Notes for: William Longley

I originally had William's parents' names as James Longley and Sarah Nicholson. These came from a message posted on the Internet by Patricia Lawrence. I found out later that this was incorrect. Here is a message I received from Doris Johnston:

From: outahere@juno.com [outahere@juno.com]
Sent: Mon, September 23, 2002
Subject: Longleys on your website

Dave...There is absolutely no evidence that William Longley's parents were as shown. The only Longley in Loudoun Co., VA where he went as a child from NJ and was living with his father when he enlisted in the Revolutionary War, was Joseph Longley (wife's name unknown). Joseph Longley first appeared in Loudoun Co., VA in 1764 and remained there through the 1810 census. Until his sons William and Joseph got old enough to appear on tax lists, he was the only Longley in Loudoun Co., as I discovered in 1980 on my first long research vacation. Joseph was Joseph Longley Jr. in Hunterdon Co. NJ records in 1761 where he and Joseph Sr. were co-defendants in a lawsuit. Joseph Longley Sr. md. Mary Campbell, the dau. of John Campbell a Scottish Covenenter banished to East Jersey and arrived in Monmouth Co., NJ Dec 1685. I belong to Daughters of American Colonists on William, his father, both his parents, and his grandfather John Campbell, whose heirs signed an Indenture in 1732 selling Monmouth Co., NJ property in the estate of John Campbell, late of Philadelphia -- it was signed in Hunterdon Co., NJ by Joseph & wife Mary Longley.

Not listed in William Longley's Revolutionary Pension record was his son Joseph, who predeceased him and was my ancestor. An 1812 file on him has an affidavit signed by his brother Joel that they served together and he saw his brother die (in one record says 1829, another 1830), and that my gr-gr-grandmother Martha Jane Longley was his only surviving heir and should receive a land warrant for her father's service. She did.

Thanks, I may have questions but wanted to get this off to you. Unfortunately, the James Longley & Sarah Nicholson as parents of William misinformation was published conjecture about 1970, but that couple md. in Norfolk Co., VA, a family which has no apparent connection to ours whatsoever.

Doris Johnston

Some people have used the middle initial "C" or the middle name "Campbell" for William, but this cannot be documented. If some proof of this middle name exists, it would be nice to see.

Ronny Bodine wrote the following:

William was born 1 September 1764 in New Jersey and died 7 November 1841 in Polk County. He enlisted in Captain Thomas Humphries' Company of light infantry in October 1779 and was in the battle of Burrell's Ferry, Williamsburg and the Siege of Yorktown. He was discharged in February 1782 and lived in Loudoun County a short time after the war, then in Shenandoah, Rockbridge and Washington Counties, Virginia and in 1800 moved to Sevier County, Tennessee. On 3 June 1833 he applied for a pension in McMinn County, Tennessee which was approved to be effective from 28 September 1833. He appears on the 1835 pension roll of McMinn County, aged 73 years, drawing a pension at the rate of $50 per year. Polk County was formed in 1839 from Bradley and McMinn Counties and the Longleys lived out their lives there. On 27 September 1854, in Catoosa County, Georgia, on behalf of a claim for pension money by the heirs of Mary Longley, Mrs. Etha Burk stated she was a sister of Mrs. Mary Longley. Of their eight children, son Joel Longley (1791-1878) was 1st married to his presumed first cousin, Nancy Bodine, daughter of Francis Bodine.

In his application for a Revolutionary war pension (see below), we learn that William was living with his father in Loudoun County, Virginia when he joined the militia. In this application, William also says that he was born in New Jersey in 1761. He lived in several more Virginia counties before removing to Sevier County, Tennessee in 1800. He later moved to McMinn County, Tennessee where he was living at the time he wrote his application (June 3, 1833).

In the pension file, there is also a letter from Mary's sister, Etha Burk, dated September 27, 1854. This was written by Etha after both William and Mary Longley had died. She states that William and Mary had married about 1780 in Loudoun County, Virginia. Etha goes on to say that William died in Polk County, Tennesse about 1841 and that Mary survived her husband about three years. I believe the letter was written from Catoosa County, Georgia.

Doris N. Johnston says, "I believe it is pretty well established that Mary Ann was a Bodine; her sister Etha was named Bodine when she married Mr. John Burk 30 Sep 1797 in Montgomery Co., VA with her guardian and surety as William Longley."

Below is a transcription of William's application for a Revolutionary War pension. Words in italics were handwritten. The rest were printed on the application form. My appreciation to Jean McCullough for sending this in to me along with some other papers from the pension file.

