Pension Application of Joseph Flippen S8485
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia County of } S.S.
Pittsylvania }
On this 26 day of July 1832 personally appeared before me William H Shelton th
one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid Joseph Flippen a resident of the same County and State aforesaid aged seventy three years, who being first duly sworn sayeth that he is unable from bodily infirmity to attend the court of his County, and on his Oath doth make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers towit
Majr George Carrington, Capt Benjamin Wilson, Leut John Lee and Ensign Martin Richardson,
drafted and enrolled into the Regiment Commanded by Gen’l [Thomas] Nelson in Cumberland
County Va. in the month of June 1777. Served a Tour of three months duty and was Honorably
discharged at Hampton by Capt. Wilson under whom he marched as aforesaid.
He removed from Cumberland to Pittsylvania County in December 1779. in February
1781 he volunteered with about 200 others to meet and resist the passage of the British at
Island ford on Dan River where he was stationed at the Va & no Caro line about Two Weeks. the British army then at Red House NoCa [in present Caswell County NC] about five miles distant.
when at the end of two weeks the enemy removed & went Southward he with the other Volunteers under Capt Wallers [possibly Waller] returned to their homes all having served at their own expense. In a few weeks after this he was summoned by Doc’r. Bryant forage master to Colo. [Henry] Lee’s Reg’t. to Guard five waggons loaded with provisions for Col. [John] Green. he served as Guard to those waggons three or 4 weeks with the army and march via Haw River – Reedy fork & Alamantz [sic: Alamance] No. Caro. he was discharged when the provisions were [illegible word] under the assurance that this service should releive him from the next draft – but it did not. In may following – 1781, he was again drafted in Pittsylvania and entered the United States service under the command of Capt. John Buckley – Leut. Wm. Watson & Ensign Graves – joined by Capt James Burnett’s Company. they marched toward the main Army then in Hanover County Va and one days marched were joined by Capt James Cowders [sic: James Cowden’s] and another Company from Henry County Va. on there marched there rout was frequently changed by the crossing & recrossing of the Brittish army so that they were very slow in there progress.
they marched through Cumberland County where they united with the Cumberland Troops
under the Command of Brig. Gen’l. R. [Robert] Lawson – Colo. St Geo. [St. George] Tucker – Maj’r Phillip Howerton – Maj’r. Pevine[?] they reached the main army under the command of Gen’l. Lafayette at Colo. [William] Dandridge in Hanover County Va. Sometime in June at which time the armies were in sight of each other. the Brittish Army withdrew a short distance. Gen’l Lafayette was anxious for an engagement but could not get one on such terms as suited him.
firing was heard every day between scouting parties. they remained at Colo. Dandridges a short time & marched to Chickahominy Swamp where they remained three or four days. he the said Flippen cannot now recollect the various short marches & meanderings of the Army for the next six or seven weeks. but having no battle & no reasonable prospect of one the army encamp’t at Morbin Hill [sic: Malvern Hill] 17 miles [SE] from Richmond Va. where he the said Flippin remained in the faithful discharge of the duty required of him untill the expiration of his term of Service – 3 months about the last of August ‘81 when he was honorably discharged by their Capt James Burnet, under whom he was placed.
The said Joseph Flippin further declares that he cannot find either of his discharges –
never expecting until the passage of the late law that they would of any use to him. he did not take that care he should have don & they are destroyed lost or mislaid.
Question 1 . Where, and in what year were you born.
Answer According to my own recollection I was born in Cumberland County Va According to my fathers regester & my own beleif was born on the 13 March 1759.
Question 2 Have you any record of your age & if so where is it.
I had in my possession untill a few years past a record of my age made in my fathers hand writing on a sheet in a Bible, but, by some means I know not how the leaf has been torn out & now I know not where it is.
Question 3 where were you living when you were called into service – where have you d
lived since the Revolutionary War & where do you now live Answer. when called into service the first tour I lived in Cumberland County Va. when called in each of the other tours I lived in Pittsylvania County Va. I have lived in said County ever since & still live there.
Question 4 . How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute; If a substitute for whom. Answer. I was drafted each of the three months tour of duty. Volunteered to go to Island ford and was summoned by Doc’r Bryant forage master to Col. Lee’s troops to Guard the waggons.
5 . State the names of some of the officers of some of the regular Troops where you served
such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect & the general circumstances of your services.
Answer. The first tour I served there was no regulars with us that I now recollect. the second the three months tour I recollect none except Gen’l. [Edward] Stevens. I have stated the names of such other officers as I now recollect in my declaration as also such circumstances as can be now remembered that can be necessary to mention 6 did you ever receive a discharge from service, & if so by whom was it signed & what has become of it.
Answer I received a written discharge for each of my three months tower of duty. the first signed by Capt. Benjamin Wilson. my last discharge was signed by Capt James Burnet. both of which are lost mislaid or destroyed. I know not what has become of either.
7 Question. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood. Ans. I am known to a number of persons in my neighbourhood among them will name towit Josiah Atkinson[?] – John Hall – Rev’d Moses Barker – Rev’d Wm. Blair – John Yeaman – Jesse Reynolds – Meredith Jennings – Wm. H Shelton – Daniel Vener – Gen’l Benjamin W. S. Cabell – Doc’r James D Patton.
State also who can Testify as to your character for veracity & their belief of your services
as a soldier of the Revolution. Answer. I will name the same as above as also Susannah Atkinson as to my services.
He hereby relinquishes all & 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 af any State.
[signed] Joseph Flippen
https://revwarapps.org/s8485.pdf
