And that was near about seventy two years ago

Going through older genealogical records, much of it is pretty formulaic. Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions especially so. They follow a very standard form. Even so, the human element every now and then creeps in and leaves a record that the bureaucrats of the time did not intend. 6th Great Uncle Jacob Perkins (1756-1819) applied for such a pension in 1853. Applications made their own testaments and then needed to also supply testimony of neighbors, witnesses of of the service, or testimonials to their good character and veracity.

In this case brother-in-law Benjamin Graves is supporting the application of his sister Ann (nee Graves) Perkins for George's pension. In amidst the dry testimonials, suddenly a long forgotten love story bursts in.

On this 12 day of May AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the Soundy and State afresaid Benjamin Graves.

Ages 88 years a resident of aforesaid county in the State of Tennessee who being duly sworn according tot he Law declared that he was personally acquainted with Jacob Perkins and Ann Perkins his wife in their lifetime. My Father moved from South Carolin to the State of Tennesse when I was about 12 years of age and we was there four years before Jacob Perkins and Ann Graves my sister was married. The day I new (sic) that they was married is this my father who was not willing to the marriage and Jacob Perkins and Ann Grave my sister runaway and was married by a clergyman by the name of Mulkey and my father become uneasy and he went to see Mulkeys to see if they was married and when he came back he stated, in my presence, that Mulkey told(e) him that he married Jacob Perkins and Ann Graves and that was near about seventy two years ago to the best of my knowledge and recollection.

And Jacob Perkins told me that he served in the Revolutionary War - I lived in three miles of Jacob Perkins when he entered the service and seved out his time and was honorably discharged. But I do not know what become of the discharge and I am well satisfied that he did serve in the Revolutionary War but I do no know how long he did serve. Jacob Perkins was a man that could be relied on for truth and verasity in his neighborhood where he lived.

Benjamon Graves (X) his mark

Benjamin Graves is sixteen years old when his father is off hunting up the clergyman Mulkey to see if he has married the two runaways. A love story from 1772. There is a frontier romance waiting to be conjured in there.