Pension Application of James and Martha Clarkson East: W5070
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia
Rockbridge County, SS.
On this 31st day of December in the year 1832. personally appeared in open Court, before the County Court of Rockbridge, s’d. Court being a Court of Record, and now sitting. James East a resident in said County & State aged 80 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.
1st question. This applicant states that he was born in Goochland County State of Virginia in August 1753.
2nd question. He has a record of his age, in a large Bible in his possession, inscribed there from the Register of Parson [William] Douglas, a minister of s’d. Goochland Cty. now exhibited to this Court.
3rd question. He was living in Fluvanna Cty. Virginia when first called into service, and thence moved to Louisa County in Virginia, in 1780. where he lived five years, at the expiration of which, he moved to Nelson County of this state (then a part of Amherst County, Va) where he lived untill 1825 when he came to the said County of Rockbridge, where he has since resided.
4th question. He states that he was twice draughted, once enlisted, and once called out to Albemarle Cty Va Barracks to guard the Hessians [captured at Saratoga 17 Oct 1777], as will more fully appear from his answer to the following questions.
5th question. This applicant states that he was draughted as a militia man (or called out in the 3d Division of his County Fluvanna) in August 1777 under the command of Capt. Joseph Hayden [or Haden] & Lieutenant Benjamin Anderson of Fluvanna County, and marched by the way of Richmond where he drew his arms, and thence to Williamsburg and Hampton in Virginia, there remained during the full term of his tour of 3 months, for which he was draughted. He was in no engagement during this tour. He received no discharge. This applicant farther states, that in September 1776. he enlisted on the continental Establishment under Capt Thomas Holt, a recruiting officer who came from s’d. Louisa County Va. to Fluvanna Va. for the term of 3 years, That he was constantly employed with his Capt. in the business of recruiting for 4 months, but on account of the remonstrances of his parents, (he being their youngest he procured a substitute, James Burly of Fluvanna Va., who served out his Tour of Enlistment.
This applicant farther states, that in 1779. he was draughted into service for 3 months, under Capt. Hayden & Lieutenant Anderson, above mentioned, and marched from Fluvanna to the neighbourhood of Williamsburg, York & Hampton, on this occasion, (and on the occasion first mentioned in this Declaration in August 1777) Major George Thompson & Col. Samuel Cabel [or Cabell] (Cabel from Amherst Cty Va. and Thompson from Fluvanna Cty. Va) commanded. He received no discharge, was in no engagement, and served his full term of 3 months.
This applicant farther states, that he performed an irregular service of 2 months, at Charlottesville Va in November 1779, in guarding some prisoners of War, principally Hessians, for which he received no remuneration. his officers were Capt Samuel Richardson of Fluvanna Va & Lieutenant Thomas Thurman [or Thurmond] from the same place.
This applicant states, that in January 1781, he was enrolled under the orders of Capt John Fox of Louisa Va. and retained in the County of Louisa Va. as a maker of Gun stocks. That he was detailed for the service as a soldier & continued in it, until the capture of Lord Cornwallis in October [19th] 1781. making a period of 8 months; he never understood himself or heard from others, that it was a private service, for which he was to be privately paid, and he states that he never was compensated for it publickly or privately, and that he always deemed it a military service for the united states.
these different terms of service as detailed by this applicant amount in all to 20 months.
6th question This applicant never received a written discharge nor a commission.
7th question. this applicant states, that he has been 40 years out of the County, from which he marched into service, and where the fact of his service was known, that he has resided but 7 years in this s’d. County of Rockbridge. That he knows of no person, anywhere, who knows from personal knowledge, that he was a Revolutionary soldier, but refers to Capt William Ingles of his neighborhood, also to Samuel Parish & John Hughs of Nelson County Va. whose evidence he has obtained. he knows of no Clergyman who knows the traditions of his former neighborhood, to certify them in his favor, the minister of the congregation in which he lived, having moved to the West, many years ago, but he has obtained a certificate from the Rev’d. Valentine M Mason a Babtist Clergyman in Rockbridge, which he has been compelled to obtain, before a magistrate, as the s’d. Mason was just moving to a distant County in the State.
He also refers to the Rev’d. Allen D Metcalf a Presbyterian Clergyman of his neighborhood, for his character, whose certificate he has also been compelled to take before a Magistrate on account of its being inconvenient to s’d. Metcalf to attend at the Courthouse of said County.
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 written. [signed] James East
NOTE: On 17 May 1845 Martha East, 81, resident at Jordan’s Point near Lexington, applied for a pension stating that she was the widow of James East, who died 4 Oct 1844. With her application is a family record of their marriage on 9 Feb 1778, as well as the marriages of five children. This family register also includes the following: “James East son of Thomas East & Winifred East, was born AD. 1753, being August the 10th” and “Martha Clarkson, Daughter of David Clarkson & Elizabeth Clarkson his wife, was born AD. 1753 being July,” as well as dates of birth and death of their children.