Andrews, Thomas & Margaret

Pension number W2985 Virginia

     On October 10th 1832 the above named soldier appeared in court and stated that he is a resident of Fayette County, aged 74, the 4th of April, who being first 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. States that he was born in Dinwiddie County Virginia April 4th 1758 that next the record of his age is set down in a book in his possession. He lived in Lunenberg County Virginia when he entered the service, where he resided during the Revolution, when he removed to Franklin County Virginia, from whence he removed to Kentucky, in the spring of 1815 to Fayette County, where he has resided ever since. He entered the service as he believes in the year 1775 in the company of Captain Thomas Threlkeld in Lunenberg County Virginia, under whom he served about nine months. He remained in service during his first tour eighteen months, during that tour he marched to Sleepy Hollow where they remained a short time and then marched to Long Bridge where he was engaged in battle against the Scotch Tories under McDonald. Afterward they went to the Tanyard further north from where he returned home to Lunenberg - he remained at home but three days, when he entered the service again. He does not recollect who was his officer then, nor his services, with sufficient distinctiveness to give the particulars, but in that and the subsequent years, before 1781, he was occasionally serving in North and South Carolina and Georgia. He served under Captain Moore in Georgia and on his return from that state in company with other troops. He remembers of seeing a company of forty Tories taken prisoners by the troops, nineteen of whom were hung, that he was also under General Meade and Gen. Lawson and there were Col. Dowman and Major Royce, Captain Andrew Street, Capt. Hays, as well as General Washington and Marquis Lafayette, who were with the army during his services prior to 1781. In that year he was in service at the Battle of the Cowpens, where General Morgan commanded, and was in Captain Smith's company. After that he marched under Captain Knight and joined General Green's army before the Battle of Guilford in which battle he was engaged being in the Virginia militia, where he was in great danger, having been in hot action, until his gun was so hot that he could scarcely hold it. He continued in the service until the siege of Yorktown, and the capture of Lord Cornwallis. After which he returned home - he states that he was in the service nearly the whole war, as he preferred being in the army, to any other pursuit, besides that battle at Long Bridge - the Cowpens, Guilford and Yorktown. He was engaged in several skirmishes in all of which he escaped unhurt.  Although exposed to great danger, and under going great hardships from several causes, his health continued perfectly good. He says that he served more than twice two years during the war.

     He refers to Dr. Innis, Col. Innis, General Russell, Thomas A. Russell, Capt. Hurst, James Hurst, and Capt. Moore as well as many others near him for testimony as to his character, and reputation as a soldier of the revolution. Thomas Allen, a clergyman residing in the same neighborhood and James Hurst were well acquainted with Thomas Andrews and that they believe him to be age 74. Margaret Andrews of Fayette Co, Ky 12-12-1832 age 77 says that she is the widow of Thomas Andrews and states that he died 1-22-1833; that he was a citizen of Virginia and she married to him March 31-1791, in Mecklenberg Co, Va and makes this affidavit at the residence of her son, A Andrews, she being unable to attend court, on account of her age and health.

     Abraham Andrews appeared in open court, Fayette Co, Ky, says that he is the son of Mrs. Margaret Andrews, who is an applicant for a pension as widow of Thomas Andrews; that he was born as he understands June 2-1793 and that he was the second child of his parents. He has in his possession an old book, part of a New Testament in which is a record of his age and ages of his brothers and sisters as well as his own children. He does not know how long it is since he copied the entries in relative to the ages of his brothers and sisters but he believes that it is at least twenty years ago and he has no doubt that he put their ages down from the direction of his parents, or from their book for they had one. He has no doubt of his parents having often seen these entries and sanctioned them as correct. He here showed to the court the leaves in aid book which contains said entries and gives them up to be attached to their deposition, being three leaves brought for this purpose. Subscribed by said witnesses;

     Signed A. Andrews

The names on the leaves were as follows:

Nancy Andrews born 2-18-1792

Abraham Andrews 6-2-1793

Nelly Andrews born July 9th 1796

Polly Andrews born 9-8-1798

Rebecca Andrews born 3-29-1802

This is the ages of the sons and daughters of Thomas and Margaret Andrews.

Abraham Andrews was married May 28-1818, Daniel? _______ was born 7-9-1815

Pralley? Andrews born 5-17-1797

George W. Andrews born 3-15-1819

Selliza? J Andrews born 10-5-1820

William H Andrews born 5-10-1822

Hannah E Andrews born 1-22-1824

Margaret B Andrews born 2-8- 1826

Thomas D Andrews born 6-27-1827

     There was nothing that the clerk could find in Mecklenberg Co, Va regarding their marriage. She was age 87 and still a resident of Fayette Co, Ky in 1848, Oct. 14.

Source: Records of Revolutionary War Pensions of Soldiers who Settled in Fayette County Kentucky

Annie Walker Burns, compiler, Washington DC, 1936

Copy held by the Kentucky Room, Lexington Public Library

Call number: R976.947 B4128r KY1936