Capt. Lewis Davis Yancey: Military Monday

Capt. Lewis Davis Yancey was born in 1698 in Culpeper, Virginia, to Charles Yancey (1660-1690) & Mary Leighton (1658-1683).

Lewis was my 6th Great-Grandfather and a Captain in the Revolutionary War. 10 Jun 1779 Virginia, US.

1st Regiment, Rank Private.

I found the following record, it was PDF so I just copied and pasted the text:

    Southern Campaigns American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters  Bounty land Record relating to Lewis Yancey VAS2070    14   Transcribed and annotated by Will Graves  7/23/15: rev'd 11/11/23 [Methodology:  Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database.  Where the meaning is not compromised by adhering to the spelling, punctuation or grammar, no change has been made.  Corrections or additional notes have been inserted within brackets or footnotes.  Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. A bracketed question mark indicates that the word or words preceding it represent(s) a guess by me.  The word 'illegible' or 'indecipherable' or ‘undeciphered’ appearing in brackets indicates that at the time I made the transcription, I was unable to decipher the word or phrase in question.  Only materials pertinent to the military service of the veteran and to contemporary events have been transcribed. Affidavits that provide additional information on these events are included and genealogical information is abstracted, while standard, 'boilerplate' affidavits and attestations related solely to the application, and later nineteenth and twentieth century research requests for information have been omitted.  I use speech recognition software to make all my transcriptions.  Such software misinterprets my southern accent with unfortunate regularity and my poor proofreading skills fail to catch all misinterpretations.  Also, dates or numbers which the software treats as numerals rather than words are not corrected: for example, the software transcribes "the eighth of June one thousand eighty six" as "the 8th of June 1786."  Please call material errors or omissions to my attention. Researchers should not rely solely on the transcripts but should review the originals for themselves. These transcripts are intended as an aid to research, not to be used in lieu thereof.]  [From bounty land records in the Library of Virginia]  [p 4] Culpeper County to wit  This day Peter Triplett (now in the seventieth year of his age) of the County aforesaid personally appeared before me Richard E Fall [? Full?] a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid and made oath that about the beginning of the year 1776 he was well acquainted with Captain George Slaughter of said County, who then raised a Military Company in the Revolutionary War, that he had always lived about a mile from the said Captain George Slaughter, and for about two months before the Company left the County, that he was with him and by Recruits in the same neighborhood almost daily; that he had a brother enlisted in the same company in his presence and that his brother enlisted for three years, and that he then understood from the Officers and Privates, and verily believes that every one of the Recruits had entered for the same tour of three years: that he knew Lewis Yancey the Brother of Richard H Yancey, that the said Lewis Yancey was then with and considered as one of the Company       S/ Peter Triplett 

This is to certify that a certain Lewis Yancey of Culpeper County enlisted as a Soldier under Captain George Slaughter of the aforesaid County as an officer in our Revolutionary War early in the year 1776 and that he marched from this County as a Soldier under Captain George Slaughter in the month of March 1776 to join our troops then rendezvousing at Suffolk in Virginia and that on their arrival there they were attached to a Regiment commanded by Colonel Mughlinberg [Peter Muhlenberg] the Major a Major Helvingston [perhaps Peter Helphingston]2.  In April of the same year that Regiment was ordered to Charles Town [Charleston] South Carolina.  I was with that Regiment in their march to that place as far as Tarborough North Carolina where I left him on their march and the said Lewis Yancey was then with said Regiment as a Soldier.  He never returned to this County and was stated by his officer Georgia Slaughter to have died while at the South among many others of the said Company all of his company were natives of this County and of respectable standing.  The Remains of his Company got back to this County sometime in spring or summer of 1777 and that summer again marched and joined our Troops [in] the North.  The Lieutenants in Captain Slaughter's Company were James Hartley[?]3, Henry Field, Ensign John Graves. Given under my hand this the 16th day of January 1822 and in the 74th year of my own age.      S/ Rbt Slaughter, Jr. [Robert Slaughter, Jr.]       