DECLARATION
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS PASSED JUNE 1832

State of Tennessee
County of McMinn

On this 3rd day of June personally appeared in open Court, before the Justice of the County Court of said county, William Longley a resident of said county and state, aged about seventy-two years, who being first duly sworn according to the law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named offices, and served as herein stated - He entered the service as a drafted man, in the militia of the State of Virginia, in the month of October, 1780, as well as he could recollect, in Loudon County in said State, where he then resided with his father, under this command of Major Armistead, whose direct name is not recollected - Captain Thomas Humphries, Lieutenant John Bartlett. There were about 700 troops from said county of whom declarant was one and he thinks they were called light infantry. These troops were marching from Loudon County to Williamsburg in Virginia where they were stationed in the barracks for several months, and from wherein parties of our cause were detained to hold the British forces under Arnold in check. After being stationed here one month, declarant does not recollect the precise time, the British forces landed at Burrell's ferry at the mouth of the James River, where about 200 of our men and declarant one of them, were stationed. We stood our ground and fired upon the enemy until our cartridges were exhausted, each man of us having fired near 30 rounds, when we were so far outnumbered that we had to retreat. We retreated to Williamsburg, 6 miles from the above named ferry and on reaching there all our troops retreated from town and the British marched in and occupied our barracks that night. We had retreated only a mile or two into the woods from there, after night set in we marched back to town and attacked the enemy, drove in their pickets, and fired on them until outnumbered and drove from Nogfield. Next morning we were marched for Richmond and on the same day the enemy left Williamsburg, crossed James River at Jamestown, and marched up the country. Near the same time that we got to Richmond the enemy arrived at Manchester on the opposite side of the river, and commenced destroying property and burning large quantity of tobacco stored there. We were stationed on Chucks Hill. When the British appeared a part of our men were stationed on the bank of the river to prevent them crossing, and if any had attempted it they would have met with a warm reception as we were very hungry and greatly incensed at them. We had but one field piece, a six pounder and it was placed on the hill before mentioned and leveled against the enemy and its effect to do ____amongst them that they were quickly induced to leave off their __ and quit the place. The enemy left Manchester and pursued their course still further up the country and after some time turned their course and marched to Yorktown. Declarant and his comrades were stationed at Richmond as he thinks, about six weeks, when they were marched from there and joined the army under Gen'l Lafayette at Yorktown on the Glouchester side of the river. About this time or shortly after, the siege was formed, as the army under Washington shortly after arrived. Declarant was at this time constantly employed in working on the entrenchment and other works, that was going on. During this siege declarant was in several skirmishes with part of the enemy. On one occasion after fighting 200 of the Virginia troops, declarant one of them, with 500 of the French under the command of Lafayette were marched to make a track through the enemy's line on the Glouchester side, another detachment having made an attack on this side. Declarant recollects getting so near the enemy works, that he put his hand upon them and looking up he saw the tar barrels placed on the hearthworks to be lighted in the event of an attack. The firing having ceased on the York side, we were then fired upon but their balls went far above our heads. The enemy having discovered us, and opened their guns upon us as they _____. Declarant was one of the troops forming this hollow square into which the prisioners were marched when Cornwallis surrendered. The prisoners taken on the Glorchester side were marched to Winchester in Virginia, declarant being one of their guards. These prisoners were guarded at Winchester three months, as declarant thinks when they were marched into Frederickstown in Maryland, where declarant was discharged in February as well as he recollects, 1782. Declarant cannot recollect the precise time he served, he will set it down at fifteen months, as he is confident he served that long. Declarant was born in the State of New Jersey in the year 1761 as he was informed by his parents - has no record of his age nor has he seen one as well as he knows. He resided in Loudon County for a short time after this war, then in Shenandoah, Rockbridge, then in Washington, all in Virginia, whereas he removed to Sevier County Tennessee in 1800 where he resided until he came to the County of McMinn Tennessee, where he now resides. He received a written discharge from the service at Shephardtown, VA from Col Niswonger but it is lost, and he knows not where it is. James D Sewell, a clergyman, John Grisham, George Long, & Jackson Smith, are some of his present neighbors and can testify as to his veracity, and their belief of his service as a soldier of the Revolution.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any state.

Sworn to and subscribed the 3rd day of June 1833

A. R. Turk, Clerk

William Longley

We James D Sewall, a clergyman residing in the county and state aforesaid, and John Grisham residing as aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Longley who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; and we believe him to be 72 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn to and subscribed the 3rd day of June 1833

A R Turk, Clerk

James L Sewell

John Grisham

And the court do hereby declare their opinion, after investigating the matter, and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that James Sewell who has signed the preceding certificates, is a Clergyman, that he and John Grisham, who has also signed it are resident as they therein state, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

Amos __________
Justice of the Peace
John Miller
Justice of the Peace
James _________
Justice of the Peace

People researching this family are Juanima McFarland (macdol@mindspring.com), Jean McCullough (LJM@aol.com), Doris N. Johnston (outahere@juno.com), and Linda Longley Dickey of Tennesses ().