Pension application of Robert Anderson 1 W2579 Nancy Anderson2 f85VA
and John Brown
Transcribed by Will Graves 7/24/06 rev'd 7/26/14
[p 4]
State of Kentucky, Pulaski County
On this fifteenth day of April 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Honbl. John L. Bridges presiding Judge of the Pulaski Circuit Court now sitting as a Court, Robert Anderson, aged Seventy years a resident citizen of Pulaski County State of Kentucky 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 the following named officers and served as herein stated that while a resident citizen of the County of Rockbridge State of Virginia the month or year he cannot now Recollect he volunteered for a Six Months Tour in the Service of the United States in the company of Captain Milliken, the names of the Superior Officers in command from old age & consequent loss of memory and his being unacquainted with all of them, he has entirely forgotten, after he was rendezvoused and Joined the army, he was marched to Norfolk & Portsmouth, Virginia, and during most of the Six months was stationed at these last mentioned places was ordered during the time on different scouting parties and was in several skirmishes with the British and Tories he served out fully the said Six Months and at the expiration of the Term, there was an action of an Invasion according to his present recollection headed by Lord Cornwallis, and his officers detained him with others in the service and he is now from the lapse of time, old age & consequent loss of memory unable to say how much longer he was engaged in the Service exactly in addition to the Six Months, but states that he was in addition to the Six Months not less than four weeks in close & active Service and not less than two months before he was discharged from the Service he states that he was discharged by Capt. Milliken in the neighborhood of his home. He has no recollection of receiving a written discharge. He further states that while a resident of said County of Rockbridge, something less than a year after his return from Norfolk & Portsmouth the time not now Recollected there was a call for soldiers and he again volunteered in the company of Captain Gilmore [perhaps either John Gilmore or James Gilmore] & was under the command of General Morgan [Daniel Morgan]. The names of the other officers not now recollected. He volunteered in the service for no specified Term, but was to serve during the pleasure of his officers or during the existence of the necessity that called him into Service. After he joined the army, he was marched towards the Cowpens and was afterwards during the Service in the Battle of the Cowpens [January 17, 1781]. Some short time after the Battle he was discharged but received no written discharge. He was engaged from the time he entered the Service until he was discharged upon the last mentioned Service, he is from lapse of time, unable to state exactly, but not less than three months. Afterwards not long after his return home from the Battle of the Cowpens the time not now Recollected, still a resident of Rockbridge aforesaid. There was a call for men to oppose and counteract a threatened or dreaded invasion, and he volunteered in the company of Captain Paxton [perhaps either John Paxton or William Paxton] in the Regiment of Cols. McDowell [Samuel McDowell], Alexander Stewart Major and was in the Brigade or under the command of Genl. Stephens [Edward Stevens]. He entered the Service for no specified Term, but to be engaged for and during the continuance of the necessity that called him into the Service or until his superior officers should discharge him. After Joining the main army, he was marched on towards Guilford Courthouse North Carolina, and was in the Battle of Guilford [March 15, 1781] and after the Battle and retreat of the American forces, he was marched by his officers to the Iron Works on Troublesome Creek. General Greene [Nathanael Greene] was the commanding officer upon that occasion. According to his present recollection after the Battle he was actively and constantly employed on scouting parties for several weeks but how long he is unable now [to] state. He was by the command of his officers dismissed from the service, but received no discharge in writing. He was engaged during this last mentioned service not less than Three Months and longer, but the time he cannot now state with precision. Afterwards he removed to what was then Washington County North Carolina now Tennessee and while a resident of said County a call was made by the Government for Soldiers. The time not now recollected. He again volunteered in the Company of Captain Sevier [perhaps John Sevier or Robert Sevier in the Regiment of Col. Robertson [William Robertson]. Valentine Sevier was the Major. The same who was afterwards a General and was under the command of General Campbell [William Campbell]. He volunteered for no specific Term and after joining the army was marched on towards the King's Mountain to oppose the invasion of Tories and British under Ferguson [Patrick Ferguson] and he was in the Battle of King's Mountain [October 7, 1780] and after said Battle when his Services were no longer needed, he was discharged from the Service by his officers, but received no discharge in writing. He was engaged during this Service from the time he entered the Service until he was discharged he cannot say exactly how long but not less than Two months. He has no Documentary Evidence of his Service. He can prove by Joseph McAlister3 of Pulaski County Kentucky who is now an applicant to be placed on the Pension Roll. His Service on the Tour in which he was in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse and also his Service in the Tour in which he was engaged in the Battle of the Cowpens. He will procure the affidavit of said McAlister properly authenticated who is unable from age and infirmity to attend personally in Court to give his Testimony. He knows of no person by whom he can prove the rest or residue of his Services whose Testimony he can procure who can testify to the rest of his Services. He is known to Joseph M. James, a clergyman resident in his present neighborhood and Henry Ashurst a resident of his present neighborhood who can testify [the following page is missing from Fold3.com found on HeritageQuest.com] as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. The said Robert Anderson further states he was born in York County State of Pennsylvania on the 25th day of March 1763 according to the Record of his age made in a Bible now in his possession the property of his Father while he lived. He removed from York to Rockbridge County Virginia and a few days after the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, he removed to Washington County aforesaid now Tennessee. He resided in Washington four or five years—and removed to Greene County, Tennessee and continued there about fifteen years—then removed to Pulaski County Kentucky in which county he has generally since resided and for the last Seventeen years has resided pretty much in the same neighborhood.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name in not on the pension roll of the agency of any State or Territory.
