Pat's Note: Below is Darius' initial Pension application. Also included in my
microfiche copy are Questions and Answers, attestation of witnesses, the
rejection of the application, the subsequent reapplication, the documentation of
payment, and a widows application from Mary, subsequently awarded.  I'll be
transcribing these as I get to them.  

When words (usually Proper nouns) were unintelligible by me I have put ??? or
xxx.  I have kept words in original spelling even both versions of
Culpep(p)er.     I have transcribed this as faithfully as I have been able, but knowing
I am fallible I am open to a second check and any variant renditions.  I
expect I will be sending out an improved version after I track down some of these
pesky names and places.  I have indicated page number of the original in
brackets in the text to help those interested.



Pat


State of Tennessee
County of Cocke

May Session 1834

On the 28th day of May 1834 personal by appearance in Open Court before the
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Cocke County and State aforesaid, Darius
O'Neil a resident Citizen of the County of Cocke and State of Tennessee, aged
Seventy years 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
Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That the Declarant Darius O'Neil was born on the 18th day of May 1764 in
Culpepper County, State of Virginia.  He lived in Culpeper County, Virginia, for
thirty seven years with the exception of such time as he was engaged in the
Revolutionary War, as here-in after detailed.  From Culpepper County, he moved to
Shenandoah County, Virginia, where he lived one year.  Thence he moved to
Rockingham County, Virginia, where he lived three years.  Thence he moved to Rock
Bridge County, Virginia where he lived for eight years.  Thence he moved to
Washington County, Virginia where he lived one year when he moved to Cocke
County, State of Tennessee, where he has lived for the last twenty years and where
he now lives. 

In the month of April 1781 - day not recollected, this Declarant became a
Substitute for John Hawkins in Captain James Hawkins {p.2} Company of Militia,
and repaired to Orange County Court House, in Orange County, (adjoining
Culpepper,) the place of Rendezvous.  Captain George Waugh commanded another company
that Rendezvoused at the same place.  James Jamison was the Lieutenant of our
Company. Lt. Riddle was the other Lieutenant.  ??? Lieutenant ??? and before
the xxx of the tour.  Thomas was the orderly Sergeant, Perry was another
Sergeant - Other Officers not recollected.  Major Barbour was the Major and took
Command of us at Orange Court House, and under him we were marched from Orange
Court House.  The first night we encamped at Pine Stake Church in Orange County. 
We crossed Pomonkey River - at the ground  xxx Bridge.  Marching on towards
Richmond the intermediate places of encampment are not recollected except a
little town called  ??Pew Cartle??.   In one week we reached Richmond on James
River.  There was a considerable body of men at Richmond, whom we joined. 
Colonel Matthews took command of us at Richmond.  Major Naylor was the Adjutant. 
>From Richmond we were marched under Col Matthews down the north side of James
River to Williamsburgh.  The first day we were marched to the four mile creek
in Henrico County, where we remained four days, when we were marched on to
Williamsburgh.  The intermediate places of encampment are not recollected.  We
marched to Williamsburgh in a week and remained there one night, when we were
march back by {p. 3} Hanover Court House - we crossed the Pomonkey River, two
miles from the Court House, after passing through it.  Then to xxx house; then to
Bowling green -then through Fredricksburgh to Wilderness Bridge on the xxx
creek a branch of the Rapidan in Orange County, thence to Racoon Ford on the
Rapidan where we joined General Wayne.  From the Racoon Ford we were marched to
the Poison fields in Orange County where we encamped.  At the Poison fields we
remained for several days when we were marched to a creek in an adjoining
County where we remained for sometime and where the Declarants company was
discharged have served out this tour of three months.  After this Declarant was
discharged in July of 1781, day not recollecting by his Captain James Hawkins
having served out his tour of three months.  Our Company did not receive written
discharge at this time.  Our relief came to take our places and we were told by
Captain Hawkins that he would give us written discharges on our personal
application to him after his return home.  This Declarant never applied to him and
thus never got a written discharge for this tour.

In the above mentioned tour Declarant was a substitute and when he returned
home he found that he had been drafted and his company had started on their
march.  This Declarant joined his company under Capt Grigsby at Ruffin's ferry on
the River {p. 4} Rappahannock.  At the place there was a considerable body of
men.  There were several companies of whom Declarant recollects Captain Wm
Bird.  The whole were commanded by Colonel John Slaughter.  At Ruffins ferry we
were stationed untill October when the Declarant was discharged early in the
month day not recollected in the year 1781.  Declarant received a written
discharge from his Captain Grigsby for his time of three months, which discharge he
lost in Culpepper County, Virginia what happened to these he does not know.  


