Beginning March 2nd, 2020 the Mailing Lists functionality on RootsWeb will be discontinued. Users will no longer be able to send outgoing emails or accept incoming emails. Additionally, administration tools will no longer be available to list administrators and mailing lists will be put into an archival state.
Administrators may save the emails in their list prior to March 2nd. After that, mailing list archives will remain available and searchable on RootsWeb
Davidson County TN Archives Military Records.....Vernon, Richard October 1832
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 9:53 pm
Pension Application Of Richard Vernon, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 2457, Application #S1883
RICHARD VERNON, a resident of Davidson County, Tennessee, aged 74 years in
October 1832:
I first entered the service of the United States about the 15th
February, 1776, while living in Guilford County, NC, as lieutenant in Captain
JOHN LEAKs company, which was attached to the militia of Guilford County
commanded by Colonel JAMES MARTIN from Guilford on an expedition against the
Scots Tories near Fayetteville [Moores Creek Bridge, per Heitman, February27,
1776], where we were under the command of ALEXANDER MARTIN, colonel of the 1st
regiment of N.C. troops and General RUTHERFORD. This part of my service is
proved by the certificate of Colonel MARTIN M___ and who resides in NC, Stokes
County.
Immediately after my return from this tour, there being a call for men
to go to Wilmington, near which, in the Capes the British having appeared, I
entered Captain LEAKs company as a lieutenant, Colonel JAMES MARTIN commanding
again, and we marched to Wilmington, but before we arrived, the British having
continued down to Charleston, we halted and returned. I was 30 days in service
in this expedition which, added to my first tour, made a little more than three
months.
I next volunteered about the first of August 1776 (being there in the
first division in consequence of my first tour of service) in Captain LEAKs
company and served as lieutenant. This expedition was against the Cherokee
Indians. We marched about the above date from Guilford under Colonel JAMES
MARTIN to Salisbury, where we fell under the command of General RUTHERFORD.
From thence we marched thro the wilderness to Indian nation and after having
destroyed a number of their towns and villages, we returned.
However, on twenty-first of October 1776, at Catheys Fort near 220 miles from
home, I took the certificate marked B of JAMES HUNTER, Packmaster General,
certifying that I had four horses as pack horses in the service of the
expedition and a driver and the same day I took all of the sick of the company
I was in and conducted them from Catheys Fort home, where I arrived sometime
in November 1776, being out on this tour a little more than three months. This
tour is also proved by Colonel MARTINs certificate marked A above.
[Certificate A-I do hereby certify that I was Colonel Commandant of
the militia of Guilford County in this state during the War of the Revolution.
That RICHARD VERNON formerly of the said County of Guilford and now a citizen
of the state of Tennessee, served under my command in the expedition against
the Cherokee Indians in the year 1776. That said RICHARD was a lieutenant in
Captain LEAKs company in said expedition. That in said rank of lieutenant, he
likewise served under my command in an expedition against the Scots-Tories near
Fayetteville and in several other excursions against the Tories in the south
part of the County of Randolph in this state.
That Captain LEAKs company having become too large, it was divided
into two, and the said RICHARD VERNON appointed by me a captain of one of the
two companies. That said RICHARD VERNON in the rank of captain served under me
in he expedition against the British at Wilmington, who were commanded by Major
CRAIG. And I do further certify that said RICHARD VERNON in the aforesaid
expeditions and in all other duties that came under my observation or to my
knowledge in any way was a well-behaved, faithful and meritorious officer.
JAMES MARTIN, Sen. Commandant of the Guilford militia.]
[Certificate B-Thereby certify that RICHARD VERNON had four horses in
the service of North Carolina as packhorses, and drove said horses in the late
expedition against the Indians and that said horses was delivered to one at
Guilford Courthouse who was Packmaster for said county for the service of said
expedition. Certified by me this twenty-first day of October, 1776. JAMES
HUNTER.]
About 15th March 1780, I volunteered in Captain BETHELs company in
which I served as lieutenant and ROBERT NELSON as ensign. We marched about the
time above stated from Guilford for the relief and defense of Charleston, SC.
BETHELs company was attached to a regiment commanded by Colonel JAMES BRANNON
in General CASWELLs brigade. We entered South Carolina about the 1st of April
1780. We marched by Camden, from thence to a place called Moncks Corner near
Charleston, which the British, we understood, had entered as to make it
impossible for us to give Charleston any assistance.
On the 11th of April or thereabouts, the British under TARLETON attacked us at
Moncks Corners and routed us, after which we collected our scattered forces
and marched to a place called the Big Savannah on Santee River, where we
remained until General CASWELL with his brigade came to us, when we marched to
Duprees Ferry on Santee where we remained some time acting as guards on the
ferry until we heard of the complete fall of Charleston.
We then under General CASWELL, fell back to Camden and from thence we marched
to NC. Soon after this our term of three months expired. This tour is proved by
AUSTIN SMITHs certificate marked C who lives in Abbeville, SC, and who
obtained a pension under the Act of 1818. This certificate is not certified by
the clerk but by the justice of the governor of Abbeville District. We were
disbanded about the last of June or first of July, having served upward of 3
months in this tour.
[Certificate C-Abbeville District, SC-Personally appeared, AUSTIN
SMITH and made oath that he was well acquainted with RICHARD VERNON during the
Revolutionary War. That he, the said RICHARD VERNON was first lieutenant of a
company of militia formed at Guilford Courthouse in the state of North Carolina
under the command of Captain WILLIAM BETHEL, for the relief and defense of
Charleston, South Carolina, the regiment commanded by Colonel BRANNON, General
CASWELLs division or brigade. That they left Guilford some time in the month
of March 1780 and entered the state of South Carolina about the first of April
following. That they marched to Camden and from thence to a place called
Moncks Corner, where they understood that the British had entered and taken
the town so as to render it impossible to give any assistance to the town.
That on the 11th of April they were attacked by the British under Colonel
TARLETON and routed at Moncks Corner. That after that rout, they collected and
marched to a place called the Big Savannah on the Santee River, where they
remained until General CASWELLs brigade came on. They then marched to Duprees
Ferry on Santee, where they remained for some time acting as a guard on the
ferry until they heard of the complete fall of Charleston. That they fell back
to Camden with General CASWELL and thence to North Carolina where their term of
service expired
This deponent further states that he was with the said RICHARD VERNON in
September 1780 under the command of Colonel PAISLEYs regiment of North
Carolina militia under General DAVIDSON, a three months tour which service the
said RICHARD VERNON acted as Lieutenant commandant, and in conclusion he saith
that the said RICHARD VERNON was a good soldier and a true friend to his
country ]
About the 25th of August, 1780 and soon after GATES Defeat at Camden,
I entered Captain PEAYs company and served as lieutenant. We were attached to
Colonel Paisleys regiment of North Carolina militia. After rendezvousing at
Guilford Courthouse, we marched under Colonel PAISLEY to Salisbury where we
joined General DAVIDSONs brigade and were marched by him to the county of
Mecklenburg to McAlpins Creek where the British coming on us, we retreated to
the north side of Yadkin River. On our retreat we were overtaken by the English
and had a slight skirmish with them near Charlotte, in which ____ were killed,
among whom was WILLIAM RANKINS and a Mr. LOCKE of my acquaintance.
Captain PEAY taking sick soon after the commencement of our retreat, the
command of the company devolved on me. Colonel PAISLEY was dispatched with
about 70 men from headquarters on the Yadkin among which was Captain PEAY,
company commanded by me, to disperse a body of about 38 Tories collected on the
Shallow Ford of the Yadkin in Surrey County, NC. About the time we attacked
them, they were attacked in the rear by some troops from the other side. We
killed several and took 30 or 40 prisoners. Among the killed was Captain JAMES
BRYANT. Colonel PAISLEY took charge of the prisoners and we conducted them to
Moravian Town and left them under guard. From thence we returned to
headquarters.
The British having retreated to Waynesborough, SC, General DAVIDSON marched us
down about the Waxhaw settlement and took up winter quarters at a place called
New Providence, where Colonel MORGAN joined us, also Colonel HOWARD commanding
the Maryland Continental troops, which we remained. Here Colonel MORGAN was
promoted to General and Colonel HOWARDs battalion was attached to his brigade.
We remained until my mens term of service expired. I got a discharge from
three months service signed by ARTHUR FORBIS, Captain commandant (Colonel
PAISLEY being absent with the sick) and WILLIAM DAVIDSON, brigadier General on
the 24th of November, 1780 (as proved by the discharge itself, marked D. The
date of the discharge is torn off or obliterated. This tour is also proved by
the certificate marked C of AUSTIN SMITH, also by a receipt for a discharge of
a tour of duty marked E. signed by JOHN PRATT ____, a private in PEAYs company
then under my command.
D-To all whom it may concern, both civil and military-These are to
certify that RICHARD VERNON, Lieut___ in the third regiment of volunteers
raised in the District of Salisbury has served three months according ___ ___
and is hereby discharged. Given under my hand, ARTHUR FORBIS, captain, WILLIAM
DAVIDSON.
[E-November 27th, 1780-Then received of RICHARD VERNON on _____
___certify ___ of nine pounds, six shillings for a tour of duty served with him
in the militia, the year of 1780. JOHN PRATT.]
