Person:Joseph Palmer (53)

Revolutionary War Service Pension Application

Joseph Palmer, Birth (27 Feb 1757): In his Revolutionary War pension application, he stated he was born 27 Feb 1760 when he was in fact three years older.(1) Military (1776): From Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Files, abstracted by Virgil D. White, pg 2579 (Vol III): "PALMER Joseph, VA Line, S31289, appl 27 Aug 1832 Clark Co Ky aged 72, he lived in King George Co VA at enl & in 1784 he moved to KY and about 1790 he settled in Clark Co KY, sol was b 27 Feb 1760"

From "Clark County, Kentucky Pensioneers", pg. 89:

Palmer, Joseph Sr., Virginia Pensions S31289

State of Kentucky

Clark County ( )

On this 27th day of August in the year 1832 personally appeared in open court before the justices of said County Court now sitting Joseph Palmer Senior, a resident of Clark County and State aforsaid aged seventy 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.

That he entered the service of the United States under thge following named officers, and served as herein stated.-:He enlisted in a company commanded by Capt Buchanan for the term of twelve months and served out his said term. The first name of Buchanan he can not recolect if he ever heard it. He was marched first to a place called Dangerfield in Spottsylvania County Virginia from there he was marched to Williamsburg fro there to Springfield, where they were quartered a considerable time from there to Hampton where he remained until his said term of enlistment had expired and he was discharged. He cannot recollect the numbers of the regiment which he belonged but is was commanded by Col. Johnson. His discharge was signed by Major Buchanan. (being the same officer who had been his Capt but who had been promoted) He has lost said dischange many years since. When he enlisted he resided in King Deorge County & State of Virginia.

He cannot recollect the time when he enlisted. He thinks however it was in the year 1776. He was not again in the service until the year 1781 when he entered it as a militia man. He was drafted in a campany commanded by Captain Coleman He was marched to Fredericksburg when the Virginia Militia were under the command of General Weeden From there he was marched under Weeded to Culpepper County where they were met, or where the fell in with the Marquis La Fayette, and the men he commanded. Weeden then left us and we marched on until we were joined by General Wayne with his troups. After the junction with Wayne we marched toward Albemarle Old Courthouse and shortly afterwards the British army commenced its retreat in the direction of Richmond and we followed until we reached Goochland County. The British retreated from Richmond to Williamsburgh and our army followed through and near Richmond, and from that in the direction of Williamsburgh passing New Kent Cournthouse, until the army stopped at some old fields wehre he was discharged the term of two months for which he was drafted having expired. He recieved a written discharge signed by Col. Merrywether but he has lost said discharge. The next tour he served and it was his last tour he was again drafted in a company commanded by Captain Croucher He was marred to the army near Williamsburg which he reached sometime in July 1781 as well as (he) recollects. He was in the brigade commanded by General Stevens His major was by the name of Hardiman. His Co., was named Merrywether. After being with the Army sometime in and near the place where he joined, the army marched to the seige of Cornwallis at York, where he was during the whold siege, and after the surrender of Cornwallis he was marched with the prisoners to Fredericksburgh where he was discharged. his two motnhs for which he was drafted having expired. He then got a discharge but he has lost it. He lived during the whole war in Spottsylvania county that is after the time he enlisted in King George County where he lived. He has no documentary evidence to prove his service. He was born on the 27th day of February 1760. He has no record of his age. His father had one which he has seen. He moved to Kentucky in the fall 1784 and has been residing in this state ever since, having about the 1790 settled on the place where he now lived in Clark County. He states that he lives c;ose to the Town of Winchester, and that he is well know to Chilton Allan the present member of Congress and Judge Clark the former member in Congress and many others who can all speak as to his character for ( ) and he can prove by Francis Simpson part of his services in the revolutionary war. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declairs that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Joseph Palmer

I Frances Simpson a resident of Clark County and Sate of Ky do certify that I am well acquainted with Joseph Palmer who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that I believe him to be seventy two years of age at last, and I further certify that I know he was soldier in the revolutionary army being with him myself at the siege of York at the surrender of Cornwallis and I believe he service as he has stated in his foregoing declaration.

Subscribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid

Francis Simpson

nd the court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matters and after putting the interrogutories presented by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Francis Simpson, Samuel Handon, and John Ryon who have signed the preceeding ( ) are residents of Clark County, that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I James P Bullock Clerk of the Court the County of Clarke do hereby Certify that the foregoing together with the ( ) Certificate of Samul Hanson & Jno B. Ryon Contains the ( ) proceeding of the Said Court in the matter of the application of the said Joseph Palmer for a pension In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 27th day of August in the Year of our Lord 1832.

James P. Bulllock

Citations

http://genforum.genealogy.com/palmer/messages/8530.html