The Bobbitt Family In America

660


  

signed: WILLIAM BOBBITT      November 23, 1832.

Peter Mylie, Judge

The questions and answers tell the story. Of interest to me was the fact that William Bobbitt signed his own name in his handwriting and spelled his name exactly as written above.

The original application is in the National Archives under number W 9740, Revolutionary War pension applications. The handwriting is difficult to read and there are many faded passages.

"Personally appeared in open court, before me, Peter Mylie, Judge of the court of ordinary, Martin Kee and Benjamin Patterson, that they are acquainted with William Bobbitt, the aforesaid applicant, for the benefit of the act of congress passed the 7th day of June 1832. That they believe him to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary War. That Martin Kee testifies that he has heard his Uncle Spell Cambel say that he was in the ranks with said Bobbitt at the battle of Guilford. When he was wounded, that he took care of him and carried him out of action and gave him water to drink out of a hat. The said, Patterson, said 'that he heard his brother James Patterson, say the same and that he was standing by his side when he fell and that they actually believe he was a revolutionary soldier, and that the statements in his declaration to be true and that they believe him to be a man of sincerity and truth and that he stands fair in the neighborhood wherein he lives."

Benjamin X Patterson

Martin Kee

At the same session in court, William Bobbitt gave the following abstracted description of his service in the war. This statement was dated November 24, 1832, Chester District, South Carolina.

"William Bobbitt, aged seventy one years, who first being duly sworn, doth make the following declaration. I was drafted and entered the service of the United States in the month of November .... and served five months under General Ash, Colonel Eaten, and Captain Harris. I was under their command when I marched from North Carolina to Georgia and was at the defeating near Dyers Creek. After the defeat I returned back to North Carolina to where some regulars lay and continued there till the time for which I was drafted expired. I then got a discharge from Captain Thomas Eaten and continued at home for about 18 months. I was drafted again for three months and served the time under General Green, Captain Harris and Captain George Nazra."