Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,970, William Dix, Va.

Page 1

Service Virginia
Dix, William
Dix, Rebecca
R. 2970

Page 2

Revolutionary Claim
Act of 4 July 1836
John M. Dix heir at time of
Rebecca Dix dec. widow of William a Captain Virginia Militia in Revolutionary War

Page 3

State of Virginia - Corporation of Danville [illegible] S. S.
One this 8th day of May in the year A.D. 1854 (written out eighteen hundred fifty four) before me Hugh W. Holcombe a magistrate of the Corporation aforesaid & State of Virginia appeared John M. Dix, a resident of the County of Pittsylvania, aged about 61 years, who being duly sworn according to law, makes the following Declaration, and oath of identity, in order to obtain the benefit of the [illegible] [illegible] of the Act of Congress approved the (area is blank) day of (left blank) 18 (left blank) and of Act approved the 7th day of June 1832: the Act of 4th July 1835; Act 21st July 1848 Act of February 1849: and of 29th July 1849 and the Act of 3d February 1853 That he is the identical John M. Dix, the heir at law, of his deceased father, William Dix who is dead, and who was a Captain of the Militia, and served several tours of duty, in the revolutionary war, having been at that time, a resident of the County of Pittsylvania; and who, as he has been informed and [illegible] believes, discharged the duties of a vigilant, active, and patrole office, during several successive years. He has been informed and [illegible] believes, that his deceased father after having been at least two previous tours in service raised a Volunteer Company of 80 men, (and marched and served some months in Eastern Virginia afterwards, and joined General Greens Army, as he proceded South, in the County of Halifax Va, about the last of October or 1st of November 1780) and marched with the army into the State of North Carolina and was present and fought gallantly, at the battle of Guilford on the 16th March 1781 in which battle while discharging the duties of a field officer, by order of his commander, General Lawson, he had a very valuable nag, called the English mare, said to have been worth one hundred Guineas], killed under him, by a british cannonball. He has been informed & verily believes it to be true, that his deceased father continued with the Army during the whole period which elapsed from the day of the battle of Guildford, till the close of the seige of York Town, & the surrender of Cornwallis. He further declares that he has been informed and verily believes that his deceased father died at his own house in the County of Pittsylvania, in the month of March in the year AD 1799 leaving his mother, Rebecca Dix a widow, she the said Rebecca, having continued his widow, and not having married after his death, and she continued to reside

Page 4

in the County of Pittsylvania, till the period of her death, which took place at her own house in the County of aforesaid, on the 24th day of August A.D. 1836.
He further declares that his father left at the time of his death, three children by his said wife Rebecca Dix, who survived him, all of whom are dead, except the Declarant John M. Dix and that he is the only surviving offspring of the marriage of his deceased parents. He declares that neither his father or his mother, ever received a Pension during their respective lives, and that this is the first and only application that has ever been made by him or anyone else, to the best of his knowledge and he hereby [illegible]every other claim for any Pension on account of the Military services of his deceased father during the Revolutionary War, or of his mother, Rebecca the widow of his deceased father. 
                                                     John M. Dix

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written, and it is hereby certified, that the Declarant John M. Dix is a resident of the County of Pittsylvania, and is worthy of credit.
                                     HW Holcombe [illegible]

Sworn to and subscribed in open court. May 11 1854
                                    HW Holcombe Chairman

Page 5

State of Virginia Heustings Court of Danville, setting House thereof 11th day of May 1854
Also personally appeared in open court Julius Allen and James Wharf and Jeremiah Hudson, respectable residents of the County of Pittsylvania, who being duly sworn according to law, declare that they personally knew the late Capt. William Dix who resided in the County of Pittsylvania, down to the period of his death; that they believe that he was universally regarded as an officer, and that he held the commission of a Captain, in the Revolutionary war, by the community, in which he lived and died and that he served in the war of the Revolution for two terms of upwards of two (2) years: That they believe that Col. William Dix, died at his own house in the County of Pittsylvania, [illegible] day in the month of March A.D. 1799 leaving his wife Rebecca Dix a widow who never afterwards intermarried; and the following children: [illegible] the Declarant John M. Dix-Patsy B. Dix and Cary Dix, the two last named, Patsy B. and Cary, being now dead. And they further state that their knowledge of the death of Col. William Dix was derived from the fact that they themselves resided in the same County, and in the immediate neighborhood of his own residence.
                                           Julius Allen
                                           James Wharf
                                           Jeremiah Hudson

Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid, and it is hereby certified that Julius Allen and James Wharf and Jeremiah Hudson are residents of the County of aforesaid, and that they are respectable persons, worthy of credit.
          Hugh W. Holcombe Chairman of Court
Also appeared in open court Sally Dix and Winny Dix, who being duly sworn in open court, and being respectable persons and residents of the County of Pittsylvania, declare that Rebecca Dix, deceased was the widow of the late Col William Dix, not having intermarried after her husbands death and they declare that she said Rebecca Dix, died at her own house in the County of Pittsylvania on the 24th day of August A.D. and they declare that their knowledge of the facts was derived from the circumstance that they lived at the time in the same county and state and in the same house with her

