Michael Sword

Michael Sword was living with his father at their Swords Creek settlement when he enlisted in the 3 and 4 Virginia Regiment on September 30, 1777 in a company commanded by Capt Robert Higgins of the fourth Virginia Regiment commanded by Colo John Neville as a private soldier of the United States army. Michael marched from Winchester Virginia the place of his enlistment and his last residence to Philadelphia, after being equipped, then he and his company were marched to Germantown where they joined the 8th Regiment in General Scott’s Brigade, the Commandant of which Regiment was Colo Matthews He was taken prisoner at the battle of Germantown and being exchanged joined the Continental Troops again at White Plains, and served in a company commanded by Capt Cooper. Michael was marched from thence to Charleston in South Carolina, and at the Siege of Charleston taken prisoner, and was put on board a British prison-vessel and carried to Williamsburg in Virginia where he was exchanged and discharged, Michael enlisted for three years, and served four, having been detained a prisoner after the period of his service had expired.. (1,2,3) He got paid well for for his services in War. In December 1787, long after the war was over under an Act of Assembly passed November Session 1781, He got his final compensation. Virginia was known for having paid her committed volunteers well. Michael filed for and received a pension for his services in his old age. After Michael died in 1846 his surviving children had to file a court document to receive the final payment. He had sons Henry, Nathan, Jeremiah, and Michael. He had two daughters Mary and Susannah. Mary married William Taylor and Susannah married James Jackson

He returned to Washington County after the war and sold his father's property to John Borem in 1781. He stayed in the area and paid personal tax on 2 horses in 1782 and 4 horses in 1785. in that same year he married Hannah Richardson in what was Washington County, Virginia at the time. They were married August 12 in 1785. This marriage is recorded in the Washington County marriage records. A few years later that area became Russell County. Michael bought land there in October of 1793 from Richard and Pricilla Price (1,2). I bought and sold land during my lifetime, but stayed in the same area of Virginia all of my adult life, save when he was in the war.

In 1838 he made a deed to his son Michael that would give him his home place at his death in return for his and his family helping him in my old age. It is recorded in the Russell County, Virginia Deed Records. (1,2)

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Research and website done by Tresa Tatyrek. This site was last updated 01/23/12