Elisha P. Miller deposition-1844

Deposition by Elisha P. Miller for Revolutionary War Pension of William Jones
State of North Carolina Caldwell County
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions July Term 1844

(Submitted by Barbara D. Latham)

On this 27th day of July 1844 personally appeared before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Caldwell County and State aforesaid, John Bush, a resident of the said County aged seventy two years who being first duly qualified according to Law doth on his oath make the following statements (to wit) That he is a brother of Susannah Bradford, formerly the widow of William Jones, the present applicant for a Pension. That the deponent has either lived with or as a near neighbor to said Susannah Bradford from his childhood up to the present moment and was present at the wedding at the time the said Susannah, whose maiden name was Bush, was married to the aforesaid William Jones. Which marriage took place at the house of Richard Bush, in Orange County, No. Carolina in the winter of the year seventeen hundred and eighty two. 1782. That the deponent will recollect that their first child was born in the year 1783 some twelve or eighteen months after their marriage. whom it was often and always said by those that had a right to know was born just eleven years after deponent.
This deponent further states on his said oath that he was born as he has always understood from his parents in the year 1772 in Old Bute or Warren County where he lived during the struggles of the Revolution, which he will recollects, and about the time peace was declared his father Richard Bush moved with his family to Orange County and State aforesaid and settled in the neighborhood of Thomas Conley on the waters of Prices & Morgans Creeks when and where they became acquainted with the aforesaid William Jones who was living with the aforesaid Thos. Conley in said County of Orange and whom it was said had been a Captain in the Revolution, and was called Capt. Jones by all that knew him. That deponent believes from the character said Capt. Jones bore in his neighborhood as a Soldier & an Officer that he must have done a great deal of service in the Revolution.
This deponent also stated on his oath that soon after his father’s settling in the County aforesaid, Capt. William Jones was married to his sister Susannah Bush as aforesaid and that said parties remained in Orange County after their marriage about five years and from thence they moved to Anson County, where they remained for about the same length of time, and from Anson County to Burke County No. Carolina where they arrived about the year 1792. And where after living a few years said Capt. William Jones died in or about the year 1798. Leaving his wife Susannah a widow who was afterwards married to Bennet Bradford who departed this life in the year 1828 leaving said Susannah a widow who has never since married but remained a widow.
Sworn to and subscribed in the day and year first above ?? before the Court.

Signatures of Elisha P. Miller (letters?) Signature X mark for John Bush
State of North Carolina
Caldwell County

I, Elisha P Miller Clerk of the Court of Pleas and quarter Sessions for said County, Certify that John Bush, who has this day sworn to and subscribed the above affidavit before the Court, is a credible person and to be believed on oath. In testimony where I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office as Office in Lenoir this 27th day of July A.D. 1844
Signed Elisha P Miller (letters?)

Note: Elisha P’s last name is difficult to read. It could be Miller or Millar. I am not familiar with the initials that would have appeared after his name. For more information on the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, read online https://www.ncpedia.org/court-pleas-and-quarter-sessions.

NOTE about county geography:
In 1768 Orange County, North Carolina covered much of the central area of the state. Just to the south was Anson County. Over the next few decades, additional counties were formed and Orange County lost much of its territory. During the late 1700’s, Anson County was on the South Carolina border; in 1762, Anson was divided to form Mechlenburg County to the west (modern day Charlotte area). The Anson County area would divide several more times, but during the late 1700’s to mid 1800’s that region was busy with travelers moving to South Carolina. Burke County was west and slightly north of Anson County. It, too, would be divided many times to become very small in comparison to the land it covered in the late 1700’s.

Bute County, North Carolina (at the Virginia border) ceased to exist after 1779 when it was divided to form Warren and Franklin Counties.

At the time this letter was written (1844), Lenoir was the new county seat of the newly-formed Caldwell County, within view of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.