About the 1st of February 1781, I was appointed captain in the upper part of
Captain PEAYs district, it being too large for one company, as proved by the
commission marked E signed by Colonel JAMES MARTIN, there never being a date to
it, or if there was, it is torn off, in pursuance of which commission I raised
a company and marched under Colonel MARTIN to join General GREENE who was then
retreating thro North Carolina. We joined in with him near Halifax, Virginia,
CORNWALLIS having quit the pursuit of GREENE, turned in to Hillsborough, NC.
The latter then returned back and marched into Guilford County, where I was
ordered to raise a company of mounted infantry and joined him as soon as this
was done. I was taken from under the command of Colonel MARTIN and was placed
under BENJAMIN FORD, D.A. General of General GREENEs army.
[Not marked E as stated above]- [Guilford County-Captain RICHARD
VERNON-These may certify that you are appointed captain of a company of foot,
militia of the upper part of Captain PEAYs district which is divided, the line
to be hereafter ascertained so as equal numbers are to be in each company which
you and Captain JOHN MAY can settle of the lower part. You are to nominate
lieutenant and ensign, sergeant and corporal and act agreeable to militia
orders as you receive them, as captain, until you receive a commission from the
governor. So doing, this shall be your commission. JAMES MARTIN, Colonel.]
Our duty was to write expresses and pilot various detachments of our men.
While we remained in Guilford, I received orders from BENJAMIN FORD, D.A.
General, to receive from MCDOWELL, commandant of provost guard, a body of Tory
prisoners stationed, I think, at Boyds Mill and conducted them to a place of
greater safety, which I did. This is proved by the orders marked G and which
never had any date signed by FORD. [This is not included here. A later letter
indicates it was sent to the War Dept.] A further duty assigned to me and my
men was to collect provisions for the army, which is proved by two receipts
marked (H) & (I), dated one the 8th March 1781, the other 21st March of the
same year, both signed by JOSEPH THOMAS for Colonel DAVIE, _GP? I remained here
in Guilford until my term of three months service was expired and we were
disbanded.
[H-March 8th, 1781- Camp at Haw River, NC. Then received of Captain
RICHARD VERNON, four head of cattle for the use of the army. JOSEPH THOMAS for
Colonel DAVIE, CGP.]
[I-March 21st, 1781, Received of Captain VERNON, eight head of cattle
fore the use of the army. JOSEPH THOMAS, for Colonel DAVIE, CGP.]
On the 13th of August 1781, I received a captains commission (J) to raise a
company of light horsemen, signed by Colonel JAMES MARTIN. I was ordered to
raise these horsemen for the purposes mentioned in the commission. I served a
three months tour of duty in the capacity of captain, taking and apprehending
delinquent Tories and deserters as provided by the documents marked (K).
[These were also among the things sent to the War Department.]
About the month of October, 1781, I was called out with my company under
Colonel MARTIN in an expedition against the British under Major CRAIG who lay
near Wilmington. After we had marched some distance on this route, my company
under Colonel PAISLEY was ordered back by Colonel MARTIN to keep the Tories
down. We accordingly marched back to Guilford. This is the expedition mentioned
in Colonel MARTINs certificate marked A.
A short time after this, the same month, a parcel of my light horsemen under
me, commanded by Colonel PAISLEY marched against a certain Colonel FANNING who,
lurking in Anson, Orange and other counties in North Carolina, commanded a body
of Tories. A list of part of the men who were in this expedition may be seen by
reference to list (L). We were out in this expedition about 5 weeks. See (M) as
to October 1781. After our return from this expedition, I served until three
months from October had expired and my men were disbanded. [The list referred
to was among the items sent to the War Department.]
[M- This may certify that I have received a certain sorrel mare that
was pressed by Captain VERNON at my house from the 27th of October, 1781 & I
say received by me---JOB WARD January 12th 1782.]
In the commencement of 1782, I recruited the minute company as mine was called
and served as a captain apprehending, taking deserters, Tories and delinquents,
until peace was declared. For proof, see documents marked (N). All the
particular expeditions I cannot recollect, but know I employed almost entirely
in the service during 1782 until peace.
[N-Jany 28th, 1781-I do hereby acknowledge to be bound, b___ for b___
for my son BENJ. LAND who is a Continental soldier during the present war, as
he has deserted and been apprehended and taken by Captain RICHARD VERNON,
company of light horse under my ______ and doth hereby agree to ?present him
when called for by said Captain VERNON ____ thereof ___ ___bind myself ___ ____
____ or administer ____ ____ ___ what I have as above acknowledged to ___
witness my hand this date above mentioned. ____ LAND
Certify that Mr. LAND complied with his agreement, RICHARD VERNON]
State the names of the regular officers who were with the troops where
you served, such Continental an militia regiments as you can recollect
There was Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN who commanded the 1st regiment of
NC regular troops, Colonel HOWARD commanded the Maryland troops. General MORGAN
commanded the Virginia troops and General GREENE, while in Guilford, besides
Colonel JAMES MARTIN, who commanded the militia of Guilford, General CASWELL
commander of the NC militia. General RUTHERFORD who commanded in the two
expeditions where I was, against the Scots Tories and the Indians in 1776 and
General DAVIDSON who was a regular officer
Did you ever receive a commission?
I never received a regular commission for lieutenancy, tho I served
four 3-month tours as such, and took the oath of office and was ranked in court
martials as one. I must have had a certificate from Colonel MARTIN, but I do
not recollect it. I have two certificates for captaincy, one of the foot and
the other of the horsemen, signed by Colonel MARTIN, now in my possession.
[RICHARD VERNON
1 order signed BEN FORD, D.A. Gen, undated
1 order signed JA. MARTIN, Col. dated Jan. 3, 1782
1 order signed JN. CAMPBELL, Lieut. 4 NC regt, dated July 1, 1782
1 receipt signed Jn. CAMPBELL, Lt NC Cont.4 regt, dated July 24, 1782
The above papers have been removed of this case to be forwarded to the War Dept
and are locked up in the Record Div. D.W.
August 4, 1910. Sent to War Dept Jan. 16, 1913
VALENTINE ALLEN 2 steers @ five years old
IGNATIUS CANNON 2 steers @ 2 years old
WILLIAM AUSTIN 1 ?Det @ 3 years old
ISAAC WHITWORTH 1 mare @ 2 years old
?I. P. HAYS 1 bull @ 5 years old
ROBERT MCNAMARA 1 steer 3 years old
JOHN RITE [?WRIGHT] 1 steer @ 3 years old
BENJAMIN BRITAIN 2 steers @ 3 years old]
Williamson County, TN-May 9, 1837- GEORGE PEAY- That he was acquainted
with Captain RICHARD VERNON in the time of the Revolutionary War and was in the
service with him. That the said Captain RICHARD VERNON and the deponent were
then resident of Guilford County, NC in the immediate vicinity of each other
and the deponent further saith that he has a personal knowledge of the tours of
service stated by the said Captain RICHARD VERNON herein stated.
The deponent and RICHARD VERNON volunteered in 1776 sometime in the month of
February as private soldiers under Captain JOHN LEAK and joined the regiment
commanded by Colonel JAMES MARTIN at Guilford Courthouse and marched on an
expedition to Cross Creek against the Highland Scots and Tories and was
accredited and paid for a three months tour. In the same year in June
following, under the same officers, we marched to Salisbury. We then marched on
near Pleasant Gardens on the Catawba River, and there awaited the arrival of
General RUTHERFORD with the balance of the troops. From there we marched on to
the Cherokee nations of Indians on the Tennessee River. We destroyed several
towns, cut down their corn, remained there several weeks. We then returned home
in October and was accredited and paid for four months.
In the year 1780, the deponent saith that he went to a place called
New Providence in Mecklenburg, NC and on his arrival, he found RICHARD VERNON
acting as a captain under General DAVIDSON. The deponent saith that he does of
his own personal knowledge know that said RICHARD VERNON did perform the tour
to Cross Creek and the Cherokee nation
From a letter by J. L. Edwards, Esq, dated Fayetteville, February 2nd , 1835:
Mr. JOHN GIBSON thus writes-You request me to give information
relative to the time RICHARD VERNON served in the Revolutionary War. There is
living at this time in Williamson County, TN, a RICHARD VERNON who I am
informed draws a pension of $470 from government. If he is the VERNON you refer
to, I will relate as near as I can recollect his services that he rendered in
the Revolutionary War.
VERNON and myself were raised to manhood in Guilford County, NC and
were enrolled in the same militia company under the same officers during the
Revolutionary War. Vernon cannot be entitled to the pension he draws. Neither
do I believe he was in actual service half the time of two years. I will now
state my reasons and what I do know to be facts. In the latter end of the year
1776 there was a call for militia men from the company I belonged to, four or
five months tour as it was called. I myself was drafted as one of the number. I
believe at that time, Vernon was not on the muster roll. The time of
militiamens service after the time referred to above was reduced to 3 months
to the close of the war, unless a person would volunteer a longer time. I will
now relate what I do know to be facts relative to Mr. VERNON in the year 81.
In February, the British under the command of LORD CORNWALLIS in
pursuit of General GREENE, as they marched through Guilford County, the militia
in general turned out against the enemy. I, myself volunteered under the
command of Captain THOMAS COOK, marched down Dan River into the state of
Virginia, thence back to Guilford County, NC. On our return to our own county,
I saw Mr. VERNON. He stated that himself and all the men that had horses were
attached to the commissary department and that he himself had the command. We
were in the company till after the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, and were then
dismissed. The time I myself was then in service was seven weeks. Mr. VERNON
was not in service at that time more than two months.
