August 24, 1832, Sumner Co., Tennessee: Leroy Brizendine, age 71 on May 26 last, declares he was born in Virginia and resided with his father in Lunenberg County in 1780. In the summer of 1780, he volunteered for six months under Capt. Peter Stokes, Lt. Flora Smiden and Ens. Horatio Walker. This was a company of volunteers that was raised to operate chiefly against the Tories in North Carolina. They marched to Hillsborough, NC and got a supply of arms there and marched upon Broad River. They scoured that country and captured many Tories, whipped some, tied some to trees, and carried 20-25 to Hillsborough jail. They continued doing their duty in North Carolina and in the fall of 1780 marched back and were discharged just before Christmas.
At this time it came his number to serve a 3 month tour in the militia. He entered the service under Capt. Frank Degraftenreed, Lt. Obey Clayton and Ens. Alexander Rudder. Marched to Portsmouth and joined headquarters under General Muhlenberg. Was attached to a Regiment of Col. Merryweather. They lay there on Dismal Swamp and captured some scouting parties and had some skirmishes. He returned home after the battle of Guilford was fought. As soon as he got home Cornwallis was going up the James River and he volunteered in the infantry under Capt. William Stokes in April 1781. The company was not immediately attached to a regiment but was engaged in collecting beeves. They carried one to Hog Island and Cornwallis took the greater part of them. The American army was stationed at Petersburg under Gen Washington and they carried to LittleYork during the siege. He was at York when Cornwallis surrendered and was discharged in Oct. 1781.
April 1839, Sumner Co., Tennessee: Lucy Brizendine declares she is widow of Leroy Brizendine who resided in Sumner County TN eleven or twelve years before his death. Leroy died March 23, 1919. Leroy Brizendine of Sumner County TN, Private in the Company of Capt. Stokes in the Virginia Line for fifteen months, was placed on the West Tennessee pension roll at $50 per annum under the Act of 1832. Certificate 7296 was issued March 27, 1833.
Note: Leroy Carl Stevens, a descendent of Brizendine, married and for a time lived in Muhlenberg County.
Contributed by Rhonda Neumann
Updated October 24, 2024.