Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,335, Stephen Collins, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
N.C.
Collins, Stephen
S. 30, 335
CONTENTS

Kentucky 30.479
Stephen Collins
Wickman Co. in the State of Kentucky who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Smith of the Regt. commanded by Col. Axam in the N.P. militia time for 1 year
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 140 Dollars — Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 th day of March 1836 and sent Hon. R. L. Johnson, S.P.R.
Arrears to the 4th of March '36. 200.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4. Sept '36. 20.00
$220.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown
Clerk
Book E. 2. Vol. 7 Page 9

Stephen
1 st declaration
(A) 1833
Hickman County
H. R. M. / Thura H. R.

State of Kentucky } on this the 5 th day of October Fleming county. In the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Reuben Hawkins, Judge of the Circuit Court for the County and State of Kentucky now sitting. Stephen Collins as Pres- ident of the County and State of Kentucky and Judge and now in his seventieth year, as he believes who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of bankruptcy passed June the 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers as well as he can recollect and to wit, as here- -in after stated In the company of Captain Lofam Crawford belonging to the Militia of North Carolina Crawford Adam Colonel — Sixon Major Benjamin Adam Colonel — Sixon Major and was transferred from Crawford Company to Capt James M c Smith's Company Alexander Smith Lieu- -tenant of the last mentioned company he ente- red the company service some time about the 8 th day of June in the year 1780 in the aforesaid State of North Carolina and was mustered into service in the County in said State in the Town of Kingston on a force of three months was marched through the said State with- out joining any Regular or in any battle army then to the State of South Carolina for the purpose of joining General Gates expected that object not before the battle of Camden but was not at said battle owing to being sick and in the hospital Shortly after his age said Gates defeat his term of service then expiring he then went home and was disbanded by his said officers He then again entered the service of the United States on the 15 th day of December in the same year to wit 1780 he was then in a house

corps or a mounted Gren men was mustered in to service in Chatham County State of North Carolina belonging to Captain Jacob Beckworth's Company. Hopkins Lieut. and Recollected the names of the other company officers John Sitral or Sitral Colonel battalion. During this campaign was not out of the State of North Carolina — attended to some General Green but was unable to effect the object until after the battle of Guilford before we reached the head quarters of Green who commanded the American army Sitral or Sitral commanded was united with Colonel Malberry or some such a name who I believe was a Frenchman. Shortly after the battle of Guilford our term of service being expired we then returned home and was again reorganized Then again in May 1781 volunteered in the afore said Captain Jacob Beckworth's Company. Hopkins Lieut. as afore- said was also again in a horse corps under the command of Colonel Phillip Alston this campaign was not out of the aforesaid State nor joined any Regular Army but had frequent engagements with the Tories. was wounded by the Tories when they made an attack upon the camp of the aforesaid Colonel Alston in the Right arm. Then again in October 1781 he volunteered again to fight the Tories under the command of Capt. Sealy. Hopkins Lieut. Lieut. — this tour was so long as the Tories was to be formidable or plundered the property from the patriotic citizens. He also states that he lost some horses and the at Colonel Alston's worth $ 100  good money and the other one was campaign worth $ 100 by the Tories worth $50

The A10 states that Captain Buckworth's company when on their march to Guilford attacked and put to the Rout a company of Tories in the County of Cumberland said State of North Carolina that he has no Documentary Evidence he knows and that he knows of no person whose testimony he presumed who can testify to his Service I hereby Relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity Except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension Roll of the Agency of any State or Territory of the United States known and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid question by the Court 1. Stephen Collins Where and in what year were you born Answer - I was born in Cumberland County State of North Carolina the 9th day of April in the year 1763
Question 2 nd have you any Record of your age and if so Where is it Answer - I have no Record of my age I only
Know it from the Information of my parents Question 3 Where were you living when called in to Service when have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live -
Answer I was living in Cumberland County State of North Carolina and continued to live there until the year 1805 I then moved to Williamson County State of Tennessee then in 1807 I moved from there to Duck River No. Clark County Tennessee and continued there until 1830 then I moved to Hickman County Kentucky and live there now
Question 4 th Show where you called in to Service were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom -
Answer The two first two campaigns I was a substitute the first time for I was a substitute for John Westbrook of Wayne County

