USA > Virginia > Tazewell County > Tazewell County > Annals of Tazewell County, Virginia from 1800 to 1922 > Part 17
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SAMUEL P. DAVIDSON, J. P."
July T. Adopted a plan and appointed James Meek, Thomas Fowler, William Cox, James C. Spotts, and David Wade to receive proposals for constructing a new Court House. The said court house to be completed by the 25th day of December, 1833.
Addison Crockett elected and qualified as constable.
Samuel Witten qualified as a Justice of the Peace.
Aug. T. Low Brown made declaration as a Revolutionary soldier :
"On the 21st day of August 1832 personally appeared before the Court of the County aforesaid, Low Brown, resident of the said County of Tazewell and State of Virginia aged seventy-six years, who being first sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the
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following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th. 1832. That he en- listed in the Illinois regiment of the army of the United States in the year 1779 with Captain Jesse Evans and served in the Illinois regiment under the following named officers Colonel George Rogers Clark Lieutenant Col. John Montgomery Col., in the Company of Captain Jesse Evans ; that he left the service the first day of August 1780 as appears from a discharge of that date, under the hand of Lieutenant Colonel John Montgomery certifying that his time of enlistment (which was eighteen months) had expired at that time that at the time of his enlistment he resided in the County of Mont- gomery State of Virginia, that he marched through the country at present the States of Tennessee and Kentucky by water from the mouth of big Creek which empties into Holstein to the mouth of Teennessee river, and then to Kaskaskia in Illinois by water. He hereby relinquishes his every claim whatever to a pension or any annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State-sworn to and sub- scribed the day and year aforesaid. LOW BROWN.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states."
Peter Gose elected, by the Justices present, as Commissioner of the Revenue for the ensuing year.
Joseph Stras appears frequently as Commissioner to settle accounts with Fiduciaries.
Oct. T. John Crockett, Clerk of the county.
Declaration of Thomas Witten, a Revolutionary soldier:
"On the 15th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the County Court of Tazewell County in the State of Virginia, now sitting, Thomas Witten a resident of Tazewell and State of Virginia, aged eighty years in the month of January next, who being first duty 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 fol- lowing named officers, and served as herein stated. That he was ensign regularly commissioned and belonged to the Company com- manded by Captain Thomas Mastin, and Lieutenant James Max-
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well when he first entered the service early in the month of June, 1776 and was attached to the State regiment Commanded by Col. William Preston and Major Walter Crockett who was afterwards promoted the appointment of Col. --- That the duty which as ensign
to the appointment of Col. That the duty which as ensign aforesaid, during the remainder of the year 1776, which devolved upon the said Thomas Witten, and the Company to which he belonged, was to perform frequent scouting expeditions as Indian Spies to defend the western frontier of Virginia lying along the val- ley of Clinch river from the head waters of Bluestone river to the forks of Clinch river wihtin the now limits of Russell County in the State aforesaid from the massacres of the Indians by whom the whole western border was then infested That he resided in the now County of Tazewell in the State of Virginia, then perhaps Mont- gomery, That he does not now remember whether he was drafted or not, but he thinks that he was called out by an order of the Com- manding officer Col. William Preston, That he was engaged in no general battle or engagement during his scouting expedition in the year 1776 but partook in several little skirmishes and was an eye witness of some of many instances of unhuman butchery and mas- sacres committed upon the frontier families within the range of his marches, That none of the regular soldiers were quartered in the western frontier for the protection and defence of the settlers, but that the malitia were occassionally drafted and sent to the relief of the frontiers from the counties of Montgomery and Washington embracing all that section of country now comprised in the counties of Lec, Scott, Russell, Tazewell, Giles, Grayson Monroe etc. etc.
The said Thomas Witten further states that he continued to act as an ensign as aforesaid, until the close of the revolutionary war- that he thinks that he was engaged as an Indian Spy, as aforesaid fully six months in each year, and the ballance of each year were permitted by the commanding officers to return to their families and remain at home during the winters of each year from the year 1776 til the termination of the revolutionary war, when the Indians ceased to annoy and murder the settlers upon the said frontier. That he does not now know what has become of his commission as ensign, but thinks upon his resigning he surrendered it to his commanding officer, so that it is not now in his power to produce it. That he knows of three persons now living who can testify to his services
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aforcsaid viz, William Cecil, Nancy Cecil and Joseph Oney. Hereby relinquishes any claim whatever 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 aforesaid.
THOMAS WITTEN.
