Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13393, Thomas Higgason, Va.
Page 1

(3—1776)
SERVICE  Va.
Higgason, Thomas
NUMBER S. 13393
Carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

7313
Kentucky
Thomas Higgason
of Shelleby [Shelby] Co in the State of Kentucky who was a Sergt. priv in the company commanded by Captain Dabney of the Regt commanded by Colonel Meredith in the Virginia line for 4 months Sergean 
10 months private

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 44 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day March 1837 and sent Wm C Sprigg Shelbyville Kentucky

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. $110.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 27.66
$138.32
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Daniel Boyd  Clerk
Book C  Vol. 7  Page 12
Page 3

State of Kentucky  Shelby County} 
On this 20th day of August in the year 1832 personally appeared before the County Court or said County, Thomas Higgason a resident Citizen of said County who being duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following [erased: statement] [note: ?] declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Provisions of the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832 providing for certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Army of the Revolution: saith that he was born in Hanover County in Virginia.  That the 21st of April in the year 1760, that he saw his birth registered in an old family Bible, which was left by his father John Higgason, and after came into this deponents possession after the death of his father.  The Registry of his birth he always beleived to be in his father's hand writes that he transcribed this Registry of his birth into a Bible which he now has.  He states that at the age of a little upwards of sixteen years old he entered as a substitute in the minute service for Bartlet Anderson and served one month for him, and then served one month more for him, and then served one month more for John Dickerson, and then was dismissed and returned home.  My Captain during the time of the above named service, which was in the year 1776, was Capt James Dabney, and I beleive John Crutchfield was his Lieutenant.  Colo Samuel Meredith who was a brother in Law I think to Patrick Henry, commanded the minute men with whom I served.  The date of my next service I can not recollect, I was drafted in
Page 4

the Malitia under Capt. John Starks and marched to Williamsburgh and was stationary there about two months returned home.  Some time after this I marched under Capt Elisha White sent to Williamsburgh and from there to York, and back to Williamsburgh and was dismissed counting two months.  In the next tour I marched under Capt Jack Thompson who I beleive was under Colo William Dandridge to Williamsburgh.  Colo Simms was in Company.  He marched from this place to York from thence to Rich Neck and back.  I then marched under Capt [illegible] Bullock as a substitute for my brother and acted as orderly Sergeant in this Tour we were detailed for nine weeks, I beleive under Majr Thornton.  I then went as a substitute for David Crenshaw under Capt William Hughes and served one Tour by marching from point to point as ordered.  I then marched as a substitute under Capt Samuel Richardson of Fluvanna County Virginia and served a Tour as orderly Sergeant at the Albemarle Barracks. Colo William Fountain commanded the Regulars at this time.  When the period of our service terminated, the men were just called into line, wheeled to the right about and dismissed.  This was the only manner of discharging the Malitia that ever I observed.  The only man that I knew of in this state who knew that I rendered any service in the Revolutionary was Valentine Meriwether, & he lives in Oldham County.  On last Wednesday I sent my son Thomas C. Higgason to Oldham to see him
Page 5

and get him to come to this Term of the Shelby County Court to make his affidavit, or to get him to give it in Oldham, as he would agree to.  But when my son got there he had just died, and was buried just two days before my son got there.  Said Valentine told me that he was [Commissary?] [Illegible] service with me.  I do not recollect the different regiments to which I was attached.  Every time I served was for two months, making I verily beleive fourteen months service in the Malitia, and minute service.  He states that he never received a pension or annuity from the United States or from any state.  He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the United States or of any state, and that he never received a pension from any service whatever. 
Thos. Higgason

I Thomas C. Higgason residing in Shelby County aforesaid certify that he is the son of above subscribed applicant, and that he heard Valentine Meriwether who was mentioned in the above declaration, said That he saw his father the said Applicant in the Militia service, in the Revolutionary war and there he on [  ] was sent to Oldham County at the request of said applicant to obtain the [illegible] of said Valentine Meriwether, but when he got there the said Valentine had died just two days before he got. there.  
Thos. C. Higgason.

