John Espey Pension Application

Pension Application 1832

[A verbatim copy, including spelling errors, of a county court transcript written by a court clerk.]

State of Georgia
Clark County

In Clark Supr Court August Term 1832

On this 15th day of August One thousand eight Hundred & thirty two personally appeared in open court before me Charles Dougherty one of the Judges of the Superior court of the state of Georgia now setting in & for the county of Clark, John Espy a resident of the said State & county aged 72 years 8 months & eight days being born on the 7th of Decr 1759, there is a record of age in a Bible in the popup urn of his brother James & was born in the State of Pennsylvania Cumberland County who being 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 7th 1832. viz.

That he entered the service of the U.S. under the following officers & served as herein after stated.

1st In 1778 served one half of a three months service which he & his twin brother James had engaged to perform under Capt John Caruth of Tryon, now Lincoln co. N. C. Benj. Cirkindol Lieut & Charles McLane Col of the county.

2nd About 1st July 1780 entered the service as a volunteer under Col Wm Armstrong & attached to the regiment of Col George Alexander of Mecklenburgh N.C. & belonging to Gen Rutherfords army – then with Gen Gates. Went with Gen Gates army as far at Rugeleys mills & was then detached to reinforce Genl Sumpter; & was with him during the attack made upon him by Col Tarleton at Fishing creek. From this time till about the middle or close of the summer of 1781 belonged to Capt Whites volunteer company & frequently called into service.

3rd About July or August served a regular three months tour under Capt White & Maj Joseph Grimes [Graham] of Mecklenburgh & went to Wilmington in pursuit of the British, being a part of Gen. Rutherfords army. Was in the skirmish at the brick house near Wilmington & also the surpressing & taking the tory camp at a short distance from that place. In this period to close of the war belonged to Capt Whites volunteer company & held himself in readiness to march out any time & was repeatedly engaged in service such as was then required of militia.

During the whole war often engaged in the service of the army - attended to little else than the duties of a soldier. During the whole war a resident of Tryon now Lincoln county N.C. & at present a citizen of Clark County & State of Georgia. He can state that uniting his terms of service he served a period of two years during the war of the revolution on the side of Liberty & that he has no documentary Evidence of the foregoing facts & with the Exception of his two brothers whose testimony is subjoined he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service – If he ever received a discharge it is lost – He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity Except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any other State - he States he is known to the Revd Alongo Church Prest of the University of Georgia & Augustine S. Clayton a member of Congress –

[signed] John Espy

Sworn to & subscribed in open court
being a court of Record this 15
day of August 1832
Robert Ligon Clerk

We Alongo Church a clergyman residing in the town of Athens Clark County Georgia and Augustine S. Clayton of the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Espy who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be seventy two years of age- that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion –

[signed] A S. Clayton
[signed] A Church

Sworn and Subscribed this day and year aforesaid
Robert Ligon Clerk

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he stated – and that court further certifies that it appeared to them that Alongo Church who has signed the proceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in the Town of Athens Clark County Georgia. And that Augustine S. Clayton who had also signed the same is a resident in the Town of Athens Clark County Georgia and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit –

Here my hand & seal the day & year above written
[signed] Charles Dougherty J.P.

I Robert Ligon Clerk of the Superior Count of Clark County , Georgia do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceeding of said Court in this matter of the application of John Espey for a pension.

[seal] In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 24th day of August 1832.

[signed] Robert Legion Clerk
Supr Court Clark County

James Espey and Joseph Espey Testimony

Georgia
Clark County

In Clark Superior Court
August Term

Came in person into open court James Espy & Joseph Espy who being duly sworn deposth Saith – that the first James Espy. that he knows his brother John Espy who has this day made a declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 – did served in the Revolutionary War at one of more times & as he verily believes for a period of two years. & deponent states that he is acquainted with the most of the facts stated by him in his said declaration – Joseph Espy stated that he knows of his serving in said Revolutionary war having seen him come & depart from home in the character of a soldier and heard him say at the time & talk frequently of the occurrences of his different military tours. Deponent was then quite young –

[signed] James Espey
[signed] Joseph Espey

Sworn to in open Court
being a court of Record
this 15th day of August 1832
[signed] Robert Ligon Clerk

I Augustine S. Clayton, Member of Congress from Georgia do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with James & Joseph Espy who have made & sworn to the above affidavit annexed to the foregoing declaration & that they are entitled to full faith & credit upon written their oath & word – Washington City, Jan 17th 1833

[signed] A. S. Clayton, M of Congress