Page 6

The within Affadavits were Sworn to and subcribed, the day and year Aforesaid, and it is hereby Certified that Sally Dix and Winn Dix are residents of the County of Pittsylvania and are repectable persons worthy of credit
                                                   Winn Dix
                                                   Sally Dix
                                                   HW Holcombe 
                                               Chairman of Court

State of Virginia
Corporatoin of Danville
J.R. Hopkins Clerk of the Hustings Court of the Corporation aforesaid holden in the Court House thereof on the 11th day of May A.D. 1854 I do hereby Certify that the annexed Declaration, and oath Identity, made on the 8th [illegible] by John M Dix, before Hugh W. Holcombe Esqr, a magistrate of the said Corporation, was produced in open Court, and was sworn to according to law, and the Power of Attorney [illegible] attached, was acknowledged by him in presence of the Court, and they were ordered to be duly authenticated, by the Certificate, and Official Seal, and name of the Clerk of the Court. I further certify that satisfactory evidence was produced before the said Court, that Col William Dix deceased held the Commission of a Captain of Militia, and served upwards of two years, having continued in service to the termination of the Revolutionary War; that he resided in, and died at his own house in the County of Pittsylvania in the month of March, in the year Seventeen hundred and ninety nine: leaving his wife, Rebecca Dix, a widow, who never intermarried again after her husbands death; that the widow Rebecca Dix died in her own house at her residence in the County of Pittsylvania on the twenty fourth day of August, in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty six; that Col William Dix, left three children by his wife, the aforesaid Rebecca Dix [illegible] John M. Dix the Declarants Patsy B. Dix and Cary Dix, both of whom, last named are dead. And I further Certify that the [illegible]of the length of service of Col. Dix in the Revolutionary War; of the place of his residence; of the date of his death; of his leaving his wife, Rebecca, a widow, who never married thereafter; I state John M. Dix the declarant is the only surviving child of (of Capt Thomas Dix deceased dated 24th September 1853)(text added above original sentence) of their marriage, was based upon the Affadavits of Julius Allen, James Wharf and Jeremiah Hudson, all residents, and highly respectable citizens of Pittsylvania, made and sworn to in due form, in presence of said Court: I further Certify that the widow of the death of Rebecca Dix without having married again was based upon the Affadavits of Sally Dix, and Winn Dix highly respectable citizens, and residents of the County of Pittsylvania. All of which the said [illegible] ordered to be authenticated by the Certificate, official Seal, and signature of the Clerk. Testimony whereof I have [illegible] set my hand and [illegible] the Seal of the said Court at my office Corporation of Danville 15th day of May 1854
                                           JR Hopkins CLK

Page 7

State of Virginia
County of Pittsylvania } SS
On this 24th day of September AD 1852 personally a justice of the [illegible] [illegible] and for the County and State aforesaid appeared before me Greenbury, Thornton, Thomas Dix [illegible] a resident of the State and County aforesaid aged 88 years the who being duly sworn according to law declares that he was well acquainted with William Dix deceased who was a Captain in the Revolutionary war. William Dix then lived on Dan River in the County of Pittsylvania and was esteemed one of the most devoted [illegible] and active officers of his day. It is certain that both by precept and example, he [illegible] a powerful influence in the quarter of the County where he lived, on every occasion when it was necessary in collecting together men to oppose the enemies of his Country; and this course of conduct he continued to observe down to the proclamation of Peace between the United States and Great Britain. He remembers well that about the time [illegible] General Green was sent [illegible] by General Washington to take command of the Southern Army, that Capt. William Dix volunteered himself and by his activity and influence and the confidence the people had in his skill and patriotism and bravery, he collected a company of 80 men and that he and the men he had raised met at [illegible] Store, the place [illegible] for the [illegible] of the troops, of the County, and that he was already in. Commission was appointed to the command of the company about the 1st of November 1780 and immediately marched and joined General Green probably some weeks before the battle of Guilford which was fought [illegible] March 1781. At that battle, he was [illegible] to ride on horseback when it was necessary and it is well known and has been well known throughout the County, that he was one of the most active officers on the field encouraging his men and fighting bravely till ordered to retreat. It was currently reported that the mag he rode was killed [illegible] under him or by his side by a british cannon ball. And this fact is with remembered now. He remembers that he (William Dix)

