Submitted by Patricia Scoggin Dell'aira

NARA FILE DESIGNATION, s8310

SELECTED RECORDS 

Declaration of Joseph Dameron

State of North Carolina

County of Caswell

            On this 7^th day of January 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of Our Court of Pleas & Quarter Session of the County and State aforesaid now sitting. Joseph Dameron aged Seventy years on the 2^nd day of February next 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 7^th 1832. That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and Served as herein Stated. To wit – Some Time in the fall of the year 1780 this Declarant thinks perhaps in the month of September he entered the Service of the United States as a Soldier, he being drafted and entered in the Company Commanded by Captain Mumford of the Militia of the County of Amelia in the State of Virginia in the Regiment or Company Commanded by Col William Downman, and from the Said County of Amelia. They were marched to a place called Caber Point, where they were Stationed, as this Declarant understood for the purpose of affording apertance to Pourtsmouth in the event any apertance was needed at that place, and Cabin Point being at that time a healthy place, They remained at that place until General Green poped by that place with his army on his way to the South, when the Amelia Troops or Militia of which This declarant was one, Came on with General Green as far as Petersburg, when the term for which he this Declarant was drafted, expired and He accordingly give up his arms ammunition to the armory in Petersburg, and after serving a tour of three months duty was Discharged. – He thinks he received his discharge from Captain Mumford, Sometime about the last of December 1780. – Some time in the next month (January) or thereabouts, There was a general alarm in the Country and a report that the enemy had come to Petersburg, and Secured the town, and were Committing dreadful ravages in the Country, and all the People and Men in the Country were called upon to take up arms in defence of their Country and immediate neighbourhood; accordingly this Declarant Volunteered under Captain Robert Bolling, and Lieutenant Saml Watkins, and were marched down to Petersburg, and found that the enemy had not yet reached Petersburg, and were there stationed for Something about three weeks until the general excitement was over, and finding out that the Town was not in danger, This Declarant together with the rest of the Company were disbanded and returned home, after being gone about three weeks, as well as he can now recollect – Some few days after this Declarant returned home from Petersburg: In the month of February 1781 he Substituted himself in the place of a man whose name this declarant cannot now recollect in a Volunteer Company Commanded by Captain William Harrison Which Company was raised in the County of Brunswick in the State of Virginia, for the aid of North Carolina and was accordingly marched under Captain Wm. Harrison and Lieutenant John Williams, in the Company Commanded by Col. Robert Mumford through the Southern part of Virginia into North Carolina, and joined General Green’s army at a place called the High Rock. At this place or Somewhere there abouts Col. Mumford being taken ill with the gout. This Declarant with the rest of the Company were put under the Command of Col. Holcomb and Major Skipwith – This Declarant being then with Genl. Greens army, under the officers above named, were marched in pursuit of the enemy under Lord Cornwallis and Come up with them at Guilford Court House, where they fought that memorable action. This Declarant being in the action and fought during the battle. After the Battle, They troops rendezvoued at a place called the old Iron Works. Where This Declarant together with the rest of his Company all met or rather marched – form like men & Soldiers, the Virginia Militia. Came off with Credit after having done their duty, upon that occasion and not exactly to hear the Call with the North Carolina Militia – From the Old Iron Works This Declarant with the main army here marched in pursuit of the enemy as far as to a place Called Ramseys Mills on Deep River, at this place we made a halt, and the Company to Which this declarant belonged was ordered to Hillsboro, Where this Declarant was discharged after Serving out his time or term of Service of three months – and returned home to Brunswick County in the State of Virginia. he thinks he got his discharge sometime in the month of May 1781. That at the time This Declarant first entered the Service in the War of the Revolution, he lived in the County of Amelia, being then the manager on his Fathers plantation in that County. But at the time he substituted himself in the Volunteer Company as mentioned before (his last tour of duty) he lived with his Father in the County of Brunswick and State of Virginia – This declarant would also State that he has no Dockumentory evidence by which he can prove his Service, he having received discharges. But has long since destroyed or lost them, expecting they would be of no use to him – Thus the Whole Time  which This Declarant Served his Country as a Soldier in the War of the Revolution, was something near or like seven months, as well as he can now recollect which fact he submits to the generosity of his County - & for which time he claims Compensation.

            I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State –

            The following Interrogatories propounded by the Court to the applicant, and his answers.

Question 1^st. Where and in what year were you born?

Answer,        I was born as I have been told by My Father In Northumberland County in the State of Virginia on the 2^nd day of February 1763.

Question 2^nd. Have you any Record of your age if so Where is it?

Answer,       I have a record of my age now in my possession recorded in Burketts Commentaries on the Scriptures which was my Fathers book, But which now belongs to me.

