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Family tree▼ Facts and Events
William Edmiston was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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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.
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