North Carolina the Second Great Campaign I was a Substitute for one William Duncan of Wayne County same State the two last campaigns I was a Volunteer
Question 5th State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops when you served such Continental and State Regiments as you can recollect and the General circumstances of your service
Answer I do not recollect any of the officers that belonged to the Regular Army except General Gates and Baron DeKalb who commanded at Camden and General Green who commanded at Guilford that being the only times that I was attached to a Reg- ular Army and then but a short time both times and never having joined any State troops only the commands of Colonels Haxon Dillard or Colonel Malbury and Alston
Question 6th did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it Answer I never was discharged from the service in the several Courts I took & always was disbanded and not discharged by my officers -
Question 7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and good behavior in your service as a soldier of the Revolution
Answer I have no neighbors in my present nei- ghborhood who know of my service as a soldier of the Revolution I have neighbors who know my character for veracity and good behav- ior to wit Japhy Bishum Luke Siler Joshua E Cole

we Taphy Reynon and Luke Sellers President of Hickman county and living in the same neighbourhood of Stephen Collins at hand & both of the State aforesaid do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Stephen Collins who hath subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration and that we believe him to be of the age of 69 and that he is Reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he lives to be a Soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion
Sworn to the date first Taphy Reynon above written Luke Sellers
State of Kentucky S. J. Robert Goodson a Clergyman Hickman county As man Presiding in the said county and State aforesaid do hereby certify that he is well acquainted with Stephen Collins who has sworn by subscribed to the above Declaration and he further testifies that it is Reputed and believed that he was a Soldier of the war of the Revolution it is also testified that he sustains a said character for honesty veracity &c October the 6th 1832 - Robt. Goodson
Sworn to N. Rogers Clerk

Kentucky Hickman Circuit Court I Regin Davidge Judge of the Hickman Circuit Court and one of the Circuit Judges of the State of Kentucky and the Court do hereby declare their opinion that above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and Service as heretofore
Regin Davidge
I Richard Taylor Clerk of the Circuit Court of Hickman County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in matter of Stephen Collins for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 9th day of April 1833
Richard Taylor Clerk By W. H. Taylor D.C.

mmh S 30335
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C.,
Sept. 19, 1922
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Stephen Collins a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     June 8, 1780 3 mos Pvt. Lazarus Crawford Jonathan Smith Benjamin Arson N.C.   Dec. 25, 1780 3 mos. Jacob Duckworth John Satterell Malumady   Apr. or May 1781 near 4 mos. Jacob Duckworth Phillip Alston   Oct. 1781 3 mos. William Sealy Cleaveland  
Battles engaged in, Wright's Swamp (wounded by rifle ball in right wrist)
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Cumberland Co., N.C.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 5, 1832. His claim was allowed
Residence at date of application, Hickman Co., Ky.
Age at date of application, Born Apr. 9, 1763 in Cumberland Co., N.C.
Remarks: Soldier lived in Williamson Co., Tenn. from 1805 to 1807 then in Maury Co., Tenn. till 1830 when he moved to Ky. His wife's name is not stated. In 1836 two sons were mentioned, William living in Hickman Co., Ky. and Jeremiah living in Graves Co., Ky.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
(Sol. had half brother Moses Collins who was Ensign.)

