Pension Application of Richard Gilley: S8568
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia}
Henry County} Sct:
On this eighth day of July 1833, personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the County Court of Henry now sitting, Richard Gillie a resident of the County of Henry and State of Virginia aged 77 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 Buckingham about the year 1757. that he was however living in Henry when called into service, which latter place is now his place of residence and has so been since the Revolutionary war – That he was drafted and served a tour of three months under Col. Lawson near Camden, in the year not recollected. Capt Shaw from Henry County was then his immediate officer. that he served a further tour of three months under Capt Torrence in Bottetourt [sic: Botetourt] County beyond the Blue Ridge, in the fall of 1781, and that he was of the guard who conducted about 170. or 80 prisoners as far as Winchester. That under the command of Capt Shaw he joined Col Washington’s command, about the time that Gen Lawson’s militia was disbanded. That this applicant in obedience to the orders of Col. Penn, marched to Guildford Court House about the time of the engagement at that place.
This applicant makes further declaration that he has kept no record of his age, and that he received his discharge but lost it through inattention. That he is acquainted with Col. [Joseph] Martin, Maj. [John] Redd, George Hairston Esq’r. & others who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Richard hisXmark Gillie
NOTES:
Gilley’s account is sketchy as to dates. A Colonel of the Virginia Militia named Lawson, first name unknown, was at the Battle of Camden SC, often called Gates’s Defeat, on 16 Aug 1780. The Gen. Lawson referred to later may be the same person. “Col. Washington” may refer to Lt. Col. William Washington, who had militia men attached to his Continental cavalry at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on 15 March 1781. The Henry County Militia under Col. Abram Penn were sent to that battle.
The file includes a document dated 7 June 1856 from Martha Cox of Rockingham County NC, “child and heir at law” of “Richard Gilly dec’d” stating that he died in Feb 1839.