Transcript. Revolutionary War Pension Application of John Patterson of Augusta/Greenbriar

On this 17th day of April 1834 personly appeared before me Samuel Dickson a Justice of the peace in and for the county of Greenbrier and State aforesaid John Patterson a resident of said county aged Seventy five on the 2d day of November next – and after being first duly Sworn according to Law doth on his Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provissions made by the act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832 That in the spring of 1777 he entered the servis of his countary – and served against the Indians as herein stated – That he was living in Augustia [sic: Augusta] County Virginia in that part that is now the county of Greenbrier – That oweing to the depredations committed by the Indians on the Inhabitants along the new settlements in Western Virginia the people were compelled to errect Fort for their protection – and Government ordered a number of men to be stationed in each Fort or garrison for their defence in case they was attacked by Indians and to scout by turns on scouting and spying parties to watch the aproach of the Indians

For this purpose on the first of April 1777 he volinteered under the command of Captain William Hamilton [pension application R4513] and was stationed in a garrison scituated on Muddy creek and range and reconnoiter along the Medow river [sic: Meadow River] and cross over onto the waters of New River thence return to the Fort – dureing this season they had no engagement with the Indians

That in the Spring of 1778 on the first of May he Valenteered and Served under Capt William Hamilton untill the first of Sept in the same year that in this year he was stationed in Hamiltons Garrison which was situated on Muddy cree (a tributary stream of Greenbrier river) about five miles higher up on said creek than the Fort that he had served in the year previous – that he remained in Hamiltons Fort untill the night of the 28 of May when Leonard Cooper and a nother Spy came and informed the Garrison that Donlyes Fort [sic: Fort Donnally at present Frankford] (which was about 12 miles distance from Hamiltons Fort) was attacked by about two Hundred Indians and Capt Hamilton supposeing that his Fort was not strong enough to withstand and attack from such a force of Indians – ordered his men to march that night – to Keeny’ Fort [Fort Keeney] which was situated five miles below on Muddy Creek where he remained with a regulary embodied corps untill the time above named that is untill the 1st September 1778.

That again on the first of May 1779 he valentered and served under the said Capt Hamilton untill the first of Sept. of the same year – that he was stationed in Hamiltons Garrison and nothing occured this season worthy of notice – that he frequently as was usual went out by turns to watch the paths that was thought most likely that Indians would attampt to pass through

That on the first of April in the year 1780 he entered the servis under Capt Hamilton and served untill the first of September of the same year – and was stationed as before in Hamiltons Garrison that he recollects in the Spring of this year of going in company with William Morris Thos. Upton and James Strond and that they met with a party of 7 or 8 Indians who was making their way into the settlement that they fired at each other when the Indians soon retreated without doing any damage with the exceptions of wounding Strond – he in company with his companions returned to the Garrison to apprise the Garrison of the approach of the Indians – when they give the Intelligence – himself in company with 7 or 8 others was ordered out to meet a company from the big Levels of Greenbrier to go in persuit of the Indians – the company from the Levils failed in coming on and he returned to his Garrison when he lerned the Indians had been in the neighbourhood and killed James Monday took his wife and child into captivity and after traveling about four miles killed and skelped the child [Apr 1780] – they also at this time wounded Samuel McClung

