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On this 7th day of March 1844, personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Washington, Henry Taylor a resident of the said County aged seventy four, 74 years and made oath in due form of law, to the following statements to wit; that he the affiant has from his Childhood been intimately acquainted with John Edwards late Revolutionary Pensioner deceased of Washington County Tennessee, also also, with his wife Ruth, applicant for a Pension on the account of her said husbands Revolutionary services, living in Yancey County North Carolina, That this affiant lived a near neighbor to the parties aforesaid John Edwards & wife Ruth in Bedford County Virginia, from the year Seventeen hundred & seventy one 1771, to Seventeen hundred & seventy seven 1777, or eight at which time they had a family of some two or three Children the Eldest of which was about affiants own age.

This affiant further states that he well recollects of being frequently at the house of said John Edwards while he lived in Virginia, that affiant left that State in the year seventeen hundred & seventy seven or eight about the Commencement of the Revolution after having lived some five or six years a near neighbor to the said John Edwards & wife, that the next place affiant knew said John Edwards & family was about or soon after the Close of Revolution they came into this part of Tennessee where they have lived most of the time up to the death of said John Edwards who died in Washington County in the month of October 1833.

This affiant also states on his oath that said John Edwards made application for a Pension on the account of his Revolutionary Services and a Pension was allowed to him soon after his death which Pension was paid to his widow Ruth the aforesaid, and on preparing of the proper vouchers to draw the said Pension form the Agent of the United States, it was proven by the Oath of Old Mrs. Mary Taylor late deceased of Washington County, that the parties aforesaid John Edwards & his wife Ruth, (whose maiden name was Crabtree) was lawfully man & wife. That said Witness Mary Taylor was present a witnessed the solemnization of the ides of matrimony betwen said parties which took place in Bedford County Virginia before said Witness left that State which was in the year Seventeen hundred & seventy seven or eight

This affiant further states on his Oath, that from his acquaintance & knowledge of said John Edwards & wife Ruth, that they must have been married about the year Seventeen hundred & seventy 1770, furthermore this affiant saith not,

Sworn and Subscribed on the day & date first above written before me
Wilton Atkinson
Justice of the Peace
 

State of Tennessee
Washington County}
I Certify that Henry Taylor who has this day sworn to and subscribed the foregoing Certificate before me, is a person to whose statements is due full faith & Credit. Given under my hand the day & date above written

Wilton Atkinson
Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee
Washington County}
I Saml Greer Clerk of the county Court of said County do hereby Certify that Wilton Atkinson is a Justice of the peace for said county duly Commissioned and qualified and that his signature is Genuine Given under my hand & seal of Office at Office in Jonesboro this 7th March 1844

Saml Greer Clk