By the law of the 18th of March 1818, indigent officers of the Revolutionary War were entitled to $20 per month and privates who were indigent were entitled to $8 per month. They had to have served not less than nine months in the Continental Line during the war. One of those indigent soldiers was William Gholson of Caldwell County, Kentucky. His deposition and affidavit, along with those of others, are recorded in Caldwell County Court Order Books B and C.
“William Gholson an Indigent Revolutionary soldier of the old Continental Army personally appeared in court in order to be heard respecting his being entitled to the benefit of the law of the 18th of March 1818 Entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and Naval service of the United States during the Revolutionary War, and being duly proven Testifies that in January 1777 he Enlisted in Capt. John Spottswoods Company tenth Virginia Regt. Of Continental Troops for three years and that he continued with the Army until Charleston fell into the hands of the British and that he made his escape from the enemy the 14th day of June 1780 when he returned home having served the time of his enlistment. He further swears that from his reduced circumstances he needs the assistance of his country for support.”[1]
“On motion of William Gholson who produced his affidavit … ‘State of Kentucky Caldwell County on this 24th day of July 1820, personally appeared in open Court being a court of record for William Gholson aged 62 years resident in said county … doth declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows – that he enlisted in the month of January 1777 in the tenth Virginia Regiment Commanded by Colonel Edward Stevens for the term of three years in Captain John Spottswoods Company for the Virginia line on the Continental establishment, all of which is contained in his original declaration which a bears date of May 25th 1818 on which he has received a pension, certificate number 14.592.
“And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on 18th of March 1818 and I have not since by gift sale or disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled “An Act to provide for certain person[s] engaged in the land an naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war” passed on the 18th March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. And I further declare I have no property except $30 which is due me from T.C. Gholson, my occupation at present is that of teaching a small Country School, and not able to labor for a living … I have one son named Richard D. Gholson aged about 16 years who is unable to render me any great service in procuring subsistence. [signed] Wm. Gholson 24th day July 1820.” [2]
[1] Deposition
of William Gholson, Revolutionary War service, Caldwell County, Kentucky County
Court Order Book B, p. 235, 25 May 1818.
[2] Affidavit
of William Gholson, Revolutionary War service, Caldwell County, Kentucky County
Court Order Book C, pp 202-203, 24 July
1820.
Published 19 Aug 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
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