Pension Application of William and Martha Carter: W3773
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
On this 2nd day of November 1832 personally appeared before me Harvey Fitzgerald a Justice of the peace for the County of Patrick aforesaid, William Carter a resident of the County of Patrick and State of Virginia aged seventy four years the 17th day of October last past, who being first 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. – At an early period of his life he was drafted for a three months tour in the County of Albemarle where he then resided, in a Company commanded by Capt. John Hunton[?] and Marched from thence to the City of Richmond Virginia and joined the Regiment of Colo. Richardson [sic: probably Holt Richardson] where he remained without having any engagement with the enemy till his term of service was expired and he was discharged ~
Some time afterwards in the year [blank] he went as a substitute for his father Barnett Carter who was drafted in the same County for a three months tour in the Militia under Capt. John Martin, and marched to the City of Richmond, where he joined the Regiment of Colo. Lindsay [sic: probably Reuben Lindsay], from there they marched to a place near Williamsburg Va., from there up to King William County and was moved about from place to place wherever the public service required, and returned home to his residence in Albemarle.
Some time after that he was again drafted in a Company of Militia under Capt. John Miller, and marched to the City of Richmond, from thence to the Maubin Hills [sic: see note below] where he joined the Regiment of Colo. Dix. The enemy were then lying at a place called Sandy point and at this Maubin Hills the Regiment was frequently marched about watching the movement of the enemy till the expiration of the three months tour when he was discharged at this Maubin HIlls & returned home ~
Some time afterwards in the year [blank] he went as a substitute for John Saunders who was drafted for a three months tour in this same County under Capt. Richardson and marched to the City of Richmond Va. from thence to the City of Williamsburg and joined the Regiment of Colo. Towles. from thence he marched to Yorktown, and from thence to a place called the halfway house near Hampton. – The vessels of the enemy were then lying in the Bay, or Hampton Roads, when a storm arose and blew some of them ashore and a number of their men were captured by the Americans. And when Colo. Towles’ Regiment arrived in Hampton they were met by the Americans who had these prisoners in charge, and they were going up to Capt. Richardson, who received them and immediately moved off with them to Richmond Va. where the prisoners were lodged in Jail and this Company having finished their tour were discharged ~
Some time after he returned home he was again in the year [blank] drafted in a Company of Militia in the same County for a three months tour under Capt. Benjamin Harris and Marched to Richmond Va. where he joined the Regiment commanded by Colo. Matthews [sic: Sampson Matthews] of Augusta, from thence he marched to a position between the lines of the American Army Commanded by General Lafayette, Nelson, Wayne & Stuben [sic: von Steuben] & the enemy where they remained until releived by Genl. Wayne. And there this applicant with the rest of his Company were discharged having finished their tour of duty & returned home.
Some time afterwards in the year [blank] he went as a substitute for William Jones who was drafted to perform a three months tour under Capt. Brown and marched from the County of Albemarle through this City of Richmond to the City of Williamsburg Va. where he joined the Regiment commanded by Colo. Stubblefield [sic: George Stubblefield]. The enemy then being in Little York. he remained in service, and was marched about from one place to another watching the enemy and their movements till his term of service expired, when he was discharged and he returned to his place of residence in the County of Albemarle ~
Some time afterwards in the year 1781 he was again drafted to perform a tour of duty in the Militia for three months under Capt. John Key and immediately marched to the City of Richmond and joined the Regiment commanded by Colo. Jones, who immediately marched and joined the American Armies at Little York, where Lord Cornwallis was besieged. he remained there till about a week before the enemy surrendered when he was taken sick and discharged. he saw many of the American Officers when there, both of the Continental line and State troops, but had no personal acquaintance with any of them. among others he distinctly remembers to have seen General Washington, Layfayette, Wayne, & Stuben of the Continental troops, and Genl. Lawson [sic: Robert Lawson] & others of the militia whose names he has forgotten.
He also states that in the year [blank] he was drafted in a Company Commanded by Capt. Benjamin Wheeler for a three months tour to guard the prisoners belonging to the troops of Genl. Burgoine [sic: Burgoyne] who were taken at the battle of Saratoga and were stationed at the Barracks in the County of Albemarle; and at the expiration of his term of service the Company were relieved by the Regular troops enlisted for that purpose, and discharged ~
He also states that he served a three months tour in the year [blank] under Sergt. Barnis Brown at Charlottesville guarding some tories of public notoriety, one by the name of Goodrich, and another by the name of McCoun[?] & many others whose names he has forgotten ~ And was discharged by Sergeant Brown at the expiration of his term of service ~ He is not positive as to the precise time that he served in all, but is very confident that it was considerably over two years.
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 which he performed and kept them for many years, but believing them useless papers they were all 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 toll of the agency of any state. Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid William hisXmark Carter
NOTE:
Maubin Hills, often written Mobbin or Marbin 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.
Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of 17th June 1844 granting pensions for four years to certain widows who has received pensions under the act of July the 7th 1838
State of Virginia} Ss
County of Patrick}
On this the ____ day of July ____ 1844 personally appeared before me Wm Critz one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid Martha Carter a resident of Virginia in the County of Patrick aged supposed to be seventy eight or nine years who being first duly sworned according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress on the 17th June 1844 granting pensions to widows of pensioners who served during the revolutionary war
That she is the widow of William Carter who was a pensioned soldier in the army of the revolution and for full proof of service she would refer the War Department to the evidence filed in the pension office where she applied for a pension under the acts of Congress of the 7th July 1838 and under the act of Congress of the 3rd March 1843 and she further states that she received a pension under the act of 7th July 1838 at the rate of eighty dollars per annum and also has received a certificate to draw a pension under the act of 3rd March 1843 for to draw one years pension at the rate of eighty dollars per annum. [signed] Martha Carter
North Carolina} SS.
Stokes County to wit}
This day personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the County afforesaid Henry Carter who being first duly sworn states that his brother William Carter was married by the publication of banns – Mrs. Martha Carter (who has applied for a pension) in the County of Albemarle in the State of Virginia. That he heard the banns published three times (by Parson Irvin, a presbyterian preacher) and that at that time it was usual and authorized by the law of Virginia to marry by the publication of banns and that when marriages were made in that way no license were necessary nor was any record left of the same. I well recollect that William Carter and Martha McKinsey was married in the year 1782, in the month of January I went after one William Woods a Baptist preacher to marry them in the County of Albemarle & state of Virginia The reason why I so well recollect it, in going for the parson my horse fell and I received a hurt in my knee that I did not get well of for a long time and the said William Woods did marry them together for I saw it. The above named Martha Carter now resides in Patrick County State of Virginia and has resided there upwards of Thirty years
Sworn to and subscribed before me the 7th day of Oct 1840 [signed] Henry Carter
State of North Carolina}
Stokes County} SS.
This day personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in and for said County Henry Carter & Sarah Carter, who being first duly sworn states that Martha Carter wife of William Carter dec’d. now resides in Patrick County State of Virginia. by our own recollection and also by reference to our own family Register we recollect that Martha Carter, who has applied for a pension was the wife of William Carter dec’d. who was a pensioner, had the following Children to wit. Alexander Carter was born in the year A.D. 1784. Elizabeth Carter in 1786. Nancy Carter in 1788. Milly Carter in 1790. and William Carter in 1792 all of whom was born in Albemarle County State of Virginia – given under my hand the 19th day of August AD. 1841