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Letter, William H. Cabell to Speaker of the House of Delegates. 28 January 1808.
Manuscript. RG 3, Governor’s Office, Executive Letter Books,
William H. Cabell, 8 July 1807–9 March 1808. Acc. 35358, The Library of Virginia

A War Veteran
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Letter, William H. Cabell to Speaker of the House of Delegates. 28 January 1808. Manuscript. RG 3, Governor’s Office, Executive Letter Books, William H. Cabell, 8 July 1807–9 March 1808. Acc. 35358, The Library of Virginia

Cabell singled out Anna Maria Lane for special mention. The governor stated that she was "very infirm, having been disabled by a severe wound which she received while fighting as a common soldier, in one of our Revolutionary battles, from which she never has recovered, and perhaps never will recover."

[not the complete letter]:

Prior to the Establishment of the Public Guard, it will be recollected that the Public Arms were deposited at the Point of Fork under a Guard there stationed—In that Guard there were many persons who had faithfully served their County during the whole, or a greater part of the Revolutionary War, and after its termination had joined and continued in the Establishment at the Point of Fork—When the Public Guard was established in this City, the law particularly provided that such of the Guard at the point of Fork as chose to join the Guard here, should be permitted to do so—Under this provision some old soldiers who had fought our battles in our Revolutionary contest, were received as members of the Guard in this City, altho’ from their age and infirmities, they were not capable of performing very effective duty. When entirely unable to perform military duty, there were employed as artificers in cleaning the Arms—It is not believed that they can be longer employed to advantage every in that way—It may be literally & truly said that they have been worn out in the public service; and now, without property or money, and their age and infirmities rendering them unable to procure either, they must be sent forth to beg or starve, unless the humanity of the Legislature shall interfere—Their names are John Hays, William Hipkins, & John Lane—The wife of the last Anna Maria Lane is also very infirm having been disabled by a severe wound which she receive while fighting, as a common soldier, in one of our Revolutionary battles, from which she never has recovered, and perhaps never will recover—Robert Broadus, altho’ not transferred from the Point of Fork, served seven years in the Revolutionary war, and for the last six years has been a member of the Public Guard—He is now old, infirm, in a low state of health, & incapable of procuring the means of subsistence. To these permit me to add the name of Sarah Perry, the widow of Hildebert Perry who was also a soldier in our Revolutionary war, was at the point of Fork during the whole of the Establishment there and then joined the Guard in this City, in which he continued until his death, when he was a meritorious sergeant—His widow is left with several small children, without the means of support.

In recommending these persons to the humanity, if not to the justice, of the Legislature, I have confined myself to a naked statement of facts—They will speak more loudly htan any arguments I could use.
I am with the highest respect
Sir Yr most Ob St
Wm H. Cabell