Pension Application of John Hughes S5594
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia
Rockbridge County Sc
On this 3rd day of September in the year 1832 Personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of said Court, being a Court of Record, and now sitting; John Hughs a resident in said County of Rockbridge, State of Virginia, 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 will be 82 years of age the 4th day of October 1832. That he enlisted as a Soldier in the Town of Bladensburg in February 1775 – was in service in the Company of Barton Lucas, under whom he enlisted in the City of Anapolis when National Independence was declared and engaged in the Celebration of that event. He further states that after that event, he marched under Capt. Lucas to the neighbourhood of Long Island in New York, at which place he enlisted as a United States soldier, under a certain Capt. Ewing for three years. That he continued with Capt Ewing until the Battle of the White Plains [28 Oct 1776], where he was wounded, having his Thigh fractured. That he obtained a permit from his officer to return home, near Georgetown, until he was ready for further duty. That he did so return, but in consequence of his enfeebled health & strength, was never able to join his company again. That he went to Annapolis in hopes of meeting with some one of the officers, who had known him in service, that he might procure a regular discharge, but meeting with none of them he made known his situation to the Governor Johnston and council & obtained from them a writing or paper which he considered as substantially a discharge. That this paper has since been lost, having been kept until there seemed to be no prospect of its being worth any thing to him. This applicant also states, that he was in the Battle of Long Island [27 Aug 1776] under the command of Capt Lucas & before he had enlisted under Capt Ewing – Lord Sterling commanding in that Battle, the United States forces—
This applicant has within the last three years been much & severely afflicted with sickness, & the many distresses incident to old age & poverty, & cannot recall, as he could, the particulars connected with his revolutionary service. He has never received a pension at any time, though he has often spoken of applying for one — And 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 and subscribed the day and year above written — John hisXmark Hughs