Well, at least he had a pot and a Dutch oven

John Amous Womble, Sharon's third great-grandfather, returned to his life as a carpenter after the Revolutionary War, marrying his wife Catherine Greene in 1798 and purchasing land the next year. He seems to have taken God's command to be fruitful and multiply seriously and fathered 11 children, though only five appear on the list of his children on FamilySearch.com. He was 43 when he married, and his wife was about 22, and a note in his file indicates he'd been married before, stating that six of his children were not Catherine's. 

In an affidavit supporting his claim for a pension,  he only mentions the one wife and the children, so like much else in his life, the broad strokes produce a fuzzy picture. By 1820 he found himself in dire straits financially and decided to make that claim for a pension under a bill that Congress passed two years before. 

The new law provided for a pension for every person who served in the war -- soldiers, musicians, hospital staff and medical officers -- would be entitled to a pension, depending on rank, if by reason of "reduced circumstances" they need support from the government. Officers would receive $20 per month, everyone else, $9. Not sure what that translates to in modern terms, but presumably the amounts would ease their circumstances. 

To receive the pension would have to make a declaration in a federal court or other appropriate court of record setting forth the person's military history. A later act also required applicants to explain their financial need and list their possessions, and renounce any other pension they may be receiving because of disability from wounds received during the war.

John's application begins with his war history and explains that by virtue of being sent home on parole and never exchanged, he had also not been regularly discharged. He then states he had not received a pension and renounces any pension he might be entitled to under any legislation other than the 1818 act.

He lists his occupation and details his family members, pointing out that only one of his children, an 18 year old, lives independently. He ends by saying he, "feels great delicacy & reluctance in thus presenting himself to the notice of his Country, but, when he reflects upon his reduced circumstances & that his [illegible word] years together with its train of consequent afflictions, is now making its inroads upon exhausted nature, imperious necessity, affection for his wife & a parental regard for his children compel him to throw himself upon the generosity of a Country, the Idol of his youth & the pride of his old age, for assistance." I'm guessing the missing word could have been his age -- 64 or 65.

After this statement comes affirmations from two men who say they have heard officers who served in the war speak well of John's service, and they believe his indigent circumstances deserve the assistance of his country.

Next comes a statement certifying the court where the application is being filed is indeed a court of record, giving a series of proofs to this status. Then comes a summary of John's statement on his service and a statement swearing to this declaration.

Attached is the schedule of John's property:

-- 75 acres of piney woods land partly paid for
-- one cow, 1 calf, 1 yearling
-- 1 Tray, set of knives and forks
-- 1 mare, sow and pigs and 14 shoats
-- 1 Saw

-- 2 Pots and a Dutch oven

-- 2 sitting chairs 

"The Deponent maketh oath that he is a house carpenter but his age and afflictions prevent him working much at his trade ..."