Question 3^rd. Where were you living when Called into Service Where have you lived Since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live –

Answer -      I was living in Amelia County in the State of Virginia When I was first Called into Service, & also when I Volunteered to go to Petersburg  I was living in Brunswick County and State of Virginia When I was Called into Service the last Time on tour. I have lived Since the Revolutionary War about nine years in State of Virginia near the place of my residence during the War in the Several Counties round about, being an overseer. I lived Two years in the County of Halifax & State of Virginia – and the rest of my time I have lived in the County of Caswell and State of North Carolina where I now live –

Question 4^th  How were you called into Service. Were you drafted, did you Volunteer or Were You a Substitute, and if a Substitute for whom?

Answer -      The first Tour of duty which I Served, I was Drafted. The Second tour to Petersburg, I Volunteered and the last I substituted myself in the place of a Man whose name I have forgotten, he being a Stranger to me.

Question 5^th  State the names of Some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you Served. Such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect, and the General Circumstance of your Service.

Answer.       I recollect Genl. Green who commanded us at Guilford. I recollect Col. Lea and Washington of the Horse who were with us & some others whos names I cannot now recollect, for I was very little with the Regulars, though they were with the army where I was, - I recollect Col. Downmans Regiment & Col. Mumford & Col. Holcomb & others of the militia – The general circumstances of my Service I have been particular in mentioning before in this my declaration.

Question 6^th  Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service, if so by whom was it given and What has become of it?

Answer -     I received my discharge for Two Tours of duty; the first and last which I served, but I have long since lost or destroyed them not expecting ever to have a use for them –

Question 7^th. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, who can testify as to your character for Veracity and good Behaviour, Your Services as a Soldier of the Revolution? –

Answer         I have lived upward of thirty Years in this County and am Known generally to the people of the County To any and all of whom I am Willing to trust my Character for Varacity or good behaviour believing that they will do me Justice   I will however State the names of William A Lea & Paul A Haralson Gentlemen whos statements any where may be relied upon    In which I can prove my Services by Starling Gunn, in part, and by George B. Dameron, both of Whom Knew me in the Revolutionary War.

Sworn to an Subscribed the day and year aforesaid                               Joseph Dameron

Just Paul A. Haralson Clk

Mr. Robert McKee a Clergyman residing in the County of Caswell and State of North Carolina and Paul A. Haralson residing in the County and State aforesaid, hereby certify that we (illegible) Joseph Dameron who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be Seventy years of age at the time as he states, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concour in that opinion – Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid -                                                               Robert McKee

                                                                                              Paul A. Haralson

State of North Carolina             Court of pleas & Quarter Sessions

                                                            January Term 1833

County of Caswell                                Be it remembered that on this day personally appeared in open court now in session, Sterling Gunn who being duly Sworn according to Law, declares that he well recollects Joseph Dameron who has this day offered his declaration for a pension – That I served with him one Tour of duty at Cabin Point as he has stated in his declaration. That while in the Service in the War of the Revolution the Said Joseph Dameron was a faithful and an active Soldier, and did, and performed his duty so far as his conduct came to the Knowledge of This affiant. The Said Joseph Dameron and this affiant being both from the Said County of Amelia & State of Virginia, and being Together at Cabin Point as Stated in This Declaration of Joseph Dameron

            Sworn to and Subscribed in Open Court This 7 day of January A Dom. 1833 –

                                                                                                            Starling Gunn

Just Paul A Haralson Clk

North Carolina                         Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions

Caswell County                                       January Term 1833.

                        George B. Dameron, personally appears in open Court and being duly Sworn according to Law declares and Swears that, Joseph Dameron who has filed and offered his declaration for a pension, was a Soldier in the War of the Revolution. That he entered the Service under Captain Mumford and was at Cabin Point & Served out his Tour of Duty at that place – This affiant also well recollects that the Said Joseph Dameron Volunteered to go to Petersburg & did go as he has Stated in This his declaration, and Lastly this affiant, well recollects that the said Joseph Dameron Substituted himself in the place of a Man – a Stranger – in Captain Harrisons Volunteer Company which went to North Carolina & that in all these Tours he went & was in the Service, & heard that he was in the Guilford Battle & now believe it – These facts this affiant well recollects though he was not quite old enough to be in the Service with him-

Sworn to and Subscribed this 7^th day of January 1833.

Just Paul A Haralson Clk                                                                      Geo B Dameron

And the court do hereby declare their opinion,   after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogation prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant Was a Revolutionary Souldier and Served as he States – And the Court further Certifies that it appears to them that Robert McKee who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Said County of Caswell and State of North Carolina and that Paul A Haralson who has also Signed the Same is a resident in the Said County & State and is a Credible person, and that their Statements are intitled to Credit.

I well know Sterling Gunn the witness & certify that he’s a man of good character & entitled to the fullest – credit

                                                                        ?

                                                                        4 March

I Paul A. Haralson Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County of Caswell and State of North Carolina do hereby Certify that the foregoing Contains the Original proceedings in the matter of the application of Joseph Dameron for a Pension.

In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal of Office this 7^th day of January ADom. 1833.

                                                Paul A. Haralson  Clk

I know the papers all to be in the handwriting of the Clerk Paul A Haralson and certify that they are all ____ _____ as ____ ____ _____                                                                            ?

                                                                        4 March