The State of Alabama

Monroe County

On the first day of April 1848 personally appeared in open court before the Circuit Court for said Monroe County Alston Massey a resident of the County of Monroe and State of Alabama of about eighty-five years of age, who being first duly sworn according to the law doth on his oath make this following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.

That he entered the service under the following named officers and served as herein stated. William Hendrick was his Captain. Peter Dubose and James Oldfield were Majors. Lamb Burton was colonel under General Francis Marion. He cannot recollect the day or year he entered the Service--but states that it was about two months before his discharge of the army in South Carolina by General Marion. That he served one month and twenty seven days. That when he entered the service he resided in Chesterfield District South Carolina. That he was draughted. That he does not know of any person who knows that he served in the Revolution except what William Holly knows, who lives in Covington County, Alabama and whose affidavit is hereto annexed--and that has as documentary evidence …of service. Says that he entered the army when he was sixteen or seventeen years of age. He was draughted as he recollects--in 1781 or 1782-for two months--that he went from Chesterfield District to Watboo where they stayed until discharged. That was after he went into General Marion camp--the British evacuated Charleston. General Marion discharged him up country soldiers… and went to Charleston. That he got no written discharge because none was given to any of the troops.

He says he was born in Virginia about 25 miles above Halifax. That when he was child his Father moved to Chesterfield District, South Carolina. That since the Revolutionary War he resided in Chesterfield District, So. Ca. forty-five years--then he moved to Georgia where he resided until three years ago when he moved to Monroe County Alabama.

He says the reason of his not earlier applying for his pension is that he was told that none but six months soldiers were entitled to the provisions of the act of June 7, 1832. That within a year he has heard that other soldiers who were draughted for two months were receiving their pension in So. Ca. That he had a petition or declaration written by Justice of the peace in Georgia--but he was advised by Wilburn a lawyer of Georgia that none, but 6 months men were intitled to pensions.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension rolls of the agency of any state.

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court on this day and year aforesaid.

Alston S Massey (his mark)

Attest: Daniel McColl, clerk

We, John Daily--a clergyman residing in Monroe County Alabama & near Alston Massey and Samuel J. Cumming residing in said Monroe County Alabama & near Alston Massey, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Alston Massey who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be Eighty-five 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 & Subscribed this day and year aforesaid.

John S. Daily

Saml. J. Cummings

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This was written by the court:

The Court propounded interrogation to the said Alston Massey who upon oath answers as follows:

That he was born in Virginia--about twenty five miles above Halifax. That he is in his eighty sixth year. That he has no record his age-- he had one but gave it his son about 24 years ago in South Carolina. That he was living in Chesterfield District, State of South Carolina--when he was called into service--that at first he was draughted & for the forty-five years after afterwards he then removed to Georgia thence to Alabama. That he was draughted.

That he was with General Francis Marion. Lamb Burton was colonel, Colonel Horry was also with them. James Oldfield and Peter Dubose were the Majors. That he went into the Camp of General Marion at Watboo about thirty miles from Charleston.

That he never received any written discharge--that he was discharged by General Marion--verbal --declaration to his soldiers discharging them.

He names John Daily - Aldin Clark, Samuel James Cumings, and William W. McCall and John J. Roach Esq. as persons to whom his is known in his present… & can testify as to his character….belief as to his services as a soldier in the revolution.

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State of Alabama

Monroe County

On this the 6th day of October A.D. 1855, personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Emeline Massey, aged fifty-two years, a residence of Monroe County in the State of Alabama, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Alston S. Massey deceased, who was a private soldier in the company commanded by Captain William Hendricks, in one of the regiments under the command of General Marion; (she believes that Peter Dubuck and George Evans were lieutenants in said company, and James Oldsfield, and Lamb Burton were of officer commanding in said Regiment she believes they were Majors) in the revolutionary war, that her said husband was drafted in Chesterfield District State of South Carolina, on or about the month of October AD 1778, for the term of two months, and continued in actual service in said war for the term of nearly two months and was honorably discharged somewhere near Charleston in the State of South Carolina.

She further states that she was married to the said Alston S. Massey, on the fourteenth day of April AD 1820 by one Aaron Knight, and that her name before her said marriage was Emeline Allen that her said husband died near Monroeville in Monroe County, Alabama on the 17th day of July AD, 1853, and that she is now a widow.

She further states that at the time of her marriage with the said Alston S. Massey in the state of South Carolina, there was no public record of marriages kept in said State; and that there is no public record of said marriage; that there is no private family record of the said marriage in existence.

She further states that the said Alston S. Massey never received any written discharge, so far as she knows or believes. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3rd 1855, and she also states that neither she, nor her late husband Alston S. Massey, have ever received any bounty Land under said act, or any other act of Congress.

Signed: Emeline Massey (her mark)

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