1785 On May 17, the Augusta County Virginia Court records report "Sarah Hatfield, daughter of Hannah Hatfield, to be bound to John Harper." [1]
1790 August 16, Robert Beard and Sarah Hatfield, daughter of Hanah Hatfield (consent); surety, Wm. Richardson; witnesses, John Hatfield, John Gregg. Bride was daughter of Hanah Hatfield, who consents. [2]
A Civil War pension application reports [3]:
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension Application of Robert Beard W5217
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
Georgia On this 7 day of January in the year Eighteen th Hundred and Thirty Three
Henry County personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of the Inferior Court of
Henry County state of Georgia now sitting, Robert Beard aged seventy six a
resident of Henry County and state aforesaid, and who being duly sworn according to law doth on his
oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of the 7th June 1832. That he
entered the serv ice as herein after stated. He entered the service in the County of Cumberland in the State of Pennsylvania within the month of November [sic] near the middle of the month in the year 1777 immediately before the Battle of Brandywine [11 Sep]. Deponent was drafted by his own consent being under age under Capt. Patrick Jack – others not recollected) – marched to Bethelem [sic: Bethlehem] a
Moravian Town – passed a place called the Trap and the fox chase and met the wounded americans
retreating from the Battle of Germantown [4 Oct 1777] to some place of security. The company turned
[illegible word] Vally Forge [sic: Valley Forge]. The Firing of Washington's army in our neighborhood
rejoicing upon the Victory Gates over Burgoynes army [victory of Gen. Horatio Gates over Gen.
Burgoyne at Saratoga, 17 Oct 1777] was heard by our regiment and Gen'l. [James] Potter, who was much
alarmed, believing that it was the enemy approaching and ordered the regiment to be upon the march
immediately when the mistake was corrected. Deponent was marched across the Schuilkill river to
Swades Ford [sic: Schuylkill River to Swedesford] which they crossed wading up to their necks by six
men deep locking together. Camped on the Hill. Deponent was one of sixty men, who [illegible word] in
the Town of Chester, in the State of Delaware two men who were engaged in gathering provisions for the
enemy. a reward of Two thousand dollars was to be given they made their escape from the guard the
second night it was supposed the officer was bribed. This company took another man of the same
charater prisoner – offered him his life upon his send the Enemy word that he had plenty of provisions
ready and that if not taken away the rebels would seize it –; he agreed to the proposition, sent them word
– and they sent to get, our company which was concealed, were prevented from taking them prisoners by
the imprudence of one of Deponents company in firing too soon. The regiment under Potter had marched
to Smithfield Camp & this Deponents Company joined it and thence marched to Newtons square 15 miles
West of Philadelphia. a scouting party under Capt Gaskins took the Spenders & upper Bulls or Millstones
from such of the Brandywine mills as were suspects of provisioning the British army and carried them to
what was calld Foggs Manor – Deponent was then discharged – at the expiration of Three months – he
received a certificate of his service, which he traded it to Merchant in Stantown [sic: Staunton] Virginia –
he recieved no discharge in writing. Deponent then moved to Virginia, and he thinks in the year 1780 last
of March or first of April he entered the entered the service as a Drafts man under Capt. McKiterick
[probably John McKittrick] – in the County of Augusta Virginia. Marched to Tigers Vally to Warrick
Station [sic: Warwick Station in Tygart Valley, present Randolph County WV] – staid Ten days – came
home for want of provisions & was ordered back again in Ten days – and remained there until three
months expired – was verbally discharged – [illegible word] received a written discharge – in November
of the same year, under Capt. [Joseph] Patterson he entered the service again in same County and State.
the regiment was commanded by Col. Matthews [sic: Sampson Mathews] & Major Christie [surname
probably Christian]. marched to Fredericksburgh [sic: Fredericksburg] Va then to the Bolingreen [sic:
Bowling Green in Caroline County] then to Cabbin point 60 miles below Richmond [sic: Cabin Point in
Surry County about 50 mi SE of Richmond] – then to Suffolk, then to Camp Carsin 12 miles above
Portsmouth [sic: Camp Carson near Dismal Swamp]. deponent was one of sixty men under Capts.
Patterson & [John] Cunningham which attacked a part of the British forces in sight of Portsmouth, killed
he supposes thirty and retired. The main body of the American Army was near at hand, and it marched
back to Camp Carsin and were discharged. Col. Matthews endeavoured to prevail upon our forces to
remain over their time, but three months having expired they determined to return home. Deponent
remained in Augusta County Va about 15 years, moved to Abbeville S.C. – lived there about twenty years
and in Georgia about 15 years – he now lives Henry County Georgia – he is known to John Barnhill, John
Lovejoy, William McConnel, James Patello and others his neighbours – he is known to the Rev'd James
Gamble who also knew him in South Carolina. He was born in the County Derry in Ireland – came over
in the year seventy one, was born 29 Septemb. 1756 – has a record of th his age in his Bible, has no
documentary evidence.
He hereby relinquishes all claim to an annuity or pension except the present, and declares that his name is
not on the pension roll of the agency of any state [signed] Robert Beard
[John Beard of Madison County GA certified the service of his brother, Robert Beard.]
NOTE: On 26 July 1841 Sarah Beard, 72, applied for a pension stating that she married Robert Beard on 16 Aug 1790, and he died 27 Nov 1836. John Beard stated that he lived in Augusta County from 1773 until 1789 and knew of the marriage of his brother, Robert Beard, to Sarah Hatfield. On 8 Dec 1847 Sarah Beard, 77, stated that she had moved from Henry County to Cobb County GA within the previous three years.
[1] Lyman Chalkley and Mary S Lockwood, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish settlement in Virginia Extracted from the orginal court records of Augusta County 1745-1800, Vol. 1 (1912), 240, [GoogleBooks].
[2] Lyman Chalkley and Mary S Lockwood, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish settlement in Virginia Extracted from the orginal court records of Augusta County 1745-1800, Vol. 2 (1912), 285, [HathiTrust].
[3] Personal Communication, email from Ernie.