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- State of Alabama,
Autauga County
On this 14th day of October 1834, personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable Henley Brown, judge of the Orphans Court of said County, now sitting, Thomas Connell, a resident of said County, aged 92 years on the 10th day of March last, 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 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
As near as he can recollect, six months before the battle of Brandywine, he volunteered under Col. Martin Armstrong, in Surry County, in the State of North Carolina, where he was then living. He served six months in the troops of that State, and was stationed during the whole time at Salisbury N. C. He was engaged in no active service-was in no battle and at the expiration of his term of service, received a discharge-by whom signed he does not now recollect-he received it, however, from the hands of his Colonel.
In the month of November, subsequent to the battle of Brandywine, having previously removed to the County of Wilkes, in the State of Georgia, he enlisted in the regular Army of the United States under Captain James Hawkins, for three years or during the war-was marched to Augusta, Georgia-served under the said Hawkins as Captain, __Smith as Major and __Stewart as Colonel-was in the Army when the first siege of Augusta was commenced and raised, and in the battle when Augusta was afterwards captured. After the battle of Augusta, he was furloughed until further service might be required, but was ordered to be in constant readiness to perform the same, at a moment's warning. He was not called upon until the Siege of Savannah was commenced- his Regiment then rallied near Augusta, Georgia, under the same officers, except Colonel Stewart, who was superseded by Colonel Elijah Clark [sic, Elijah Clarke] and was marched upon what was called the River Road, on the southern side of the Savannah River to Savannah and was in the battle of Savannah. He cannot recollect any of the officers higher in command, at that battle, and the the Colonel of his Regiment, except General Twiggs- Count DeEstaing and Count Pulaski he well recollects. He was then furloughed and performed no more regular service during the war-but was under orders to be in constant readiness to rally, should service be required. At the conclusion of the war, but the date he cannot recollect, he received a written discharge from his Colonel, but whose signature was to the same he does not remember.
He states that his age is such, and his memory so decayed, that he cannot state positively the precise duration of the last mentioned service-but according to the best of his recollection it was not less than the three years for which he enlisted-and that he was engaged in active service not less than two years-during said last mentioned period of 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 roll of the Agency of any state.
In answer to the several interrogatories directed to be propounded to applicants for a pension, or
by the War Department, he states-
In answer to the first-
I was born in Surry County, in the State of North Carolina, on the 10th March 1742
In answer to the second-
I have none
In answer to the third-
I was living in Surry County N. C. when I first volunteered. After the conclusion of the war, and for several years subsequent, I lived in Wilkes County Georgia-then four years in Abbeville District S. C.-then in Wilkes County Georgia again-then in Greene County in the same State. I've then removed to Autauga County Alabama, in the year 1822, where I have since lived.
In answer to the fourth-
I refer to the statement made in the body of this declaration.
In answer to the fifth-
I also refer to the same, as furnishing all the information which he I can recollect.
In answer to the sixth-
I received written discharges in both instances-but have lost the same.
In answer to the seventh-
Reverend Mr. Jacob Segrest and Henderson Rhodes
S/ Thomas Connell,
X his mark
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
S/ Henly Brown, J. C. C.
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State of Alabama,
Autauga County
On this 27th day of June in the year of our Lord 1835 personally appeared before me Thomas Hughes, JP, one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid Thomas Connell, a resident of the State of Alabama Autauga County aged 97 years three months & 16 days who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States on the 11th day of March 1777 in the State of North Carolina in the County of Surry under Captain John Armstrong and served in the Continental Regiment of the North Carolina line, under the following named officers, viz.: that he enlisted on the 11th of March 1777 in the State of North Carolina & County of Surry under Captain John Armstrong, for the term of three months, but served six months in North Carolina in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Martin Armstrong. That during said time he was marched to an Indian town called [?]illico, and was the most of his time engaged in skirmishing Expeditions against the British & Tories & Indians but received no wounds. That at the expiration of his six months service he received a discharge from Captain John Armstrong which was subsequently stolen from him together with his pocketbook and all its contents at the time of the Siege of Augusta in Georgia. That after the Expiration of said six months Tour and after his discharge he returned to Surry County, his place of residence where he remained until the first of March 1778, when he enlisted the second time under Captain James Hawkins for the term of three years or during the war. That he was marched from Surry County North Carolina to Herd's Fort, Wilkes County Georgia, where he joined Colonel Elijah Clarke's Regiment of the Continental line. That this deponent was mistaken in his former declaration with respect to his enlistment in Georgia under Colonel Stewart, that on more mature reflection he is now well satisfied this statement is true. He served as a soldier from the 1st of March 1778, until the disbandment of General Washington's Army in November 1783.
