Thanks to the research of Gene Dear, here is more information on Revolutionary War soldiers from the Germanna community. Gene had been reading the application of Martin Deer (S 8311), and it contained two affidavits, one by Joseph Carpenter, and the other by Benjamin Hoffman. The affidavit by Carpenter follows:
Virginia, Madison County To Wit I Joseph Carpenter aged eighty three years next May certify under oath I was born and raised in the neighborhood in which old Mr. Martin Deer was raised and have known him ever since my infancy. The house in which he was born is in sight of my present residence. I am a Revolutionary soldier myself and served a full term as a volunteer in 1781 under Captain Elizah Kirtley in the spring of that year. I did not enter the army afterwards. On my return from the same another company was immediately raised and Martin Deer went as private and served a tour in the lower country. I was not with him but know that he went and returned and further I have always understood from old soldiers that Mr. Deer was at York Town and Petersburg and he is reputed by every body so far as I know to have been in the war as a soldier. I never heard his services doubted and he is reguarded by every person in my acquaintance as such. And I do not believe a more honest every lived. I say again that Martin Deer served a tour in the lower country after my returned which was early in the spring of 81. I know nothing of other tours performed by him but believe any statement made by him to be strictly correct for he is an honourable man and known as such by the people of Madison. Joseph Carpenter Aged 83 next May 23rd day of July 1846
E. G. Chapman, JP, testified to the respectability of Mr. Carpenter, who was one of the oldest citizens. He verified that Carpenter had brought his family register to prove his age [the register or a copy of it was not included].
Joseph Carpenter was born in May of 1764, and enlisted when he was 16, or almost 17 years old. This birth year is confirmed by his stated age in the 1850 census. He was a parent for the first time in 1783, when Alexander was born 7 Jan 1783 (the mother was Catherine Blankenbaker). Alexander never appears later in the records after this baptism, but he may have had, or used, the name Elliott, which is otherwise not a recorded baptism at the church.
Joseph was the son of Andrew Carpenter, who in turn was the son of the immigrant John Carpenter. Andrew married Barbara Weaver, the widow of George Clore.
(05 Mar 01)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.