Originally published 19 Aug 2021.
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 affidavit, along with those of
others, is 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 Regt. Commanded by Colonel Edward Stevens for the term of three years in Captain John Spotswoods 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]
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