Pension Application of Axton Whitecotton: S6361
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia Henry County toWit
On this 11th day of November 1832, personally appeared in open court before the justices of the County Court of Henry now sitting Axton Whitecotton a resident of the County of Henry and State of Virginia aged ninety 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 act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he was born in the County of Stafford in Virginia on the 3d February (OS) [Old Style: see note below] 1742. that he has now no record of his age. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. he joined a company of what were then called Minute Men. the date not now recollected in the County of Fauquier in Virginia where he then resided, commanded by Capt William Picket. he marched in the said company to Norfolk in Virginia. that he continued to serve for the period of six months principally at Norfolk, Long Bridge [sic: Great Bridge], Williamsburg and Suffolk. that he was discharged his discharge has been lost. after some two or three years the time not now recollected, he was he he believes drafted, and continued to serve for the period of three years. that the company was commanded by Capt Montjoy with whom he marched to North River [Hudson River in New York] where he was taken sick. Capt Montjoy having resigned this affiant was commanded by Capt Woodson. that he was marched to White plains – after continuing to serve in the Northern Army he was marched to the South and attached to the Southern Army, and was at the battle of Guilford [Battle of Guilford Courthouse NC, 15 March 1781], where one Capt Sanson believed to be Richard Sanson was his Captain. this applicant states that from his extreme age his memory has in a great degree failed him, so that he cannot with any justice to himself state further particulars. He however refers to the affidavit of Thomas Marshall a soldier of the revolution who will prove the fact that this affiant was in service, which he will file with this declaration. He states that his last discharge has been lost. He states that he has been living in the County of Henry aforesaid forty odd years. & that he is known to Colo Joseph Martin to Joseph Edwards Jim Watkins, William Deshazo, William Hereford and many others.
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 the agency of any state, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of Virginia
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Axton hisXmark Whitecotton
Pittsylvania County State of Virginia toWit
Personally appeared Thomas Marshall before me Benjamin Watkins one of the Commonwealth Justices of the peace in the County aforesaid & made Oath That, in the time of the Revolutionary Struggle, he was well acquainted with Axton Whitecotton, he inlisted with him (the said Marshall) in Capt. William Picket company the Batalion Minute Men known by the Culpepper [sic: Culpeper] Batalion, in the State of Virginia & they continued together for about 12 months in service & while they were in service together they were in the Battle together at the great Bridge on the 9th December in the year 1775. & they went together to Norfolk & were present at the burning of that place [by Governor Dunmore, 2 Jan 1776]. they were released in March 1776 & in the course of the same year they were again called for & marched to Williamsburg Va & remained there for about two months. they were then dismist from the minute service, he then, the said Marshall volunteered & went to the north, & did not see the said Axton Whitecotton any more during the War.
Sworn to & subscribed to this 6th day of December 1832 [signed] Thos. Marshall
NOTE: When Britain and the Colonies switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752, the start of the year changed from the usual 25th of March to 1st of January. Thus Whitecotton was born in 1742 in the old style of reckoning, but in 1743 by the modern calendar.