Contributed by Rosie Guthrie
The State of Alabama
Conecuh County
On this fifth day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-six, personally appeared in open court before
Jeptha V. Perryman, Judge of the County Court of Conecuh County,
Stephen Pipkin a resident of Conecuh County and State of Alabama, aged
seventy-nine years, one month and two days, having been born in Daubs
[Dobbs] County in the State of North Carolina, on the second day of August in
the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and fifty-seven, 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.
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following
named officers, and served as herein stated. That he volunteered his
services in the State of North Carolina in the service of Daubs County,
and that he entered the service in the month of September as he thinks
some time about the last of that quarter 1775 or 6 and that the company
of which this applicant was a member, volunteered for six months and
was commanded by George Miller a Captain and Benjamin Exum Lieutenant
which company was attached to the Regiment commanded by Col. Richard
Caswell. This applicant says that the company which he joined was
required to march immediately from Daubs County North Carolina to
the widow More's Creek Hanover County, the British being at that time
stationed at Wilmington and the tories were expected to attempt to join
them, to prevent this, and to cut off the tories from the British, the
company was called out so early and stationed at the widow More's Creek
as above stated; that on the morning after arriving at the Creek, the
Regiment consisting of about thirteen hundred men, was attacked by the
Tories, supposed to be of much larger force who were attempting to
force their way to Wilmington to join the British and the Tories, were
routed and dispersed ["and forced to retreat" is marked through.]
The Regiment then returned to Kingston, Head Quarters on Neuce River in
Daubs County, where it remained a short time, and then marched to
Newburn, from Newburn to Wilmington, to attack the British thinking
they were still there, but they had before that time left and the
Regiment remained at Wilmington, until the expiration of the time of
service, which was six months.
Shortly after this time, the applicant was drafted for five months and
hired Thomas Grantham as a substitute, who served out his tour without
being in any battle or engagement, being principally employed against
the Tories. At the time Charleston was in the possession of the British
this applicant was drafted a second time for nine months; the object of
which draft was to raise troops to march to Charleston, and hired
William Peters as a substitute, who served until the close of the war
or until the expiration of the nine months.
The foregoing statement contains all that this applicant can furnish in
his behalf. He received a discharge at the expiration of the six months
when he volunteered, by Col. Richard Caswell, but does not recollect
whether he received a written discharge, if he did he has lost it. This
applicant does not know of any surviving witness or person who served
with him in the army, if there is any one it is one Elisha Harrell who
resides if alive, in South Carolina Darlington District.
The said Stephen Pipkin, hereby relinquishes every claim whatever 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. Sworn to and
subscribed this 5th day of September 1836.
Stephen Pipkin
We, Blanton P. Box, a clergyman residing in the County of Conecuh and
State of Alabama, Whiting Oliver, residing in the same county and
state, hereby certify that we are well aquainted with Stephen Pipkin
that we believe him to be seventy-nine years of age; that he is reputed
as believed to have performed services in the Revolutionary War and in
that opinion we concur.
Sworn to and subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
Blanton P. Box
Whiting Oliver
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the
investigation of the matter & after the interrogatories presentd by the
War Dept; that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier,
and served as he states; and the Court further certifies that it
appears to them that Blanton P. Box who signed the preceding
certificate is a clergyman residing in the County of Conecuh and State
of Alabama, and that Whiting Oliver residing in the same County and
State are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to
credit.
Jephtha V. Perryman, Judge
The State of Alabama
Conecuh County
I, Arthur I. Faust, Clerk of the County Court
for Conecuh Co., do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the
original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application
of Stephen Pipkin for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and private seal having no seal of office this 5th day
September 1836.
[The claim was not allowed as proof of six month's service as required
by the pension law was not established]