Pension application of John Atkinson W5650 Mary Atkinson f36VA
Transcribed by Will Graves 2/26/09: rev'd 6/22/16
John Atkinson's declaration for 7 months service
State of Tennessee Williamson County
On this 20th day of February 1834 personally appeared in open court; before the
honorable Thomas Stuart Judge of the Circuit Court of Williamson County now sitting John
Atkinson a resident of said County and State aged 78 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 of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832. That he entered the service of the US under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
Ans. to Quest. 1 I was born in Cumberland County Virginia on the 18th of September
1855 [s/b 1755] where I lived till I was grown up. I then moved to Pittsylvania County in the same State.
Ans. to Quest 2 I have a record of my age taken from my father's register now in my
possession
Ans. to Quest 3 I was living in Pittsylvania County Virginia when first called into the
service. In 1811 I left the State of Virginia and settled in Maury County where I lived 2 years I then moved to this County (Williamson) and State of Tennessee where I now live and have been living ever since.
Ans. to Quest 4th The first tour I volunteered and my last 3 months tour I was called out
by lot
Ans. to Quest 5 There were General Green [sic, Nathanael Greene], General Stephens
[Edward Stevens], Col. Williams Col. Perkins and Capt. Morton who were with the troops where
I served About the 1st September 1780 I volunteered into Capt. Joseph Morton's Company under
Col. Williams of Pittsylvania County. We were called out in consequence of an apprehended
invasion of Virginia by Cornwallis whose movements were then towards the North from North
Carolina Under Col. Williams we were marched to the Island Ford on Dan River where we
remained some time Greene with his Army was then at Halifax, and moved his Main Army
towards the interior and was covered by us Militia Cornwallis and then moved his Army towards Hillsboro. About this time say it 30th of January 1781 at Pittsylvania we were all classed and it fell to my lot to serve a 3 months tour Joseph Morton Capt. command[ed] the Company. The Regiment was under Col. Peter Perkins attached to General Stephens' Brigade we joined General Greene's Army at Haw River. General Greene was then on his march to Guilford Court house.
This battle was on the 15th March 1781. I was wounded in the right hand in this battle which
left a deficit which it remain rendered it useless ever since I was inspected and found unfit for the service and ordered when able to take my turn [?] again. The 3 months were not out, but when it was I got a discharge for 3 months signed by Morton which is now lost. I had served at least 4 months when I entered the 3 months tour which ended the last of March 1781 making in all 7 months for which I claim a pension.
Ans to Quest 7 I am acquainted with William Anthony, Thomas Simmons, Jepeson
McLemore and Robert White who can testify to their belief of my services and their belief of my veracity. I know of no person except Esquire Nunelly1 whose certificate follows by whom I can prove my services. I have no documentary evidence. I hereby relinquish every claim to a
pension or annuity except the present whatever and declare my name is not on the pension roll of any Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Sworn to in open Court 20th of February 1834.
S/ P. Hay, Clk &c
S/ John Atkinson
[James King, a clergyman, and William Anthony gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
I Edward Nunnenlee [sic] of the Hickman County Tennessee a revolutionary soldier myself and
now on the pension list of the agency of this State do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with John Atkinson in the revolutionary war. I know that he served in the detachment under Col. Robert Williams, Joseph Morton Capt. with the troops which were called out against Cornwallis in the last of September or the first of October 1780. Greene was at that time at Halifax Court house with his Army, and Cornwallis was on the other side of the River in North Carolina. The British making a movement towards General Greene he retreated until he was covered by the militia which were called out in consequence of Cornwallis' movement. The command of this Regiment afterwards devolved upon Col. Peter Perkins who was attached to General Stephens' brigade -- Cornwallis retreated from Dan River towards Hillsboro. Col. Stephens under General Greene followed and arrived at Guilford courthouse some few days previous to the battle which was on the 15th of March 1781. In this battle Atkinson was wounded in the hand, and rendered unfit for service. Mr. Atkinson is a preacher of the gospel, and I have heard him preach in the revolutionary war after he was wounded. I know him to be a man of the first order of character that he was a brave soldier in the revolution and always demeaned himself honorably and bravely in defense of his country and justly and honestly, as a citizen of society. I have read his declaration and that part of his service which I do not know of my own knowledge I believe to be true.
Sworn to in open Court 20th of February 1834.
S/ Edwd Nunnell [sic]
S/ P. Hay, Clk &c.
[p 8: On March 25th 1839 in Williamson County Tennessee, Mary Atkinson, 81, filed for a
widow's pension stating that she is the widow of John Atkinson; that she married him on November 6, 1777; that her husband died April 2, 1837; that she remains his widow. She signed her application with her mark.]
[p 11]
State of Tennessee Smith County
On this day personally appeared Thaddeus Armstead [sic, Thaddeus Armistead]2 before
me Stephen Mann one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County and made oath
in due form of law that he was born the 3rd of November in the year 1755. That he is the brother of Mary Atkinson widow of John Atkinson of the County of Williamson in this State. That he and the said John Atkinson were raised boys together were merely of one age and went to school together in Cumberland County State of Virginia. This affiant has a personal knowledge of the marriage of John Atkinson to his sister Mary who were married he believes at his own house by Parson McCrae; this affiant was living a bachelor and his sister Mary kept house for him their father and mother were both dead and this affiant married and his sister Mary lived with him until her marriage with John Atkinson. They were married on the 6th of November 1777 the record thereof annexed he believes to be on examination to be the genuine handwriting of the said John Atkinson and from his own family record and his recollection of the events of that time he knows that the date of the marriage above is correct. Shortly after the marriage of John Atkinson with his sister Mary they moved to Pittsylvania County Virginia and as this affiant is now informed and believes the said John Atkinson served a tour of Service and was in the battle of Guilford or some other battle and got wounded this was after the marriage the reason he cannot say positively he was out in the service is because he was not out with him nor actually saw him in said service but he is well assured that he did serve after the marriage. This affiant went to see them after he returned home while he lived in Halifax or Pittsylvania. Said Atkinson was a Baptist Preacher for the last 50 years before his death and further this affiant is informed it is not material for him to state.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the 29th day of May 1839
Attest:
S/ Stephen Mann JP
S/ Thaddeus Armistead, X his mark
[p 14]
"Saml Akinson was born in the year of our lord 1762 May 13th And was married the 24th July
1794
[image cut off]
[p 15]
John Atkinson was born 18th Sept. 1755
Mary Atkinson was born 17th July 1758
was married 6th Novr. 1777"
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $20 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for service as a private for 6 months in the Virginia militia.]
https://revwarapps.org/w5650.pdf