That about the first of February 1781 he was drafted for six month in Captain Wm Hamiltons Company to serve against to Indians and on the 14th of February he marched and rendezvoused on the 15th at Burnsides’ [Fort Burnside], near where Union now stands in the County of Monroe Virginia he then was marched to Fort Chisel in the County of Montgomery [Fort Chiswell now in Wythe County VA] where he was attached to the company of Captain John Henderson – John Woods was Lieutenant Andrew Hamilton Magor where they remained for some cause he never new what – they guarded a few Tories there and was sometimes told that they was to be marched against some Tories that was stationed up the New River – at one time it was said that they was to be attacked by the Tories and they went in camp prepared Bullets &c for the engagement – but no engagement took place – that the campaign was so irregularly conducted that he left them and returned home after serving only five month’s That again in the spring of 1782 on the first of April he volunteered and served on spying parties and in Hamilons [sic] Garrison untill the first of October under the command of the said Capt William Hamilton That he recollects in this year that he went on a spying campaign in company with Lenard Cooper John Shoemate Jesse and John Aursbourn[?] John Griffee Isaac Fisher [pension application S39524] and James Claypale that they left Hamiltons Fort and traveld along what was then called Lewis’es Campaign why that was the rout that General [Andrew] Lewis had marched his troops from Greenbrier to the Battle of the Point fought against the Indians at the mouth of the Greate Kanahawa in the fall of 1774 [sic: Battle of Point Pleasant at the mouth of Kanawha River, 10 Oct 1774] they crossed over Gauly [sic: Gauley] Mountain onto Rich Creek and down the said creek to Gauly [Gauley] River discovered some Indian sign on Rich creek came to Gauly river which was very rapid [illegible word] to cross they agreed to waid two and two together in order to support each other against the current of the water – Jessee Aursbourn and James Claypole agreed to walk in front directly they stated they was washed down by the current both lost their Guns and Aursbourn was drownedd and never seen afterwards – they then returned returned to their Garrision dureing all the period’s that he has named he was he was engaged in defence of his countary either in Garrison with an embodied Corps under competent authority or out on spying parties and followed no civil persuit and endured much of the hardships of Indian hostilities 1st he was Born in the State of Pensylvania in the year 1759 2d he has his name recorded in a Bible 3d he was living in that part of Augustia County Virginia that is now Greenbrier where he has lived ever since and do yet live 4th he volunteered at all times except in the year 1781 when he was Drafted 5th while a spy he recollects of no other officer than Cap William Hamilton and Lieutenant Samuel McClung – Col Donley [sic: Andrew Donnally] resided at what was then call Donly Station about 12 miles from where he was stationed in the year 1781 when Drafted Mager Andrew Hamilton and Capt John Henderson 6th he never received any written discharge 7th [blank] can testify as to my character for veracity and their belief of my servis as an Indian spy

He hereby relinquishes ever claim to a pension or an annuity except the present and declares that his mane is not on the pension role of the agency of any state Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid [signed] John Patterson

[The following report is by District Attorney Washington G. Singleton who investigated many pensioners and applicants in present West Virginia. David W. Sleeth of Lewis County, who prepared Patterson’s pension application, was a particular target of Singleton’s investigation. For discussion see the Sleeth’s pension application S6111. Singleton wrote “not entitled” on this report.] John Patterson – Applicant.

I the undersigned John Patterson being called on by W. G. Singleton for a narative of my Revolutionary services and statement of my age give the following to wit – I shall be 77 yrs. old the 2nd day of November next – in the year 1773 I settled with my Father on Muddy creek Greenbrier county and have lived there ever since. whilst the war of the Revolution was going on, my Fathers family includeing myself and many others, were forted during the summer season & in the winter we would return to our Cabbins. when forted it was the custom (and we always pursued it) to live pretty much in common[?] – we [illegible word] turn out all together and work [each] others corn and potatoe patches in turn – whilst we were at work, one or two would be detailed to keep a look out for the Indians – and in this way we worked and watched in turn – we always selected some one among us as a sort of leader or Captain. – I remained thus forted and thus employed during the whole war – we kept no guard at the Fort – in the Winter Spring and fall we employed ourselves in hunting wild game – my Father and my self each had a settlement right of 400 acres of land – the title to which we perfected[?] – on one occasion I was out with three other men spying on Gauley River – we were in this service for one month – I dont know by what authority we were spying but suppose by the direction of Capt Hamilton – in the year 1781 I was drafted & marched from Greenbrier County under Capt John Henderson. – 3 companies under Major Hamilton, includeing mine – went to Chissels Mountain [sic] – and from there towards Kentucky – a part of the men indeed almost all of them went on to Kentucky. – My self with two or three others did not. – we got behind the army and returned home – cant tell why we done so – we did not desert – some that went on to Kentucky got back home as soon as we did – I think I was at least three months gone in this expedition – David W. Sleeth who wrote my Declaration told me, “that I was entitled to a pension for all the time I was forted and raising corn as above stated – and in drawing my Declaration he set forth that I had been forted four months in six successive years – I was sworn to my Declaration before Saml. Dixon – I was at that time – and still am able to go to Lewisburg the county seat of Lewis [sic: of Greenbrier County] – I agreed to give Sleeth the two years pay – In Witness of all which I hereto subscribe my name. Jany 22, 1835 – my Declaration was made last spring

John Patteson

A Copy. W. G Singleton W. G Singleton Jany 22, 1835

NOTES:

William Hamilton was a commissioned Captain in the Greenbrier County Militia in 1780 -81 and perhaps earlier. On 19 May 1853 Elizabeth Patterson assigned power of attorney to reopen her late husband’s rejected pension claim. William Patterson and John H. Patterson were witnesses.

Retrieved from "https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Transcript._Revolutionary_War_Pension_Application_of_John_Patterson_of_Augusta/Greenbriar"

Categories: Early Settlers of Old Augusta | Patterson Tapestry | Old Augusta Patterson Tapestry