State of Tennessee Declaration

Stewart County

To the honorable Parry W. Humphreys, Judge of the 5^th Judicial District of State of Tennessee, I, Elias Lunsford make oath that I am resident of the County of Stewart & State aforesaid, and am a native born citizen of the United States; that I was born 1^st day of May 1713, being now 117 years of age; that I first enlisted in the Old Continental army in the State of Virginia, being at the time a resident of Northumberland Cty., Va., in a company commanded by one Thomas Gaskins & upon his being soon after promoted to the command of Col., I belonged to his regiment, it being the 5^th Regt. of the Continental line. But at what particular time I enlisted I cannot now recollect, but know it was early in the Revolutionary War, and for the term of 3 years, having served during the whole of which time. I then enlisted for 3 years again and at the expiration of that time enlisted for 6 months and had the honor of being at the siege of York. I was then discharged from service in the State of Va. and do not believe that my name is on the roll of any State except that of Va. I hereby relinquish any claim whatsoever to a pension except the present and the reason why I have not made application sooner is that heretofore I did not need it, and disdained so long as I had property or was able to work for a support to call upon a generous good for aid. But old age and poverty combined have produced the necessity of presenting my claim upon the County. I solemnly swear I was a resident of the U. S. on the 18^th of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it so as to bring it within the provisions of the act of Congress passed on the 18^th of March 1818, and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due me, nor have I any income whereby I may obtain a living. My situation is extremely dependent, being old, weak and feeble, struggling in the want of poverty. I have no schedule to give of property nor of sales or gifts of any, but expect my subsistence in future as it has been for a long time past, to be drawn from my children who are themselves principally daughters who are single and extremely poor, so much so as be scarcely able to support themselves.

Elias (x) Lunsford

Sworn to & declared on the 24^th day of March 1830 before the Hon. Parry W. Humphreys, Judge of the 5^th Judicial district in open Court, it being a Court of record and in the Town of Dover, Stewart County.

I, John H. Clements, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Stewart County, Tennessee, do certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the Court that the sd. Elias Lunsford did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the term of 3 years under one engagement, 3 years under another, and 6 months under a third, on the Continental establishment according to his own oath. I also certify that the foregoing oath is truly copied from the record of the said Court. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and Seal this day and date above written, of which is directed by the Court to be entered on the records of this Court & conveyed to the Secretary of War.