Pension Application

Jacob Boy's Military Pension Application (1832)

The following is excerpted from Virginia Revolutionary Pension Applications, John Frederick Dorman, compiler (Washington, 1958- ). My comments are in italics in green.

BOY, Jacob (Mary). W. 8146; BLWt. 16276-160-55.
21 Aug. 1832. Sullivan Co., Tenn. Jacob (X) Boy of said county, ages 81, declares he was born in York Co., Pa., and moved to Loudoun Co., Va. In the fall of 1779 he was drafted for eighteen months. His lieutenant's name was Pitzfortem. They marched from Leesburg through Fredericksburg and Richmond and rendezvoused at Chesterfield Court House. He was put under Capt. Sensum in Col. Campbell's regiment. After some time they marched to Guilford Court House and he was in the action there under Gen. Greene. They marched to Camden where they stayed three or four weeks and then marched to Ninety Six where they had another action, after which they marched to the High Hills of Santee, where they remained in quarters some time, and then marched to Eutaw Springs where they had another battle. They marched in different directions until they came to Salisbury where he was discharged in 1781.

This is the initial application and contains almost everything that is known of Jacob's Revolutionary War service. The Viriginia Militia served alongside the Continental Army. Other records indicate that Jacob had served in the Continental Army and later rejoined the Militia--there were CA veterans in militia regiments at this time, so it is at least possible, if unproven.

29 March 1833. Sullivan Co., Tenn. Jacob (X) Boy declares he served one tour of eighteen months as a private. He was born in 1751 (a record is in possession of his son in this county). He lived in Loudoun Co., Va., when called into service. A few years after the war he moved to Sullivan Co., Tenn., where he has resided since. His name as spelled in his native language, the German, is Jacob Buch, though generally pronounced and written in English Boy. Whether he was entered in the muster roll as Boy or Buch he does not know.

This is the cryptic note about the spelling and pronunciation of our last name. "Buch" (translated as "book" in English) doesn't really sound at all like "Boy" in English, but it could possibly have had an "oy" sound if it were written "Bäuch" or "Beuch." The gutteral "ch" sound would have been difficult for English-speaking Americans to pronounce and possibly it was left off, leaving "Boy."

28 Dec. 1843. Sullivan Co., Tenn. Mrs. Mary (X) Boy of said county, aged 68, declares she is the widow of Jacob Boy. She was married 12 Oct. 1792. He died 20 May 1833.
28 Dec. 1843. Sullivan Co., Tenn. William Rockhold of said county, in his 66th year, declares he was at the wedding of Mrs. Mary Boy and Jacob Boy before June 1794.
Marriage bond, Sullivan Co., Tenn., 18 Oct. 1796. Jacob (X) Boy to Mary Drummond. Security, Thomas Rockhold.

Ten years after his death, Mary Drummond declares she was married to Jacob Boy (note the date of 1792!) and gives the testimony of William Rockhold and the marriage bond as proof. The Rockhold family donated the land for the Rockhold Methodist Church where the Boy Family Reunion is held each year.

19 Nov. 1849. Andrew Boy writes from Blountville, Tenn., to Andrew Johnson about his mother's pension papers.
21 March 1850. Sullivan Co., Tenn. William Rockhold of said county, aged 72 next May, declares the marriage bond is that of Mrs. Mary Boy's marriage. She and her husband were almost illiterate and are without record proof in their family.

The wheels of government turned as slowly then as now! Apparently, Mary was having some trouble convincing the government that she was, indeed, married to Jacob . . ..

23 April 1853. Sullivan Co., Tenn. Mary (X) Boy of said county, aged 78, declares she married Jacob Boy 12 Nov. 1796, by Samuel McCorkle, justice of the peace. Her name was Mary Drummond. He died 20 May 1833 in said county. She applies for land bounty.

1 Nov. 1849. Sullivan Co., Tenn. Thomas Rockhold and Patience (X) Royston declare they were present at the marriage of Jacob Boy and Mary Drummond in Oct. 1795.
1 Nov. 1849. Sullivan Co., Tenn. Mary (X) Boy of said county, aged 74, declares she was mistaken in saying she married before 1794. She thinks she was married in Oct. 1795.
Jacob Boy of Sullivan Co., Tenn., private in the company of Capt. Sensum in the regiment of Col. Campbell in the Virginia militia for one year and six months, was placed on the Jonesborough, Tenn., pension roll at $60 per annum under the Act of 1832. Certificate 13628 was issued 29 May 1833.
Mary Boy, widow of Jacob Boy, a private, was placed on the Jonesborough, Tenn., roll at $60 per annum under the Act of 29 July 1848. Certificate 717 was issued 9 Dec. 1850. Bouny land warrant 16276 for 160 acres was issued 19 Feb. 1856.

Here Mary continues her efforts to prove her marriage, finally realizing that the initial date she gave must have been incorrect; apparently the marriage records were found in 1795, not 1792, and her pension was accepted. By the way, in today's money, $60 would be around $971 (see The Inflation Calculator).