Revolutionary
War Pension Application:
George Connolly VA 27888
Northumberland
County, VA was a private under the command of Col. Davis in VA for 2
years. $80 per year beginning on
3/4/1831.
State
of Virginia, Northumberland County.
On this 11th day of
August 1834, personally appeared in open court George Connolly, a soldier of
the Revolution, aged 72 years, who being first duly sworn according to Law,
doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit
of the pension made by the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted for 3 years in April, 1779
in the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, under one Capt. Lovely and received
the bounty of the said Capt. Lovely.
That he stayed there with the other soldiers who had enlisted about 2
weeks, was then marched to Richmond Virginia and there joined the 4th
Regiment commanded by Col. William Davis, where he stayed a few days and was
then marched to the coal mines in Henrico County where he stayed four
months. The British then came into
Richmond where he with the troops was marched to give them battle. When they got to Richmond, the British had
gone down the River to their shipping.
Our troops pursued them by land down the river, but did not overtake
them; they were marched back to Richmond and stayed a few days, after which
they were marched to Chesterfield Court House where they wintered and stayed in
all six months.
From there the troops were marched
to Petersburg and where they stayed four months, and in April 1781, according
to expectation the Enemy appeared across the creek opposite of them and
commenced firing upon our Army which had found access then along the street
upon the opposite side of the creek after firing 23 rounds himself fell wounded
both in his arm and his leg, the scars are now upon him. Our Army were compelled to retreat leaving
him and John Johnson and about 18 others prisoners. They were taken by the British and carried on board their
shipping, where the ball that lodged in his leg was extracted by one of their
surgeons. They were then sent on to New
York and put in the Hospital there, and upon his getting well was confined in
close prison with about 300 other American prisoners, where we stayed until
Clinton evacuated the town, and as he supposed, went to England, which movement
was subsequent to Cornwallis’ defeat at Yorktown in Oct 1781 and at which place
(New York) he was in the Hospital and prison together seven months.
When the prisoners were set at
liberty I went home having been in the service or in confinement of the enemy
from the time of my enlistment to discharge as a (Pvt.?). He doth hereby relinquish every claim
whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and any agency in any state
except the present.
(Signed) George Connolly
Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department and
propounded by the Court as follows viz:
1st Where and in what year were you born?
Answer by the
declarant. I was born in Lancaster
County the 20th May 1761.
2nd Have you any record of your age; if
so, where it is.
Answer. The record of my age was made by my father and is now in my possession.
3rd
Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived
since the Revolutionary War; and where do you now live?
Answer. I lived when called into service in Richmond County of this state and returned to the same county after the war, where I lived 18 years; then removed to Harrison County and stayed 16 years; then to Lewis County and stayed 2 years, and then to Kenawha County all in this state where I now reside and have done so for 9 years having left there for the special purpose of coming down in the lower counties where I first lived to get testimony by which the present claim can be established.
4th How were you called into service; were
you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if so, for whom?
Answer. I enlisted as stated in my declaration for 3 years.
5th.
State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the
troops, where you served such continental and militia Regiments as you can
recollect; such circumstances of your services.
Answer. Besides my captain & colonel stated in this declaration, I remember to have known in the Army Captain Thomas Edmonds, Capt. Samuel Jones and others. I will add that I was in ____ with 5 soldiers viz: Jno. Burnett, Michael Brady, Joseph Crummy, Chas. Charity, and John Doughty.
6th.
Did you receive a discharge?
Answer. I became a prisoner as here stated, of course got no discharge.
7th.
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present
neighbourhood who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief
of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution?
Answer. I have been well known in Richmond County as
a Militia Captain, where I served in that capacity for 8 or 10 years, and am
doubtless well known by the old citizens of Richmond County adjoining this, for
truth and veracity. I deem it unnecessary to refer to my present acquaintances in Kenawha County, as
I presume they would not be known by this court.
(Signed) George Connolly
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year above
written.
And the court do hereby declare their opinion after
the investigation of the matter, and putting the interrogatories prescribed by
the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier
and served as he states.
Northumberland County Court 11 August 1834
This day George Connolly came into court and made
oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration and interrogatories proving his
services as a soldier in the revolutionary.
In testimony whereas I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal
of said county the 12th day of August 1834
M.B. Cralle(?)
State of Virginia
Lewis County Court on this 31st day of
March 1838 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the said
County of Lewis personally appeared George Connolly who on his oath declares
that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by
Captain Lovely in the Regiment commanded by Col. Davis in the service of the
United States that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of
Virginia that he resided in Kenhawa County in the said state of Virginia at the
time he was placed on the pension list.
From whence he has lately removed to Lewis County in said state of
Virginia where he intends to remain and wishes his pension to be there payable
in future.
The
reasons of signed for changing his residence from Kenhawa County to Lewis
County are as follows: That the said
George Connolly is now old and infirm and has lately lost his wife, and was
compelled to break up housekeeping, in consequence of which he removed to Lewis
County to live with his daughter.
(Signed) George
Connolly
Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year
aforesaid
(Signed) Warden (?) Huffman J.Peace
The word “removed” inserted (?) before signing
Warden Huffman J.Peace
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Richmond and State of Virginia Ann Geatman (Yeatman?) age 76 and made oath that she knew and was well acquainted with George Connolly formerly a resident of Richmond County, but now of Kenawha, that she knew when he went into the Revolutionary Service in 1779 and was absent upwards of three years; that they lived not more than 2 ½ miles apart at the time of the said Conolly’s going into service. That she has often heard the old soldiers speak of the said Connolly, and of his being with them in the service.
And I the said Justice of the Peace do hereby certify that the said Ann Geatman is a credible person, and that her testimony is entitled to full credit. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 5th day of August 1834. Jno.W. Belfield (?)
State of Virginia Richmond County to wit.
George Saunders, clerk of the County aforesaid do hereby certify that John W Belfield Esquire whose hand and seal is affixed to the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of signing the same a magistrate of the county of Richmond and that due faith and credit ought to be paid to all his acts and deeds as such.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of my office to be hereunto affixed the 13th day of August 1834 and in the 59th year of the commonwealth.
Geo. Saunders
State of Virginia Richmond County
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county of Richmond and state of Virginia, Elizabeth Jones, aged 71 years and made oath that she was well acquainted with George Connolly formerly a resident of Richmond County and now of Kenawha, that she knows when he enlisted in the Revolutionary Services in 1779. And that he was gone upwards of three years. That she lived in the same house with him up to the time of his going into services; and that he returned, and lived in the same family until he got married.
And I the said Justice of the Peace do hereby certify that the said Elizabeth Jones is a credible person, and that her testimony is entitled to the fullest confidence. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 5th day of August 1834.
Jno W Belfield
George Saunders, clerk of the County aforesaid do hereby certify that John W Belfield Esquire whose hand and seal is affixed to the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of signing the same a magistrate of the county of Richmond and that due faith and credit ought to be paid to all his acts and deeds as such.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of my office to be hereunto affixed the 13th day of August 1834 and in the 59th year of the commonwealth.
Geo. Saunders
State of Virginia Lewis County Court
Elijah Flesher personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, that the _____ named George Connolly is the identical person alluded to in the _______ affidavit.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 31st day of March 1838
(Signed) Elijah Flesher
Weeden Huffman J Peace Lewis County Court Virginia
(Further statements as to veracity of persons signing)
.