I'm just so proud for you to come and visit poor ole' Peter, he's been so lonely as of late. You will have to speak directly into his ear phone. As you probably already know poor Peter is just about deaf and can't see very well.
Here's a little information about Peter's war record. The information below on Peter's children is information from my database that I have collected over the years. If you have any corrections or additions please let me know. DebRaque@netzero.net
If you want to read Peter's Pension information - go here
If you want to see the names of what we think are all of
Peter's Children - go here
According to Peter DeSpain's Revolutionary War Pension information from "Abstracts of pensions Soldiers of the Rev., 1812 & Indian Wars that settled in Kentucky". On August 20 of the year 1832 in Green County in the state of Kentucky, the said pensioner at the age of 69 years appeared in open court and stated that he enlisted in the year 1780 to serve in the company under the command of Captain Bently in the Virginia Regiment under the command of Colonel Haws for a tour of eighteen months duration and he was then honorably discharged at Salisbury in the state of North Carolina. He stated that he resided in Montgomery County in the state of Virginia. He said that he had served in the Battle of Campden, the Battle of Guildford Court House, and also in the Siege of Ninety Six. He said that they had marched from Montgomery Court House to Chesterfield and they had then joined General Green at Cheraw Hills on the Pede River.
On March 22 of the year 1856 in Green County in the state of Kentucky, the affidavit of William Perry DeSpain and William D. Skaggs was also given. The said deponents stated and swore that the former was the son and only minor heir of the said pensioner and they also stated and swore that the said Peter DeSpain did receive a pension and that he had died on March 31 of the year 1850 and that he had left no widow. It was also stated that the aforesaid William Perry DeSpain had been born in Green County in the state of Kentucky on August 2 of the year 1837 and that he was then at the age of nineteen years and he applied for the bounty land that was due to him.
{This comes from a Tray in the Green County Clerk's
office.}
{the 1st page is a form letter that has blank spaces for the clerk to fill in}
Peter DeSpain Pension Affidavit
{1st page}
Original Claim
Declaration in order to be placed on the Pension List, under the Act of the 18th March,
1818.
Kentucky
County of Green
On this 29th day of May 1832, personally appeared in open county, (a) being a court of
record (b) for the circuit of Green County Peter Dispain resident in said county, age 68
years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following
decla-
ration, in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress, of the 18th March,
1818, and the first of May 1820, that he the said Despain enlisted (c) for the term of
Eighteen months on the <blank> day of <blank> in the year <blank> in the
State of Virginia in the company (d) commanded by captain Bentley in the regiment
commanded by colonel Haws in the line of
the State of Virginia on the continental establishment, that he continued to serve in the
said corps until the full end of 18 months when he was discharged from the service in
Salsbury in the State of North Carolina that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
to a pension except the present; that his name is not on the roll of any State except
Virginia; and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a
pension: (e) that his sons & daughter who then lived with him was able to labor for
their support . they have now all left him except one daughter who has been confined to
bed for near ten years. that his ??? ???? had his eye sight but now it has nearly entirely
failed him.
And, in pursuance of the act of the 1st May, 1820, I do solemnly swear, that I was a
resident citizen of the United States on the 18 day of March, 1818, and that I have not,
since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part
thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of
an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the
land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary Warr, " passed on
the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any
property, or securities, contracts, or debts due to me; nor have I any income, other than
what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me suscribed. (f) That since the
18th of March, 1818, the following changes have been made in my property. (g) The
particular changes since the year 1818 not recollected having been made to prove the
necessaries of life, and occ?re?ned by death.
his
Peter X Despain
mark
{next page}
District of Kentucky County of Green Sct.
