Rev. War Veteran
Caldwell Co., Ky.
For more information on Spencer Calvert
Contact: Peggy D. Gilkey email
Spencer Calvert's Revolutionary War Pension Application
Pension No. 30312
20th May 1833. State of Kentucky, Caldwell County.
Spencer Calvert, aged 72 years, wishes to get benefit of Act of Congress of June 7, 1832, for Pension.
"In the fall of 1777 a draft was made to join Washington's army as I then understood. Had a few months
previously been placed on the muster roll in Prince William county, Virginia, where I then lived. I stood my draft but was not chosen.
"However being young and having a brother in the 3rd Virginia Regiment whom I wished to see, determined to enter
the service and therefore substituted in the place for a married man (whose name I have forgotten and who had been drafted for
three months as a private). We rendezvoused at a place called the Red House in Fauquier county and I served under Captain
Valentine Peyton and in the Regiment of Colonel Jesse Ewell. We were ordered to join General Washington immediately, then
being about eighteen miles from Philadelphia, which we did just before he retired into winter quarters at Valley Forge.
At this time the City of Philadelphia was in the possession of the British. I served out the three months according to the draft
and was regulary discharged. During this service there was no movement of the army or any other circumstance transpired
which was worth mentioning. Washington remained stationary. However, an attempt was made by a volunteer detachment to
surprise the enemy's picket guard at the Rising Sun situated between the two armies, but the project failed as the picket guard
had been withdrawn before the arrival of the detachment. Again, some time in the month of October, 1780, I submitted in the
place of a man drafted for three months (whose name I have also forgotten, my memory being much impaired by age) from the
same county to go to the south and join General Green as he was then weak and not able to make a stand. We rendezvoused at
Dumfries under Captain Britt and an Irish Lieutenant whose name I do not remember. We marched through Guilford, crossed the
Yadkin at Island ford; thence to Salisbury seven miles beyound; thence to the Cheravry? where we joined Green in the month of
November or December. Soon after arriving in camp and in the month of December, I was elected and appointed Sergeant of my
Company. Green soon discovered that Cornwallis intended an attack on him as his army was weakned by the advance of Morgan
who had been detached over the Catawba, and in consequence broke up his camp at the Cherarvy(?) and moved towards Island
ford, and learning that the enemy was then at Salisbury he hastened his march in order to cross the river before he could be overtaken
which he effected except the rear guard of about 300 men which was attacked by the British before they could cross, and were dispersed.
The most of them escaped, however, and crossed above and below and rejoined the army on the next day at the camp. As soon as night
came Green ordered large fires to be built to deceive the enemy, and immediately began a forced march, which was continued until they
reached Guilford. My term of service had expired before crossing the Yadkin as well as those who were drafted at the same time;
at the request of Green, whose situation was then critical, I consented, with others, voluntarily to remain with him until the danger ceased.
In about three days after arriving in Guilford, the enemy appeared, and each army prepared for battle, for Green here determined to make
a stand and await the enemy. The Virginia militia were commanded by Generals Stevens and Lawson (?) and Colonels Lynch, Preston and Campbell, as well as I remember.
"The battle of Guilford was fought in March, 1781, and the circumstances and results are known to all. I will not therefore repeat them. Soon afterward
I was discharged as our further service was not necessary. I was discharged about the middle of March having served from the month of October previous-three months of
which was as Sergeant of my company. In this expedition I served with one John Bucklin from my county who was drum major, and with William McIntosh a private, and
with my brother Raleigh Calvert. I declare that I have no documentary evidence now in my possession which would prove my service, having lost my discharge long ago.
Nor do I know of any person living by whom I could prove it, as those with whom I served are all dead as I believe. It is possible some of them may yet be in Virginia, but I know not of them.
"I entered the service in Prince William county, Virginia, where I then lived and was born and raised there. I hereby relinquish every claim whatsoever to a pension
or annuity except the present, and I do declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of my State or Territory whatever".
