Pension Application of Thomas Franklin W1590
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia,
Campbell County to wit,
On this 10 day of September 1832 personally appeared th before the County Court
now sitting of said County Thomas Franklin a resident of the said County, aged seventy three 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 the following named officers, and served as herein stated, to wit: That he was born in the county of Bedford, (now Campbell), in the State of Virginia where in the month of August 1777 he entered as a volunteer in the service as a private in the militia of the State of Virginia in a company commanded by Capt. William Leftwich in a Regiment commanded by Colo. Charles Lynch and served therein for a period of between four and five months, and was then discharged, and expects he got a written discharge but does not now remember; if he did, it is lost, or mislaid so that he cannot now produce it.
During this period of service he was marched from the County of Bedford to the Lead Mines in the western part of Virginia [at Fort Chiswell in present Wythe County VA], where he spent the balance of his term of service in guarding said mines. about two years afterwards, as well as he recollects, he again entered the service as a volunteer, and private in the militia of said state for the term of three months, he believes, in a company commanded by Capt. John Talbot (Thomas Helm the lieutenant) That he lived at this time in the said County of Bedford, (now Campbell), and marched from thence to Williamsburg in said state where he remained some time, and from thence to York in the same state, where he completed his term of service, and was discharged, but if he got a written discharge, (as to which he has no distinct recollection), he has lost it. He believes that the Regiment to which he was attached was commanded by Colo. [Samuel] Cabell.
The duty performed by the Regiment to which he belonged during this tour of service was wholly garrison duty, in guarding the Public Stores, and Property. Charles Glass [pension application W3410], now a resident of this County, (Campbell), also served in the same Company with this declarant during the last mentioned tour of duty – and to his testimony he begs leave to refer the Court —
That afterwards in the month of June 1781 he again entered the service as a drafted
militia man in the same County of Bedford, in a company commanded by Capt. Thomas
Leftwich, and marched from thence, and joined the main army commanded by General [Robert] Lawson at a place called Holt’s forge in the lower part of the State of Virginia – from thence the army was marched up to a place called Malvern Hills a short distance below [15 mi SE of] Richmond, where it remained some time – from thence it proceeded to New Castle on the Pamunkey River where he remained until his term of service expired, and he was discharged – but he does not remember whether he got a written discharge, or not; if he did it is lost. This last term of duty continued about nine weeks.
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 the day, and year aforesaid. [signed] Thomas Franklin
Ques by the Court. 1. Where and in what year were you born. Ansr. In the year 1759 in the County of Bedford
Question 2 Have you any record of your age and if so where is it.
Ansr. I have no record of my age.
Ques 3 Where were you living when called into service. where have you lived since the revolution and where do you now live
Ansr I was living in the County of Bedford where I have lived ever since – (Viz. Campbell at this time)
Ques 4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute.
Ansr. As a volunteer in two instances. in the other I was drafted. I never was a substitute
Ques 5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the Troops where you served such Continental and militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your services.
Ansr. General Lawson & Col. Cabbell and at the Lead mines Col Lynch. and nothing more as to the general circumstances than stated in my declaration
Ques 6 Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it
Ansr. I did. but no not what has become I suppose I have lost it.
Ques. 7 State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your caracter for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution
Ansr. Capt William Rosser John Hunter & Jessey Wood. \
[signed] Thomas Franklin
State of Virginia
Campbell County to wit:
On this eleventh day of June 1833 personally appeared before the County Court
of the said County now sitting Thomas Franklin a resident of the said County aged upwards of seventy four years, (on the 8 day of September next he will be th seventy five years of age), 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 military service of the United States under the following named
officers, and served as herein stated, to wit:
That he was born in the County of Bedford (now Campbell) in the State of Virginia, where in the month of august 1776 he as a volunteer entered the service of the United States as a private in the Militia of the State of Virginia in a company commanded by Capt. William Leftwich in which company James Dixon was lieut & James Hudnel [James Hudnall] was ensign, and in a Regiment Commanded by Colonel Charles Lynch, and served therein as a private for the term of four months (he believes more, but is certain that he served the full term of four months) – and was then discharged, and expects he got a written discharge, but is not certain in relation to it; if he did, it is lost, or mislaid, and he cannot now produce it. He first enlisted for three months, and having served having served out that term he enlisted at the Lead mines under the same officers for three months more, & served upward of one month of the time & was then discharged.