Sworn to and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
S/ Robert Anderson
[Joseph M James, a clergyman, and Henry Ashurst gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[p 11]
State of Kentucky Pulaski County Sct.
On this 13 day of April 1833 personally appeared before Josiah Evans Esquire an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid Joseph McAlister aged Seventy Nine a resident citizen of Pulaski County who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath state that he does of his own personal knowledge know that in the year 1781 Robert Anderson of this County who is about to make application in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 for the relief of the Surviving Officers & Soldiers of the Revolution, volunteered in the company of Captain Gilmore, the Regiment commanded by Colonel __under the command of General Morgan. That said Robert Anderson who according to this affiant's recollection (who was also a volunteer in the same service under the same Captain) served and was engaged at least three months and was in the Battle of the Cowpens. The said Joseph McAlister further states that he does know of his own personal knowledge that said Robert Anderson again volunteered in the year 1782 in the company of Captain Paxton in the Regiment of Colonel McDowell in the Brigade of General Stephens and was marched to & joined the Army under General Green and that said Anderson was in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, and was engaged in this Service from the time he entered the same until he was discharged at least three months. Said McAlister further states that Anderson & himself during the last mentioned Service were in the same company and belonged to the same mess. The said Joseph McAlister further states that he has heard long anterior to the passage of the act of Congress aforesaid that said Robert Anderson rendered other services during the Revolution as a Soldier but does not know the same of his own knowledge. The said McAlister further states on oath that from age and infirmity he is unable to attend in person in the Pulaski Circuit Court to give his Testimony in favor of said Robert Anderson upon his application. Sworn and subscribed to the day & year aforesaid
Joseph Mcalister [sic]
[p 23: On June 15, 1853 in Pulaski County Kentucky, Nancy Anderson, 93, filed for a widow's pension under the 1853 act as the widow of Robert Anderson, a revolutionary war pensioner; that she married him in Pulaski County Kentucky on or about the beginning of the year 1815; that her name prior to her marriage was Nancy Brown; that her husband died in the year 1841 the precise date not recollected; that he died in Pulaski County Kentucky. She signed her application with her mark.]
[p 21: copy of a marriage bond issued December 8, 1814 in Pulaski County Kentucky in favor of Robert Anderson and Joseph Inabrit, bondsmen, conditioned upon the marriage of Robert Anderson to Nancy Brown.]
[p 31: On October 15, 1853 in Whitley County Kentucky, Nancy Anderson, 93, a resident of Pulaski County Kentucky amended her earlier declaration filed to obtain a pension under the 1853 act in which she refers the Commissioner of Pensions to the court records of Pulaski County to establish the exact date of death of her husband Robert Anderson.]
[p 30: Copy of a marriage bond dated June 27, 1787 issued in Lincoln County Kentucky to John Brown [also spelled Brund in this same document] and James Coghill conditioned upon the marriage of John Brund and Nancy Ping.]
[p 52: At the June term 1853 in Pulaski County, Robert Ping gave testimony that Robert Anderson was a revolutionary pensioner who died in Pulaski County Kentucky August 29, 1841 leaving Nancy Anderson his wife a widow.]
[p 54: On October 15, 1853 in Whitley County Kentucky, Sarah Bullock, 88, gave testimony that she moved from Virginia to crab Orchard in Kentucky in 1783 and immediately after the close of the Revolution became acquainted with John Brown now deceased; that John Brown stated that he served in the war of the revolution under George Rogers in the West on the Ohio River; this same John Brown married in Lincoln County Kentucky Nancy his wife; they raised a large family of children; that affiant lived a near neighbor to said John Brown and Nancy his wife; that witness saw all John Brown died just before the war of so-called 1812; that his widow then married Robert Anderson about the close of the War of 1812 in Pulaski County Kentucky. She signed her affidavit with her mark.]