And the said court then propounded the following interrogatories to the said applicant as prescribed by the War department, to which he made the subjoined answers-to wit:
1. Where and in what year were you born?
Answer. I was born in Prince William County, Virginia, but the precise time I am unable to state, as record of my age was lost by my family at an early peroid; but from all I can learn, judging from the time of entering service and my age at that time. I must now be as much as seventy-two years of age.
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?
Answer. I have none-it was lost as before mentioned.
3. Where were you living when you entered the service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer. During the war and for ten tears after I lived in Prince William county, State of Virginia. Then I moved to South Carolina, where I lived twenty years, and then to this county where I have lived ever since.
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute , and if a substitute, for whom?
Answer. I was substituted in both the expeditions mentioned by me, but I cannot now mention the names, - my memory is much impaired and I never was much acquainted with either of them.
5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troop where you served, such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Answer. In my first expedition I knew several regular officers but remember at this time only Colonel Morgan who commanded a rifle corps. Generals Greene and Washington. I remember Colonel Gist who commanded Maryland militia, and Major Morris of Morgan's regiment.
In my expedition to the south under Green, I remember Colonel Lee and his legions. Colonel Washington and his cavalry; and Colonel Williams who I think commanded the Maryland Continental troops. I also remember the militia regiments from Virginia, viz: under Campbell, Preston and Lynch. Who commanded the Carolina militia I do not now remember.
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and also by whom given - and what has become of it?
Answer. I received discharges from both terms-the first given by my Captian as well as I remember, as also the last.
State the names of to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Answer. I am known to William Blackburn, Rev. James W. Mansfield, Walter McChesney, Edmund Wilcox, James Morse, Esq., and many others.
(Signed) Spencer Calvert
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid.
We Baalam Ezell a clergyman residing in the county of Caldwell and State of Kentucky, and Chittenden Lyon and Tho. Hayney and John Weeks,
all testify to Spencer Calvert's good
character and believe in his having
been a Revolutionary soldier.
The Court declared their opinion that Spencer Calvert had been a soldier of the Revolution.
(He received $41.66 per annum, paid semi-annually.)
Pension No. 30312
20th May 1833. State of Kentucky, Caldwell County.
Spencer Calvert, aged 72 years, wishes to get benefit of Act of Congress of June 7, 1832, for Pension.
"In the fall of 1777 a draft was made to join Washington's army as I then understood. Had a few months
previously been placed on the muster roll in Prince William county, Virginia, where I then lived. I stood my draft but was not chosen.
"However being young and having a brother in the 3rd Virginia Regiment whom I wished to see, determined to enter
the service and therefore substituted in the place for a married man (whose name I have forgotten and who had been drafted for
three months as a private). We rendezvoused at a place called the Red House in Fauquier county and I served under Captain
Valentine Peyton and in the Regiment of Colonel Jesse Ewell. We were ordered to join General Washington immediately, then
being about eighteen miles from Philadelphia, which we did just before he retired into winter quarters at Valley Forge.
At this time the City of Philadelphia was in the possession of the British. I served out the three months according to the draft
and was regulary discharged. During this service there was no movement of the army or any other circumstance transpired
which was worth mentioning. Washington remained stationary. However, an attempt was made by a volunteer detachment to
surprise the enemy's picket guard at the Rising Sun situated between the two armies, but the project failed as the picket guard
had been withdrawn before the arrival of the detachment. Again, some time in the month of October, 1780, I submitted in the
place of a man drafted for three months (whose name I have also forgotten, my memory being much impaired by age) from the
same county to go to the south and join General Green as he was then weak and not able to make a stand. We rendezvoused at
Dumfries under Captain Britt and an Irish Lieutenant whose name I do not remember. We marched through Guilford, crossed the
Yadkin at Island ford; thence to Salisbury seven miles beyound; thence to the Cheravry? where we joined Green in the month of
November or December. Soon after arriving in camp and in the month of December, I was elected and appointed Sergeant of my
Company. Green soon discovered that Cornwallis intended an attack on him as his army was weakned by the advance of Morgan
who had been detached over the Catawba, and in consequence broke up his camp at the Cherarvy(?) and moved towards Island
ford, and learning that the enemy was then at Salisbury he hastened his march in order to cross the river before he could be overtaken
which he effected except the rear guard of about 300 men which was attacked by the British before they could cross, and were dispersed.
