Pension application of John McCutchan (McCutchen) S21369 f19VA
Transcribed by Will Graves 4/17/13
State of Tennessee Davidson County: SS
On this 17th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of Davidson County now sitting John McCutchen a resident of said County & State aged seventy-nine 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.
I was born in Augusta [County], Virginia, in the year 1753 & lived in that place during the Revolutionary War. In the year 1781 I was called out amongst others by the constituted authorities of Virginia to protect the capital of that state, Richmond, from the British force which was then in possession of that town. We were mustered into service on the first of June at the Little South River near Rockfish gap. I was Lieutenant in Captain Buchanan's company, Samuel Vance was Colonel of the Regiment & __ Willis Major. We met on our march towards Richmond the members of the Assembly [indecipherable word] before the British force to Stanton [Staunton] in Augusta County. We marched with all possible speed to Richmond & surrounded it in the night but in the morning found the British gone. We continued on as low as New Kent County in Virginia & there for companies of our Regiment in one of which I was, were sent on to a Creek called hot-water [Hot Water plantation, June 26, 1781] & we were met by a party of British Light-horse & had a severe skirmish we defeated them & killed about sixty of their number, our a loss was four killed & sixteen wounded, we retreated having Cornwallis Army but a short distance in our front 8 miles that night & carried off our wounded. I was sent next morning by Colonel Vance to General Lafayette to know what to do with our wounded I received instructions from him to have them taken to a small town on Pamunkey River called Cumberland or Adams'White houses in New Kent County & a surgeon to attend them. I stayed here 36 days acting as commissary of the hospital where there were upwards of one hundred sick & wounded, after this time I quit the hospital & returned with some of the wounded militia who had recovered to the siege of Little York where we continued till the 19th of October 1781 on which day Cornwallis surrendered. Colonel Vance's militia to which I belonged was detained after Cornwallis' capture to escort the prisoners to the barracks at Winchester we left Little York on the 22nd of October crossed the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg & went on to the barracks & were there discharged. General Loson [Robert Lawson] had the command of the escort. I served 6 months in this tour & drew a Lieutenant's pay. I never received any written discharge nor did any of the soldiers with whom I went out. We usually marched & continued with the regulars under General Wayne [Anthony Wayne]. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
S/ John McCutchan
[William Hume, a clergyman, and Willoughby Williams gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
State of Tennessee Davidson County: SS
On this 31st day of July 1834 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of Davidson County now sitting John McCutchan a resident of said County & State aged eighty-two 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.
Applicant states that he was born in Augusta Virginia in the year 1781 [sic] and lived in that during the revolutionary war. In the year 1781 he was called out amongst others by the Constituted authorities of Virginia to protect the Capital of that State, Richmond, from the British force which was then in possession of that place. The Regiment in which applicant was, was mustered into service on the first of June at the Little South River near Rock-fish gap – Colonel Vance, Captain Buchanan and Major Willis were the officers. As the Regiment was proceeding to Richmond, it was met by the members of the Assembly who had been sitting there and were retiring before the British force to Staunton in Augusta County, we marched with all possible speed to Richmond & surrounded it in the night but in the morning found the British had departed from thence we continued on as low as New Kent County in Virginia & there bound companies of our Regiment, one of which applicant was, was sent on to a Creek at Hot-water & we were met by a party of British light horse & had a severe skirmish, the latter having been defeated and lost in killed about 60 of their number and the loss of the Colonial Regiment being 4 killed & 16 wounded Cornwallis' Army being but a short distance in our front we retreated 8 miles that night and carried off our wounded. Applicant was sent next morning I Colonel Vance to General Lafayette to know what to do with the wounded & received instructions from him to have them taken to a small town on Pamunkey River called Cumberland or Adams' White houses in New Kent County and that a surgeon should attend them: here applicant stayed 36 days acting as commissary of the Hospital where there was upwards of 100 sic & wounded at the end of which time applicant quit the hospital and returned with some of the wounded militia who had recovered to the siege of Little York, and there remained till the final surrender of the British officer Cornwallis which happened on the 19th of October 1781. The Regiment in which applicant was (Colonel Vance commanded) was detained after the surrender of Cornwallis to escort the British to the barracks at Winchester; left Little York on the 22nd October 1781 crossed the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg & went on to the Barracks & were there discharged.
General Lawson had the direction of the escort. Applicant enlisted for 6 months and served the 6 months: he received no written discharge nor did any of the soldiers with whom he went out.
The Regiment aforesaid usually marched & continued with the Regulars under General Wayne.
Applicant has made and Application for a pension on a previous occasion – his declaration was sent back to him in order that he might obtain the required proof to enable the examining Officer to allow him the pay of a Lieutenant in which capacity he served. He [indecipherable word] & hereby relinquishes any pretension whatever to the pay of an Officer and only asked that of a private, as he is too feeble & infirm to undertake to collect the necessary evidence: & were he to undertake it, he does not know that he would accomplish it: his name may be found upon the Records in the War Office returned from the State of Virginia. 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 the Agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court this 31st day of July 1834.
S/ John McCutchan
[Robert A. Tapsley, a clergyman and Edwin H Ewing gave the standard supporting affidavit .]
[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.]
