Pension Application of Matthew Seay: S7477
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia}
Pittsylvania County towit}
On this 17th day of June 1833 personally appeared before the Court of Pittsylvania County now sitting Matthew Seay a resident of said County aged Sixty Nine 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 the 7th 1832 that he entered the service of the United States in the Month of October 1780 being drafted from Captain Crawleys Company of Militia and marched from the County of Amelia in the State of Virginia where he then resided in a Company of drafted Militia under Captain Creed Haskins through the Town of Petersburg passed Cabin point of James River [in Surry County VA] to Stoners Mill where we joined the Regiment under Major Boyer and Colo. Downman in Genl [Robert] Lawson’s Brigade. we were stationed at various places near James River in the Estern part of Virginia during of the Winter 1780 & 81 to wit. Chuckatuck Mills [now in Suffolk City], Sleepy Hole Ferry, Suffolk, Pitch landing, Edmonds Hill & our term of service having expired I was discharged by Colo Downman at Chuckatuck Mills in the Month of April 1781 having served on this Tour six months (the whole time as a Corporal) My discharge is lost and cannot be found but the service rendered is proved by Essex Worsham who was a soldier with me in the same service during the whole time.
In the same Month April 1781 within a few days after my arrival at home I was again drafted into the service of the United States and marched from the County of Amelia in Captain [William] Fords company of drafted Militia to Carters Ferry on James River from thence to Colo. Dandridges at that place we joined the Main Army under Genl. Waine [sic: Anthony Wayne] and continued with him marching in various directions not being long stationed at any one place until about the last of July when I was discharged by Colo. Dicks, the whole time of service rendered on this Tour was at least three months and fifteen days. I acted on this Tour as a Sergeant. My discharge is lost and cannot be found. I do not know any person living that was in that service with me. In the month of August 1781 I enlisted with Capt Richardson Brooks in the County of Amelia for during the War and was attached to the Troops known as the Virginia State Legion. I was stationed at Goods Bridge in the County of Chesterfield from thence to Jeneto [sic: Genito] Bridge from thence to Richmond where we drew our arms & remained at that place a short time and marched on towards the Bowling Green in the County of Caroline, but on our march Capt. Booker received and order to dismiss us from the service at that time and to await further orders. We were suspended and suffered to go home in the month of November 1781 and remained in this situation until the end of the War, consequently I did not receive a written discharge and do not at this time recollect but one man living that was in service with me under that enlistment which is Jordan George who now lives in the state of Kentucky whose testimony cannot with convenience be obtained. the whole time of service actually rendered in the Field or in Camp under this enlistment was not less than three months. I was Born in the County of Amelia in the State of Virginia in the year 1763. My age was recorded in a Family Bible that is now in my possession. I lived in the County of Amelia when I entered the service. I lived in the said County untill the year 1787 then moved to the County of Pittsylvania in the State of Virginia and have lived in that County ever since. Colo. Daniel Coleman, Rawley Thompson, Samuel Thompson, Banister Anderson and many others can testify as to my character for veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution. There is no Clergyman that lives in my neighbourhood. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Matthew hisXmark Seay
NOTE: The file includes a claim for bounty land dated 9 April 1855 stating that Matthew Seay, 94, was then a resident of Henry County VA.