he served and done as he set forth..."
It was found the 84 year old had a few dates wrong, his service actually started in 1777 or 1778. The facts were never challenged. The standard reply was that William had “failed to prove service in a regular organized military unit.” The report fails to note that William was shot and severely injured by “Tories” (or another group that was not a regular organized military unit), and the North Carolina State Comptroller, George W. Brooks, certified that William had been paid for three months service in the North Carolina malitia.
After William's death his daughter, Susannah Edmiston Blair, appealed the finding in 1853. At some point the cause was taken up by his son John T Edmiston. But he same response was given each time, each “failed to prove service in a regular organized military unit.” Finally, on a form where with a printed date of 1874 appears and is marked through, the phrase is “He failed to show six months of service in a regular organized military unit." Probably William did not meet the requirements of the Pension Act of 1832, but there was a lack of communication and compassion for a wounded veteran of the Revolutionary War.
References
- Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements
Pension application ofWilliam Edmisten(Edmiston, Edmonson) R3243 fn56NC/Va.
Transcribed by Will Graves 11/25/08
State of North Carolina, Wilkes County
On this 2nd day of August 1844 personally appeared in Open Court Before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions opened & held according to law for the County of Wilkes at Wilkesboro North Carolina now sitting William Edmisten a resident of Wilkes County State aforesaid aged 84 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 entered the service of the United States while he resided in Amherst County in State of Virginia, in the month of August 1780, under Captain John Jacobs of Amherst County State aforesaid -- Commanded by Colonel Taylor at Albemarle Barracks, and served a tour of one month in Garrison guarding General Burgoyne's men, that the Americans had taken prisoner some time previous to that period. Afterwards I again entered the service on or about the first of October 1780 for three months as a substitute for my father, Robert Edmisten under Captain Samuel Higginbottom who was Commanded by Lieutenant Joseph Higginbottom Morrison, at Richmond on James River in State aforesaid. I do not recollect the name of the Colonel Commander. I then left the service at the expiration of this three months and returned to my father, James Edmisten's house upon the head waters of Pedlar River in Amherst County State of Virginia; I abode till the first of March following at my father’s, after which I emigrated to Lower Creek in Burke County North Carolina. On the eighth day after my arrival I was called again into the service of the United States by an appointment of Sergeant from Colonel Charles McDowell (afterwards promoted to General), Captain William Sumpter and Lieutenant James Blair. In obedience to this appointment I took charge of a Company of Militia and was ordered to rout the Tories who infested the Western portion of North Carolina; Suppress invasions, and whole myself and company ready for immediate service in any emergency, over this Company and with it I served from the 15th of April 1781 till 15th September following a period of five months and owing to our orders and situation was debarred from any civil pursuit whatever, during this period of five months we were not called into any battles, and there was no call upon us to suppress invasions: we rendezvoused near Kriders [sic, Cryder’s] Ford on what was called Lower Creek: at the end of this period or on the 15th September 1781, I was discharged verbally by Captain Sumpter from the service. On the 25th day of the same month, I went Home to Amherst County in Virginia and after about two weeks abode there I was again called into the Militia by Captain Richard Ballinger to go to Little York: we were commanded to rendezvous at Amherst C. H. a distance of 30 miles from where I lived. On my way there I met Charles Ison (afterwards promoted to a captainship) who informed me of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and in obedience to orders from his Captain & General I was freed and returned home in Amherst County in Virginia and in September 1782 I again emigrated to what was then called Burke County, State of North Carolina in which County I resided to within the last three years I moved to Wilkes –
And I William Edmisten have now submitted to the department all I now know or recollect concerning my services, and I know of no documentary evidence I have to support my declarations or my services.
He the aforesaid William Edmisten 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 on the day and year aforesaid
S/ William Edmisten
Samuel P. Smith, a clergyman, and JamesWellborn gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
Know all men by these presents that I. Susanah Blair [Susannah Blair] of the County ofWatauga & State of North Carolina and one of the children and legal representatives of William Edmonson who was a Revolutionary Soldier who is now deceast [deceased] he deceased on the 21st day of October in the year 1847 aged about 88 years at the time of his Death Leaving at the time of his Death 13 Living Children to wit myself Susannah, Sally, Robert, Lucy, Emanuel, William, Betsy, Allen, Abraham, Thomas, Suthard [?], Belinda, John my father William Edmonson some short time previous to his Death as I am informed filed a Declaration & had it sent to the war Department for the purpose of obtaining his pension but for want of attention or some over purpose has never drew any I do hereby irrevocably Constitute and appoint Judan Councill & William F. Davidson Mclenburg [sic, Mecklenburg] County and city my true & lawful attorneys for me & in my name to examine into & prosecute any claim that may be due or found due to the children and legal representatives of William Edmonson in virtue of said William Edmonson's services in the Revolutionary War and the several acts and resolutions of Congress relative thereto and that might have accrued to either of the said parties and not drawn during their lifetime and now due to their legal representatives and to receive the Certificate of pension &c.... in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 21st day of January 1853. S/ Susannah Blair, X her mark
Signed in presence of
S/ J.W. Councill, JP
[facts in file: Veteran died at the home of his son, John T. Edmiston in Wilkesboro, NC either on October 21, 1847 or October 14, 1848 (both dates appear in the file)]
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