In October of the same year, 1781, the militiamen of Guilford County
were ordered into service under the command of Colonel PAISLEY. Captain JOHN
MAY commanded a company of horsemen. Mr. VERNON at that time was called
lieutenant under Captain MAY. The time of service at this time could not exceed
six weeks, which closed our services in the revolution in the section of the
country Mr. VERNON and I lived.
I have been informed that Mr. VERNON was in possession of papers and
documents sufficient to establish his claim at the War Department. If he had
such papers it is doubtful with me, whether they are genuine. Any person,
towards the close of the war, if they thought proper, could procure a small
party to join them, especially against the Tories, went out a few days and have
the title of captain, return to a field officer and obtain a discharge for more
months when they had actually served weeks.
There were many near the close of the revolution, like the Pharisees
of old, that love to be called (Robbi) captain and Mr. VERNON was of that
class. I state this as a ___ that I suppose it will have any influence on the
subject of your request.
Lincoln County, Tennessee-JOHN GIBSON-That RICHARD VERNON and himself
were raised to manhood in Guilford County, NC, and were mustered under the same
militia officers (excepting when ordered into actual service) during the War of
the Revolution. This deponent knows Mr. VERNON to be in service in the year
1781, at the time the British under the command of LORD CORNWALLIS was in
Guilford County. Mr. VERNON then said that he had the appointment of commander
of such of the Guilford militia as had horses, with orders to collect cattle
for the troops.
A very short time after the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, this
deponent avers that all the Guilford militia were dismissed, and that Mr.
VERNON did not serve at that time, a term exceeding two months if so much.
In October or November of the same year, the Guilford militia were
ordered into service under the command of Colonel PAISLEY, who was then Colonel
of the Guilford militia. Mr. VERNON was at that time, a lieutenant under
Captain JOHN MAY, and under Captain MAY, this deponent deposes that Mr. VERNON
did not serve more than six weeks, which term of service closed the services of
the Guilford militia during the war of that period.
This deponent states that he knew a certain JAMES MARTIN who was
called a Colonel of Guilford militia in the year 1781, and that he saw said
MARTIN in camp a few days previous to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, but
dos not recollect that he held any special command at that time.
In the fall of the same year, Colonel MARTIN was first in command of a
considerable number of militias against the Tories and marched to the southern
part of North Carolina on Raft Swamp and Drowning Creek. This deponent was
there with Colonel MARTIN and well knows that VERNON was not; for this deponent
obtained a short furlough on a special occasion, returned home, and found
VERNON there. In a short time, subsequently, VERNON turned out as Lieutenant
under Captain MAY as before stated, and marched under Colonel PAISLEY into
Chatham and Randolph Counties against the Tories
Lincoln County, Tennessee, May 28th, 1835-J. L. Edwards, Esq.-Yours of
the 7th Inst. reached me on the 23rd. I had, 2 days previously, obtained Mr.
GIBSONs affidavit and shall forward it as soon as I can have it authenticated.
You will receive it and this, by the same mail. In a conversation on the
subject, which I held yesterday with my father-in-law, Major WILLIAM SMITH, he
stated a fact to me of which I was not before aware Viz. That when GIBSON first
determined on applying for a pension in his own case, he wrote to VERNON
desiring him, if he could, to testify to his (GIBSONs) services; and that
Vernon did not answer.
Now of Mr. GIBSONs veracity, there is no doubt among those who know him,
indeed I think there cannot, in justice, be even the slightest. How much and
how far the silence of Mr. VERNON was calculated to influence the feelings of
GIBSON your knowledge of human nature will enable you to judge. I believe,
however, if he were moved by that consideration at all, he himself was
unconscious of it. The whole affair has been a source of pain to him and he has
often wished that he had nothing to do in it. SMITH tells me that from his own
account as related by himself to SMITH, GIBSON was absent from North Carolina
much of the time during which Vernon alleges he served ISAAC SOUTHWORTH.
Fayetteville, May 30th, 1835-J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Enclosed I, at last, hand you the affidavit of JOHN GIBSON, in the
case of RICHARD VERNON. As I live 6 miles distant from this place and have been
much engaged since its date, I have been unable to obtain, any sooner, the
clerks certificate and county seal.
You will perceive that the affidavit is in my handwriting. It was
nonetheless copied from a manuscript prepared by the old gentleman himself,
from which it differs in nothing but grammatical construction. The following
remarks are made by the particular desire of Mr. GIBSON.
You will notice that he has not sworn that VERNON did not perform his
alleged services, but merely that it is his belief he did not, and that he has
sworn to some specific services which he knows VERNON did perform.
He knows nothing of the Colonel JAMES GRADE you mention. If there was
any officer of that or any other rank in Guilford so named, he never heard of
it. He thinks if Colonel JAMES MARTIN be yet living, he must be nearly, if not
quite an hundred years old and he thinks that by applying to some of the
pensioners in Surrey, Rockingham or Guilford counties, NC, a full knowledge of
VERNONs real services may be obtained, but does not mention because he does
not recollect names. Very respectfully, ISAAC SOUTHWORTH.
House of Representatives-Jan. 6th, 1836:
Sir, A revolutionary pensioner by the name of VERNON, late of Davidson
County, now of Williamson County, TN, informed me that he had been struck from
the roll of pensioners on the alleged ground of his having been a Tory. I took
a memorandum of his name and grade and regiment which I have lost or mislaid,
and only recollect that he was an officer in the North Carolina line.
I took some pains to enquire into his character and was informed it
was highly respectable, and that he was incapable of basing an application for
a pension on perjury and false pretenses. Believing as I do that injustice,
unintentional of course, has been done him by the department, I request to be
informed of the grounds upon which his pension has been discontinued.-H. P. ?
Maury
Personally appeared George Chadwell made oath that RICHARD VERNON made
application through him [George Chadwell] to Colonel JAMES MARTIN of North
Carolina for a certificate showing that he had served as a soldier in the
Revolutionary War. The deponent says that there was given a certificate to that
effect, which certificate said deponent delivered to said RICHARD VERNON
Personally appeared Samuel C. Peay, and made oath that RICHARD VERNON
handed to him a letter to Colonel JAMES MARTIN the contents of the letter was
for a certificate showing that he had served as a soldier in the Revolutionary
War. I handed said letter to Alfred Scales, the son-in-law of Colonel MARTIN,
who promised to deliver said letter to Colonel MARTIN, which he did, as said
Scales has since told me
Davidson County, TN-Personally appeared PETER LESLEY and made oath
that he, said LESLEY was well acquainted with RICHARD VERNON during the
Revolutionary War. That sometime early in the spring of 1780, we rendezvoused
at Guilford Courthouse, state of North Carolina under WILLIAM BETHEL, Captain,
and said RICHARD VERNON, lieutenant, ROBERT NELSON, ensign. We then took the
line of march to South Carolina by way of Salisbury, where we met with General
RUTHERFORD, who gave us our orders to march to Charleston by way of Camden to
Moncks Corner, where we understood that the British had surrounded Charleston
so that we could not get in there, where we lay a few days and was routed by
the enemy under Colonel TARLETON.
From thence we retreated to the north side of the Santee River where we lay
until the arrival of Brigadier General WILLIAM CASWELL from North Carolina. We
then joined a regiment called the third regiment of North Carolina militias,
Colonel JAMES BRANNON our field officer, where we continued as guards to the
ferries on said river until we heard that Charleston had surrendered to the
British.
We then retreated to North Carolina by way of Camden, from thence to the
Cheraw Hills on the Pedee River, from thence to Fayetteville in North Carolina
where we were detached under the command of Colonel MCDOWELL to guard some
wagons loaded with public salt to the County of Mecklenburg, North Carolina,
our time of service being out when we was disbanded to return to our own homes.
The above is ___red by the said Lieutenant RICHARD VERNON and said PETER
LESLEY.
This deponent further states that he was called out on a tour of duty about
25th of August in the year 1780 under Captain ARTHUR FORBIS, Lieutenant WILLIAM
GILMORE, Ensign ALEXANDER ELLISON in a regiment of militia under commanded by
Colonel JOHN PAISLEY of Guilford County, North Carolina and under the command
of Brigadier General DAVIDSON, and this three months tour was principally
served in the counties of Rowan and Mecklenburg
further saith that several events took place whilst he was on this tour of
duty which said RICHARD VERNON reminds him of, that makes said deponent believe
that said RICHARD VERNON must have been in said service. One event which said
Lieutenant states: That one evening when we were dismissed from parade, the
adjutant gave word to face to the right about and lodge arms and a gun fired
accidentally and shot one JOHN BRAWLEY through the body and he fell dead, and
said deponent heard the gun and saw the man fall and died as said VERNON
states, and the regiment was discharged about the 25th of November 1780, Camp
New Providence
Nashville-March 1834-Sir, I deem it my duty to advise you that a Mr.
I. Fields of Franklin in Williamson County in this state, called on me this
morning to ascertain upon what data RICHARD VERNON draws so heavy a pension as
$420 per annum. I could not answer the question being ignorant of the rules by
which you fix the rate of each pension. He states that he made the inquiry at
the instance [insistence?] of a man who knew VERNON from a boy and ?enlisted in
service ?together, therefore surprised at the amount of pension allowed him and
from a conviction that the government must have been imposed upon in VERNONs
application. He requested Mr. Fields to make the above inquiry, for to his
knowledge, Vernon served only about 60 days in the taking of LORD CORNWALLIS,
and that service was attached to the Quarter Masters department. VERNON is
rated as Captain and Lieutenant in his certificate.
