The War of 1812 is commonly referred to as our ‘Second War of Independence’ because it was the second time the United States defeated the British. And, years after the smoke finally cleared, many of its veterans called Lawrence County home.

In 1883, the Secretary of the Interior compiled a list of people who were drawing pensions from the United States government for military service. While the great majority of these pensioners were disabled Union veterans of the Civil War (Confederate pensioners were not counted, as they were ineligible for Federal pensions), some of the pensioners named on the roll were still drawing pensions for services rendered in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, respectively.

In Lawrence County, 30 pensioners were counted in 1883. Among these, 3 men were recognized as War of 1812 veterans, and 10 women were recognized as widows of War of 1812 veterans. The rest were probably all disabled Civil War veterans of the Union army and Union widows.

The three War of 1812 veterans still living in Lawrence County in 1883 were William Pollock of Henryville, Robert B. Williams of Lawrenceburg, and David Adkinson of Wayland Springs, all of whom were born in the 1790s.

Pollock served in Colonel Robert Steele’s 4th Regiment of West Tennessee Militia, in the company commanded by Captain James Shinault. Pollock’s regiment was raised to serve in the Creek War, and spent a great deal of their service guarding wagon trains of supplies and building boats to transport supplies down the Coosa River.

Robert B. Williams served in the 1st Regiment of West Tennessee Militia, commanded by Colonel Philip Pipkin. Williams was elected as one of the sergeants of his company, and later promoted to quartermaster sergeant. The 1st Regiment, like the 4th Regiment, was raised to fight against the Red Stick Creeks in the Creek War, but, according to the Tennessee State Library and Archives, the 1st Regiment spent the duration of the conflict garrisoning 4 forts near Mobile, where they were ravaged by disease and desertion.

David Adkinson served in the 5th Regiment of East Tennessee Militia, commanded by Colonel Edwin Booth. This regiment was organized at Knoxville and ordered to the vicinity around Mobile to protect the area against any Indian or British attacks. Adkinson was mustered into service on November 13, 1814, in Rhea County, Tennessee and was discharged on May 13, 1815 at Kingston, Tennessee, completing the six-month term of enlistment that was required of most militia companies.

The names and addresses of the widows of War of 1812 veterans still living in Lawrence County in 1883 were as follows:

Martha Broadway, Fall River
Polly Pennington, Henryville
Martha Hail, Knob Creek
Sally Adkinson, Lawrenceburg
Elizabeth Counce, Lawrenceburg
Martha Blair, Lawrenceburg
Mary Oglesbay, Lawrenceburg
Elizabeth A. Gibson, Lawrenceburg
Sina Eakin, Lawrenceburg
Rebecca Newton, Pleasant Point

For their service, the veterans and widows named above received pension payments of $8.00 per month from the Federal government, which would be the equivalent of around $200 per month today.

Artist’s rendering of the Battle of New Orleans