James Forest Hudgins b. 1761
My 5th Great-Grandfather
By David Arthur
Descendants
Mary Dolly
Hudgins
Richard Edmonds
Elizabeth Edmonds
Sarah Sallie
Skinner
James Washington Overby
Bertha Margaret Overby
E. David Arthur
James
Forest Hudgins enlisted in the Continental Army of the American Revolution at
the age of 15 and served a 3 year enlistment.
After
which he served 3 enlistments of 3 months each in the Virginia Militia.
His
service is described below.
http://www.edavidarthur.net/AmerRev/s8740.pdf
State of North Carolina Warren County:
On this 20th day of November A.D. 1845
personally appeared before me Thomas J Judkins one of
the Justices of the Peace and a member of the court of Pleas & Quarter
Sessions in and for said County of Warren and in the State aforesaid James F
Hudgins a citizen of said County aged eighty-four years who being first duly
sworn according to law makes the following declaration in order to obtain the
benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832 entitled "an
act for the relief of certain surviving officers & soldiers of the
revolution["] to wit
"That he is a
native of the County of Lunenburg State of Virginia of the age of eighty-four
years or thereabouts to the best of his recollection that when a little more
than fifteen years of age & in the year (he believes) 1776 he enlisted for
three years as a private in the Virginia Line of the Continental Army of the
United States in said County of Lunenburg under Captain James Johnson who was a
recruiting officer of the United States & one Epaphroditus
Redder or Rudder as his Lieutenant that together with a company of sixty some
odd men he marched under said Johnson & Redder or Rudder to the town of
Baltimore which was in place of rendezvous when & where he was delivered up
to Colonel Wallace and mustered into his Regiment (the 4th Virginia Regiment he believes)
with one Ellis as his Captain (the number of whose company in said Regiment he
does not recollect) and from thence marched under said Wallace to City of New
York that upon his arrival at that place he was considered too young to
perform military duty and was employed in waiting upon the Doctor or Surgeon in
the camp whose name he believes was Thompson or very much like it that after
the lapse of some months and about the time he was sixteen years old he was put
under the command of the said Colonel Wallace as his recollection at present
serves him who commanded the 4th Virginia Regiment according to
his present recollection under the said Captain Ellis whose company belonged to
the said 4th Virginia Regiment that he was
at the battle of Brandywine [September 11, 1777] and under the command of
either Colonel Wallace of the 4th or Colonel Tucker of the 2nd Virginia Regiment but from the
great length of time since
he cannot undertake to say with certainty which of the 2 commanded him, and
during which battle he was wounded with the bayonet of a British soldier in the
left hand though not severely the scar of which may now be seen without
difficulty that he was also in the battle of Germantown [October 4, 1777] and
commanded by Colonel Tucker of 2nd Virginia Regiment but does not at present remember the
number of company in which he was that they were the only regular engagements
in which he was but was in several skirmishes that during his said term of
service he was marched through the middle and northern states ranging from
Baltimore almost to the Canada line sometimes under General Washington whose
sword he remembers and sometimes under other officers whose names he cannot now
recall to his mind that after the expiration of his said 3 years service of enlistment he was discharged at Baltimore
the certificate of which discharge was given him and others by the aforesaid
Colonel Tucker under whom he had been serving but considering the paper of no
value he took no care of it and of course it was destroyed or otherwise lost
sight of the opinion prevailing among the soldiers commonly that their
discharges were of no value and that they would never receive anything else
than what they had already received i.e. there monthly pay that after the
expiration of his enlistment he was drafted as a private in the Virginia
militia performing 3 different tours and when at the siege of Yorktown 1781 and
after the surrender of the British General Cornwallis he received from Colonel
Edward Garland of Prince Edward [County] a piece of parchment containing as he
was informed and believes the amount of land which Virginia agreed to pay to
her citizens who enlisted for 3 years or during the war that it was customary
for field officers and colonels to issue these evidences to those soldiers whom
they knew to have performed such service that some years after said battle of
Yorktown he sold the aforesaid land evidence to William Doswell
of Amelia County Virginia but who if now alive would be in the County of
Nottoway that part of said Amelia County lying on Nottoway River having been
cut off year 1788 & formed into a new County by the name of Nottoway the
said Doswell agreeing to pay him the sum of $20 for
the aforesaid land claim, which he thinks was to be located in Kentucky &
on Green River that when he applied through his neighbor & friend the
Honorable W. N. Edwards for a pension for his services he only applied for the
amount which he supposed was knew him from the Government for his militia
services. He made no declaration of his services as a Continental soldier
because he did not think or consider that he had any claim against the United
States Government therefore: having been paid his monthly pay whilst in the
service as aforesaid i.e. the Continental service: and moreover he had never conversed
with any person to whom he made known the facts of his services in the Virginia
line of Continental Army that he removed from said County of Lunenburg 6 or 7
years after the war to the adjoining County of Mecklenburg Virginia in which he
lived upwards of 36 years and since that time he has consistently resided in
the said County of Warren North Carolina that he will be able to establish
his Continental services by sterling Cooper of Franklin County Virginia if
alive but he confidently relies upon the recorded evidence of his services on
the muster roll of the Continental line either in the City of Washington or
Richmond Virginia to establish his claim that he solemnly appeals to the
authorities of the government for the amount due him as one of her citizens and
who services almost threescore years & ten gone by contributed though
humbly to establish the liberties of the Country whose Government he now asked
for the small additional amount which would help him (now old & infirm) to
support himself and family and with a firm reliance on the justice and truth of
his claim he now submits his case.
