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Pension Application of Andrew and Anna Fisher McGinnis: W8426

            Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris

State of Kentucky}

County of Barren} ct.

      On this 17th day of May 1833 personally appeared before me James Murrell a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, Andrew McGinnis aged 78 years the 14th day of February 1834, 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 1831 [sic: 1832]. That he is a very old man, and almost blind and on account of his great debility occasioned by his age and the fatigues he has undergone through life he is unable to appear before the proper court to make out his Declaration, and therefore, according to the directions of the War Department the same is authenticated by a Justice of the Peace. That He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He was born in the County of Halifax Virginia and was raised there until, according to the best of his recollection, sometime in the year 177[?] as near as he can remember, perhaps in the spring season, when he entered the service of the United States. He entered first in 1777 1775 as he thinks as a volunteer under Captain Edward Wade; his other officers he does not remember. He served at least two weeks only in this company, being at first raised together with about 200 other men to march against the Tories, who were said to be assembled at Hillsborough in North Carolina. He was marched within about one mile of Hillsborough when he was informed that the Tories were dispersed, & they affiant & fellow soldiers were directed by an Express to return back, and was Dismissed at one Col Davenports in Halifax, but received no written Discharge. On this Tour he served at least two weeks as a Private soldier.

Shortly after the expiration of the above Term of service he enlisted (in 1776 as he thinks) for the Term of one year under Captain Nathaniel Cock, Lieutenant Edward Wade, Second Lieutenant Tapley White, John White first Sergeant, & Nathaniel Terry 2nd. Sergeant. He joined Cap. Cock’s Company at Bibb’s Ferry on Staunton River. He marched from thence with the Company to Old Williamsburgh [sic: Williamsburg], where they joined some other Troops. From old Williamsburgh, after staying there at least 6 months for the purpose of watching the movements and preventing the depredations upon the country of Gov. Dunmore and the Tories, he was marched to York, where he stayed but a short time, when he was marched on the Gwyns Island [sic: Gwynn Island] where Gov. Dunmore was lying with his vessells [Jan 1776]. At Gwyns Island, there was some skirmishes between Dunmore’s Troops & the American Troops the latter compelling the former to burn 10 or 12 vessells & to surrender 2. Having staid at Gwyns Island 2 or 3 months he was again marched back to York under Major Nelson, where he staid two months or more, and from thence marched to old Williamsburgh where he staid until the year for which he had enlisted had expired having served up to the time it expired at least one year as a Drummer. Notwithstanding his year expired at old Williamsburgh he was, without further enlistment, marched under the command of Major Nelson to Bowling-green [sic: Bowling Green in Caroline County VA], thence to Fredericksburgh [sic: Fredericksburg], thence to Chester, thence to Dumfries, thence to Alexandria, thence to Georgetown, thence to Baltimore, where he served about one month when he enlisted for three years in the Regular Army under Cap William Morely, Lieutenant Tapley White, 2nd Lieutenant Richard Coleman, and from Baltimore marched to Philadelphia, where the company was detained by the small pox, for which they were innoculated, for 3 or 4 months. From Philadelphia he went to a Place called Middlebrook or Bomsbrook [sic: Bound Brook] near New Brunswick New Jersey at which latter place the British lay. At Middlebrook He was placed under the command of Genl [Anthony] Wayne. He staid at Middlebrook but a short time. At Middle Brook he thinks, the company obtained arms, of which they were destitute from the time of their enlistment at Baltimore. He was attached to no Regiment at Middlebrook that he remembers. From this place he marched under his captain, leaving he thinks, Gen. Wayne behind, back to Philadelphia, thence to Germantown, where he join’d Genl Washingtons Army and was attached to the 7th Regiment under the command of Majr. John Webb, his Cols name not remembered, perhaps it was Col Dangerfield, where he remained a short time, marching from one place to another in the neighbourhood of Germantown & Philadelphia until the Battle of Brandywine [11 Sep 1777] in which Battle he was engaged. From thence he was marched with Genl Washingtons Army until the Battle of German town [sic: Germantown, 4 Oct 1777] in which he was engaged. After the Battle of German town he was marched to the Valley Forge where he went home on a Furlough for three months, the Army wintering at Valley Forge. After his Furlough had expired, it being given to him at first on account of sickness, he again joined the Army at Valley Forge, where or about in the neighborhood he continued with the army until the British evacuated Philadelphia [18 June 1778], after which the army crossed the Delaware & marched through New England [sic: New York?] to Long Island near New York. He remained about this place until cold weather set in. On his march from Valley Forge to Long Island he was present at the Battle of Monmouth [28 June 1778], but the Regiment to which he was attached was not engaged in it. After cold weather had set in he together with some other troops went to Philadelphia where he stayed until the 14th day of February following and was Discharged, receiving a written Discharge from captain Morely, and perhaps signed by some higher officers whose names he cannot now remember. His Discharge is now lost, but Cap Morely gave him another which in pursuance of an Act of Virginia, he thinks, was deposited by him [“affiant” interlined] in the Loan Office in Richmond Virginia to obtain his back wages. After his Discharge he went home to Halifax. On this Tour from the time of his enlistment in Baltimore until he was discharged he served three years as a Drummer. Between the time [“from” interlined] of the expiration of his first one years service and the time he enlisted in Baltimore he served according to the best of his recollection at least one month as a Drummer, and probably more but his memory is so frail that he cannot be prescise. After he returned from the Regular army as above stated he entered the service as a substitute, he entered as a substitute for one William Lee for 3 months. He does not remember his officers. On this Tour he drove a Colemans Waggon until the 3 months were over. After this tour he went out again as a substitute for Ambrose Hunt for 3 months under Captain Edmund King, his other officers not remembered. Under King he was marched to Salisbury [North Carolina], then marched & joined Major [William] Buford and marched against the Tories in South Carolina. Before he joined Buford he left Cap King on the Catawba River. He joined Buford at the Congarees [sic: Congaree River] under Cap Clark. Other officers not remembered. From the Congarees he marched down Sante [sic: Santee] River to Mass (or some such name) Ferry. From thence he marched further into South Carolina and was at the battle of the Eutaw Springs [8 Sep 1781] where he was commanded by Col [William] Washington. He was again marched back to Mass Ferry where he was discharged & went home. his Discharge is now lost. On this Tour under Cap King & Major Buford he served at least 10 months as a Private Soldier. This was his last service. His first 2 weeks service as a Private was he thinks in the Virginia Militia. His next service for one year was either in the Virginia militia or State Troops according to the best of his knowledge & recollection. He cannot say where his service was between his one year & 3 years enlistment. His 3 years service he thinks was in the Regular army. His other service in the Virginia Militia. He has no Documentary evidence nor does he know of any Person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services. He hereby relinquishes his 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. In answer to the Questions prescribed by the War Department he saith