The most of them escaped, however, and crossed above and below and rejoined the army on the next day at the camp. As soon as night
came Green ordered large fires to be built to deceive the enemy, and immediately began a forced march, which was continued until they
reached Guilford. My term of service had expired before crossing the Yadkin as well as those who were drafted at the same time;
at the request of Green, whose situation was then critical, I consented, with others, voluntarily to remain with him until the danger ceased.
In about three days after arriving in Guilford, the enemy appeared, and each army prepared for battle, for Green here determined to make
a stand and await the enemy. The Virginia militia were commanded by Generals Stevens and Lawson (?) and Colonels Lynch, Preston and Campbell, as well as I remember.
"The battle of Guilford was fought in March, 1781, and the circumstances and results are known to all. I will not therefore repeat them. Soon afterward
I was discharged as our further service was not necessary. I was discharged about the middle of March having served from the month of October previous-three months of
which was as Sergeant of my company. In this expedition I served with one John Bucklin from my county who was drum major, and with William McIntosh a private, and
with my brother Raleigh Calvert. I declare that I have no documentary evidence now in my possession which would prove my service, having lost my discharge long ago.
Nor do I know of any person living by whom I could prove it, as those with whom I served are all dead as I believe. It is possible some of them may yet be in Virginia, but I know not of them.
"I entered the service in Prince William county, Virginia, where I then lived and was born and raised there. I hereby relinquish every claim whatsoever to a pension
or annuity except the present, and I do declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of my State or Territory whatever".
And the said court then propounded the following interrogatories to the said applicant as prescribed by the War department, to which he made the subjoined answers-to wit:
1. Where and in what year were you born?
Answer. I was born in Prince William County, Virginia, but the precise time I am unable to state, as record of my age was lost by my family at an early peroid; but from all I can learn, judging from the time of entering service and my age at that time. I must now be as much as seventy-two years of age.
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?
Answer. I have none-it was lost as before mentioned.
3. Where were you living when you entered the service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer. During the war and for ten tears after I lived in Prince William county, State of Virginia. Then I moved to South Carolina, where I lived twenty years, and then to this county where I have lived ever since.
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute , and if a substitute, for whom?
Answer. I was substituted in both the expeditions mentioned by me, but I cannot now mention the names, - my memory is much impaired and I never was much acquainted with either of them.
5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troop where you served, such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Answer. In my first expedition I knew several regular officers but remember at this time only Colonel Morgan who commanded a rifle corps. Generals Greene and Washington. I remember Colonel Gist who commanded Maryland militia, and Major Morris of Morgan's regiment.
In my expedition to the south under Green, I remember Colonel Lee and his legions. Colonel Washington and his cavalry; and Colonel Williams who I think commanded the Maryland Continental troops. I also remember the militia regiments from Virginia, viz: under Campbell, Preston and Lynch. Who commanded the Carolina militia I do not now remember.
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and also by whom given - and what has become of it?
Answer. I received discharges from both terms-the first given by my Captian as well as I remember, as also the last.
State the names of to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Answer. I am known to William Blackburn, Rev. James W. Mansfield, Walter McChesney, Edmund Wilcox, James Morse, Esq., and many others.
(Signed) Spencer Calvert
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid.
We Baalam Ezell a clergyman residing in the county of Caldwell and State of Kentucky, and Chittenden Lyon and Tho. Hayney and John Weeks,
all testify to Spencer Calvert's good
character and believe in his having
been a Revolutionary soldier.
The Court declared their opinion that Spencer Calvert had been a soldier of the Revolution.
(He received $41.66 per annum, paid semi-annually.)
20th May 1833. State of Kentucky, Caldwell County.
Spencer Calvert, aged 72 years, wishes to get benefit of Act of Congress of June 7, 1832, for Pension.