On this 30th day of August, 1832, personally appeared before the Justices of the Court of pleas and
quarter sessions for said County, Henry Blevins, a resident of said County of Hawkins in the State
aforesaid, aged Seventy three years next Christmas, 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 the 7th day of June 1832. That he was enrolled in Sullivan County on Holston
River where he resided at that time in the state of North Carolina in the spring of the year 1777
with Captain James Robertson in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Arthur Campbell as he believes
who held his commission under the State of Virginia as this declarant believes. He further states
that Captain Robertson marched his Company to Nolachucky and from thence returned
to Watauga. That he did not join his Regiment, his company being kept on the frontiers on the Holston.
That his company was marched to the Long Island on Holston three or four days after
the battle of Long Island, from thence to Briant's Fort and continued guarding the frontiers. That
he was well acquainted with Captain Christian, afterwards Colonel Christian and
Colonel Shelby and Colonel Sevier under some of whom he served. That
after serving about 12 months in the Watauga of settlements, he, with others was discharged by Colonel
Christian in the spring of 1778. And this declarant further states that he entered the service of the
United States as a volunteer under the command of Captain James Elliott of Colonel Isaac Shelby's
Regiment of militia in Sullivan County aforesaid in the State of North Carolina and was marched under
the command of Colonel Isaac Shelby to King's Mountain and was joined at the Yellow Mountain in North
Carolina by the regiments under the command of Colonel Sevier and Colonel Campbell and arrived at
King's Mountain on or about the 7th day of October 1780 where the Army came up with Colonel Furguson.
At the time said battle was fall this declarant was detailed as one of the
guard to guard the baggage, this belonging to the American troops and was not in the engagement.
This declarant further states that he was marched from King's Mountain to Salem in North Carolina
with the prisoners, from thence he went on with the prisoners into Virginia, from thence returned home
after serving about five months.
Again this declarant states he served under Captain William Asher
of Colonel Shelby's Regiment about seven months guarding the frontier settlements of Holston at
a station near the mouth of Big Creek in the Summer and Fall of 1781 and 1782 and this declarant
further states in the early part of the year 1781, perhaps in the month of February this
declarant served about five months under the command of Colonel Martin. That he
entered the service under Captain Smith at the long island in Sullivan County and from thence
marched to Watauga to Nolichucky to French Broad to Little River to Tennessee to Tellico to old
Chota and to Tomassee after killing some of the Indians and destroying their corn. They returned
home by the same route all of which tours including his twelve months enrollment the volunteers
service & service in the militia amounts to two years and five months -- in the service of the
United States during the revolutionary war -- and this declarant further states that he served
under Colonel Sevier and others against the Indians for eighteen months or two years after the
revolutionary war. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or an annuity
except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in
any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
W. B. Mitchell, D. Clk.
Henry Blevins, his (H) mark
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I William Walling of the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee who was duly sworn according to
law states he has been well acquainted with Henry Blevins since his first recollection. That he was
himself at the Battle of King's Mountain under the command of Col Isaac Shelby; that Henry
Blivens, the applicant was also a soldier of the same company under the command of Capt James
Elliot and that said Henry Blevins was left with the Guard that had the baggage under care
belonging to the American Army during the engagement and further that said Blevins, himself
and the principal part of their company went on with the prisoners to Salem N.C. from which
place Blevins marched with the prisoners to Virginia as he was informed and he returned home.
This deponent further states that Henry Blevins & himself lived within a half mile of each
other until after the Battle of King's Mountain. That said Blevins was enrolled in a company
under the command of Capt James Robertson and served at different points on the frontier during
twelve months as he believes and so understood at the time the service was performed. And this
deponent further states that he recollects that said Blevins was stationed at or near the mouth
of Big Creek on the frontier several months in the company commanded by Capt William Asher,
the precise time not recollected and this deponent was informed & believes that said Blevins
was on what was called Martin's Expedition, the time which he has stated. This deponent further
states from his own knowledge of many of facts stated by Henry Blevins in his declaration &
the information he received at the time of performing the service and his knowledge of Blevins
ever since that everything so far as his own recollection serves are true and does not believe
he would declare falsely.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
William Walling, his (X) mark
W. B. Mitchell, D. Clerk
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Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in said County, Henry Blevins,
who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his services, but according to the best of his
recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades:
For twelve months I served as a private under Capt James Robertson, and Colonel Arthurhis recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades:
For twelve months I served as a private under Capt James Robertson, and Colonel Arthur Campbell's
Regiment on the Watauga settlement in Green County, East Tennessee from the spring of 1777 till
the spring of 1778, as before stated in my declaration.
For five months I served as a private under Capt Smith of Col. Martin's Regiment in Sullivan County,
East Tennessee, from sometime in February 1781 till August following.