State of North Carolina, Warren County: Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions May Term 1835
On this 26th day of May 1835 personally appeared
in open Court before the Justices of said Court now sitting it being a Court
of Record, James F. Hudgins of the County of Warren aforesaid, 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 7th June 1832. To wit,
That sometime in the
spring of the year 1780, being then a Resident of the County of Lunenburg,
State of Virginia, he became a Substitute for three months in the Militia in the
place of one Carrington Garret under the command of one Captain Walker. The
Company met at the Magazine near Taylor's ferry in Mecklenburg County,
Virginia, was marched thence to Hillsborough North Carolina where they met
& joined the other Virginia militia under Major Nelson [probably Thomas
Nelson] remaining at this place a few days they marched to Guilford Court
House then to New Garden five or six miles the other side of Court House
there they remained several weeks and were marched thence to Salisbury then
to Massey's ferry on the Pee Dee River [Pedee River]
where they were stationed for some time making frequent incursions in pursuit
of the Tories killing some & taking others prisoners. While in this
service Gates' defeat at Camden took place [Battle of Camden, August 15-16,
1780] for on the return of this affiant to the ferry from an excursion he
found there some of the sick and wounded who had been engaged in that battle.
Shortly after this battle, the Company to which this affiant was attached, was
marched back to New Garden where he received a regular discharge from Captain
Walker which he is unable now to produce having lost or mislaid it. Not
many weeks after his returned Home he was drafted as a militia man and
attached to the Company commanded by Captain William Hays. It met at Alley
Moore's Tavern in Lunenburg and was marched thence to Cabin Point on the
James River where they joined the Regiment of Militia under Colonel Edward
Garland marched thence to Mackey's Mill, near Suffolk then to Chuckatue [?]1 -- then
to the Long Bridge on the Dismal Swamp. In this march between the two latter
places they passed near the British Fort in Princess Anne [County] and received
several fires from the Fort. At the Long Bridge they met a good many troops
under Colonel Parker. General Morgan [Daniel Morgan] and his force also came in
here and stayed a short time. From this place they were marched to the Fort at
Black Water where they stayed, he thinks, about a week and returned to the Long Bridge where he was
stationed till his tour of three months expired and received his discharge
which is also lost or mislaid. Not very long after his return Home from this
service he was again called out for three months in the Militia as a private
and attached to the Company under the command of Captain William Fisher &
Lieutenant William Ragsdale which met also at Alley Moore's Tavern. They
marched thence to Petersburg and there joined to several companies of Militia
and some Regulars. Recollects seeing here a Captain Nelson & Lieutenant
Rudder [?] engaged in enlisting soldiers for the Regular Army. They were
overtaken between [?] Petersburg by a Regiment of Militia under the command of
Colonel Tucker and were marched to Cobhams opposite
James Town and there crossed James River and marched through Williamsburg to
Gloucester Court House and having crossed York River five or six miles above
little York Town marched down to little York and became a part of the force
stationed on the North side of the Town under the command of General Lafayette.
He saw him often & also Colonel Garland of the Virginia militia. General
Washington was at this time stationed in the Fork of the Rivers York and James
cannonading was kept up for many days and nights and ceased on the 18th of October 1781.
The next day the British surrendered and the Prisoners, he thinks, were sent
under guard to Albemarle Barracks. This affiant was discharged in about a
Fortnight after the surrender, about two weeks of this last service unexpired.
