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Facts and Events
Military Service
- 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. 3, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :
Mabry, Braxton - entered service 1776 in Brunswick County, Virginia, where born 5/22/1750; entered service 1779 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, where resided; moved in abt. 1808 to Tennessee; thence to Chariton County, Missouri, for abt. 3 years, thence to Macoupin County, Illinois for abt. 4 years, thence to Green County, Missouri where applied for Pension in 1833; Pension Application Rejected, insufficient proof of service; resided 1838 in Taney County, Missouri, when son James made affidavit there; one of heirs Reuben Clevenger (no kinship given) resided in 1854 there. F-R6569, R1610.
References
- Find A Grave.
Braxton Mabry
BIRTH 20 May 1750
Brunswick County, Virginia, USA
DEATH 1840 (aged 89–90)
Taney County, Missouri, USA
BURIAL: Kissee Mills Cemetery
Kissee Mills, Taney County, Missouri, USA
Descendant R. Neil Mabry has done a remarkable amount of research documenting the life of Braxton Mabry who may well be Taney County’s only verified Revolutionary War veteran as of this writing. The Census of 1840, Taney County’s first after being carved out of Greene County in 1837, indicated Braxton, age 90, was residing with one of his two sons who lived on adjacent farms that year.
By examining land records of neighbors whose locations during the era are today known, evidence collected by historian Marilyn France indicates the farms were in the Old Kissee Mills / Beaver Creek basin. Although the earliest graves from the Kissee Mills Cemetery, moved in the late 1940’s to its current location due to construction of Bull Shoals Dam, date from the 1870’s, Braxton’s memorial will be placed there until additional research warrants its placement elsewhere.
Braxton Mabry was born May 22, 1750 in Brunswick County, Virginia, the son of Joel Mabry and Winnifred Smith. Per R. Neil Mabry, known residences, marriages & children included:
--- 1782-1804 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia
--- 1808 in Tennessee
--- 1820 in Paoli, Cumberland County, Kentucky
--- 1830 in Macoupin County, Illinois [living with son James Mabry]
--- 1833 in Greene County, Missouri
--- 1840 in Swan Township, Taney County, Missouri [living with son James Mabry]
Occupation: farmer
Death: after the 1840 census was taken
Marriages:
- Braxton Mabry married the daughter of Jeremiah White, probably in the early 1770s in Virginia
- Braxton Mabry married Nancy (possible last name Day), probably about 1790 in Virginia
Children of Braxton & Nancy Mabry
--- James Mabry: born between 1790 and 1800, married Polly ?
--- Sarah "Sally" Mabry: born about 1792, married Reuben Clevenger
--- Maximillian Mabry: born about 1794, married ?
--- Joel Mabry: born between 1800 and 1810, married ?
Like many early pioneers, Mabry made his way westward in the years following the Revolution. The family left Virginia and by 1820 was living in Cumberland County, KY. A decade later, it was in Macoupin County, IL and by 1833 it was in Greene County, MO, most likely residing in what would become Taney County four years later.
A pension application fully detailing Braxton’s Revolutionary War service was notarized and filed from what was then Greene County in June 1832 when Braxton was 82 years of age. Though the original handwritten document, 27 pages, is available on line, it is difficult reading but a transcribed copy of it appeared in the Fall 1986 issue of the White River Valley Historical Quarterly and can be accessed at this site: http://thelibrary.org/lochist/periodicals/wrv/v9/n5/f86j.htm
The application was returned with a request for additional verifying documentation of service. We do not know if Braxton lived long enough to provide any of that supporting paperwork but is presumed to have since documents notarized by William Archer, one of the first Judges of the Taney County Court, dating from 1838, are also part of the pension file.
Sandra Freeling, who transcribed the original pension documents, wrote that Braxton Mabry was denied pension for lack of documentation evidence and living witnesses to his service in the Revolutionary War. He went into great detail in his effort to prove his service. Documentary evidence did exist, but he didn’t know of it.
His service has since been more than fully established as a Lieutenant commissioned by Governor Thomas Jefferson commencing in the spring of 1776 under Captain James Mason. Not only did his application detail a first hand account of some of the earliest battles of the War in Virginia but is notarized and attested to by some of the earliest pioneer families in Greene and Taney Counties of Missouri.
Braxton died without receiving his pension, sometime after 1840, presumably in Taney County where he most likely was buried in an unmarked grave. A number of contemporary descendants still live in the Christian and Taney County areas through Daughter Sarah (Reuben) Clevenger and granddaughter Lucy (Ambrose) Keithley.
Source: R. Neil Mabry, retrieved at: http://mabryfamilynews.blogspot.com/2004/08/mini-bio-braxton-mabry-white.html
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/161280715
- Mayburys/Mayberrys/Mabrys in the War for American Independence.
