Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 12399, Thomas Biecknell, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
N.6
Bicknell
Thomas
R 12399
Bicknell or
Rachel
Bicknell or
CONTENTS

No. 774 Mrs. Bicknell
Rachael Bicknell Wid of Richard S. 6.
Ad 4 July 1836.
Samuel Present,

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress, of the 4 th July 1836, entitled, An act granting half pay and Pensions to certain widows:
State of South Carolina,
District of Pickens } ss.
On this third day of December 1845 personally appeared before William D. Steele Judge of the Court of Ordinary for the District State aforesaid, Mrs Rachel Becknell of the District State aforesaid, aged eighty eight years the 12 th Instant, (and who the said Ordinary certifies is unable by bodily infirmity to attend in open court) who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress of the 4 th July 1836.
That she is the widow of Thomas Becknell who was a private and Lieutenant in the war of the Revolution, that she was married to the said Thomas Becknell when in her seventeenth year, and she thinks when she had three children, her said husband entered the service under Capt. Richard Allen, who was afterwards Colonel, that they then resided in Wilkes County S.C. and her said husband there entered the first time, and was not much at home until the close of the war, that he was at one time a volunteer & at other times drafted, and was a considerable portion of the time a Lieutenant, that she is sure he was a Lieutenant under Capt. Allen at the siege at Charleston, that he marched much through North & South Carolina, and served at various times under Col. Lanore, Col. Cleveland & Col. Hearn, but it is impossible for her to state the particulars of his services, at her advanced age.

That her husband the said Thomas Becknell was wounded with an ounce ball in his hip in the Battle at Kings Mountain, with which wound he died, he was carried to Burke County near Morgantown, to the house of Mr. Bowman, where declarant went and waited upon him with his wound Eleven weeks, at the end of which time he died.
She does not know of any documentary evidence, or any evidence of any kind, that she can certainly get to prove his service, but thinks an indent may have been issued to her for his service, as she recollect, to have tried to get something, I think, she did get a small sum, but does not know how.
That she was married to the said Thomas Becknell in Wilkes County N. C. by Squire Riggs, as she believes on the 22 d October, as she thinks, in the year 1774, as she had three children when her husband entered the service, and when his service closed entirely she had five children and four months & fifteen days after his death her sixth child Mary was born, her said Daughter Mary married David Roper, and she now lives with her, and on their charity. She has no record of her marriage, nor of the birth of her children, they were published in church as the custom was in those days to be married. That her husband the aforesaid Thomas Becknell died on the thirtyfirst day of December 1780, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof herewith forwarded.
her Rachel Becknell marks
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written before. William P. Steele Judge of the Court of Ordinary for Pickett District S. C.

South Carolina } S. William D. Steele, Judge Pickens District } of the Court of Ordinary for the District, State, aforesaid hereby Certify, that I waited upon Mrs Rachel Becknell at the residence of her son-in-law David Raper on the 3 rd December 1845, the date of the annexed Declara- tion, and qualified her to the said Declaration, and that for want of other evidence in her behalf as she understands, the matter has not until now been further prosecuted.
Given under my hand and common seal, having no seal of Office, this eight day of October 1851.
Common seal having no seal of Office,
W. D. Steele Judge of the Court of Ordinary Pickens Dist. S.C.
S. William S. Keith, Clerk of the Court in and for the District of Pickens, State of South Carolina, certify, that William D. Steele is, now and was at the date of the foregoing Certificate and Declaration, Judge of the Court of Ordinary, as is thereby indicated, and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of Office, this 8 th day of October 1851
W. S. Keith Clerk of the Court of Pickens District S.C.

North Carolina, Before me personally appeared Wilkes County Mrs Sarah Gray, an old and Respectable Lady, and made oath in due form of Law - and on her oath says, that she knew Thomas Becknell, well, that she heard and believe, that the said Becknell was a Revolutionary Soldier, that he lived in her immediate neighborhood, and that he was from home a considerable time, said to be in the service of his Country - This dep- onent had a Brother in the Battle of Kings Mountain, and she Recollects to of often heard her Brother say, the said Thomas Becknell was also in the said Battle of Kings Mountain and was badly wounded in his hip, and never Recovered from the said wound - She further says she heard her Brother say he assisted to bring said Becknell, home from the Battle of Kings Mountain she knows the said Becknell had a wife and several children his wives Maiden Name she Recollects very well was Rachael Sparks, she does not think any Records of Marriages was kept in those days, this deponent does not exactly know her own age, but her oldest child is sixty two Years old, and she thinks she was about, or near Twenty Years old, when her oldest child was Born this deponent further says she knew the said Thomas Becknell to be a Man of good Character, and allways was said to be a true man to his Country, and she has no doubt, but he served in the war several Years and was in several Battles

