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On this 20th day
of Feby 1834 personally appeared in open court before the honorable Thomas
Stuart judge of the circuit [court] of Williamson County now sitting John
Atkinson a resident of said county and state aged 78 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 provision of the act of Congress
passed 7th June 1832. That he entered the service of the U S under the
following officers and served as herein stated.
Ans to Quest 1: I was born in Cumberland County Virginia on the 18th Sept
1755 where
I lived till I was grown up then I moved to Pittsylvania County in the same
state.
Ans to Quest 2: I have a record of my age taken from my father’s register
now in my possession.
Ans to Quest 3: I was living in Pittsylvania County Virginia when first
called into the service. In 1811 I left the state of Virginia and settled in
Maury County where I lived two years. I then moved to this county
(Williamson) and state of Tennessee where I now live and have been living
ever since.
Ans to Quest 4th: The first tour I volunteered and my last three months tour
was called out by lot.
Ans to Quest 5: There was Gen Green, Gen Stephens, Col Williams, Col
Perkins, and Capt Morton who were with the troops where I served. About the
1st September 1780 I volunteered into Capt Joseph Morton’s Company under Col
Williams of Pittsylvania County. We were called out in consequence of an
apprehended invasion of Virginia by Cornwallis whose movements were then
towards the north from North Carolina. Under Col Williams we were marched to
the Island ford on Dan River where we remained sometime. Green with his army
was then at Halifax and moved he main army towards the intercon[?] and was
cosicked[?] by the militia. Cornwallis then moved his army towards
Hillsborough. About this time say 30th January 1781 at Pittsylvania we were
all blessed and it fell to my lot to serve a three month tour Joseph Morton
Capt command the company. The regiment was under Col Peter Perkins attached
to Gen Stephens Brigade joined Gen Green’s army at Haw River. Gen Green was
then on his march to Guilford Court house. This battle was on the 15th March
1781. I was wounded in the right hand in this battle which left a deficiency
that yet remains rendered it useless ever since. I was inspected and being
unfit for the service and ordered when able to take my leave again. Three
months were not out but when it was I got a discharge for three months
signed by Morton which is now lost. I had served at least four months when I
entered the three months tour which ended the last of March 1781 making in
all 7 months for which I claim a pension.
Ans to Quest 7: I am acquainted with Wm Anthony – Thos Simmons – Jackson M
Clemore and Robert White who can testify to their belief of my services and
their belief of my veracity.
I know of no person except Esgn Nunelly[?] whose certificate follows by whom
I can wore[?] my services. I have no documentary evidence. I hereby
relinquish every claim to a pension on annuity except the present whatever
and declare my name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] John Atkinson
Sworn to in open court
20th July 1834
[signed] P. Hay, clk &c
We James King a clergyman resident of Williamson County state of Tennessee
and Wm Anthony also resident of said county and state hereby certify that we
are well acquanted with John Atkinson who has subscribed and sworn to the
foregoing declaration that we believe him to be 78 years of age and that he
is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a
revolutionary soldier and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] James King – Clergyman
[signed] Wm Anthony
Sworn to in open court
20th July 1834
[signed] P. Hay, clk &c
State of Tennessee ))
Williamson County ))
On this 25th day of March 1839 personally appeared before me William E.
Hughes one of the acting justices of the peace in and for the county
aforesaid Mary Atkinson a resident of the county of Williamson and state
aforesaid aged eighty one years who being duly sworn first according to law
doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the
benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July the 4th
1836 and the Joint Resolution of July the 7th 1838.
That she is the widow of John Atkinson who was a pensioner of the United
States and drew his pension in Nashville State of Tennessee.
She further declares that she was married to the said John Atkinson on the
6th day of November Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Seven that her husband the
aforesaid John Atkinson died on the 2nd April 1837 and that she the Mary
Atkinson has remained a widow ever since that day Period as will more fully
apear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day and year first above written
before me and she further makes oath that the annexed record was taken out
of the family bible containing the marriage.