Braxton4 Mabry [R6569] (Joel3, Hinchia2 Francis1); enlisted in February or March 1776 in Virginia and served until October 1781. He married a Miss White about 1776. His second wife, whom he married about 1788-90 was Nancy Day. He moved to Pittsylvania County, Virginia after the war and later moved to Overton County, Tennessee, then to Macoupin County, Illinois and finally to Missouri where he applied for his pension in Greene County. He died in Taney County, Missouri.
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~mabry/revolution.html
- Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Pension application of Braxton Mabry R6569 f32VA
Transcribed by Will Graves 1/26/13
State of Missouri Greene County: SS
On this 11th day of September personally appeared in open Court before the worshipful County Court of the County of Greene in the State aforesaid now sitting Braxton Mabry a resident of this the Senate he and the County of Greene and State of Missouri aged 83 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 the 7th of June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
The first tour he served he states he entered the service in a minute company under
Captain James Mason which was commanded by Colonel Marshal [probably a reference to
Thomas Marshall?] in the year 1776 in the last of March or the first of February in Bransay [sic?]1 County in the State of Virginia the company was called to Williamsburg as a guard to the American magazine, where we remained until the 4th day of July 1776 from there we marched under the command of Colonel John Marshall to Little York and there Colonel John Ruffin took the command of us and there remained till about the last of August from there I returned home which constituted the first he then states that he entered the service again according to his number sometime about the month of April or May 1778 & he stated he hired a substitute in consequence of illness of his family who served his Tower [tour] of nine months for which I received my Discharge under Captain Henry Conway which company was under the command of General Stephens [Edward Stevens] he then was called on to guard the American stores about the first of April 1880 [sic 1780] he then Received a Lieutenant's commission under Captain John Watters from thence we marched to the store known by the name of Dobers [?] near Dan River when and express came to march the company to the South and after a march of two days an express came to muster the men out of service and discharge them – he states he received a discharge after a nine months Tower of duty. Sometime in May 1781 there was three companies called for from Petsvania [sic, Pittsylvania] County Virginia and he volunteered in the company of Captain William Aise [?]3. We thence March [marched] thence to York Virginia with two other companies one of which was commanded by Captain Charles Williams & Captain [name written over and illegible] Hutchingson after we got to York the three companies was thrown into two and then he fill [fell] under the command of Charles Williams as Lieutenant we were under the command of General Edward Stephens & Colonel Maryweather [probably Thomas Meriwether] there we remained during the whole siege he was then called on to guard the prisoners to the North he states that he has no documentary Evidence and that he knows of no person whose Testimony he can procure who can Testify to his service.
He 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 this 11th of September 1833
S/ Braxton Mabry
[William Hodges, a clergyman, and William Sorrels gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
State of Missouri Taney County: SS
On this 6th day of February in the year 1838 personally appeared the undersigned
Applicant for a Pension of the County of Taney in the State of Missouri before William Archer one of the Judges of the County Court within & for said County Braxton Mabry a resident of said County at the County aforesaid in the said State of Missouri aged eighty-seven years on the 22nd day of May last who 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 he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers. Viz. on or about the last of February or the first of March in the year 1776 he enlisted under the command of Captain James Mason Captain of a Minute Company in Brunswick County in the State of Virginia & marched to Williamsburg then seat of Government of the State of Virginia to defend that place & the American Magazine which was at that place from being destroyed by the British. The General Assembly of the said State of Virginia being then in Session, Lord Dunmore who had been Governor of Virginia had left that place And had gone aboard of a British Man of War who having destroyed Norfolk [January 1, 1776] was then about to invade Williamsburg & the Magazine. Lord Dunmore lay hovering about with his Man of War in James River for a considerable time. A few hundred Regulars commanded by General Scott the Volunteer Militia & Minute man gathered in so fast that Dunmore did [not] think proper to land his men, but sailed down James River & around to a place called Guin's Island [Gwynn Island] in order to plunder as was said. On the 3rd day of July 1776 it was thought proper by the Virginia Assembly to march about two thousand men to Guin's Island under the command of Colonel Martial [probably Thomas Marshall], when we got to York Town it was thought proper to have Two companies there. The Two companies left there were commanded Captain James Mason's Company of Minute men & Captain Alexander's Company of Regulars these two companies were left under the command of Colonel John Ruffin in which company of minute men this Declarant was & served, in a few days General Scott marched with the Regulars to the assistance of those who first went to Guin's Island. The cannonading was very severe and Lord Dunmore & his Army were drove off [Gwynn Island Virginia, 