Pension Application of Farthing Hix: S5534
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia} SS.
County of Patrick}
On this 15th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of the County Court of Patrick, now sitting, Farthing Hix, a resident of Patrick County and State of Virginia, aged seventy two 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
In the fall of the year 1780 two Militia companies were drafted from the county of Hanover, Virginia, one under Capt. John Stanley the other under Capt. Elisha White. This applicant was drafted in the Company commanded by Capt. Stanley, both companies marched from Hanover county at the same time to the City of Williamsburg, and from there to York Town, after remaining there some time the vessels of the Enemy were seen in the Bay below Hampton, and it was deemed desirable to call for volunteers to go down the country, which this applicant with a sufficiency of others volunteered under Capt. White, and marched to a place called the halfway house between York and Hampton, after remaining some time the ships of the Enemy disappeared & the company marched back to the City of Williamsburg and were discharged – how long he served in this tour he cannot exactly tell, but he thinks nearly two months.
Some time in the month of January 1781 about the time that Arnold [sic: Benedict Arnold] invaded the State of Virginia and Burnt the publick stores and committed other depredations in the City of Richmond and elsewhere he again was drafted in the same County of Hanover, to perform a tour in the Militia under Capt. William Darriscote[?] and marched from thence to the City of Richmond and from thence to the Marbin Hills [see note below], where the Company was attached to the Regiment of Militia commanded by Colo. John Stark, after remaining some short time at this place the Regiment marched to Charles City Courthouse, stayed there a few days and marched to Williamsburg; from thence to Burwell’s ferry on James River, where it remained some time, and then took the line of march back to the City of Williamsburg, and after staying there some time the company to which he belonged with the rest was discharged. His is very certain he served nearly two months in this tour.
In the month of May 1781 he was again drafted in the same County to perform a tour in the Militia under Capt. Good. The company not being a full one, marched immediately to the City of Richmond, and there it was attached to the company commanded by Capt. John Dudley which belonged to the Battalion commanded by Maj’r. John Hardiman in the Regiment of Col. Thomas Meriweather of the Continental troops, which composed a part of the Brigade of Gen’l. Stevens; there were other Brigades and Regiments belonging to this Division of the Army the Commander of which he has forgotten except Gen’l. Steuben. The Marquis De la fayette [sic: Marquis de Lafayette] was the Commander-in-chief – Cornwallis was then marching his army through the country. General Lafayette march’d his army from the City of Richmond to the County of Culpepper, and crossed the Rapidan river at the Rakoon ford [sic: Raccoon Ford], the enemy being in close pursuit of him, but he avoided coming in contact with them, because (as this applicant was told) Gen’l Washington had directed him not to give them battle, till he was joined by Gen’l Wayne’s [sic: Anthony Wayne] army, who was coming on. In a short time after crossing the Rapidan Gen’l. Wayne arrived, and as soon as the enemy was apprised of the junction of the two armies, they stopped their pursuit, and marched back toward the Point of fork [sic: on the James River near present Columbia VA]. They were pursued by Gen’l. Lafayette, but when the Americans arrived at the Point of fork, or near it, they found the British had left it and were moving on down the north side of the James river, his pushed [sic] after them and by forced marches overtook the enemy at old James Town in the act of crossing the river, and commenced firing upon them There was several killed & wounded on both sides, they however affecting their passage. The American Army lay some time near old James Town, and the tour of the Militia being nearly out they were marched to the Marbin Hills and discharged. and this applicant returned to Hanover.
In the month of September in the year 1781 he was called upon with others to perform garrison duty under Liut. John Bumpus to guard some criminal and British prisoners who were removed from Richmond at the time the enemy visited the place, to Hanover Courthouse for safekeeping. He remained on that duty till some time in the month of October, when the criminals and prisoners were ordered back to Richmond – he went as a guard over them to that place where he remained a considerable time after the capitulation of CornWallis at Little York; how long he does not now exactly remember, but feels very confident he served at least two months upon this tour before he was discharged. He is not positive how long he served in all, but has no hesitation in saying he served at least seven months.
He was born according to the Register of his Parents in the 20th day of November 1760 in the County of Pittsylvania Va. from there with his father removed to the County of Hanover where he was raised, and where he was first drafted in the service of the United States he lived in that County after the War till the year 1783 when he removed to the county of Bedford, and lived there till the year 1818 when he moved to Patrick County Virginia where he has remained ever since.
He has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service – He received written discharges for every tour, but considering them useless papers they were either lost or destroyed –
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. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [signed] Farthing Hix
NOTE:
Marbin Hills, often written Mobbin Hills, is said in other pension applications to have been about 15 miles from Richmond, but no place by these or similar names could be found in the name index of the US Geological Survey.
Rock Castle [now Woolwine], Patrick County Va. 5th June 1845–
Sir, Will you be so good as to examine, in your office and see, whether, or not, Farthing Hix, late a pensioner, for services rendered the United States, in the revolutionary war, drew all the money which was coming to him. He was placed on the pension list some years ago, and obtained a portion of his allowance, but before he received all the compensation allowed him, he died, since which time, his widow drew a small portion which was due her husband up to the time of his death. She thinks according to the act of Congress there is a balance which she ought to have. However she is not certain, not knowing or recollecting how many years her husband received money from the government. She is very old & her recollection very much impaired. It is at her request I trouble you with this note believing you can give her the correct information upon the subject.
Hon. J. L. Edwards Comm’r. of Pensions} Your Humble servant,
Wm. Ayres