We Samuel Waddy, Stephen H Maddox, [  ] all residing in Shelby County and State aforesaid, certify that we are well acquainted with said Thomas Higgason who subscribed and was sworn to the above declaration
Page 6

That we beleive him to be of the age he states, that said applicant has always been reputed in the neighborhood and 
from our knowledge we beleive the statement made by him in the above declaration.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & date above writ.
Samuel Waddy
Stephen H. Maddox

And the Court declare upon an investigation of the whole matter and after putting all the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he states, and the Court say that the above named Thomas C. Higgason, Samuel Waddy & Stephen H Maddox are residents of said County are men of truth, and their statements are entitled to credit.
SH Maddox J.P.S.C

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Shelby County }
I James L Whitaker Clerk of the Court of Shelby County do Certify that the foregoing Certificate the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of Thomas Higgason for a Pension.  In Testimony thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 21st day of August 1832
James L. Whitaker
Clerk Shelby County Court
Page 7

Declaration
In order to obtain the benifit of the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832 for the benefit of the revolutionary officers & soldiers as an amendment and addition to his former declaration for the same purpose, objected to, and returned by the secretary of War.

State of Kentucky
Shelby County
On this eleventh day of Janury 1833 
Personally appear.d before me Stephen H. Maddox, a Justice of the Peace in and for the sd. County of Shelby and State aforesd., Thomas Higgason, at his residence a Citizen of the County and State aforesd.  Aged seventitwo years and eight months, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benifit of the act of Congress passd. June 7th 1832 (to wit) 
He says that he was seventitwo years old on the 21st day of April last, to the best of his knowledge and belief and from age & infirmity that he is unable to attend Court and that he was born in virginia and emigrated to this State in the Year 1796
Page 8

and from that time has resided in this State he further states that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his services in the revolutionary war but according to the best of his recollections he serv.d not less than the periods mentiond below and in the following grades for four months as orderly sergeant in the militia and for ten months as private in the militia and minute service and for such sevices he Claims a Pension.  This service was in Virginia, he further says that he knows of no person living by whom he can prove any part of his services and can only give reference to his former declaration respecting the officers under whom he served, except Col. Thos. Matthews who commanded in the Continental line under whom he serv.d a part of the time
Thos Higgason

We Joel Hulsey an ordained preacher of the Gospel residing in the County of Oldham State of Kentucky and Warren Davis of the County of Shelby and State aforesaid and neighbour to the Said Thomas Higgason do certify that we
Page 9

are well acquainted with the said Thomas Higgason who subscribed and was sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be of the age he states that said applicant has been as far as we know or have heard reputed to be a Soldier of the Revolution and from our knowledge of him we believe the Statements made by him in the above declaration ar entitled to full faith and credit.  Sworn to and subscribed the day and date above written
Joel Hulsey
Warren Davis

Shelby County Sct
This day the above named Thos. Higgason who has subscribed the above declaration and Joel Hulsy and Warren Davis the Subscribing Witnesses personally appeard before me Stephen H Maddox a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and was duly sworn to the above declaration and Certificate.
Given under my hand as aforesaid at the residence of said Thos Higgason this 11th day of January 1832
SHMaddox J.I.C.

And I hereby certify that the above named Joel Hulsey, is a regularly ordaind minister of the gospel and in good standing, and that the above namd Warren Davis is a Deacon of the baptist society and in respectable standing in society, civil and religious.  And I further state, I believe
Page 10

that the aplicant herein named has much declin.d since his first application for a pension and is fast declining, and is unable to attend Court.  Given under my hand as a Justice of the Peace in and for Shelby County this 11th day of January 1833
S.H. Maddox J.I.C

State of Kentucky  Shelby County Sct
I. James L Whitaker, Clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid do Certify that Stephen H Maddox Esqr before whom the foregoing Declaration was made now is and was at the time of doing the same one of the Commonwealth Justices of the Peace for sd County duly Commissioned and qualified according to Law and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts as such and the above signature purporting to be his is Genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of sd County at Shelbyvile this 16th day of January 1833 and in the 41st year of the Commonwealth
Att  James L Whitaker
Page 11

Shelbyville K
Jan 18
Free
To the Honorable 
Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington City.

Feb. 2nd
Thos Higgason
Shelby
from 1776 Private & Sergeant 14 months 
Sergt 4 mo. $20
Pr. 10 [mo] 33.33
$55.33
Va
Dabney 
Meredith
Page 12

Sir.
I enclose the amended declaration of Thos Higgason which I hope will be sufficient to place him upon the Pension Roll.  He is a very estimable man, who I fear will not survive past a few months
Respectfully
Yours &c
James. C. Sprigg
Page 13

13393  Rev War
INVALID. 
File No. 13.393
Thomas Higgason
Pic. Rev. War.
Act: June 7th 1832.
Index:— Vol. 1, Page 174
[Arrangement of 1870.]