Pension Application of John and Anna Sutton Conway: W8622
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Kentucky}
County of Nicholas} Ss.
On this 13 day of February 1834 personally appeared before me John McClintock, one of the Justices of the County Court in & for the county of Nicholas aforesaid, John Conway a resident of the said county of Nicholas & state of Kentucky, aged 75 years on the 10th. day of August last, 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.
That in the month of April or May 1776. he entered the
service as an enlisted soldier in the company commanded by Captain James
Newell, and was marched to Chezels [sic: Fort Chiswell] lead mines in
Montgomery [now Wythe] county Virginia, to guard said mines against the tories
and Indians, and served out the full term of six months, the period for which
he was drafted Enlisted and was honorably discharged at said mines in
Montgomery County Virginia
And that he again entered the service for the term of eighteen months, in the month of May 1777. as an enlisted soldier under Captain William Buchannon [sic: Buchanan], Col. John Bowman, and was marched to Boonesborough in the State of Kentucky, where he served out the above term of eighteen months, guarding said fort, during which term the British & Indians beseiged said Fort for nine days & nights, when they abandoned the siege, Capt. Boone was there and one of the commanders. [See note below.]
He further states that after his discharge at Boonesborough, he still remained in Kentucky, and in April 1779. he went with Captain Isaac Ruddle, and settled Ruddles station, on the south fork of Licking River, and continued there acting as a guard and Indian spy for Ruddles station until the 24th of June 1780. when after a severe Battle with the British & Indians, we were compelled to surrender, the British being about 300 and the Indians about 700 strong, and armed with artillery that he was marched by the British & Indians, with the other prisoners they had taken at Ruddles & Martins Stations, to Detroit, and was kept there as a prisoner until in the fall of 1784. when he was liberated he returned to Kentucky.
And he further states that in the fall of 1787. he volunteered in the Company of Captain William McConnell in Col. Benjamin Logans Campaign against the Piqua Town of Indians, on the head of Mad River now in the state of Ohio. that they fought the Indians, defeated them, and took some prisoners. and that in this campaign he served the period of 50, or 60 days. He further states that, he lost his discharges when taken prisoner by the Indians, who robed him of every thing.
He states that he has not any documentary evidence of his services, nor does he know of any person living by whom he could prove his services, except his brother Jesse, who if living, resides in the state of Illinois.
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a Pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of any Agency of any state.
Questions by the Justice
Qt. 1st. Where and in what year were you born?
Ans. Henrico County State of Virginia, on the tenth day of August, in the year 1758.
Qt 2d. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
Ans. I have, in my Bible now in my house.
Qst. 3d. Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War. and where do you now live?
An’r. I was living in Montgomery County Virginia when called into the service, and since the Revolutionary War I have lived the whole time in the state of Kentucky, except when I was a prisoner with the Indians in Detroit. I now live in Nicholas County state of Kentucky.
Qst 4th How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
An’r On the two first campaigns I considered myself enlisted I enlisted or joined Capt Newell’s company, the first six months and on the 2nd campaign I enlisted in the same way under Lieuten Joseph Drake [possibly Doak] under Capt Wm Buckhannon in Col. John Bowman’s Regim
Qst. 5th. 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?
An’r. I know of know Regular Officers unless Col. George R Clarke [sic: George Rogers Clark] who was stationed at the falls of the Ohio was one. I know of no Continental or Malitia Regiments except Col John Bowmans Regiment. I was marched to Kentucky as a guard to defend it from the enemy, where I was taken prisoner &c.
Qst. 6th. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
An’r. I Received a discharge the first time from Capt Newell and the second time from Capt Buckhannon and they were destroyed by the Indians when I was taken a prisoner at Ruddle’s Station
Qst. 7th. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution?
An’r. Robert H. Kimbrough, William Barlow, Maj’r Moses Jones, John Baker Esq’r. Govr. Thomas Metcalfe, William Cook, Rev. Charles Webb. and indeed I might name every man in the neighbourhood, or county, who are acquainted with me, if it was necessary.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [signed] John Conway Sen’r.
NOTES:
The “Capt. Boone” referred to was Daniel Boone, who had been held at Detroit by the Shawnees since Feb 1778. On hearing of their plans to attack Boonesborough, the settlement he had founded, he escaped and joined the other settlers before the Indians besieged Boonesborough on 7 Sep 1778.
On 1 Dec 1843 in Nicholas County KY Anna Conway applied for a pension stating that she married John Conway on 15 April 1790 and that he died 15 June 1837. The file includes the original family record giving the date of marriage of John Conway to Anna Sutton, the date of her birth as 24 June 1766, and the dates of birth and marriage of other family members.