1– he was born on the 14th Feb. 1756, according to his information, in Halifax Virginia

 –2– He has no Record of his age

 –3– He lived in Halifax every time he was called into service, since the War he lived in Halifax, then in Patrick County [VA], then in Stokes County, N. Carolina, then he moved to Barren County, Ky, where he now lives

–4– When he served 2 weeks he volunteered. When one year he enlisted, between his enlistments he just staid with the army, until he enlisted again for 3 years, during his other service he was a substitute for William Lee and Ambrose Hunt. Under Buford he was a volunteer

 –5– he woul name [as officers with whom he was acquainted] Genl [Charles] Scott, Genls [William] Woodford, Wayne, Washington, [Henry] Lee Col Washington Genl Muhlenburgh [sic: Peter Muhlenberg], Genl Stephens [sic: possibly Adam Stephen], Genl Starling & many others he could name. He recollects the 1st. 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th & 9th Regiments in the Regular Army.

–6th He received Discharges but they are now lost.

 7– He would name Col Isaac John Wyatt Erasmus Tracy, Richard Ragland, James Barton Reuben Franklin, Thos Bridges, & John Goodman [as neighbors who could vouch for his character for veracity and their belief in his services]. The affiant would state that he is old and feeble & his recollection very much impaired and in consequence he cannot be particular or positive in his statements but the above is according to his best recollection.  Andrew his X mark McGinnis

NOTE: On 14 May 1839 in Barren County KY, Anna McGinnis applied for a pension, stating that she was born 21 March 1761 in Lunenberg County VA, then moved to Halifax County where she was married to Andrew McGinnis on 20 Aug 1782 by Nathaniel Hall, a Baptist minister. She stated that Andrew McGinnis died 23 Nov 1837. Mary Francis signed an affidavit that she witnessed the marriage of Andrew McGinnis and Anna Fisher. On 4 June 1840 Anna McGinnis amended her declaration, stating that her oldest child, William, was born in Halifax County VA on 4 July 1783 and was then living in Barren County.