Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 8422, for James Masterson, North Carolina
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Masterson, James.        W.8422
Margaret
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Jas Masterson of Kentucky 
Declaration for Pension 


10 mo for  33.33 
51/2 mo ens 55c
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18.33 
44.16 
--------
132.49 

Col [sherman]
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Declaration In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832 State of Kentucky ⎬ Fayette County ⎬ SS. On this 4th day of February 1833 personally ap peared in open court, before Hon. Thomas M. Hickey Judge of the Fayette Circuit Court now sitting James Masterson a resident in said county state, aged 80 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, for the purpose above named. He was born on the 7th day of April 1752 in Fairfax County Virginia, between Alexandria and Georgetown, he has a record of his age now in his possession, which his father originally made in North Carolina when he entered the US service that in 1779 he removed to Kentucky, where he resided during the remainder of the revolution and has continued to reside near the town of Lexington ever since. He first entered the service under Capt Keys at [Bath] town on the Pamplico River in N. Carolina at the commencement of the revolution, and immediately marched to Newburn in same state, where the company remained during six months, in which time they  built a fort at Hanging point three miles below Newburn. After the six months expired, Lieutenant Caswell, son of Gov. Richard Caswell was appointed Captain, and he enlisted or rather volunteered in his company, and served with
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him three months. The Company marched to Wilmington accompanied by the Governor, and encamped just below town on the bluff, where he remained three months and then he returned home. He obtained discharges from both tours but has lost them both. during his service with Capt. Keys, the battle with the Scotch [tories] under McDonald was fought at the long Bridge and keys' company was engaged in it, but he was not in it, in consequence of illness. he was encamped at Wilmington when the news was received of the declaration of Independence and a great rejoicing took place. His next tour took place in the same year as an Ensign in Capt. Fellows' Company under the command of Gen Bryant, and marched to Wilmington and Brunswick on Cape fear river, whilst the British were at Fort Johnson, a British vessel, the scorpion, was burnt near Brunswick at the time. He served on that occasion three months He had a commission from Gov Caswell, which he has last, as Ensign on that tour. His next tour was as an Ensign in Capt Whitleys company in Col. Wm Caswells regiment, then under the command of Genl Ash or Nash. He was commissioned as Ensign by the Governor of N. Carolina on the 1st December or earlier on that occasion which was December 1778, which commission he has also lost. On Christmas day he marched from Kingston to Charleston So. Carolina, and thence up the Savannah river to Augusta, Ga. Col. Armstrongs Command of regulars joined at Kingston, and Gen. Bryant on the Savannah
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river. He served two & a half months on that tour and resigned at Augusta & returned home in February 1779. an original return of Capt Whitleys company, dated 1 December 1778 is attached hereto, in which it appears that he was an Ensign therein. He has no other written document in his possession or control to prove his services, nor any living witnesses that he Knows. about the month of May in that year he came to Kentucky, and arrived at Boonesborough, whence he went to Bryants station then to Lexington, where at that time, there were only one block house & two cabins, and only one white woman in the place. He remained  there until the fall, when he returned to N. Carolina, where returning soon after to Kentucky, he was overtaken by the hard winter in Powells Vally, where he remained encamped until the spring 1780 when he returned to Lexington, where and in its vicinity, he has resided ever since. immediately on his arrival in Kentucky he was enrolled and acted as a spy against the indians, in which service he continued until the end of the revolutionary war .on one occasion he marched with a detachment on a tour up the Ohio river with a galley commanded by Capt. George, to build a fort at the month of Big [Miami], but they could on further than the month of gun powder creek. He was on duty from the 25th June 1782 to the 24th July, one month. He is positive that he served fully and indeed more than six months in that service. At the siege of Bryants station he was one of sixteen who forced their way through the indian lines into the station, and returned
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a revolutionary soldier and served as he states And the Court further certifies that it appears to him that c M. Cloud who has signed the preceeding certificate, is a clergyman, resident as he States, and that Thomas Bodley who has also signed the same is a resident as therein stated and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Thomas M. Hickey. I Thomas Bodley Clerk of the Court aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of James Masterson for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 4th day of February 183[9]. Thos Bodley [chgc]
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Record of the children of James & Margaret Masterson referred to in her [/agetaration] of April 8th 1839. James Masterson was born [apral, April] 7 day 1752 

