Wednesday, June 09, 2010

The Generosity of Lucy and Rigby

This is one of many portraits of my 6- and 4-year-old kids.

After Lucy's swim lessons at the Sports Barn, we had a fun dinner at Taco Mac, quoting the latest Shrek movie and watching ESPN Sports Center.

The kids did not eat all the chicken tenders and fries that they ordered and wanted to get a to-go box so they could finish their food at home.

As we walked a downtown sidewalk after leaving the restaurant, a man less fortunate than us approached and asked me for money. I never carry cash and I told him so. He told me he was hungry. Without hardly a hesitation, my children gave their to-go box to the man.

He was thankful and a little shocked. I was thankful for the children God has given us. The man thanked us and walked to the nearest bench.

As I looked back over my shoulder at the man enjoying my kids' dinner, Lucy told Rigby, "He was hungry. Sometimes people don't have money to get food."

Rigby replied, "We are lucky."

What a lesson.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Remembering Kinchen Martin

On Memorial Day, remembering so many relatives that served our country. The oldest account of a military relative I can find is this one, Kinchen Martin, who describes his Revolutionary War service in his application for pension.

Kinchen Martin
B. October 5, 1762
D. June 14, 1841

Kinchen Martin served in the revolution as a member of the Virginia line. He was born in the County of Southampton, Virginia and married Chloe Hough in the county of Northampton, North Carolina. They moved to Anson County, North Carolina where he filed an application for a revolutionary war pension.

Application for pension

On this 9th. day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two personally appeared in open court before the worshipful justices holding the court aforesaid for the county of Anson at the court house in Wadesboro--now sitting, Kitchen Martin, a resident of Anson and state of North carolina, aged 70, the 6th. day of January last, who being first 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 7th. ,1832.

History of Service

He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated-- I volunteered as a private in the month of October (day not recollected) 1779 for three months in the town of Smithfield, County of Southampton and State of Virginia--under Capt. Whirehead--in the regiment commanded bt Col. Wells--Major Brookwell. I was marched from Smithfield to Suffolk to Portsmouth and to Williamsburg. I served out the full time andwas discharged near Richmond by Col. Wells in January 1780. In this service, I was for awhile under the command of a French Major DeClomder. (spic)
I again volunteered in February 1780 in the county of Southampton, Viaginia for three months, under the command of Capt. Rogers as a Sergeanr Major in the Militia in the regiment commanded by Col. Blount.

In this town, I marched to Petersburgh and thence to the town of Williamsburgh--and was then discharged by Col. Blount in the month of May (day not recollected).

After my return to Southampton, I again volunteered for three months in the month of June 1780 in the county of Southampton, Virginia in a company under the command of Capt. Edmunds in the Calvalry. I was under the command of General Parker. I was made an Adjutant in the troop. We were marched to Jerico and to Suffolk and and other places in that part of Virginia. I served out this three months in the Calvary and was discharged 1780.

I volunteered a 4th. time in the county of Southampton, Virginia for three months in the month of October 1780 under Capt. Blount in the Calvary--was Adjutant. Genl. Parker, commander in Cheif of our forcees--we were sent to diffrent counties of Virginia to reconnoiter the British forces--and report their situation. I went to Richmond, Virginia and was discharged by Genl. Parker near that town in January 1781.

I vounteered again for the fifth time in the month of August 1781-- in the regiment under Col. Blount--was commissioned by him as an Ensign--was sent to keep horses for the Artillery--went to Brunswick County--returned to Old Jamestown where I was sick. This was in October 1781--was there in this month when Cornwallis surrendered to Genl. Washington and the French Army. I was regularly discharged in October 1781--after serving six weeks.