Pension Application of William Brown W5879
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia }
County of Culpeper SS }
On this 17th day of September 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Justices now sitting William Brown a resident of the said county and State aged 74 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 the 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers as herein stated.
That he was Born in the County of Essex Virginia on the 23rd of May 1758 and removed to Culpeper when a small boy That he entered the service in the Summer of 1776 in what was called the minute service under command of Capt. Clanchan [probably William McClanachan], Lieut Gillerson [probably John Gillison], and Ensign Nalle. that he was in service about old James Town in garrison, and marching about the country very little That he was then in service three months, and was discharged with the company.
That he was again in service in 1781 being drafted soon after Christmas [1780] under command, he thinks of Captain Cagle. that he march to Norfolk, and though not in a regular Battle was skirmishing about for some time, and after serving three months was discharged in April that in the summer of the same year [1781] he was again drafted and marched to York Town and was at the Siege of that place [28 Sep - 19 Oct]. That he does not recollect the name of his officers, but Barter, Riddle and Rice were captains and he was commanded by one or more of them. that [Gen. Anthony] Wayne commanded the division he belonged to at the Siege, and that he, Lafayette, Washington &c. – That he served till after the Capture of Cornwallis, and saw him [see endnote] and his army march out between the French and Americans formed in two Lines. Upon Reflection, recollects that he was transfered in this tour to Captain Kirtleys [Elijah Kirtley’s] Company, from Culpeper he having marched from Rockingham. This tour was for three months that he was not again in the service. That he can prove the above service by Respectable Witnesses
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.
William Brown
And the Court proceeded to propound the following interrogatories to the applicant, who answers as hereinafter stated.
Question Where and in what year were you born?
Answer I was born in Essex County Virginia, on the 28th day of May 1758, and removed to Culpeper when a child
Question Have you any Record of your age and if so where is it
Answer I Have seen a family record in possession of Thomas Brown I Have no other.
Question Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live.
Answer I lived in Culpeper when I entered the first tour and in Rockingham the other two Soon after I returned to Culpeper and have lived there ever since
Question How were you called into service, were you drafted did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Answer I enlisted first in the minute service, and was drafted afterwards for the other two.
Question State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with you when you served, such continental and militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the General Circumstances of your service
Answer I knew Washington, Wayne, the Marquis [Lafayette] &c I have stated the circumstances of my service in my Declaration
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 never received a written discharge. We were never thus discharged.
Question State the names of such persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution
Answer I mention Capt. Z. Turner Doct Hawes Capt Buren and others I prove my service by reputable witnesses
NOTES: Cornwallis did not personally appear at the surrender ceremony, but sent his second-incommand, Gen. Charles O’Hara in his place.
Benjamin Murtle (pension application S5799) certified that he had served with Brown on the tour in early 1781.
On 6 April 1844 Lucy Brown, 78, of Rappahannock County VA, applied for a pension stating that she married William Brown on 7 Feb 1786, and he died 12 Dec 1843. The file contains a copy of the record of marriage by William Mason of William Brown and Lucy Campbell in Culpeper County on 9 Feb 1786. On 26 Jan 1849 Lucy Brown was said to be 84.
In Apr 1844 Phebe Brown, “89 years and upwards,” and Elizabeth Popham,79, stated that they were present at the marriage of their brother, William Brown, to Lucy Campbell. The pension application of the widow of William Ambrose Brown (R1330), however, includes statements allegedly by Phebe Brown and Elizabeth Popham stating that they were brothers of William Ambrose Brown who married Mary Grigsby Traverse in 1786.
http://www.revwarapps.org/w5879.pdf