Page 8

continued with General Green when he pursued lord Cornwallis till he halted finding that Cornwallis had got the start of him so far and believing that it was best for the public service that he should march in a different direction some time after that period Capt. Dix was permitted to return home when he did and when a call was made for men, he again volunteered and again marched. He declares that he remembers well that Capt Dix was in service, and present in its command of his company under the Marquis Lafayette during the whole period of the invasion of Arnold Phillips and Cornwallis seige of York, that he was present at the Surrender and Capture of Lord Cornwallis and his army and that he was appointed with a suitable number of men to escort the prisoners who were ordered to Winchester Virginia but he thinks that he did not go further than the Rapahuack River when the news of Peach overtook them. He further declares it as a belief that Capt William Dix must have been engaged in active service first and last during the revolutionary War, for a period of not less than twelve months besides the two times above mentioned, and he has ofter heard, that the mag he owned and which was killed at the battle of Guildford, was one of the finest and most valuable mags, then in the Country. He further declares that he lived at the time about three quarters of a mile from the residence of Capt William Dix, and that one of his own brothers, James Dix, volunteered under him and was with him in the battle of Guilford. He further declares that upon Capt. Dix's return home, he collected a large drove of cattle and he and this dependents brother, James Dix, drove them to the camp of General Green [illegible] in North Carolina for the use of the American army. He remembers that Col. Robert Williams, was at the time spoken of, Col. Commandant of the County of Pittsylvania and that he embodied the Militia of the County, on [illegible] river opposite to [illegible], to oppose the passage of the river by the [illegible] under the command of Lord Cornwallis and he remembers to have heard the firing of the opposing forces across the

Page 9

River Dan; but very little damage was done.
                                      Thomas Dix

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and date above mentioned and I hereby Certify that Thomas Dix Esqr is a credible witness that I believe he is of the age above stated, and that I have no interest in this claims
                                         Greenberry Thornton 
                                  (seal stamp next to name)
State of Virginia, Pittsylvania County ser
Langhorne Scruggs Clerk of the County court of Pittsylvania County in the state aforesaid, do hereby certify that Greenberry Thornton who [illegible] given the [illegible] [illegible] certificate, is and was at the date thereof an acting Justice of the peace for the said county, duly listed commissioned and sworn, and that his signature there unto is genuine.
As witness my hand and use of office this 14 day of October 1853.
                                     L. Scruggs Cer

Page 10

State of Virginia
Corporation of Danville } S.S.
On this third day of June AD 1854 personally appeared before me S. H. Turner a magistrate within and for the Corporation aforesaid duly authorized by law to administer oaths, Nathaniel Wilson and James Wharf residents of Pittsylvania County State of Virginia, aged the former 69 and the latter 75 years, who being duly sworn according to law, declare that they were well acquainted with the late Col William Dix deceased who lived and died in the County of Pittsylvania in the State of Virginia and with his wife Rebecca Dix, whom he left a widow and whose maiden name was Rebecca Booker. they have no doubt that Col Dix and his wife were lawfully married in about 1779 or 1780 before he left the service, never having the fact called in question, or doubted by any human being. They further declare that their knowledge of the parties and of the facts arises from the circumstances that they have lived in the County of Pittsylvania from their birth, and the same neighborhood where the Col. William Dix and his wife lived and died down to the present day.
                                           Nath. Wilson
                                            James Warf
Subscribed and sworn to before me the day and date above written and I certify that Colonel Nathaniel Wilson and James Warf are respectable persons, and entitled to full credit.
                                              S. H. Turner (seal beside name)

Page 11

Virginia Corporation of Danville [illegible]
J R Hopkins Clerk of the Hastings Court of the Corporation and state aforesaid do [illegible] certify that S. H. Turner Esqr. before whom the writtten affidavits were taken, was at the time and [illegible] an acting [illegible] to of the said Corporation and that full faith and [illegible] is and of [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] give [illegible] his official acts as such that his lived signature is genuine, and that the said Court is a Court of [illegible] [illegible] [illegible].
JW Testimony whereof [illegible] [illegible] events subscribed my name [illegible] affixed the seal of the said Court this 13" June 1854.
                                        R.  Hopkins Clk

Page 12

Power of Attorney
Know all men by these presents that I John M Dix, heir at Law of the late Col William Dix and of Rebecca Dix his widow, being a resident of the County of Pittsylvania and State of Virginia, do hereby [illegible] Benjamin W S Cabell, of the County and State aforesaid my true and lawful Attorney, [illegible], for me and in my name and place, to examine all records [illegible] Affadavits and other documents and papers in any way connected with the annexed claim for arrears of Pension as well as all the Master Rolls and other records that may show this [illegible] [illegible] services of the said William Dix deceased. And generally to do all acts and things whatever touching the [illegible], in order to [illegible] said claim to a satisfactory result: hereby evoking all Powers of Attorney heretofore given for a like purpose and ratifying and conforming all and whatsoever my said Attorney shall in my name legally do or cause to be done in and about the premises. In Testimony whereof I [ilegible] set my hand and affix my Seal this 11th day of May A. D. 1854
                                              John M. Dix (seal)
Acknowledged in the presence of the Court
                                               HW Holcombe
                                                Chairman

Page 13

2970
P.O. Rebecca Dix
Service: wid. of William
REJECTED Stamp

No. 8071
Rebecca Dix deceased widow of William Virginia
Hon. R C Puryeas 26 June 1854

2970