James LeMaster. The descendants of James LeMaster changed the spelling of their surname to Lamaster. James is listed on an card index of Revolutionary War Soldiers in National Archives. He served in the 8th and 12th Virginia Regiment from June 10, 1777, to December 1, 1779, as a private in the Fife & Drum, the light infantry at Valley Forge and Regiment C. 541. A Bounty Warrant issued to James for three years’ service in 12th Va. Continental Line, signed by Capt. Swearingen dated Feb. 3, 1784. On the same day James signed to deliver his parcel of land to Wm. Stark. James is listed in Henry Co., KY census as born 1765 – 1784.
Hugh LeMaster, the brother of James, served in the Virginia Line during the Revolutionary War (Pension application 25587 & W2951).
Questions presented by the War Department in connection with the pension application of Hugh LeMaster.
Ques: When and in what year were you born?
Ans: I was born in Charles County State of Maryland on the 27th day of May 1750.
Ques: Have you any record of your age?
Ans: My age was recorded in my Father’s Bible but I have not got it myself though I remember very well the date and year of my birth.
Ques: Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you live now?
Ans: When I was called into the service I was living in Washington County, State of Maryland, where I re mained until 1796. I then moved to Shelby County, State of Ky., where I have lived ever since.
Ques: How were you called into service? Were you drafted, did you volunteer for service or were you a substitute and if a substitute, for whom?
Ans: I once volunteered for a tour of six months, the second time I was drafted for three months.
Ques: State the names of some of the regular officers who was with the troops when you served and such companies and militia regiments as you can recollect.
Ans: General Washington was boarding within two miles of our encampment at Baskin’s Ridge, General Green was at Lord Sterlings, of the militia Coln. Joseph Smith’s regiment, Coln. Richard David, Major Charles Swearington, Major Christian Bindorf, Capt. Bazil Williams, who was uncle to General Otho Williams – on my second tour when I Was guarding the prisoners there was no officers at the Barracks exc ept Capt. Martin Billmire, Coln. Moses Rollins, was the Coln. of the Barracks and commanded the forte where the prisoners were kept.
Ques: Did you ever receive a discharge and by whom was it signed and what has become of it?
Ans: The first time I was in service General Washington discharged the regiment verbally; the second time Capt. Billmire signed my discharge which I kept until I become blind. Since that time I am told by my family it is lost or mislaid.
Ques: State the names of persons to whom you are known to your present neighborhood who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution.
Ans: I will state the names of Zachery Carpenter, a Clergyman, and Jesse Carpenter.
We, Zacharis Carpenter, Clergyman, and Jesse Carpenter, residing in the neighborhood of Hugh LeMaster who has sworn and subscribed the above declaration say we are well acquainted with him. We believe him to be 83 years of age; and that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides; to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that we concur in the opinion.
- Carpenter
Jesse Carpenter
Certificate of Marriage
STATE OF MARYLAND, WASHINGTON COUNTY: I hereby certify that it appears from the records of Washington County Court that Hugh LeMaster and Mary Jupin, on February 20, 1792 obtained from the Clerk of said Court a license to be joined in holy bonds of matrimony, and that said license was addressed to the Rev. Mr. Carroll, authorizing him to solemnize the rites of marriage between the said persons according to law. This June 13, 1845.
Signed: Isaac Nesbitt, Clerk.
In a letter from this County Court, written from Hagerstown, he says Mr. Carroll afterwards removed to your county, and there died, so I am told.
His widow, Mary LeMaster, a resident of Shelby County, Kentucky, aged 78, says she was married to him February 20, 1792, and that he died May 13, 1837, and that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service.