Virginia Revolutionary Pension Applications, Vol. 29

• Title	Virginia Revolutionary Pension Applications, Vol. 29
  Author	Dorman, John Frederick
  Publisher	Washington, D.C. 1978
  Call Number	E263 V8 D7
  Repository	Virginia State Library
  Source ID	S04079
  Text	Excerpt - Volume 29, page 49-50 (Robert Devin) page 49 Devin, Robert (Nancy). W.3395; BLWt.13745-160-55. 12 Oct. 1832. Pittsylvania Co.; Va. Robert (X) Devin of said county, aged near 73, declares he enlisted on 20 Jan. 1777 under Capt. Henry Conway at Smith's Store, then Pittsylvania Court House, for three years and took up the line of march from their rendezvous on 17 March following with Capt. henry Conway, 1st Lt. Cyrus Roberts, 2nd Lt. Drury Oliver and Ens. William Jenkins for headquarters at Middlebrook, N.J., and was there attached to the 14th Virginia Regiment. On the march they joined Maj. Abraham Buford and Capt. Lambert at New London and Bedford Court House, then went by Fredericksburg and Alexandria, and on their way they were inoculated at Dumfries, Va., for the small pos. In Alexandria they went through the operation of the small pox and about 1 May all that were fit for duty were marched for headquarters at Middlebrook, passing by Baltimore and Philadelphia. On the march Col. Lewis, the commandant of the regiment, joined them. From Middlebrook they marched to the north and halted some days in the highlands of New York where the American army was divided. Gen. Gates took command of a part of the army and went on to the north. Gen. Washington with the remainder returned through Philadelphia to meet the British who landed at the head of Elk, Md. In marching toward page 50 head of Elk and after a number of skirmishes on previous days, on 11 Sept. 1777 the alarm gun fired in their batteries which were thrown up the night before at Brandywine and the battle immediately commenced and continued until about sunset when Gen. Greene's division, including Weedon's brigade, retreated. He was in Weedon's brigade. They marched a greater part of the night toward Philadelphia. At this time Mud Island and Red Bank forts ere closely besieged by the enemy. His regiment with a number of other troops marched down the river with a view to reinforce and support the forts. Having been informed the forts were evacuated, they went back, recrossed the river and went by Philadelphia and rejoined the army near German town. On 4 October the battle of Germantown was fought. He was not in that battle. When it was about to commence he, being on the sick list, was sent off with the baggage. After that the 14th Virginia Regiment was reduced to the 10th. About Christmas they were marched to winter quarters on the Schuylkill at Valley Forge. On the opening of the campaign the next spring nothing of importance occurred until the British army evacuated Philadelphia on 12 June 1778. They went toward Sandy Hook. At Somerset Court House a detached party was called for out of the troops, which was to be commanded by Gen. Lafayette and to march that night. Washington moved off the next morning toward Monmouth Court house with the main body of the army, where it was understood Lafayette was to make a stand provided he overtook and attacked the rear of the enemy and could draw them to Monmouth Court House. Next morning they heard the firing. He was with Washington. They went on to support the troops that were engaged. The Virginia troops were in the rear. The battle grew very warm. Capt. Fantleroy among others was killed. In a short time Gen. Lee, who was commander of the left wing of the army, rode up and asked who commanded these troops. Lt. Col. Buford answered, I do, sir. Gen. Lee ordered him to put his troops in order to march that he would show them where to go. They then retraced their ground four or five miles and halted until information came that Washington and Lafayette had drawn the enemy. From there they marched to Somerset Court House, crossed the Hudson River at King's Ferry and went on to the White Plains where they camped and stayed for some time. There he had a severe spell of sickness. On recovering a little he and others were marched to Quibbletown on the Hudson. There they got on board a shallop and were carried up the river above West Point and from there t a recruiting hospital where they stayed a considerable time. When he got fit for duty he was removed and joined his same regiment in the fall of the year at Robertson' Plains, opposite West Point, where they remained a good while and worked in the fort until they moved to winter quarters at Middlebrook in Jersey. This ended the second campaign. In commencing the campaign of 1789 [1779] nothing worthy of notice occurred until 16 July. Brig. Gen. Muhlenburg with his brigade being stationed on the mountains near Hudson River as a guard between Stony Point, occupied by the British, and page 51 West Point by our troops, the troops were notified that Gen. Washington would review them. The troops were put in motion, marched down through the mountains and got into a valley thickly settled. Guards were placed at every house to prevent any person passing. The brigade formed in a line; white paper was distributed to all the soldiers to put in their hats. They lay in line until late in the night and received orders to march as private as possible toward the fort and in as good order as possible as it was through the woods and dark. He was near enough to hear the British sentinels hail a column of light infantry that was advancing on the fort. The Americans made no answer but rushed on. The British guard fired and it was said killed three or four of our men. The infantry proceeded and the guard and part of our infantry entered the gate together. It was said the attack commenced between 12 and 1 at night. Our troops were ordered not to fire again but rush into their lodgings and use the bayonet. Our watch word was the forts our own and if not answered on or the other must die by the bayonet. The confusion and noise in the fort cannot be described. It was said that it lasted about 21 minutes but in a short time ceased. He was in Muhlenburg's brigade, still formed in the line as a reserve outside of the fort, which position they continued in until day. They continued in the fort three days and nights, engaged in demolishing the fort and removing ammunition and other plunder, putting them on shallops to send up to West Point. After this was done they evacuated the fort and went to their different positions. After this nothing of importance occurred. They were kept moving hither and yon until fall. In December the Virginia troops were divided in lots according to the time of their enlistment, after which they took up the line of march for Virginia to be discharged. They were much retarded in their march and they marched to Philadelphia and quartered in the old barracks, called Braddock's. There they suffered a good deal and being informed that Col. Christian Febiger was authorized to discharge them, he applied to him for himself, his brother and a few more. They were discharged 4 Feb. 1780. After being home some time he was informed the discharges were required to be sent to Richmond for the purpose of receiving land warrants and a 6 per cent certificate. He was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., 6 April 1759. he has lived in Pittsylvania Co., Va., since the war. 22 Nov. 1838. Pittsylvania Co., Va. Nancy (X) Devin of said county, aged 75, applies for continuance of pension. 30 Nov. 1848. Pittsylvania Co., Va. Nancy (X) Devin of said county, aged 80, applies for continuance of pension. 10 April 1855. Pittsylvania Co., Va. Nancy (X) Devin of said county, aged 87, applies for bounty land. She was married to Robert Devin in Pittsylvania County 25 Jan. 1791 and page 52 her name was Nancy Parrish. Her husband died at his residence 10 April 1834. Robert Devin of Pittsylvania Co., Va., private in the company of Capt. Conway in the regiment of Col. Lewis in the Virginia line for two years, was placed on the Virginia pension roll at $80 per annum under the Act of 1832. Certificate 6452 was issued 2 March 1833. Nancy Devin of Pittsylvania Co., Va., widow of Robert Devin who died in 1834, private in the company of Capt. Conway in the regiment of Col. Lewis in the Virginia line for two years, was placed on the Richmond, Va., pension roll at $80 per annum. Certificate 4180 under the Act of 1838 was issued 12 Sept. 1829, 4582 under the Act of 1843 was issued 22 Jan. 1844 and 3556 under the Act of 1848 was issued 31 Jan. 1849. Bounty land warrant 13745 for 160 acres was issued 9 Jan. 1856 She died 11 April 1858.
  Linked to	Robert Devin Nancy Parrish

  
  

• Notes

  photocopy of pages in David D. files.