A Memorandum of military services of RICHARD VERNON, __known to have
been written by him, having no signature to it.
I here mean to memorialize the service that I performed in the
Revolutionary War:
Vizt, I went into service about the 15th of February 1776 under Captain
JOHN LEAK and Colonel JAMES MARTIN after the Scotch Tories in the lower part of
North Carolina, and continued in service with a 2nd call which completed a tour
of three months.
Item second- I volunteered about the 1st of July 1776 and went to the
Cherokee nation of Indians under the aforesaid Colonel MARTIN and was
discharged about the first of November, something more than 3 months. This was
a hard tour for I had 4 horses in the pack service and on our return to a place
called Catheys Fort, I took the 3 sick men in Captain LEAKs company and
conducted them home. Imputed to be about 220 miles.
The next tour, I volunteered in the capacity of Lieutenant to go to Charleston
in South Carolina on the 23rd of February, 1780, and got to a town called
Moncks Corner, and there were defeated by the British. We retreated back over
Santee River and waited till Brigadier General CASWELL came on from North
Carolina. We then formed a regiment and was commanded by him. Charleston
surrendered. We then retreated into North Carolina and about the ninth of June
we was dismissed.
And in 1780, I volunteered as a lieutenant under Captain GEORGE PEAY on the
15th of September. He served under General DAVIDSON and the captain was taken
sick and I took command of the company as Lieutenant commandant and served
three months.
And about the first of February, I was ordered by Colonel MARTIN to collect
the company and march and join General GREENE at Guilford Courthouse, but was
prevented by the enemy, but continued to march and joined General Greene at
Halifax Courthouse in Virginia and continued under his command till some time
after the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina. This tour I served
as captain.
Then on the 20th day of August 1781, I was appointed to enlist 30 men as
mounted infantry to serve with good horses and find ourselves. While on this
service, I had two excursions in the joining counties. The first one, myself
and a lieutenant with 28 men captured between 25 and 30 Tories collected to
raise a company to go to the British and ___ captain was killed, the same night
about 2 miles of us. This happened near the old regulation battleground.
In a few weeks after we was called out again under Colonel PAISLEY and was
joined by Major ONEAL of Orange County, and we was ranging after the Tories
about five weeks. Colonel MARTIN in his certificate mentions a number more ?
adjacent. Next tours in the neighboring county after the Tories some 20 days 25-
30-15 and ten days.
Fayetteville, TN, July 30th, 1835
J.L. Edwards, Esq.-Although many of the remnants of men who participated in
the struggle which faced us from British dominion are deep in the vale of
poverty and destitute of literary acquirements, it is worthy of remark that
they most of them entertain and exercise a high degree of honor, which, at
least is the fact of those with whom I have the pleasure to be acquainted.
Whatever their foibles may be, let an imputation be cast upon their veracity or
even let them imagine that the truth of their allegations is doubted, the fire
which animated them when in the morn of life, they battled for that freedom and
their sons enjoy, is rekindled and burns with ____ luster. Prompt to defend
their own and others rights and ever ready to redress the wronged, they will
never do either at the expense of holy, sacred Truth. I will not say that some
of them are not fastidiously sensitive upon this subject, be it _____ ____ if
such a thing can be-an _____ to name, a righteous fault.
Mr. JOHN GIBSON, at whose instance I now address you, is of this class
of man. Feeling that his truth in the affair of VERNON, might possibly be
doubted, he determined to adduce such further testimony in this as might be
within his reach, and thus corroborated his own statements and aid the
department to arrive at just conclusions. In conformity with this ?necessity,
he sometime since, wrote to NATHANIEL SCALES, Esq, [a relative of GIBSONs]
postmaster at Mays [Rockingham County], North Carolina, requesting him to make
certain inquiries. Mr. SCALES answered him under date of July 6th. I transcribe
that portion of his letter which relates to VERNON and give it to you verbatim
et literatim et punctuation.
Captain RICHARD VERNON and his services during the war. I have made
diligent inquiries about him, but almost all those old revolutionary worthies
are now numbered with the dead, so that but little information can be obtained.
Mr. CHESLEY BARNES states that he was in the service with Mr. VERNON, but how
long he served he cannot tell, though he served some considerable time after he
left.
Mr. WILLIAM WRIGHT states that he was in the service with him but how
long he served he cannot tell. He further states that he does not recollect the
date when Mr. VERNON left Rockingham but recollects that he was and had been
living for several years near the mouth of the Mays River, that he has not been
in this county since he left, to his certain knowledge. That he left the county
by the aid of his children, but at what time none has said. My own impression
is that he moved away in 1825 or 6 and am very confident he has not been back
since.
How he obtained Colonel MARTINs affidavit is somewhat strange to me. I know
of application having been made to him by a friend of Blackhead, NAT. SCALES of
the state of Ohio, and the old gentleman replied that he had grown so old and
the war had so long passed by that he could not identify any soldier who served
under him.
I received a letter from a friend in the state of Indiana requesting
me to apply to him and obtain his affidavit so as to enable him to draw a
pension. I done so and he states to me the same as stated in the case just
related, Mr. VERNON having acted as captain. This might have strengthened his
recollection so that he could safely make affidavit for him.
You also wish to know if Colonel MARTIN is yet alive, if not how and
where he died. I think he died suddenly sometime in the later part of last fall
at his residence in Stokes County, on Snow Creek. It would therefore now be
sufficient to ascertain before whom the affidavit in question was made (if at
all.)
Here Mr. SCALES drops the subject, but near the conclusion of a very
long letter upon domestic affairs, resumes it by briefly remarking:
Further Mr. WILLIAM WRIGHT spoken of, married the sister of VERNONs
wife; and that WRIGHT and VERNON, throughout a long series of years, were in
habits of close intimacy. I may have, with propriety, observe that the letter
to SCALES contained nothing more upon the subject of VERNONs claim, than a few
plain questions of a nature calculated to elicit the above reply
Additional Comments:
see also, pension application for Isaac Vernon at ncgenweb, Guilford County, NC
military page.
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/davidson/military/revwar/pensions...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 39.7 Kb
Grainger County TN Archives Military Records.....Simmons, John December 1832
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 8:35 pm
Pension Application Of John Simmons, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 2187, Application #S4672
JOHN SIMMONS, a resident of Grainger County, Tennessee, aged 80 years in
December 1832:
That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776
under Captain JOHN BUSTER in the regiment commanded by General RUTHERFORD and
Colonel JAMES MARTIN and Colonel JOHN PAISLEY. I resided in the County of
Guilford and state of North Carolina when I was drafted for and served a three
months tour under Captain BUSTER and was marched from Guilford Courthouse to
Salisbury in the state of North Carolina. From Salisbury we marched against the
Cherokee tribe of Indians upon Little Tennessee River where we remained until
our term of service had expired and then we returned home.
In the fall of the same year (1776), I volunteered and served one
month under Captain BUSTER, Colonel PAISLEY and Major OWENS in an expedition
against a party of Tories encamped on Haws River, and after dispersing the
Tories, we returned home.
In the year 1779, I was elected and served as Lieutenant under Captain
GLENNs company in the regiment commanded by Colonel PAISLEY at Rockingham
Courthouse in the state of North Carolina and marched from thence to Guilford
Courthouse, where we rendezvoused. We marched from Guilford Courthouse to Deep
River in Randolph County where we were stationed a few days, and after
remaining there some short time, we returned home. We were gone in this
expedition against the Tories five or six weeks.
In the year 1781, I was again called into service (still retaining my
commission as Lieutenant), by Colonel PAISLEY and served three months under
Captain WILLIAM GLENN in the regiment commanded by Colonel PAISLEY at Guilford
Courthouse, and from thence we marched to Salisbury where we remained until I
was discharged
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/grainger/military/revwar/pensions...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 2.5 Kb
White County TN Archives Military Records.....Shropshire, William August 1827
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 4:13 pm
Pension Application Of William Shropshire, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 2180, Application #W7180
WILLIAM SHROPSHIRE, a resident of White County, Tennessee, aged 67 years in
August 1827:
That he WILLIAM SHROPSHIRE, enlisted for the term of twelve months in
the month of September 1775 in the County of Guilford, state of North Carolina,
in the company commanded by Captain JOHN ARMSTRONG in the regiment commanded by
Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN in the line of the state of North Carolina in the
continental establishment. That he continued to serve in the said corps until
September 1776 when he was discharged in Guilford County, state of NC
Rockingham County, NC, JOHN FIELDS-That WILLIAM SHROPSHIRE was a
soldier in the regular service of the United States under Captain JOHN
ARMSTRONG in the 2nd regiment of North Carolina regulars. That this deponent
states that he served with the said WILLIAM SHROPSHIRE in the year 76 and that
ALEXANDER MARTIN was the Colonel Commandant. That this deponent further maketh
oath that he was a sergeant in Captain ARMSTRONGs company, and that said
WILLIAM SHROPSHIRE served under him.
