Pension Application of Thomas Richardson: S9075
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832
State of
On this 11th day of October 1841 personally appeared before
the undersigned Justice of the County Court of Patrick County State aforesaid
(it being a Court of Record) Thomas Richardson a resident of the said County
and State aforesaid aged 79 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
This declarant states that he was
drafted into the service of the United States in the County of Halifax State of
Virginia (where he then resided) in the fall of the year 1780 and was attached
to a company of Militia commanded by Captain Edmond King who immediately
marched to the south to join the Southern Army under the command of general
Gates. They joined Gates’s Army at Hillsborough North
Ques by the Magistrate – did you not get a written discharge
Answer no I got no written discharge for this tour, we were so closely pursued by the british that there was no time for writing discharges
this applicant states that he had not been at home but a few days before he entered the service again, as a Volunteer under Captain John Thomson who raised a company of Volunteers to join Greens Army who was retreating before the British. there they immediately march off crossed Dan River at Irwin’s ferry [in Halifax County VA just upstream from present South Boston] marched to a River called Hico [sic: Hyco] from there to the Red House from there to the Battle of Guilford [sic: Battle of Guilford Court House] in this Battle his captain (Capt. Thompson, was killed). after the battle was over and Greens army was again united this declarant was placed under the command of Capt. Wakly in the Regiment command by Major Rose [sic: Alexander Ross]. this applicant states that he was then marched from Deep River to South Carolina to the wax haws [sic: Waxhaws] Camden, Rugely Mills, fort Granby and ninety six after leaving ninety six they march to the High Hills of Santee where this applicant was discharged on the 28th day of July 1781 as his discharge will show signed by Major Alex Rose and herewith enclosed to the war department
Question was you in any battles during this tour of duty and if so where were they – Answer I was at the battle of Guilford Waxhaws near Camden and ninety six and several other engagements during this tour of service, but was never in the heat of battle was either upon some outpost or taking care of the baggage or some other duty
Question where and in what year were you born
Answer – I was born in
Question – have you any record of your age and if so where is it. Answer I have my age recorded in my Bible
Question – where was you living when you entered the service and where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live
Answer – I lived in the
[One or two words illegible] names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served and the names of such other officers as you can recollect Answer– in addition those already named I recollect Col Washington [William Washington of Continental Light Dragoons] Marion [General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion of Marion’s Brigade of Partisans] Williams [Col Otho Holland Williams of the Maryland Continental Brigade] and others but I do not know whether they were regular officers or officers of the Militia
the declarant states in the last mentioned tour of service he must have entered the service the first of March 1781 and having continued in the service to the 28th day of July making five months and 28 days and three months the first tour making in the whole 7 months and 28 days without allowing time to get home from South Carolina were he was last discharged which must have taken ten days if it is right to charge the time in coming home he claims eight months and eight days if not allowed for coming home he was seven months and 28 days in actual service for which he claims a Pension he further states that knows of no living witness by whom he can prove his services
Question why have you not made application for a Pension before now Answer – a gentleman in Halifax County shortly after the passage of the law giving pensions to the Militia proposed to make out my Declaration but said he would charge me half what would be conveyed to me. I refused to give it to him then being able to work for a living. I thought I had as well gave it to the government as to that gentleman. But I am not now able to work on account of old age and infirmity and should be glad to get help from the government
the applicant states that he is not able to attend the Court on account of bodily infirmity he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension, or an annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state of United States
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid
Martin Cloud JOP} [signed] Thomas Richardson
NOTES: The following is a chronology of
1780
Aug 16 Entire Southern Army under Gen.
Horatio Gates defeated at
Fall
demoralized army at
Dec 2 Gen. Nathanael Greene takes command at Charlotte NC; begins rebuilding
Southern Army
Dec 8 Greene orders Col. Thaddeus Kosciuszko to construct winter quarters on the
Dec 26 Richardson and more than 1100 others
arrive at winter camp on the
1781
early Feb Cornwallis, having wintered in
Greene’s
army, divided and still weak, retreats toward relative safety in
Feb 9 Troops
from the Pee Dee camp join Greene’s army in the race for the
re-enlists.
Feb 14 Greene’s army crosses the Dan just hours ahead of Cornwallis, who must retire to
Richardson and his company join Greene’s army
March 14 Greene takes his army to his chosen battlefield at Guilford Courthouse, 6 miles
north of present
March 15 Cornwallis successfully attacks Greene, but the victory is so costly that
Cornwallis
must again retire to
distance, then leaves Cornwallis to deal with Lafayette and
Washington in
while he returns to
April 13 50 Tories attack the settlement at Waxhaws SC. Richardson claimed to be present.
Greene’s army continues through Rugeley’s Mill.
April 25 Battle
of Hobkirk’s Hill at
engagements” mentioned by
May 22 Greene lays siege to the British fort at Ninety-Six SC, but abandons it on June 19
on hearing of approach of British reinforcements.
July Greene’s
army retires to the High Hills of Santee north of present
July 28