Forster, Thomas

THOMAS FORSTER
    State of North Carolina               Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
   Buncombe County                      October Term 1832
    On this 17th day of October personally appeared in open court before the justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Buncombe County State of North Carolina now sitting, Thomas Forster, a resident of said county and States his age 82 years who being 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 7, 1832.  To Wit That he was born on the 22 day of January in the year 1751 in the State of Pennsylvania his parent removed to Frederick County in the State of Virginia when he was quite young.  He lived in Frederick County until he was 24 or 25 years old.  He moved thence to Augusta County in said state.  He here enlisted in the year 1777 for the term of three years under Leftenent Bell in the Continental Army..  He marched us to Winchester when he joined his Capt. John McGuire.  His Capt. marched to Dumfries where they joined Col. Grayson 16th VA Reg. he commanded. He marched up the Potomac River and crossed at George Town.  He then marched to Baltimore remained there a few days and took shipping and landed in Philadelphia and sailed up to Trenton.  He marched to headquarters in New Jersey and joined the main army commanded by General George Washington.  He was here under the French decipline [sic] by Steuband.  He marched to Trenton back and thence to Philadelphia and crossed the Schuykill River on a floating bridge.  He went on the Battle of Brandywine and he was here in the battle.  He then marched then back to Philadelphia or in five or six miles of Philadelphia and was then in battle of German Town.  He stayed here and went to the Valley Forge winter quarters.  He next went after (winter quarters) to the Battle of Monmouth and joined the Light Infantry commanded by General Scott.  He next day joined the same company, Captain McGuire.  He marched and crossed the North River and was made wagon master and was in that station until he received his discharge.
    He received his discharge in Philadelphia after serving his three years from General Muhlenburg at the Barax.  Here it was enjoyned to march some British prisoners to Maryland which he did and returned home to Virginia where he lived until 40 years old and moved to South Carolina stayed eight or ten years, thence to Buncombe County, NC where he resides now and has for thirty years. (1832 age 84 years living in Buncombe Co.)
        Wit. by Jam W. Davidson            /s/ Thos Forster
        Nathan Horreson

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