Rockingham County, SNEED STRONG made oath that WILLIAM SHROPSHIRE was
in the militia service of the United States in the year 80. That himself and
said SHROPSHIRE received their discharges both at the same time. That GEORGE
PEAY was captain, and getting sick, he served under RICHARD VERNON, lieutenant
in said PEAYs company.
Lincoln County, Tennessee, JOHN W. CRUNK-That he is well acquainted
with WILLIAM SHROPSHIRE that he enlisted in the service of the United States in
February 1776. That he served in Captain JOHN ARMSTRONGs company in the
continental army, the 2nd regiment, commanded by Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN. That
he remained in the service for nine months or more. That he was taken sick and
furloughed to go home. That deponent further states that he also was a soldier
and served with the said SHROPSHIRE.
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/white/military/revwar/pensions/sh...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 2.6 Kb
Lincoln County TN Archives Military Records.....McBride, James October 1832
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 4:09 pm
The Pension Application Of James McBride Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1663, Application #S4192
JAMES MCBRIDE, a resident of Lincoln County, TN, aged 82 years in October 1832:
That he was born in August 1750 in the County of Down, Ireland, from thence
emigrated to Lancaster County, PA, and thence in 1771 or 1772 to Guilford
County, North Carolina, in which county about the close of the year 1775, he
enlisted for 6 months in the 1st regiment of the North Carolina line commanded
by Colonel FRANCIS NASH. I will here remark that although NASH commanded the
regiment to which I belonged, I never saw him until we were marched to
Charleston, South Carolina.
Captain GEORGE DAVIDSONs company in which I served being placed under the
command of Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, who marched us first to Fayetteville,
thence by water to Wilmington, thence by Brunswick and Long Bay to Wochama
River, where we took shipping and sailed to Georgetown. Thence by land to
Charleston where we lay until the attack on Sullivans Island [per Heitman,
June 28-29, 1776] where we were sailed across the bay to Hadrills Point and
kept during the action by the firing of the ships cannon. We were taken to the
island and remained until the expiration of the term of our service when we
were sailed back to Charleston and discharged. In Charleston I saw General
CHARLES CATESWORTH PINCKNEY and on Sullivans Island, Colonel MOULTRIE.
On my return home [summer of 1776] I joined a volunteer company commanded by
Captain ARTHUR FORBIS. This company, with three others commanded by Captains
MOORE, WHITESELL and GILLESPIE, in the regiment of Col. JOHN PAISLEY, were
employed principally against the Tories under FIELDS and WILLESBY. I performed
in sundry tours in this service the duration and number of each not
recollected, with an exception, which was three months. We ranged through
Randolph, Chatham, Moore, Anson, Montgomery and Rowan Counties.
In the fall of 1778 three regiments were raised by draft to go to SC,
commanded by Colonels PAISLEY, LOCKE and SAUNDERS, and the brigade by General
RUTHERFORD. I was taken in this service in the company of Capt. JOHN DONNELL,
Lieutenant WILLIAM WILEY and Ensign GEORGE PARKS, PAISLEYs regiment. We were
marched to Purysburg, on the Savannah River, where we lay until spring. Here I
first saw General LINCOLN. I was then detached and placed under the command of
Colonel ARCHIBALD LYTLE and Major JOHN NELSON, who marched us first to the
Black Swamp, then to Augusta, where we lay a few weeks, then crossed Savannah
River and marched about 60 miles to Briar Creek near which place we were joined
by General SAMUEL ASHE with about 700? men.
Here on the 3rd of March 1779, we were surprised by the British under General
PREVOST and Colonel CAMPBELL, and myself and about 170 other men were made
prisoners, General ELBERT of Georgia of the number. I was kept until the last
of August when myself and two others affected our escape, and he returned home
after an absence of about ten months.
I was again engaged as I had previously been under Capt. FORBIS Tory
hunting, but the periods of the different tours I cannot recollect [probably
1779-1780]. I served one campaign in Colonel ISAACs regiment, Capt. ROBERT
PAISLEY of three months, but whether this was before or after the period of
which I write, 1780, I am unable to say. The service was ranging for Tories
through the same country as that previously mentioned under Colonel PAISLEY.
Shortly before the Defeat of Gates at Camden, I volunteered under Captain
WHITESELL, to go to Suffolk, Virginia for arms and ammunition. We were marched
direct to Halifax, North Carolina, where we lay some weeks by order of Colonel
LONG who was, I believe, Quartermaster General. We proceeded thence by Winton
on Chowan River to Suffolk where we received two wagonloads of arms and lead
and returned by the same route, stopping again at Halifax for the purpose, I
believe of branding the arms. I have also forgotten the period of this service,
but I believe it was between two and three months.
The Tories about this time began to put on a bold appearance. They
were commanded by Colonel FANNING who was considered an active officer and a
considerable force was again employed against them. I was again in Capt.
PAISLEYs company engaged for three months, the regiment commanded by Colonel
PAISLEY. We scoured the country as far south as the Pee Dee River. From this
period he served, as the occasion required, a number of short tours of duty
against the Tories, until peace.
WILLIAM SHAW-That I was with him in the War of the Revolution sundry
campaigns, one in 1775, though in different regiments, another under Colonel
ISAACS against the Tories, one to Suffolk in Virginia for arms and ammunition,
and another under Colonel PAISLEY.
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/lincoln/military/revwar/pensions/...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 5.4 Kb
Lincoln County TN Archives Military Records.....Gibson, John
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 4:07 pm
Pension Application Of John Gibson, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1067, Application #S3395
JOHN GIBSON, a resident of Lincoln County, Tennessee, aged about
seventy-three years That in the month of October 1778, he was drafted to serve
a term of five months, and did serve that term in the militia as a private
under the command of Captain JOHN NELSON of Guilford County and state of North
Carolina. His company rendezvoused at Guilford Courthouse, marched from there
to the town of Salisbury in Rowan County, NC; thence to Camden in South
Carolina, thence through that state to the Savannah River adjoining the state
of Georgia. Colonel LOCKE commanded the regiment of which his company was a
part. He believes that General RUTHERFORD was first in command of the North
Carolina militia, the forces of which he was a member, were encamped at a place
called the Black Swamp in South Carolina, when his term of enlistment expired.
In the early part of February 1781, he volunteered his services and
joined a company of horsemen, commanded by Captain THOMAS COOK of Guilford
County, NC. Was marched into Pittsylvania County on Dan River, Virginia in
order to join the troops under the command of General GREENE. They were
subsequently marched back to Guilford County and he with such other horsemen as
were citizens of Guilford County, was attached to the commissary department.
Was employed in collecting cattle for the use of the army on the day of the
Battle of Guilford Court House, between the armies commanded by General
GREENE/Americans, and the British, commanded by LORD CORNWALLIS. He served to
the best of his recollection at this time a period of not less than seven
weeks.
It was the last week of August or early in September 1781, he volunteered
again, joined a company of horsemen commanded by Captain DANIEL GILLESPIE,
Colonel JAMES MARTIN, of Surry County, North Carolina, commandant. They marched
towards the south boundary of NC, near the Raft Swamps & Drowning Creek in
pursuit of Tories who it was understood had there secreted themselves, and it
proving impracticable to ferret the Tories out, this declarant obtained a
furlough from Col. MARTIN to return home, with an injunction again to join his
company as soon as possible. In obedience to this order, he in a few days
thereafter aimed to rejoin his comrades; but while on his way, for that
purpose, he met Colonel PAISLEY at Guilford Court House, who informed the
declarant that the Tories were embodied on Deep River in Randolph and Chatham
Counties in such force as to render his return to his regiment extremely
dangerous, unsafe and uncertain. At the suggestion of Colonel PAISLEY, who was
first colonel of the Guilford militia, the declarant relinquished the idea of
rejoining Captain GILLSPIE and Colonel MARTIN, and volunteered under Colonel
PAISLEY who attached him to a company commanded by Captain JOHN MAY of the
County of Guilford. In the course of one week, Colonel PAISLEY having assembled
such troops as was found to be practicable, they, and this declarant, were
marched into Randolph and Chatham counties to suppress the Tories there, then
back to Guilford Courthouse and were dismissed.
At this time, he was in service, to the best of his recollection, a period of
not less than two months and two weeks, and here ended his services in the
Revolutionary War, he having served in all to the best of his remembrance, a
period of not less than nine months and one week. JAMES COTTON is the only
living witness to any portion of his services in his power to procure. He was
born in Orange County, North Carolina, as he was informed by his parents, on
the 16th of September, 1760. His father caused the ages of his children to be
recorded in the family Bible, and a copy of this is the only record of his age
he has. He was raised to manhood in Guilford County, NC, at which place he
entered the service as before stated.
Attached document, from JAMES COTTON, who swore: That before and during the
Revolutionary War, he was well-acquainted with a man by the name of JOHN
GIBSON, both as being inhabitants of Guilford County in the state of North
Carolina. I was an enlisted soldier in the horse, and in 1781 was attached to a
company of horse under the command of Captain JOHN MAY of said county and
state, the services of which company was rendered in subduing the Tories in the
counties of Randolph and Chatham. Colonel John PAISLEY was the commandant of
said troop, during which term of duty, I do hereby certify that the above named
JOHN GIBSON belonged to said company as a volunteer and performed the duty free
of censure. And after his services as a volunteer was at an end, he the said
GIBSON was dismissed at Guilford Courthouse. Colonel WILLIAM ONEAL had also
some command in said troop, and I further state that I am now about sixty-seven
years of age and Mr. GIBSON is some six or seven years older than I am
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/lincoln/military/revwar/pensions/...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 5.5 Kb
Lincoln County TN Archives Military Records.....Armstrong, Thomas
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 4:03 pm
Pension Application Of Thomas Armstrong, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 76, Application #S2925
THOMAS ARMSTRONG, a resident of Lincoln County, TN, aged 77 years:
He entered the service, he believes, in the year seventy-seven, in the
month of April, under Captain JOHN DAVIS, who was afterwards cashiered, and
GEORGE PEARCE the first lieutenant in the company, was promoted to the command
of captain under whom he served till he quit the service. He was drafted for
three months, which he served out, and did not return home till the month of
September following, in consequence of sickness.