I hereby Certify that a Company of Soldiers was raised in this County by Captain George Slaughter at the Commencement of our Revolutionary war and on Continental Establishment and enlisted for three years and that a certain Lewis Yancey of this County was one of the Soldiers as well as the following names were attached to the same company and a part of Muhlenberg's Regiment and were marched to the South viz. Abraham Field,4 Rankin Jack [?], Larkin Field, Joseph DeLancey [?], Nehemiah Wood, Basil Freeman [?], William Field, Cornelius Mishon, Abraham Mishon5 and many others he named having by me in a book a list of nearly all the company.  Given under my hand in Culpeper this the first day of May 1822      S/ Rbt.  Slaughter, Junior 

Culpeper County to wit This day personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid Alexander McQueen (seventy-one years of Age) of said County, and made Oath, that in the spring of the year 1776, having been engaged in the Revolutionary army and having served out his tour of duty, was then returning home from Norfolk and between that place and Petersburg he met Captain George Slaughter and his Company on their way to join the Army; that he stayed with said Company till the next day; that Lewis Yancey whom he well knew from his infancy the only Brother of Richard H Yancey was then with said Company, a noncommissioned officer the first Sergeant of said company.       S/ Alexr. McQueen6       Given under my hand and seal this 24th day of April 1822       S/ Wm Wallis 

Given under my hand and seal this 24th day of April 1822       S/ Wm Wallis  [p 12] Culpeper County to wit  This day personally appeared before me, Gabriel Tutt Esquire now rising sixty-three years of age and on solemn oath declares that he was well acquainted with Lewis Yancey the son of Richard Yancey that he was raised within about two miles, and went to school with him several years, that he was about his own age, perhaps a little the older, that sometime early in the year 1776 this affiant met with the said Lewis Yancey when he gave him the information that he had enlisted with Captain George Slaughter in the Continental service, that immediately afterwards he left the neighborhood and as I verily believe with the said company, embarked in his country's service, that early in the year 1777 he this affiant joined the Army of the United States and went to the North – that sometime in the latter part of that year he met with in the Army the said Captain George Slaughter and Colonel Muhlenberg in the State of New Jersey, about which time he thinks from the best of his recollection he heard for the first time of the death of the said Lewis Yancey, that in the year following he went to the South and in South Carolina he had a brother residing who informed him that he had seen his old acquaintance at Charleston South Carolina as a member of the United States Army and as one of the said Captain George Slaughter's Company; and that from the information before, and then received from his brother and others his impression was and still verily believes that he died in the state of South Carolina in the service of his country, that it has ever been so universally believed in the neighborhood of his nativity as he never heard a doubt about it, having lived in the same neighborhood from soon after the Revolutionary war to the present date, and it is certain that the said Lewis Yancey never returned and never was heard of afterwards as living within his knowledge or from report.  Lastly this affiant from his own opinion and from the impression arising from every information then and since received that he the said Lewis Yancey was a Sergeant in the said Company and is satisfied it was so, as he knows he was well educated and qualified to act in that capacity, and I feel satisfied that was his appointment [?] or expectation as the said Captain George Slaughter married his cousin and as the 2nd Lieutenant being his mother's brother.  And this affiant further sayeth that the aforementioned Lewis Yancey was not the son of Philemon, who joined the horse service in the latter part of the war and is still living as he believes and RH Yancey is & ever has been the sole Brother & heir at law of the said Lewis Yancey son of attached [?] The State of Virginia Culpeper County 

[Acknowledged in Culpeper County January 14, 1822]  [p 14] Culpeper County to wit  This day personally appeared before me James Tutt aged about sixty-five years and being duly sworn Saith that he was well acquainted with Lewis Yancey, the son of Richard Yancey that he lived in the same neighborhood within a mile or two of him and for three or four years went to school with him, that in the spring of 1775 joined the revolutionary army – that the said Lewis Yancey enlisted in the Service the year following as this affiant was informed & was the [indecipherable word] Master Sergeant in his Company, that at Little York in Virginia a year or two afterwards he met with an officer of the Army who informed him that the said Lewis Yancey died in South Carolina in the service, that he never returned and that report of his death has ever been considered the fact.  That Richard Henry Yancey is the only Brother and heir at law of the said Lewis Yancey.       S/ James Tutt8        [Acknowledged in Culpeper County Virginia January 15, 1822] 

