Person:William Willson (23)

William Willson 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. 6, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :

Willson, William - born 11/7/1745 in Augusta County, Virginia, where entered service 1774 in Virginia regiment & served at Battle of Point Pleasant; entered service 1776 there in Virginia regiment & served at Battle of Jamestown; received Pension there 1832 where had always lived; Alexander Williams & William Davis made affidavit there then, per County Court Clerk Jefferson Kinney; William Worsley & James Hamilton made affidavit there 1833 verifying soldier's Revolutionary War service, per County Justices of the Peace Samuel Blackwood, John B. Christian & John C. Sowers; clergyman Francis made affidavit there also then; Joseph Bell made affidavit there then he served with soldier in same Revolutionary War company per county Justice of the Peace William Davis; William Beard made affidavit there he served in Revolutionary War with soldier, per County Justice of the Peace James A. Mebane; soldier's surname also spelled Wilson; query letter in file 1922 from descendant Miss Annie Wilson, Washington, DC, states soldier died on 12/13/1832. F-S6393, R2602.

Revolutionary War Pension Application

State of Virginia

And County of Augusta to wit.

On this 25th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the justices of the court of Augusta County now sitting, William Wilson (major) a resident of the County & State aforesaid aged about 87 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 act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.

At the time he entered the service he was a resident of the County of Augusta, Virginia. In his first tour of duty he served as a volunteer, in a company commanded by Captain Alex’r. McClanahan, and in which William McCutchan [pension application W1888] was Lieutenant & Joseph Long ensign. That they assembled in Staunton (Va) he thinks about the latter end of August 1774 and marched from thence to Point Pleasant on the Ohio River, having joined several companies commanded by Capt. John Morrisson [John Morrison], Capt. Sam’l. Wilson, Capt. George Mathews & Capt John Lewis at the Great Levels (now in Greenbrier County.) That they had a severe engagement with the Indians at Point Pleasant [10 Oct], in which Col Chas. Lewis, Capt. McClanahan & Capt Morrisson & Capt Wilson were killed. The whole number of killed amounted to about 160. After this battle they advanced about 90 miles beyond the River to the Indian Towns, from whence they returned to Point Pleasant without effecting any thing material. They remained here only 6 or 8 days waiting for a supply of provisions after which they set out on their return home. His company arrived at Staunton where they were disbanded after a Tour he thinks of about 5 months. Amongst the field officers he recollects the names of Andrew Lewis Commander in Chief and Chas. Lewis (who was killed in the battle) was his Colonel.

In his second Tour of duty he also served as a volunteer in a Company commanded by Capt. John Lyle and in which Wm. McCutchan was Lieut & Joseph Long ensign. They rendezvoused at Lexington (Va) about the middle of July 1776. From thence they were marched to Holston River under the command of Col. Wm Christian, being sent to guard the frontier against the hostile incursions of the Indians. They returned home and were disbanded about the middle of December, making his whole term of service in this Tour amounts to about 5 months. He was in no engagement except some slight skirmishes with the Indians. He would mention that Joseph Bell a resident of Augusta County, served with him in this Tour, who is also an applicant for a pension [S6608] & to whose declaration he would here refer. Also affidavit of William Woody

In his third Tour of duty he was drafted and held the office of Sergeant That he was marched from the Widow Tease’s (now Waynesbourough [sic: Waynesboro] on the South River in Augusta County, the place of rendezvous, he thinks on the 11th of January 1781. We marched to Richmond from thence to Fredericksburg & from thence Portsmouth, where the enemy were then stationed, and where they joined the main body of the forces under the command of Baron Steuben. That he was in two slight skirmishes with the British at this place but in no engagement of any note. From Portsmouth they returned home & were disbanded he thinks about the 17th of April. He was under the command of Sampson Mathews – Wm Bowyer was his Colonel & Alexander Robinson [sic: Alexander Robertson] Major. his company officers were Capt. Thos. Rankin, Lieut Alex’r. Scott & ensign Wm. Buchanan. His whole term of service in this Tour amounted to about 3 months & 6 or 8 days

In his fourth Tour he served as a volunteer as a private in Company of Cavalry, of which Zachariah Johnson was Captain, Chas Baskins Lieut, & Rich’d Madison ensign. That they assembled at the widow Teases (Waynesborough he thinks about the first of June 1781. From thence they advanced to Richmond. The British were then leaving Richmond & retiring to Williamsburg, & they fell in with the American Army, who were pursuing them at a short distance. The British remained but a short time at Williamsburg, and after leaving that place they were attacked by the American army after a few of their troops had passed the river into the Island of Jamestown, when a severe engage’t ensued [Battle of Green Springs Plantation, 6 Jul], and a considerable number were killed on both sides. After this battle they returned home, having been in the service about two months as well as he can recollect. In this Tour his Colonel’s name was William Christian & that Gen’l. [Anthony] Wayne & Col. [William] Campbell were regular officers whom he knew.

His whole term of service was about 15 months. He never received any written discharge. He would further state that he was born on the 7th day of November 1745 in Augusta County Va. where he has resided ever since. And that his age is recorded in a family Bible now in his possession.

He would suggest the names of Saml Blackwood esqr John B. Christian esqr & Charles Hudson as persons to whom he is known & who can testify to his character & their belief of his services as a soldier. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state.

[signed] Wm Willson

1.   Appears to be the oldest son of James Wilson of Beverly Manor who died in 1768(Person No. 182), because he owns the same 301 acres of land in Beverly Manor that James owned. Further, he is named in Will of his uncle, John Wilson "the Shoemaker", (Person no. 253), as William Wilson son of my brother James.