The company to which he belonged was attached to the regiment commanded by
Colonel MCDOWELL, whose regiment was attached to the forces commanded by
General BUTLER, General LINCOLN being commander in chief of the whole North
Carolina forces. He was drafted in the County of Guilford, in the state of
North Carolina immediately before he went into service. He was at the Battle of
Stono Ferry (he believes) [per Heitman, June 20, 1779] in the state of South
Carolina, though not in that battle, being one of the guard of the baggage.
Said battle was fought between the American forces under General LINCOLN and
the British forces were commanded he believes, by PROVOST.
He served as a drafted militiaman in the state of Pennsylvania, a tour of two
months, guarding the British prisoners taken at BURGOYNEs defeat, which
prisoners were kept about two miles below the town of Little York under Captain
ARBISON, John AIDY being Major then in command of that place. He does not
recollect the year in which he rendered this service.
He afterwards served as a volunteer in the state of Pennsylvania some
considerable time in collecting and bringing into camp the British prisoners
who had made their escape from the Americans. He does not recollect how long he
was engaged in this service, but he thinks two months or more.
He afterwards served some time as a volunteer in the state of North Carolina
in guarding the magazine at Guilford Courthouse. But he does not recollect the
year nor the length of time he served, he believes about two weeks in this last
tour. Captains WHITESELL and DENT were at the magazine while he was guarding
the same. He served at various times as a volunteer against the Tories in North
Carolina through several years, attached to no particular regiments or
companies, but to scouting parties, he believes in all, more than a month
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/lincoln/military/revwar/pensions/...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 3.1 Kb
Lincoln County TN Archives Military Records.....Shaw, William October 1832
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 4:02 pm
Pension Application Of William Shaw, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 2163, Application #W127
WILLIAM SHAW, a resident of Lincoln County, Tennessee, aged 75 years in October
1832:
That he first entered service in Guilford County, state of North
Carolina in the fall of 1775 under the command of Colonel JAMES MARTIN, Colonel
Com, JOHN PAISLEY- Lieutenant Colonel, Captain ARTHUR FORBIS, Lieutenant
WILLIAM WILEY, and Ensign WILLIAM GILMER were my company officers. I also
served a second tour under the above-mentioned officers, but have no distinct
recollection of the exact time I served in either of the two tours, he thinks
between two and three months.
My third tour was against the Cherokee Indians in 1776 under the
command of Brigadier General RUTHERFORD, the regimental and company officers
above [Col. JAMES MARTIN, Lt. Col. JOHN PAISLEY, Capt. ARTHUR FORBIS, Lt.
WILLIAM WILEY, Ens. WILLIAM GILMER] mentioned, and was in service between three
and four months. I again, in the latter part of the year 1779 I think, served a
tour of three months in the capacity of orderly sergeant in Captain SMITH
MOOREs company under the command of a Colonel ISAACS. One of my subaltern
officers names was CHESLEY BARNES, the others are forgotten. During this tour
we were principally engaged in ranging through Randolph County, Caraway
Mountains, Pedee, Montgomery County and others, against the Tories and others.
Again in 1780 a short time before General GATES Defeat at Camden, I
served a tour of duty under the command of Captain WHITESELL to go to Suffolk
in Virginia for arms and ammunition. We marched direct to Halifax, from which
place Colonel LONG, Quartermaster General, I believe, sent other wagons under
the escort of our guard. We proceeded to Suffolk where we obtained both, and
returned by the same route and were engaged therein between two and three
months.
I also served a tour of three months under Colonel PAISLEY against the Tories
on Pedee River and the adjoining counties, but cannot distinctly state the
exact period when it was. In the latter part of the year 1780, I attached
myself to a company of light horse under the command of Captain JOHN GILLESPIE,
DANIEL GILLESPIE- Lieutenant, and GEORGE PARKS, Cornet. DANIEL GILLESPIE
subsequently became our captain, GEORGE PARKS, lieutenant, and WILLIAM KERR,
Cornet, JOHN GILLESPIE having been promoted to the command of a regiment. From
this period until the conclusion of peace, we were continually employed in
scouring the country from Guilford County in North Carolina to Waxhaw Creek in
South Carolina and were engaged in various skirmishes with the Tories and
British, one at Charlotte [per Heitman, September 26, 1780], one at Wachams
Lane [per Heitman, September 21, 1780] and sundry others of less note. We were
in active service about two years and six months, two years of which I served
in the capacity of orderly sergeant. Our principal commander was Colonel
WILLIAM R. DAVIE, both at Charlotte and Wachams Lane
On each tour of duty I was called on, I entered the same as a
volunteer, with the exception of the tour against the Cherokee Indians, when I
was drafted, and in addition to the officers already mentioned, was Colonel
ALEXANDER MARTIN, who was the regular officer who commanded us on my first tour
of duty in 1775, employed principally against Scotch Tories under MCDONALD,
MCLEOD and others.
I received a discharge of each tour of duty I was engaged in, together
with certificates of pay, all of which I lost by the burning of my house, and
am therefore unable to say here precisely how long I was in service, but was in
all between three and four years.
JAMES MCBRIDE That he is acquainted with WILLIAM SHAW That he saw him
in the service of his country in the year 1775, in the regiment of Colonel
JAMES MARTIN of the militia. That he afterwards served a tour with him of three
months in Colonel ISAACS regiment and a tour to Suffolk for arms for two or
three months and subsequently another tour of three months under Colonel
PAISLEY- and further that he knows of his serving in the light horse as they
were then called, under Captain GILLESPIE, but has no distinct recollection of
the duration of said service, only that he remained therein until the war
ended.
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/lincoln/military/revwar/pensions/...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 4.9 Kb
Sumner County TN Archives Military Records.....Shaw, Robert July 1840
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 3:59 pm
Pension Application Of Robert Shaw, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 2162, Application #W6006
Elizabeth, widow of ROBERT SHAW, a resident of Sumner County, Tennessee, aged
85 years in July 1840:
That ROBERT SHAW entered the service in the year 1775 as an enlisted
soldier in the regular army for a tour of two years in Captain SMITHs company
of the 4th regiment and was discharged on the tenth of August, 1777 ROBERT SHAW
was then living in Guilford County, NC and that in the year 1779, he again
entered the service in what was called the New Levees, for a tour of nine
months, but this declarant does not recollect whether it was as a volunteer or
as a militiaman She was informed by her husband ROBERT SHAW that whilst he was
out in the tour, he was at the Battle of Briar Creek [per Heitman, March 3,
1779].
He, after this tour, returned home to Guilford Co. and in the year 1780
ROBERT SHAW entered the service as a substitute for one MOSES MCLAIN for a tour
of three months as a militiaman, but she does not recollect his officers names,
but understood from him that he was at the Battle of Charlotte [per Heitman,
September 26, 1780] and after he returned home from this tour and remained some
time during which ROBERT SHAW and this declarant was married and immediately
after we were married, the said ROBERT SHAW entered the service in a light
horse company commanded by Capt. DANIEL GILLESPIE, and that her husband was
then living in Guilford Co., and was shortly afterwards marched to Guilford
Courthouse and was in that Battle [per Heitman, March 15, 1781], after which
time ROBERT SHAW was continued in service until after CORNWALLIS was taken,
after which time he returned home.
JOHN RANKIN-South Union, Logan County, KY, January 1841
Friend Jones, I received your letter of the 4th instant, by which you request
me to give all the information I can respecting said [ROBERT] SHAWs war
services in the Revolution I know that he took an active part under the militia
officers of Guilford County against the Tories in Randolph and other adjacent
counties. In the month of March 1780, I volunteered to serve a three months
tour in Charleston. Said SHAW was in the same company which was commanded by
Capt. WILLIAM BETHEL. The regiment was commanded by Colonel BRANNON, the
brigade by WILLIAM CASWELL. After marching and counter-marching on the British
lines in hearing of the siege in order to keep the Tories from flocking to the
British. On the 12th day of May, Charleston was surrendered and we returned
home in June with SHAW in company The claimants [Elizabeths] brothers, JAMES,
THOMAS, and ROBERT HAMILTON, if alive, can give a better statement of the
things in question than that above.
