VIRGINIA
SERVICE FOR JOHN KIRKLAND SR. (Revolutionary Pension File S-13634,
National Archives)
of MERCER COUNTY, KENTUCKY - Feb. 4, 1833 Age 79
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John Kirkland Sr., a
resident of Mercer Co. says that he entered the services in 1776,
in the spring, under Capt. Theodore Bland's Co. of Light Dragoons
for 2-1/2 years at Petersburg, Va. and we first marched to Williamsburg
where we were stationed and were employed with Capt. Dandridge's
Co. in collecting provisions in the neighborhood as a guard and
late in the fall we were marched to the north and met prisoners
taken by Gen. Washington at Princeton, between Philadelphia and
Trenton. At Trenton we halted sometimes and thence joined Lord
Stirling at Breckenridge and Morristown. Soon after Capt. Bland
was promoted to a Major and then a Colonel of my corp. Then Richard
Call was my Capt., the whole tour as well as I now can recollect.
When the British returned from New Brunswick, New Jersey we took
possession of that place. I was also at Elizabethtown and Newark.
When the British sailed around for the Delaware we returned and
were stationed at different places above Philadelphia and when
the British advanced on that place my Regiment with the main
army met them at Brandywine, where we had a severe battle which
lasted until nearly night as well as I now recollect Stephen
Brigade first gave way and we then retreated back and were stationed
not far from Germantown. Not long after we engaged in that battle,
which was a very warm one for a short time. After this my company
retired to Morristown where we continued making excursions during
the winter. In June when the British left Philadelphia we were
ordered to pursue them. At Monmouth we had another severe battle
with them. General Lee (Charles Lee) brought on the battle but
Gen. George Washington had to come up and restore some unfortunate
order which he had given my company. After this battle I was
marched to the White Plains where I remained until the fall of
1778 then marched back to Winchester, Va. where I was honorably
discharged.
After that period I
was in the Militia Service for 12 months but do not consider
that important. Now to give full statement: I was in the Regular
Army as a Light Dragoon for 2-1/2 years, first under Capt. Bland
and then under him as a Colonel during the whole time.
I was born in Prince
George Co., Virginia and was raised in Dinwiddie, where I resided
when the Revolution began and I enlisted in Petersburg, Va. I
was an enlisted soldier in Col. Blands regiment of Dragoons,
being a volunteer and in as a drafted soldier after the Revolution
was nearly over in the fall of 1781, after Cornwallis was captured
at which time I was in the Militia Service in Carolina. I moved
to Mercer Co., Kentucky where I performed several Militia Tours
and guards as an Indian spy and was also with Gen. Clark (George
Rogers Clark) three months against the Indians on the Big Miami
in the fall of 1782. In Capt. Daugherty's Co., Benjamin J. Peck,
clergyman.
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John L. Bridges and
Ebenezer Carey, also resident citees do hereby state that we
are all well acquainted with John Kirkland Sr. and state they
have known him for many years.
AFFIDAVIT-STATE OF KENTUCKY,
MERCER CO.
Charles Kirkland states that he is well acquainted with John
Kirkland although I am too young to recollect the scenes of the
Revolution yet I have often heard him describe them. He was in
the battle of Brandywine (Sept. 7, 1777), Germantown (Oct. 4,
1777), Monmouth (June 28, 1778) and Guilford Court House (Spring
of 1781). I well recollect of seeing what was said to be Lt.
John Kirkland, discharged from his enlistment as he returned
from the army but a youth at the time and do not recollect, but
have read it. But have no doubt from what transpired at the time
of its being a regular discharge.
We, Phil Board and John
Bridges, Revolutionary War Soldiers first duly sworn say that
they have been acquainted with the said John Kirkland for many
years and we have conversed with him and we have no hesitancy
in saying that we believe them that he was a soldier of the Revolution.
Affidavit of John Kirkland
Jr., son of John Kirkland Sr., now deceased, who died in the
fall of 1837 now appoints G. H. Monsurrat as his attorney.
His Militia service ended in 1778 at Winchester, VA. He was discharged
in Fall of year, after 2 1/2 years Regular Army, then joined
Militia in NC and served another year, went to Mercer Co., KY
abt 1782 and served as Indian spy with militia 3 years
He began at age 80 receiving
a Revolutionary pension of $100 per annum.
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