Kinser Dickerson

DICKERSON, Kenser

State of Illinois, County of Vermillion;

On this 3rd day of June 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of the County of Vermillion Illinois sitting as the County Commissioners Court in said County according to law Kensey Disckerson a resident of the County of Vermillion aforesaid and state aforesaid aged seventy five years and few months who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 1832. That he entered the services of the United States under the following named officers and served herein stated Col. Broadhead, Capt. Van Swangurn[sic] Genl Mackintosh [sic] and Springer his Capt-Capt. Crawford are the officers he served under and recollects. I entered the service in year 1778 within the County of Washington afterward so called in Pennsylvania there being there no regular counties in that part of the State; as a volunteer under Capt. Van Swangurn and went to Catanentown on the Allegany river-the country through which I passed was rough-broken and not very fertile-timber generally pine-was in no engagement—staid [sic] more than a month and returned home this was in the summer season of the year Again I went out under Capt. Springer commanded by Genl MacKintosh don’t recollect the precise year [1778] as I kept no dates or records. Went from the same place to Pittsburgh and from there to the Mouth of the Beaver creek and built “fort McKintosh” [sic] staid there and out during the campaign nearly two months; but from Fort McKintosh we went on the Tuscaraways [sic] fork of the Muskingam [sic] and built “Fort Lawrence” [sic] The country from Pittsburgh to Beaver is uneven, some bottoms and tolerable fertile from Beaver to Fort Lawrence the land is White oak land and broken on the water courses. This was in in the fall season of the year I returned home by the consent of the officers at each time I went out again under Capt Bean against the tories in the year 1782 or 3 in the summer but do not recollect the precise year went on the head of Willis Creek into the state of Ohio now so called. Was out guarding them after they were taken by us about six weeks. This country through which we passed was broken but much of it richland. This comprises all the time I was in the was of the revolution Except one month that I served under Capt Jenkins at Wheeling in Virginia in 1782. But after the war I was out as a spy for the state of Pennsylvania for the term of nearly four years.

I was born in Maryland near Fredicksburgh [sic] in the year 1757 or 8 don’t exactly know as my parents kept no record I have no record of any age

I was living in Washington County Pennsylvania when called into service. I have lived since the war in Ohio County Virginia and moved there to this County in Illinois where I now live.

I volunteered at each time except at Wheeling I was a substitute. Some of the regular officers that I recollect are Col Broadhead Col Harom Capt Van Swangurn Capt Springer. With the troops there was Capt Brady I served as above related—circumstances were as above related only the Indians killed a few men on the march and we in each case suffered extreme harship by fatigue and hunger.

I once received a discharge but it was lost, I do not recollect who gave it me but believe it was given by Col Broadhead

Achilles Morgan, Lewis Anderson, Amos Willians, James Graves, Charles Martin can state that I am a man of truth and veracity they live in my neighborhood and will state as to the general belief that I have performed services in the war of the Revolution.

Attest his

A. Williams Kinser + Dickerson

Mark

Personally appeared before the said “County Commissioners Court” in for the County of Vermillion and State of Illinois Achilles Morgan and Lewis Anderson the last of whom is a Clergyman in said County and neighbor to the said Dickerson who being duly sworn—depose and say that they believe he is of the age he represents and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier. And that they concur in that opinion. Sworn to in Open Court this 3rd day of June 1833.

Achilles Morgan
Lewis Anderson


Kinser Dickerson was born about 1758 in Frederick, Maryland. Kinser is the son of Thomas Dickerson of the Dickerson family of Prince Georges County, Maryland. He died on 2 April 1835 in Vermilion County, Illinois. Kinser, a Methodist, married Mary HUFF who was born about 1769. Mary was the daughter of Michael Huff and Hannah DODDRIDGE. Kisner and Mary were the parents of eight known children. Kinser’s siblings were: Thomas (also at Ft. Laurens), Vachel (‘Veach”), Noah, Henry, John and Ruth.

For whatever reason, Kinser filed another declaration in order to obtain a pension on January 7, 1834 in Danville, Vermillion County, Illinois. It contains essentially the same information as that filed on June 3, 1833. Pension application number R. 2933, which indicates his application was rejected.

The information on Kinser Dickerson, including a transcribed copy of Kinser’s pension application was submitted to the Friends of Fort Laurens Foundation by DeMasis, Beth of West Virginia and 5th Great Grandaughter of Kinser; “RE: Kinser Pension Application.” E-mail to Foundation 8 September 2003 and April 3, 2004. Pension application transcribed summer 1982 by Hartman, Thadeus, Gainesville, VA.

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