[Facts in file: Nancy Anderson's maiden name was Nancy Ping; her first husband was John Brown whom she married in 1789 Ann who died in 1811.]
[p 63]
State of Kentucky County of Whitley
On this 15th day of October 1853 personally appeared before me the undersigned Judge of the County Court in and for the County of Whitley and State above mentioned Nancy Anderson aged 93 years a resident of the County of Pulaski and State aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath subscribed to the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed 7th July 1838 and the benefit of all other acts extending the same – Granting pensions to widows of persons who served in the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of John Brown (deceased) who is the identical man who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution.
And to the best of her knowledge and belief her husband the aforesaid John Brown (deceased) entered the service aforesaid on or about the year 1778 a private as he said in the company commanded by Captain __ of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Montgomery of whom was under General George Rogers Clark the commander in chief of the Western forces in the West from the State of Virginia and served the rise of two years and probably to the close of the war of the Revolution on or near the Ohio River & Wabash [River].
As he said some of his companions in arms was Elisha Mayfield __.
She further declares that she was lawfully married to the said John Brown on or about the year 1789 in the County of Lincoln and State of Kentucky by one Samuel Davis who was authorized by law to celebrate the rites of matrimony.
And that her name was Nancy Ping before her said marriage – that her husband the aforesaid John Brown died in the County of Pulaski and State of Kentucky on the __ day of __ in the year 1811 – before direction of war so-called 1812: that her said husband informed her that land was allowed to him for said service but where it lies she now has no definite knowledge – but supposes it lies where the law was granted to General Clark's men who served under him from the State of Virginia in the West – and refers the Honorable Commissioner of Pensions at Washington City to that Grant of land defined said Land – that she had no acquaintance with her husband the aforesaid John Brown deceased in the State of Virginia and not until after the Revolution war was closed – her first acquaintance with him was in Kentucky near crab Orchard now Lincoln County. She further declares that she was afterwards married to one Robert Anderson in the County of Pulaski and State of Kentucky on or about the close of the War so-called 1812 in the latter part of the year 1814 or the beginning of the year 1815 – who died in the County of Pulaski and State of Kentucky on the __ day of __ Year __ and the [indecipherable word] of her said husband the aforesaid Robert Anderson (deceased) was proved in open court held in and for the County of Pulaski – and State of Kentucky – to draw a remnant of Pension due him at his deceased – that he was a United States Revolutionary Pensioner at his decease in said County of Pulaski and a copy of said Court Record of her said husband's death was afforded to the pension office at Louisville Kentucky – and she is now informed his on file at the Pension Office at Washington City. The Honorable Commissioner of Pensions is respectfully referred to to establish the true date of his decease. And that she made application for a pension from the County of Pulaski & State of Kentucky under Act of Congress passed the 3rd of February 1853 due on account of her second husband's service in the Revolution the aforesaid Robert Anderson (deceased) he being a US Revolutionary Pensioner at his decease in Pulaski County Kentucky – which is now on file at the pension office at Washington City is referred to and made a part of this petition.
And to sustain her claim to a pension due her on account of her first husband's service the aforesaid John Brown (deceased) in the Revolutionary War – which she now – She truly [?] relinquishes all her right and title she made now have to the Government of the United States due her on account of the service of her second husband in the Revolution he being a US pensioner at his decease – the aforesaid Robert Anderson (deceased) and respectfully asked the Honorable Commissioner of Pensions to examine for the name of her first husband the aforesaid John Brown (deceased) which may be found on the Revolutionary Muster Rolls of Colonel Montgomery under General George Rogers Clark – She is informed is on file at the Pension Office at Washington City – that she knows of no witness now living who served with her said first husband now living to prove his service by and respectfully asked for a careful examination of said Rolls. The reason she has not sooner applied for a pension due her on account of her first husband's service in the Revolution – she did not know she was entitled, thought her 2nd marriage deprived her right to the pension – the reason she swears to her declaration in Whitley County Kentucky it is more convenient for her – that she resides some 20 miles distant from the courthouse in Pulaski County and from old age and bodily infirmity she is not able to attend the court and that she is now a widow. Respectfully submitted
S/ Nancy Anderson, X her mark
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $49.76 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for service as a private for 14 months and 28 days in the Virginia service. His widow was pensioned in a like amount. Despite her applying for a pension based on her first husband's services, she received her pension only based upon the services of Robert Anderson, her second husband.]
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1 BLWt34821-160-55
2 The cover sheet of this file contains the following note: "This woman's first husband, is the alleged to have been a soldier of the Revolution John Brown Virginia died 1811 (see within)"
3 Joseph McAlister S31241
http://revwarapps.org/w2579.pdf
