Pension Application of Rebecca Dickerson Howell, widow of David Howell: R5299
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia
On this 25 day of July 1844 personally appeared before Wm W Reese a Justice of the Peace for the county of Bedford Rebecca Howell a resident of the County of Bedford; Aged ninety years, who, being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, she cannot swear positively as to the precise length of her husband service. doth under oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 4th 1836; that she is the widow of David Howell who was a private soldier in the Revolutionary War, and believes that he was draughted for three months in the summer of 1780 and that after the expiration of the three months he volunteered for three months longer before he returned home under Captain John Chiles and that he was discharged on the 5th of February 1781 as his discharge will show at Cabbins Point [sic: Cabin Point, in Surry County VA]. I know it was in the summer when he left home for the Army and that he was in his corn field at work and was working it for the last time; and did not return home untill February following 1781 and in the summer of 1781 he volunteered again I believe under Captain Leftwich for a tour of two or three months and was engaged in taking and guarding the Tories of this and the adjoining counties and the discharge for this tour cannot be found. I cannot say whether he was engage in any Battle or not; nor through what section he marched during the first six months service he rendered and have no documentary evidence except one discharge from Captain John Chiles and is unable to get positive proof of the length of his services.
She further declares that she was married to the said David Howell in the spring of the year of seventeen hundred and seventy one; and that her husband the aforesaid David Howell, died in May 1823; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. Rebecca herXmark Howell
This is to Certify that David Howell is properly Discharged From the Service at Cabbin Point February 5th, 1781 [signed] John Chiles Capt.
State of Virginia Bedford County to wit
On this 24 day of July 1844 personally appeared before me Wm W Reese a Justice of the Peace for the county of Bedford and State aforesaid; Elijah Cundiff who Affirms according to Law, doth on his Affirmation make the following statement that he was well acquainted with David Howell and his wife Rebecca Howell who was Rebecca Dickerson that they were lawfully married by Parson Brandum in the spring of the year seventeen hundred and seventy one; that before David Howell entering the service he had three children in the year 1780; and that he believes that he served as set forth in Rebecca Howell declaration as I lived in 1780 in three miles of him and knows he went in the service as a privat under Captain Chiles and believe it was in the summer of 1780; for I was called on to go myself in the fall of 1780 and at that time David Howell was in service and return home in February 1781 and in the summer of 1781 he a again entered the services of the Revolutionary War I believe as a Volunteer under Cap Thomas Leftwich and marched through this and the adjoining Counties in taking and guarding the Tories the length of his tour I can not say but I believe it was the usual length of military tours; and I have frequently heard some of the company of which David Howell was in speak of there manner of taking the Tories and of their robing their bee gums [sic: robbing their bee hives] & further this deponant sayeth not. Elijah hisXmark Cundiff
State of Virginia, Bedford County to Wit SS
On this 27th day of July 1844, personally appeared before me Wm. Leftwich a Justice of the Peace Nickodemus Leftwich and made oath that he was personally acquainted with David Howell Deceased and he believes from what he heard from the old Revolutionary Soldiers of this county who are now dead and particularly from his Father Urial Leftwich who was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War & I believe under Captain Thomas Leftwich and that I had often heard his Father speak of taking the Tories and that David Howell was with them and a private in the company he had command off in taking and guarding the Tories; that I saw my Father Lieu. Urial Leftwich leave home in the tour he served above mention and return in the summer or fall of the year 1781 I cannot say how long he was absent from home but I belive it was the usual lenght of Military tours. I am well acquainted with Mrs Rebecca Howell and have lived a near neighbour to her ever since I could recollect any thing & believe they were lawfully married as David Howell and Rebecca Howell lived together as man and wife until the Death of David Howell some twenty one years ago and that since that time she has not married but remains his widow to the present time and further this deponent sayeth not
[signed] N Leftwich