Pension Application of Peter Batchelor: S37704

                        Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris

 

Virginia, to wit,

            At a Court held for the County of Botetourt the 12th day of May 1818

            Peter Batchelor an Inhabitant of this county and a citizen of Virginia appeared before this Court being a Court of record, and made oath that he served a [sic] soldier in the army of the United States in the war of the revolution – and that he enlisted in said service in the month of September 1777 with Lieut’t Wilson who belonged to the 4th Virginia Regiment, then commanded by Col. Lawson of Gen. Scotts Brigade. – that he continued in said service 6 years and was discharged in September 1783 at New London [in then Bedford, now Campbell County] in Virginia when commanding a Sergeants guard placed at said place over the public magazine – And that he is poor & infirm & from his reduced circumstances in life needs the assistance of his country

            Leonard Helms personally appeared & made oath that he very well remembers to have known Peter Batchelor in the war of the revolution: That he met with him at New London in Virg’a. in the spring of the year 1783 and they remained together in the same service untill they were discharged, he thinks in the fall of the same year– The said Batchelor at that time commanded a Guard of United States Troops placed at New London over a public magazine– said Helms further states that he did not see said Batchelor from the time of this discharge untill about 8 or 10 years ago, when he had the sight of one of his eyes, and then he recognized him – That some time afterwards he lost the sight of that eye also and therefore at this time can only recognize him from his voice & the relation of events from which he thinks he is the same Peter Batchelor now present of whom he has before spoken.

            Colo. Henry Bowyer made oath that he was a Lieutenant & adjutant in the 12th Virg’a. Regiment on Continental establishment in the war of the revolution – that in the year 1778 (he believes) the 4th, 8th, & 12th Virg’a. Regiments were consolidated & he continued to do the duties of Adjutant to the said consolidated Regiment when he came to the knowledge of the afores’d. Peter Batchelor who was then a Sergeant in the s’d. 4th Regiment.

            Thomas N Burwell made oath that Peter Batchelor is his neighbour, & that the said Peter is in very indigent circumstances

 

Virginia  Botetourt County to Wit

            On the 8th day of August 1820 personally appeared in open Court being a Court of record, which proceedS according to the course of common Law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount keeping a record of their proceedings, and having the power of fine & imprisonment Peter Batchellor aged 65 years, resident in said County who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows  That he enlisted in September 1777 in the company of Capt. Wilson 4th Regiment Virginia line on continental establishment  that he served in said company and service for 5 or 6 months & afterward served in Capt. Whales[?] company same Regiment for two months and again served under Capt. Wilson for about 3 years as will appear by original declaration dated (as appears by my pension certificate No. 5684) the 12 day of May 1818. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with an intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision of an act of congress entitled “an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United Stated during the revolutionary war passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, or contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income, other than is contained in the schedule, hereto annexed, & by me subscribed–

Schedule, Two mares, one old,  two chain [two words illegible], one plough, two hoes, two axes, two wedges, & [word illegible], [word illegible] for one [word illegible], 6 plates  6 knives & forks  6 cups & saucers, no cash, some indifferent bedding  That he is a laborer by profession but is unable to work, that he has a wife, aged 79 years a criple[?] Nancy his daughter aged 30[?] years Martin[?] Shropshire a grand son aged 4[?] years