Pension Application of William Brizendine: S6752
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia. Franklin County} SS
On this 7 day of September 1832, personally appeared before me John W Holland, a Justice of the peace for said County William Brizendine, Jr. a resident of the County and state aforesaid, aged, Eighty nine years, who being first duly sworn on the holy evangelist of Almighty God, 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 was drafted into the service of the United States in the early part of the year 1780 [sic: see note below] in the County of Charlotte, state of Virginia under Captain Colwell. The he march’d with him to Prince Edward Courthouse in the state aforesaid, and was placed under the command of Major [John] Overstreet. (Colonel name not recollected) and was under the command of General [Robert] Lawson – the British were at that time ravaging the lower Counties of Virginia and we were marched through different counties, and places, the names of which are not distinctly recollected – for instance we marched to Culpepper [sic: Culpeper] Courthouse in Virginia, where we joined the army commanded by General Wayne. We then march’d to Point of Fork on James River – from thence to Richmond – from thence to Randolph Old fields (the County not recollected) – lay at that place, until discharged at the end of three months service. Was discharged by Capt Spencer. his discharge is lost, or mislaid – Was not in any battle with the enemy - - - Returned to Charlotte, and in a few days, was again drafted under Capt. Thomas Collier – that he was placed under the command of General Lawson – that he marched to [illegible] springs near James River – at that place he was taken sick, and was with other sick Soldiers, put under lieutenant Sydner – and remained at that place, until sometime after Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown [19 Oct 1781] – that at that time, he was in the service, something more than three months – but how much more, not recollected – he was discharged, but whether by a verbal or written discharge, he does not recollect —
He further states that he was born in Essex[?] County Virginia in the year 1743, as he is informed – that he lived in the County of Charlotte in the time of the American revolution, and lived that he came to Franklin in the year 1806 where he now resides — That in the whole of the time he was in service was rather more than six[?] months –
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 any state
[signed] William Brizendine, Jr.
NOTE: Apparently Brizendine’s first tour of duty was in 1781 rather than 1780. British troops under Generals Benedict Arnold and William Phillips raided along the James River from April 18 until the 30th in 1781, and General Anthony Wayne arrived in Virginia in June of 1781.