| Notes |
- He was a "mulatto man" residing in Northumberland County on 9 May 1796 when the court certified that he was born free [Orders 1796-7, 26]. He was taxable in Northumberland County from 1792 to 1812, listed as a "Blk" tithable from 1809 to 1812, listed with 2 tithables in 1811, listed with 2 tithables and a slave in 1812 [PPTL 1782-1812, frames 396, 412, 426, 447, 494, 508, 517, 539, 577, 626, 643, 659, 675, 690].
1810 United States Federal Census about A Free Mulatto
Name: A Free Mulatto Edward Serrel
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Richmond, Northumberland, Virginia
Number of All Other Free Persons: 7
Number of Household Members: 7
Edw. Sorrell Dacris Lewin 15 Dec 1814 Lancaster, Northumberland Co., VA
1820 United States Federal Census
Name: Edward Sorrell
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Northumberland, Virginia
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free Colored Persons - Males - Under 14: 2
Free Colored Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free Colored Persons - Females - Under 14: 2
Free Colored Persons - Females - 14 thru 25: 1
Free Colored Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 1
Total Free Colored Persons: 7
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 7
SORRELL FAMILY: Edward Sorrell b abt 1753 was 79 years old when he applied for a Revolutionary War pension in Northumberland Co Court on 14 Aug 1832 [M804-2246, frame 0911]. He married Judith Kesterson, 13 April 1789 Northumberland Co bond, Charles Curtis security. He was a "free mulatto" head of a Northumberland Co., VA household of 10 "other free" in 1810 [VA:996]. He married Dorcas Lewin on 15 December 1814 in Lancaster County. He died 7 July 1839, and his will was proved in August 1840. His widow, Dorcas, born about 1791, moved to Baltimore about 1846 where she applied for and received a survivor's pension on 21 November 1853 [M804-2246, frame 0927].
1840 United States Federal Census
Name: Edwd Sorrel
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Northumberland, Virginia
Free Colored Persons - Males - Under 10: 1
Free Colored Persons - Males - 10 thru 23: 3
Free Colored Persons - Males - 24 thru 35: 1
Free Colored Persons - Males - 55 thru 99: 1
Free Colored Persons - Females - Under 10: 4
Free Colored Persons - Females - 10 thru 23: 2
Free Colored Persons - Females - 36 thru 54: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 4
Total Free Colored Persons: 13
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 13
His children were
James Sorrell b abt 1790, m Polly Luen (Lewin), 13 November 1815 Northumberland Co bond, Edward Sorrell security.
Cambia Sorrell born abt 1808 "daughter of Edward Sorrell," married Holland Evans, 4 February 1824 Northumberland County bond, Moses Blundon security.
Edward Sorrell Jr., b abt 1797, married Betsy Harriman, 1 January 1817 Northumberland Co bond, Edward Sorrell security. He registered in Northumberland County on 8 May 1815: bright mulatto, about 21 years old, 5 feet 10 inches high, Born of free parents in Northd County [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, no. 87].
Steptoe, married Miranda Lewis, 10 September 1827 Northumberland County bond, Edward Sorrell sec.
Delia, married William Toulson, 10 February 1827 Northumberland County bond, Steptoe Sorrell, "son of Edward Soreall father of Dealy Soreall," security.
Mary, married John Edwards with the consent of her father, Edward Sorell, 20 November 1833 Northumberland Co bond, James Sorrell security.
Emily, "daughter of Edward Sorrell," married Samuel Green, 13 February 1837 Northumberland Co bond, Edward Sorrell security.
Walter, who testified on behalf of (his mother?) Dorcas Sorrell when she applied for her husband's pension.
Revolutionary War Pensions: Sorrel, Edward or Edward Sorrell, Darcris or Dorcas, VA Line, W26492, BLW #9434-160-55, soldier m Darcris or Darcas Lewin or Lewing 15 Dec 1814 in Lancaster or Northumberland Co., VA, soldier application 14 Aug 1832 in Northumberland Co., VA aged 79 and soldier had lived there at enlistment, soldier died 7 Jul 1837 & his widow applied 21 Nov 1853 in Lancaster Co., VA but was a resident of Baltimore MD, she applied for BLW 16 Apr 1855 at Baltimore, MD having mover there in 1846 from Northumberland Co., VA.
