The following is a transcription of the pension application of Aaron Copeland (c1762-1839) for service during the American Revolution. It is from a photocopy of an old document, so it suffers from copying artifact as well as age and archaic handwriting. Where words can not be read, I have inserted brackets [], with words which seem to be implied by context where appropriate. Where I am fairly sure of a word, but not positive, I have followed the word with a question mark(?). I have tried to use the same spelling and punctuation as the original.

Aaron Copeland was the descendant of John Copeland, b. 1616 in England who emigrated to Jamestown, Virginia Colony in 1634. This family has been extensively documented in Copeland Cuzzins, the IGI and other genealogical journals such as Huxford journal and Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia by the Huxford Society.

The State of South Carolina

Chesterfield District

On this the 29 day of Sept AD 1835 appeared [before the] Court of Common Pleas at Chesterfield Court House before his Honour A.P. Butler, the Presiding Judge of the said Court, Aaron Copeland, aged Seventy-three or Seventy-four years, who upon oath made the following declaration in order to obtain a Pension under the Act of Congress passed J--? of 1832. That he was born in Chatham County in the State of North Carolina and that his age was recorded in a family Bible which was burned up in his father's house when the deponent was quite small - deponent states his age from a comparison of it with that of his brother's who is yet alive and is two years and a half older than himself. That he was living in Chesterfield District at the time he entered the Service and was at the time of his so entering the Service not quite sixteen years of age - was drafted by one Capt. Benjamin Hicks in the militia. Deponent's Father applied to Col. Kolb to get deponent discharged on account of his son's? age but was told by Col. Kolb that Deponent was so near Sixteen years old that he had as well serve so that Deponent continued in the Service one? month at [?] Hill in the District & State aforesaid guarding the public provisions? deposited there for the army from the North which was expected there. This was in the Spring of the year before Gates' defeat at Camden (ed note: Gates was defeated at Camden in August, 1780 so I assume this means the spring of 1780, though it could be the spring of 1779). Rec'd discharge from Capt. John Wilson who commanded the forces at Cheraw & returned home. In the Fall of the same year, or in the winter, was drafted a second time and served one? month under Capt. Thomas Ellenbe -Col. [?] marched to Marion's Camp on the Santee River- given option to return home & did so. In the winter of first? of the Spring of the following year was drafted again & served one month under Capt. Claudius Rogers, in the Militia Service - on & [?] the Santee River in Marion's Camps which were at that time below the High Hills of Santee. When the month passed, deponent returned home. In the Fall of the same year, deponent volunteered under Capt. [?] Howell under the Command of Col. Wade in a troop of Horses? - marched from Chesterfield to Haisley's? Ferry on Great Pee Dee River, thence to Bettis' Bridge on Drowning Creek in N. Carolina when there was an engagement with the Tories under Col. Fanning & Col Ellrod & Col McNeill - Americans were defeated - deponent lost his horse, saddle & bridle & a suit of clothes after this defeat he returned home having served at this time Six weeks. He stayed at home until he was [line unreadable]. Sometime in the month of November in the same year - went up to Anson County to rejoin Service? - camped again at the Haisley? Ferry & marched down toward Wilmington, NC. Had no engagement - deponent served four weeks & returned home. In the winter of the same year or the 1st of the succeeding year, deponent went over to Marlborough Dist., SC & volunteered under Capt. Pledges? of the militia & served four weeks - marched down towards Waccamaw River & thereabouts in pursuit of one Capt. Micajah Quincy who commanded a body of Tories - did not find him & returned home without having had any engagements. Deponent has no documentary evidence of his Services but knows of one James McMillan & Ripley Copeland (ed. note: possibly a brother) who served with him in Marion's Camps & can testify to his services. He further swears that for the periods above mentioned he was either in the field or in garrison & was not employed in any civil [?]. He hereby relinguishes all claims to any Pension except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.

Sworn to & signed before me this 29th Sept., 1835.

John Craig, CCP

(s) Aaron Copland

South Carolina

Chesterfield District

James McMillan swears that Aaron Copeland was in the Service of the U. States one month in Marion's Camps & that deponent served with him under Capt. Thomas Ellerbe - but does not recollect the year.

Sworn to & signed before me in open court 29 Sept., 1835.

Hugh Craig

(s) James McMillan (his mark)

The State of South Carolina

Chesterfield District

On this fourteenth day of May A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three personally appeared before me J.C. Craig, Ordinary -- duly authorised to administer oaths within and for the district and State aforesaid Archibald Copeland aged Fifty years, a resident of Chesterfield District in the State of South Carolina, who being duly sworn according to law declares that he is the son and only living heir? of the identical Aaron Copeland (ed. note: at least one other son, Lott Copeland (c1785-c1870) was still living at this time in Echols County, GA. Whether or not Archibald knew this one can only speculate) who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Thomas Ellerbe in the South Carolina Regiment and the Battalion commanded by Major Truss? Thomas in the Revolutionary War, that his Father the said Aaron was honourably discharged at the termination of the war, but if in writing the said discharge was afterwards destroyed by fire when his dwelling and all his property with three or four valuable horses was so consumed, and this deponenet has no means of ascertaining the exact time when he enlisted or draughted, for what time he was so enlisted or draughted or how long he served, and this deponent further says that he has been informed and believes that his said Father intermarried with one Polly Melton deponent's mother and the daughter of one Isham Melton of the District and State aforesaid about the year 1784, that Aaron Copeland died about the year 1839 having survived his wife about six or seven years leaving ten children of whom deponenet is the sole survivor. All which facts as to the service of the said Aaron will appear [?] the [?] rolls of his company.

And deponent further says that the said Aaron nor any one for him has never received any pay whatever from the government for his services but died while make perparations to present his application therefore.

This Deponent makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the pay, bounty lands, extra pay, pensions and whatever else he may be entitled to in behalf of his said Father's services undert he acts of Congress passed from time to time for that purpose.

Sworn to before me the day and year above written and I hereby certify that I believe the said Archibald Copeland to be the son and sole of heir of the identical Aaron Copeland who served as aforesaid and that he is of the age above stated.

J.C. Craig, Ordinary C.D.

(s) Archibald Copland