Revolutionary War Pensioners in Williamson County
The original Revolutionary War pension application files are housed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Selected 
documents from these files have been digitized and are available to view as part of the Heritage Quest database, available to anyone with a Brentwood Library card.
History of Revolutionary War Pensions
The first Revolutionary War pensions were offered in 1818 to officers and enlisted men in need of financial assistance. Veterans had to prove they had served in the Continental Army (not in a state militia) for at least nine months.
In 1820 pensioners on the roll were required to submit a list of the property they owned, in order to prove need. Pensioners who could not prove need were dropped from the roll. Many were later restored under a subsequent act.
In 1832 Congress passed an important new law, providing pensions for Revolutionary veterans who had served two years in either the Continental line or a state militia. They were entitled to an annual payment equal to their wartime pay. Those who had served between six months and two years were also eligible, but for less than full pay.
In 1836 widows of veterans who would have been eligible under the 1836 act could apply to draw their husband\u2019s pension, provided their marriage had taken place before the expiration of his last term of military service.
In 1838 the provision for widows was expanded to include all those who had married their veteran prior to Jan. 1, 1794. In 1848 the marriage date was changed to January 2, 1800, and in 1853 all restrictions on the date of marriage were removed.
Those who want to find a file of interest on this web site should first view the original documents on Heritage Quest using their Brentwood Library card number for access. Remember that Heritage Quest only includes selected documents from the original application file. To view the entire file, visit the L.D.S. (Mormon) Church library in Franklin, where you can request the microfilm containing the entire pension file for a small fee.
Pensioners From Williamson County
- Charles Allen
Born March 8, 1758 in Culpepper County, Virginia
Resided in Warren County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1819
- John Andrews
Born April 4, 1764 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia
Resided in Lunenburg County, Virginia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1804
- John Atkinson
Born September 18, 1755 in Cumberland County, Virginia
Resided in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1813
- David Bazwell
Born 1759 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia
Resided in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1822
- William Byers
Born April 6, 1747 in York County, Pennsylvania
Resided in York District, South Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1810
- Henry Cook
Born 1760 in Lunenburg County, Virginia
Resided in Lunenburg County, Virginia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1807
- John Cooke
Born June 25, 1765 in Lunenburg County, Virginia
Resided in Lunenburg County, Virginia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1822
- Henry W. Davis
Birth Date and Place are unknown
Resided in Virginia, when he enlisted
- William Deakins
Born 1739 in England
Resided in Hartford County, Maryland, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1811
- William Dobbins
Birth Date and Place are unknown
- Robert Donaldson
Born 1765 in Orange County, North Carolina
Resided in Orange County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1805 or 1806
- Guiford Dudley
Born 1756 in Carolina County, Virginia
Resided in Halifax County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1807
- John Freeman
Born 1763 in North Carolina
Resided in Jones County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1810
- Isaac Furgurson
Born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina
Resided in Halifax County, Virginia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1806
- Henry Garrett
Born March 18, 1754 in Fairfax County, Virginia
Resided in Fauquier County, Virginia, when he enlisted
- John Gates
Born February 1759 Chesterfield County, Virginia
Resided in Chesterfield County, Virginia, when he enlisted
- Charles Gordon
Birth Date and Place are unknown
- Jacob Grammer
Born 1756 in Pitt County, North Carolina
Resided in Pitt County, North Carolina
Came to Williamson County in 1815
- Robert Guthrie
Born 1757 in Kershaw County, South Carolina
Resided in Kershaw County South Carolina, when he enlisted
- William Hope
Born June 28, 1761 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Resided in York County, Pennsylvania, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1810
- William Hughes
Birth Date and Place are unknown
- George Hulme
Born October 25, 1761 in Amelia County, Virginia
Resided in Amelia County, Virginia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1803
- James Hungerford
Birth Date and Place are unknown
- Henry Iradon
Birth Date and Place are unknown
- John Ivins
Born in Halifax County, North Carolina
Resided in Dobbs County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
- David Ivy
Born June 11, 1752 in Brunswick County, Virginia
Resided in Brunswick County, Virginia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1826
- Gideon Johnson
Born November 7, 1754 in Amelia County, Virginia
Resided in Guildford County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1826
- George Jones
Birth Date and Place are unknown
Resided in Virginia, when he enlisted
- Henry Jordan
Birth Date and Place are unknown
Resided in Virginia, when he enlisted
- John Krystar
Birth Date and Place are unknown
- Alexander Lester
Born August 8, 1754 in Lunenburg County, Virginia
Resided in Charlotte County, Virginia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1811
- Tapley Lightfoot
Born February 15, 1761 in Hanover County, Virginia
Resided in Hanover County, Virginia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1828
- Moses Lindsey
Born in Fredrick County, Virginia
Resided in Newberry County, South Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1810
- Roger Mallory
Born 1755 in King William County, Virginia
Resided in King William County, Virginia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1825
- John Marion
Born October 14, 1760 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Resided in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
- John McBride
Born 1752 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Resided in Orange County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1833
- Daniel McMahon
Born 1751 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Resided in Orange County, North Carolina, when he was drafted
Came to Williamson County in 1799
- George Neely
Birth Date and Place are unknown
Resided in Camden, South Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1786
- Robert Osborne
Born 1755 in York County, Pennsylvania
Resided in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1805
- Robert Parrish
Born ca. 1756 in Lunenburg County, Virginia
Resided in Augusta, Georgia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1826
- George Peay
Born January 19, 1757 in Carolina County, Virginia
Resided in Guilford County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1810
- Joshua Perre
Born December 22, 1757 in Maryland
Resided in Montgomery County, Maryland, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1812
- James Potts
Born 1757 in Salisbury County, North Carolina
Resided in Burke County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1812
- Thomas Ragain
Born 1753 in New Jersey
Resided in Cross Creek, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1817
- Benjamin Ragsdale
Born 1759 in Chatham County, North Carolina
Resided in Chatham County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1801
- Thomas Reynolds
Birth Date and Place are unknown
- George Ridley
Birth Date and Place are unknown
- Abedgeno Rutland
Birth Date and Place are unknown
- Thomas Scott
Born August 12, 1762 in Entram County, Ireland
Resided in Lawrence County, South Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1814
- John Secrest
Born 1758 in Culpeper County, Virginia
Resided in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1816
- W. J. Shumate
Birth Date and Place are unknown
- Zachariah Smith
Born 1757 in Halifax County, North Carolina
Resided in Halifax County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1810
- Robert Stewart
Birth Date and Place are unknown
Resided in Maryland, when he enlisted
- Martin True
Birth Date and Place are unknown
Resided in Halifax County, Virginia, when he enlisted
- James Turner
Born October 9, 1756 in Culpeper County, Virginia
Resided in Culpeper County, Virginia, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1808
- Richard Vernon
Born October 18, 1758 in Charlotte County, Virginia
Resided in Guilford County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1825
- William Watkins
Born 1755 in Chester County, Pennsylvania
Resided in Chester County, Pennsylvania, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County in 1818
- Samuel White
Born 1755 in Iredell County, North Carolina
Resided in Iredell County, North Carolina, when he enlisted
Came to Williamson County 1812