30 335 Rev INVALID.
1922-Sept. 19 Hick. to Mrs. J. S. Simmons. mmk Letter in claim 30704 of Wm. Simmons.)
File No. 30,335
Stephen Collins Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1827
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 82
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Department of War Pension Office March 17th 1836.
Sir
I have received the papers of Stephen Collins, and have admitted his claim. I will send you the pension certificate in a few days.
I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Your obedt Servt
J. L. Edwards
In this case please let me know who sent me the papers & Obey Rh: M. Johnson
Hon Richard M. Johnson House Representatives

Mar 15.
Comm.
Col. Jas L. Edwards
Mr Johnson H.R.
Pension Office Washington

House of Reps
March 14 th
Dear Sir
This is a case which excites great interest where Mr Collins lives. We ask the favor of you to examine this case personally as there are several declarations as we have no earthly doubt that a pension ought to be granted. say say what you can allow if you cannot allow the whole we think you ought to allow liberally in such cases. I hope
Alvin Johnson Lynn Bay
Please send us the papers in not allowed

Mayfield Ky Sept 20
Free
20 3/4
Hon Lynn Boyd
house of Representatives
City of Washington
D, 6
Hon Rk Johnson HN

Mayfield Ky 17 Febry 1836
Hon Lynn Boyd
I enclose you the declaration of Stephen Collins a soldier of the revolution who lives with his son near the town of Feliciana he has two sons here William who lives three miles west of Feliciana in Hickman county and Jeremiah who lives about three miles north east of the same town in Grant county and old Stephen lives at their houses alternately I send you one other packet by this conveyance which contains two other declarations made by the old man the one in 1832 and the other in 1834 both must be presented at the department with the new declaration as the Secretary would not consider the case if either of them were held back If you can take the trouble to examine these papers you will see that they were prepared by an unskillful clerk which is perhaps the reason that the pension has not been heretofore allowed; but you will find that there is in fact no discrepancy between them and the declaration now made as to

matters of fact. The justice of the old man's claim is universally admitted in the neighborhood where he lives in fact his family is of the first respectability in this county and by the way they are all your firm friends and supporters - you will see by the declaration that the old man lived 33 years in Marshall County Tennessee he says he knew Col Pocah the Speaker of the house of representatives when he was a small boy attending to his father's cotton gin and that he has always (where there) voted for him both for the Tennessee legislature and for congress. you will please show this letter to Col Pocah and ask him to assist you in the old man placed on the pension roll I should not be this unportunato in soliciting your aid in a mere pension matter under ordinary circumstances but you know the prejudices of the government are up in relation to pensions in consequence of the many frauds that have been practiced and this case has been pre- judiced too by a bungling clerk. If Col Pocah recollects Mr Collins I hope he will kindly present his case to the proper officer and use his influence in getting the pension allowed the old man needs it very bad your friend Geo Anderson

Stephen Collins 5
declaration
Admit as private
12 months $40
Cap Smith Secy Exam U.S. militia
(6) 1836
Am R M Johnson T.R.

credit and I do further certify that the said Stephen Collins from age and infirmity is unable to attend court to make his declaration.
Given under my hand at the county of Grayson and State of Kentucky the 15 th day of February 1836 in the 44 th year of the commonwealth
and I do further certify that the words "he read a written discharge from Capt Seal" and "it is long since last," which are interlined on page 10 of the declaration was written or interlined there before the same was subscribed & sworn to by the declarant Stephen Collins Given under my hand as before
Matthew Francis Jp
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Grayson County Set
I John Anderson clerk
of the county court for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that Matthew Francis, whose name is signed to the foregoing certificate is a justice of the peace in & for the county and state aforesaid. duly commissioned & qualified as such and I do further certify that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the county court of said county to be hereunto affix- ed the 17 th day of February 1836 in the 44 th year of the commonwealth
John Anderson

State of Kentucky 3 Graves County ss
on this 15 th day of February 1836 person- ally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the county and State aforesaid Stephen Collins a resident of said county and State aforesaid aged 72 years and 10 months who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the act of congress passed June 7 th 1832.
he states that he was born in Cumberland County State of North Carolina on the 9 th day of April 1763. he has no record of his age but derived his information on that sub- ject from his father and mother and he recollects also that the laws of North Carolina during the revolution required the youths of the State to be enrolled in the militia at the age of 16 & he recollects distinctly of having been put on the militia or muster roll in the Spring of 1779.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hereinafter stated tour.
1 st tour he first entered the service of the United States on the 8 th day of June 1780 at the town of Kingston in the county of Parris State of North Carolina. the corps to which he attached himself was drafted militia men for a three months tour. the declarant lived in his native county of Cumberland at the time and John Westbrook of Wayne County was drafted in the corps