Virginia Pension Roll of 1835
Report from the Secretary of War
In relation to the Pension Establishment Of the United States 1835
EDWARD SORRELL
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY
PRIVATE
VIRGINIA MILITIA
$43.33 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE
$129.99 AMOUNT RECEIVED
NOVEMBER 15, 1832 PENSION STARTED
AGE 81
EDWARD SORREL, Rev. Pension File No. W26493
A letter in the Natl Archives pension file for this soldier gives the pertinent facts about this claim. The letter, dated 5 Oct. 1929, was from the Revolutionary and 1812 Wars section of the Natl. Archives to Mrs. Pleasant Jordan [Florence] Gantt, 557.West 124th St., New York, N.Y.
"Dear Madam, I advise you from the papers of the Rev. War pension claim, W26493, it appears that Edward Sorrel while residing in Northumberland Co. Va., enlisted in the fall of 1779 and served as a private under Capts. Thomas Downing, Drew, and McGill in Col. Porterfield's Virginia Regt. He was in frequent skirmishes with the British and in the Battle of Point of Forks (Gates Defeat), where he was wounded in the right shoulder by a musket ball. He afterwards marched under Major Marzard to Richmond, Va. and joined Capt. Smith and went with him to the western part of Virginia to obtain wagons and teams for the army and continued to serve until the fall of 1781, when he returned home to Northumberland County, and immediately volunteered, went to Yorktown, and served 6 months in the Virginia Militia under Col. Ennis and was in the Battle of Yorktown.
He was allowed pension on his application executed 14 Aug. 1832, while residing in Northumberland Co. Va., aged 79 yrs. He died there 7 July 1837 or 1839. The soldier married 15 Dec. 1814 in Lancaster or Northumberland Va. to Dorcas Lewin (Lewing). She was allowed pension on her application executed 21 Nov. 1853, at which time she was living in Baltimore, Maryland, aged 62 yrs, having moved there from Northumberland about l846. There are no data as to children."
Signed Earl D. Church, commssioner
Edward Sorrel served in the 2nd Regt. Virginia CL when he enlisted in 1779, He signed his pension claim.
s/Edward (x) Sorrell
The letter above is correct as to the pension claim of Edward; however, the declaration of his widow, Dorcas, made for the purpose of obtaining bounty land states: , DORCAS SORRELLS , no age given, made application in Baltimore, MD, 16 Apr. 1855, as a resident of Baltimore, having moved from Northumberland Co. Va. in 1846. She stated she was married to Edward Sorrell on 15 Dec. 1815 by John Darget, a Methodist preacher. Her maiden name was Dorcas Lewing. Her husband died 7 July 1839 in Northumberland Co. Va. She is the widow of Edward Sorrell and draws a pension as his widow.
Wit. Walter Sorrell Signed Dorcas (x) Sorrell
In Northumberland Co. Va., William Harding made affidavit that he knew the said Dorcas Sorrell as the wife of Edward Sorrell, Rev. pensioner, who had died about 7 July 1837, and that Dorcas is still a widow and living in Baltimore, MD on 27 Feb. 1854.
Please consult the Natl. Archives for the bounty land warrant issued to Dorcas Sorrell, No. 9434-160-55.
This is the html version of the file http://southerncampaign.org/pen/w26493.pdf.
Google automatically generates html versions of documents as we crawl the web.
Page 1
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements
Pension Application of Edward Sorrel (Sorrell): W26493
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia}
County of Northumberlan} SS
On this 14 day of August 1832 personally appeared before the County Court of the County of
th
Northumberland, & state of Virginia Edward Sorrel a resident in the county of Northumberland &
State of Virginia aged Seventy nine years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on
his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by
the Act of Congress passed June 7 1832
th
That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1779 with Capt Thomas
Downing a militia officer and served in the 2
Regt of the Virginia line, under the following
nd
named Officers Gen’l [Horatio] Gates. Colo [Charles] Porterfield, Capts [Thomas H.] Drew &
McGill Lt. Mann & Ensign Vaughan.
