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| Title |
MIL-REV: 1834 John Darwin Pension Application |
| Short Title |
MIL-REV: 1834 John Darwin Pension Application |
| Author |
NARA, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files |
| Call Number |
Roll M804, Case File S.21155 |
| Repository |
NARA: National Archives and Records Administration (USA) |
| Source ID |
S41 |
| Text |
Page 1
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
YORK DISTRICT ::: To Wit
On the _ October 1834 personally
appeared in open court before
B. Earle, one of the Judges of the court
of Common Pleas now sitting, John Darwin
a resident of York District and State of
South Carolina aged seventy-nine last March
who being duly sworn according to law
makes the following declaration in order to
obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress
passed the 7th June 1832.
I entered the service of the United States as
a private in the County of Louisa, State of Virginia
on the second day of February 1776 under the
enlistment for two years in Captain Thomas Johnston's
company in the Third Virginia Regiment
commanded by Col. Mercer. I marched in said
Company to Fredericksburgh, where I joined said
Regiment. In a short time, I marched with the
Regiment to Alexandria, about the time Colonel
Mercer was promoted and when Col. Weadon
took command of the Regiment and Captain
Powel took command of the Company in the
place of Captain Johnston. I then marched
with the regiment by way of Williamsburgh to
the mouth of the Potomac River against Governor
Dunmore. We then returned from Williamsburgh and
while at a place called the Northern Neck
between the Rappahanock and the Potomac we
first heard of the Declaration of Indepedence,
which was inthusiastically celebrated by the
Regiment. With forced marches we then
moved by way of Alexandria for the city of
New York. About this time Col. Weadon was
promoted to Brigadier General and Col. Marshall
took command of our Regiment. We
reached the city of New York on the night
of the 15th of September 1776. On the following morning
we marched up between the East & North Rivers and
Page 2
found General Washington near fort Washington
where he had entrenched himself on the North
River. It was at this place I was engaged in a skirmish
which took place between a party of British sent
from the City of New York to reconnoiter Washington's force,
in which I received a musket ball in my right arm
which has made me a cripple for life. While I was
confined with this wound, and before I had
recovered, I was attacked with a spell of the feaver
and while thus confined at the last mentioned place
the British fleet passed up the North River, and Washing-
ton marched for the White Plains. I with the rest of
the disabled & sick were carried to the Jersey side
of the North River, & thence to Philadelpia. I then
took the Small Pox and was confined there about
three months before I recovered. I next joined
Washington's Army at Morristown in the Jerseys,
where the Army remained but a short time after
I joined it untill we were marched to
Middlebrook near Brunswick where the British
had their head quarters. When the British left the
last mentioned place we took up the line of march
for Trenton & Philadelphia and I continued
with the army and bore an active part, as a
private, in the Battle of Brandywine. After this
battle I with the army retreated to White Marsh
Church--I still continued with the army &
fought in the Battle of Germantown. After
this battle we were marched to Valey Forge
where I remained in winter quarters untill
I got my discharge from Col. Woodward,
which was on the 3rd day of February 1778.
This Discharge I have lost years ago; and the only
documentary evidence of my service is the
affidavit of David Bullock, herewith transmitted.
He is the only person now living, that I know of,
who knows of my services. He lives in the State
of Virginia and County of Louisa. I was born
in Louisa County, State of Virginia on the
19th March 1755 where I enlisted. I left Louisa
County on 12th October 1778 for York District in
South Carolina & arrived there 26th of November
1778. I remained at home in York District from
this time untill about the year 1780. When I again
Page 3
entered into my country's service as a milita
man and a private under a draft for the
Citizens of my District and was placed under
the Command of Col. Bratton, my Captain's
name I have forgot, my first Lieutenant's name
was Humphrey Barnett. From York District
we marched against Friday's Fort, now called
Granby which is on Congaree River in So Carolina.
We laid seige to the Fort but was unable to take it
untill we were joined by Capt. Lee's light horse & then
the Fort was surrendered. We then marched towards
Ninety-Six now called Cambridge for the purpose of
joining General Green, & we met him either in
Newberry or Union District. After meeting & remaining
a short time with the General I returned for home in
York District having been out about three months.