[signed] William E. Hughes {seal}
Justice of the Peace
[signed] Mary Atkinson X her mark
State of Tennessee ))
Smith County ))
On this day personally appeared Thaddeus Armstead before me Stephen Mann one
of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said county make oath in due
form of law that he was born 3rd November in the year 1755. That he is the
brother of Mary Atkinson widow of John Atkinson on the county of Williamson
in this State. That he and the said John Atkinson were caisic[?] boys
together were nearly of one age and went to school together in Cumberland
County State of Virginia. This affiant has a personal knowledge of the
marriage of John Atkinson to his sister Mary they were married he believes
at his own house by Parson McCrea this affiant was living a batchelor and
his sister Mary kept house for him thear father and mother were both dead
and this affiant married and his sister Mary lived with him until her
marriage with John Atkinson. They were married on the 6th November 1777 the
record hereto annexed he believes to be on examination to be the genuine
hand writing of the said John Atkinson and from his own family record and
his recolection of the events of that time he knows that the date of the
marriage above is correct. Shortly after the marriage of John Atkinson with
his sister Mary they moved to Pittsylvania County Virginia and as this
affiant was informed and believes said John Atkinson Served a tour of
Service and was in the battle of Guilford of some other battle and got
wounded this was after the marriage the reason he cannot say positively he
was out in the Service is because he was not out with him nor actually saw
him in said Service but he is well assured that he did Serve after the
marriage. This affiant went to see them after he returned home while he
lived in Halifax or Pittsylvania said Atkinson was a Baptist Preacher for
the last fifty years before his death and further this affiant is informed
it is not material for him to state.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 29th day of May 1839.
[signed] Thaddeus Armstead X his mark {seal}
Attest
[signed] Stephen Mann {J. P.}
For Smith County
State of Tennessee ))
Smith County ))
I Stephen Mann one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county
aforesaid hereby certify that I am well acquanted with Thaddeus Armstead who
has this day made the foregoing affidavit and has known him for more than
thirty year past. That he is a man of truth and veracity and that full faith
and credit are due and of right ought to be given to his Statements. In
testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed my seal this 29th May
1839.
[signed] Stephen Mann {J. P.}
For Smith County
[Annexed records from family Bible]
Samuel Atkinson was born in the year of our lord 1762 May 13th
And was married the 24th July 1794[?]
John Atkinson was born 18th Sept 1755
Mary Atkinson was born 17th Feby 1756
was married 6th Nov 1777
April 19, 1937
Mrs. Burton Wands
11211 Massachusetts Avenue
Los Angeles, California
Dear Madam:
You are furnished herein the record of John Atkinson as found in pension
claim, W. 5650, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
John Atkinson was born September 18, 1755, In Cumberland County, Virginia,
where he lived until grown, then moved to Pittsylvania County, in the same
state. The names of his parents are not given.
While a resident of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, John Atkinson volunteered
September 1, 1780, served as private in Captain Joseph Morton’s company,
Colonel Robert Williams’ Virginia regiment and was discharged after having
served a tour of four months. He enlisted January 30, 1781, served as
private in Captain Joseph Morton’s company, Colonel Peter Perkins’ Virginia
regiment, was in the battle of Guilford in which he received a wound in his
right hand and was discharged the last of March 1781. John Atkinson was an
ordained Baptist minister and preached during the war after being wounded.
In 1811 the soldier moved from the State of Virginia to Maury County,
Tennessee, where he lived two years, thence to Williamson County, that
state.
John Atkinson was allowed a pension on his application executed February 20,
1834, while a resident of Williamson County, Tennessee. He died April 2,
1837.
The soldier married November 6, 1777, Mary, sister of Thaddeus Armstead for
whom she kept house and at whose home she married in Cumberland County,
Virginia, her parents both being dead and her brother Thaddeus a bachelor at
that time but who afterwards married. Soldier’s wife, Mary, was born
February 17, 1758, the place of her birth and names of parents not stated.
Thaddeus Armstead was born November 3, 1755, place not stated, and in 1839
was residing in Smith County, Tennessee.
The following names appear in the papers on file in affidavits of
acquaintanceship with the soldier, John Atkinson, and his wife, Mary, but no
relationships shown: Honorable Thomas Stuart, Judge of the Williamson
County, Tennessee Circuit Court, before whom the soldier made his
declaration for pension; Preston Hay, Clerk of the Circuit Court of that
county; James King, clergyman, and William Anthony both residents of
Williamson County who made joint affidavit in soldier’s behalf; Edward
Nugnell[?], of Hickman County, Tennessee, testified that he had been
acquainted with the soldier during the Revolutionary War; soldier’s widow,
Mary Atkinson, made her declaration before one William E. Hughes, Justice of
the Peace for Williamson County, Tennessee; Laurel[?] B. McConnice was Clerk
of the County Court of Williamson County; Stephen Mann was Justice of the
Peace of Smith County, Tennessee, 1839, and John I. Burnett was Clerk of the
County Court of that county, and one A. Fergusson was then a resident of
Carthage, Tennessee.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person
paid and possibly the date of death of soldier’s widow, Mary, you should
write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records
Division, this city, and cite the following data: Mary Atkinson, widow of
John Atkinson, Certificate #3055, issued September 4, 1839, rate $20 per
annum, commenced April 2, 1837, Act July 4, 1836, Tennessee Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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