Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,355, for William Martin, Virginia
Page 1

Service Va.
Martin, William
Number S. 21,355
Page 2

let: 28 Oct, 42
to Jane Martin

West Tennessee 29564
William Martin
of Bedford Co, in the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Melton of the regt commanded
by Col Cavel in the Virginia
line for two years from 1776

Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee
at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of December
$834 and sent to W.B. Lewis
Esq 2d Auditor.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1836, 280 -
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 1835 40.
$320. -

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Wm Allison Clerk,
Book E-2 Vol. 7 Page 97
Page 3

State of Tennessee
Bedford County

William Martin this day personally appeared before
me James Reed an acting justice of the peace
in and for the County and State aforesaid, aged
seventy four years, who being first duly sworn according
to law doth on his oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain a pension under the act
of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

THat he was born in Albemarle County Virginia & that
he has no record of his age he lived in Amhurst County
Virginia, and was sixteen years of age when he enlisted, since
the Revolution he has lived in Georgia and now lived in
Tennessee, I enlisted in the Virginia line sometime in the
year 1775 or 76 for eighteen months service under Capt.
Samuel Cavil who was shortly after made Col. Commander
of the 7th Regiment of the Virginia line to which I belonged
Clough Shelton was our Lieutenant & Nash Battle & Shadrick
Battle & Samuel Scott Scruggs all enlisted at the same time & place
with me & under the same officers, who was the Col. before
Cavil I cannot now remember, I was discharged by Col. Cavil
after my full term of service had expired & my discharge
has been lost or mislaid, I volunteered for three months service
in seventeen hundred & seventh Eight, under Col. Lynch whose given name
I do not remember, Who. Arthur was our Capt. & John Smith our Lt
Rendezvoused at Petersburg Va and were there commaned by General
Stueben, & at the expiration of our term of service were discharged by Col.
Lynch
Page 4

and the discharge has been lost or misslaid, about the middle
of May 1780 I volunteered under Capt Jesse Hurd & first Lt
Thomas Hurd, we were [illegible] & were in actual sevice of
the Government for three months & Marched for Canadian [illegible]
directly after our volunteering but were greatly delayed on the [illegible]
& when we got to that place we found that General Gates had been
defeated four days before our arrival. About the 16th of
August when we saw some of [illegible] light Horse, & [illegible] one
of them my discharge for this term of service also lost.
Col. William Choyes was our commander Col.
I again volunteered under the same officers, to wit, Capt & Lieutenant
Hurd & ensign Swanson & Col. William Choyes for three months
service and marched directly on to Kings Mountain this Company
raised in Henry County Va. & rendezvoused at Calaways Iron
Works and marched on by Henry Court House and Crossed Dan
River at Perkins ferry & the Yadkin at the Shallow ford and the
Catawba at [illegible] ford & Broad River at the Island ford & were
within four miles of that place when we were met by about 40 Soldiers on
their return from that place, who told us that the enemy had
[illegible] that the balance of our forces were in pursuit of the
enemy, this was as well as I can remember on the 7th of Oct
1780 we then marched on to [illegible] Mills NC. & got there
the second day after the battle was fought at that place, we
were out 90 days, I again volunteered for three months
service under Capt. Jeramiah Early about the 15th of July 
1781, & was at the battle of York Town at the surrender of
Cornwallis on the 17th of Oct 1781, where I was also discharged
which with the balance of my discharges has been lost
my Cols name I do not recollect.
Page 5

I further state that I have no documentary evidence nor
do I know of any person whose testimony I can procure, who can testify
to my service except the subscribers below, I hereby relinquish every
claim to any anuity or pension whatsoever except the present
and solemnly declare that my name is not on the pension
roll of the agency of any state of the United States. I also
state that my poverty, weakness and other bodily infirmities
are so great that I am unable to appear in open Court to
prove up this claim the distance to our court house being 22
or 23 miles from my place of residence am therefore compelled to
prove it in this manner, sworn to and subscribed this 2nd.
day of September [August crossed out] 1834. Before me -
West James Reed
his mark
William Martin

