Pension Application of Charles Melson: S38209
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
Virginia Sc,
At a Court held for Bedford County at the Courthouse the 26th day of May 1818.
Charles Melson a citizen of this Commonwealth and an inhabitant of this County came into Court being a Court of record and made oath that in February 1776 he enlisted under one Cap. Gross Scruggs in the County of Bedford and was marched to Hobbs Hole and joined the 5th Virginia Regiment there as he thinks under the command of Colo. [Charles] Scott which Regiment was attached to Gen’l. Muhlenburg’s [sic: Peter Muhlenberg’s] Brigade and Virginia line on continental establishment in the war of the revolution, that he continued in the service two years and was discharged in February 1778 at Valley forge which discharge was signed by Colo William Russel and has long since been lost; that he has never been a pensioner and is now sixty seven years old and that from his reduced circumstances in life he needs the assistance of his country for support.
Edward Hancock [pension application W7648] came into Court and made oath that he knows that the above named Charles Melson did enlist as he has stated and that he knew him to be in the army for nine months, but does not recollect to have seen him after.
George Smith [S38386] also made oath that he was in the same company and regiment with the said Melson and he continued in the service [several words possibly covered by seal] …ut two years.