above alluded to and sent a man into Cumberland to hire a substitute and the declarant engaged in his place went to Wayne county to Westbrook's house from whence they both proceeded together to Kingston (that being the place of rendezvous) where he joined Captain Lazarus Crawford's company of Drafted Militia & was accepted by said Crawford in the place of Westbrook - Capt Crawford's company did not all meet at the rendezvous and that part who did meet with the declarant was transferred to another company of the same Drafted Militia commanded by Captain Jonathan Smith of Johnson County under whom the declarant served the term of three months and the following is an outline of the said term. Toward the end of the term he was attached to a regiment commanded by Col Benjamin A. Harn and a Major Dickson. had a company in the same regiment as also did Lieutenant Colonel Richard C. Wellford. The whole detachment was under the immediate orders of General Richard C. Wellford and the Lieutenant of his company was named Alexander Smith. The whole corps was drafted for three months service by order of the Governor of North Carolina. The whole detachment including the declarant marched up the Cape Fear river & crossed the same at Sproule's ferry from thence to within a few miles of Ramsour's Mill where we encamped for some 8 or 10 days.

when we moved to the south taking an upper route & crossing the Yadkin at Moores Ferry about 20 miles below Salisbury. Thence down the Yadkin on the south side crossing Rocky River to a point not far south of the Cheroke hills where this declarant was taken sick about the 9 th or 10 th of August 1780 and was sent with other sick from the army to the Cheroke hills where the American officers had established a hos- pital he remained at this place until after the fatal battle of Camden on 16 th August 1780. When the dispersed stragglers from that unfortunate field brought news to the hospital of our disaster he with the other sick were taken across the Pedee and simply turned loose in the country sick as they were to shift this declarant was seized with a long & protracted spell of fever and ague confined in the country until it produced the Spleen in his side and he finally succe- ded in reaching home in Cumberland County hav- ing served out his term of three months as he was confined by sickness in the country at his own expense his term expired on the 8 th day of September 1780. he will state here that Genl Charles Cornwallis's division of North Carolina Militia to which he belonged were completely dispersed on the unfortunate 16 th of August 1780. officers and all consequently this declarant did not get a discharge for this term yet he avers that he served it out

4 th 2 nd tour 3 rd This declarant states that he entered the service 1780 of the United States the second time on the 25 th day of December 1780 he joined a company of mounted  volunteer  Militia (furnishing his own horse arms and accoutrements) under the command of Captain Jacob Dickworth - Hop- kins Dye was his lieutenant and this declarants half brother Moses Collins was the ensign there was one or two other companies of the same kind of troops belonging to the Corp s Major William Gage had a command and the whole detachment was under the immediate orders of Col. John Littrell this declarant entered the above named company on the day above stated in the county of Chatham & State of North Carolina under the following circumstances to wit - William Duncans of the last named county had joined Capt Dick- worths company and was desirous of getting a substitute and this declarants half brother having a command in said company made him desi- rous of joining the same he therefore went from burnside leaving the place of his residence and took Duncans place on the day of above nam- -ed tour 25 th December 1780 at the place above nam- -ed. he will here state that Col John Littrell

had been authorized by the Governor of North Carolina to raise this volunteer corps and to quarter and subsist them in Chatham County for the purpose of overawing the Tories who had become very restless and irregular all over the State. we built barracks in the above named County which became our head quarters and from whence we occasionally made excursions into the surrounding country to keep down the Tories. we continued in this service until about the 22 nd of January 1781 when Col. Littlefield sent Lieut. Hopkins Dye with ensign Collins and about 25 privates of Captain Duckworth's company (among which was the declarant) to escort a few pieces of field artillery which was passing from Virginia to Genl. Greene's army under guard of a small company of infantry. The service was performed and we reached Genl. Greene's encampment on the Pee-dee nearly opposite the Cheraw hill the evening before he broke up and commenced his retreat to the north in the latter end of January 1781. we then started on our return to Col. Littlefield's barracks in Chatham County when on our route we received information that Col. Littlefield in an