And on the 15th day of October, 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the same Court hereinbefore named now sitting William Cecil a witness in behalf of Thomas Witten herein, in open Court who being first duly sworn according to Law, deposeth and saith that he has been acquainted with Thomas Witten for many ycars and that he knows that the said Thomas Witten served as an Indian Spy in the war of the revolution and from the best of his recollection he believes that the foregoing declaration sworn to and subscribed by the said Thomas Witten contains a true and correct recital of the services of the said Thomas Witten, and that the said Thomas Witten was an ensign during the time of his services as aforesaid and that he was a private belonging to the Company in which the said Thomas Witten was ensign. Sworn to and sub- scribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid.
WILLIAM CECIL.
This day Nancy Cecil personally appeared in open Court, before the same Court herein before named, and after being first duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith, that she was acquainted with Thomas Witten herein named in the time of the revolutionary war and that to her knowledge the said Thomas Witten served in the war of the revolution as an ensign in the Company commanded by Captain Thomas Mastin, and Lieutenant James Maxwell and that she believes the foregoing declaration sworn to and subscribed by the said Thomas Witten contains a true and correct statement of the services of the said Witten in the war of the revolution Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid.
NANCY CECIL.
This day Joseph Oney personally appeared before the County Court of Tazewell County in the State of Virginia, in open Court who after being first duly sworn according to Law, deposeth and saith that he has been acquainted with Thomas Witten for many years and that he was a private in the Company of Capt. Thomas Mastin and that the said Thomas Witten was an Ensign in the same Company in the war of the revolution and continued to serve as such
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ANNALS OF TAZEWELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
until the close of the revolutionary war. That he believes the fore- going declaration sworn to and subscribed by the said Thomas Wit- ten contains a true and correct statement of the services of the said Witten in the revolution. Sworn to and subscribed in oppen Court the day and year aforesaid. JOSEPH ONEY.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after hear- ing the testimony of William Cecil, Nancy Cecil and Joseph Oney that the above named applicant Thomas Witten was an Indian Spy in the revolutionary war, and served as he states. And the said Court doth further certify upon their own knowledge from a long acquaintance with the before named witnesses who have signed the preceding affidavits, are citizens of Tazewell County except Joseph Oney who is a resident of the County of Giles and credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit."
"State of Virginia Tazewell County, to wit,
On the 16th day of October 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the County Court of Tazewell County in the State of Virginia now sitting William Cecil a resident of Tazewell County and State of Virginia aged about eighty-three 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 entered the service of the United States early in the year 1776 in the now County of Tazewell in the State of Virginia under Captain Thomas Mastin, Lieutenant James Maxwell and ensign Thomas Witten, and that the said Company belonged to the regiment of the Virginia State line, commanded by Col. William Preston and Major Walter Crockett, that at the time when he first entered the service as aforesaid he resided in the County of Tazewell then called Montgomery, where he has con- tinued to reside ever since, That the company to which he belonged was never required by the commanding officers of the regiment to which it was attached, to perform any other duty in the war of the revolution, except as Indian Spies to defend the western frontier of Virginia. That he continued with his said Company to perform that duty fully six months in each year from 1776 till the final termination and close of the revolutionary war. The said William Cecil further states, that the Company to which he belonged, con- sisted of men mostly resident on the border country, and during the period aforesaid from 1776 till the close of the war, they were kept
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in continual readiness, and were never regularly discharged, or called out for any definite period of time, as the Malitia from the adjacent country who were drafted to perform regular routines of duty, and that they were permitted every year upon the approach of winter to return to their respective homes, subject to be called out against the Indians as fresh emergencies might require. That he was in no battle of any importance during the time of his services aforesaid except those little skirmishes common to the savage mode of warfare, that he was an eye witness to some of the many instances of unhuman butchery and massacre committed by the Indians upon the families of the frontier settlers. That he does not think the Company to which he belonged was drafted to perform tours of duty, but being composed chiefly of the frontier settlers where the Indians were more particularly troublesome, and which suffered mostly from their contiguity to the ruthless savage, with a sparce population and in a situation comparatively defenceless and unpro- tected, they were allways kept in readiness and regarded by the officers of the said regiment as minute men; that the Company to which he belonged was chiefly engaged during the period aforesaid, in defending that part of the western frontier of Virginia, lying along the Valley of Clinch river from the head waters of Blue Stone river to the forks of Clinch river in the now County of Russell. The said William Cecil further states, that none of the continental Troops or officers of the regular army of the United States, were ever sent to the relief of that part of the western frontier to which he belonged, that he now remembers, nor was he acquainted with any of the officers of the regular army. That in the whole he served in the war of the revolution as an Indian Spy, aforesaid fully six months in each year from 1776 until the close of that war, and that he knows of three persons now living, who can testify to his service as herein stated, viz, Thomas Witten who was his ensign, Joseph Oney and Nancy Cecil. That being permitted to return to his home every winter to be recalled the ensuing spring, he never obtained a regular discharge in writing from his commanding officer, so that he cannot now produce that evidence of his services.