This discharge is also lost or mislaid. This affiant avers that besides the
service as above set forth, he served other tours of duty in the Militia in
the capacity as a Substitute. (He is certain one tour of three months) but he
cannot speak of others with sufficient particularity to introduce them in this
declaration being very young and this periods long since passed by almost all
the particulars have escaped his memory. This affiant was born in Lunenburg
County Virginia 5th
of
July 1762 [?, could be 4]2. He resided there
during the War & shortly after its close, he moved to Mecklenburg and
whence he removed about seven years ago to Warren in N. C. in which he now
resides. He has no Register of his age. And the only evidence in his power now
to produce is the accompanying deposition of Carrington Garret to obtain which
he was put to great expense and trouble in going to Lunenburg Virginia. This
affiant relinquishes every claim to a Pension or annuity except the present
& declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any
State. At the Sworn to & subscribed in open court. S/ James F. Hudgins
State of North Carolina Warren County: Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions August Term 1836
On this 23rd day of August 1836 personally
appeared in open Court before the justices of the said court now sitting it
being a Court of record James F Hudgins of the County of Warren aforesaid 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 7th June 1832 to wit, That sometime
in the spring of the year 1780 being then a Resident of the County of Lunenburg
State of Virginia, he became a substitute for three months in the militia in
the place of one Carrington Garret under the command of one Captain Walker. The
company first met at the [one or more indecipherable words]3 near Taylor's Ferry, in
Mecklenburg County, Virginia, was marched near to Hillsboro North Carolina;
whence they met & joined the other Virginia militia under Major Nelson:
Remaining at this place a few days, they marched to Guilford Court House, then
to New Garden 5 or 6 miles the other side of the Court House. Here we remained
several weeks and were marched thence to Salisbury, then to Massey's Ferry on
the Pedee River; where they were stationed for some
time making frequent excursions in pursuit of the Tories; killing some &
taking others prisoners. While in this service Gates defeat at Camden took
place: for on the return of this affiant to the Ferry from an excursion he
found there some of the sick and wounded who had been engaged in that Battle.
Shortly after this battle, the company to which this affiant was attached, was
marched back to New Garden, where he received a regular discharge from Captain
Walker, which he is unable now to produce, having lost or mislaid it.
Not many weeks after his
return home, he was drafted as a militia man, and attached to the Company
commanded by Captain William Hayes, it met at Alley Moon's Tavern in Lunenburg,
and was marched thence to Cabin Point on the James River, where they joined the
Regiment of militia under Major Edward Garland, marched thence to Mackey's Mill
near Suffolk Virginia then to Chuckatue, then to the
long Bridge on the dismal swamp. In the march between the two latter places
they passed near the British Fort in Princess Anne, and received several fires
from the Fort. At the long Bridge they met a good many troops under Colonel
Parker, General Morgan and his force also came here and stayed a short time.
From this place they were marched to the Fort at Black Water, where they stayed
he thinks about a week, and returned to the long bridge; where he was stationed
until his tour of 3 months expired, and he received his discharge, which is
also lost or mislaid. Not very long after his return home from this service, he
was again called out for 3 months in the Militia as a private and attached to
the Company under the Command of Captain William Fisher & Lieutenant William
Ragsdale, which met also at Alley Moon's Tavern. They marched thence to
Petersburg and there joined several companies of Militia and some Regulars,
Recollects seeing here a Captain Nelson & Lieutenant Rudder engaged in
enlisting soldiers for the Regular Army. They were overtaken below Petersburg
by a Regiment of Militia under the command of Colonel Tucker, and were marched
to Cobham opposite James Town, and there crossed James River and
marched through Williamsburg to Gloucester Court House; and having crossed York
River 5 or 6 miles above little York Town, marched down to little York and
became a part of the force stationed on the North side of the Town, under the
command of
General
Lafayette. He saw him often and also a Colonel Garland of the Virginia militia.
General Washington was at that time stationed in the fork of the rivers York
and James, Cannonading was kept up for many days and nights, and ceased on the
18th October 1781. The
next day the British surrendered, and the prisoners, he thinks, were sent under
guard to Albemarle Barracks. This affiant was discharged in about a fortnight
after the surrender: about two weeks of this last service unexpired. This
discharge is also lost or mislaid. This affiant avers that besides the services
above set forth, he served other tours of duty in the Militia, in the capacity
of a substitute (He is certain, one tour of three months) but he cannot speak
of them with sufficient particular area the to introduce them in this
declaration, being very young, and the period long since passed by, almost all
the particulars have escaped his memory. This affiant was born in Lunenburg
County Virginia 5th
of
July 1762. He resided there during the war, & shortly after its close, he
moved to Mecklenburg Virginia where he moved about 7 years ago to Warren North
Carolina in which he now resides. He has no Register of his age, and the only
evidence in his power now to produce is the accompanying deposition of
Carrington Garret, to obtain which he was put to great expense and trouble in
going to Lunenburg, Virginia. This affiant relinquishes every claim 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. S/ James Hudgins [Stephen Turner,
Senior and William F Hilliard gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
State of Virginia Mecklenburg County
This day Salley Overbey
personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid
and made Oath in due form of law that James Hudgins marched as a soldier from
the County of Lunenburg Virginia in date of 1778 or 1779 under Captain
Alexander Walker to the magazine at Taylor's Ferry in the County of
Mecklenburg, From thence to Hillsborough N. C. and down to Salisbury Mask Ferry
on the Pedee River and back to Guilford County N. C.
where he was discharged
Also the said Salley Overbey made oath that James Hudgins in the date of 1781
marched from the County of Lunenburg Virginia under Captain William Fisher for
York Town and was at the surrender of Lord Con Wallace [Cornwallis, October 19,
1781].
Given under my hand this 31st of August 1835
S/ Salley Overbey,
X her Mark