1 Elizabeth Masterson was born June 11th day 1782 decsd July 20 1794 

2 William Masterson was born December  12th day 1783 decsd july 17 1794

3 Sarah Masterson was born August 20th day 1785 decsd July 29 [1794]

4 John Masterson was born January 21th day 1787 

5 James Masterson was born October 30th day 1788

6 Mary Masterson was born March 15th day 1790  decsd July 16 1833

7 Robert Masterson was born November 20th day 1791 

8 Richard Masterson was born July 25th day 1793 

9 Calib Masterson was born January 18th day 1796 

10 Lovet Masterson was born June 20th day 1797 decsd January 20 1822

11 Edward Masterson was born october 26th day 1798 

12 Peggy Masterson was born July 1th day  1802 

13  Joseph Masterson was born April 23th day 1807 
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 1 Richard James Masterson was born January 8th day 1821
2  Lovet Ann Masterson was born May the 25th day 1822
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Martin John Davis was born November the 30th 1824, 

Charlton Mersellious Metcalf was born March the 12th 1830;

Elenore Masterson Metcalf, was born 
November the 2th 1832, decsd August 26, 1836

James William Bradley Metcalf was born June 12, 1835. 

Joseph Richard Allen Metcalf was ... January the 7 1837, 

William [Ester] of Hancock was born October, 19, 1835k.
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State of Kentucky Fayette County Set. On this 8th day of April 1839 personally appeared in open court, before the Worshipful Justices of the county court of the County aforesaid Mrs Margaret Masterson a resident of said County, aged about 73 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 James Masterson who was late a pensioner of the United States under the act of June 7th 1832, and whose certificate was issued in the month of -----1833. She refers to his declaration and the evidence in support of it, to their what his  rank and services were she states that she was married to the said Masterson in the said County of Fayette in the year 1781, about the mouth of June as well as she recollects, as her first child was  born about one year after her marriage; But she has no documentary proof to show when the was married as the minister who married her in Rev. Mr Todd is long since dead, and the Clerks office of said County in which was kept all the record of marriage, was burned in 1803 and every evidence of that kind totally destroyed. She files herewith however, and refers to it as part of her evidence; a record of the ages of her children, kept by her late husband in their family bible, which was fastened therein by past and shows their number and ages - she declares that her said husband died on the 15th day of December 1839 and that she has remained a widow ever since subscribed & sworn to the day Margaret [&] Masterson & year above written ...... to mark
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on same day appeared also in open court John Keiser who made oath that he has been acquainted with the foregoing affiant since the year 1786 - and her late husband James Masterson and states that she is a lady of respectability and entitled to full belief. He states also that the office of the Fayette County Court was destroyed by fire as stated in her deposition. He knows nothing of their original marriage as he was not in this state at the time, but from general reputation, and the ages of their children, he has no doubt of the truth of her declaration John Keiser

 also appeared at same time and place Edward Payne Sr. who being duly sworn on his oath declares that he has known the said James Masterson & his now widow since the year 1784 in 1 April and at that time she had any infant child in her arms. they lived together as man and wife and he has no earthly doubt of their having been legally married. He knows that they must have have been married some years before Mrs Masterson has always maintained as good reputation for veracity as any woman .Edward Payne 

Commonwealth of Kentucky, Fayette County Court County Court continued and held for the County aforesaid at the Court house in the City of Lexington, on Tuesday April 9th 1839. on motion of Margaret Masterson who produced in Court her declaration for the purpose of receiving a pension, to which
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4458
-------
Margaret Masterson 
Ken 

[admitt] 
Put & Ensign $88.33 


died 15 Dec 1836 

act July 1836 
21 Revolutionary [army] 38

John M. McCullen Lexington, Ken
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she made oath, and who made it appear to the th satisfaction of the Court; that she was the widow of James Masterson decd and that he departed this life about the 15 day of December 1838. In support of which the deposition of John Keiser and Edward Payne for both credible persons were taken, subscribed and sworn to in open Court It is ordered that the same be certified. I James C. Rodes clerk of the Court for the County aforesaid do certify that the foregoing is truly  transcribed from the record of the sum in my office

 In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the 18th day of April 1839 and of the Commonwealth the year Att J. C. Rod..