And I the aforesaid James Reed J.P. after a full investigation of
the matter, do declare that I believe, that the said William
Martin was in [illegible] a soldier of the revolution, and [illegible]
the services as above stated: and I further certify and
know that he is not able to go to court to prove up this claim
[illegible] old age and other bodily infirmities. John Paxton who
has signed the succeeding certificate is a clergyman resident in
the County of Bedford & that Doct George W. Haywood, who has
also signed the same, is a resident of the County as the Court of
Bedford & that they both are credible persons and of good moral
character, & their statement entitled to full credit. In testimony 
whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal, this 2nd day of
September [August crossed out] A.D. 1834./ - James Reed

Mr John Paxton Clergy and resident in the County of Bedford
& State of Tennessee Doct GW Haywood, Benjamin Cummings.
State aforesaid, hereby certify that we are
Page 6

well acquainted with William Martin, who has subscribed &
sworn to the above declaration; & that we believe him to be
seventy four years of age & that he is reputed and believed in
the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion, Sworn
to & subscribed the day and year above written, Before me
West James Reed  John Paxton
GW Haywood
Benjamin Cummins his mark

State of Tennessee
Bedford County
in & for said

This day personally appeared before me
James Reed an acting justice
Henry Collins Wells Collins
& made oath that they were acquainted with the aforesaid
William Martin & that they have seen his several [illegible]
& veraly believe that he has served as above stated
Sworn to and subscribed this 2d day of August 1834,
Henry Collins
Wells Collins

Before me
James Reed

State of Tennessee, I James M Kisick clerk of
Bedford County Court do hereby Certify that James Reed
before whom the foregoing Affidavits & declarations were
sworn to is an acting Justice of the peace in & for said County
duly commissioned thereon & that the foregoing signatures
[illegible] to be his are genuine In Testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my
hand & affix the seal of the Court
at office in Shelbyville this 5th
day of September 1834
J.M. Keisick clk
Page 7

State of Tenenssee
Marshall County

This day came Benjamin
Coplin and Nancy Carrol
before me Humphy N Cowdin
of the acting Justices of the Peace in and
for said County and made oath in
the form of law that Jane Martin Daughter
of Benjamin Coplan was Married to
William Martin Decesd on 23rd Day of
November one thousand Eight and Twenty-Eight
and said Jane Martin is now the
Widow of Said William Martin and
the said William Martin is the Same
man that was intitled to Draw a pension
and Did draw some time before his death
This October 10th day 1842
Benjamin Coplan his X mark Seal
Nancy Carroll her X mark Seal

Sworn and Subscribed
before me on the Day
above written

Humphrey N Cowdin
JP for said County
Page 8

State of Tennessee [illegible] I James M. Kisich clerk
of Bedford County Court do hereby Certify that James Reed before whom William Martin took &
subscribed the written Oath is an acting Justice of
the peace in and for the same County of Bedford
duly Commissioned & Sworn & that the written
Certificate purporting to be his is genuine
In Testimony whereof I Have
hereunto set my hand and
affixed the Seal of the Court
at office in Shelbyville
this 5th day of September
1834
Jas. M. Kisich Clk
Page 9

(in the Virginia Line
A Statement showing the Service of William Martin

Period when the service was rendered | Duration of the claiments service Years Months Days | Ranks of the claimant | Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served | Age at present & place of above when he entered the service | Proof by which the declaration is supported

1775 or 1776 date of Month not remembered | 18 Full months | Private | Samuel Cavil Col Carroll What Col preceeded Cavil I cannot remember | 74 Years Amherst Co Va | Certificates in the accompanying declaration

A Statement showing the Service of Wm Martin's 1st Militia service

1778 date of month not remembered | 3 Full months | Private | - Lynch Col. Carroll Christian names not recollected General Fletcher | do do | do do

A Statement showing the Service of Wm Martin 2nd Malitia Service 

1780. 15 May | 3 Full months | Private | William Choyes Col. Carroll | do do | do do 

A Statement showing when the service of Wm Martin's 3rd Malitia Service 

1780. a short time before the battle of Kings Mountain | 3 Full Months | Private | William Choyes Col Carroll | do do | do do

A Statement showing the service of W. Martins 4th term of Malitia Service

1787. 15th July. | 3 Full months | Private | Col. not recollected | do do | do do

State of Tennessee
Bedford County

This day personally appeared before
James Reed an acting justice for
said County William Martin and made oath that
the above statements are correct to the best
of his knowledge & beliefs. Sworn to & subscribed
before me this 17th day of October 1834
Attest James Reed

