Pension Application of John French: R3795
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Kentucky}
Russel [sic: Russell] County Court} SS.
February Term 1833
on this 11th day of February 1833 personally appeared Before the worshipful Justices of the Russel County Court of Russel County state of Kentucky now sitting John French Sen’r. a resident of the County of Russel aforesaid aged 72 years the 2d day of November last past who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the united states as drafted malitiaman in the County of Bedford state of virginia in the month of September in the year 1779 for three months in the Company of Capt Moses Greer chatton doged Lieut [sic: Lt. Chatton Doggett] Ensign Ray. He was immediately marched on to New London [in present Campbell County] at which place he was joined to some other malitia and remained a few days when he was marched through Albemarl [sic: Albemarle] on toward Portsmouth and was marched to various points in persuit of the enemy he was joined to no regular troops during the Tour his company was attached to Colo Bufords [Abraham Buford’s] Regiment he continued there the full term for which he was called out being three months and was Honorably discharged by his Capt on the Rapohannock [sic: Rappahannock] River and return home – he states that in the month of April 1780 he volunteered as a malitiaman for three months under Capt Moses Greer chatten Dogid Lieut does not recollect the name of the ensign, he was imediately joined to Colo Linches [sic: Charles Lynch’s] Regiment and marched on to Petersburg where he was joined to Gen’l. [Robert] Lawson Brigade he was kept at petersburg untill he term expired at which place he was Honorably discharged by Colo. Lynch and returned home and again in the month of September in the same year he volunteered under the same officers for three months. he immediately entered the service and was marched to the Lead mines [at Fort Chiswell in Wythe County VA] to guard that place where he remained three months in this tour he joined no troops his Capt. Company being all that was posted at that place he was again Honorably discharged and returned home he again in the spring of 1781 volunteered as a malitiaman for three months under Capt Thomas Arthur at which time his former Capt volunteered as a leutenant does not Recollect the name of his ensign he was immediately joined to Colo. Lunches Regiment and marched on to the Frontier of virginia continued in that section of the Country the whole of the time during which he had several skirmishes with the tories after having served his full term he was Honorbly disched by his Capt and return home, in a few days after he returned home the British was in the neighbourhood men was again wanted and he again Turned out for three months under Capt Gree and was marched on to a place near new london where he was put under a Capt. who was a stranger to him and whose name he cannot now recollect he was attached to general lawsons Brigade and was marched on to New castle on pomonky [sic: Pamunkey] river where he remained untill his term expired and was again Honorably discharged he states most positively that he faithfully served in the five tours as if as a malitiaman in the service of the united states in the war of the Revolution one year and three months he left there soon after the close of the war and does not know what has become of them [presumably his discharges]. he was a Citizen of Bedford County virginia during the time he was in service. he states that he was Born on the 2d day of November 1760 in th in the County of Richmond state of virginia agreeable to the information of his parents which he believes to be true he has no record of his age. he was at an Early age taken by his parents to powatan [sic: Powhatan] County virginia where he remained a short time and was from there taken to Bedford where he Remained during the time he was in service and for several years thereafter untill the year 1798 when he moved to and settled in the neighbourhood where he now lives. he states that he has no Documentary evidence of his service his discharges having been lost as before stated he can prove his services substantially by Hugh French Sen’r. [brother] whose testamony he herewith presents. he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any state sworn to and subscribed the day and year af’d. [signed] John French Sr.