WILLIAM RYAN-That he WILLIAM RYAN served with him (ROBERT SHAW) as a
soldier under Col. DONNELL, DANIEL GILLESPIE in the American service when the
British come into this state, and he served with him several tours under
GILLESPIE in the horse in 1781 and 1782, the length and time he served in all I
cannot recollect, but we served in 82 a good deal, I well recollect, for in
them two years we was called on very often for service, for by the time we
would get home, we was called out again. The British and the Tories was in the
south part of the state and we had to go whenever we were called on and as to
his service in the regular army, I cannot say anything about that, I only heard
that he served either one year or more
THOMAS CUMMINS-That he knew ROBERT SHAW in the time of the
Revolutionary War. He said that SHAW was a soldier under Captain JONATHAN
GILLESPIE, and thinks to the best of his recollection that ROBERT SHAW served
three months at that time, and he, the said THOMAS says that he only served
with GILLESPIE that one tour
THOMAS HAMILTON-Gallatin County, Illinois, aged 80 years in July 1840:
That he was well acquainted with ROBERT SHAW and Elizabeth Shaw his wife and
that said Elizabeth Shaw is a sister to this affiant The first acquaintance
that this affiant had with ROBERT SHAW was in the year 1778, and that said SHAW
was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. That he served his first tour as a
regular soldier for two years, which was in the early part of the war, as he
was informed by said the ROBERT SHAW, and that the said ROBERT SHAW then lived
in Guilford County, North Carolina and that in the latter part of the year
1780, the said SHAW joined the service with this affiant as a volunteer in
Captain DANIEL GILLESPIEs light horse company and that he continued in service
until after CORNWALLIS was taken, and that we was at the Battle of Guilford
Courthouse together. This affiant further states that the said ROBERT SHAW was
also at the Battle of Charlotte and at Wahabs Lane [per Heitman, September 21,
1780]
BENJAMIN STARRITT, a citizen of Fayette County, Tennessee, being now
near 78 years of age...That he was a soldier in the army of the Revolution and
served in the Colonel LEEs regiment of horse That he was well acquainted with
ROBERT SHAW who was enlisted in the army of Revolution in the North Carolina
line for the term of three years by Lieutenant JAMES STARRETT and Captain JOHN
NELSONs company in Colonel ALEXANDER MARTINs regiment. This regiment was
ordered to the north, in which ROBERT SHAW was an acting sergeant in the
recruiting department and while this regiment was in the north, ROBERT SHAW was
discharged and returned home to Guilford County, NC the same settlement were he
enlisted.
Some time after his return home, the same ROBERT SHAW again enlisted for the
term of nine months in ?company of troops called the New Levees in the North
Carolina line, and while this same ROBERT SHAW was in the line of his duty in
this nine months tour, ROBERT SHAW and I, B. STARRITT was both engaged in
battle against the enemy at Briar Creek, and I know he served this nine months
tour fully out.
And afterwards, I, BENJAMIN STARRITT met with the same ROBERT SHAW in the army
and in Colonel DAVIEs regiment of horsemen and in Captain GILLESPIEs company.
This army of men engaged in battle with the enemy at Wahabs Lane in
Mecklenburg County, NC. We again engaged in battle with the enemy at Charlotte
in the same state and county. The enemy was commanded by LORD RAWDON
Afterwards General GREENE engaged in battle with LORD CORNWALLIS at Guilford
Courthouse, and said ROBERT SHAW was there engaged in battle and acted bravely.
Also the same ROBERT SHAW was again engaged in battle at the Raft Swamps
[summer or fall of 1781]. In all of the above named battles, this soldier
ROBERT SHAW was both brave and obedient and generally acted in the army as an
uncommissioned officer
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/sumner/military/revwar/pensions/s...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 7.3 Kb
Macon County TN Archives Military Records.....Rose, Samuel December 1832
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 1:54 pm
Pension Application Of Samuel Rose Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 2085, Application # W7141
SAMUEL ROSE, a resident of Macon County, Georgia, aged 77 years in December
1832:
That he entered the service as a volunteer under Captain SAMUEL SHARPE
and THOMAS OWEN, major, and Colonel PAISLEY, and joined the main army at
Guilford Courthouse, and started to go to Cross Creek and was dismissed before
we reached the place. The tour of time was about ten days
The next place I took the state oath and was drafted under SAMUEL SHARPE,
captain, THOMAS OWEN, major, and Colonel PAISLEY and hired a substitute to go
in his place to the Cherokee expedition, to fill his tour of time ____ about
the year 1776 and served from that time when called upon to the end of the war
as a minute man. The next expedition in Wilks County, NC under Captain HARDEN
and Major JESSE FRANKLIN and Colonel BENJAMIN CLEVELAND and that I never was
attached to any regular troops and that I herewith enclose all the documentary
evidence that I have in my possession
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/macon/military/revwar/pensions/ro...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 1.6 Kb
Bledsoe County TN Archives Military Records.....Reed, Lovett
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 1:48 pm
Pension Application Of Lovett Reed, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 2017, Application #W5671
LOVETT REED, a resident of Bledsoe County, Tennessee, aged 78 years:
He was drafted for five months and entered the service in the militia
in Guilford County, North Carolina in the company commanded by Captain ___
NELSON, Lieutenant CHARLES HUGHES and ensign ___ MCBRIDE (he thinks JAMES). He
was marched from Guilford County to Salisbury where he thinks he fell in with
General RUTHERFORD. He, at all events, was under the command of General
RUTHERFORD during all this time of service and was in the regiment commanded by
Colonel PAISLEY. Colonel LOCKE was along but declarant thinks he was under
Colonel PAISLEYs command.
From Salisbury he was marched to Camden, SC, from there across Santee
River passing by a place called Bacons Bridge and to the Savannah River where
the British had possession on the Georgia side. This was just above a little
town called Purysburg and near a place called the Two Sisters. General ASHE was
also on this expedition. He crossed the Savannah River with his forces and had
a battle with the British at the mouth of Briar Creek [per Heitman, June 20,
1779] on the Georgia side of the Savannah in which he was defeated.
Declarant served out his term, being some times at one place and sometime at
another along the river, which was for five months, and was discharged by
Captain NELSON at Camp Turkey Hill on the 16th of March. He cannot remember the
year in which he performed in this term of service, but refers to Ashes Defeat
at Briar Creek to fix the date, as his defeat then happened during this time of
declarants service. Declarant was a sergeant in Captain NELSONs company for
part of the time during the foregoing tour but cannot remember how long. He
claims nothing additional on account of it.
Not long after aforesaid tour, he again entered the service (this time
in Caswell County, NC, where he had moved from Guilford County) in the militia
light horse in the company commanded by Captain REYNOLDS, Lieutenant SAUNDERS
and the declarant coronet. He, this time, went as a substitute for a certain
JOHN JONES. This tour declarant was principally employed against the Tories
down on Rocky River, Pedee and Cape Fear, in which section of country he served
out his tour, which was for three months and was discharged on the bank of Cape
Fear River. Major MCCLARY (or MCCLEARY) was the commander this tour, and
FANNING commanded the Tories.
Very shortly after the last-mentioned tour, declarant again entered
the service in Caswell County in the militia light horse in Captain HARRELLs
company who was under the command of Major MCCLARY as a substitute for a
certain HENRY HAYS. About the time he entered the service the last time,
General GREENE came on through Caswell County, with whom declarant fell in with
him. He marched to Camden, which the British had just evacuated. From thence to
the High Hills of Santee, from there up the river about 20 miles across it and
down again in the direction of the Eutaw Springs, where General GREENE had the
battle with the British, but shortly before GREENE arrived there, declarant was
taken with the small pox and left behind, when Major MCCLARY gave him his
discharge and also discharged a certain BARRY HUDSON or HUTSON BERRY to take
care of declarant. He states that his last time was for three months and that
during this and the preceding tour of three months he acted as a coronet in the
light horse
Sibby Reed, widow of LOVETT REED- She was married the June of 1779
but knows that the June one year after, and the March then next after was the
noted Battle of Guilford. This she distinctly recollects from calculation and
fact that her husband came home a few days before said Battle on furlough, and
her oldest son George Reed being born on the next day after said battle. She,
declarant was in hearing of the cannon at the time of the battle, on County-
Line Creek where she was married and lived.
She states that her said husband was drafted shortly after they were
married. She thinks that he had done no service against the British when they
were married, had served a little against the Indians that he served under an
officer named LOCKE, GILL and MCCLARY, and was at Savannah Sand Hills and after
FANNING.
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/bledsoe/military/revwar/pensions/...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 4.9 Kb
Jefferson County TN Archives Military Records.....Rayl, Samuel February 1834
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 1:45 pm
Pension Application Of Samuel Rayl, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 2007, Application #S4034
SAMUEL RAYL, a resident of Jefferson County, TN, aged 81 years in February 1834:
At the age of fourteen, he was bound by his mother to David Potts, a
wheelwright of Burmudson County [PA], until he was twenty years of age.
Declarant served his time out and after he was twenty-one in 1773, he moved by
himself to the state of North Carolina, near Guilford Courthouse, about five or
six miles from it.
At his company muster ground, at the house of CHARLES BRUCE in
Guilford County near Guilford Courthouse, the declarant, together with many
others, volunteered under Captain JOHN ?ALLUMS [?ELMS] in the month of July,
day not recollected, in the year 1776, for the purpose of marching against the
Cherokee Indians who had attacked the frontiers a short time before and had
murdered some women and children and some men. Declarant had been elected
ensign in Captain ELMS company of militiamen more than a year before, and still
was the ensign of the company. Declarant received his commission as ensign from
the hands of Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, who commanded the regiment. HEZEKIAH
RHODES was the lieutenant, as declarant believes, though he is not certain.
JAMES DELAY was the orderly sergeant, as he believes, though he is not certain.
