Michael Sword who resides in the county of Russell in the State of Virginia, wishing to become a pensioner pursuant to the provisions of an Act of the Congress of the United States passed the 18th day of March 1818, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," personally appeared in Court and declared on oath that he enlisted as a private soldier in Winchester in Virginia some time in the year 1777 as near he recollected, under Colo. Nevil, he did not recollect the number of the Regiment, but it was in the service of the United States. He served nearly four years and was discharged at Williamsburg in Virginia. He was in the battle fought at Germantown where he was taken prisoner and sent to Philadelphia, he was sent from thence to New York and was exchanged and joined the American Troops at White Plains - Under Col. John Nevil and passed through the Jerseys till orders came for a detachment to South Caolina; that Colo. Carbtree commanded the Troops until their arrival at Charlestonl; that he was taken prisoner again at Charleston. That the first captain under whom the said Michael Sword served was Capt. Robert Higgins, he afterwards served under Captain Leonard Cooper, he does not at present recollect the name of the officer who discharged him. He also stated that Colo. Nevil was first in command of the detachment that went to Charleston.

And from the knowledge which some of the members of the Court themselves have, as well as from other satisfactory evidence, the Court are unanimously of opinion and do certify that the said Michael Sword is a person of credit as a witness, that it was generally understood in the neighborhood of the residence of the sd. Michael Sword previous to the passage of the said Act of Congress, that the said Michael Sword served in the Revolutionary War; and that the said Michael Sword is in such reduced circumstances in life, as to need assistance from his country for support. All which is ordered to be certified to the Secretary of the Department of War.

Law Order Book 6, Page 46
Jun 02, 1818

The following affidavit taken before a justice of the peace for the county to corroborate the proof offered at the last Court by Michael Sword an old Revolutionary Soldier, was produced in Court, and ordered to be certified, and is in the following words, to wit: Russell County, to wit: This day personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace for Russell County aforesaid, James McKinney, a person to me well known ansd made oath of the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that this affiant was drafted and served as a soldier in the Northern Army under General Washington, and while in Winter Quarters at Middlebrook in the Jerseys where Major William Crohon commanded he knew and was acquainted with Michael Sword whom he understood to be a private enlisted soldier in the regular service of the United States, this acquaintance continued from the 27th of December, 1778, till the 16th of Feb. 1779, when this affiant was discharged.

James McKinney

Sworn to and subscribed before me the 22nd day of May, 1818.

James Dickenson

Law Order Book 6, Page 131
July 06, 1819

This day personally appeared in Court Michael Sword who at a Court held for this Country the 5th day of May, 1818, made a declaration on oath for the purpose of obtaining the pension allowed by the Act of Congress of the 18th of March, 1818, and further declared on oath that the line he served in was the Virginia line; and he being interrogated by the Court upon the points stated in his first declaration, the Judge of this Court is of opinion that his statements aforesaid are true. Which is ordered to be certified to the Secretary of the Department o War.

Law Order Book 9, Page 391
Sep 04, 1832

On the 4th day of September, 1832, personally appeared before the County Court of Russell, michael Sword a resident of the County of Russell, aged 76 years, and an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress of June 7, 1832, who being first duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, that he was formerly enrolled on the pension list under the Act of Congress of March the 18, 1818, and was afterwards struck from the roll on account of the amount of his property, that he enlisted as a private soldier of the United States' Army in the year 1777 with Captain Robert Higgins, and marched from Winchester, Va., the place of his enlistment and then late residence, to Philadelphia, after being equipped there he and his company were marched to Germantown, where he joined the 8th Regiment in General Scott's Brigade, as he believes, the Commandant of which Regiment he thinks was Col. Mattews and served according to the statement in his declaration made before this Court on the 5th day of May, 1818, the time of his first application for a pension; that he then resided and still resides in the said County of Russell. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.

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