John & Esther Renfro Revolutionary War Pension

Compiled by Annie Walker Burns Bell 1933

Virginia Pension No. W9250
State of Kentucky, Barren County Sct

On this 15th day of October, personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the County Court of Barren County, JOHN RENFRO resident in the county of Barren, state of Kentucky, aged 72 years next, 12th day of November, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on this oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the U.S. in the Virginina Militia under the following named officers and served as herein stated.

He lived in Henry County, Va., now called Franklin just below the Blue Ridge at the time he first entered the service. The first time he went into the service, he volunteered at the Long Islands of Holson to go against the Indians under Capt. PETER HARSTON, (alias HURSTON), Col. EVANS SHELBY, father to his excellency, ISAAC SHELBY, Col.. WM. CHRYSTY, Col. PRESTON. He entered the service about April 1777 and continued in service three months. On this tour he marched from Henry County, Va. into North Carolina crossing the blue Ridge, thence to Fort Henry. He does not rmember ever having a written discharge, but remembers being discharged the 15th or 16th of July.

In 1778 about the 1st of April he voluntered under Capt. JOSEPH RENFRO and Lieutenant DAVID HEDAMS, and the first orders were to go to Point Pleasant at the mouth of Kenhawha but when the company arrived at Botteourt Court House orders were received form Col. PRESTON to go to the mouth of Greenbrier River to DAVID GARRARD Fort, where he stayed about 3 or 4 months to protect the county against the Indians. He then received orders from Col. Preston to go to Potts Fork on the waters, he thinks of James River, where the Indians were committing depredations, where he stayed out the time of 6 months and was discharged on the 6th of Oct. He has no recollection of getting a written discharge. From this place he went home to Henry County.

Afterwards, (in the same year CORNWALLIS was taken) he thinks it was 1781, he voluntered unfer Capt. JAMES PERTEETE, Lieut. SAMUEL HARSTON or HURSTON, in a mounted Company of Horse Men, every many furnishing his own horse, equipage, gun, and etc. He assembled at and joined this company at Henry Court House and marched through Surry County, in North Carolina in a direction to where the Battel of the Cowpens was fought and was attached to a part of Col. MORGAN's men to take care of the sick and wounded and to carry them on to Henry Court House. He served this time under Col. JAMES LYON and Major STEPHEN LYON. From Henry Court House, after staying about 3 days he marched to join General GREEN at Guilford, near to which place he arrived after the Battle was fought. He was then discharged by Col. LYON and wne home. On this tour he although he volunteered for sixty days served only about half that time. He has no recollection of receiving a written discharge at this time.

Afterward he volunteered in October 1781 in a mounted company under Capt. DILLARD for one month, marched from Henry County, Va. to Surry County, N.C. after the Tories and outlyers on the Yadkin River. He served out the month, returned to Henry County about the same time his father returned from York, at CORNWALLIS's surrender, and was there discharged. He has no recollection of receiving a written discharge here either. If he ever received wirtten discharges he can not now tell where they are. This is all he served except about two weeks after the Tories. He has no documentary evidence of his services, nor does he now know of any person living whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services. He hereby relinquishes every claim whateve 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. In answer to the interrogations prescribed by the War Department, he saith that he as born in Bedford Co., Va., Nov. 12, 1760. He has a record of his age at his home. When called into the service he was living in Henry Co., Va., now Franklin, Va. He moved from Henry Co., to Union Co., S.C. He thinks about the 1787 or 1788. He moved from Union Co., Carolina March 14, 1802, to Barren Co., Ky. where he arrived on the last day of April 1802 and has lived there ever since. When he entered the service he volunteered. Being a militia man. He has no acquaintance with the regular officers of the Continental Regiment. He has no recollection of ever receiving written discharges, if he did, he now knows nothing of them. In answer to the 7th question he would name JOSPEH RALSTON, JOHN L. WOODSON, HARDIN DAVIS, OBADIAH BRITT, Gen. DAVIS, SAMUEl MURRLL, Sr., JAMES MATTHEWS, ANTHONY DRANE, Sr., ELIJAH MITCHELL, JAMES GILLOCK, JAMES FRAIZER, and THOMAS WINN. He could name besides many others.
Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
/s/ JOHN RENFRO (his X mark)

We, ZACHARIAH EMMERSON, a clergyman, residing in the County of Barren, Ky., and JOHN WOODSON, residing in the same county, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be 72 years of age; that is is reputed and believed in the neighborhood when he reside to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
/s/ ZACHS. EMERSON
/s/ JON. L. WOODSON

