The following is testimony in support of Elisha Bishop's application for his pension (in 1833).
The deposition of Nicholas Smith taken at his house in Henry County Kentucky on the second day of December 1833 to be used on the part of Elisha Bishop (son of Thomas John Bishop) of Henry County, Ky., who is an applicant to be placed on the Pension Roll of the United States as a soldier of the Revolution. This deponent being first duly sworn according to law upon his oath states and deposes that he is now more [. . .] 75 years of age and during the Revolutionary War lived in Frederick County, Va and that the said Elisha Bishop lived in Barclay County, Va. about three miles from the residence of this deponent – this deponent states that he was well acquainted with the said Elisha Bishop and his father – that the father of the said Elisha Bishop enlisted into the army of the United States during the revolution in the Regiment commanded by Col. Phbresken [sic Febiger] and the deponent well recollects that the said Elisha took the place of his father and served in his place and stead- He further states that George Smith a brother of this deponent and he said Elisha did not serve less than 15 months in the said regiment and he knows also that the said Elisha performed other services during said war in other regiments but how long he served besides the time in the regiments Phebrecker’s [Febiger] regiment he cannot certainly say but he thinks his service in the whole exceeded two years and were perhaps as much as three but in this however he may be mistaken – He is confident nevertheless that his services in Phbrekers [Febiger’s] regiment combined with his other services did exceed two years, - He further states that said Bishop is a man of good character and is a member of the Baptist Church and has been for a number of years past. (emphasis added).
Sworn to and subscribed the day & Year aforesaid.
Nicholas Smith
The deponent knew both Elisha and his father Thomas John Bishop and knew that Thomas John served in the war before Elisha took his place (in the Second VA Regiment). This proves that John Thomas Bishop (the father of Thomas John Bishop) was not the Thomas Bishop who fought in the 2nd VA Regiment. John Thomas did not have a son named Elisha and he would have been 67 when he enlisted in the 2nd VA Regiment.
