Aaron Brown

Pension Application of Aaron Brown R1332 Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris State of Tennessee } On this 27th day of February 1833, personally appeared before me Monroe County } Joseph E. Richardson one of the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said County of Monroe, Aaron Brown, aged 77 years, lacking a few days, a resident of said County of Monroe, 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 was born in 1756, in Cumberland County, Virginia, where he lived a few years, till his father moved to Bedford County Va, where he resided till about 30 years ago, when he moved to Hawkins County Tennessee, where he lived till near 7 years ago, when he moved into said Monroe County, where he now lives.

Sometime he cannot tell whether 2 or 3 years, after the commencement of the Rev’y War, applicant disremembers what year, in consequence of the depredations and violence of the Cherokee Indians, about the head waters of the Holston, he enlisted a private in the Company of Capt. Henry Bluford [sic: Henry Buford of the Militia], in Bedford County Va, where he resided, and marched, in said Company, to the Long Island in Holston [Long Island on Holston River, at present Kingsport TN], in what is now Sullivan County Ten. On their way out they met at the Big Lick in Botetourt Va [now City of Roanoke]; about 30 Indians and some whites going on, he thinks, to see the Gov. at Richmond, in reference to the making of peace. When said company reached Long Island they found a fort on the North side of the river [Fort Patrick Henry], with about 500 men, under he thinks, Colo Christy [William Christian] and [Evan] Shelby. There they remained a length of time, till a Treaty was concluded at Long Island [20 Jun 1777], and sometime afterwards. He supposes there were as many Indians as whites at the treaty. He remembers that 50 canoes came on one Sabbath full of Indians, who stayed on the Island, and danced every night. Applicant was out in this campaign more than 6 months. After he reached the Long Island they grubbed ground and planted corn, and when he reached home, it was full late to save fodder. He thinks he left home in Feb. and returned in Sept’r. Capt. Blufords Company were all discharged together, but applicant rec’d. no written discharge. They had no engagements with the Indians; but one Indian was killed that applicant knows of while he was at the Island, and Col. Shelby offered a large reward for the man who shot him.

Sometime, perhaps about two years, after the above named Campaign, there was a call for men in Bedford County Va. where applicant then lived. The county, he thinks, was divided into districts, and each district had to send a man or stand a draft for one. Applicant offered to go for his (company or) district, and was hired to do so. He went he supposes for 18 months a private, as he knows he served and rec’d a discharge for 18 months. [See endnote.] He was in the company of Capt. Alexander Cummings [Alexander Cummins]. The Company collected at Old-Town in Bedford County and marched on towards Richmond. They fell in with some other troops, commanded by, he forgets whom. they marched on to Westham, on James River, above Richmond, where they found several thousand troops, under whom he cannont say, but thinks Gen’l. Gates [see endnote]. They remained at Westham a short time; then crossed the river, where they stayed a short time, then recrossed the James River, and marched to Cumberland Old Court House where several thousands, (he thinks,) wintered, and where they remained, mostly, till he received his discharge, from Col. Phebeck [sic: Christian Febiger], he thinks. The discharge he brot home, and gave to his sister to keep. It was put in a small box, the whole contents of which was distroyed by a box of soap melting and filling it. Applicant was in no engagements, and remembers the names of no Officers except those stated. Applicant has no record of his age. He is known to the following persons in his present neighborhood, who can testify to his veracity, and their belief of his services as stated – viz –

Sam’l. Blackburn Esq – Abel R. Chaney – John Caldwell Esq – Michl. Wells He has no documentary evidence, and knows of no one by whom he can prove any service rendered. (Served in all upwards of 2 years) – (Answers to the 7 Interrogatories are embodied in the foregoing) 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. Aaron hisXmark Brown State of Tennessee } On this 15 day of June 1833, personally appeared before the subscriber an Monroe County } acting Justice of the peace for said County of Monroe, Aaron Brown of said County, who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is the identical Aaron Brown who made the foregoing declaration, on the 27th Feby last, to which he now makes the following amendment. He cannot, exactly, state the time he first entered service, but supposes it must have been in the year 1776. The first term, for 6 months he volunteered. He used the term “enlisted” in his declaration, but supposes the proper term is volunteered. He does not suppose that for this term of service his name is to be found on the rolls. The second tour, in the year, he thinks, 1779, he volunteered to go for a division of men who were subject to a draft, (of 18 months) of one man. He served the term. He supposes he did not belong to the Virginia State troops. As his declaration shews he was with Continental troops but cannot tell what Regt of troops he belonged to. Applicant knows of no one living who served with him; as he has moved away from the county where they are, if any are living & cannot get their testimony. He cannot, by reason of the loss of memory state the Regiment in which he served, nor the line. Aaron hisXmark Brown State of Tennessee } Personally appeared before the subscriber an acting Justice of the peace for McMinn County } said County Alexander Brown who being duly sworn deposeth as follows – That he is a brother of Aaron Brown who made the Declaration to which this is appended, for the purpose of obtaining a pension; that he remembers said Aron’s going into service, though he was quite young. He has the most distinct recollection of his going under Capt’n. Bluford against the Indians; though it was the first campaign. He saw him enlist – remembers his being gone, and that word came that he was killed which distressed his mother very much – remembers distinctly his having his shoulder injured very badly while absent. Deponent cannot tell when said Aaron went into service under Capt Cummings – but remembers that he did so – that he was gone a long time, but cannot say how long – remembers hearing some thing of his sister’s having said Aaron’s discharge to keep – remembers his coming home on furlough during the campaign. Remembers that his mother was distressed at his going without being drafted – thought he ought not to have gone without being forced. Knows that it was well understood in the County that said Aaron was in service, but knows no one now alive who was in service with him, nor does he know what company or line he served in. It is 30 years since said Aaron left the country where he lived when he rendered service; and he has been so perfectly disabled by rheumatism for several years that he is totally disabled to return and see if any one be alive who knows any thing more particularly about his service. [12 Nov 1833] NOTES: A Virginia law enacted in May 1780 required each county whose militia was not already engaged to recruit or draft one militiaman out of each 15 over age 18 to serve in the Continental army until the end of 1781. Gen. Horatio Gates had no active command near Richmond, and none anywhere after his defeat at the Battle of Camden SC on 16 Aug 1780.

On 15 July 1845 Joseph Brown, age 53 on 10 April 1845, applied for the pension that had been denied to his mother, Nancy Brown, who died on 7 Dec 1842.

He stated that at the death of Aaron Brown on 29 April 1836 at age 80 he left the following children in addition to himself: Elizabeth Hunly (Hunley), Dicy Herel (Herald), Mary Christian, Phebe Staples, George Brown,

Lewcinda (Lucy) Brown,  Nancy Brown,  Wilson Brown,  James Brown,  Sarah Purvines (Purvyne), and  John O. Brown. 

He stated in addition “that he has three living sisters and one Brother that died when a child that was older than himself.” On the same day in McMinn County Dicy Brown, aged 78 on 30 Jan 1845, stated that she was the sister of Nancy Payne, who was married to Aaron Brown by Rev George Summers in Bedford County in October of 1783 or 1784.

PDF]R1332 Aaron Brown - Southern Campaign American Revolution ... revwarapps.org/r1332.pdf Added by Janet Milburn (not directly related, only distantly thru marriage)