John Edward Rudder Revolutionary War Pension Declaration Virginia to wit On this 26th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open court before the justices of the Court of Halifax now sitting, John Rudder a resident of the County of Halifax and State of Virginia aged Seventy five 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 enlisted in the service of the United States as a minute man for one year, a private soldier in the County of Lunenburg and State of Virginia the latter part of the year 1776 or first part of the year 1777 as well as I can recollect, under Samuel Garland, Captain and John Garland, Lieutenant. I was engaged for some time performing Military exercise in the said County before I had marching orders. I was first ordered to march to Wake Courthouse, North Carolina. I accordingly started and marched under the command of Major John Glenn through the County of Mecklenburg across Roanoke river a few miles in the State of North Carolina, where we were countermanded back to Virginia. I was accordingly marched back across Roanoke, and through the Counties of Mecklenburg, Brunswick and Dinwiddie to the town of Petersburg where I remained a short time. From there I was marched through the Counties of Prince George & Surry to a small town on James river called Cobham where I was stationed for some length of time, after which I was marched back across James river through Jamestown to Williamsburg where I was stationed a while, at which place I was joined to the brigade commanded by General Nelson, from there I was marched to Burwell's ferry on James river where I was stationed for some months, after which I was marched back to Williamsburg where I remained until sometime in the fall of 1777. The whole army at that place was ordered to march to Dumfrees but on the way to Dumfrees it was concluded that all the one year's men that would not reenlist should turn and go to Holdson against the Indians. I with some others was too sick to march and at a place called Newcastle I was left behind on furlough with orders to go on and join my Captain whenever I got well enough to march. During my furlough I made out to get home to the County of Lunenburg and before I was able to march Captain Garland returned home and gave me a discharge our time of one year being expired. I think this discharge was given in the month of November 1777. I have no documentary evidence but prove this tour by the affidavit of David Callaham who served the whole time with me. The next time I entered the service I substituted in place of William Matthews as a private soldier in the militia service in the said county of Lunenburg, Virginia in the month of July 1778 under Edward Broadnax, Capt., Richard Wyatt Lieutenant & Sterling Niblett Ensign. I was marched through the counties of Amelia, Chesterfield and Dinwiddie to Petersburg, from there I was marched across James River and on to Williamsburg where I was stationed for some time, after which I was marched to Yorktown where I was joined to the Brigade commanded by General Nelson where I was stationed a while, where I was marched back to Williamsburg where I was discharged by Capt. Broadnax after serving a tour of two months. I was discharged the month of September 1778. I have no documentary evidence but prove this tour by John Crews who served the whole of this tour with me. The next time I entered the service I was drafted a private soldier in the said county of Lunenburg, Virginia in the month of May 1779 under Anthony Street Capt. I was marched through the county of Amelia and on to the town of Petersburg where we remained waiting further orders until the militia was discharged. I was then discharged by Cap. Street after serving a tour of three weeks. I have no documentary evidence nor do I know of any person whose testimony I can procure who can testify to my serving this tour. The next time I entered the service I was drafted a private soldier in the militia service in the said county of Lunenburg Va. in the month of April 1781 under Ellison Ellis (Captain). I was marched to Prince Edward Courthouse where I was transferred to Capt. William Ragsdale's company where I was made a Sergeant and served the tour as such. I was then joined to the Brigade commanded by General Robert Lawson, John Overstreet Major. I was then marched across James river to a place called the point of forks, where I was joined to the Army commanded by General Lafayette, the enemy then began to retreat and I was marched down the state when at a place called the Raccoon ford General Wayne joined the army. I was then marched on down pursuing the enemy until arrived at James Town where we had a little scrmmaging (sic) during the time the british (sic) crossed James river and we had to come up to Richmond before we could cross and on my way up to Richmond I met the relief which relieved me from this tour. I could not be discharged at the end of three, but had to wait until relief came which caused this tour to be upwards of three months. I have no documentary evidence but prove this tour by John Crews who was in the service at the same time. I was born in the county of Lunenburg, Virginia the 13th day of February 1757. The register of the age was in a book belonging to my father, an extract of which I still have. I lived in the said county of Lunenburg when called into service. I lived there eleven years after the close of the Revolutionary War. I then moved to the county of Charlotte where I lived three years. I then moved in the county of Halifax where I have lived ever since. My discharges are all lost or mislaid so that I cannot come at them. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. John Rudder Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.