excursion towards Salisbury had come in contact with a troop of Partisans horse by whom it was defeated and partially dispersed this caused us to take a lower route in our progress to the north. Settrells corps finally assembled at Chatham County where we all remained during the retreat of Genl Green to Newbern and until after he returned into N Carolina when in the early part of March the declarants with Col Settrells corps broke up from Chatham and marched toward Guilford to join Greene. on our march we fell in with Col Malmedy at the head of a corps of Mounted men. but we were unable to effect a junction with Genl Green until the day after the battle of Guilford - a few days after which the declarants term of three months expired terminated on the 25 th day of March 1781 thus he served three months in his second tour. he received no written discharge he was verbally discharged by his officers the reason was - all was confusion and battle in South Carolina at that time Lord Cornwallis was driving down the Cape Fear towards Wilmington the Tories were continually in motion and after the declarants term of three months had expired he

7 deemed it unsafe to return home he therefore attached himself to Col Philip Alston who was then in the army of General Green (but without any command being merely there for his personal safety) he applied to the Governor to raise a volunteer corps of horsemen upon the same principles of Littrells which has just been described and obtained the authority to do so.
3rd tour
1781
This declarant entered the service of the united states the third time in the month of April 1781 he turned out as a volunteer for three months and joined his old captain Jacob Duckworth and his old Lieutenant Hopkins Dye his ensigns name was Francis Danly and the above named Col Philip Alston having obtained the authority to raise this corps from the Governor of North Carolina had the Supreme command and fixed his head quarters at his own plantation in Cumberland County North Carolina at which place this declarant entered as above stated as above we were mounted as before (under Col Littrell) furnishing horses & all ourselves our duties were of the most arduous kind during the whole of this tour. Wilmington was occupied by the enemy in great force Genl Greene had passed on to the

South and the Tories were in a restless state of fermentation occasionally rising in parties and committing the most horrid cruelties Thus were we continually engaged in marches and night expeditions for the suppression of the Tories whilst our main quarters were kept at Col. Allston's plantation in Cumberland County. Amongst other Tories there was a celebrated Col. Fanning who annoyed our district of South Carolina very much at the time by skulking about and pouncing upon our Chief men taking them prisoners and carrying them off to Wilmington and delivering them to the enemy who would keep them in prison we had many races after this celebrated partisan but he always eluded our pursuit and uniformly escaped finally about the beginning of August 1781 Col. Fanning nearly surprised us in our position at Allston's when a portion of our Corps was absent and Col. Allston surrendered to him on capitulation after a smart defence in which the declarant was wounded by a rifle ball through the right wrist which has disabled him

ever since. The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis put an end to our tour which had already lasted nearly four months and necessity kept us together after the three months had expired. This tour ended in August 1781 by the capitulation of our party to Lord Cornwallis. We had no written discharge although we served out our tour; the calamitous state of the times admitted of no formality.
4 th tour. This declarant entered the service of the united States the 4 th time under the following circumstances. Captain William Seals obtained authority from the Governor of North Carolina upon the same principle of those named in my 2 nd & 3 rd tours and this declarant joined the said Captain William Seals as a volunteer mounted rifleman for for a three months tour of duty furnishing his horse as before. William Seals was his captain & his old friend Hopkins Dye lieutenant. Our head quarters was on the plantation of Captain Seals and this declarant commenced this tour in the month of October 1781 as soon as his wound was healed and was engaged as in the last tour in putting down and punishing the

toris whilst engaged in this town Col John Belknap -land passed by our Station at Seals s with Major Hargrove & a large party of Whigs, returning from an expedition down the Cape Fear & the declarant and Capt Seals company went with Col Belknapland on an expedition ag against the Tories up the Yadkin. But the Tories began now to be more quiet and submissive and did not give us so much trouble and we returned to our Station in Cumberland County South Carolina where we remained until our term expired and this declarant was discharged in the month of January 1782. he rec d a written discharge from Capt Seals but his long service lost  not a written discharge but simply verbally discharged thus this declarant served nearly 13 months in all.
This declarant here with serves his true former declarations Marke A. A. B. he has no docu- mentary evidence of his services and he knows of no living witnesses by whom he can prove his services and he states that he is unable from in- disposition and infirmity to attend court for the purpose of making his declaration he hereby relinquishes every claim to any pension or annu-

