Pension Application of Robin Loyd (Indian Robin)
R6501
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
From Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension
Statements
State of Indiana
] On this 10th day of November in the
year of our Lord 1834 personally appeared in open Court before the
Hon.
Jennings County
] Alanson Andrus sole Judge of the Jennings
County Probate Court in and for the County and now is session Indian
Robin
(alias Robin Loyd) a resident of the said County of Jennings aged seventy four
years 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 7th 1832.
That he
entered the service of the United States as a volunteer under the following
named officers and served herein
stated.
In the month of June 1778
he volunteered in the service of the United States and served for one year under
General Spencer and also under Genl. Ramsey. Col. [John] Bannister, his Col Gee
Majr Hunt (who was badly wounded at Petersburg by explosion of a keg of
Powder)Agetant [sic: Adjutant] Binge (or Benge Capt. John Jones also Capt Ned
Powell. lieut James Gee (son of Colonel Gee) Ensign Goodin Hunt (brother
of Majr Hunt) 1st Sergeant Thomas Hill and the Corporal Edward Walker. He left
the service in the month of June or July (he cannot say which) 1779 after
serving faithfully the one year when he was duly discharged by his officers. He
ther again in the month of January as near as he can remember volunteered a 2nd
time and served under General [Daniel] Morgan Col. Robert Walker
Majr Clabon Cauder[?]. Agetent Green Hill Capt. Powell Lieut
Thomas Giliam, the rest of the officers not recollected. He left the service
this 2nd time in the month of January 1781 after serving faithfully the one year
more which added to his former tour makes two years. He then again entered
the service a third time as a Volunteer in the month of February 1781 and
served for Ten months under Genl Gree [sic: Nathanael Green] Col [Alexander]
Dick and Majr Cauder & Capt Richard Jones the rest of his officers he has
forgotten. He left this service in the beginning [?} of November 1781 after
serving faithfully for Ten months which added to his former tours makes Two
years and Ten months for which he claims a
pension.
At the time he entered the
service and during the service he resided in Dunwiddie [sic: Dinwiddie] County
Va. He served as a Volunteer. He was in the Battles of the Cowpens [17 Jan
1781] - Guiliford Court House [15 Mar 1781] and at the seige of York Town when
Lord Cornwallis was taken
[19 Oct 1781]. During his first tour he
marched from Petersburgh to Newton [?] where he remained for two months from
thence he marched to Cabin point [on James River in Surry County VA] from to
Portsmouth, from thence to Richmond where he went into Winter Quarters
- from thence to Brunswick [County VA] from thence to Port Tobacco [MD] from
thence to Ramseys Mill [on Deep River in NC] from thence to Charleston South
Carolina from thence to Cross Creek [now Fayetteville NC] from thence to Cape
Fear from thence to Haw River [NC] from thence to Cape Fear from thence to
Brunswick Courthouse where he was discharged.
During his 2nd term he marched
from Denwiddie Court House to Amelia Court House from thence to Lunenburgh [sic:
Lunenburg] from thence to the Swinging Bridge from thence to Richmond from
thence to Petersburgh from thence to Pocahontas from thence to Lynchburgh
[sic: Lynchburg] from thence to Oyster Shoals from thence back to Cheraw Hills
[SC] from thence to cross creek to dan River Pedee to the Cowpens and from
thence back to Virginia to (places mentioned above) to Lynchburggh and so
forth marching and countermarching along the Coast to Deep River from
thence to Cape fear, from thence to Pee dee [River] from thence to the
Cheraw Hills, to Haw River, Big Almantz [sic: Almance Creek in NC] from thence
to Stinking Quarter creek [in present Almance County NC] from thence to Guliford
Court House where he was engaged in the Battle - from thence he marched back to
Va by the route of Hickesford [Hick's Ford?] - Notaway [sic: Nottoway] River -
Cheraw Hills & c &c to Dinwiddie County where he was engaged
in a severe skirmish with the British and recd a wound in his hand - he was
taken prisoner but made his escape, he immediately rejoined the Army near
Dinwiddie Court House and remained with them marching & countermarching
untill the seige at Yorktown and the surrender of Cornwallis when he was
discharged and returned home in Virginia. He well remembers Genl Washington Genl
Green - Genl Ramsey - Genl Spencer - Genl Morgan Genl LaFayette - Col Dickerson
and many more He well remembers a company of Draggoons cinnabded by
Captain Washer he thinks who was with the troops at the time and also a
company of Regulars commanded by Capt. Dickinson there were also man many more
companies but he cannot recollect them distinctly. He has no written
documentary evidence and he knows of no person living whose testimony he can
procure who can testify to his services. He hereby relinquishes every
claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares
that his name is not on the pension Roll of the Agency of any
State. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Robin
hisXmark Loyd
Answers to the 7 Questions prescribed by the War
Department.
Answer to 1st Quest. I was born in Dunwiddie Co. Va in the
year 1760. Answer to 2d Quest. I have no record of my age - I only
spear from what persons have told me who were aquainted with me when I was a
child. Answer to 3d Quest. I was living when called into service in
Dunwiddie County Va. and resided there during the whole war - from thence I
removed to Norch Carolina and lived there 21 years when I removed to the
Territory of Indiana and continued to reside there ever since I now reside
in Jennings County Ind'a - Answer to 4th Quest. I Volunteered.
