Is there anyone out there that has actual definitive proof that (a) Moses
Cavett was a Captain in the Sullivan County Militia under Colonel Isaac Shelby,
or (b) that Moses Cavett actually participated in the battle of King's Mountain
in 1780, or (c) that Moses Cavett was later actually promoted to the rank of
Major in the Sullivan County Militia?
I am referencing the Moses Cavett that was born in 1742 and died in late
December 1801 or early January 1802 near Knoxville, TN, and that was a brother of
Alexander, Richard, and Michael.
I am aware that Moses' son Richard Cavett gave a deposition in open court in
the County Court of Madison County, Alabama at Huntsville on 8/19/1834 before
the honorable John Thompson, judge thereof, wherein Richard sought to obtain a
pension for service in the Revolutionary War (see North Carolina File
R-1820). In his sworn deposition, Richard, speaking of his father, stated "His name
was Moses Cavett. . . . . He was a Captain under Col. Isaac Shelby, and fought
under him at King's Mountain in the fall of 1780. . . . Most of the effective
men in this quarter at this period were under Col. Shelby. . . . .My father
was almost constantly on campaign. . . . . He had four sons and five daughters.
. . . From the time mentioned until the close of the revolution my father's
Company was kept in service, when he was promoted to the rank of Major &
succeeded by Capt. Benjamin Clark."
I believe it is crystal clear that Moses Cavett was in the Sullivan County
Militia during at least part of the Revolutionary War. I am aware of six
Revolutionary War pay vouchers for Moses Cavett (variously spelled):
State of North Carolina No. 2135, which states "The auditors for the counties
of Washington and Sullivan do certify that Moses Cavatt is allowed Six
Pounds, Nineteen Shillings, and Six Pence, by voucher. Given under our hands this
14th day of August 1782. Signed Anthony Bledsoe and E. Williams".
State of North Carolina No. 3027, which states "The auditors for the counties
of Washington and Sullivan do certify that Moses Cavit is allowed Six Pounds,
One Shilling, and Six Pence, by voucher. Given under our hands this 16th day
of August 1782. Signed Anthony Bledsoe and E. Williams".
State of North Carolina No. 3077, which states "The auditors for the counties
of Washington and Sullivan do certify that Moses Caveatt is allowed
Thirty-five Pounds, No Shillings, and No Pence, by voucher. Given under our hands this
16th day of August 1782. Signed Anthony Bledsoe and E. Williams".
State of North Carolina No. 3706 - the date and text of this voucher no
longer exists, but the Index indicates that Moses Cavatt was allowed Six Pounds,
Nineteen Shillings, and Six Pence.
State of North Carolina No. 3708 - the date and text of this voucher no
longer exists, but the Index indicates that Moses Cavatt was allowed Six Pounds,
One Shilling, and Six Pence.
State of North Carolina No. 3709 - the date and text of this voucher no
longer exists, but the Index indicates that Moses Cavatt was allowed Thirty-five
Pounds, No Shillings, and No Pence.
I have no idea what a Captain in the Militia made at that time, nor, for that
matter, what a Private made. Perhaps someone out there can interpret what
these vouchers mean in terms of rank and length of service.
Bobby Gilmer Moss's "The Patriots at Kings Mountain" (Scotia Press, 1990)
lists Moses Cavett (1742 - 1801) as a participant in the Battle of King's
Mountain, but shows his source to be Richard Cavett R-1820 (the above referenced
deposition).
John B. (Pat) Alderman's "The Overmountain Men" (Overmountain Press, 1970)
includes Capt. Moses Cavett on a list of "Additional Names" of officers and men
who fought at King's Mountain, which is separate from his list of "King's
Mountain Soldiers". Alderman did not give a source for his list of names.
Incidentally, he identifies by name eleven officers and thirty enlisted men killed
at King's Mountain.
Frank M. White, author of "Historical Sketch and Genealogy of a Branch of the
White Family" (Tompkinsville, KY, 1939), when writing about his ancestor,
Thomas White, stated "He subsequently volunteered under Captain Moses Cavet of
Sullivan County, which was later in the state of Tennessee, and served two
months in said company in Colonel Shelby's Regiment; marched through North Carolina
to General Marion's camp on the Santee River in South Carolina, went to a
house or fort, where they took about one hundred prisoners, after which they
returned home."
A 1999 query by Bob Russell on RootsWeb American Revolution website stated "I
would like to determine whether a company of militia that fought at the
battle of King's Mountain was also at the battle of Cowpens. The company of
militia was from the Sullivan County area of NC (later TN) in the command of Col.
Isaac Shelby. The company was led by Captain Moses Cavitt. Other officers
mentioned were Lt. George Russell and Ens. Morgan Murray/Murphy"
The two preceding paragraphs come the closest to independently verifying that
Moses Cavett was indeed a Captain and was at King's Mountain.
If Moses was a Captain under Shelby in 1780, it must have felt a little
strange to him inasmuch as he was 38 years old and Shelby was only 30.
Howard Roach