He hereby relinquished every claim whatever to a pension and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
WILLIAM CECIL.
Har-15
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ANNALS OF TAZEWELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
This day Thomas Witten personally appeared before the County Court of Tazewell County in open Court now sitting, and being duly sworn according to law; doth on his oath say that he has been acquainted with William Cecil, the above named applicant, who has subscribed the foregoing declaration, and that the said William Cecil served as is stated in the said declaration in the war of the revolution, as an Indian Spy under Captain Thomas Mastin, Lieu- tenant James Maxwell and himself as ensign, and that the said Company formed part of the regiment of the Virginia State line commanded by Col. William Preston and Major Walter Crockett. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid.
THOMAS WITTEN.
This day came Joseph Oney personally before the same Court in open Court now sitting, and after being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath say, that he has been acquainted with William Cecil the above named applicant, who has subscribed the foregoing declaration, for many years, and was with the said Cecil as an Indian Spy in the war of the revolution, and that the foregoing declaration, subscribed as aforesaid by the said William Cecil, con- tains a correct recital of the services of the said Cecil as aforesaid in the war of the revolution, under Thomas Mastin, Lieutenant James Maxwell, and Ensign Thomas Witten, and that the said Company formed a part of the regiment of the Virginia State line, commanded by Col. William Preston and Major Walter Crockett. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid.
JOSEPH ONEY.
And the said Court do hereby certify their opinion, after hear- ing the testimony of Thomas Witten and Joseph Oney who have sworn to and subscribed the foregoing affidavits that the above named applicant was an Indian Spy in the war of the revolution and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them from a long personal acquaintance with, that Thomas Witten and Joseph Oney who have sworn to and subscribed the foregoing affidavits are credible persons and that their state- ments are entitled to full credit.
"State of Virginia, Tazewell County to wit
On this 16th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the County Court of Tazewell County now sitting, Joseph Oney a resident of Giles County in the State of Virginia,
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ANNALS OF TAZEWELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
aged about seventy-nine years, who being first duly sworn accord- ing 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 services of the United States to the best of his present recollection in the spring of the year 1777, under Cap- tain Thomas Mastin, Lieutenant James Maxwell and Ensign Thomas Witten, and that the said Company belonged to the Virginia State line Regiment commanded by Col. Williams Preston and Major Walter Crockett. That at the time he first entered the services aforesaid that he resided in the now County of Tazewell, then per- haps the County of Montgomery. That the Company to which he belonged was never called upon by the commanding officers of the Regiment to which it was attached, to perform any other services in the war of the revolution except as Indian Spies to defend the wesern frontier. That he continued with his said Company to per- form that duty fully six months in each year for four years, when he left the neighborhood in which he then lived, and removed to Walkers Creek within the then County of Montgomery, but now County of Giles where he has resided ever since. The said Joseph Oney further states that the company to which he belonged con- sisted of men mostly resident upon the frontier, and that during the period of four years aforesaid they were kept in continual readiness, and never regularly discharged as the Malitia from the adjacent County, who were drafted to perform regular tours or routine duty, but that they were permitted every year upon the approach of winter, to return to their homes, subject to be called out against the Indians as fresh emergencies might require. That he was in no general engagement during the time of his services as aforesaid, except those little skirmishes which characterize the savage mode of warfare. That he witnessed some among the many instances of indiscriminate ferocity and barbarism inflicted by the Savage cnemy upon the families of the frontier settlers. That he does not think the company to which he belonged was drafted to perform tours of duty, but that it was composed of the resident men of the country in which the Indians were peculiarly troublesone, and which suf- fered most from their immediate exposure to the ruthless savage, that the population of the country was then sparse, and compara- tively defenceless and that from their contiguity to the abodes of the Indians, were always regarded by superior and inferior officers
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of the Regiment as minute men always ready upon the shortest warning to assemble in defence of the frontier settlements, situated in the Valley of Clinch river from the head waters of Bluestone river, to the forks of Clinch river in the now County of Russell. He further states that none of the Continental troops were ever sent to the relief of that part of the western frontier to which he belonged, that he now remembers, nor was he acquainted with any of the officers of the regular army. That in the whole he served in the war of the revolution fully two years , that being six months in each year for four years.
