Pension Application of Adam Hickman: S5540
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
Rockbridge County
State of Virginia Sept. 3rd 1832
On this 3rd day of September in the year 1832. Personally appeared in Open Court, s’d. Court being a Court of Record, for the County of Rockbridge, and now sitting, Adam Hickman a resident in s’d. County & State, aged 70 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.
This applicant states, that in the fall of the year 1780. (about the first of October) he was drafted as a Militia Man, under Capt. James (or William) Hall then of sd. County, now dead; he marched from s’d. County having rendesvoused about a mile below Lexington, to the City of Richmond, thence he marched through the Country, in various directions, which this applicant cannot now describe, to Petersburg. This applicant states, that his company marched with another company of volunteers under Capt. David Gray from the same County, this applicant cannot now recollect any further particulars of the tour. he states that in this tour he served 3 months he does not recollect any other officers. he received no discharge. This applicant refers to the evidence of Henry Evans, who served with him in this tour, being his mess mate
This applicant further states, that he was again drafted as a Militia Man, under Capt. William Paxton, then of s’d. County now dead, in May 1781. he marched from s’d County to Deep run church, near Richmond, where he thinks he remained about 2 weeks, then joined other forces, which he cannot specify, marched thence to Richmond, thence down the Country, how far he cannot say, crossed James River at a place called Sandy Point as he thinks, thence came up the River to Petersburg. This applicant states, that the Bridge of the appamatox [sic: Appomattox] at Petersburg, had been burned down by the British, and he crossed in a flat, Thence marched up the appomatox, how far he cannot recollect, and was stationed on s’d. River a week or 10 days, thence marched across to Westham, on James River, about 6 miles above Richmond thence back to Richmond, and down the Country about a days journey, when this applicant was dismissed. he served 3 months in this tour he received no discharge as he recollects. This applicant refers to the testimony of William Miller of s’d. County of Rockbridge who served with him, in this expedition.
This applicant served in all 6 months. This applicant states that he was born in January in the year 1762. and emigrated with his parents to Pennsylvania in his second year.
This applicant has no record of his age. he states that he came to s’d. County of Rockbridge (then Bottetourt [sic: Botetourt] County) in the 6th year of his age, where he was living when drafted into service, and has been living since the war of the Revolution.
This applicant was drafted into service in both tours
This applicant refers to the personal knowledge of William Miller, as testimony in his behalf, also to the testimony of Jefferson Crawford & William Paxton Esq’r.
This applicant hereby relinquishes all and every claim 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 above writtenAdam Hickman
I William Miller of said County of Rockbridge & s’d. State, do hereby certify, that I have known s’d. applicant in the above declaration for 60 years, and that I know from my own personal knowledge, that said Adam Hickman was in service under Capt. William Paxton in 1781. That I frequently saw him and stood with him in the ranks. That I saw him at the Battle of Hot Water [26 June 1781], that I saw him while pulling the flat over the Appomattox River, as he states in his declaration, that I saw the flat overturned by the horses in it, and saw the said Adam Hickman preserve himself by holding to the rope, that I saw him start on a scouting expedition to Williamsburg, during the night, to surprise the British guard. I further certify, that I believe what the s’d. Adam Hickman has stated in his declaration, and that he served during the tour of 3 months for which he was drafted under Capt. William Paxton, that it is the general belief of his neighbourhood that he was a revolutionary Soldier, and that no doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written.William Miller