at various times - she also says Mrs Rachael Becknell, was a woman of good and unimpeachable character, and she would be bound to believe her statement in any matter. This deponent says she was born in Virginia but came to this neighborhood when a child, and has lived here ever since. That Mrs Rachael Becknell left this country many years since and she never heard of her marrying soon to before me. This 22 nd September 1857 } Leland Martin Jd her Sarah Gray Mark
North Carolina } Wilkes County } Before me personally appeared Capt Benjamin Parks, an old and respectable citizen, and made Oath in due form of Law - and on Oath, says that he knew Thomas Becknell. That he heard, and believes, the said Becknell was in the war of the Revolution but the exact time he served he will not undertake to say. He heard and believes, the sd Thomas Becknell was in the Battle of Kings Mountain and was badly wounded, which wound caused his death. This deponent says he remembers to of heard the said Thomas Becknell, was brought home here in this County in a horse litter. This deponent knows that three of Becknells neighbours was killed in the said Battle, same time he was wounded, that the Becknell was a man of good character and was always reputed to have been

a true Man, and served Country & was in various Battles of the Revolution, that the said Becknell was a married Man and had children, that he does not think any Record of Marriages was kept in those days, and even now, they are very imperfectly kept - this deponent was Born in Virginia, but came to this neighbor- hood, when quite a boy, and has lived here ever since that he was eighty five years old, nineteenth day of last March he thinks Mrs Rachael Becknell left this Country long since and he never heard of her marrying again Sworn to and subscribed } 22 nd September 1857 } Bony Parks Leland Martin J.P. }
This deponent further states that he knew Esquire Riggs and that he was in the habit of marrying People Sworn to and subscribed } Bony Parks 22 nd Sept 1857 } Leland Martin J.P. }

State of North Carolina Wetmore County
J. M. Welland Clerk of the County Court of Wetmore do hereby certify that Edward Martin is a magistrate as above in the county and State aforesaid duly sworn and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine
Given under my hand and seal of office at Wetmore, on
The 23rd day of September 1857
Welland Clerk

Rev 12399. Jan
Thomas Bicknell
P.O. Rachel (Wid
Richard Bicknell
Service: C.P. & St. Co Capt Allen N.S.
Enlisted: South Carolina , 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
REJECTED
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P.O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

No. 774
The Lumpkin Dec. 20, 1857
Rachel Beckwell Thomas - widow of Richard
S.C.
Act 4 th July 1830

North Carolina Before me personally appeared McDowell County David Glass Esq r an old Man, and a Man, in every way worthy of Credit - and made Oath in due form of Law - and on his Oath says that he was well acquainted with Mrs Rachael Bucknell, that he remembers to of heard her say a long time ago, that her husband Thomas Bucknell, served in the war of the Revolution - and was shot at the battle of Kings Mountain and Carried to Mr Boman's near Morgantown in the  Spoke County where he lay a considerable time, and then died with his wound - This information came from Mrs Bucknell long before the last was passed giving widows pensions, and could not of been made with any desire to effect her interest in the way getting a Pension for her self - Mrs Bucknell always suppo- ted the character of a truthful and worthy woman, and worthy of Credit, in every way - That he should be bound to believe her on Oath in any matter, this deponent further says she had several Children, and he has heard she moved to Pickens Dist S.C. and has never heard of her marrying again D. Glass Sworn to and subscribed 25 th September 1851 D. Glass

North Carolina } Before me personally appeared McDowell County } Mrs Martha McKenzie an old and Respectable Lady, in every way worthy of Credit - and made Oath, in due form of Law - and on oath says, that she was well acquainted with Thomas Bicknell, and Rachel his wife, who was a Sparks That she has often heard various persons say that the said Thomas Bicknell, lived several years, in the war of the Revolution, and was Badly wounded, at the Battle of Kings Mountain and Carried to Mrs Bowmans, near Morgantown in Burke County, and lay there several weeks and died - that the said Bicknell, and his wife, were both persons of unimpeachable Character, and persons, in every way, worthy of Credit, and belief - This deponent further says she would be bound to believe any statem- ent Mrs Rachael Bicknell might make - this deponent further says, that she did not see said Bicknell and his wife married - but she knows they lived together and had Children, and was always recognized as man and wife, and never heard it doubted - that she heard Mrs Bicknell moved to Pickens District South Carolina, and never heard of her marrying again This deponent says she is Eighty Six Years old and came to this County when a girl from Virginia
Sworn to & subscribed } 25 September 1857 } S. J. G. W. M. } } }
Martha her McKenzie Mark

In Addition to the foregoing Mrs Martha McKinzie says, on oath, that she heard that Col Hume, repeatedly, sent for the said Thomas Burkhill, to guard his house because he was a good soldier, and a Bona (Man) and a Man in whom he had Confidence
Sworn to & Subscribed } 25 th Sept 1851 } Martha his McKinzie Sut } Mark Jacob Worrall
State of N o Carolina, McDowell county, }
I Samuel S. Neal clerk of the court of Pleas and quarter sessions for the county of McDowell State of N o Carolina do hereby certify that Jacob Moore is a magistrate Magistrate as above for the county of McDowell duly commissioned and qualified and his acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit and the signature purporting to be his is genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said court at Marion the 26 th day of September A D 1851
S. S. Neal clerk

Washington D.C. Oct 15th 1851
Sir, Herewith I have the honor to transmit the declaration K in the case of Mrs Rachel Bicknell of S.C. widow of Thomas Bicknell, act 4th July, 1836.
I have the honor &c. Th. D. Randolph.
Hon. J. E. Heath,
Commr. of Pensions