During this term of service he was marched from the County of Bedford to the Lead mines in the Western part of the State of Virginia, and there spent the balance of his said term of service in guarding said mines. In a declaration made by him before this Court on the 10th day of September last he thro’ mistake stated that he entered for the term of service just mentioned, in the month of August 1777; he has since by reflection, and enquiry satisfied himself that he entered upon said term of service in the month of August 1776. That in the month of August 1777 he again entered the military service of the United States as a volunteer, and private in the militia of the said State of Virginia for the term of three months, in a company of which John Talbot was Captain, and Thomas Helm was lieutenant and Arthur Mosely [Arthur Moseley] was ensign, and in a Regiment of which, as well as he now recollects, Colonel Cabell was the commanding officer. That he served as a private during this tour of duty for, and during the full term of three months, and was regularly discharged, but if he got a written discharge, (as to which he has no distinct recollection), he has lost it. That he resided in the said County of Bedford at the time he entered the service upon the occasion last mentioned, and was marched from thence to the City of Williamsburg in the said state where he remained for some time, and was then marched to the town of York in the said State, and after remaining there a few weeks was marched back to Williamsburg. The duty performed by the Regiment to which he belonged being this last mentioned tour of duty, was wholly garrison duty, in guarding the public stores, and property. Charles Glass, and John Hunter of this County served with this declarant during this last tour of duty, and the said Hunter also served with the declarant during the first mentioned tour of duty, and to their testimony he begs leave to refer. That afterwards, in the month of June 1781, he again entered the military service of the United States, in the said County of Bedford as a drafted militia man in the militia of said State in a Company commanded by Capt. Thomas Leftwich in which company Sam’l. Ewin [or Ewing] was lieut. & Jesse Cobb ensign and was marched from thence, and joined the main army commanded by General Lawson, at a place called Holt’s forge in the lower part of the said State of Virginia – from thence the army was marched up to a place called Malvern Hills a short distance below Richmond, where it encamped for some time, and from thence it proceeded to the town of New Castle on the Pamunkey River where he remained until his term of service expired, and he was regularly discharged, but he does not remember whether he got a written discharge, if he did, it is lost. In this last mentioned tour of duty the declarant served as a private, and continued in service nine weeks. He does not recollect the name of the Colonel who commanded the Regiment to which he belonged during this last tour of duty. On all three of the occasions herein before stated the declarant served with embodied Corps called into service by competent authority, and for the time during which said services were performed, he, the declarant, was not employed in any civil pursuit. At the time of making his former declaration herein before referred to, the declarant was not aware that John Hunter, to whose testimony he now refers, could be obtained by him as a witness. He knows of no living witness by whom he can prove the performance of the last tour of duty herein stated.
He, the said declarant, 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.
[signed] Thomas Franklin
Interrogatories propounded by the Court, and the answers thereto –
1 Question. Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer. In the County of Bedford (now Campbell) in the year 1758.
2 . Question. d Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?
Answer. I have no written record, or register of my age.
3d. Question. Where were you living when called into service where have you lived since the Revolution, and where do you now live?
Answer. I have always lived in the County of Bedford (now Campbell)
4th. Question. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
Answer. In the two first tours of duty I performed I was a volunteer, and in the last I was drafted.
5. Question. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served – such Continental, and militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer. Colo. Lynch was the commander of the Regiment in which I served my first
tour, and Wm. Leftwich was my Captain, and James Dixon was the lieutenant. In
the second tour Colo. Cabell was my Colo. and in the last tour Gen’l. Lawson was
the commander in chief, but the name of my Colonel I do not recollect.
6th. Question. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
Answer. I was discharged but whether I received written discharges I do not remember
if I did they are lost.
7th. Question. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present
neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their
belief of our services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Answer. There are a number of persons to whom I am known. I would particularly refer
to the Rev’d. Henry Brown, David Callehain [probably Callahan], and John Alexander.
[signed] Thomas Franklin
[Depositions by Thomas Franklin supporting the pension application of John Hunter S15897:]
Campbell County Virginia ToWit
This day Maj’r Thomas Franklin aged Seventy five years, of the County of Campbell
aforsaid, (formerly Bedford) after being duly sworn deposeth and sayeth that in the year 1776 there was some troops called on to go and guard the lead mines in Wythe County Va to prevent the depredations of the Torys and Indians, as there was a large quantities of lead made there for the use of the American Army – that there was a Company of volenteers raised in said County of Bedford now Campbell, and marched under the command of Capt James Dixon who on this occation acted as Lieut. and the said Company was commanded by Capt. William Leftwich, and William Hudnal Ensign whom they joined at the lead mines, that they marched by the way of the head of Black Water [sic: Blackwater] river, and over the allegany and other mountains through wilderness to the said Lead mines, and this affiant further sayeth that John Hunter Jun’r. was one of the said Company as a private, that the Company marched from the County of Bedford aforsaid in the month of August of said year and that they served a tour of three months, and the said John Hunter jr served until the three months expired at which time they this affiant, John Hunter & the rest of the Company were discharged, – and further that Colo. Charles Lynch had the Command of the troops stationed at the lead mines, aforesaid
[signed] Thomas Franklin
Campbell County Virginia (towit)
This day [12 Aug 1833] Maj’r. Thomas Franklin aged seventy five years, of the County
aforesaid (But formerly Bedford) after being first duly sworn deposeth and sayeth, that in the year 1777 the British fleet entered the waters of Virginia and were lying in Hampton Roads and about the mouth of york River, there was a call for troops to march to the lower part of Virginia from the upper Country and that there was a Company of Volunteers raised in Bedford aforsaid and commanded by Capt. John Talbot, Lt. Thomas Helm and Ensign Arthur Mosley, that John Hunter Jun’r. was a private in said Company which Company rendezvoused at the house of Capt John Hunter Sr. in the said County of Bedford in the month of August in said year from thence, marched by the way of Richmond Virginia to Williamsburg where we were stationed stationed some time, from thence they marched to Yorktown Va. where the Company was stationed again, he thinks under the Command of Col Maso[page torn, possibly Mason] and remained there some length of time the exact time not remembered, from thence the Company returned to Williamsburg and there served the remainder of the tour which was three months, – and further said affiant says he was in service all the time, above stated, as well as the said John Hunter Jun’r. that they were discharged together, with the rest of the Company
[signed] Thomas Franklin
NOTE: On 8 May 1850 Letitia Franklin, 81, applied for a pension stating that as Letitia Evans she married Thomas Franklin on 29 Mar 1796, and he died 23 Mar 1841. In an application for bounty land on 20 Apr 1855 her age was given as 85, and the year of her marriage was said to have been 1799. Another document in the file states that she died 29 July 1862. On 13 Dec 1869 Jane Campbell, 43, administrator of the estate of Letitia Franklin, deposed that Letitia Franklin had never supported the cause of the Confederate States of America. The purpose was evidently to claim the part of her pension that had been suspended during the Civil War.
http://www.revwarapps.org/w1590.pdf
