In 1777 in the Muster Roll Book in Pittsylvania County is a list of those who took the Oath of Allegiance. On page 275 is the l

The Bobbitt Family In America

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In 1777 in the Muster Roll Book in Pittsylvania County is a list of those who took the Oath of Allegiance. On page 275 is the list of William Witcher. Randolph Bobbitt is the 23rd name on this list. The list is badly faded, but it is clear that some of the first names were James, John, and William, and the faded last names to me, were decidedly Bobbit.

SEPTEMBER 24, 1778 - Court Order Book 4, page 156, Pittsylvania Co.

September Court: John Bobbitt, producing a commission appointing him as Second Lieutenant in the Militia of this County, took the oath by law prescribed.

MARCH 1781 - Court Order Book 4, page 359, Pittsylvania Co.

March Court: Randolph Bobbitt, producing a commission appointing him Ensign in the Militia of this County, took the oath by law prescribed.

MAY 1782 - Court Order Book 4, page 400, Pittsylvania Co.

Randolph Bobbitt is appointed First, and Bowker Smith Second, Lieutenants to Captain Robert Daltons Company of the Militia of this County.

MARCH 4, 1778 - Court Order Book 2, page 164, Montgomery County.

March Court: William Bobbet is recommended as Captain in part of Captain Trigg's Company.

"The procedure in the commissioning of Militia officers was that the County Courts recommended men to the Governor and either he, personally, or his council issued commissions. When the commissions were returned to the counties, the prospective officers appeared before the court and were sworn in. Entries of their resignations also were recorded in the order books. Often Militia officers were appointed. It seems that when officers were recommended or appointed they immediately assumed their duties, and they may rightfully be considered to have served as officers."

"It is apparent that many men served in various active commands early in the war and then returned to their counties to be commissioned as Militia officers." (Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution - 1775-1783 by John H. Gwathmey.)

Both James Bobbitt and William Bobbitt received Treasury Land Warrants in 1781 in Montgomery County Virginia. These land warrants were issued for service in the Revolutionary War. Records of the men who served in the war are very meager and we are in deed fortunate that the above records have been preserved.

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