Pension Application of Adria Dudley English Kemp, widow of William English: W7970
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia, Franklin County to Witt
On this 13th day of May 1845, before me Solomon Rasley a Justice of the peace in and for said County, personally appeared Mr. Adria Kemp (maiden name Dudley) a resident of said County, Aged 74 year – who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Acts of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, and the 23rd of August 1842, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War. That she is the widow of William English dec’d of said County, (her first husband) who was a private soldier in the Rev’y war, and served three tours of duty as such, in the malitia from the (then) County of Bedford [apparently the part that formed northern Franklin County in 1786] – before he was married to declarant. The 1st of which was under Cap Jno. Trigg in the lower part of the State in the Winter and Spring of 1781 of 3 mo. duration. the 2nd under Cap Peter Webber, in the Fall and Winter of 1780, and 81, at the Cheraw Hills, Hillsborough NC of Four months duration; and the 3rd in the South under Cap Clements at the Siege of 96 in S. Carolina, in the Spring and Summer of 1781 [Siege of Ninety-Six SC, 22 May - 19 Jun], of at least three months duration if not more – making in all ten months service, which her de’d. husband the said Wm. English rendered – at least – if not more – and for the particulars of which the Com. of pensions is refered to the evidence filed with her papers.
She also declares that she was married to the said Wm. English de’d. on the day of Oct’r or Nov’r 1793; that her husband the aforesaid Wm English died on the 4th day of July, 1816; That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the 1st day of January 1794, viz; at the time above stated. She further declares that after the death of her first husband, the aforesaid Wm. English (under whom she claims her pension) she was married to William Kemp de’d. of said County, on the [blank] day of Feb’y. 1819; who died on the [blank] day of Feb’y. 1821; and that she is still a widow.
That she has no Family register of her marriage, but that her 2nd son Thomas English has his age preserved. That her first child Stephen English, is one year and 10 months older than his brother Thomas aforesaid – and that declarant was married about eleven months before she had her 1st child as aforesaid, which will make her marriage to have taken place on the day of 1793, as aforesaid. all of which will more fully appear by reference to the proof annexed. Her husband also served 18 mo. as a drafted man in 1778, as she is informed. making in all over 2 years. Adria herXmark Kemp
State of Virginia, Franklin County to witt.
On this 13th day of May 1845, before me Solomon Pasley a Justice of the peace, in and for said County, personally appeared Richard Robertson, a respectable resident of said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, say – That he is 83 years old, and was well acquainted with William English dec’d of said County during the Rev’y War; the same person who married Adria Dudly in, or about the year 179 , or about [blank] years ago. Deponant knows the fact, that said Wm. English performed at least one tour of service in the revolutionary war, of [blank] months duration, in the same company with deponant, in the Fall and Winter of 1780, 81 under Cap Peter Webber he thinks from a lower county. the company that said Wm. English and deponant belonged to marched from the County of Bedford, under Lieut Irving [probably Irvine], and Ensign Thos. Nantz [sic: Nance], on or about the 1st day of October 1780, and joined head-quarters at Hillsborough N. C. under the Command of Gen’l Green where the company to which English and dep. was attached was put under the command of the aforesaid Cap. Webber, and said Irving, and Nantz, returned home to Bedford. From Hillsborough we were marched to the Cheraw hills in S. Carolina – at which place the troops (the army) took up winter quarters, and remained there towards the latter part of the Winter of 1781 [sic: see note below]. from thence they marched back across the Adkin [sic: Yadkin] River to Pittsylvania old Ct House in Va (the British in pursuit) at which place we were discharged) about the [blank] day of Jan’y or February 1781 – but a short time before the Battle of Guilford [Battle of Guilford Courthouse NC, 15 Mar 1781]. That said English and dep. left for home together and continued in company nearly all the way to Bedford – making 3˝ months or thereabouts, that said English served with dep on said occasion in the Revo’y war as above described. That Joshua Wade (Sergeant) Joe Hundly, Nath’l Roundtree, Tho. Stevens, Jno. Vaughn, and others was along and belonged to the same comp’y under Cap Webber that said English and dep did. That dep. recollects distinctly when said English was married to his present widow Adria Kemp, (maiden name Dudly) for they passed his house on their way to Parson Jno Duglas to get married, which he is satisfied was in the year 1793, as aforesaid. That he is well acquainted with the children of Wm. English and his present widow, and that their 2nd child Thos. English must be (as he is reputed to be) at least 49 or 50 years old – that his brother Stephen English, dec’d was regarded as being about 22 months older than himself. That said English and his present widow, Adria Kemp, continued to live togegether as man and wife until his death as aforesaid – which was about 29 years ago, and that about 2 years after his death his widow married Wm. Kemp of said county, who also died – about 24 years ago – and that she is still a widow, having never married since Kemps death aforesaid.