Shortly after I returned home I was again called out
under the Command of Colonel Morphet & marched
to Orangeburgh District. We crossed at Granby
aiming to attack a fort at Orangeburgh but did
not do it. We then reconnoitered about the country
for about six weeks in order to keep the Tories in
subjection. I again returned home being out about
two months. I now remainded at home a few weeks,
in which time I made up a Company and took
the command of it as Captain & marched them
and joined Colonel Lacy (but I never got my
Commission as Captain) and acting as Captain
of my company I marched under Col Lacy to
the Salt Catches in South Carolina. After marching
through this section of Country for about two
months without any engagements I returned home
in York District being out about three months.
The next tour of duty was under a Draft which
I stood in York District, for the term of three
months, and I was under the command of Col Lacy
and was in an engagement near Brattons, on Turkey
Creek in York District. The rest of my time was spent
in marching about in the upper part of So Carolina.
After this tour I remained at home some two or three months
and I again joined Col. Lacy & marched to
Bengham's Church near Charleston in South Carolina.
Page 4
We had a skirmish near a bridge on Cooper River.
After the skirmish we crossed Santee at Nelson's Ferry.
We remained in this section some time & I took
sick with the fever & ague & returned to York
District & left the army. This was as well as I can
recollect about the year 1783. The dates of my
service in South Carolina are put down entirely
from recollection and are not so well remembered
as those of my enlistment of which I had a
memorandum & lost it only a few years ago.
I have lived in York District where I now live
since the Revolutionary War.
If my services entitled me to a pension under
the act of congress 1818, I herewith State that
I never knew of said Act nor of its
Provisions--if I had I certainly would
have applied for it, for I am confident that my
service & sufferings entitle me to a Pension
if there is any man now living is entitled
to one; I am a farmer & live in obscurity
and not intermingling with the world are the
Reasons which prevented me from Knowing of
the Act of Congress 1818, for untill the infor-
mation now received from the War Depart-
ment I never heard of said Act.
I do hereby relinquish any claim whatever to any pension or
annuity except the present and declare that my name is
not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed this
22nd October 1834 in open court
John Darwin
A. McWhorter/Clerk
Appendices to the Application
We, S.I. Feemster, a clergyman residing in York District in the
State of South Carolina, and Gordon Moore a resident of
the same State & District, do hereby certify that we are well
acquainted with John Darwin who has subscribed & sworn to the
above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy-nine years
of age. That he is reported & believed in the neighborhood where
he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we
concur in that opinion. Sworn to & subscribed this day
and year aforesaid in open court
S.I.Feemster
A.M.McWhorter, Clerk
Gordon Moore
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after investigations of the matter & after
putting the iterrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above mentioned
applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And the Court
further Certifies that it appears to them that S.I.Feemster--who has signed the
preceeding certificate is a clergyman, residing in the district of York
in the State of South Carolina and that Gordon Moore who has
also signed the same, is a resident of York District in the State of
South Carolina, & is a credible person & that their statement is
entitled to credit.
B.J.Earle, Pres'dg Judge
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| Linked to (1) |
2.08 John DARWIN |
-
| Military Records: American Revolution
|
 | John Darwin 1834 Pension Application - Page 1 of 4
John Darwin 1834 Pension Application - Page 1 of 4
[NARA, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, Roll M804, Case File S.21155] |
 | John Darwin 1834 Pension Application - Page 2 of 4
John Darwin 1834 Pension Application - Page 2 of 4
[NARA, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, Roll M804, Case File S.21155] |
 | John Darwin 1834 Pension Application - Page 3 of 4
John Darwin 1834 Pension Application - Page 3 of 4
[NARA, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, Roll M804, Case File S.21155]
|
 | John Darwin 1834 Pension Application - Page 4 of 4 (includes signature)
John Darwin 1834 Pension Application - Page 4 of 4
[NARA, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, Roll M804, Case File S.21155] |
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