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Facts and Events
William McLaughlin was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Revolutionary War Pension Information
Information from “Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records”, Vol. 3, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :
- McLaughlin, William - born 12/19/1757 in Bedford County, Virginia, where entered service 1775-76 in 5th Virginia Regiment; resided after Revolutionary War in Botetourt County, Virginia, for 6-7 years, thence to Bedford County, Virginia for 4-5 years, then to Botetourt County, Virginia, for several years, then to Wythe County, Virginia, for 2 years, then to Rockbridge County, Virginia, where granted Pension in 1832; last Pension payment in file in 1840.l F-S18121, R1693.
Will of William McLaughlin
- William McLaughlin's Will
- I William McLaughlin being frail in body but of sound and disposing mind do make this my last will and testament.
- I will to my great granddaughter Elizabeth Jane Oiler my bid bedding and bedstead and likewise my cow {?} now in possession of her father Alex Oiler (_)
- I will to my Great Granddaughter Martha Virginia Oiler the sum of Forty Dollars now in the hands of Nathan Moore being my same annual pension due the 4th day of March last which Moore drew under my power of attorney.
- I also bequeath to Sd. Alex Oiler 3rd(?) the whole pension fund which I inherited by the death of my son Hiram McLaughlin and which was due Sd. Hiram for services during the last war with Great Britain as well as ______ I may be ______ by the death of Sd. Hiram McLaughlin.
- I also bequeath to my Great Granddaughter Martha Virginia Oiler one cow and cupboard two tables eight chairs one looking glass one small bed one trunk one ____? of furniture (sic) Saddle and Bridle and three hogs one set _____? one gray horse.
- I appoint William B. Black the Executor of this my last will and testament as witness my hand and seal the tenth day of Jan'y?, in the year of our Lord 1842.
- William X McLaughlin [HIS MARK]
- Signed Sealed and Delivered in presence of
- S.G. Hatcher
- James Matohet
- Benjamin Matohet
- At Rockbridge County Court, February 6, 1843
- The last will and testament of William McLaughlin deceased, was produced in court proved by the oath of Benjamin Matohet subscribing witness, and continued for further proof.
- And at said County Court, June 5, 1843:
- The last will and testament of William McLaughlin deceased, was further proved by the oath of James Matohet as subscribing witness thereto and ordered to be recorded.
- [:Rockbridge County, VA Will Book 9, pg. 312].
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).
- Pension Application of William McLaughlin S18121
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
[Punctuation partly corrected.]
State of Virginia }
Rockbridge County }
on this 31 day of October in the year 1832 personally appeared before me, Joseph th Blair a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, William McLaughlin a resident in the s’d. County and State, aged 74 last December, 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 June 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1775 or 6 with Cpt Gross Scruggs of Bedford, a Recruiting officer, and served in the 5th Regiment of the Virginia Line and served under the following named officers.