8-10 July 1776]. We continued there until between the middle & last of September following as well as my memory serves me & were then discharged. In the year 1778 in the month of March I was enrolled in Captain Stephen Coleman's Company of Militia. I was called for & upon proof that I had served a Tour I was discharged. In March 1779 I was called for again I then hired a substitute who entered the service under the command of Captain Henry Conway in Pilsyvania [Pittsylvania] County Virginia delivered said substitute to the Captain & took my Discharge for nine months. In a short time in the spring or summer of 1779 I received a Commission of First Lieutenant Signed by Thomas Jefferson who was then Governor of Virginia. In the year 1780 Two companies were called for from Pittsylvania County Virginia commanded by Captain John Waters & Captain John Wynn. I then in March as well as I recollect entered the service as a Lieutenant under the command of Captain John Waters to guard the American Stores at Pittsylvania & some few hundred British prisoners who were left there under the management of William McCraw Quartermaster. Sometime in August there came orders to Captain Wynn to march the British prisoners at Peytonsburg to the Barracks North of Virginia near Winchester & a short time after that orders came to Captain Waters to march to an old Store near Dan River then to hold himself in readiness to march when called for, We accordingly marched to that place & when the day came at which Captain Waters was to march we marched to Boyd's Ferry on Dan River & between sunset & dark the last of September 1780 as well as I recollect we received orders to discharge the men our time being so near out it was thought needless for us to go any further which was accordingly done & we returned home. In March as well as I recollect 1781 an express came for three companies from Pittsylvania County Virginia Captains Charles William [sic, Charles Williams], Chales [sic, Charles?] Hutchenson & William Dicks commanded the three companies. Williams' & Hutchison's Companies were made but men & officers, Captain Dicks's company was made out the first Lieutenant & second Lieutenant of which company made excuses which were received I then volunteered & took the place of first Lieutenant in said company & marched the men myself. A few days after the Gilford [Guilford County Court House, March 15, 1781] battle we marched from Pittsylvania to Petersburg and were to Joined the Marquis de Lafayette the Commander in Chief & General Wayne [Anthony Wayne] on the North side of James River & it being out of our power to cross James River until we got to James Town on said River we crossed at James Town. Some few days before we crossed General Wayne had a battle [perhaps a reference to the engagement at Jamestown Ford on July 6, 1781] with a part of Cornwallis's Army at James Town. The party of British were retreating when General Wayne saw Cornwallis's Army all in order of Battle & him at the head. Wayne made use of the first impression that passed his mind & cut through a part of the British Army & made his escape & Cornwallis did not think proper to follow General Wayne. We then marched to York & there we joined the Army. When we got there Captain Charles Huckinson [sic] & his Ensign deserted & the three companies were thrown into two this was in the fall of 1781. And I think on the 7th of October in that year I think one hundred pieces of cannon were let loose upon the British at York a severe cannonade ensued in which I was engaged & on the 17th I think the articles of capitulation were concluded & on the 19th the British marched out & grounded their arms. We were placed under the immediate command of Brigadier General Edward Stephens [Edward Stevens] Colonel Mariweather [Thomas Meriwether] was under his command & I acted the whole time as Lieutenant. After this the Militia officers of Virginia were all paraded & were divided by lot some to march with the prisoners & some were to be discharged to go home it fell my lot to march with the prisoners. I served in the revolutionary war to the best of my recollection as above specified fifteen months as a private and eighteen months a commissioned officer viz. Lieutenant & on the 20th of October 1781 I hired an officer to take my place to march the prisoners from York to the Barracks & I then left the service. The first time I entered I lived in Brunswick County Virginia the second time in Pittsylvania & the third time in Pittsylvania & the fourth time in Pittsylvania.
When and in what year were you born? [Question by the Judge].
Answer in Brunswick County Virginia Made 22nd 1750.
By the judge, Have you any record of your age & where is it?
Answer I have and it is in my possession.
By the Judge Where were you living when called into service?
Answer. In Brunswick County Virginia the first time & in Pittsylvania County Virginia every time afterwards,
Question by the court: where have you lived since the Revolutionary War?
I lived in Virginia till I was fifty-eight years of age, in Tennessee eighteen years, Chariton County Missouri near three years, McCracken County Illinois near four years & then moved to Green County Missouri.
By the Court: where do you now live? Answer: in Taney County Missouri.
How were you called into service were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute And if a Substitute or whom?
Answer. I volunteered every time
State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served such Continental & militia regiments as you can recollect & the general circumstances of your service?
Answer. General Washington General Lafayette, General Wayne as to the Continental regiments I do not now recollect, the general circumstances of my service are as above stated as well as I can recollect.
By the Court. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service & if so by whom was it given & what has become of it.
