Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements
Pension Application of Robert Woolfolk S11896
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris State of Kentucky } Sct. County of Shelby}

On this 20th day of November in the year 1832 personally appeared in open court before [blank] composing the county court of Shelby now setting (it being a court of record) Robert Woolfolk a resident of the said county of Shelby in the state of Kentucky in the seventy seventh year of his age 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 pass’d June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States about the 1st of May 1780 as a drafted militia man under Captain Edmund Pendleton. When drafted he was a citizen of Caroline County State of Virginia. He can not recollect the names of the other company officers clearly but is of the impression the names were Pemberton & Samuel The [four illegible words] by Caroline county march’d to Richmond & staid one or two days. One of the companies was commanded by James Johnson. It was the understanding of this affiant that the object of this call for men was to relieve Charles town [Charleston] South Carolina which was Besieged by the Enemy under Comand of Sir Henry Clinton.

From Richmond Capt Pendletons & Johnsons companies marched to Petersburg thence to Hilsborough [sic: Hillsborough] in North Carolina where the Virginia Militia rendevouzed Capt. Pendleton was then taken sick & returned home and this affiant was attatched to the command of Capt. James Johnson We remain’d some short time at Hillsborough The regiment to which I belonged being commanded by Colo. Holt Richardson & Maj’r [William] Boyce together with the rest of the rendevouzed troops march’d as this affiant thinks under the command of Gen’l. Stephens [sic: Edward Stevens] to join the army of Gen’l [Horatio] Gates but delayed sometime at deep river for supplies.

We joind Gen’l Gates at or near some mill [Rugeley’s Mill] near Camden South Carolina The army under Gates march’d in night to suprise the Enemy at Camden. The colliding[?] armies met in the night between the two points. The advance guards were driven in The army remained on their arms untill about sun rise [16 Aug 1780] when the enemy advance in collum within 150 paces filed off & formed Brought up two field pieces & opend a fire before the Americans with cannon & small armes which was followed by a charge. The American army or at least the Virginia militia retreated immediately & were persued many miles by the enemy — In the night attack Col. [Charles] Porterfield was wounded taken prisoner & died. This affiant was at the time of the engagement attatched to Gen’l Stephens command.

The army was dispersed and this affiant with many other rendevoud at Hillsborough He was then placed under the command of Capt. [Parke] Goodall attatched to Col. Falkners [sic: Ralph Faulkner’s] command from Hillsborough the command of Col. Falkner march’d to new garden a Quaker Settlement [in present Greensboro] near Guilford Court house thence to thence to Guilford court house where we were discharged about the 1st of November 1780 This tour of duty was six months. And this affiant act’d orderly sergent in this campain.

His discharge was rec’d from Colo. Faulkner the comander & has been lost In the spring of 1781 This affiant was again drafted in the county of Caroline Virginia for three months which term he serv’d as orderly sergent he was attatch’d to Capt David Jameson’s company under the command of Colo Mathews. Capt. Jameson join’d the army under Col. Mathews at WilliamsBurg from Williamsburg we march’d to Richmon & were there discharged . There was no general battle fought this campain. This discharge is lost The British army was commanded by Gen’l. [William] Phillips who died in Petersburg [13 May 1781] & Cornwallace [sic: Cornwallis] then commanded.

After the army left Williamsburg it was reported that [Gen. Benedict] Arnold & Phillips with their army were quartered in Williamsburg — a detatchment under Maj’r Armstead [or Armistead] of the American army was sent to suprise Arnold Maj’r Armstead’s detatchment fired on the British sentinells near Mrs Kemp’s Tavern & retreated. Genl Layfaette [sic: Lafayette] was with the American Army at Richmond. He this affiant was discharged the last of May or first of June 1781 — discharge lost Shortly after returning home to Caroline County Va. was again drafted for three months, He thinks in July, he serv’d the tour under Capt. John Long in a Regment commanded by Colo. Mathews Join’d the army at the Morbin hills [sic: Malvern Hill in Henrico County] a few miles below Richmond We then march’d to Williamsburg. I was appointed orderly sergent in the company but before the army reach’d Williamsburg I was taken from the company and appointed waggon master shortly before I was discharged. I was directed to take my Briggade of Waggons & go to Old Jamestown & assist to remove the French army & baggage to Williamsburg to join the American army. There was no battle I was discharged at Williamsburg at the expiration of the three months but my discharge has been lost He thinks his discharge was signed by Colo. Mathews.

He was born in Caroline County Va. in the month of April 1756 he remov’d to Kentucky in the Spring 1796 liv’d in Fayette county untill the fall 1897 [sic] then remov’d to Jefferson County till 1824 & since then has liv’d in Shelby county Kent’y. he has no record of his age except a memorandum taken from the enformation of his parents & preserv’d. He knows of no proof in his reach of his service other than the affidavit of Larkin Sullinger He hereby relinquishes every claim what ever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension role of the agency of any state Sworn to & subscrib’d this day & year aforesaid[signed] Robt. Woolfolk Sen’r State of Kentucky Henry county Sct.

On this 2nd day of october 1832 personally appeared in open court, now in session – before the Justices of the county court of Henry County and state of Kentucky – being a court of record – Larkin Sullinger of Henry County & state of Kentucky & upon his oath, states, that he was acquainted with Robert Woolfolk during the revolutionary war – & while he was engaged one Tour of three months in the army. That he served with him – it was in the year 1781 — that he livd in the same county with the said Woolfolk when they were drafted for the three months tour. That it was in the spring of the year 1781 when they left Caroline county of Virginia for the army. That they joined the army at Williamsburg under Captain Jemason – Col. Mathus commanded the Regiment. after remaining at Williamsburg a short time the Regiment retreated to Richmond Virginia. The British were commanded by Phillips as I understood. The day after the Regiment left Williamsburg, Major Armstead of our Regiment went back towards Williamsburg with a detachment, with the intention of taking Arnold who was at Williamsburg stationed in the Colledge. The detachment went as far as the widow Kemps tavern & fired on the British Sentinels & retreated. After the Regiment arrived at Richmond Lafayette joined the army [29 Apr 1781] — Robert Woolfolk was orderly sargant during this term. There was no fighting after the army arrived at Richmond. we were discharged at Richmond – I am about sixty nine years old. I knew Mr. Woolfolk before the war & knew of his leaving home to join the army both before after the tour above mentioned – but only served with him the one tour. I have no doubt of his having served at least twelve months in the revolution.

The said Woolfolk is now a resident of the county of Shelby & state of Kentucky & is about seventy seven years old. We served in the Virginia Malitia. Sworn to in open court of the day & year af’d Larkin his Xmark Sullinger