He enlisted in Bedford in the Spring of the year, and marched from New London in Bedford [now in Campbell County] under William Ervin 1st Lieutenant, Thomas Kennedy 2d Lieutenant, & William Kennedy Ensign, company officers, to Williamsburg, by the way of Richmond. At Williamsburg he joined the Regular Forces, under General Washington. Col Andrew Lewis from Roanoke in Bottetourt, then Montgomery County Virginia [sic: Botetourt County, organized in 1770 from Augusta and Rockbridge counties], commanded his Regiment. The Forces under Washington were stationed at Williamsburg. He states that his Col. Andrew Lewis remained at Williamsburg with the 5th Regiment, to which this applicant belonged, about one year [1 Mar 1776 – 15 Apr 1777] during which time, the Regiment was guarding Nansemond, Hampton, & Hobb’s Hole [on Rappahannock River in Essex County]: the British Forces being stationed upon Gwins Island [sic: Gwynn Island, Jan 1776]. He enlisted for the Term of Two years. He was taken with the ague whilst at Williamsburg 10 or 12 months after the time of his enlistment, and came home upon a Furlough of Three months: at the expiration of which Furlough, he returned in company with several others, and joined General Smallwood’s Brigade [William Smallwood of MD] at the sign of the Red Lion in Pensylvania (as he thinks). He thence marched on with Smallwood’s Brigade and rejoined the Regular Forces under Washington, and reunited himself to the 5th Virginia Regiment, then under Col Richard Parker from Virginia about 20 miles he thinks from Brandywine, on the main road leading from that place to Philadelphia. He thence marched to Germantown and was engaged in the Battle fought at that place [4 Oct 1777]. This applicant states that about 2 months before his Term of 2 years expired (as he thinks, and while stationed near Germantown, and before the battle there, he had, with the consent of his officers become a substitute for Lawrence McGuire, an enlisted soldier from Bedford County. McGuire’s remaining term of service was 8 or 9 months, for which time this applicant became McGuire’s substitute: making his whole period of service during this enlistment nearly Three years, including his Furlough. This applicant states that during the battle his Col. Richard Parker was wounded, and he was pressed to draw a waggon containing Col. Parker and Col [Thomas] Blackburn and Capt Fox, who were also wounded in this engagement to Bethlehem Hospital. Col Josiah Parker took Col Richard Parker’s Regiment. This applicant states that whilst at the Hospital, he was taken sick and remained there for 3 or 4 months at the end of which time he was discharged from the Hospital, not fit for service. He received a Discharge from Col Josiah Parker, which wasn’t considered good at the Picquet Guard and he was compelled to return, when he received a second Discharge from Brigadier Gen.
Muhlenburg [sic: Peter Muhlenberg], which brought him safely home. This discharge he has lost. It was accidentally destroyed immediately on his arrival home: his mother being suspicious of a soldier’s garments cast them, as soon as thrown off into the Tub and his discharge was destroyed.
This applicant farther states he enlisted for another term of 18 Months. He enlisted in the Army of the U States in July 1780 for 18 Months in Bottetourt county, with Col. George Skillern of that County [Militia] and served in 5 Regiment of the Virginia Line under the following named officers. th Tom Bowyer [Thomas Bowyer] Cpt – Eli Perkins 1st Lieutenant – Samuel Burks 2nd Lieutenant. John Blake orderly Searjeant. This applicant states that he marched with the new Recruits from Bottetourt under Capt. David May to Pittsylvania Court House on the Southern Border of Virginia. There was delivered up to Ballard Smith, a Continental Captain, who marched him to Hillsborough in North Carolina where the Recruits were dispersed to fill up the companies that were broken up at Bluford’d Defeat at Hanging Rock [sic: Col. Abraham Buford’s defeat near Waxhaws SC, near Hanging Rock, 29 may 1780] and Gates’ Defeat at Pine Tree [Gen. Horatio Gates’s defeat near Camden SC, 16 Aug 1780]. At Hillsborough this applicant joined [Gen. Nathanael] Greene’s Army under Cpt Tom Bowyer: Took up Winter’s quarters at Hillsborough, marched the 17th day of March 1781 to Guilford Court House and was engaged in that battle which was fought against Cornwallis the 5th of April 1781 [sic: 15 Mar 1781]. This applicant states that after the battle of Guilford he (with others) enlisted for the term of the War, upon the condition as he believes of receiving a Furlough of 3 months at that time which was not given them then. He marched on to Camden and was engaged in the battle fought there with Lord Rawdon in the same month in which Guilford was fought [sic. 25 Apr 1781]. After this battle this applicant received his furlough that had been promised some time before, and came home but did not return after his furlough expired on account of sickness, and the close of hostilities at the Seige of York [see endnote]. He received this Furlough at Rugel’s Mills [sic: Rugeley’s Mill about 12 mi N of Camden]. he received no discharge consequently during his last term of Enlistment.
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year above written. William hisXmark McLaughlin
Rockbridge County } to wit.