That he was stationed at Herd's Fort where he was chiefly engaged in Scouting expeditions against the British and Tories & Indians.
That he was at the Sieges of Augusta and Savannah. That he was taken as a prisoner as often as three times during the Sieges of Augusta by Colonel Brown of the British & Colonel Grayson of the Tory party. That the first time he was taken as prisoner he was confined several weeks in Augusta, and was released by Colonel Watson. That at the second occasion when he was taken prisoner he was chained to John Morgan and placed under the Command of Captain Moore a Tory to be sent to Charleston. That he was carried through Orangeburg in chains-- and on the night afterwards he effected his Escape, by breaking the lock that confined the chain on his arms.
This deponent swears that he considers that he rendered actual service as a soldier from the 1st March 1778 until November 1783. That notwithstanding he was occasion permitted for a few hours at a time to visit his family when in the immediate neighborhood of their Location (which was in Wilkes County, Georgia) that even on such occasions he was rendering services to his Country by means of the Scouting parties that usually attended him. This deponent & Petitioner further swears that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory that he cannot swear positively as to the actual precise time or length of his service but is confident that he served six months in North Carolina and five years and three months in the State of Georgia.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
S/ Thomas Hughs, JP
S/ Thomas Connell,
X his mark
I Elizabeth Wallace of the County of Autauga and State of Alabama do hereby certify that I have been acquainted personally with Thomas Connell the above applicant before the revolutionary war, during the whole time of the Revolutionary war, ever since that time and do know of my own knowledge, that he rendered the services, as a soldier in the Revolution as contained in his above declaration. That I was a member in his family during the whole time of his services in the Revolution and ever since & have no hesitation in declaring the truth of his Declaration, and never have I heard his declaration doubted by any individual. I do further testify that the said Thomas Connell has been a respectable member of the Baptist Church for 30 years and is poor and helpless.
Sworn to & subscribed before me the day & year above written.
S/ Thomas Hughs, JP
S/ Elizabeth Wallace,
X her mark
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Interrogatories & Answers of Thomas Connell
1st: When and in what year were you born?
Answer. I was born in the State of Maryland on the Potomac on the 10th of March 1738.
2nd Have you any record of you age and if so, where is it?
Ans: I have none it has been destroyed.
3rd Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Ans: I was living in the State of North Carolina Surry County; before the revolution, during the Revolution my family followed me to Georgia, Wilkes County about 8 miles from Washington where I remained for four years after the Revolution. I then moved to South Carolina Abbeville District where I lived four years. I then removed back to Wilkes County & Georgia. That I lived in Georgia until
1820 when I moved to the State of Alabama, Autauga County.
4th How were you called into service; were you drafted; did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute for whome?
Ans: I enlisted in North Carolina on the 11th of March 1777 under Captain John Armstrong for the term of three months, but served six months under Colonel Martin Armstrong. That I afterwards Enlisted again on the 1st March 1778 under Captain James Hawkins for the Term of three years or during the war. That I was marched to the State of Georgia where I served under Col. Elijah Clarke until the End of the war. That I was chiefly employed in Scouting Expeditions. That I was at the Sieges of Augusta & Savannah and was during the time thrice taken prisoner & narrowly escaped my life
6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so by whom was it given; and what has become of it?
Ans: I did received two discharges the first one from Captain John Armstrong in North Carolina. The second I received from Captain Stephen Hard of Georgia in Wilkes County. The first of which was stolen from me at the Siege of Augusta & the last without my consent or knowledge has been lost.
7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify to your character for veracity and good behavior and your services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
Ans: William Kirk, Esq., Henderson Rhodes, John Griffs, Jeremiah Jackson, William Wallace & William N. Thompson & Thomas Hogg, Esq., & Jacob Segrest, Parson and Hardy Ranes.
Sworn to & subscribed before me the day & year above written.
S/ Thomas Hughs, JP
S/ Thomas Connell,
X his mark
I Thomas Connell do hereby certify that by reason of old age and bodily infirmity that I am unable to attend Court.
Sworn to & subscribed before me this day and year above written.
S/ Thomas Hughs, JP
S/ Thomas Connell,
X his mark
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