Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements

Pension Application of John Robinson (Robertson): W4324

                        Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris

Virginia

            Botetourt County Virg

            On this 9th day of August 1820 personally appeared in open court being a Court of Record for said County John Robinson aged 71 years on the 12 instant, who being first duly sworn according to Law – doth on his Oath make the following Declaration, (in Order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th March 1818 and the 1st May 1820) That he enlisted for the term of five years – in the year 1781 – under Captain Kirkpatrick of the 4th Virginia Regt. on Continental establishment Commanded by Col. Barbour – That he continued to serve in sd Corps untill November 1782 when he was discharged – That he was present at the Capture of Lord Cornwallis – and that he has no other evidence of his said service now in his power –

            I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1820 [sic] and that have not since that time by sale, gift, or otherwise, disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent to diminish it & thereby bring myself within the provision of the act of Congress for the relief of the soldiers of the revolutionary war, passed on the 18th march 1818  And that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property, securities, contracts, or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than is contained in the Schedule by me subscribed & hereto annexed –

Schedule

            One mare, one cow, one heiffer, one set old plough train, one axe & mattock, one wedge, & draw knife, one sythe & old hoe – one fire shovel & thongs – two ovens, one pot, one skillet, one frying pan, pot rack, smoothing iron  pewter dish & basin, 6 knives & four forks  6 cups & saucers, 8 plates  3 old milk crocks – That he is a labourer but has to depend upon the charity of his relations for support – That he has no family living with him except a wife 60 years old – and his daughter aged 16 years.    John hisXmark Robertson

            State of Virginia, Montgomery County Ss

On this 3rd day of February 1840 personally appeared before the Justices of the Court of Montgomery County, being a court of record, Elizabeth Robinson, a resident of said county and state, aged about 81 years, who being first duly sworn, 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 4th 1836. That she is the widow of John Robinson deceased, who was a soldier in the war of the revolution, and whose services, and the names of his officers, and all the particulars connected with his services are set forth in a declaration made by the said John Robinson before the county court of Botetourt some years ago, and to which she begs that reference may be made. She has often heard her husband relate the particulars of his service but from old age on the part of your applicant, & consequent loss of memory, she is unable at present to state them. She however remembers that his Captains name was Killpatrick and his General, was Muhlenburg, it was in the county of Frederick in this state, that he enlisted. She has been informed by a late communication, received from the War department that the said John Robinson entered the service in 1781 and was discharged November 1782, but she is strongly inclined to the opinion that he had been in the service before that period, for she was married to him in the year 1775 or 1776 and she feels well convinced that he left her some short time after their marriage, and went into service. She is also inclined to the opinion that he served several tours, but it is impossible for her now at this late period to be particular or certain on that subject. She further declares that she was married to the said John Robinson on the ____ day of ____ in the year 1775 or 1776, the precise date she cannot now remember, that her husband & herself both being unlearned they kept no family register.  she was married to the said John Robinson in the county of Frederick, by a minister of the Gospel, who published the Banns of matrimony, that no marriage license was obtained, and consequently she is unable to procure any documentary evidence, as will appear by the certificate of the clerk of Frederick County and that she does not know of any person now living by whom she can prove her marriage. That her husband the aforesaid John Robinson died in the county of Botetourt on the [blank] day of [blank] 18[last two digits blank] – some 16 or 17 years ago, perhaps longer, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before the County Court of Montgomery, now in session.  Elizabeth her||mark Robinson

NOTES: A typed summary dated 1 Nov 1934 adds the following: John Robinson married Elizabeth Kern or Karn and died 23 Nov 1820 in Botetourt County. They raised a large family; one daughter was 16 in 1820. “Nicholas Kern residing in Frederick County, Virginia in 1840, referred to the widow, Elizabeth Robertson (Robinson) as his aunt.”