That he lived in the County of Northumberland & State of Virginia at the time he enlisted
which was in the fall of the year 1779. He marched from the County to Williamsburg Virginia in
February or March of the following year, with a recruiting officer by the name of Carvell, he there
joined the Regt of Colo Porterfield. after a few days stay at Williamsburg he marched with the
Regt. of Colo Porterfield for Charleston South Carolina.
The Regt marched through North Carolina by Sallsbury [sic: Salisbury], Hillsborough &
Guilford court house. the Regt. arrived in one or two days march of Charleston before it heard of
its surrender.
He was in frequent skirmishes with the british. He was at the battle of the Point of Forks
where Genl Gates was defeated [sic: see note below]. he there received musket ball in his right
shoulder. Colo. Porterfield was their wounded. Seargent Booth to others & my self were carrying
Colo Porterfield off after he was wounded but were so closely persued by the enemy that they
had to leave him he was taken prisoner. The defeat of Genl Gates was in August 1780: after the
defeat of Gen’l. Gates he with others collected at Hillsborough & with Maj. Marzard marched to
Richmond City Virginia, where he joined Capt Smith late in the fall & went with him to the
western part of Virginia to obtain wagons & teams for the Army. they returned in the spring
following. in a few days after their arrival at Richmond, he was ordered to Camden by Capt
Smith for the purpose of attending Colo Porterfield to Virginia on parole. Colo Porterfield was
confined a prisoner in Camden he went in company with Capt Singleton of the Maryland line to
the neighbourhood of Camden he found Colo. Porterfield still a prisoner & being ill, he died in
four or five days after he arrived in Camden. he immediately brought Colo. Porterfields baggage
to Richmond City Virginia & delivered it to Capt Smith it was then in the fall of 1781. He then
obtained for the first time his discharge from Capt. Smith (which has been lost) he served more
that six months after his enlistment had expired (which was for 18 months) before he was
discharged.
Immediately after returning home he volunteer’d in Northumberland County Virginia &
went to York Town Virginia, he was put under Colo Ennis command on Gloucester Point
opposite York Town his whole service in the Militia was about six months
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the
present, & he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn to & subscribed, the day and year aforesaid
Edward hisXmark Sorrell
NOTES:
The troops with whom Sorrel served certainly knew of the surrender of Charleston
before they began marching south, because Gen. Horatio Gates had been appointed Commander-
in-Chief of the Southern Army precisely because Gen. Benjamin Lincoln had surrendered at
Charleston on 12 May 1780. Gates’s army was not defeated at Point of Fork, but near Camden in
South Carolina on 16 Aug 1780. Col. Porterfield died only a few days after the Battle of Camden,
so Sorrel could not have traveled to Richmond and back to Camden. Compare the pension
Page 2
application of Guilford Dudley (W6891). Point of Fork, which is in Virginia at the junction of the
James and Rivanna Rivers, was the site of a near engagement on June 5-6, 1781.
The 1810 federal census for Northumberland County VA lists Edward Sorrel as “a free
mulatto.”
On 21 Nov 1853 Darcris Sorrell, resident of Baltimore aged 62, applied for a pension
stating that she married Edward Sorrel on 15 Dec 1814, and he died 7 July 1837. On 16 April
1855 Dorcas Sorrell filed an application for bounty land, which stated that her late husband
“Edmund Sorrell” had served under Col Taylor at the Battle of Yorktown, and that as Dorcas
Lewing she had married him on 15 Dec 1815. With her application is a copy of a marriage return
for Edward Sorrel and Darcris Lewin.