STATE OF KENTUCKY
COUNTY OF BARREN: SS
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned as Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, JOHN RENFRO, who being duly sworn, deposeth, and saith that he heretofore, to wit; on the 15th day of Oct. 1832, (the year being left blank in the Declaration) made out his pension declaration before the Justices of the County Court of said county and sent the same on for the consideration of the War Department for the purpose of obtaining a pension; that the same has been considered by said Department, and returned for amendment, in this that the affiant did not state with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he servdin language so definite as to enable the department to determin to what amoung of Pension he is entitled. That for the purpose of obviating said objection, affiant now appears before the proper authority to make this affidavit, that by reason of old age, and the condwquent of loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades, to wit; When he volunteered the first time at the Long Islands of Holson under Capt. PETER HARSTON (alias HURSTON) he served for the period of at least 3 months as a master drummer. In 1778 about the 1st of April when he volunteered under Capt. JOSEPH RENFRO and Lieutenant DAVID HEDANS, he served as a private at least 6 months, and not as stated in his pension Declaration, 3 or 4 months, only; He served on this tour to the best of his recollection from the 1st April 1778 to the 6th Oct. 1778, and conceives that it was erroneously stated in his pension declaration from mistake or otherwise, that it was only 3 or 4 months that when he volunteered under Capt. PERTEETE and Lt. SAMUEL HARSTON or HURSTON in a mounted company of Horsemen in Oct. 1781, he served to the best of his recollection, one month as a Private. he afterwards served two weeks in a little excursion after the Tories. He served in all at least eleven months, exclusive of the last mentioned two weeks and is willing to receive a pension for said eleven months as above set forth, only if the Department is of opinion he is entitled thereto. And for such service, I claim a pension. /s/ JOHN RENFRO (his X mark)
Sworn and subscribed this 19th day of March 1833. Before me. JAMES MURRELL, J.P.B.C.

War Department, Revolutionary claim
I certify that, in comformity with the law of the U.S. of teh 7th June 1832, JOHN RENFRO of thes tate of Ky. who was a drummer private of Cavalry and Infantry, in the army of the Revolution, is entitled to receive thrity nine dollars and thirty three cents per annum during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of Sept. in every year.

Given at the War Office of the U.S. this 13rh day of May, one thousand, eight hundred and thirty three. LEW CASS, Secretary of War. Examined and countersigned. J.L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Penions.
On reverse of the certificate: payment to be made at Lexington by the President U.S. Branch Bank, agent for paying pensioner, in the Agency of Kentucky. Recorded in the Pension Office in Book E, Vol. 7, Pg 25, by WM. S. ALLISON, Clerk.

Sir: Enclosed you have the affidavit of Mr. MURRELL upon which I desire that you will renew the certificate of Mr. RENFRO. Mr. MURRELL, states in his letter to me, that the original was sent ot him by a negro, sot hat Mr. RENFRO could not state upon oath that it was ever delived to MURRELL. Be pleased to send me the new certificate as soon as it issues and oblige.
Your obedient servant,
/s/ J.R. UNDERWOOD

Declaration. In order to obtain the benfit of the Act of Congress of the 7th July 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" and also the benfis of the Acts of Congress of the 3rd of March 1843, and 17th June 1844. State of Kentucky, Barren County, sct.

On this 16th day of Septmenber 1847, personally appeared before me (JAMES MURRELL, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county and state) ESTHER RENFRO, a resident of said county and state, aged eighty four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following Declarations in order to obtain the benfit of the Provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7, 1838, entitled "an Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widow" and also the benfit of the Axcts of Congress o the 3rd of March 1843, and 17th Juhe 1844. That she is the widwo of JOHN RENFRO who was a private and drummer in the Revolutionary War, she further declares that she was married to the said JOHN RENFRO in the State of Va. in the yar seventeen hundred and eighty one, 1781, that her husband, the aforesaid JOHN RENFRO died on the 22nd day of April 1846 in said county of Barren and state of Kentucky. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety-four to wit; in the year 1781, as shown above, that she knows of no living witness by whom she can prove her marriage and has not other evidence except the family record of her said husband (JOHN RENFRO). That she has not married since the death of her said husband and still remains the widow of JOHN RENFRO. That her said husband JOHN RENFRO was a pensioner of the U.S. and drew a pension of theirty-nine dollard and thirty-three cents "$39.33) per annum.
/s/ ESTHER (her X mark) RENFRO
Witnesses: JAMES MURRELL, and JOSEPH RENFRO

STATE OF KENTUKY
BARREN Co., SECT.
I, JAMES MURRELL, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county and state do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration of ESTHER RENFRO was taken subscribed and sworn to before me, and taht the family record hereto attached, and described in JOSEPH RENFRO's Affidavit (below) was out from the family Bible of JOHN RENFRO, deceased by me, and attached to this sheet. I do further certify that I have know the said ESTHER RENFRO for forty years and know that she is the widwo of the said JOHN RENFRO deceased whose pension certificate is hereto attached giving to him a pension of $39.33, which certificate has been in my possession ever since it was issued by the Secretary of War, (to wit) 1833. I further certify that JOSEPH RENFRO whose affidavit is below on thie sheet is a respectable citizen of Barren County. Given under my hand this 16th day of Sept. 1847.
/s/ JAMES MURRELL, J.P.B.C.