For seven months I served as a private under Capt William Asher of Colonel Shelby's Regiment on the
Big Creek in what is now Hawkins County, East Tennessee from September 1781 until April 1782 and for
such services, I claim a pension.
I was born in Henry County, State of Virginia on Smith's River. I have no record of my age, the same
having been destroyed when the Indians burnt my Father's house in Sullivan County near Shelby's Fort.
I am well acquainted with Col William Snodgrass and William Walling, who have testified to my services
above and also with the Reverend Daniel Howry and William Alexander, Esquire, who have also testified
as to my character etc. And during the whole time I served with an embodied corps & was called into
services by competent authority and was during the whole time either in the field or in garrisons and
for the time during which the service was performed I was not employed in any civil pursuit.
Sworn to & subscribed this second day of April 1833.
Henry Blevins, his (H) mark
John H. Cockreham, J. P. for Hawkins County
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I William Snodgrass of the County of Sullivan and State of Tennessee who was duly sworn according
to law States he has been acquainted with Henry Blevins the applicant herein named
since about the commencement of the American revolutionary war, and knows he did reside on the
frontier during the whole time of the war that he was at the battle of Kings Mountain in the year
1780 himself and also that Henry Blevins was there also and belonged to the regiment commanded by Colonel
Shelby as he then understood. And this deponent further states that all the inhabitants residing
on the frontier, that were able to bear arms, were frequently called out during the war & I doubt
not that Henry Blevins was called out the times herein stated by him and further that he has no
doubt that the facts stated by Henry Blevins in his declaration are true.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
W. B. Mitchell, D. Clk.
William Snodgrass
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On December 12, 1848 in Hawkins County Tennessee, Catherine Blevins, 77, filed for a widow's pension under the 1848 act stating that she is the widow of Henry Blevins, a pensioner of the United States at the rate of $80 per annum for his services in the revolution; that her husband died September 12, 1847; that she married him previous to the first of January 1794; her husband had lived in Hawkins County Tennessee upwards of 40 years before his death and that previous thereto he resided in Sullivan County Tennessee; and that she is still his widow.
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Catherine Blevins aged 79 years, widow of Henry Blevins who was a pensioneer at the rate of $80 per annum. Henry Blevins & Catherine Blevins married in Sept 1786
Proof - all in the year 1850
Richard Mitchell aged about 87 years, acquainted with Blevins & wife for fifty five years. Always lived, during all that time, in same neighborhood with him. They raised a large family of children. They were considered and looked upon as man & wife by everybody in the neighborhood. Deponent never heard or understood that any person doubts or denied that......
Hezekiah Hamblin aged about 75 years. In the year 1799 or 1800 parties moved into the neighborhood of deponent. They had a child then by the name of Nancy about fifteen years of age. Has known them over time. Always remained man and wife and being together as such. I have never heard the fact of them being married ever disputed.
Daniel Sipe aged about 80 years. Lived in the same neighborhood for about 50 years, raised a great family of children. They were always considered as man and wife and has never heard it disputed by any person.
A Kyle aged about 60 years and Geo Elkins aged about 65 years. Lived in the same neighborhood for about 50 years. They were always considered as man and wife and has never heard any person dispute that fact.
Geo Rogers aged 80 years and Samuel Neill aged 73 years. Rogers acquainted for 50 years and Neill for 40 years, all the time in same county. They were always considered as man and wife and has never heard any person dispute that fact.
Winsted Elkins aged 55, acquainted for 42 or 43 years, living in the same neighborhood.
Lewis Davis aged about 70 years, lived in the neighborhood 41 years.
James P McCarty aged about 50 years, acquainted about 40 years.
Orville Rice, acquainted about 30 years
before October 11 1815 it was not considered neccesary to make certificate or file license of marriage and ??? but few records of such events. Search has been made but no kind of cerificate of marriage can be found.
Henry Blevins deceased 12 Sept 1847
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House of Representatives June 10, 1850
I hereby certify that Richard Mitchell a resident of Hawkins County, Tennessee has been United States
Marshall of the East End District of said State of Tennessee and is now a highly respectable citizens;
I further certify that I am personally acquainted with Hezekiah Hamblin, Daniel Lipe, A. Kyle, Geo.
Ellkins, Geo. Rogers, Samuel Neill, Winsted Ellkins, Lewis Davis, James P. McCurty and Orville Rice,
all of whom have given depositions accompanying the application of Catherine Blevins for a pension,
and I know them to be among the most respectable citizens in my congressional District upon pension,
and I know them to be among the most respectable citizens in my congressional District upon whose
statement the most implicit confidence may be placed. I have no hesitancy in saying that their opinions
are entitled to great weight, and their affidavits to implicit believe –
Andrew Johnson