Subject: William Ashley, Rev War Soldier Pension Record

The following is excerpted from a book entitled "Revolutionary Soldiers
and other Patriot Records of Abbeville County, South Carolina":

WILLIAM ASHLEY AND AGNES ASHLEY, PENSION NUMBER  W - 9708 Continental
(Maryland Service)

William Ashley appeared before Hon. Waddy Thompson, Esquire, one of the
Judges of the Court of Equity for the State of South Carolina;  states
he is a citizen of Abbeville,  South Carolina, that he served sixteen
months as a Corporal upon the Continental establishment during the war
of the Revolution;  that he enlisted in Maryland about the middle of
May 1778 in Captain Seagong's ? company, in the squadron of Cavalry
commanded by Col Cowatc'h ? attached to the body of troops called
Pulaski's Corps, that he afterwards commanded by Capt Brown, until
middle of September 1779, when he was discharged at Beaufort, SC. 
Sworn to Aug 11, 1818.

Affidavit of Thomas Dove in 1818, Abbeville, South Carolina, who states
he has been acquainted with the said soldier since 1779, shortly after
he left the army, that he has frequently heard Ashley's discharge read,
and believes that he did serve in the Revolution.

Affidavit made by Joshua Ashley in Abbeville District, South Carolina
Aug 6, 1818, states he is a brother of the said William Ashley, that he
resided in Maryland with his brother at the time he enlisted and was
frequently acquainted with the fact that his said brother was absent
several years, and that he was discharged at beaufort, South Carolina,
and that several soldiers who served with his brother and on their
return to the state of Maryland, informed this deponent that they had
left his brother yet in the service.

William Ashley states his family consists of three persons viz; 
himself, his wife Ann and an old negro man, that he himself is now age
73, that his wife is age 59.  He gave a schedule of his property; 
among which 229 acres of poor land worth $100, one negro man age 42
worth $250. etc.  He signed this in 1830.  A copy of deed is filed of
Wm. Ashley Senior of Abbeville District to Martin Fralia of said
district, consideration $380  dated 1828 --  his wife Anne Ashley
signed Sept 30, 1828. It was recorded 1830. See record book 13 page 450
at Abbeville District, S.C --  Affidavit of C. Stark, 1829 who states
that said Wm. Ashley owes him for a negro man on a note bearing date
11-25-1826- the sum of $421. 

The widow Agnes Ashley made application 1838 as the widow of William 
Ashley, and states she was married to said Wm. Ashley January 1781, and 
that her husband died 3-3-1838 ?, that her third child now living is 
age 60.  The widow stated in 1845, that from bodily infirmity she 
cannot attend Court, but can spin cotton upon a little wheel at home, 
that her residence was twelve miles away;  2 neighbors to her were Wm.  
and James Wire.  These two witnesses state  they have known soldier and 
present widow since 1792, and have been their neighbors all this long 
period until Sept 4, 1845, and know they had 2 or 3 children when they 
first became acquainted with them--  the widow states she was 
christened by the name of Agness, but her husband always called "Ann" 
for shortness, and her neighbors always called her "Ann", that some of 
her relatives named their children "Ann", through friendly regards to 
her, that whenever her husband sold land, she always signed her name 
Agness to her relinquishment of dower; 

Affidavit of Sophia Smith 1845 at Abbeville Dist., SC. states "I am the
daughter of Agness Ashley, and her third child, that according to the
register of my birth and marriage in my family bible, I was born
3-3-1785, and I was married 1808 to David (illegible, it might be
Daniel?) Smith.  (States this handwriting of the register is in the
handwriting of her husband who is absent, and who has been absent for
three years, and his affidavit cannot be secured--

Affidavit by Thos. P. Spierin, Abbeville, SC, who states that the
following are truly copied from the family bible of Mrs. Sophia Smith
viz:  "Daniel Smith was born 7-2-1789, married to Sophia Ashley, 1808"
-  Sophia Ashley was born 1785  March 3rd--this Affidavit was signed
12-26-1845 by Thos. P. Spierin.  The said family bible was sent in for
proof but the request of its return was made, so it is not in this file
note. 

The two persons James and Wm. Wire state they were brothers, and that
they with "our father and mother took shipping at Larn in Ireland in
the month of November 1789, and arrived in Charleston, in the month of
Feb 1790 and came to Abbeville District where they resided at a Mr.
Hodges until Oct 1790, and in the same month of October and the same
year removed to the neighborhood and within a half a mile of said
William Ashley and Agness his wife, the claimant and have been
personally their neighbors from the month of Oct 1790 to the present
time.  "That I have a sister who was born on the Ocean on our passage
to this country and that she is age 56 since Jan last, that my brother
William Wire who deposes with myself in this matter, heretofore died in
the month of October last, and that he with myself deposed, generally
without deeming it requisite to state particular facts as appears to be
required by the Commissioner of Pensions.  I further state the said
Agness Ashley is the widow of said William Ashley, who was a pensioner
of the U.S. and that his widow goes by the name of Ann than
agness--signed by James Wire, 1846  March 6th.

The bible was returned by the Pension Commissioner 1877 Oct 2nd, to
Mrs. Sarah Ashley, Abbebille Post Office, Abbeville County, South
Carolina.

The following is a copy of the bible records:

Daniel Smith was born 7-2-1789 and married Sophiah Ashley 1808
Sophia Ashley was born 1785
Elizabeth Smith was born 11-4-1805
Danl Smith born 7-2-1789 and married 1808
Agnes Smith born 1-30-1809
Richd. Smith 8-17-1810
Joshua Smith 1-7-1812
Mary Ann  born 11-13-1813  died ? 1816
Sharlotte Smith born 2-22-1816
Rebecca Smith born 8-17-1810
John Smith born 1-7-1812
Danl. Smith born 1-6-1824

The name of Mrs. Sarah Ashley wrote to the Commissioner on the back of
his letter, that she received the Bible--all right--1877