ity except the present and declares his name is not on the pension roll of any State or territory whatever he states that he was born as above in Cumberland County South Carolina where he lived until the year 1805 - he then moved to Williamson County Tennessee where he lived two years then he moved to Maury County Tennessee where he lived until the year 1830 from there he moved to Spencer Spencer County Kentucky near the Graves County line and he has one son living in Graves & the other in Hickman and he lives now alternately at their houses - he states that Ames Ames Goad James H. Goad
John Lee Robert S. Pockridge & William Patterson are his neighbors who can testify as to his character for veracity and of his reputation of having been a soldier of the revolution
Subscribed and sworn to before the subscriber a Justice of the peace for the county of Graves and State of Kentucky Matthias Francis Sp
Stephen Collins
We Levi Calvert - a clergyman residing in Graves County Kentucky and Ames Goad

a resident citizen of said County and State hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Stephen Collins who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 72 years and 10 months old of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he lives (or resides) to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion not having any doubt whatever
Subscribed and sworn to before the subscribed a Justice of the peace for the County of Graves & State of Kentucky
Levi Balvert Thomas Goad
Matthew Francis Jp
And the said Matthew Francis a Justice of the peace in and for the said County of Graves and State of Kentucky do hereby certify it to be my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the revolution and served as his State and I do further certify that Levi Balvert who has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman residing in the said County of Graves and that Thomas Goad who has signed the same certificate is a citizen of said County of Graves and that he is a creditable person and that their statements are entitled to

credit and I do further certify that the said Stephen Collins from age and infirmity is unable to attend court to make his declaration.
Given under my hand at the county of Gray and State of Kentucky the 15 th day of February 1836 in the 44 th year of the commonwealth
and I do further certify that the words "he read a written discharge from Capt Seal" and "it is along since last," which are interlined on page 10 of the declaration was written or interlined there before the same was subscribed & sworn to by the declarant Stephen Collins Given under my hand as before
Matthew Francis Jp
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Gray County Set
I John Anderson clerk
of the county court for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that Matthew Francis, whose name is signed to the foregoing certificate is a justice of the peace in & for the county and state aforesaid. duly commissioned & qualified as such and I do further certify that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the county court of said county to be hereunto affix- ed the 17 th day of February 1836 in the 44 th year of the commonwealth
John Anderson

State of Kentucky Hickman County
March 1834
On this 12 th day of February personally appeared before me Denny White Justice of the peace in and for The county and State aforesaid Stephen Collins a Resident of said county and State aged 71 years who being first duly sworn according to law cloth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by an act of Congress passed June the 7 th 1832 That he Entered the service of the United States in the year 1780 and served as here in after stated, but he will here in this place remark that owing to old age and consequent loss of memory he will not be precise as to the exact length of his services but served at least as long as the time set below To wit, he Entered the service of the united States on the 8 th of June 1780 from Greene Berkeley county State of North Carolina under the fol- lowing named officers to wit Lazarus Bradford captain Alexander Smith Lieutenant was Mustered into service in the Town of Kingston for the aforesaid 8 th day of June the companies not being filled I was transferred from captain Bradfords company to captain Johnathan Smiths company Dickson Major Benjamin Asaam colonel Richard Caswell Genl Lt colonel Richard Caswell Sr General Marched from Kingston to near the Fayetteville East side of Cape Fear River went up said River and crossed near Ram- seys Mills made a halt for a day or two we then marched for South Carolina by the way of near the Sherrill hills between there and Camden we joined General Gates who had come on from the North with a Regular Army a few days after Joining General

