Hugh Workman

• General Notes
  • In order to obtain the benefit if the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 State of Pennsylvania Washington County On this 4th  day of October A. D. 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting in and for said county Hugh Workman a resident of the Borough of Washington in the County of Washington and State of Pennsylvania aged seventy three 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 Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
    
    
    I just entered the service under Captain Joseph Ogle and Lieut. John Biggs in a company which served in McIntoshes’ campaign Major Dan’l Lett and Captain Rose and several other officers whos names I cannot now recollect had command under Gen’l McIntosh in this Campaign. Gen’l Broadhead was also in command in this expedition which consisted of upwards of one thousand men both regulars and militia. The company to which I was attached was raised in Washington County Penna and marched to Mouteur’s Bottom on the Ohio river10 miles below Pittsburg where we was joined by several other companies of militia . From this place after crossing the Ohio we marched to Beaver a small town on the Ohio that had been built by the French but was burnt down several years before we arrived at the place. I suppose it had been burnt during the French war. We remained at this place about two months during which time we constructed a wooden fort, 100 yds square, which in honor of our commander was called Fort McIntosh. After this fort was completed we were marched about 66 miles farther into the interior of what is now called the State of Ohio to the Tuscarawas River where we constructed another fort which the name of “Tuscarawas” fort was given. It was burnt down before spring by the Indians. After remaining a few weeks at Tuscarawas we commenced our march homewards. Scouring the country as we proceeded until we arrived at Fort McIntosh on our return at which place we recrossed the Ohio and marched directly home where we arrived between Christmas and New Years. On this occasion I entered the service about the first of September 1777=8 and was out in this service three months and twenty six days. I was drafted and a private and was in no general battle during the whole term. On the next summer I was a scout against the Indians as a volunteer for six days. The Indians had made an incursion across the Ohio and Capt. Williamson’s company of which I was a member volunteered and we pursued the savages until they recrossed the river. We then returned home. On this occasion we marched from Washington to Short creek in Virginia, from there across to the Ohio, at the mouth of Buffaloe, where Wellsburg now stands and from thence home. We did not overtake the Indians in their retreat west of the Ohio. In August of 1780 I was out as a volunteer against the Indians for fifteen days under the command of Capt Hosack. At this time we herd that the Indians had fited out an expedition against the frontiers and were crossing the Ohio to this side. Our company assembled and went to meet them, We marched from Washington to Van Meter’s fort on short creek, from the fort we went out and on a scout towards the Ohio but the savages made their retreat across the Ohio without wait by to meet us. We then returned to the fort and remained there for about 15 days to protect the frontier and keep the Indians in awe, we then returned home.
    
    The 4th time I was in the service as a volunteer under Capt. Hosack in the summer of 1781. We herd that the Indians had made an attack on Rices Block house situated about 12 miles west of Washington, our company was assembled immediately and we marched to the relief of the settlers who had taken refuge in the fort. The Indians had disappeared before we arrived at the block house, having killed and skalped only one man. We staid at the block house a few days to protect the settlers from another attack and then returned home. On this occasion I served eleven days.
    
    The 5th time I went out a volunteer under Col. Williamson in the month of Sept, 1781. We herd that the Indians meditated an attack on the fort at Wheeling. We marched upwards of seventy in number to the relief of the place and got there before the Indians had crossed the river and they gave up the expedition. From Wheeling we marched to Grave Creek 12 miles below on the Ohio and staid there all night and crossed the river next morning and came up on the Ohio side to Wheeling where we crossed it to this side and remained at the fort all night, an the next morning we commenced our march home, where we arrived after being out eight days, having traveled in that time 120 or 130 miles.
    
    In the fall of 1780 I was on an expedition through the State of Ohio under Col. Williamson which lasted for twelve days. During which time the company which consisted of 60 or 70 men visited fort McIntosh on the Ohio and marched from thence to the Moravian town in Ohio where we took five Indians prisoners and captured also a white man named Bull who passed among the savages for a priest. From the Moravian town we returned home by the way of the fort at Wheeling.
    