Answer. I received two discharges as a Soldier one from Captain Henry Conway & the other from Captain William Maclin. I kept them about forty [?] [years] left them in the care of my son who left them in Overton County Tennessee & I know no more about them.
By the Judge. Did you ever receive a commission?
Answer: I did.
By the Judge By whom was it signed
Answer: by Thomas Jefferson as Governor of Virginia.
By the Judge, what has become of it?
Ansser: It went with my discharges as above stated.
This applicant further states that during his said service he was not engaged in any civil pursuit. 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 agency of any State & that he has no documentary evidence & knows of no person who can testify to his services living.
Sworn to & subscribed before me the day & year aforesaid
S/ William Archer, Judge
S/ Braxton Mabry, X his mark
And now on the same day viz. on this sixth day of February 1838 the above named
Braxton Mabry after a little reflection further states in addition to the above that he recollects that General Washington was commander in chief at the time of Cornwallis's defeat & surrender: It was said General Lincoln was in the Fort, we were finishing over remained Fort facing the British main Fort, which Fort we were finishing had been commenced the [paper damaged, text missing] before, we were likewise ordered the same day early in the morning [to] finish an entrenchment which took us till 8 o'clock & then marched to the main Fort there were two companies of us at the Fort I commanded one & Captain William Dicks commanded the other all under the command of Colonel Hardiman, we were there engaged in laying the foundation for the cannon & throwing up the breast work. During the day we were then we were exposed to the British Redoubts & the Americans laying in the Rear of us could not fire that day owing to our situation at the Fort. In a night or two after that Washington commanded the British Redoubts to be stormed which was done one by General Lafayette and the other by a Colonel who I understood was a Frenchman as commanders at that time I was in the rear of General Muhlenberg's command General of the Regulars. He further states that his memory is failing & therefore he is unable to call to memory as many circumstances of his service as he formerly could nor can he recollect the names of as many officers as he wants could nor can he on account of loss of memory remembered the precise time of his services except as above specified, he remembers that he served at least as long as he has stated & underwent great hardships, private nation & dangers.
S/ Braxton Mabry, X his mark
An additional Question by the Judge. State the names of some persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood & who can testify to your character for veracity & their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution. Answer by applicant – Daniel Redman, Jack Rowe, Jesse Jennings, James Oliver, Joshua Hodge & for the satisfaction of the Judge I refer him to every man in my present neighborhood.
S/ Braxton Mabry, X his mark
Personally appeared before me William Archer Judge of the County court of Taney County Missouri James Mabry who being duly sworn doth depose & say that about twenty years ago I left the papers of Braxton Mabry which were in my custody as above stated by him in Tennessee not knowing that his Discharges & commissions would ever be of any use or called for & that it is not in my power to procure them, he further states that said Braxton Mabry is my father & was always reputed in his neighborhood to have been a Soldier & officer of the Revolution as above stated.
[William Hodges, a clergyman, & Reuben Clevinger gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[f p. 9: Reuben Clevenger filed a power of attorney dated February 6, 1854 in Taney County Missouri claiming to be an heir of Braxton Mabry, a claimant for a pension for his revolutionary war services.]
http://revwarapps.org/r6569.pdf
- United States. American Revolutionary War Rejected Pensions .
Name: Braxton Mabry
State: Missouri
Location: --, Taney
Reason: For further proof and specification.
- United States. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files. (Washington D.C.).
- United States. 1820 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M33).
Name: Braxton Mayberry
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Paoli, Cumberland, Kentucky
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1 [b. 1775 or before]
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 3
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1 [b. 1775 or before]
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 2
Free White Persons - Over 25: 2
Total Free White Persons: 6
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 6
- United States. 1830 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M19).
Name: James Mabry [son of Braxton Mabry]
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Swan, Taney, Missouri
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49: 1 [b. bet. 1791-1800] - this is James Mabry
Free White Persons - Males - 90 thru 99: 1 [b. bet. 1741-1750] - this is James Mabry's father, Braxton Mabry
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1 [b. bet. 1791-1800] - this is James Mabry's wife
Free White Persons - Females - 70 thru 79: 1 [b. bet. 1761-1770] - this is James Mabry's mother
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 1
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 2
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 4
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 4
- United States. 1840 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M704).
Name: James Mabry [son of Braxton Mabry]
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Swan, Taney, Missouri
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49: 1 [b. bet. 1791-1800] - this is James Mabry
Free White Persons - Males - 90 thru 99: 1 [b. bet. 1741-1750] - this is James Mabry's father, Braxton Mabry
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1 [b. bet. 1791-1800] - this is James Mabry's wife
Free White Persons - Females - 70 thru 79: 1 [b. bet. 1761-1770] - this is James Mabry's mother
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 1
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 2
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 4
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 4
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