Author: Lowell C. Spence
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension Application of Meekins Carr S8137
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia Albemarle County, Sc.
On this second day of September, 1833, personally appeared in Open Court before the Justices of
the County Court of Albemarle now sitting Meekins Carr, a resident of said County and State, aged
seventy-one years on the 30 day of August last, who being first th 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.
That he was born in the County of Albemarle & State aforesaid, where he has resided ever since.
That about the month of September or October of the year preceding the Siege of York [28 Sep - 19 Oct
1781], he was drafted as a militiaman from the County of Albemarle under Bennett Henderson as Captain
and Robert Sharpe as Lieutenant; that he marched to Richmond where the troops drew arms, and
marched down James River, crossed it, and was stationed a while at Cabin point [on James River in Surry
County] – from whence he was finally marched to Petersburg & discharged – that this tour was for two
months which he fully served out.
That again in the spring of 1781, about the month of May or June, he was drafted in the militia for
another tour of two months and marched from Albemarle under Capt. Bennett Henderson again – he
cannot recollect the names of the other officers under whom he marched – he marched and joined the
army under the Marquis Lafayette near a place called Negro foot in Hanover County, Va. Soon after
joining the army he was commanded by Capt. Mask Leake [Mark Leake], Captain Henderson having
returned home. The names of his other Company Officers he does not recollect. He was attached to the
first Reg’t of Militia under Colo. Reuben Lindsay – he continued with the army under La Fayette, through
what is known as the “Wild Goose Chase” [late May - early June] and the troops under Gen. Wayne
joined them at a place called Boswells Ordinary in Louisa County [Anthony Wayne at present Boswells
Tavern, 10 Jun]. The route of the army was from Hanover towards the Rappahannock & across the Rapid
Ann River at the Racoon ford [sic: Rapidan River at the Raccoon Ford, 6 Jun] & thence through Orange &
Louisa Counties on towards Mychunk Creek [sic: Mechunk Creek, 12 Jun] – thence down the Country
near Williamsburg – after the battle of James Town [Battle of Green Springs Plantation, 6 Jul] he was
marched up to Morvin hills [sic: Malvern Hill, 15 mi SE of Richmond], where he was discharged, having
served the full tour.
That in the month of September 1781, he was again drafted for another two months tour in
Albemarle, and instead of marching to join the army below, under Capt. Ben. Harris [Benjamin Harris],
the Officer under whom his draft was to march, he with five others, was detailed to hunt for & bring to a
particular point, Beeves for the use of the army – from which point the beeves so collected, were driven
off to the army – he was engaged in this service for the two months for which he was drafted – he refers
to Charles Huckstep; the Rev. Gideon Travillian and John Robertson for the truth of the foregoing
statement.
He hereby relinquishes all claim to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not
on the pension Roll of the Agency of any State. [signed] Meekins Carr
Thereupon the Court propounded to the Applicant the following Interrogatories – and the answers to
each is hereto annexed.
1st Where and in what year were you born?
Answer I was born in Albemarle County VA in the year 1762.
2d Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
Answer I have a record of my age at home (30th Aug. 1762.)
3 Where were you living when called into service; where have d you lived since the Revolutionary
war, and where do you now live.
Answer I resided in Albemarle when called into service, where I have resided ever since the
Revolutionary War, and where I still reside at this time.
4th How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a
substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
Answer I was drafted at each tour that I served during the war.
5th State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served;
such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of
your services.
Answer In the first tour that I served I recollect the names of Capt. Bennett Henderson and Lieut. Ro.
Sharpe. In the second tour I served, I recollect the same Capt. B Henderson, Capt. Mask Leake
& the Marquis Lafayette – also the name of Col. Reuben Lindsay. In the third tour I was drafted
to serve under Capt. Benj. Harris – the names of the other officers under whom he was, at these
several tours he cannot recollect.
6th Did your ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what
has become of it.
Answer I did receive a discharge, but by whom given, & what has become of it he does not recollect. I
suppose it to be lost or mislaid.
7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, and who
can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the
Revolution?
Answer I can state the names Charles Huckstep, Reverend Gid. Travillian and John Robertson, my
neighbours, who know me, and can testify as to my character for veracity &c. &c