Note: William and Adam Hickman's names are taken from previous family histories and have not been confirmed.  Further research is required.   We are not suggesting that the information is incorrect, just that we are not aware of the research methods and sources used to arrive at these conclusions.

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The Hickman family's patriarch in this country was William Hickman.  William brought his family, including Adam who is our direct-line ancestor, from Germany.  The Bradley County, Tennessee Hickmans trace their ancestry to William and Adam.

 REVOLUTIONARY WAR 

Adam Hickman served in the Revolutionary War.  He states in his pension application dated 3 Sep 1832 that on that date he was 70 years old.  He was born in Germany in 1762, and emigrated with his parents in his second year and moved to Rockbridge when six. 

Adam was 18 years old when drafted to serve in the War and he served two tours of duty for a total of six months.  He was a private.  He was drafted under Captain James (William) Holt of Rockbridge; Capt. Gray, Henry Evans, Capt. William Paxton; Wm. Miller was his messmate.

From Adam's pension application we learn that his tours of duty were with other men from Rockbridge.  When they filed for pension many years later, Adam was able to confirm their service for the purpose of their obtaining their pensions.  In one instance, a man by the name of George Vineyard would most likely have been turned down without Adam's statement on his behalf.

Adam's character shows through in these documents in both his actions and in the words of those who knew him.  He was known as a credible man incapable of lying and one of his most vocal advocates was Samuel McD Reid who was Rockbridge County's Clerk of Court at the time.

Adam was awarded a pension in the amount of $20.00 per year commencing March 4, 1834.  He collected a total of $60.00 in pension payments.

Adam's pension statement was given in 1832 under oath and the transcription follows.

Source:  Adam Hickman's Revolutionary War history is taken from the original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, NARA M804, State of Virginia, Pension No. S.5.540.

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Rockbridge County
State of Virginia
Sept. 3rd 1832

On this 3rd day of September in the year 1832, Personally appeared in Open Court [aforesaid] Court
being a Court of Record, for the County of Rockbridge, and now sitting, Adam Hickman a resident in
[aforesaid] County & State, aged 70 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 1802.

That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officer, and served as
herein stated.

This applicant states, that in the fall of the year 1780 (about the first of October), he was drafted as a
militia man, under Capt. James (or William) Hall then of [aforesaid] County, now dead; he marched
from [aforesaid] County having rendevoused about a mile below Lexington, to the City of Richmond,
thence he marched through the Country, in various directions, which the applicant cannot now
describe, to Petersburg. This applicant states, that his company marched with another company of
volunteers under Capt. David Gray from the same County, & this applicant can not now recollect any
further parties & __ of the tour. He states that in this time he served 3 months he does not recollect
any other officers. He received no discharge. This applicant refers to the evidence of Henry Evans, who
served with him in this tour, being his mess mate.

This applicant further states, that he was again drafted as a militia man, under Capt. William Paxton,
then of [aforesaid] County now dead, in May 1781. He marched from [aforesaid] County to Deep run
church, near Richmond, where he thinks he remained about 2 weeks, then joined other forces, which
he cannot specify. Marched thence to Richmond, thence down the Country, how far he cannot say,
crossed James River at a place called Sandy Point as he thinks, then came up the River to Petersburg.
This applicant states, that the Bridge over the Appomatox at Petersburg, had been burned down by the
British, and he crossed in a flat, Thence marched up the Appomatox, how far he cannot recollect and
was stationed in [aforesaid] River a week or 10 days, thence marched across to Westhaven, on James
River, about 6 miles above Richmond, thence back to Richmond, and down the Country about a days
journey, when the applicant was dismissed. He served 3 months in this tour. He received no discharge
as he recollects. This applicant refers to the testimony of William Miller of [aforesaid] County of
Rockbridge who served with him, in this expedition.

This applicant served in all 6 months. This applicant states that he was born in January in the year
1762, and emigrated with his parents to Pennsylvania, in his second year.

This applicant has no record of his age. He states that he came to [aforesaid] county of Rockbridge
(then Bottetourt County) in the 6th year of his age, where he was living when drafted into service,
and has been living since the War of the Revolution.

This applicant was drafted into service in both tours. This applicant refers to the personal knowledge
of William Miller, as testimony in his behalf, also to the testimony of Jefferson Crawford & William
Paxton Esq.

This applicant hereby relinquishes all and every claim 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. Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year above written.

Signed by Adam Hickman


Mr. William Paxton, Jefferson Crawford, and John D. Ewing, a clergyman, residing in [aforeaid]
county and neighbourhood of [aforesaid] applicant, do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted
with Adam Hickman, who has sworn to and subscribed the above declaration. That we believe him to
be 70 years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood in which he resides, to have
been a revolutionary soldier. That no doubts to our knowledge have ever existed upon the subject, and
that we concur in that opinion, that [aforeaid] applicant in the above declaration is a man of truth,
and incapable of making a false Statement - Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year above written.

