Pension Application of David Shepherdson: S6076
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia
Rockbridge County Sct.
On this 3rd day of December in the year 1832. Personally appeared in open Court s’d. Court being the County Court of Rockbridge, a Court of record, and now sitting, David Shepherdson, 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 he was draughted as a Militia man for 6 months about the fall of 1799 [sic], under Capt. John Bias of Louisa County Virginia, and marched from s’d. County of Louisa, about the 19th of June 1780, having been transfered into the 2nd Virginia Regiment, Thomas Shelton Lieutenant, and Anthony Winston Ensign, from Louisa, This applicant marched to Hillsborough in North Carolina, and there joined the Southern Army under Gen. Stephens [sic: Edward Stevens] & Col. [Joseph] Spencer, thence to Deep River, where he and his comrades had nearly perished, fasting 3 days, having eaten nothing but a few green crab apples. The army remained at this place a few days, and sent out 200 men, to thrash out some grain for the soldiers; thence crossed Pedee at Masts ferry [sic: Mask’s Ferry on Pee Dee River between Anson and Richmond Counties in North Carolina], and marched to Camden [South Carolina], where after having remained a few days, he engaged in the Battle fought between [Gen. Horatio] Gates & Cornwallis, on the 16th August 1780 & which ended in Gates defeat. After the Battle the company to which this applicant was attached, retreated to Hillsborough [NC], and there rendesvoused. This applicant states that after being at Hillsborough, a short time provisions became scarce, that his Capt. & Lieut. advised his company, to return home and get provisions and clothing, having lost their clothes at the battle of Camden. They returned home, got provision and clothing and again marched on their way to Hillsborough, but met their Capt. Bias, and Lieutenant Shelton, who advised them to return to their homes again. They did return and were honorably acquited by a Court Martial, which considered them as having served their Tour of duty. He states that he did not serve more than 3 months, actually; he received no discharge excepting from the Court Martial, he refers to the personal knowledge of Thomas Bibb & John Gibson of the County of Louisa, Virginia, whose evidence he has procured.
This applicant states that he was again draughted as a Militia man for 3 months in the spring of 1781. under Capt. William Harris of Louisa, he marched from Louisa to Richmond where he joined the Army, thence to Williamsburg, thence to James Town, and back again to Richmond, where this applicant saw the British at Manchester, burning the Tobacco, &c [30 April 1781]. this expedition he states was called the “Wild Goose Chase.” This applicant served in this tour 3 months; and was with his company relieved, by a company from his own County, at William Dandridges in Hanover County, State of Virginia, where the Army had arrived, in pursuance of a general order from Washington, to retreat North of Richmond. This applicant received no discharge; he knows of no living witness to his service in this expedition but his brother John Shepherdson, in this County, whose evidence he has been advised to dispense with.
This applicant further states that he was again draughted from Louisa County, as a Militia man, for 3 months under Capt. James Watson, whose place was afterwards supplied by Capt. Sam’l Pettis. he marched to Gloucester, and was there stationed, opposite to York, where this applicant was engaged during the siege Gen. [George] Weedon commanded the Brigade to which this applicant was attached. This applicant, received a discharge from one of the Cols under Weeden, he was not 3 months in service, having marched the 1st Sep. He knows of no living evidence of his service in this Tour.
This applicant was born the 3rd. Aug’t. 1763, in Louisa County Virginia, where he was living when called into service, and where he lived for a few years afterwards; He lived in different Counties of this State, at different times, but for the last 17 years has been living in this s’d. County of Rockbridge. He has no record of his age in his possession.
This applicant refers to the evidence of William Houston & Preston Trotter citizens of Rockbridge County Va. and Andrew B. Davidson a clergyman of said County & State aforesaid, as evidence in his behalf.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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 & subscribed the day and year above written David hisXmark Shepherdson