Pension Application of Thomas and Mary Hill Vines: W2028
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia
Rockbridge County November 6th 1832
On this day personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of said Court, s’d Court being a Court of Record, and now sitting, Thomas Vines, a resident in s’d. County, & State, aged 77 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 served in the war of the Revolution under the following named officers, and as herein after stated.
That he was draughted as a militia man, he can’t say at what time, to the Barracks, then in Albemarle County, State of Virginia, to guard the prisoners taken at Burgoynes defeat, by Gen. Gates [see note below]. he marched under Capt. Loving, from Amherst County Virginia, Col. Binley [probably Zachariah J. Burnley] & Col. [Francis] Taylor, both from Orange County Virginia, commanded at the Barracks, at different times. This applicant served in the tour 4 months. he received no discharge.
This applicant further states, that his 2nd Tour of service was in guarding the British prisoners taken in North Carolina, by whom he cannot now say, from County to County, to the Barracks at Winchester, but at what time he cannot say, he went from the same County, Amherst under Capt. Isaiah Martin. his other officers he cannot now recollect; he served 13 days, he received no discharge
The applicant states that he served another Tour 3 months as a substitute for John Campbell of Augusta County in 1781. he marched under Capt. Givings [probably Given] & William Robinson [probably Robertson], Lieutenant Col. Huggart [sic: Thomas Hughart] was his commanding officer, marched from Augusta County Va. when Lord Cornwallis came to Virginia [May 1781], and [Lt. Col. Banastre] Tarleton plundered Charlottesville [4 June], to Albemarle, thence variously through the Country, and went under the command of Lafayette where he cannot say untill Wayne came [Gen. Anthony Wayne, 10 June 1781], who took command at Jamestown. he states that he fought at the Battle of Hot Water [26 June] under Lafayette, and at the Battle of James Town [6 July], under Gen. Wayne, both in the month of June as he thinks. he was dismissed at James Town, received no discharge, but when he returned, found orders to march from his own County Amherst in July 1781 to York. He was draughted under Capt. Christian, William Barnett Lieutenant, James Bell Ensign. he continued in the service during this term untill Cornwallis surrendered at York to Washington [19 Oct 1781]. This Tour was 3 months he received no discharge.
This applicant states, that he served another term of service some years previous to this [sic], when Cornwallis was in the south. Capt John Morrison, of Amherst, who had been in the southern service came into see his friends, and raised a Volunteer Company to which this applicant attached himself, Thomas Yaers[?] was his Lieutenant, James Bell Ensign, but after the company was raised, it was rumored that [Gen. Benedict] Arnold had come to Richmond, and he was called to march there. he marched to Richmond [5 Jan 1781] but the Enemy had gone, having plundered, burned, the rope walk[?], &c. he remained at head quarters under Gen. [Robert] Lawson 3 months; he was there dismissed, and returned home, he cannot state the time at which this took place.
This applicant was born in Amherst Cty. Virginia in the year 1756, he was living in Amherst County when called into service. some years after the Revolution he went to Augusta County, and removed to the s’d. County of Rockbridge about 8 years since. he has no record of his age. he knows of no living evidence of his services. he refers to the testimony of Robert Templeton & Col James McDowell of his neighbourhood 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 and subscribed the day and year above written Thomas hisXmark Vines
NOTES:
Gen. John Burgoyne surrendered to Gen. Horatio Gates at Saratoga on 17 Oct 1777. By a “convention” arranged by the two generals, the Hessian prisoners were to be returned to Europe, but Congress refused this generous offer. The “Convention Army” was kept at Cambridge MA for a year, then was sent to Albemarle Barracks near Charlottesville, where it arrived early in 1779.
On 28 Apr 1846 in Augusta County Mary Vines, 75, applied for a pension stating that she married Thomas Vines 20 Oct 1795. On 22 Nov 1848 she reapplied, giving the date of his death as 15 June 1838. On 22 June 1855 in Rockbridge County Mary Vines, then 85, applied for bounty land. In the file is a copy of a bond signed by Thomas Vines and Thomas Green on 20 Oct 1795 in Albemarle County for the marriage of Vines to Mary Hill. On 18 Apr 1876 their son, Nelson Vines, 74, applied for any pension that may have been owed to his parents, stating that his mother died 24 Dec 1862, and that he had been a shoemaker but was then an invalid, having been “stricken with paralysis,”and that he had never born arms with or aided the southern Rebellion.