    In the summer of 1782 also out for two months in what is called Crawford’s Campaign. I served for these two month in a company commanded by Captain William Leet and was a volunteer. Col. Crawford was first in command Col. Williamson was second, Major Dan’l Leet was third and then Capts Leet, Bilderback, Ben & Rose & Paul and several others whose names I do not now recollect. We left Washington in the last week of May and rendevous at the Mingo Bottom on the Ohio, where we elected our officers. From Mingo Bottom we marched to the Muskingham river to the lower Moravian town we then passed up said river to the upper Moravian town under the pilotage of two men named Lane and Stover. From the upper town we went directly to the Sandusky plains where myself and 13 others went out as spies to see if we could discover any traces of the enemy we had not gone more than a mile and an half until the Indians showed themselves in the long grass and fired on us, and we retreated to the main body and gave the alarm that the enemy were coming. The whole command of Col. Crawford numbered 494 men including officers. I suppose the body of Indians by which we were attacked amounted to upwards of 1000 warriors. The battle commenced about noon and lasted until dark, and the silence of the night was also occasionly interrupted by the discharge of the musket and rifle. We maintained our position to the evening of the next day when we were commanded by Col. Crawford for every man to seek his own safety and do the best he could for himself. About dusk we commenced our retreat without order evry man taking his own direction some towards home others in the opposite direction. In the battle and retreat we lost 70 men or upwards among whom were Col. Crawford Dr. McKnight and several other officers. This affair happened as I recollect aught on the 5th and sixth of June. Myself and five others who were all well mounted, were the first to reach the Ohio river having made it in five days others did not come in til the eighth or ninth day. Capts. Rose & Beuss who were wounded also reached the river on the eighth day. I served on this occasion as a dragoon. I have no documentary evidence to prove my service but I do know of several persons living who served with me. The affidavits of some of whom I intend to procure if possible and attach to this declaration. My brother James Workman served with me in McIntosh’s campaign and he is the only person living who I know of who was with me on that occasion he also knows that I was out against the Indians on other occasions. William Wolf was also out with me once or twice and he is yet living. Isaac Vance, Angus McCay James Workman Robert Henery Andrew Vaneman & White & others are yet living who served with me in Crawfords campaign any of whom can prove my services on that occasion.
    
    
    
    I was born on the 19th day of Aug 1760 in Lancaster County Penna. I have now no record of my age. When I removed west of the mountains, I brought with me my fathers family bible containing a record of my age but it has been destroyed or lost by some means or other. When I was called into service I lived in Washington County Penn. Where I now live and where I have lived ever since the Revolutionary War. The first occasion I was drafted and on all other occasions I have gone out a volunteer & never was a substitute. I never received a written discharge from the service.
    
    The following named persons have been acquainted with me from 30 to 55 years they can testify to my character for varasity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution. The three Judges of this court Th Baird Boyd Mercer & John Hamilton David Morris Alexander reed Jaurez Shannon John Wilson Esq John Marshel Esq together wit hmany others and also those with whom I have served. I know of no clergyman who I can procure who can certify further as required by the was Department. The whole service that I rendered my country was as a private. I hereby relinquish evry claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
    Thomas Offices Pro.
    
    Hugh Workman
    
    We John Marshel John Wilson and David Morris residing in the Borough of Washington & County of Washington Penna hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Hugh Workman who has subscribed and sworn to the preceeding declaration, that we believe him to be Seventy three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier and Spy in the Indian wars of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
    Thomas Office Pro.
    
    John Marshel
    
    John Wilson
    
    David Morris
    
    
     
    And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John Marshel, Esq. John Wilson, Esq. & David Morris who have signed the preceeding certificate are residents in the Borough of Washington County of Washington State of Penn & and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. Thomas Office Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas