"Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Third Section of the Act of Congress of the 4^th July 1836 �
State of Virginia: Charlotte County to wit:
On this 10th day of December, 1838, personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, Martha Epperson, a resident of Charlotte County, State of Virginia, aged 80 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4^th, 1836 �
That she is the widow of Thomas Epperson late of Charlotte County, Virginia, who was a Lieutenant in the Milita service of Virginia, in the War of the Revolution. That from bodily infirmity, old age, and the consequent loss of memory, she cannot at this period of life, recollect distinctly, or relate the particulars of her late husbands services in the old war � she recollects, however, that after her marriage to him, which was in the month of July, 1778, he was drafted several times in the Militia, and held the commission of Lieutenant in the Army, and marched to Ricmond in Virginia, Guilford, North Carolina, and other places not recollected. In and during his absence, she was left alone, to scuffle for herself, the best she could -- that he was engaged in the battle of Guilford, and other battles, the names of which, she has forgot � She knows that the marriage took place, before the last term of her husbands services expired � and that she has never married since his death -- How long he continued in service altogether, she is unable to state precisely; but believes he was in actual service as long as nine months � For particulars of service, grade, line and regiment to which he belonged, officers commanding etc. etc. she begs leive to refer to the Army Records of the period and the accompanying certificates of old soldiers � She further declares that she was married to the said Thomas Epperson, on the 20^th day of July, 1778: that her husband, the aforesaid Thomas Epperson, died on the [blank] day of August 1805: and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed �

Signed Martha X [her mark] Epperson

Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me �
Wyatt Cardwell, J.P.
Virginia: Charlotte County to wit:

I hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with Martha Epperson the widow of the above named Thomas Epperson, and know from my own personal knowledge, that she is very old and feeble and cannot attend the County Court of Charlotte, from bodily infirmity, in order to make the foregoing Declaration in open Court. I also, further certify, that she is a credible person, and her statement entitled to full confidence � Given under my hand this 10^th day of December 1838 �

Signed Wyatt Cardwell, J.P.
Virginia: Charlotte County to wit:

I, Wyatt Cardwell, an acting Justice of the Peace in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas Epperson late of Charlotte, departed this life sometime in the month of August, 1805.
Given under my hand this 10^th day of December 1838 �
Signed Wyatt Cardwell, J.P.

State of Virginia: Charlotte County to wit:
I do hereby certify, that I was acquainted with Thomas Epperson in the War of the Revolution; and know the fact, that he was a Lieutenant in the Militia service at least nine months � that he first marched in the early part of 1780, to Norfolk, Virginia, under Capt. Harvey, as a Lieutenant in the Company, and served on that occasion three months � that in the same year, he was drafted again, as a Lieutenant, in Capt Williams' company for three months, marched to the South, and was engaged in the battle of Camden, fought in August, 1780 �. He served then, three months � . He was then drafted the third time, for three months, as Lieutenant, under Capt Harvey, and marched to North Carolina, and was engaged in the battle of Guilford in March, 1781 � . He served about three months �. I have understood, that he was in other service, but do not recollect the particulars �. These facts come within my personal knowledge, being in the service at the time, and a waggon master �.
Thomas [X his mark] Harvey

Contact: Rand Cardwell, wrcardwell, author of John Cardwell - 1715 to 1795