Pension Application of Andrew Lewis: W3431
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia} S.S.
Montgomery County}
On this 29th day of April A.D. 1833, personally appeared in open court before the Judge of the circuit superior court of law and chancery now sitting, being a court of record, Andrew Lewis a resident of said county and state, aged 74 years in October last, who, being first duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832
That he entered he service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
– In the county of Botetourt, and state of Virginia on the first day of February (as he verily believes) 1777 he entered, as a volunteer, into the service of the United States, under Captain Joseph Crockett and Lieutenant Robert Sayers, he was stationed and continued in the service, at Williamsburg in Virginia until the 28th day of May following (as well as he can ascertain the date) when he was discharged. General Andrew Lewis, his father, was his commanding general at that time. Afterwards, on the 25th of May 1779, at the same place (Botetourt) this applicant again entered the service, as a volunteer, on an expedition against the tories, and was commanded by Captain James Barnett and Colonel Hugh Crockett & having rendezvoused at Fort Chizzel in the county of Montgomery, state of Virginia [sic: Fort Chiswell now in Wythe County] marched under Colonel Arthur Campbell into North Carolina to a place called Ramsower’s mills [probably Ramseur’s Mill; see note below] where an action had just before taken place in which the British & tories had been defeated, which last determined the officers who commanded us, after remaining a while in that country to return home, and accordingly they did so, and this applicant was discharged on the 28th of July 1779.
Again on the 20th of August of the same year (1779) in the same county (Botetourt) this applicant returned to the service, as a volunteer, under Captain William McClanahan [also spelled McClenahan], and went on an expedition into the county of Montgomery state of Virginia against a nest of tories who had organized themselves for active opperation against the country. The forces collected for this purpose were under the command of Colonel Wm Preston applicant was engaged in this service until the 3rd day of October following, when he was discharged. The dates may possibly be slightly wrong. They are as near right as he can pin them.
Again on the last day of January or first day of February 1781, at the same place (Botetourt County) he, as a volunteer, entered the service of the United States under Captain William McClanahan Colonel Hugh Crockett commanded the regiment to which he was attached. He was marched to the county of Guildford [sic: Guilford] in North Carolina, where the militia joined the regular forces under the command of General Green [sic: Nathanael Greene], & where the notable battle was fought. The applicant was not in this battle, being at the time on an out-post, but he was in the engagement at Alance [sic: Clapp’s Mill on Alamance Creek early March 1781], & that at Reedy Fork [at Wetzel’s Mill on 6 March] preceding this battle at Guildford Court House [on 15 March]. He continued in this latter service until the 4th day of June 1781. While on the lines in this last term of service he served part of the time in the regiment commanded by Colonel [Otho Holland] Williams and the other part in that commanded by Colonel [John Eager] Howard.
This applicant has no documentary evidence of his said service, having regarded his discharges as useless papers & permitted them to be lost: nor has he other evidence than that which accompanies this.
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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 & year aforesaid [signed] A Lewis
NOTES: Lewis appears to have been a year too early in his date for the Battle at Ramseur’s Mill near Charlotte NC. This victory of NC militiamen over Loyalists actually occurred on 20 June 1780 and involved few if any regular British troops.
A pension application dated 22 Jan 1845 by Margaret Lewis, aged 79, widow of Andrew Lewis, states that he died 25 Sep 1844. A copy of the marriage record states that he married Margaret Briant of Botetourt County VA in that county on 10 June 1788.