Christian, Andrew and Mary

Pension Number W 8603 Virginia

Declaration to obtain benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7-1832 on the 14th day of January 1833, personally appeared in open court, in Fayette County, the above named revolutionary soldier, age 71, that he entered the service under Captain Thomas Dopell, Lieut, John Naylor, who he thinks acted as adjutant, in June 1777, when he entered the service, he lived in Hanover Co, Va, marched to Williamsburg, through New York, James City - Charles City, remained with the army at Williamsburg, one month, then discharged, when he had served a little over one month, Williamsburg at that time was the seat of government of Va, and Patrick Henry was at that place and the governor. He entered as a substitute for Samuel Mays. He then was drafted late in the summer of 1777 and served under Captain Joseph Cross, he thinks William Dandridge was col. He marched to Williamsburg, the same way as before, he remained at Williamsburg until discharged, which was two months after he entered, he still lived in Hanover County. He thinks then went about July 1778, as a substitute for his brother William Christian, to Guilford Court House, North Carolina and then went to the New Garden, five miles from thence, when he joined his company commanded by Captain Parker Goodall, he marched to New Garden, shortly after Gates Defeat, he was marched to Guilford Court House where he remained a few weeks and was then marched to the neighborhood of the residence of Philpot about ten miles from Guilford and then back to the court house where he was discharged having been six months in the service, Col Moore commanded his regiment. He again was drafted, when in the year 1779, he thinks and passed through Williamsburg and Yorktown, to Richneck, between York and James River served under Captain James Dussell, William Howes, Lieut - he remained at Rich Neck until discharged, which was about the month after he entered the service. He was again drafted he thinks in the fall if 1779 and marched to Cabin Point on the south side of James River in Surrey Co, he thinks, where he was discharged after serving two months - John Anderson was Captain. He was again drafted and served under Captain Frank Underwood. He joined the army at Richmond where its headquarters were. LaFayette commanded, he was attached to the light infantry and was marched to Moben Hills, Major Boyce commanded the chore of infantry and Morecock was captain of the company of infantry to which he belonged. John Bullock was Lieut and ______ Ruffin when we lay at Mobin Hills, Cornwallis landed at Westifer then five or six miles of us. By the orders of LaFayette, we retreated to Culpepper City under the Blue Mountains when we were joined by the army commanded by General Wayne. The British had pursued us but after we were joined by General Wayne, they retreated. We followed them as far as Duncastle. We then started at day break and went to the Green Springs at Jamestown, Old Fields, where we engaged British, we under the command of General Wayne, 200 of whom affiant was one brought on the action. After fighting about two-thirds of the day, we drove in the picket guards of the British. General Wayne came up to our relief and we continued in line until he formed the orders of battle, when he joined his left wing. Wayne's army consisted of about 2,000 men, after firing 45 sounds Wayne retired. Affiant was shot through the shirt and in ramming down a cartridge, which was too large he run the iron ram rod into the fleshy part of his thumb, and had to get his lieut to cock his gun for him. After the action was over, he then secured his discharge from General Campbell about seven miles from Williamsburg, having served two months. He lived in Hanover County which time that he enlisted in the service.

     Affiant was born in Hanover County Virginia 17th March 1761. He has the record of his age in his Bible, which he took from his father's Bible. He moved from said county when he was about 25 to Amelia Co, from thence for 5 or 6 years to Prince Edward County after living there twenty years, moved to Fayette County Kentucky where he has lived ever since. He is known and acquainted with George Boone, John Hudson, Dudley Hudson, Turner ? Christian, Charles Car, and Major William Boone.

     He received a discharge from Captain Parker Goodall, at Guilford Court House, which he has lost. Mrs. Judith Christian the widow of his brother knows of his services but she is about 87 years of age and lives about 7 miles from this place whose testimony this affiant hopes will be dispensed that in consequence of her great age, he knows no one else in Fayette County by whom he can prove his services.

George G Boone clergyman made affidavit in his behalf.

     His widow, Mary Christian, then residing in Bracken Co, Ky, on the 13th day of June 1843 age 70, states that she was married to Andrew Christian in Amelia County Virginia 1788; that he died Dec 13-1837 in Fayette Co, KY. That they were not married prior to his leaving the service, but previous to the first of January 1794, and states that she has raised twelve children, her family record has gotten misplaced, that her children resides in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri and that some of them may have it.

     A certified copy of marriage record is filed with the papers as follows: Andrew Christian to Polly Hatton, 11-23-1790 Amelia Co, Va, the bond was signed by Thomas Hatton, who is likely her father or a near relative.

     In a letter from Lewis C. Suggett, addressed from Long Lick, Scott Co, Ky, June 20-1843. Dear Sir: The enclosed are the declaration papers in the cases of Mrs. Mary Christian, widow of Andrew Christian and Margaret Cleaveland widow of William Cleveland. 

     William Hatton an affidavit of the brother of Mary Christian, made in Estill Co, Ky, July 21-1843 as follows: age 64 years in Dec next, certify that I am the brother of Mary Christian, late a resident of Fayette Co, Ky, but now of Bracken Co, Ky, state that I was not at the marriage of Andrew Christian and my sister Mary but I recollect of their leaving my father's to go to the parsons to get married in company with my father and Uncle Townsend Wilkerson and of their returning to my father's with the above named uncle and of their marriage as my father informed me and I know that they lived together as husband and wife from that time until his death and I know that my father said they were married and he recognized him as his son in law in the distribution of his property among his children. Andrew Christian and Mary Christian was married in the county of Amelia Co, Va, I do not recollect positively the year they were married but I know they were married before 1794, they have a child over 52 years of age, Andrew Christian who was a soldier of the revolution, and drew a pension and was the husband of Mary Christian died in the county Fayette during 1837. Signed William Hatton. 

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