Signed by
William Paxton
Jefferson Crawford
John D. Ewing


I William Miller of said County of Rockbridge & [aforesaid] State, do hereby certify, that I have known
[aforesaid] applicant in the above declaration, for 60 years, and that I know from my own personal
knowledge, that said Adam Hickman was in service under Capt. William Paxton in 1781. That I
frequently saw him and stood with him in the ranks, That I saw him at the Battle of Hot water, that I
saw him while pulling the flat over the Appomattox River, as he states in his declaration, that I saw
the flat overturned by the horses in it, and saw the said Adam Hickman preserve himself by holding to
the rope, that I saw him start on a scouting expedition to Williamsburg, during the night, to surprise
the British guards. I further certify, that I believe what the [aforesaid] Adam Hickman has stated in his
declaration, and that he served during the tour of 3 months for which he was drafted under Capt.
William Paxton, that it is the general belief of his neighbourhood that he was a revolutionary soldier,
and that no doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written.

Signed by William Miller


Virginia
At Rockbridge County Court September 3rd 1832

The declaration of Adam Hickman together, with the affidavits of William Miller and William Paxton,
Jefferson Crawford and John D. Ewing of which the foregoing are true copies were __ in court and ___
sworn to and subscribed in open court - and the said court declared their opinion after investigating
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 certified
that William Miller, William Paxton, Jefferson Crawford and John D. Ewing who signed the preceding
certificate are residents of this county and are credible persons, and that their statements are on ___
to ___ and that the said John D. Ewing is a clergyman ___ in said county --

In testimony whereof I Samuel McD Reid Clerk of said county court have hereto subscribed my name
and affixed the seal of said county this the 4th Day of September 1832, and in the 57th year of the
Commonwealth.

Signed Samuel McD Reid

END OF PENSION STATEMENT AND REFERENCES

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Adam Hickman confirmed the war service records of several other veterans as part of their process for
applying for pensions. The following letters are regarding his affidavit of the service of George
Vineyard. In the following correspondence you will read of the high regard that others had of Adam's
character and credibility.


Virginia
Rockbridge County to wit:

This day Adam Hickman personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in and
for the county aforesaid and made oath ___ he served in the war of the Revolution with George
Vineyard then of this county now of the County of Scott and state aforesaid that he marched from this
county with Vineyard in the fall of the year 1780 and that the said Vineyard was in a company of
Volunteers commanded by Capt Gray and this respondent recollects of seeing the said Vineyard on
various occasions during the trip of three months and the respondent recollects that he again was
drafted in the month of May in the year 1781 and as he returned home after serving another tour of
three months that he met the same George Vineyard in another company going on down the county
for the purpose of joining the main army and further this deponent saith not.

Given under my hand this 19th day of June 1844

Reuben Grigsby J.P.


Virginia Rockbridge County to wit:

I Samuel McD Reid Clerk of the County court of the said County of Rockbridge certify that Reuben
Grigsby before whom the within affidavit of Adam Hickman was made is a justice as aforesaid & that
he is a member of the County court of said county which is a court of Record and that his signature is
genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said court on this
6th day of July 1844 and in the 69th year of the commonwealth.

Saml McD Reid Ckl


10th July 1844

Dear Sir

Enclosed you will receive the affidavit of Adam Hickman sworn to before a justice of the peace for the
county of Rockbridge and certified by the Clerk of that court with the seal __ which you will receive &
file with his declaration and documents presented by the __ George W. Hopkins of Va. all of which is
most Respectfully submitted; you will __ that the testimony of Mr. Hickman was unknown to Mr.
Vineyard at the time of making his declaration; but through the agency of Col. Joseph Cloyd of the
county of Rockbridge whose father was said to have been an officer in the war of the Revolution, Mr.
Hickmans knowledge of the services of said Vineyard was obtained; the letter which was written by my
self to Col. Cloyd to acertain whether or know there were any papers in his possession of his fathers
showing the services of the said Vineyard and Col. Cloyd having no papers that would show the facts
sent my letter to Adam Hickman who is still living in the aforesaid county and recollected the services
of the said George Vineyard and made the statement of facts contained in the enclosed; I have also
enclosed the letter of the Clerk of the county which will give you information as to the character of
Adam Hickman the paper is intended for the evidence of the applicant, George Vineyard of Scott
County Virginia, your very early attention to the __ of his application is most respectfully requested.

Yours Very Respectfully,
Signed Henry A. Morison

Documents transcribed by Joyce Disharoon

TIMELINE

1762: According to Adam Hickman's statement under oath for his Pension Application, he was born January 1762