Pension Application of Isaac Cundiff: S9252
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia}
Bedford County} S.S.
On this 28th day of January 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Court of Bedford now sitting Isaac Cundiff a resident of Virginia in County of Bedford aged Seventy five years [see note below] 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 7th 1832
That he enlisted in the army of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein after stated that at the age of fifteen years he volunteered in the County of Bedford to serve a three months tour under Capt. William Rentfro [sic: Renfro] against the Indians. That they commenced their march about the [blank space] day of May 1777 from the County of Bedford to Mr. Clanahans Mill in the County of Botetourt where they rendezvoused and stayed a short time when he and five others were detached guaard a magazine at Colo. William Flemmings [sic: Fleming’s] in said County where he assisted in building a stockade and was stationed there until his tour of service expired. He has no documentary evidence nor does he know of any living witness by whom he can prove his service of this tour That he thinks it was in the latter part of the year 1780 he was drafted to serve a tour of three months in the militia from the County of Bedford and marched under Cap. John Trigg, Lieutenant Simon Miller and ensign William Hudnall to Petersburg a distance of 150 miles and from thence to Cabin point [in Surry County] and from thence to Portsmouth where he remained a short time and then marched to Gregory’s Camp in North Carolina where he was stationed a short time and then marched back to Portsmouth and was then marched about the County watching general [Benedict] Arnold who was said to be in the long Bridge Fort [probably the fort at Great Bridge on Elizabeth River] and then marched to North Carolina and back again across the dismal Swamp to Prince George Court house where he was discharged. That he has no documentary evidence of the service of this Tour but can prove it by William Arthur and Sam’l Wilks whose certificate is refered to. That on the [blank space] day of May 1781 he was again drafted to serve a Tour of three months in the militia from the County of Bedford to Guard the magazine in New London then Bedford Courthouse [now in Campbell County] and was under the command of Lieutenant Preston Gilbert & Ensign William Buford when on information being received that the Brittish was at the Point of Fork on James River the magazine was hid by waggon loads in different places for safety & guarded & then removed to Crows Ferry on James River in the County of Bottetourt [sic: Botetourt] where he remained some time and then again removed to New London where he was stationed until his term of service expired that he has no documentary evidence of the service of this tour nor does he know of any surviving witness he can prove it by except William Arthur who served the said Tour with him and to whose affidavit he refers. 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 the agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Isaac Cundiff
The following is the answers to the several interrogatories propounded by the Court to Isaac Cundiff before whom the foregoing declaration was sworn and subscribed–
Answer to Question 1st. I was born on the 12th day of June 1759 in the County of Prince William in the State of Virginia and removed in the 4th year of my age by my parents to the County of Bedford in the same state where I have ever since resided.
2nd. I have no record of my age in my possession.
3d. I lived in the County of Bedford when called into the service and have resided in said County in the State of Virginia ever since.
4th. The first Tour of three months I volunteered and the next two Tours was drafted.
5th. The 1st Tour of three months I volunteered and marched under Capt William Rentfro but was attached to no regiment that I know of. The 2d Tour I marched under Capt. John Trigg, Lieutenant Simon Miller, and ensign William Hudnall. Major Decloughman Colo. Merriweather [sic: Meriwether] and General Mulenburg [sic: Peter Muhlenberg] were the commanding officers the 3d & last Tour Lieutenant Preston Gilbert and ensign Wm Buford had the command of us.
6th If ever I received a written discharge it has been lost or mislaid as they were considered of no value after the term of service.
7th I refer to William Leftwich a minister of the gospel and to Pleasant Preston with whom I am well acquainted for my character &c. &c.
NOTE: There are obvious inconsistencies in the stated age, date of birth, age at first tour, and year of that tour.