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John Darnaby
September 19-1832 A resident of Fayette Co, KY, age 72. States that he enlisted in 1776 in the spring, with Captain Ambrose Dudley, and served in the 2nd Regiment of the State of Virginia Line, under Captain Ambrose Dudley, Lieut Nat. Welsh, Ensign Bush and he thinks Muhlenbergh, was the Colonel. He left the service in the spring of 1777 after serving twelve or ? months. When he entered the services, he lived in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, marched to Williamsburg, through the counties of Caroline, Hanover, King William and King and Queen Counties, Virginia, was stationed at Williamsburg, about ten months, when he was taken ill of feever and placed in hospital, where he remained until his neighbor James True, came to Williamsburg to see his brother, who was a soldier and sick. Deponent was ensensible and was carried home by the authority of his officers, as True afterwards informed him. He was in such a situation as to know nothing of the journey home and remained sick until his furlough expired and James Smith, his friend went to Fielding Lewis, the Colonel of Spottsylvania County and got it extended. He entered the service without any bounty and was to continue two years if Dudley continued to command the company, but before his recovery, Dudley had resigned.
As soon as he got well in the fall of the year 1777, he thinks General Burgoyne's troops were taken to Albemarle and kept as prisoners in barracks, he entered the services as a wagoner, under Wm Crittenden the Wagon Master, drove a wagon from Spottsylvania, to Albemarle loaded with whisky for the army, continued at Albemarle Barracks for about two years wagoning flour, whisky, brandy, forage, corn, oats and etc. from the county around. He was commanded by Thomas Stanley, Quartermaster General and William Crittenden, Wagonmaster, then went to Fredericksburg to get a wagon repaired and Richard Young a Quartermaster General directed him and 3 other wagons to take some public papers and carried them beyond the reach of Cornwallis, who was approaching Albemarle. They carried the papers to Haggerstown, Maryland, kept them in the wagon ten days to await the movement of the British, then took them into the country and put them into a house by the direction of Col. Parker, who had charge of the public papers. He returned to Fredericksburg and continued under Young's command until he conveyed baggage to the troops at Winchester, who were taken at Yorktown, left the service in October or November 1781. He was engaged in no battles, he during his first term of service, served with Captain Smith's and Captain Thomas Minor's companies.
He was acquainted while in the service with Captain Tolls, and Stubblefield, Major Willis, Lt. R.O. Dudley, General Weeden. He has no documentary evidence of his service. He was born in Spottsylvania County, Va on the 27th June 1760. His mother, while in Virginia many years ago, told him his age, he then set it down on a piece of paper and has entered it in a book in which he records births and deaths in his family. He lived in Spottsylvania Co, Va when he entered the service - he lived in Spottsylvania Co, Va about a year after he left the service when he removed to Kentucky and lived in Lincoln County Ky about a year then removed to Fayette County where he has lived ever since - he entered the service voluntarily as a regular soldier. He never received a discharge from the service.
He refers to the following persons who are his neighbors and can testify as to his character and Rev. Thomas Dudley, Gen. James Dudley, William E. Dudley, Dr. Ben W. Dudley, sons of his Captain Ambrose Dudley, John Bryant, Captain J C Richardson, Capt. William Ellis, General William C. Prewitt, Isaac Webb, Rheubin Taylor, Hubbard Taylor. He refers to Hon. Wm. T. Barry and Joseph Ficklin?
Affidavit: Jesse Bryant, states that he lived in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, during the Revolutionary War, he recollects, that John Darnaby who has signed the foregoing declaration entered the company of Captain Ambrose Dudley, as already likewise a brother of the affiant. The company was stationed in Captain Dudley's barn about two weeks before they marched into service and said Darnaby marched with them. Dudley's barn was then a mile of affiant's father's. Bartlett Collins was sergeant of the company. Affiant was at that time about age ten. Affiant's brother was taken sick and brought home by James True at the same time he brought Darnaby home.
Affidavit: Edward Darnaby, Sr. states that he recollects the circumstances of his brother John Darnaby having enlisted in the regular army under Captain Ambrose Dudley. He was not present at the enlistment but was 20 miles distant. He heard at the time of his enlistment of his having done so. He recollects of his brother John Darnaby being brought from the army sick and he continued very ill at their step father's home for several months. Affiant was about ten years old at the time of the enlistment. During several years afterwards, affiant understood that his brother was engaged in the wagon service.
Affidavit: James Smith, states that he is the step father of the above John Darnaby. He knows that he entered the service in Capt. Ambrose Dudley's Company. Said John was brought to affiant very ill from the army when he continued ill for some months and affiant went to Fielding Lewis and got his furlough extended.
Affidavit: Geo. Boone (Reverend) and John C. Richardson Sr. in Fayette County certify that they are well acquainted with said John Darnaby, certify as to his good character. The Justice of Peace said that all of the above affiants are residents of Fayette Co Kentucky.
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 |