SORRELL FAMILY
1. Judith1 Serell, born say 1720, had a "Molato" son, Thomas Serell, born 15 October 1738 in Northumberland County, Virginia [Fleet, Northumberland County Record of Births, 82]. Her children were
i. Thomas1, born 15 October 1738.
2 ii. ?James1, born say 1750.
3 iii. ?Edward1, born about 1753.
iv. ?Jesse, born say 1755, head of a Northumberland County household of 4 "Black" persons in 1782 [VA:37] and "free mulatto" head of a Northumberland County household of 8 "other free" in 1810 [VA:996].
4 v. ?Thomas2, born about 1758.
2. James1 Sorrell, born say 1750, was head of a Northumberland County household of 6 "Black" persons in 1782 [VA:37]. He was taxable in Northumberland County from 1787 to 1812: listed with a horse and 6 cattle in 1787; taxable on a slave from 1788 to 1794; taxable on 2 tithes from 1799 to 1801 and in 1805; called a "Blk" taxable from 1809 to 1812, called James, Sr., in 1811 [PPTL 1782-1812, frames 331, 367, 382, 396, 412, 426, 439, 448, 494, 508, 517, 539, 568, 577, 626, 659, 675, 690]. He was a "free mulatto" head of a Northumberland County household of 8 "other free" in 1810 [VA:996]. During the Revolution he served as a gunner's mate aboard the Hero and the Larter [Jackson, Virginia Negro Soldiers, 43]. His children were
i. ?Judith, married Thomas Jones, 1 January 1802 Lancaster County bond. She registered in Lancaster County on 18 March 1807: wf/o Tho, age 26, yellow, 5'5-1/2" [Burkett, Lancaster County Register of Free Negroes, 3].
ii. Nancy, born say 1796, "daughter of James Sorrell, Sr.," married John Thomas, 7 April 1812 Northumberland County bond, James Sorrell, Jr., security.
iii. ?Thomas3, married Polly Credit, 22 October 1816 Northumberland County bond, John Credit security. He was called a widower when he married, second, Elizabeth Simple 14 May 1821 Northumberland County bond, Thomas Credit security. John Credit was a "free mulatto" head of a Northumberland County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:976].
3. Edward1 Sorrell, born about 1753, was seventy-nine years old when he applied for a Revolutionary War pension in Northumberland County court on 14 August 1832 [M804-2246, frame 0911]. He married Judith Kesterson, 13 April 1789 Northumberland County bond, Charles Curtis security. He was taxable in Northumberland County from 1792 to 1812, listed as a "Blk" tithable from 1809 to 1812, listed with 2 tithables in 1811, listed with 2 tithables and a slave in 1812 [PPTL 1782-1812, frames 396, 412, 426, 447, 494, 508, 517, 539, 577, 626, 643, 659, 675, 690]. He was a "free mulatto" head of a Northumberland County household of 10 "other free" in 1810 [VA:996]. He married Dorcas Lewin on 15 December 1814 in Lancaster County. He died 7 July 1839, and his will was proved in August 1840. His widow Dorcas, born about 1791, moved to Baltimore about 1846 where she applied for and received a survivor's pension on 21 November 1853 [M804-2246, frame 0927]. His children were
i. James2, born about 1790, married Polly Luen (Lewin), 13 November 1815 Northumberland County bond, Edward Sorrell security. Molly and Charles Lewin were heads of "other free" Lancaster County households in 1810 [VA:352]. He was called James Sorrel of Edward on 2 March 1835 when he mortgaged his household goods for $216 in Northumberland County [DB 29:416]. He married, second, Judith Causey 13 May 1837 Northumberland County bond and was listed with her and their four children in the 1850 Northumberland County census.
4. 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]. 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.
Endnotes:
1. Moses Blundel was head of a Northumberland County household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [VA:973].