On this <left blank> day of October <left blank> personally appeared in open
court being a court of record for the County of Green Peter Despain - resident in said
County aged 68 years on the 9th day of January next who being first duly sworn according
to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision
made by the acts of the Congress of the United States of America of the 18th day of March
1818 and the first of May 1820 and the first day of March 1823 that he the said Peter
Despain enlisted as a regular soldier for the Term of eighteen months in the State of
Virginia in the year shortyly before the defeat of Gates in the Virginia State line on the
Continental establishment and was engaged in the service of the United State and Served
out the time aforesaid that he was enlisted by Col. Preston and mustered into service by
Capt. Bentley? and was discharged from service in 19 months from his time of enlistment,
date not recollected, his discharge having been burnt with his house many years since, at
Salisbury in the State of North Carolina and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident
citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that
time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed? of my property or any part thereof with
intenet thereby so to deminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of
Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engage in the land and naval
service service of the United State in the Revolutionary War passed? on the 18th day of
March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person for me any property or securities
contract or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the
schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed, to wit, one sorrel Poney- ten head of
indifferent cattle, four of them Calves seven or eight hogs - four head of sheep. One bed
and furniture three ploughs two axes worth in all seventy five dollars six dollars in
money. Given about three dollars, no debts coming to him except one in an ??? man. I have
a daughter now sick, and has been for ten years, I have no body to help me work and I am
now nearly deprived of my eyesight, have been stout?, but have had the ream of my belly
broken which is at times very painfull to me, my children have all left me except my said
daughter and are poor and needy and are unable to render me any assistance. I therefore
appeal to my country for and in my old age and distressed? condition. Peter O(his mark)
DeSpain
At a County Court held for Green County at the Courthouse in Greensburgh on the 21st day
of November 1831 being a court of record.
Peter Despain came into court and signed the written affidavit for the purpose of
obtaining a pension and swore to the same in open court. Which was ordered to be certified
to the Secretary of War. Given under my hand as Clerk this 21 Nov. 1831. John Barnett, clk
James Sherrel a respectable witness and disinterested, ? came into court and made oath
that he said Sherrel was in Haws Regiment of Continental troops during the Revolutionary
War and knows that the within named Peter Despain was in the same Regiment and a the same
time in Service as a Soldier March 19th 1832. James Sherrel
And afterwards at a County Court, held for Green County at the Courthouse in Greensburgh
this 19th {next page} day of March 1832. Came James Sherrel a creditable and
disinterested witness and signed, and ??? to the foregoing affidavit all of which is
certified to the Secretary of War.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 19th day of March
1832 John Barret Clk
{another loose page}
and in addition the rim of his belly is broke that renders him incapable of laboring - he
further states that he has parted with no property since the year 1818 except what has
been concruned? in the support of the family and to procure necessary apparel.
Schedule
Sorrel Poney $30
8 head of cattle } 21
4 of which calves}
7 or 8 head of hogs 6
4 sheep 3
3 ploughs 5
2 axes 1.50
in money 6.00
$72.50
??? about three dollars
his
Peter X Despain
mark
To go back to the top of this page
Children of Peter DeSpain
1. PETER7 DESPAIN (JOHN6, SAMUEL5, SAMUEL4 DESPAIGNE, GEDEON3, JEAN2, GERVOIS1) was born January 9, 1764 in Halifax Co., North Carolina (Source: Revolutionary War Pension Affidavit), and died March 31, 1850 in Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Files - Filson). He married (1) RACHEL LYNN. He married (2) POLLY HOUSE. He married (3) NANCY SKAGGS December 15, 1791 in Nelson Co., Kentucky (Source: DeSpain Log Cabin). [Nobody has been able to find the 1st &2nd marriage dates or proof, but it does seem acceptable that he was married more than once. I really don't think that Nancy could have had all of these children - even though it is possible!!]
Warning this family is very confusing! There are probably quite a few errors here. No one has really figured out how many children that Peter had!