State of Virginia }
On this 5th day of August 1833 personally appeared before me Joseph Blair a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, William McLaughlin, an applicant for a Pension, and a Resident in said County of Rockbridge, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following amendment to his Declaration for a Pension. In order to state the time this applicant served during the Revolutionary War more particularly than he has done in his Declaration, he states that he enlisted first for a Term of Two years as stated in his Declaration. During this Term he obtained a Furlough for Three months, and Two months before this Term of Two years expired he became a substitute for Lawrence McGuire as stated in his Declaration (McGuire’s remaining time was Eight months as this applicant thinks) McGuire served out this applicants remaining time of Two months, and this applicant served out McGuire’s Term unexpired of Eight months. This period of service in all amounts to Thirty months, including a Furlough of Three months.
This applicant states that he again enlisted for a Tour of Eighteen months, as stated in his Declaration. He served during this Term of Enlistment untill after the Battle with Lord Rawdon at Cambden. After the Battle of Guilford, he enlisted for the Term of the War, upon condition of receiving a Furlough immediately. It was not given immediately, and he continued in the service, as stated in his Declaration, untill after the Battle of Cambden when he obtained his promised Furlough of Three months, and returned home, and when his Furlough expired, his father got a magistrate of Bedford County Virginia (William Robert Ervins) to renew his Furlough for Three months longer, and when it expired the War had closed, Cornwallis being Defeated. He cannot state precisely the time in July 1780 that he enlisted for Eighteen months. He thinks it was about the last of July. He only claims though from the first of August 1780 to the first of May 1781 the time when he obtained his Furlough, making the whole period of his actual service in this Term of Enlistment nine months.
This applicant then states that he believes he served during the Revolutionary War, as a Private in the Regular Service, not less than Thirty nine months, including a Furlough of Three months, making Thirty six months of actual service.
1 que. Where and in what st year were you born?
He was born in the County of Bedford, Virginia on the 19th day of Dec. 1757.
2nd ques. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it.
He has no record of his age in his possession.
3rd Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
He was living in Bedford County Va. when first called into service – in Bottetourt County when he enlisted a Second Tour – Since the Revolution he lived the 6 or 7 years succeeding in said Bottetourt – then he removed to Bedford and lived there 4 or 5 years – Then removed to Bottetourt again, and there lived several years – then came into Rockbridge County aforesaid, where he has continued to reside excepting 2 years in Wythe County Va and 1 year in the State of Ohio – he now lived in the county of Rockbridge aforesaid.
questions 4th 5th & 6th are answered in his Declaration.
7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
He refers to William Rowlison Robert Short and Arthur McCluer – & William Miller
This applicant states that from his situation in life, being nearly totally blind, and being altogether destitute of pecuniary means he is unable to obtain the evidence that may yet be living in Bottetourt and Bedford Counties, which he might be able to obtain were he able to ride through those Counties. He submits this to the Commissioner of Pensions, praying a favourable action upon his case.
He hereby relinquishes all and 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.
William hisXmark McLaughlin
NOTES:
Hostilities did not end with the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown on 19 Oct 1781, and the Revolutionary War did not officially close until 15 Apr 1783. McLaughlin was therefore technically a deserter.
The following fragment is in the file, author unknown: “of this said County of Rockbridge, who has been dead Sixteen or Twenty years, and who was a Militia Soldier in the Southern Service, says That on the morning of the battle at Guilford, he being sick, was sent out with the waggons and that he saw the said William McLaughlin, and his brother Charles McLaughlin, with”
On 22 June 1833 Arthur McCluer of Rockbridge County deposed that he had “often heard
Alexander Plunkitt, formerly a Resident in s’d County and a United States Pensioner, but now dead, state in conversation that the s’d. William McLaughlin served with him (the s’d. Alexander Plunkitt) during the Revolution in the Northern and Southern Service. That he was with him in the Battle of Guilford.” I could find no pension application by Alexander Plunkitt or similarly named person.
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