THE REVOLUTIONARY PENSION
OF
WILLIAM COPELAND
Submitted by ©Deena Harris
William Copeland was a private in the Revolutionary War.
December 1776 he was promoted to Corporal.
He served under the following commanders:
Capt. William Smith, Col.Daniel Morgan, Maj. Thomas Snead, Capt. William Blackwell, Capt. Charles Porterfield, Lt. Col. John Cropper and John Marshall's Company.Some of the places these companies camped were: Middlebrook, NJ, (March 1779), Ramabough, Camp Smith's Clove (June 1779), Morristown, NJ (November 1779), Haverstraw (October 1779), Pompton Plains, NY, (November 1778), White Plains, NY (July 1778), Monmouth, NJ (June 1778) and Valley Forge, PA (that terrible winter of 1777-78).
He was discharged at Camp Morristown on December 9, 1779. In the 7th. Virginia Regiment, William was in Company #5 (Morgan's Riflemen). This company was discharged May 21, 1777. On November 30, 1778, he was a Corporal in Capt. Charles Porterfields Company, 7th. Virginia Infantry and served in the 7th. 11th. and 15th. (Morgan's) Virginia Regiments, Continental Line.
From the "Military Land Book", Richmond VA: "Council Chamber, August 30, 1783 - No. 1696. I do certify That William Copeland is entitled to the proportion of land allowed a Corporal of the Continental Line for three years' service. -Signed - Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Merriwether."
His discharge papers read: "William Copeland, Corporal in the 7th. Virginia Regiment in the service of the United States of America, having served the full term of his enlistment, is now discharged from any further service in said Regiment. Given under my hand at Camp in the United States of New York this 20th day of November 1779. Signed - James Wood, Col., Commandment 7th. VA Brigade - The term for which the said Copeland enlisted and served was three years. Signed - Isaiah Marks, Capt."
William Copeland died in June, 1822, in Johnson County, Illinois
©Copyright Illinois Genealogy Trails 1999-2006