| Notes |
- Thomas Sorrell, born about 1758, was taxable in Northumberland County in 1790 [PPTL 1782-1812, frame 367].
Thomas Sorrell was listed among the "Free Mulattoes" living on Thomas Rowand's land in Westmoreland County in 1801 [Virginia Genealogist 31:41]. He was a sixty-two-year-old resident of Westmoreland County living with his forty-five-year-old wife and eleven-year-old daughter in 1820 when he applied for a Revolutionary War pension [M804-2246, frame 0992].
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements
Pension Application of Thomas Sorrell: S6137
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
Westmoreland County State of Virginia 16th of April 1818
The Affidavit of Thomas Sorrell aged about Sixty years, who declares upon Oath That he inlisted under a Capt Thomas Downing of Northumberland County about the year 1780 and was marched from thence under a Capt Curl [sic: probably Edmund Curd] to Williamsburg and delivered up to Capt Thomas Drew and Joined a Regiment under the Command of Colo Charles Porterfield and was marched from thence to Hillsborough in the State of North Carolina. from thence he was marched to near a little Town Called Camden in South Carolina where they met with the Army under the Command of Cornwallace [sic: Cornwallis], in the battle generally called
Gate’s defeat [sic: Horatio Gates’s defeat, or Battle of Camden, 16 Aug 1780] – he then with the rest of the Army according to order, fell back to Hillsborough in North Carolina – at which place the continued untill his Term of Service expired which was for 18 months he was then marched from thence under a Capt Man to the City of Richmond in Virginia at which place he was discharged and returned to the Northumberland. this was in the Spring of the Year Shortly after this Cornwallace appeared at little York in Virginia he was drafted and served a Three months Tour at that Seige [28 Sep -19 Oct 1781] from which service he was discharged and shortly after
returned home This affiant states that when discharged at Richmond, he received his discharge in writing, but from the length of time and believing it would never be of any use to him it was lost or destroyed This affiant states that he is old and infirm, has worked hard to support and raise a family of six children and stands in need of assisstance from his Country.
Thomas hisXmark Sorrel
State of Virginia County of Westmoreland. On the 27th day of April in the year 1818 came before the said Court being a Court of Record. Personally appeared in Open Court Thomas Sorrell aged about sixty years, Resident in the said county who being first sworn according to law doth on his Oath make the following statement and declaration, in order to obtain the provisions made by the late 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 War That he the said Thomas Sorrel enlisted under a Capt Thomas Downing of Northumberland County in the
said State about the year 1780 for eighteen months in the Continental Service and Virginia line and was marched from thence by Capt Curl to Williamsburg and delivered up to Capt Thomas Drew and joined a Regiment commanded by Colo Charls Porterfield The said Regiment march’d thro North Carolina to Camden in South Carolina where they met with the enemy under Cornwallis and was in the Battle of Gate’s defeat. And returned with a Capt Man to the City of Richmond and was regularly discharged in writing some time in the spring 1782 [sic] after serving this full term. after his return home he was drafted for three months and was at the seige of York (his discharge has been long since lost or destroyed) That he is now old and in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support.
District of Virginia Westmoreland County
On this [blank] day of [blank] 1820 personally appeared in Open Court being a court of Record agreably to the Laws of the State of Virginia, Thomas Sorrell aged about Sixty two years, 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 Congress of the 18th march 1818 and the 1st May 1820 That he the said Thomas Sorrell enlisted about the year 1780 for eighteen months under a Cap Curl who was a recruiting officer, and by him (with other recruits) was marched to Williamsburg and delivered up to Capt Thomas Drew who commanded a company of Continental Troops of the Virginia line, which company was attached to a regiment – whether of Continental or State Troops he does not perfectly recollect, But always believed (as he enlisted) he was on Continental service and regiment said (as he now thinks) was commanded by Colo. Porterfield with other Troops marched to the southward and was in the Battle of Gen’l. Gates defeat at Camden here Colo. Porterfield was wounded and afterwards died. and altho’ Colo. Porterfield might have commanded a State regiment, yet the company which I then was in after the Battle of Camden was commanded by Cap’n. Mann and that I continued to serve in said company until the expiration of eighteen months when I was discharged in the City of Richmond by the said Capt. Mann – and that he has no other evidence of his services now in his power— And in pursuance of the act of the 1 May 1820 I st do Solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the united States on the 18th day of March one Thousand eight hundred and eighteen, 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 war,” passed on the 18th day of March One Thousand eight hundred and eighteen, 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 have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. Schedule viz’t. no real estate whatever Ocupation a Farmer Rents Land and pays $[this and following values left blank in original] p’r year. Personal estate viz’t. 2 Cows & calves worth $ 2 yearlings worth $ Hogs 1 sow worth $ and ten Small Shoats worth $ household property supposed to be worth $
Family– himself aged 62 years infirm painful and but little able to pursue his calling. his wife, about 45 years not able to contribute much to her support 1 Daughter now residing with me 11 years old not able to support herself.
NOTE: Col. Charles Porterfield and Captains Downing, Curd, and Drew were militia officers, so Sorrell was not actually eligible for a pension under the acts of 1818 and 1820, which were for soldiers in the Continental service.
Thomas2 Sorrell, born about 1758, was taxable in Northumberland County in 1790 [PPTL 1782-1812, frame 367]. He married Elizabeth Lucas, 3 December 1794 Westmoreland County bond. He was listed among the "Free Molattoes" living on Thomas Rowand's land in Westmoreland County in 1801 with his wife Elizabeth and children William and Libby Sorrell [Virginia Genealogist 31:41]. He was a sixty-two-year-old resident of Westmoreland County living with his forty-five-year-old wife and eleven-year-old daughter in 1820 when he applied for a Revolutionary War pension [M804-2246, frame 0992].
Virginia Pension Roll of 1835 (This is Thomas Sorrell, the Mulatto from Northumberland Co., VA)
Report from the Secretary of War
In relation to the Pension Establishment Of the United States 1835
THOMAS SORRELL
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
PRIVATE
VIRGINIA MILITIA
$70.00 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE
$210.00 AMOUNT RECEIVED
JANUARY 8, 1833 PENSION STARTED
AGE 76
He was probably the father of
i. Sukey, born say 1770, married Spencer Thomas, "widower," 11 June 1792 Northumberland County bond.
ii. Fannah, born say 1771, married John Evins, 23 November 1792 Northumberland County bond, Thomas Pollard security.
iii. Grace, born say 1774, married Augustin Boyd, 24 July 1795 Northumberland County bond, Thomas Pollard security.
iv. William, a "free Molatto" living with Thomas Sorrell in 1801.
v. Libby, a "free Molatto" living with Thomas Sorrell in 1801.
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