Pension Application of Philip and Margaret Fix: W7264
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
Rockbridge County} sct.
State of Virginia}
On this 8th day of August 1833. personally appeared before me Jos. Walker a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, Philip Fix, aged seventy nine, and a Resident in said County and State, 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 –
ques 1st – Where and in what year were you born?
He was born nine miles below Reding [sic: Reading], on the Schuylkill in Pennsylvania in the year 1754.
ques. 2nd – Have you any Record of your age and if so where is it? He has no record of his age, except his memory.
ques 3rd – Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do now live – He was living in Loudon [sic: Loudoun] County when called into service his first Tour, and in Augusta County when called into service his second Tour, in which county (Augusta) he has resided since the Revolutionary untill April 1832. when he removed to the s’d County of Rockbridge, where he now resides.
4th ques. How were you called into service – were you drafted &c? He was a substitute in his first Tour for John Conrad. In his second Tour he was draughted.
5th ques. State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the Troops where you served such Continental and Militia Regiments &c?
He states that he marched as a substitute for John Conrad from Loudon County Va. about September 1777. under Capt John Thomas of Loudon, now decd – Samuel Potts was his Lieutenant & Thomas Wright his Ensign. His company rendevoused at Leesburg in s’d. Loudon – crossed the Potowmac at Nowland’s Ferry [sic: Potomac at Noland’s Ferry] – thence marched to Frederick Town in Maryland – thence to York upon Codour’s[?] Creek – crossed the Susquehannah [sic: Susquehanna] at Wright’s Ferry – thence to Lancaster in Pennsylvania – thence to Warrick Furnace – thence to Swede’s Forge [probably Swedesford] on the Schuylkill – thence to Plymouth Meeting House – thence to Chesnut [sic: Chestnut] Hill, and arrived there upon a forced march in order to be in time for the battle of Germantown [4 Oct 1777] but was too late by a day or two. He then marched to Spring House Tavern – and thence to the Rising Sun, a Tavern between Germantown and Philadelphia, which place his company, on account (this applicant believes) of it having been a harbour for the British.
He states that he then returned to York were his company was dismissed. Colo Clapham and Major West, both from Loudoun Cty. were commanding officers. He not recollect of having received a discharge. He served his Tour of Three months. He knows of no living witness who served with him.
This applicant farther states that he was draughted for three months from Augusta Cty Virginia under Capt Patrick Buchanan, from s’d County, some time in 1781. The company rendevoused at the widow Tazer’s Tavern, now Waynesborough [sic: Waynesboro] in s’d County and marched to Charlottesville thence to Richmond and thence to York Town and was engaged in the battle fought there. This applicant was a Rifleman, and was in the Trenches, when Cornwallis sent out a Flag of Truce [17 Oct 1781, two days before formal surrender]. He afterwards guarded the Prisoners that were taken to Winchester as far as two miles above Falmouth. He does not recollect of having received a Discharge.
ques. 6 & 7. He never received a Discharge or a commission.
7th ques – State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify to your character &c? To this he answers that having lived but a short time in the County in which he now resided, and being unable from infirmity to mingle much with his neighbours, he deems it more proper to refer to persons in the County of Augusta, where he resided for many years. He therefore refers to the Reverend Francis McFarland, Major William Wilson, and Samuel Blackwood, Esq. all of his former neighborhood in the s’d. County of Augusta as evidence in his behalf – which he has obtained.
This applicant hereby relinquishes his all and 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.
He served in all during the Revolutionary War, six months – and for this he claims a Pension.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written Philip his PF mark Fix
NOTE: On 26 Jan 1846 Margaret Fix, 84, applied for a pension stating that she married Philip Fix in Augusta County on 15 Mar 1780, and he died 2 Dec 1834. Her application was supported by her son, John Fix, 46, who submitted a family record, now mostly illegible, said to include the ages of his siblings, Elizabeth, Jacob, Philip, and Henry Fix, the latter two of whom were then dead.