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements and Rosters Addendum to Lewis Yancey VAS2070 Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris. 11 November 2023. [From rejected claims in the Library of Virginia.] Virginia Culpeper County towit 20th May 1822 On the motion of Richard Henry Yancey the court doth certify that the said Richard Henry Yancey of the County of Culpeper is the sole heir at law of Lewis Yancey dec’d. formerly of the said county, and who departed this life during the Revolutionary war while in the service of the united states Regiment commanded by Colo. Mughlenburg, and that the said Lewis Yancey departed this life in the state of South Carolina all of which being satisfactorily proved to the Court. Teste John Lightfoot CC Madison County, to wit, This day personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace for the county aforesaid, John Henderson [S38014] of the said county, aged seventy years, and made oath on the holy evangelists, that he enlisted in the service of the united states in the company commanded by Capt George Slaughter in the county of culpeper. Henry Field [VAS3564] & James Kirtly were the Lieutenants and John Graves ensign, & Lewis Yancey was a noncommissioned officer in the same company. In the month of February or March 1776, the said company consisting of about seventy five men marched from Culpeper to Suffolk, where they were attached to Col Mughlenburg’s Regiment, & the aforesaid Lewis Yancey was then & there appointed by Col Mughlenburg the Adjutant of his Regiment, & that he acted in that capacity, while he the said Henderson was with the Regiment, & that he the said Henderson never heard any thing to the contrary but that he continued so to act until his death; & that he the said Lewis Yancey being well qualified and faithful in the discharge of his duty gave satisfaction to the whole regiment. And likewise that the said Regiment marched to the south & were in Charlestown in the month of July 1776. That Lieutenant Henry Field at that time being very sick, obtained permission & returned to Culpeper, where, as he the said Henderson understood, he afterwards died. That in October following on account of ill health, he the said Henderson obtained leave & returned home; And that afterwards he rejoined the said Regiment in Fredericksburg on their march to the North. Given under my hand & seal this 5th of July 1822 William Fink

 1822 Aug 3  Rejected 

I do hereby certify that I intended to signify by by other  certify that I intended to signify by by other certificate given to Rich’d H Yancey about his Brother Lewis Yancey dec’d. while one of Col Mughlenburg’s regiment during the revolutionary war that he was capable from his gifts and [undeciphered word] of doing and discharging well the duties of a subaltern commissioned officer  that his connection and relationship with his captain and one of the Lieutenants he had their influence in his favour and I doubt not of his having every assurance of promotion the first opportunity that their recommendations could [undeciphered] that in saying from my conversation with my Brother that he was a soldier in South Carolina I did not mean to signify that he was acting as a private or that he [several undeciphered words] he was I thought at the time he was an officer it would be a disparagement to call him a soldier. given under my hand this 10th September 1822. Gabe Tutt [Gabriel Tutt S6279]

