Elisha & Phebe Witt

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Submitted by Charles King

If you know Charles' email address, contact Harlan or Jen

WITT, ELISHA & PHEBE                                                                   

W 3059 VIRGINIA

On November 20, 1832, before James McQuire, Samuel Tipton and Benjamin Straughan, Justice of the Peace, Elisha Witt, aged 73, made declaration that; in 1776 or 1777 he was drafted in the Militia of the United States from Amherst County Virginia and served a tour of 3 months. Richard Ballinger was his Captain, Colonel Hugh Ross was Commander. That they marched to the lower part of Virginia. That he was discharged at Jude's Ferry on James River; in 1778 he was again drafted and served a term of 3 months, from Amherst County Virginia. John Jacobs was his Captain. Colonel Frances Taylor was Commander. He was stationed part of the time in Albemarle County Virginia to guard the British prisoners. He was also discharged there in 1780.

He volunteered and served a tour of duty in the militia from Amherst County Virginia, of 3 months. John Diggs was his Captain and John Pope was Colonel. He was marched down to the lower part of Virginia. He was at Meek's Murk's (?} Island. Gwinn's Island and was discharged near Suffolk Town. That in June 1781, he was drafted in the Militia from Amherst County Virginia and continued in service till after the surrender of Cornwallis . The tour was for 3 months but after this tour was out he volunteered under William Harris, Capt and John Pope, Colonel. That they joined that army above Richmond, thence to Piglan Hill, then to Mobbin Hill, thence to York and continued till the seige. He recollects seeing LaFayette; General Stevens commanded the Division to which he belonged. After the surrender of Cornwallis, he was one of the guards to guard the British prisoners, to near Winchester Virginia where he was discharged. He claims 14 months of service and knows he served that long. He was a citizen of Amherst County, Virginia when he went into war service.

He was born in Albemarle County Virginia on September 18, 1759. He has in his possession, an old record of his age and of their father's family, which is in an old book. He removed from Albemarle County to Amherst County Virginia and from there to Kentucky, in 1795, and now resides in Estill County Kentucky where he has resided for 30 years or more.

Zachariah King made oath that he is 67 years of age, resident of Estill County Kentucky, and has been acquainted with Elisha Witt for many years. That he can testify to the truthfulness of his statements. The deponent futher states that he was born in Amherst County Virginia, and lived near neighbor to said Witt ever since.

Alvin Hall and John K. Powers, residents of Estill County Kentucky made certification; that they have been well acquainted with Elisha Witt for 20 years or more and to their belief in his statements.

Elisha Witt of Estill County Kentucky, who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Jacob in the regiment commanded by Colonel Taylor in the Virginia line for 14 months, from 1777 was inscribed on the roll of Kentucky, to commence on the 4th of March 1831. Certificate of the pension was issued 16th of January 1833.

On the 18th of July 1839, before Sampson Walters, Justice of the Peace, Phebe Witt, resident of Estill County Kentucky , aged 80 years appeared and made declaration on oath: that she is the widow of Elisha Witt. That she was married to said Witt in Albemarle County Virginia on the 17th of July 1781. That she has a record of her children's ages which record was made by her deceased husband, 21 Eslisha Witt in a hymn book many years previous to his death. The hymn book is now in possesion of one of her sons, Silas Witt, that her husband, aforesaid Elisha Witt, died on December 16, 1835.

Silas Witt, aged 35 years, made oath on July 18, 1839, in Irvin Kentucky that; he is the son of Elisha Witt, deceased and Phebe Witt, widow of said Elisha Witt. That Elisha Witt died December 16, 1835. That he is now in possession of a hymn book and on a leaf in the foremost part of the book contains the family record of the ages of the children of said Elisha and Phebe Witt. The record in handwriting of the deponenet's father, aforesaid Elisha Witt. It was written many years previous to his death and was in the said Elisha Witt's possession till about 1 year before his death at which time his father gave it the hymn book to this deponenet.

The deponent has kept the hymn book which contains the family register all of which has been in the deponent's possession ever since and the deponenet had this day sent a leaf which contains the register, out of the book and written his name across the same and makes it part of this deposition. The following record was taken from a leaf from an old bible, and it was kept on file, torn and yellow from age: Wm. Witt was born September 5th day in the year of our Lord 1783. Anna Witt, was born August 29th day in the year of our Lord 1784. Charles Witt was born (December ?) 21st., day in the year of our Lord 1786. Abner Witt was born June 20, in the year of our Lord, 1789. Elisha Witt was born December 1st., day in the year of our Lord 1792. Nathaniel Witt was born October 20th day in the year of our Lord, 1794. Samuel (?) Witt was born April 19th day 1797-1797. David Witt was born October 27th day 1779. John Witt was born January 27, 1801. Silas Witt was born 9th day of September 1803.

Witt, aged 55, deposition at the same time and place, that he is the oldest child of Elisha and Phebe Witt. That he heard the foregoing declaration of his brother, Silas Witt and believes said deposition to be correct in every detail.

Phebe Witt was inscribed on the pension roll of the Kentucky Agency, to commence on the 4th of March 1836. Certificate of the pension was issued 6th of March 1839.  

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