State of Illinois} SS
Macon County} on this 5th day of June 1837 personally appeared before the honourable County Court of Macon County – Illinois John French Sen’r. of the State & County aforesaid Aged Seventy Seven 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 provisions made by the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832
That he entered the Service of the United States as a Substitute in a Drafted mans place for three Months tower under the following named officers (towit) by order of Col. James Calaway [sic: Callaway] I was placed under Captain Moses Greer. Chatten Doged Lieut, Ensign Ray and was musterd into servis in the month of April in the year 1779 – and was amediately marched under the command of his Capt. to the Ledmines where the company was placed to gard the intrest of that place. he further states that he assisted the inhbitence [sic: inhabitants] in that part to plant corn, and that he was not in that tower under the command of any higher offers then a Capt. – and that the company he belonged to was the only detachment placed at that place for the safety of it – after his tower Expired he was honourably Discharged by Col. James Calaway the Colonel of the county the applicant further states that in the fall of said year he vollunteered under the same (company) officers and Rendevoused at new Lundon Bedford County Virginia at which place he was joined to sum other Militia and remained there a few dayes, when he was marched threw Albemarl County Virginia and on toward Portsmouth and was marched to various parts of the state in persuite of the Enemy he was attached and placed under Colonel Blufords in this three months tower & again received credit for three months tower and returned home. the Declarant further states that he again volunteered in the militia under same Capt. in the month of April in the year 1780 & was amediately musterd into service under Colo Lynch and was attched to Gen’l. Lawsons Brigade and was marched to petersburg and was continued at that place to watch the movement of the Enemy as thar was much Excitement at that place and aprehention of the British shipping Landing thar, and he the Declarant was again discharged by Col. Lynch for 3 months tower and Returned home, and in the Spring of 1781 there was an other call for men and he again vollenteered as a militiaman under Capt. Thomas Arther and was amediately joined to Colonel Lynchs Regiment and was marched to the frontier in Virginia passing over Little River & New River, and in this tower we had a nomber of Scrimages with the toreys and after marching threw various parts of the state we Returned back over the Blue Ridge and we received information of various Leading characters of toreys and after Deliberation I was detached with a band of 25 men and after obtaining our pilot we marched to the plantation of a noted torey by the name of Grey Smith and ware so fortunate as to come on that gentleman and after a few polite compliments passing between us we made him our prisoner, and after sattisfying our hunger on good Baken ham out of his meat hous together with the other Necessery comforts of life in which we so much needed we Led off our prisoner and Deposited him safe in New London Jale in Bedford County Va. after which servis I was discharged by Capt. and Returned home having Received a credit for three months tower and in a short time after he returned home the British ware Spreding over differnt parts of the country, and there was a Draft for men by order of the colonel and it fel to his Lot by Draft to go and went again under Capt. Greer & musterd into servis but the applicant states by Reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively to the name of the Colo. in this tower but is of oppinion that he started under a Col. Arther and afterward was placed under a strang Col whose name he cannot recollect – but states that the Regiment he belonged to was attached to Genrel Lawsons Brigad. we ware marched to Richmon Virginia and there found that the Enemy had burnt the Brassworks [i.e. the cannon foundry; 5 Jan 1781] in Richmon we continued our Line of march to a small town below Richmon on James River which I believe was called Hampshire which the Enemy had Laid Desolat by burning. from thence to Morben hill (sic: Malvern Hill in Henrico County] and there Lay for three weeks to notice the movement of the Enemy from thence to New Castle & here we ware again Discharged by our Capt for an other three months Tower and I Returned home having Received been Discharged for five three months tower amounting in all to fifteen months and he hereby relinquishes ever claim whatever to a pension or An annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency in any state.
intorgaters [sic: interrogatories] of the court
whare and in what year ware you born
An I was Born in Rockingham County Virginia on the 2nd day of November in the year AD 1760
C – have you any Record of your age – if so where is it
An– I have no speciel Record of my age but as handed Down by tradition by my parents
Court) whare ware you Living when called into Service and whare have you Lived since the Revolutionry war and whare do you now Live
An) I Lived when called into servis in Bedford county virginia – and after the war I removed to Garret [sic: probably Garrard] Couty state of Kentucky. from thence to Macon County State of Illinois where I now Live
Court) how ware you called into servis ware you Drafted did you vollenteer or ware you a substitute and if a sust’t for whome
An) in my first tower I was a substitute insted of John Divers & in the three next tours I vollenteered & last I was Drafted
Cort) did you ever resieve any discharges and if so what has become of them
An) I have gave in detale the differnt discharges I rec’d and for every tour I Lost them at Fathers when I removed and do not know what has become of them
C state the names of the Regular offcers which ware with the troops whare you served
An) I have according to the bes of recolection stated the offirsers names in Detale and as to the general circustances of my servises
NOTE: On 4 Aug 1852 in DeWitt County IL Martha Spencer, 46, and Elizabeth Davenport, 50, children of John French, applied for their father’s pension from the time of the last payment until he died on 17 Feb 1844. According to their statement, he left a widow, Dolly French, who died 22 Sep 1844, and the following surviving children: John French, Daniel French, Sally Clifton, and Milly Cross. The applicants also stated that their parents were married during the time of the Revolutionary War and had 13 children.