Answer to 5th Question - As I have stated within I knew Genl
Washington, Genl Lafayette - Genl Green - Genl Morgan - Genl [Charles] Lee
- Genl [Horatio] Gates - Genl Spencer - Genl Ramsey Col Gee - Majr Hunt and
many more. I recollect the company of Draggoons commanded by Capt Washer and a
company of Regulars commanded by Capt. Wilkinson The general circumstances
of my service are stated with within with the exception of my swimming Notaway
River at its highest state in the spring of 1781 and fetching over the boats on
the opposite side. this act at the time was considered a daring one considering
the coldness of the water and elicited much praise from my officers.
Answer to 6th Quest. I rec'd written discharges each time of my
dismissal signed 1stly by Capt Jones 2dly Capt Powell and 3dly by Capt
Richard Jones. they were lost in Va soon after the War by a Negro girl who
set the house on fire in which they were deposited. Answer to 7th
Quest Enquire of Sen Peaboddy - Col John Vawter - John Walker Esqr - Judge
Andrews and all who know
me
Robin hisXmark Loyd
State of Indiana} Sc
Personally appeared in open Court before the Hon Alanson Andrus sole Judge of
the Jennings County Probate Court now
Jennings
County} in
session Robin Loyd an applicant for a pension under the Law of June 7th
1832 who being first duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and
the consequent loss of memory he cannot state precisely or swear
positiviely to the precise length of his service, but to the best of his
recollection he served not less than the periods [two illegible words] and in
the following grades to wit For Two years and Ten months I served as a
private in the Army of the Revolution and for such service I now claim a
pension.
[10 Nov
1834}
Robin hisXmark Loyd
The State of Indiana
Jennings County
SS
On this 12th day of Feby in the year one thousand eight
hundred and thirty eight 1838 personally appeared in open Court, before the
Probate Court now setting at the courthouse in the Town of Vernon County &
State aforesaid, Indian Robin, now called Robin Loyd (a person of Color) a
resident of the said County of Jennings & State aforesaid aged eighty years
to the best of his knowledge who being first duly sworn according to law
doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit
of provisions made by the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832. that he
enlised during the revolutionary war in the army of the united states under the
following named officers and served as follows. the he first enlisted with
Capt I. Hunt but what year he enlisted in he cannot now recollect by reason of
old age and consequent loss of memory: that he enlisted for the term of one year
and with said Capt. Hunt at Donwidde Courthouse in the State of Virginia served
in the fifth Regiment he thinks but is not certain as to the No. of the Reg't.
in the continental line served under Gen'l Ramsey and Col. G; his lieut name was
James G. and his ensigns name was John Washer that he was marched to Petersburg.
that he was in the battle at cow pens, that he served out his time of
ome year and was discharged that he again reenlisted with Capt. Richard
Jones in Sussex County State of Virginia for the term of one year,
served in the same regiment he believes and with the same Col. Claiborn
Cain. that he was in the battle of Bunkers Hill [sic: 17 Jun 1775) at some
period of his service, that he marched to the State of South Carolina, and
the Company to which he belonged was put under the command of Col Nelson
[possibly John Nelson's Regiment of Virginia State Cavalry] as well as he can
recollect. After they left South Carolina he marched to Deep River, and
from there to Lewingburgh State of Virginia, where he was discharged having
served out his term of one year. That he again reenlisted for the
term of one year at Donwidde Courthouse with Capt Charles Settlelow, Col.
Stokes, and Gen'l Farrow. his Lieut's name was George Curl, and his ensigns name
was Thomas Gilum, that during this time of service he served out his time of
enlistment and returned home. the he served the whole term as a Private that he
resided in Donwidde County many years after the war and when he left that place
he went to North Carolina and remained there for a number of years, from there
he came to Indiana more than twenty years where he has been ever since. He
hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annutiy except the
present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency
in any
state
Indian hisXmark Robin
State of Indiana
]
Jennings County ]
Before me
the undersigned Clerk of the Jennings Court, Circuit Court personally appeared
Bertholemew Turner who is personally known to me as a man worthy of credence who
being by me first duly sworn upon his oath saith that he is now and has
been for the last four years been a resident of this county and he is as he
believes in his seventy first year of his age and was a
revolutionary Soldier, and further says that he knew a negro man named
Indian Robin who was in the service of the united states as a soldier in the
revolutionary war that I saw him twice or three times on horse back armed
for battle and my understanding was that he was a soldier of the United
States army but to what company he was attached I do not certainly know but I
believe the Negro man now present and who goes by the name Indian Robin Loyd
& sometimes Robin Loyd is the same person and is the same person who has, as
I am informed & believe applied to the United States for a pension and
further saith
not.
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 21st day of Sept
1838
[signed] bartholamew turner
State of
Indiana SS ]
Ripley
County ]
before me the undersigned M. Hyatt A Justice of the peace within and for
the State and County aforesaid this Day personally appeared John Grimes of said
County a man of Lawful age and sound mind and being by me first Duly sworn
Deposeth and saith that he is the Son of James Grimes [pension
application S17455] Deceased that his father the said James Grimes
was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution and Drew A pension for his
services for many years before his Death that he has frequently heard his father
talk of a negro man by the name of Indian Robin and that said Robin
was A Soldier in the war of the Revolution that part of the time he knew
said Robin served as a footman and port of the time in the troop of light
horse servis that the said Robin was at the taking of Cornwallis at york town
that the said Robin was at my fathers house a few Days before my fathers
Death I was not present at the time when said Robin was at my fathers but
I have since seen A man by the name of Indian Robin who is a negrow and who
Resides I am informed in Jinnings County in the State of Indiana and from
the Description Given me of said Robin by my father I have no Doubt
but the said Indian Robin of the said County of Jennings is the same Identical
man of whom I have frequently heard my said father James Grimes speak of
Above
[signed 26 Sep 1838] John Grimes
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