Revolutionary War Pension for James Robertson

Below is the application for Revolutionary War Pension for James Robertson WHO came to Paint Lick in December 1779 with his brother Mathew and their father. There is no official record of their father, but it is known he was with his sons.

In order to obtain the pension benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832, James filed this Declaration:

On the 18th day of February, 1834, personally appeared in open court, before the Court of Breckinridge County, now sitting, James Robertson, a resident of Breckinridge County, in the State of Kentucky, age 75 years, 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 17, 1832, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served herein stated. "I served under Captain John Kennedy, Lieu't William Moore and Joseph Kennedy, Ensign." He entered this service in the Spring of 1780. He lived at Kennedy Station, now in the bounds of Garrard County, Kentucky, when he entered the service. He acted here in the capacity of Indian Spy until the summer of 1780, being not less than three months in the summer of 1780. He was ordered out with A Company against Shawnee Indians on the Miami River in the expedition of General George R. Clark. His Captain, named Adams or Woods, serving this tour not less than six weeks. "Again in the fall of 1782, I went out over the Ohio River with A Company against Shanee Indians. I served this tour under Captain John Woods, my lieutenant was Joseph Kennedy. I started out under Captain Adams but he went to further the Ohio River. This was also under the command of General Clark. I served this tour not less than six weeks. This tour we had some fighting with the French and Indians." He lived at Kennedy Station for about four years and, during that time, often was called out for some length of time as an Indian Spy and a soldier as above stated and verily believe he served not less than two years in the whole service. He was born in Albemarle County, Virginia. He has a record of his age. He now lives in the County of Breckinridge, State of Kentucky. He has no documentary evidence of his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Rolls of the agency of any state.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
JAMES ROBERTSON

We, James N.L. Moorman, and Charles B. Alexander, Esquire, residing in the County of Breckinridge, and State of Kentucky, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Robertson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 75 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to be a man of the strictest honor and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
J.N.L. MOORMAN
CHARLES B. ALEXANDER

And the Court to hereby declare their opinion, after investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that James N.L. Moorman, a Clergyman, and Charles B. Alexander, Esq'r., who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the County of Breckinridge and are creditable persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.

Hardinsburg February 18th 1834

J.L. Edwards
Sir,
I forward this application of James Robertson for a pension. I would be glad that a speedy answer could be given

Yrs.
JESSIE W. KINCHELOE

James Robertson was granted Pension Number S-15620 on March 14, 1834 on this application and was given retroactive allowance to June 7, 1832, the time Congress passed the Pension Act. He was granted retroactive pay of $60.00 and $10.00 semi-annually under Payroll Number 26550.

Hardinsburg, Ky.

September 6, 1834

J.L. Edwards
Sir,
James Robertson some time since applied for a Pension for 2 or 3 years service and obtained an allowance of $20.00 only. He is dissatisfied with the allowance because he thinks he is entitled from the length of his service to a greater sum and because others who were engaged in the same service have obtained much greater pensions. He names his brother, Mathew Robertson of Russell County, Ky., who together with others has been thus favored. He therefore desires an increase of his allowance. The affidavits of David and Joseph Kennedy are forwarded for the convenience of the department. I should be obliged to you, Sir, for an answer to this as soon as convenient.

Resp.

JESSE W. KINCHELOE

The deposition of Joseph Kennedy taken at the house of said Kennedy in the County of Madison and State of Kentucky on the 15th day of August, 1834, to be read as evidence in behalf of James Robertson, a citizen of Breckinridge County, Kentucky, in relation to the services rendered by said James Robertson during the war of the old revolution, the deponent being of lawful age and first duly sworn, deposeth and saith that he became acquainted with said James Robertson in the fall of 1779 at the place called Kennedy's Station and said Robertson resided at the place between three and four years. In the spring of 1780 the Indians commenced hostilities upon the Stations in Kentucky and took Martin's Station and Riddles Station in the same year of 1780. The men were then all enrolled that were in all the Stations and entered into Military Service and in the same year of 1780, in the summer of 1780, we went on a campaign under Gen. George Rogers Clark against the Shawnee Indians on the north side of the Ohio River. The said James Robertson went in that campaign under John Kennedy as Captain, William Moore, Lieutenant, and myself ensign, at which time we were gone about two months, the said Robertson continued in service as a spy under the orders of Captain John Kennedy until said Kennedy was killed by the Indians on the 26th day of December, 1780. The summer of 1781, the command of Kennedy's Station then devolved on the deponent as Lien tenant by order of the county court of Lincoln County, Kentucky, then by order of Col Benjamin Logan I was ordered to scout round about this part of the country and send out spies on the frontier (to wit) to the crab orchard, Rock castle, Station camp, all in Kentucky. I then appointed the said James Robertson to spy upon the above named band until the year 1782, the time of defeat at the Blue Lick, State of Kentucky, He, the said James Robertson, went with me to bury the dead. He continued in the service until the fall of 1782 at which time he, the said James Robertson, went on a campaign under General George Rogers Clark and George Adams, Captain, and myself, Lieutenant, against the Shawnee Indians. He, the said James Robertson, rendered in performances of all the different times of service, I am clearly of the opinion amounts to upwards of two years and further this deponent saith.

JO KENNEDY

Madison County
The foregoing deposition of Joseph Kennedy was this day taken, subscribed and sworn to by the said Joseph Kennedy before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace for said county and for the purpose stated in the caption thereof and I further certify that the said Joseph Kennedy, this deponent, is very infirm and was unable to attend court. Given under my hand this 15th day of August, 1834.
GEO. ALCOM J.P.

No acknowledgement was found regarding the requested increase in pension.

Contributed by Roger Robertson.