2. The name was abstracted as Sonell [Virginia Genealogist 31:41].
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements
Pension Application of Edward Sorrel (Sorrell): W26493
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia}
County of Northumberlan} SS
On this 14 day of August 1832 personally appeared th before the County Court of the County of
Northumberland, & state of Virginia Edward Sorrel a resident in the county of Northumberland &
State of Virginia aged Seventy nine years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on
his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by
the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1779 with Capt Thomas
Downing a militia officer and served in the 2nd Regt of the Virginia line, under the following
named Officers Gen’l [Horatio] Gates. Colo [Charles] Porterfield, Capts [Thomas H.] Drew &
McGill Lt. Mann & Ensign Vaughan.
That he lived in the County of Northumberland & State of Virginia at the time he enlisted
which was in the fall of the year 1779. He marched from the County to Williamsburg Virginia in
February or March of the following year, with a recruiting officer by the name of Carvell, he there
joined the Regt of Colo Porterfield. after a few days stay at Williamsburg he marched with the
Regt. of Colo Porterfield for Charleston South Carolina.
The Regt marched through North Carolina by Sallsbury [sic: Salisbury], Hillsborough &
Guilford court house. the Regt. arrived in one or two days march of Charleston before it heard of
its surrender.
He was in frequent skirmishes with the british. He was at the battle of the Point of Forks
where Genl Gates was defeated [sic: see note below]. he there received musket ball in his right
shoulder. Colo. Porterfield was their wounded. Seargent Booth to others & my self were carrying
Colo Porterfield off after he was wounded but were so closely persued by the enemy that they
had to leave him he was taken prisoner. The defeat of Genl Gates was in August 1780: after the
defeat of Gen’l. Gates he with others collected at Hillsborough & with Maj. Marzard marched to
Richmond City Virginia, where he joined Capt Smith late in the fall & went with him to the
western part of Virginia to obtain wagons & teams for the Army. they returned in the spring
following. in a few days after their arrival at Richmond, he was ordered to Camden by Capt
Smith for the purpose of attending Colo Porterfield to Virginia on parole. Colo Porterfield was
confined a prisoner in Camden he went in company with Capt Singleton of the Maryland line to
the neighbourhood of Camden he found Colo. Porterfield still a prisoner & being ill, he died in
four or five days after he arrived in Camden. he immediately brought Colo. Porterfields baggage
to Richmond City Virginia & delivered it to Capt Smith it was then in the fall of 1781. He then
obtained for the first time his discharge from Capt. Smith (which has been lost) he served more
that six months after his enlistment had expired (which was for 18 months) before he was
discharged.
Immediately after returning home he volunteer’d in Northumberland County Virginia &
went to York Town Virginia, he was put under Colo Ennis command on Gloucester Point
opposite York Town his whole service in the Militia was about six months
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the
present, & he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn to & subscribed, the day and year aforesaid Edward hisXmark Sorrell
NOTES:
The troops with whom Sorrel served certainly knew of the surrender of Charleston
before they began marching south, because Gen. Horatio Gates had been appointed Commanderin-
Chief of the Southern Army precisely because Gen. Benjamin Lincoln had surrendered at
Charleston on 12 May 1780. Gates’s army was not defeated at Point of Fork, but near Camden in
South Carolina on 16 Aug 1780. Col. Porterfield died only a few days after the Battle of Camden,
so Sorrel could not have traveled to Richmond and back to Camden. Compare the pension
application of Guilford Dudley (W6891). Point of Fork, which is in Virginia at the junction of the
James and Rivanna Rivers, was the site of a near engagement on June 5-6, 1781.
The 1810 federal census for Northumberland County VA lists Edward Sorrel as “a free
mulatto.”
On 21 Nov 1853 Darcris Sorrell, resident of Baltimore aged 62, applied for a pension
stating that she married Edward Sorrel on 15 Dec 1814, and he died 7 July 1837. On 16 April
1855 Dorcas Sorrell filed an application for bounty land, which stated that her late husband
“Edmund Sorrell” had served under Col Taylor at the Battle of Yorktown, and that as Dorcas
Lewing she had married him on 15 Dec 1815. With her application is a copy of a marriage return
for Edward Sorrel and Darcris Lewin.
|
Abt 1753 - 1837 (84 years)