Children of PETER DESPAIN and NANCY SKAGGS are:
i. SUSANNA8 DESPAIN, b. Abt. 1792, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: DeSpain Log Cabin & Ancestral File - LDS Library); m. JOHN DONAN, May 17, 1806, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: DeSpain Log Cabin & Green Co. Marriages 1793-1836).
ii. JOHN DESPAIN, b. May 24, 1793, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: DeSpain Log Cabin & Ancestral File - LDS Library); d. December 2, 1865, Pleasant Grove, Des Moines Co., Iowa; m. (1) LYDIA HOWELL, July 15, 1813, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: (1) DeSpain Log Cabin, (2) Green Co. Marriages 1793-1836.); m. (2) HESTER CURRY, July 06, 1834, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: DeSpain Log Cabin); m. (3) MARIAH PERKINS, February 15, 1841, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Don Pond.).
iii. HIRAM DESPAIN, b. Abt. 1794, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Ancestral File - LDS Library); d. Bef. September 14, 1836, Madison Co., Missouri (Source: Ida Lancaster Skaggs Book - Via Gemi Pearman); m. NANCY OR AMY UNDERWOOD, October 02, 1812, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Green Co. Marriages - Book A - Recorded Not Bonded 1793-1836).
iv. GIRL DESPAIN, b. Abt. 1794 (Source: DeSpain Log Cabin).
v. MARSHALL DESPAIN, b. Abt. 1795, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Ancestral File - LDS Library); m. MARY HEDGEPETH.
vi. STEPHEN DESPAIN, b. Abt. 1799, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Ancestral File - LDS Library); m. THEA SHOEMAKER, November 08, 1824, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Green Co. Marriages - Book B 1793-1836).
vii. GIRL DESPAIN, b. Abt. 1801 (Source: DeSpain Log Cabin).
viii. MALE DESPAIN, b. Abt. 1802, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: 1810 Green Co. Census)
ix. JAMES DESPAIN, b. October 24, 1804, Kentucky (Source: Charles DeSpain); d. October 30, 1839, Montgomery Co., Indiana (Source: Charles DeSpain) ; m. MARY ROARK, July 26, 1829, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Green Co. Circuit Case - #3871)
x. HARRISON DESPAIN, b. Abt. 1807, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Ancestral File - LDS Library); d. Harrison County, Indiana (Source: Don Pond.); m. ISABELLA TOWN, April 16, 1829, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Green Co. Marriages - Book B 1793-1836).
xii. SILAS DESPAIN, b. Abt. 1813, Green Co., Kentucky
(Source: DeSpain Log Cabin); d. May 31, 1858, Green Co., Kentucky (Green Co. Circuit
Case #1505); m. (1) ABIGAIL EDWARDS, October 30, 1831, Green Co.,
Kentucky By: William Noe (Source: Green Co. Marriages - Book B 1793-1836); m. (2) SUSAN
JONES, July 18, 1852, Green Co., Kentucky By: Elijah Etherton (Source:
Green Co. Marriages 1836-1861).
[Silas and Abigail are my direct ancestors, just in
case you were wondering!]
xiii. EDMOND DESPAIN, b. Abt. 1812 (Source: DeSpain Log Cabin); m. SARAH (?) DESPAIN.
xiv. BOY DESPAIN, b. Abt. 1819 (Source: DeSpain Log Cabin).
xv. WILLIAM JOSEPH DESPAIN, b. March 19, 1813, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Ancestral File - LDS Library); d. December 22, 1877, Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska (Source: DeSpain Log Cabin or Aug. 29, 1880 - Ida Lancaster Skaggs' Book via Gemi Pearman); m. JEANETTE S. KATHERINE EATON, October 10, 1830 (Source: Ida Lancaster Skaggs Book - Via Gemi Pearman).
xvi. THOMAS DESPAIN, b. March 19, 1813, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Ancestral File - LDS Library); d. August 29, 1880, Butler, Bates Co., Missouri (Source: DeSpain Log Cabin); m. HESTER ANN (?) DESPAIN, January 25, 1837 Bond date, (Source: Green Co. Marriages 1836-1861).
xvii. NANCY DESPAIN, b. Abt. 1820, Kentucky (Source: Ancestral File - LDS Library);, m. CHARLES THOMPSON, June 4, 1835, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Green Co. Marriages 1836-1861).
xviii. WILLIAM PERRY DESPAIN, b. August 02, 1837,
Green Co., Kentucky (Source: Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Files - Filson); m. ELISHA
WARREN, September 01, 1858, Green Co., Kentucky (Source: DeSpain Log Cabin).
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