Pension Application of Henry and Rebecca Chaffin Adams: W5595
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia County of Bedford S.S.
On this 24th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the County Court of Bedford at the September term thereof now sitting Henry Adams a resident of the State and County aforesaid aged upwards of seventy one 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 the 7th day of June 1832–
That sometime after the commencement of the Revolutionary War in the year [blank] he was called out as a Militiaman to stand guard over a number of tories who were taken up and confined in jail in the Town of New London. The guard was under the command of one Captain Coteral supposed to have been a regular officer belonging to the army He does not remember how long he served but suposes it was a tour of duty he believes it was three months. That afterwards in the year [blank] he was called out together with many of his neighbours to go against the British who were then in N. Carolina & had driven Gen’l. [Nathanael] Greene across Dan River into Virginia. He enlisted before he joined Greenes army in a volunteer Company of which Jacob Moon was the Captain – Benjamin Rice Lieutenant & Thomas Lumpkin the Ensign. He afterwards joined Col. Lynchs Regiment of Riflemen and was with Colo. [William] Washington’s Light horse through various parts of N. Carolina He was at the battle of Guilford [sic: Guilford Courthouse, 15 March 1781] and served out his time and was discharged but does not recollect distinctly the length of the tour which he believes was three months he has no documentary evidence and if he ever had any written discharge it is lost or mislaid. He can prove his service at new London by Henry Brown who served with him and by John Trass[?] his services at Guilford he can prove by Thomas Pullin [sic: Pullen]. he cannot say with certainty after such a length of time what was the length of their tours of duty but believes they were as above stated nor can he prove the time as most who know any thing about are dead or left the County and those who are left have forgotten all particulars But it is the prevalent opinion among the old men of the neighbourhood that they were three months tours and if so as he believes he is entitled to credit for six months service in the whole. He was born in the County of Bedford in the State of Virginia according to a register made by his father and now in his possession on the 3d day of February in the year 1761. His name is not on the pension Roll of any State or of the United States and he relinquishes all claim to any other Pension besides the Present. Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid Henry his+mark Adams
State of Virginia}
Bedford County} SS
On this 22d day of July 1833. personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the county court of Bedford now sitting, Henry Adams a resident of Russells parish in the county of Bedford & State of Virginia, aged 72 years, who being first duly sworn, 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 & served as herein stated in That sometime in the month of August the day he cannot recollect in the year of 1777, as he believes, he was drafted into the service of the United States as a militia man, from the county of Bedford Va. and marched to the town of new London, then in Bedford, now in Campbell county, and was stationed guarding some tories confined there for safe keeping. His officer was Capt. John Cottrell, who was the only there, as the guard consisted merely of a company of militia commanded by only one officer the Capt aforesaid. He has no documentary evidence. He refers to the affidavit of Capt. Henry Brown. He was discharged sometime in the fall of the same year by Capt. Cottrell, but received no written discharge. No regular officers unless Capt. Cottrell was a regular. nor any regular or militia regiments or companies, except the guard.
Again in the month of January or February, he cannot which month or the day in the year of 1781 as he believes, he was drafted into the service of the United States from Bedford County Va. as a militia man from Capt. Jno[?] Trigg’s company. He marched under Capt. Jacob Moon, Lieut. Benj. Rice & ensign Thomas Lumpkin to Halifax county [VA] – where the troops & officers volunteered for the tour – and marched across Dan River at Irvine’s [sic: Irwin’s] Ferry and from thence to Guilford County North Carolina and joined Gen’l. Greene’s army and was attached to the Regiment commanded by Col. Charles Lynch & Major John Callaway. he was in the battle of Guilford, which took place on the 15th day of March 1781, in which Capt. Moon received a wound of which he died 8 or 9 days afterward. After Capt. Moon’s death, Lieut Rice acted as Capt during the remainder of the tour. He was discharged in the spring of the same year by Capt Rice, but if it was a written it has been lost or mislaid. after the battle of Guilford, the army pursued the British to Ramsey’s Mills [in Chatham County], where Capt Rice’s company alone crossed Deep River, but he is uncertain whether he ever joined the main army again. Gen’l. [Robert] Lawson he believes, commanded his brigade. Of the Regular officers he recollects, Gen’l Green, Colo. Washington & [Henry] Lee & Capt Gunn [possibly David Gwin]. He cannot recollect the militia Regiments or companies, which were there, nor the regulars, except Col. Washington’s horse, tho’ there were both regular & militia regiments. He has no documentary evidence. He refers to the affidavits of Henry Brown & Thomas Pullin.
By reason of age & consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below – to wit – the first tour above mentioned, three months, & the second tour three months – in the whole six months, for which he claims a pension –
In answer to interrogatories he states:
1. He was born in Bedford County Va. the 3d February 1761.
2. He has a record of his age.
3. He lived in Bedford when called into services – lived there ever since the revolution, & now lives there.
4. 5. & 6. Interrogatories he answered in his declaration.
7. William Leftwich & Henry Brown are persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood, who can testify as to his character for veracity, & their belief of his services as a revolutionary soldier.
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
Henry his+mark Adams
NOTE: On 21 July 1841 Rebecca Adams, 67, applied for a pension stating that she married Henry Adams on 22 Dec 1791, and he died 29 Nov 1834. She also stated that her husband served with Richard Roberts in the same company commanded by Capt. Moon at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Her application included a marriage return for Henry Adams and Rebecca Chaffin in Bedford County.