In presence of Stephen D. English Richard hisXmark Robertson
State of Virginia, Franklin County to witt
On the 25th day of June 1845, before me James
Arnold a Justice of the peace in and for said County, personally appeared
William Arthur a respectable resident of the County of Henry, who being first
duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath say – that he 83 years old in Nov’r.
that he was well acquainted with Wm English dec’d of the County of Franklin
during the revolutionary war – the same person who married Miss Adry Dudly in
the County of Franklin, on Blackwater, in the year 1793, not later. Deponant
knows the fact, that said Wm English performed two tours of service – at least –
during the Revo’y. war in the Malitia from the (then) County of Bedford – now Franklin
Bedford also, Gap of Smiths Mountain neighbourhood. That one of said tours that
said English served was in the same company with deponant under Cap Jno. Trigg
in the winter and spring of 1781; leaving N. London [New London, now in
Campbell County] the place of rendezvous, the 16th day Jan’y. 1781.
and was marched to Norfolk where we were mostly stationed – and continued in
service in the lower part of the State until we were discharged at Prince
George Ct House on the 16th day of April 1781; the said Wm. English
being in service with dep. as aforesaid the whole time, and was discharged at
the same time. Dep. is not certain, but thinks that said English had just got
back from performing a tour at Cheraw Hills in S Carolina when the company (to
which we belonged) under Cap Trigg marched for Norfolk as aforesaid. Deponant
is also satisfied (in fact he knows it) that said Wm English performed a tour
of service from the county of Bedford in the spring and summer of 1781 in the
South under Cap. Clements, and that he dep. understands from Ned Hatcher, who
was in the same company with English on said occasion – that they were at the
Siege of 96 in S.C. which was in June 1781. Pleasant Fergason was also along on
said occasion. Dep. was drafted for service about the same time, but was
stationed in N. London to guard Magazine. That the company to which English,
Hatcher, and Fergason belonged marched from Bedford sometime in May, and
returned in the early part of the Fall of 1781. it was the season of the year
when grapes were ripe. dep went to see him soon after he came home, and he said
he would be glad if we could get him some grapes. In all deponant, dep. is of
opinion that said English must have served 10 or 12 months in the Revo’y war.
Said English died in the County of Franklin near 30 years and his widow married
Wm. Kemp, who in a few years died also, leaving his present widow Adry Kemp –
Maiden name Dudly – who has remained single ever since the death of her last
husband Kemp to the present time.
[signed] William Arthur
deponant W. Arthur recollects since the above aff’t was signed that said Wm. English served 18 months more in the Revo’y war as a drafted man. That each company had to furnish a man, and that the draft fell upon Wm. English – he belonging at that time to Cap Jno Shields company – which draft took place in 1778, and in the fall of that year. Deponant does not know the captain that said English was put under. that Jno Banks and Jno Pratt was also drafted men for 18 months and that English and Banks marched from the neighborhood together for the South. He is certain they marched to the South. and from the length of time they were gone he is satisfied they served their 18 months faithfully out. Said Banks took the small pox while in said service in consequence of which he did not return as soon as English. Deponant recollects distinctly when said English returned home from said service, and that he has had frequent conversation with him on the subject of said service. he can not bring to mind any Battles that he was at during said 18 months services as aforesaid. This 18 months, added to his other two tours, would make at least two years in all that the said Wm. English performed during the Revo’y war. English lived in Bedford county at the time he was drafted as above and Banks also.
[signed] William Arthur
NOTES:
Gen. Nathanael Greene took command of the southern army on 2 Dec 1780. Near the end of that month he took part of his army to winter quarters near Cheraw Hills. After about a month they marched west to join the troops under Gen. Daniel Morgan and were pursued northward by Cornwallis. They reached Pittsylvania County VA on 14 Feb.
With the application is a copy of a bond signed 4 Nov 1793 in Franklin County by William English and Hail Maxey for the marriage of English to Addry Dudley. Also included is a copy of a bond signed 2 Aug 1819 by William Kemp and Stephen English for the marriage of Kemp to Adra English.
Thomas English, second son of William and Adria English, deposed that he was born on 19 June 1796. James Maxey, 77, deposed that he was the neighbor of William English at Smiths Gap in Bedford County during the Revolutionary War.