STATE OF KENTUCKY
BARREN COUNTY, SS
This day JOSEPH RENFRO, personally appeared before me and made oath in due form of law, that the family record hereto attached, of the marriage of JOHN RENFRO and ESTHER RENFRO in the year 1781 in the month of February and the death of JOHN RENFRO on the 22nd April 1846, together with the ages of said JOHN RENFRO's six children is the true and only family record of the said JOHN RENFRO, deceased. /s/JOSEPH RENFRO.
Subscribed and sworn to this Sept. 16th 1847, before me JAMES MURRELL, J.P.B.C.

STATE OF KENTUCKY
BARREN CO, SCT.
I, Thomas I. Heml, Clerk of the County Court of said Count certify that it appears from the records of my office, that JESSE RENFRO was marred to POLLY MITCHELL on the 24th day of Dec. 1806 by the Rev. CORNELIUS DEWEES who was legally authorized to celebrate the rites of Matrimony. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at Glasgow, this 15th day of May 1851.
/s/ THOS. I. HELM C.B.C.C.
by CHAS. HELM, D.C.

STATE OF KENTUCKY: On this the 14th day of May 1851 personally appeared before me ROBT. R.H. GILLOCK, and acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the county and state aforesaid, JOSEPH RENFRO, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the acts of Congress, passed June 17, 1844, 22nd of February 1848, to wit; that he is the child of JOHN RENFRO, ESTHER RENFRO, deceased, that his aforesaid father and mother were married in the year 1781, and that his aforesaid other died on the 8th day of May 1851, and left JESSE RENFRO, JOHN RENFRO, WILLIAM RENFRO, JOSHUA RENFRO, and JOSEPH RENFRO, her only living children, that his brother JESSE was born in 1783, and was married in the year of 1806 in Barren Co., Ky, that his brother JOHN was born was born Aug. 20, 1789, that he has a record of this brother's ages and his fathers and mothers marriage which he herewith surrenders, that he most respectfully asks the Hon. Commissioner of Pensions to allow his aforesaid mother's claim, under the above named acts, commencing on the 22nd day of April 1846, and ending on the 8th day fo May 1851, the day of her death at the rate of $39.33 per annum. And that the certificates evidencding the same may be enclosed to his attorney ISAAC M. TRABUE of Frankfort, Ky. and with him only and such others as he may direct -----? with the Hon. Commissioner to hold correspondenc in reference to the aforesaid claim or claims. Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year aforesaid. /s/ JOSEPH RENFRO

ROBT. R.H. GILLOCK J.P.
I, the first subscribed magistrate do certify that the above declarant is personally known to me and know to be a man of truth and respectablitly in whose statements the fullest faith and credit should be placed. Given under my hand on this the 14th dya of May 1851
/s/ ROBERT R.H. GILLOCK. J.P.

BARREN CO. COURT, SCT
MAY TERM 1851
On motion of JOSEPH RENFRO, it is ordered that letters of administration, with the will annexed of the estate of ESTHER RENFRO, decd. be granted him, whereupon he took the necessary oath and entered into bond in the penalty of $400 with BENJAMIN S. CURD, his security conditioned as the law directs. A copy attest.
/s/ TRAVIS COCKRILL, Clerk B.C.C.

Notation on a small piece of paper, ESTHER RENFRO, dec'd, widow of JOHN, Ky. Act, 17th June 44 and 2nd Feb. 48.
$39.33 per annum, from 22nd April 46 when her husband died to May 8, 1851, when she died, payable to JOSEPH RENFRO, administrator for the benefit of himself, JESSE RENFRO, JOHN RENFRO, WM. RENFRO, and JOSHUA RENFRO, only survigin children. Sent to G.D. AMOS present.

JAMES E. HEATH, Esq.
Enclosed you will please find application of the administrator of ESTHER RENFRO, widow of JOSEPH RENFRO (sic) for arrears of pension alleged to be due under the Acts of 17th June 1844, and 2nd Feb. 1848. Mrs. RENFRO's husband was a pensioner under the Acto of 7th June 1832, the certificate of the Clerk of Barren County shows that one of their children were married in 1806 which together with the Family Record now presented shows clearly that their marriage took place prior to 1794.
With much respect, your obedient servent, /s/GEORGE C. AMES

Covering Jacket: 690,Kentucky: Esther Renfro, dec'd., widow of John, who was a private in the Revolution. Inscribed on the roll at the rate of $39.33 per annum to commence April 1846. Certificate of pension issued Sept. 23, 1851. And sent to G.C. Ames, present. Act of June 17, 1844.

Covering Jacket: 5762 Kentucky: Esther Renfro, dec'd., widow of John Renfro, who served Va. in the Revolutionary War, as a Private. Inscribed on the roll at the rate of $39.33 per annum to begin March 4, 1848 and ending May 8, 1851. Certificate of Pension issued the 23rd of Sept. 1851. And sent to G.C. Ames, Present. Recorded on roll of pensioners under Act Feb. 2, 1848.