In the month of March, 1782 day not recollected, the Declarant enlisted
under Captain Frederic Timmerman, in the Regular Service (whether of the State of
Virginia or of the Continental Congress, declarant does not know not knowing
the differences always believing himself in this case to be in the regular
Continental Soldier).  Captain Timmerman enlisted a whole company in Culpepper
County for twelve months, for which time the Declarant enlisted.  Our Lieutenants
were Lt. Crow and Lt. White.  Our Ensign was Joseph Miller - He is not
certain that his name was Joseph but so believes.  He believes that the Orderly
Sergeant was Tunsell.  Another Sergeant was Thomas Jamison.  The corporals are not
recollected, except Weatherall.  Our place of Rendezvous was at our Company
Muster ground, nine miles from the Culpepper Court House.  Our Militia Captain
at the time was Capt. Robert Pollard and at the muster ground of the company
we rendezvoused.  From our muster ground we were marched to Cunninghams, eight
miles from {p. 5} Fredricksburgh where we encamped the first night.  On the
second night we encamped four miles xx the Bowling  green in Carolyn county.  We
were marched on to Williamsburgh which we reached in ten or twelve days
having passed through King George and King and Queen counties, Hanover and
??HannaRucca?? Counties and other not recollected- we crossed Pomenkey river and four
mile creek and other not recollected.  At Williamsburgh we joined the othe
companies of the 8th Regiment of the State Troops of Virginia (as declarant
believes) which troops were all attached to the Continental Army, and were regular
enlisted Soldiers.  Our Regiment was commanded by Colonel Olcutt name so
pronounced - The name of the Colonel may have been spelled Allcutt or Alcot.  Major
Pease was the Major of our Battalion and Major Campbell was the Major of the
other Battalion.  Captains James Smith, - Hathaway, White, and Miller were 
Captains of the other Companies.  At Williamsburgh we remained until June. 
While at Williamsburgh we were regularly paraded, mustered, and drilled.  We were
encamped in a field within sight of Williamsburgh.  From Williamsburgh we were
marched under Col. Olcutt by Hanover Court House, by Fredricksburgh, By
Falmouth, and by Dumfries on to Baltimore.  We stopped two days at Falmouth.  We
arrived at Baltimore in July where we remained for six weeks encamped in a  {p.
6} field adjoining the town.  From Baltimore we marched in September to
Philadelphia by Chester.  We remained two days at Philadelphia when we were marched
from that city through New Jersey by Trenton, Princeton, and Morristown on to
King's Ferry on the Hudson River in the State of New York.  At King's Ferry we
crossed the river and encamped on the other side on the Top of the Hill,
where we remained three weeks.  Thrice we were marched to Providence, Phode
Island, where we remained for several days.  Thence we were marched to the city of
Boston where we remained two days.  From Boston we were marched to Chesterfield
in the State of Massachusettes, forty five miles from the City of Boston.  At
Chesterfield we were discharge, having rested there one day.  This Declarant
received a written discharge from his Captain which he has lost. He was
discharged  on the 22nd of December 1782, having served ten months; and he returned
to his home in Virginia in company with Stephen Shelton, Elijah lynch,
Jonathon Freland, and Jacob Haynes and Henry Rains, fellow soldiers of Declarant. 

The Declarant never received any thing from Government for his tours as a
drafted Militiaman, or as a substitute.  When he enlisted he received eight
dollars as Bounty money from Capt. Timmerman and was promised five dollars per
month.  When he was discharged, Declarant together with his Company, received his
pay in Silver from Colonol Olcutt.  Colonol Olcutt's Regiment {p. 7} was
employed on this expedition in conveying the Artillery belonging to the French Army
that had been used at the Siege of York, to the city of Boston, where we left
it.  There was a large quantity of artillery though the Declarant is unable
to say how much.  The Declarant never received any thing from Government for
his two first of three months each.  For his last tour of ten months he was paid
as herein before related.  The Declarant not being certain whether he was
enlisted into the State troop Service of Virginia or into the Service of the
Continental Congress would wish a reference to be had to the Rolls of Col Olcutt
Regiment employed at the time specified and not to the number of the Regiment. 
Though he believes that it was the 8th Regiment of the State Troops of
Virginia, in which he served as an enlisted Soldier under Captain Timmerman.  There
were regular officers and soldiers in service where Declarant served in his
first tour.  He joined General Wayne.  In the second tour there were none.  In
his third tour Col. Olcutt's Regiment alone were employed in the the conveyance
of the French Artillery.  The Declarant 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 any agency in any State.  The Declarant has no
documentary evidence in regard to his Services {p. 8}  nor does he know of any
person living by whom he could prove his services.

Darius  His Mark  O'Neil
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforsaid
G M Porter Clerk of Cocke County


 

contributed by:

From: Pat
For More info get in touch with Pat at [email protected]