Later I was taken sick and was sent to a Hospital at the Cherraw Hills Remained at the Cherraw Hills until after the Battle at Camden at which place Gates was defeated. after his defeat as soon as this applicant was able he returned home after a campaign of three months. He again entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers to wit, Forest Buckworth Captain Stephen Lee Lt Moses Collins Ensign 10 th Regt Major John Littlefield Col This was a Troop of horse we was mustered into Service on the 25 th day of December 1780 In Chatham County State of North Carolina we was principally engaged in the first part of this campaign In trying to pull the Tories and to keep a line if possible the Spirits of the Patriots and when we would hear of an army of or party of Tories assembling our business was to disperse them so they came from the North a Major and Frenchman who's name I have forgot unless his name was Major who had charge of some artillery Col Littlefield had a Lieutenant command as a Guard for said artillery and this declarant was one of that command and we guarded said artillery to June Green in campments on Piedmont this was when the American Army under General Greene was on the north side of Piedmont and the British Army was on the south side under Lord Cornwallis whilst we was conducting the aforesaid artillery to the Army of General Greene a Detachment of Col Hutton's horse attacked the Squadron commanded by Col Littlefield and dis- persed them we then found and marched for Salisbury Expecting to join Col Littlefield and then to join General Greene but Littlefield had returned home or to our barracks that we had in Chatham County and we joined him again and started towards Grifford Court house but heard of the Battle and then returned back home after a Service of three months

Then we started to join General Green we fed in with a Col. Malberry who had command of two troops or companies of horse we then marched for General Greens head quarters which we understood was at Guilford Courthouse but before we got there the fate of the day was decided and the firing of both small arms and all other sorts was over Not knowing which side had Gained the victory and being informed by a citizen that Cornwallis had kept the field we then marched back that night that being to the best of his Recollection the 15th of March 1781. and four of our company and got lost from our command and the decant being one of them and next day fell in to Genl Greens camp at Spindler's Iron works about ten miles from the field of battle an officer belonging to the command of the aforesaid Col. Sittred arrived at General Greens quarters asking for further orders and so we went with him and found the battalions that we belonged to and after a few of them three months we returned home - he again entered the service of the united States in the month of April in the year 1781 under the following named officers to wit Jacob Stuckworth captain. Stephen H. Livingston Francis Stanley Ensign. Phillip Alston Col. (mustered in to service in Cumberland County State of North Carolina - at this time there was a celebrated Tory by the name of Shannon under who was assembling an army of Loyalists under his command on Deep River we set out to dislodge him but he had decamped and fled before we got there found there we pursued him near the Naff Swamp and then we started to return home and on our return home Alston command was divided Capt Stuckworth took part of the men and Alston the balance and the aforesaid Harrison then following after us - and attacked us where we was in this divided

Situation and this Declarant being part of the command of the said Alston when said Fannan attacked us and in this action fought between said Alston and said Fannan he was wounded by a ball in the right wrist which has more or less disabled me all my life after Receiving the aforesaid wound this declarant returned from the aforesaid Action then went to a old Lady in the neigh- berhood who was a Doctress other medical or surgical aid could not be had the ball and of the Squadron of said Alston being taken by said Fannan this Fannan was also a three months Son of Son of Betty D He again he Entered the Service of the United States in the Month of October 1781 or there was this Declarant and two of his neighbours joined Col. Cleveland and and Major Doyers for our Personal Safety for at or before this time Lord Cornwallis having marched through North Carolina to Virginia and great many of the Citizens being conquered and despairing of Liberty had joined the Royal Army at It was in the latter part of said Month of October we heard the News of the Surrender of Cornwallis at York we was then with the aforesaid Cleveland then this Declarant went home and joined a Troop of horse commanded by Captain Wm. Sides in keep ourselves In Rediness we then marched through various parts of the said State the Spirit of plun- der had got up to a considerable height with the disaffected and Tory population and the Tories having embodied themselves in companies &c we was generally or in fact all the time now employed in keeping the Tories In Subjection & we served at least three months on this Service Full of his Services he served at least 12 months but owing to old age and consequent loss of