That he knows of three persons now living in the county of Tazewell who can testify to his services as herein stated viz, Wil- liam Cecil, Thomas Witten his old Ensign in the war aforesaid, and Nancy Cecil. The affidavits of the two former is herewith transmitted to the war Department. That being permitted to return to his home every winter to be called into service again the ensuing spring, he never obtained any regular discharge in writing from his commanding officers, so that he cannot now produce that evidence of his services.
He hereby relinquished every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
JOSEPH ONEY.
This day came William Cecil personally before the County Court of Tazewell County now sitting, and after being first duly sworn according to law, doth in open court depose and say, that he served with Joseph Oney who has subscribed the foregoing declaration in the war of the revolution in the Company of Captain Thomas Mas- tin, Lieutenant James Maxwell and Ensign Thomas Witten, and that the said Joseph Oney served in the said Company in the war of the revolution as an Indian Spy on the western frontier of Vir- ginia as he has stated in his foregoing declaration, and that the said company to which the said Oney belonged was attached to the Regi- ment of the Virginia line, commanded by Col. William Preston and Major Walter Crockett. Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid WILLIAM CECIL.
This day came Thomas Witten personlly before the County Court of Tazewell County and after being first duly sworn according
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ANNALS OF TAZEWELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
to law, doth in open court depose and say, that Joseph Oney who hath subseribed the foregoing declaration, served as is stated in the said deelaration in the war of the revolution as an Indian Spy upon the western frontier of Virginia, and that the said Oney belonged during the whole period of his service in that war to the company commanded by Captain Thomas Mastin, Lieutenant James Maxwell and himself the said Thomas Witten as Ensign, and that the said company belonged to the State Regiment of the Virginia line com- manded by Col. William Preston and Major Walter Crockett. Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid.
THOMAS WITTEN.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after hearing the testimony of Thomas Witten and William Cecil that the above named applicant was an Indian Spy in the war of the revolution, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that Thomas Witten and William Ceeil who have sworn to and subseribed the foregoing affidavits are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to full credit."
Nov. T. "Hugh Tiffany Senr., a native of Ireland this day on oath declared his intention to become a citizen, and renounced alleg- iance to any foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty what- ever and particularly to William the 4th, King of Great Brittain & Ireland."
John Prewett's declaration as a Revolutionary Soldier:
"State of Virginia-Tazewell County to wit,
On the 20 day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justiees of the County Court of said County of Tazewell now sitting, John Prewett, resident of the said County and in the State of Virginia-aged 72 years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following deelaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress the 7th June 1832. That he enlisted in the service of the United States about the latter part of May in the ycar 1775 under recruiting officer by the name of Edmanson, his first name not recollected the regiment and line to which he belonged he does not recollect, but well remembers that the eampaign for which he was designed was ealled MeIntosh Cam- paign Genl. MeIntosh was the eommander at the regiment to which he was to be attached, and Genl. Gray was an other field Officer Captain Michael Dougherty and Lieutenant Joseph Prion were the
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officers of his company. That he resided in the county of Wash- ington and State of Virginia at the time he entered in the service. That he was marched to Anderson ferry on James River where the army to which he belonged remained for about three months, wait- ing for other companies which were expected to join them, from thence he was marched to the Light levels in the County of Green- brier where his officers that saw proper to detain about a month longer, with the hope of being joined by the expected re-inforce- ments agreeable to their expectations they were joined by two other companies and he was then marched to the mouth of Elkhorn river where the army in consequence of the season it being in January or February, were compelled to encamp and remain there till the first of March 1776 as this applicant thinks it was. They were here joined Genl. Broadhead from the head quarters of McIntoshe's army as this applicant was informed, which was then some where in the Ohio State; Genl. Broadhead took charge of the provisions etc. and the army at this place and dispensed with the forces of Genl. Gray, and permitted him to march them back. On his return with his men Genl. Gray met with Captain James Thompson with a company of men who were on their way to join McIntosh at Col. Donalsons in the County of Greenbrier; that he and some other of his fellow soldiers not hearing, served out the time for which they enlisted, were forced to join Capt. Thompson's company & retrace their steps under his command to the mouth of Elkhorn, here he stopped to procure a supply of provisions & was delayed till about the first of May, about which time Capt. Thompson received orders that his services would not be demanded and that he might return home; That he was immediately marched back to the house of William Thompson in the County of Montgomery, where he and his fellow soldiers were dismissed, and told that they could get their regular discharge at any time that they would apply for it; that he never considered that it would be of any benefit to him and therefore never afterward applied for it; and that he had served out the full time for which he enlisted when he was dismissed by Captain Thompson, which was eighteen months, & that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure that can testify to his service as stated. And that again in the year 1778, he was called out with many others of his countrymen under the command of Capt. Henry Patten, Lieutenant James Marrs, the other officers not recollected, to
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