William Martin his X mark
Page 10

21355
Revolution
INVALID
File No. 21355
William Martin
Prv Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 252
(Arrangement of 1870)
Page 11

31,425
Wm. Martin
Tennessee
from 1776 for 2 ys
$80
[illegible] Roll
Wm. B. Lewis Esq. 
2nd Auditor
Treasy Dept
Page 12

State, Tennessee
Bedford County
William Martin this day personally appeared
before me James Reed an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said
county and State aged 74 years and being duly sworn according
to law doth on his oath make the following declaration as an
amendment to the one heretofore made viz on the 2d day of
Sept 1834 & hereunto annexed and attached in order to obtain
a pension under the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832 viz
Directly after my inlistment as stated in the other declaration
viz in Dcember 1776 we marched on to the noth and joined the
main army at Trenton & were in that battle - I was also in
the battles at Princeton Jan 1777 Brandywine Sep 1777
Germantown in Oct of the same year from which place
as will as I can now recollect we went into winter quarters
at valey forge in huts made of logs where many of the solders
perished on account the extreme cold weather & their allmost
total nakedness & want of shoes We remained a valey forge 
until spring of 1778 the next battle I was in was  at Monmouth
Court house Virginia some time in June of
1778 about which line I was discharge by on first
July 1778 I recollect well & distinctly of being in all [illegible]
mentioned battles but have forgotten the particulars concerning
them from frailness of memory I do solmenly declare
that in consequence of extreme old age & the consequent loss
[illegible] of my mind that this with my
previous declaration hereunto annexed is the best narative I can make
in proof of my services both as a militia man & Regular soldier 
with as the names of the officers under whom I served & all other [illegible]
I have not been [illegible] any of [illegible] either militia or regular [illegible]
[illegible] any civil pursuit
Page 13

I do solemnly swear that by reason of old age & other
infirmities and the consequent loss of memory that I
cannot positively swear to the precise length of my
service but to the best of my recollection that I served
not less than the periods mentioned below and in
the following grades viz I served twelve months as a private
militia Man, I served as a private Regular for eighteen
months and for such service I claim a pension my militia
was at 4 diferent times 3 fully months each tour Sworn to & subscribed before
me this 14th day October 1834
William Martin his X mark

Attest James Reed (JP)
State of Tennessee
Bedford County
This day Noah & Shadereck Battle personally
appeared before me James Reed an acting Justice in and
for said state & County who being duly sworn as the law
directs depose the sayeth that they were well acquainted
with the above mentioned William Martin and know
that he served in the Virginia line eighteen months
and was honorably discharged on 1s July 1778 &
that he rendered the services above stated & I believe them to be
men of good morals & entitled to full faith & credit on their oaths or otherwise
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day October
1834
Attest James Reed (JP) Shadrack Battle
Noah Battle
Page 14

State of Tennessee Sct
I James McKisich clerk of the Court of
pleas and quarter sessions for the County of
Bedford in the state aforesaid do hereby certify
that James Reed before whom the foregoing
declarations and certificates, to wit, the original
one the one amended & thereunto attached
as an acting justice of the peace in and for
said County of Bedford and that he has been
duly commissioned and sworn as such and
that his signature to the foregoing affidavits
are genuine. In testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed the seal of said Court this
20th. day of October 1834
Jas McKisich clk
B his deputy Danl clk, CKisich
Page 15

Cornersville Tenn.
Oct. 12/42.
Jane Martni
For a pension.
M276. Rec Oct.27/42
Pension Office.
Tennessee
Page 16

Free

Department of War
Washington Cty
D. Columbia
Page 17

Cornersville, Giles County Tenn
Ocober 12th 1842

Dear Sir

Being at some loss how to prove
up my claim as the widow of the late
William Martin late a Pensioner under
the government of the United States
I hereby take the liberty of asking of you
all the necessary information upon that
subject and [illegible] inclose to you
an affadavit proved up for that purpose
but which I am since advised and informed
is informal and will not answer
the purpose you will therefore be so good
as to inclose [illegible] the necessary information
upon the subject  of my claim 
eddress to me near Cornersville Giles County
Tennessee - - and very much
obliged yours very
Respectfully
Jane Martin widow of the
late William Martin Decd