2 nd declaration
(B)
Wickman county
1834
Right to be given to the same In testimony whereof I have put my hand and the seal of my said office to witnesseth this the 24 th day of May 1834
W. G. C. C. C. C.

memory he served at least the aforesaid twelve months he further states that owing to old age and his loss of recollection he is not positive as to the dates of his services but he has adhered to the best of his recollection he has no documentary evidence of his services and he knows of no person in this county that he can prove his services by he further states that he is unable by indisposition and infirmity of body to go to Clinton the court house in this county a distance of about 17 miles to attend to this matter he hereby relinquishes every claim to any pension or annuity what ever Except the present and declares his name is not on any pension roll of any Agency of any State or Territory what ever in the United States there he lives near the Revere  Henry Brach a blacksmith and John McTear and John Sellers who can testify to my character for veracity and truthfulness and their opinion respecting my services as a soldier of the Revolution sworn to before the undersigned an acting Justice of the peace for said county and one of the Justices of the county court of said county this 15 th day of March 1834 Dempsey White JN Stephen Ladd
Hickman County Kentucky etc
in Wayne County, Kentucky (Residing in the aforesaid we of the State of Kentucky and State of Kentucky and John McShane and John Sellers Residing in the same neighbor- hood and county that Stephen Collins lives in certify that we are well acquainted with him the aforesaid Stephen Collins that is to say the said John Sellers has been acquainted with him about thirty years and the said McShane about 20 years who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that you believe that he is 71 years of age that he is reputed in the neighborhood and believed to be a soldier of the Revolution and

and that we concur in that opinion Attest and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid Dempsey White JP John M c Call
Kentucky
Heikman County ss I Dempsey White an acting justice of the peace in and said county being first the Six following Interrogatories and the said Collins made the following answers thereto (towards)
1 st When and in what year was you Born
Answer I was born In Cumberland County State of North Carolina and I suppose from Tradition in the year 1763
2 nd have you any Record of your age and If so when is it Answer I have none
3 rd when were you living when called into Service when have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live - Answer I was a youth living in the aforesaid County of Cumberland North Carolina when called into Service and then I lived about 22 years I moved to Tennessee Williamson County I lived there near two years I then moved to Maury County Tennessee then I lived about 23 years and then I moved to this County and have lived here ever since
4 th When was you called into Service were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom - Answer
I was a substitute first and first a woman - then one time I substituted for John Westbrooks and the other time for William Duncan
5 th State the names of some of the regular officers who were

with the troops when you served such continental and militia Regiments as you have Recollected and the General Circumstances of your Services -
Answer General Gats and Green and Boren Delegates of the regular Army and the officers that I have named in my Declaration of the Militia the circumstances of my Service is also detailed in said Declaration
Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it Answer I was always dispersed or disbanded but the last four and three I was discharged by Capt Sealy I have lost said Discharge or mislaid it I swear to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Stephen Collins Demsey White J.P.
State of Kentucky ss I Demsey White an Hickman County Justice of the peace in and for said County and one of the Justices of said County Court after the investigation declare my opinion after the investigation of the matters and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as his State and I further certify that it appears to me that John Hays who has been the foregoing certificate  Henry Roach is a clergyman and that John  McRae and John Seely together with  others who have also signed the same are Residents of the same neighborhood and are credible persons and their statements entitled to credit and the said Justice further certifies that he thinks that the said Stephen Collins could not go to court without great inconvenience owing to the infirmity of old age and indisposition given under my hand and date first above written I am also a clergyman residing in said neighborhood Demsey White J.P.

State of Kentucky Hickman county set I Henry S. Edington clerk of the county Court for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that Demsey White whose name is subscribed to the above and foregoing Declaration of Stephen Collins is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county and duly commissioned as such and that his signature is genuine and full faith and credit should and ought ought to be given to the same
In Testimony whereof I have put my hand and the Seal of my said office to the above office this the 24th day of May 1834
H. S. Edington
32.034
no declaration
(B)
Hickman county
1834
Mr. P. M. Johnson 7/2