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DECLARATION
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS
PASSED JUNE 7, 1832
STATE OF TENNESSEE
COUNTY OF McMINN
ON THIS 3rd DAY OF June PERSONALLY APPEARED IN OPEN COURT, BEFORE
THE Justice OF THE County COURT OF SAID COUNTY, William Longley,
A RESIDENT OF SAID COUNTY AND STATE, AGED ABOUT seventy-two 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 7, 1832.
THAT HE ENTERED THE SERVICE OF
THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICERS, AND SERVED
AS HEREIN STATED.
He entered the service as a drafted
man, in the militia of the State of Virginia, in the month of
October, 1780, as well as he now recollects, in Loudoun County
in said State, where he then resided with his father, -- under
the seige of Major Armstead -- whose Christian name is not recollected
-- Captain Thomas Humphries, lieutenant John Bartlett. There
were about 700 troops from said County of whom declarant was
one, and he thinks they were called light infantry. There soldiers
were marched from Loudoun County to Williamsburg in Virginia
where they were stationed in the barracks for several months,
and from whence portion of our men were detached to hold the
British forces under Arnold, in check.
After being stationed here some
months -- declarant does not recollect the precise time -- the
British forces, landed at Burrell's ferry, at the mouth of James
River, where about 200 of our men and declarant one of them,
were stationed. We stood our ground and fired upon the enemy
untill our cartridges were exhausted, each man of us having fired
near 30 rounds, when we were so far outnumbered that we had to
retreat. We retreated to Williamsburg, 6 miles from the above
named ferry, and on reaching there all our troops marched in
and occupied our barracks that night. We had retreated only a
mile or two into the woods from whence after night set in we
marched back to town and attacked the enemy, drove in their pickets,
and fired on them until outnumbered and drove from the field.
Next morning we were marched for
Richmond, and on the same day the enemy left Williamsburg, crossed
James River at Jamestown, and marched up the country. Near the
same time that we got to Richmond the enemy arrived at Manchester
on the opposite side of the river, and commenced destroying property
and burning the large quantity of Tobacco stored there. We were
stationed on Chuck's Hill. When the British appeared a part of
our men were stationed on the bank of the river to prevent them
crossing, and if they had attempted it they would have met with
a warm reception as we were very hungry and greatly incensed
at them. We had but one field piece, a six pounder, and it was
placed on the hill before mentioned, and leveled against the
enemy, and its effects told so well amongst them that they were
quickly induced to leave off their depredations and quit the
place. The enemy left Manchester and pursued their course still
further up the country, and after some time turned their course
and marched to Yorktown.
Declarant and his comrades were
stationed at Richmond, as he thinks, about six weeks, when they
were marched from thence and joined the army under Gnl. Lafayett
at Yorktown on the Glocester side of the river. About this time
or shortly after, the siege was formed, as the army under Washington
shortly arrived. Declarant was at this time constantly engaged
in working on the entrenchments and other works that were going
on.
During the siege declarant was
in several skirmishes with portion of the enemy. On one occasion
after night, 500 of the Virginia troops, declarant one of them,
with 500 of the French under the command of Lafayett were marched
to make a breach through the enemy's works on the Glocester side,
another detachment having made an attack on the other side.
Declarant recollects getting so
near the enemy's works that he put his hand upon them, and looking
up saw the tar barrels placed on the breast works to be lighted
in the event of an attack. The firing having ceased on the York
side, we were -----------, the enemy having discovered us, and
opened their guns upon us as they thought but their balls went
far above our heads.
Declarant was one of the troops
forming the hollow square into which the prisoners were marched
when Cornwallis surrendered. The prisoners taken on the Glocester
side were marched to Winchester in Virginia, declarant being
one of their guard. These prisoners were guarded at Winchester
three months, as declarant thinks, when they were marched to
Fredericks'town in Maryland, where declarant was discharged in
February, as well as he recollects, 1782. Declarant cannot recollect
the precise time he served; he will set it down at fifteen months,
as he is confident he served that long.
Declarant was born in the State
of New Jersey in the year 1761, as he was informed by his
parents -- has no record of his age, nor has he ever seen one
as well as he recollects. He resided in Loudoun County a short
time after the war, then in Shenandoah, then in Rockbridge; then
in Washington all in Virginia, whence he removed to Sevier County
Tennessee in 1800, where he resided until he came to the county
of McMinn Tennessee, where he now resides. He received a written
discharge from the service in Shepherdstown, Va. from Col. Niswonger
but it is lost, and he knows not where it is. James D. Sewell,
a clergyman; John Grisham, George Long & Jackson Smith, are
some of his present neighbors who can testify as to his veracity,
and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim
whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares
that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any
state.
Sworn to and subscribed the 3d day of June 1833
A. R. Turk, Clerk
William Longley
We James D. Sewell a clergyman
residing in the county and state aforesaid, and John Grisham
residing as aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted
with William Longley who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration; and we believe him to be 72 years of age; that he
is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides,
to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur
in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the 3d day of June 1833.
STATE OF TENNESSEE
POLK COUNTY Personally appeared before me, Andrew R. Stephenson,
an acting Justice of the Peace in and for Said County, Joel Longley
ana makes oath in due form of Law, that he is the Son of William
and Mary Longley deceased, late of Polk County, Tennessee, that
his Said Father, was a Revolutionary pensioner up to the day
of his death. Deposiant further states that he was born on
the first day of September (1791) Seventeen hundred and ninety-one.
And ever since his first recollection his Said father and mother
William and Mary Longley, lived together as husband and wife
up to the day of his death -- Deposiant further states that he
is the Second Son of the Said William and Mary Longley deceased
and that Jonathan Longley is his eldest brother and that his
Said parents William and Mary Longley always told deposiant that
his Said brother Jonathan was Two years and Two months older
than deposiant.
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this 22nd day of November 1845.
Joel Longley S E A L
A. P. Stephenson
Justice of the peace
for Polk County.
STATE OF TENNESSEE
POLK COUNTY I James Parks Clerk of the County Court of Polk County
do certify that A. R. Stephenson Esquire whose signature appears
to the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of signing
the same an acting Justice of the peace for my county, duly commissioned
and qualified according to Law. Given under my hand and Seal
of office in Benton this 22 day of November 1845.
James Parks, Clk.
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