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Hurson Mathias 'Matthew' Whitman
Facts and Events
Matthew Whitman was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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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. 6, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :
Whitman, Matthew/Mathew - born 1759-1762 at Brooke Gap [Brock's Gap?], Augusta County, Virginia; entered service 1778 in Rockbridge County, Virginia, in Virginia company; moved to Tygarts Valley, Virginia, where entered service in 1781 as substitute for brother George in Virginia company; granted Pension 1832 in Randolph County, Virginia, where he resided since Revolutionary War; John Stalnaker & Reverend Thomas Collett made affidavit there then; Simeon Harns made affidavit there then that he served in same Revolutionary War company with soldier in 1781, per County Court Clerk Archibald Earle; John Bradshaw made affidavit 1833 in Pocahontas County, Virginia, he had seen soldier in Revolutionary War service in 1781, per County Justice of the Peace Isaac Moore & County Clerk of Court Henry M. Moffett; soldier made affidavit 1833 in Randolph County, Virginia, per County Justice of the Peace Squire Bosworth; soldier died 6/28/1836 leaving widow mentioned but not named; query letter in 1836 from descendant Mrs. Margaret H. (Dallas Carter) Akers, East Orange, New Jersey. F-S19654, R2565.
References
- Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Pension Application of Matthew Whitman S18654
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia }
Randolph County } SS.
On this 27 day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the th Justices of the Court of Randolph County, now sitting Mathew Whitman a resident of the said County of Randolph and 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 7 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated. In the spring of 1778 according to his present impression at Collier Town [Colliertown] in the County of Rockbridge in the State of Virginia he was drafted for a three months Tour in the militia under Capt. Gray [David Gray] his first name not recollected Moses Collins was the Lieutenant under Capt Gray the Ensigns name is not recollected. After he was drafted as aforesaid he was marched in Capt. Gray’s Company to the County of Greenbrier in Virginia and part of Capt Grays Company was on muddy creek in said County and the remainder on Indian Creek in the same County He continued in the Service at the station aforesaid until the three months for which he was drafted expired, when he was discharged, and with his officers went to his home in Rockbridge county Virginia where he resided, when he was drafted as before said he thinks he obtained no written discharge as he went home with the officers he was in this service four months including the time marching to Muddy creek and returning home. Some time after he returned home from the service under Capt Gray he removed to Tygarts Vally [sic: Tygart Valley] now in the County of Randolph Virginia at that time in the County of Monongalia Virginia and in the year 1781 as he believes he received a letter from his brother George Whitman then residing in Hampshire County Virginia requesting to go a three months tour as his substitute. he according went on to Hampshire County Virginia and as a substitute for his said joined Capt James Cunninghams Company of Virginia. William Bullett was Lieutenant under Capt. Cunningham and Ezekiel Bogard Ensign and was marched from Hampshire County aforesaid to Falmoth [sic: Falmouth] near Fredericksburg Virginia, and with some other Troops remained there some time and then crossed the River and passed on down the River crossing the Palmunty [Pamunkey] River and joined the Regular troops near Williamsburg but does not recollect by whom they were Commanded Shortly after joining the regulars He with 19 others volunteered as Riffle men [sic: riflemen] under Lieutenant Bullett to cross the York River over to the Gloucester side and act as scouting party, and they accordingly crossed the River and continued scouting up and down the River and in the Country to prevent the British getting across he recollects that while engaged in this scouting service the British having discovered our party sent a detachment of light horse to take our party. He had his clothes and shoes tied up in a small bundle, and being closely pursued and being ordered by Lieutenant Bullett to retreat he lost his bundle and was compelled to serve the remainder of his tour barefoot. This scouting party soon after they joined Capt. Cunninghams company again with the main Army under George Washington General Lafayette had also joined the Army at Williamsburg with many other regular officers whose names have been forgotten. at Williamsburg about 12 days before his three months expired he was discharged in consequence of having rendered some extra services as a forager guard he received a discharge signed by Major Abraham Murray which discharge has been lost He has no documentary evidence but supposes that the evidence of Simeon Harris [S15871] of Randolph County Virginia and John Bradshaw [S6738] of Pocahontas Virginia will substantively prove his services. he can not recollect the precise time when he entered the service & when he was discharged but knows that he was discharged the last time but a very short time before the surrender of Lord Cornwallis [19 Oct 1781].
To the 1. Interrogatory directed by the war Department he answers that he was st born in Augusta County Virginia in the year 1762 as he was informed
To the 2. Interrogatory He answers that he has no record of his age.
To the 3 Interrogatory he refers to what he has already stated respecting where he lived when called into the service Since the Revolution he has resided in Randolph County Virginia and continuing to reside there
To the 4 Interrogatory He refers to what he has before stated on this subject.
To the 5 Interrogatory He makes the th same answer not being able from the great length of time to give a more full answer.
To the 6th Interrogatory He refers to what he has already stated on this subject.
To the 7 Interrogatory He states that he is known to Thomas Collett a Clergyman in his present neighborhood and to John Stalnaker who can testify to his verasity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
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 to day and year aforesaid
[signed] Matthew Whitman
[A letter from the Pension Office dated 1 Aug 1833 states that because a minimum of six months actual service (in addition to time traveling from and to home) was required for a pension, Whitman should state the times of his service more precisely. Whitman’s reply is now barely legible, but the amount of his pension, $20.88 per year, indicates that he was credited for service of six months and eight days.]
[The following report is by District Attorney Washington G. Singleton who investigated many pensioners from present West Virginia. For details see pension application S6111 of David W. Sleeth. On Whitman’s report Singleton wrote “Entitled.”]
Matthew Whitman draws $20.88. On the 6 day of November 1834 this Pensioner gave the following statement of his age th and service as Soldier in the War of the Revolution to Wit – was born in Brocks Gap & in the year 1759 - 60 he was drafted in Rockbridge County (but cant recollect in what year of the war) and marched under Capt Gray & Lieut. Moses Collin to Greenbrier and stationed at [illegible] Fort – there was but the one company at that Station. remained at the Fort for about 3 mos. & then marched back to Calyards Town [sic] Rockbridge & was discharged – was in this expedition nearly four months – his next service was as follows – his brother George Whitman was drafted at Morefield Virginia [sic: Moorefield in present Hardy County WV] for twenty days under Capt. James Cunningham & Lieut. William Bullett. he Matthew took his brothers place & marched to Falmouth. On getting there they understood that Washington army was Cornwallis [several words lined through] Lieut. Bullett & nineteen of the company includeing himself volunteered for three months and marched to Glocester & then Yorktown they were attacked by the British and down to the main army under command of Washington & Lafayette – the army was marched down below Williamsburg and he was then discharged 12 days before his 3 mos. tour was out for extra services which he had done in takeing in some deserters, and for which Major Murray discharged him as before stated. – he served in all 6 mos. & 8 or 12 days. – that statement now given is in substance the same he gave G. D. Camden who wrote his Declaration. In Witness that the forgoing statement is true he hereto subscribes his name
(Signed) Matthew Whitman
Adam Cee Esq. [sic: Adam See] a Gentleman of character, says he has often heard Mr. Whitman detail his Revo. services before the Passage of the Pension Law. That he a man of truth and he believes him to be fully entitled —
http://revwarapps.org/s18654.pdf
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