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Note: PRIVATE JOHN MIDKIFF(JR) APPLIED FOR VETERAN'S BENEFITS OCT.18, 1832. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS A TRANSCRIPTION OF HIS APPLICATION STATEMENT AND THOSE OF HIS WITNESSES. State of Virginia and County of Patrick. On this day of October, 1832 personally appears in open Court before the Justice of the Court of Patrick now sitting, John Midkiff a resident of the County of Patrick, and State of Virginia. Age seventy years the 11th day of March 1832, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and servied as hereafter states,
He was drafted under Captain Spencer Shelton for a three months tour he thinks in August 1780 he being a resident of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and marched in that company as soon as it was organized to Halifax Courthouse, Virginia, and he stayed there some time waiting for further orders. And afterward was marched into Granville or Coswell County of the State of North Carolina, and after remaining there some time he was discharged. The precise time he was in actual service during this tour he does not remember.
In January 1781 he volunteered in the company of Riflemen commanded by Captain Thomas Smith in the County of Pittsylvania and State of Virginia. that he immediately marched in the same company and joined the Continental wing in the State of North carolina and was attached to the infantry in the corps of Col. Henry Lee, there he was engaged in a battle with the enemy at a place called Whitsals Mills on (?) Hew river. Col. Campbell from Holstein Virginia and Col. Williams of North Carolina commanded. Also Col. Morgan and Col. Washington of the Continental Army. The Americans retreated with some in considerable loss. How long he remained in service during that tour he does not exactly recolllect having lost his discharge, but is under the impression that he returned home some time in the month of March in that year. Sometime in the month of August 1781 he was drafted in the County of Pittsylvania and State of Virginia, in a company commanded by Capt. Charles Hudgins and immediately marched in this said company to Yorktown, Virginia and joined the Continental troops, Capt. Hudgins then returned home, and he was put under the company of Captain William Dix and attached to the Regiment commanded by Col. (?) Field Meriweather.
And remained there during the siege and after the taking of Lord Cornwallis he was attached to the Regiment who had charge of the prisoners and marched as far as Williamsburg, Virginia and was there discharged on account of bad health by Maj. Wood Jones, which discharge is herewith exhibited and bears date of 20th Oct. 1781.
He has no personal acquaintance with any of the continental Officers commanding at Yorktown, but frequently saw General Washington and General Lafayette who were pointed out to him by some persons who knew them, and he frequently saw many other Officers of this Continental line but does not now remember their names.
He cannot say the precise time he served in all but believes it was eight months. He has no documentary evidence, savethis discharge documentation, or verbal evidence with his mark to prove his services. He was born in the County of Pittsylvania and State of Virginia according to the (?) Reg--- of his parents on the 11th day of March 1762 and raised in that County till April 1823 when he removed to the County of Patrick where he now lives. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or ammenity except this present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. (signed) John Midkiff (WITNESSES' TESTIMONY FOR JOHN MIDKIFF ) Mr. James Morrison residing in the County of Patrick and State of Virginia and Moses hasborn a resident of the County and State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well aquainted with John Midkiff who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be seventy years of age. That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have had been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subsribed this day and year aforesaid (signed) James Morrison Moses Hasborn And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after this investigation of the matter, and after putting the interogations prescribed by the War Department, and served as he states. And this Court further certifies that it appears to them that James Morrison who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Patrick and is a credible person and that their statements is entitled to credit. I Abram Staples Clerk of the County Court of Patrick, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original procedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Midkiff for a Pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 18th day of October 1832. (signed) A. Staples clerk ADDENDUM According to the Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions John Midkiff was married to Mary (Parsons) Midkiff, September 10, 1782; Mary (Parsons) Midkiff also received a pension after her husband's death which she applied for May 10, 1841. John Midkiff died July 18, 1839. The James Morrison, witness for John Midkiff, is GUESS WHO? JANE MORRISON'S FATHER. ___________________________________________________
1782 Pittsylvania census - "John Medcalf Jr. - 2"(people) 1828, April - Moved from Pittsylvania to Patrick co. VA. 1830 Fed. census - Patrick co. VA. Matthew and John Midkiff are listed on same page and living next to each other.
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