I do hereby certify that I was well acquainted with my Nephew Lewis Yancey son of my brother Richard and only brother of Richard H. Yancey and also with Lewis Yancey the son of my brother Philemon. That they were born & raised in the same neighborhood with myself in the County of Culpeper & State of Virginia. That the former entered into the Army of the Revolution under Capt. George Slaughter in the County & State aforesaid about the begining of the year seventeen hundred and Seventy six and served in the regiment on continental establishment commanded by Colo. Mughlenburg in the South  that the other Lewis Yancey a distinct and different person I enlisted as a private Soldier in Capt. John Watts [BLWt2431-300] company of Cavalry some time in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy eight  that he served to the end of the War & is still living as I beleive. That some time in the year following I was with the Army in South Carolinia (at Camden) I met with a Gentleman of distinction and of unquestionable veracity who informed me that he was well acquainted with my Nephew Lewis Yancey in Mughlenburg’s Regiment while in service in that State and of his Death and that he was an Officer Subaltern in Commission or rank and that his Sword at his request was sent to his Father and from my knowledge of my Nephews qualifications and my confidence in this Gentlemans Integrety I have ever considered his information correct and true and that his heir at Law has always intitled to his pay in money and bounty in Land as a Subaltern Officer. That I commanded a Company in the same Regiment with Capt. John Watts. Given under my hand and seal this 1 day of November Anno Dom 1822. Robert Yancey [S35752] Formly Capt 1st Regment of L.D. Now 72 years of Age [Certified in Jefferson County KY 13 Nov 1822] I Armistead Long [VAS968] of the County of Culpeper & State of Virginia, do hereby Certify, that I knew Lewis Yancey, son of Richard Yancey, of the County & State aforesaid, that the said Lewis was considered a young man of great promis, I have no knowledge of his being in the Revolutionary Service, but have understood he was. I further state, that Lewis Yancey, son of Philip [Philemon] Yancey, of said County & State, did (with myself & others) join the third Regiment of Cavalry, in January seventeen hundred and Seventy Nine, and served three years, Given under my hand this twenty eighth day of August 1823. Richmond  26 Sept. 1823 In the early part of last year, I applied to the executive and obtained a land bounty due me as heir of my brother Lewis Yancey who served and died in Virginia continental line in the revolution. The bounty allowed was that of a noncommissioned officer. I believed at the time, for I had often heard it said that my brother was a commissioned officer before his death, but I could not then prove it, and being told, that my drawing for his services as a non commissioned officer would not prejudice the claim as a commissioned officer, I drew the 200 acres, more than the whole value of which, I have expended in travelling to Kentucky & elsewhere to procure the testimony now offered, showing that my brother died a commissioned officer. My claim rests principally upon the affidavits of John Henderson & Robert Yancey. The first swears that Lewis Yancey was appointed adjutant to Col. Mughlenburg’s regiment which in July 1776 marched to Charles Town S. Carolina and that the said Yancey remained with it. Rob’t. Yancey (who was a Capt. in the Virginia line) swears that he was well acquainted with Lewis Yancey he nephew – that he (Robt.) was in S. Carolina (at Camden) in 1779 and met with a gentleman of distinction & of unquestionable veracity, who informed the affiant that he was well acquainted with Lewis Yancey the affiants nephew while in service in S. Carolina and the he died a commissioned officer and that his sword at his request, was after his death, sent to his father in Virginia. From the integrity of this gentleman, the affiant has always considered the heir of Lewis Yancey entitled to land bounty for his services as a commissioned officer. The sword alluded to, in Capt. Yancey’s affidavit was sent to & received by my father. The very sword is now in Culpeper, the property & in the possession of Thomas Yancey, who has often told me, he received it from my father as the sword which my brother Lewis Yancey wore at the time of his death. Maj’r. James Tutt in his affidavit, filed among the papers concerning my claim to bounty Land for Lewis Yancey’s services as a noncommissioned officer states that he had been informed by an officer returning from the south, that Lewis Yancey was a commissioned officer at the time of his death. The papers now filed in the council chamber, speak of my brother as a soldier & a private. At the time I obtained them I mentioned to the witnesses that I expected to prove he was an officer, and in their statements they did no intend to preclude the idea of Lewis Yancey’s promotion after they knew him as appears by the affidavit of Gabriel Tutt now offered. The certificate of Gen. Green shews I always believed my brother an officer. In August 1822 my claim to this additional bounty was rejected, but it then rested alone on the state of John Henderson, to which is now added the important affidavit of Capt. Robt. Yancey of Kentucky and the assurance that the sword is now in Culpeper of which I could get the affidavit of Thomas Yancey if deemed necessary. I trust the proof now offered will be thought sufficient for I have been so confident myself in the justice of the claim that I have spared neither time trouble nor expence in prosecuting it. And should believe the positive statement of Henderson, corroborated by the still stronger circumstantial evidence respecting the sword, conclusive circumstantial evidence respecting the sword, conclusive of the fact desired to be established. I am now in Richmond an expences, which I can illy afford, and hope my case will be determined as soon as your excellency can with convenience have it done. I am sir your obt. serv’t./ R. H. Yancey.

I did not edit the above and I am aware of the miss-spellings.

                                           "Arlington"

                         The Yancey House in Culpeper, VA

Lewis was married to Winifred Kavanaugh/Cavanaugh daughter of Philemon Cavanaugh (Some have Mildred as her first name, I have seen this in other trees and a couple documents, more research needs to be done to prove or disprove this).  (1710-1798). They married in 1710 and had the following children.

Elizabeth Yancey

1730–1752

Charles Lee Yancey

1732–1805

John Yancey

1734–1825

Philip Yancey

1735–1787

Lewis Yancey

1737–1784

Winifred Yancey

1742–1793

Ann Eleanor "Nancy" Yancey

1744–1807

Richard Henry Yancey

1748–1804

Robert Yancey

1750–1824

James Yancey

1752–1790

Isabella Yancey

1757–1822

Lewis died in 1784 in his home and is buried at his home, The Arlington Estate in Brandy Station, Culpeper, VA.

I get so excited to see the Veterans in my tree, makes me so proud. I love the stories and in the affidavits above there are great stories, more than one could ever imagine.  

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