The other sergeants and the corporals are not recollected.
At the same place and time another company volunteered under Captain LEAK, so
pronounced. The place of rendezvous was Guilford Courthouse and on the 13th day
of July 1776, this declarant reported there and within sight of Guilford
Courthouse, a large body of men, many companies, number not recollected, were
collected. Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN commanded them. This declarant was ensign
in Captain JOHN ELMS company. Captain FORBIS was one of the captains. Declarant
does not now recollect any other captains names. There were no regular
officers or soldiers.
Many of the men being unprepared with guns and provisions and clothing, had to
return to their homes to make ready. They were ordered to make ready and return
immediately. This declarant returned home, prepared himself, and returned in
three or four days to Guilford Courthouse. Thence we were marched under Colonel
ALEXANDER MARTIN towards the Cherokee towns. We marched a few miles only the
first day, encamping the first night four or five miles from Guilford
Courthouse. The third or second day, we reached Salisbury, within sight of it.
Thence in four or five days, we marched to Catheys Fort, crossing on our way
the Catawba River at the Root Bridge Branch. Here we remained a day or two
waiting for reinforcements, who were occasionally joining us. The Root Bridge
Branch was about a mile from Catheys Fort.
At Catheys Fort we remained for several days (about 3 or 4). From Catheys
Fort, in a few days (five or six), we marched to Cowee Town, a Cherokee town on
the Hiwassee River, crossing on our way, the mountains between North Carolina
and what is now east Tennessee. We crossed the French Broad and Little Pigeon
Rivers, and the Little Tennessee River. When we reached Cowee Town, it was
deserted by the Indians. We burned the town. Here we found corn, fresh meat,
hogs and chicken, and sweet potatoes, and we remained here several days, number
not recollected. A considerable body of men from Georgia joined us at Cowee
Town.
While we were at Cowee, the Over-Hill Cherokees we were informed, were coming
upon us and 400 of our men were sent in two divisions and ordered to take
different routes. This declarant was not in either division, though desirous of
going, he was prevented by his captain on account of his having an attack of
inflammatory rheumatism, brought on by wading French Broad. One of the
divisions that took the right hand [position] met the Over-Hill Cherokees who
were coming on. About two miles from Cowee, our men engaged with and routed
them, killing nine of the Indians with a loss on our part of two or three men.
From Cowee Town, we marched to a town, the name of which is not recollected,
not far from Cowee, which we also burned. We also burned several towns not far
from Cowee that were attached to Cowee Town, the names of which, if they had
any, not recollected.
We returned to Cowee Town on Hiwassee River after having destroyed the towns
and provisions of the Indians near the Cowee Town, and thence returned home the
same route we had gone on. We started in July, day not recollected, and
returned the latter part of October, day not recollected, making a service of
three months and twelve days. This declarant received no written discharge, and
never applied afterwards for a written discharge, never thinking it would be of
any service to him to get one.
This declarant received pay for three months and twelve days service in this
way: There was a sale at Cowee Town of property taken in the Indian towns.
Declarant purchased a horse and his account was an offset against his pay.
In the month of March 1777 [this may have actually been in 1776, before the
Cherokee expedition], day not recollected, declarant volunteered at his company
muster grounds at CHARLES BRUCESs house under his Captain JOHN ELMS, for the
purpose of marching against the Tories on Cross Creek, who had been committing
many outrages upon the Whig families in that and adjacent sections of country.
THOMAS MCCRORY was lieutenant in this tour, declarant believes, though he is
not certain from the impaired state of his memory. Declarant was ensign,
sergeant or corporals not recollected.
At Guilford Courthouse, we collected together and thence we were marched under
Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN towards the Cross Creek settlement about seventy miles
from Guilford Courthouse. Captain LEAK was one of the captains. There were
several companies, number unknown to declarant, as they joined us on our way
from different sections. We marched in a southerly direction towards Cross
Creek, waiting for reinforcements. We got into a settlement of Tories eight or
ten miles before we reached Cross Creek. About ten or twelve miles from
Guilford Courthouse, we crossed Deep River. We delayed for some time in going
to Cross Creek. The Tories were collecting in a body under CONNER DOWD. On our
approach, they dispersed.
All the Tories we could catch were compelled to take the oath of allegiance to
the state of North Carolina, and to support and maintain the independence of
the United States against George 3rd, or any other king or foreign power. After
doing this and destroying the property of those Tories who had been committing
outrages upon Whig families, and had been aiding and abetting the British
power, we returned home. We took some prisoners and had them tried at the
townhouse of the country, name of the town and county not recollected. These
Tories were suffered to go unpunished after taking the oath as above, which
they did. When we had finished the destruction of the property of such Tories
as had been committing outrages, their trial and had compelled all that we
could take to swear the oath of allegiance to the state, we returned to our
respective homes, and this declarant was discharged verbally by his Captain
JOHN ELMS at Guilford Courthouse after a tour of three months Declarant
volunteered in this expedition in the month of March 1777 [or 1776] and
returned and was discharge in the month of June 1777 [or 1776], day not
recollected.
In the month of March 1781, day not recollected, this declarant was drafted at
Guilford Courthouse by Captain JOSEPH HOSKINS for a tour of three months as a
private soldier, he having resigned his commission as ensign in Captain ELMS
company in the intermediate time between his tour to Cross Creek and the tour
that he was now drafted to perform. Being a wheelwright and blacksmith, this
declarant was detailed from Captain HOSKINS company immediately after he was
drafted, and was placed at Guilford Courthouse under FRANCIS MCNARY, a
commissary who had charge of the wagons and provisions for the troops. We
supplied the British prisoners who were at the Quaker Meeting House near
Guilford and our own wounded men, that were at Guilford Courthouse. This
declarant was employed, when not with the wagons, in mending the wagons with
both wood and iron and shoeing horses for the troops.
This declarant was engaged in the service as a private soldier from March 1781
day not recollected, until late in May 1781, day not recollected. He was
drafted and entered upon this tour early in March 1781, shortly before the
Battle of Guilford, served out his term of three months as above stated,
lacking twelve days, making two months and eighteen days. Declarant was
discharged by commissary FRANCIS MCNARY at this service, no longer requiring
the assistance of declarant
Answer 5th-there were no regular officers or soldiers where I served. In the
Cherokee expedition under Colonel MARTIN, there was a Colonel PAISLEY
I was detailed for the service in the commissary department on account of my
being a wheelwright and blacksmith and served in that dept. for two months and
eighteen days, being engaged in attending upon the wagons, employed in hawking
provisions and forage, and in mending wagons and shoeing horses for the troops
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/jefferson/military/revwar/pension...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 9.9 Kb
Mcnairy County TN Archives Military Records.....Rankin, Robert
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 1:28 pm
Pension Application Of Robert Rankin [b], Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 2001, Application #W5664
ROBERT RANKIN [b], a resident of McNairy County, Tennessee, aged seventy-four
years:
That he entered the service of the United States on the 16th day of
June 1776 as a draftsman, under Captain BELL, Colonel CAVAL and General
RUTHERFORD. He was mustered into service on the said 16th day of June 1776 at
Martinsville, North Carolina. On the 7th or 8th day of July 1776, the army took
up their line of march, and went through Salisbury and crossed the Blue Ridge
at a place called Savannah Gap, then crossed Savannah River and marched
directly on to the Cherokee nation of Indians. At Big Pigeon River in the
nation, we had a fight with the Indians. We killed a few and took some
prisoners, burnt the Indian huts and destroyed their corn. This was, as he
believes, about the 20th day of August 1776. From thence, we marched directly
back to Guilford County near the same way that we marched out and the first day
of October 1776.
I was discharged, having gone out on a four months tour, and my service not
being required for the balance of the time. I was discharged having served in
this campaign, three months and fourteen days. I received a discharge from
Captain BELL and had it for several years after the war, not knowing it would
ever be of any service to me, I permitted it to be destroyed.
I then remained at home in Guilford County until the 3 or 4th day of March
1780, when I again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer
under Captain RISDON MOORE, Colonel PAISLEY and Generals CASWELL and RUTHERFORD
in Guilford County, North Carolina. After the army was organized, we marched
directly to Salisbury, from there to the Flat-Rock in South Carolina, from
thence to Camden, then to a place called Moncks Corner [14th April, 1780. Also
called Biggins Bridge, see Heitman, page 682]. Here we had a fight with the
British horse. Some of our men were killed, and some taken prisoners. I think
this took place the last week in April or the first week in May in the year
1780.
From here we were compelled to retreat before the British over the River
Santee in South Carolina, where we met with Colonel BUFORDs regular army. We
joined him and the British horse and infantry pursued us until we got to
Camden. Here our regiment separated from Colonel BUFORDs army. BUFORD marched
to a place called the Flat Rock in South Carolina, and was there defeated
[Bufords Massacre, May 29th, 1780, see Heitman, page 682].
We marched to Fayetteville, North Carolina, crossing the Yadkin or
Pedee River above the Cheraw Hills. When we arrived at Fayetteville, we took
some salt in wagons, which was sent up to the mountains to keep from the enemy.
I went with it up to the Cross Roads in Randolph County, North Carolina, where
I was discharged. This was on the 3rd or 4th day of June 1780, after I had
served the full end and term of three months out, the time I volunteered for.
For this tour, I received a discharge from Captain MOORE, but it is now lost or
destroyed.
After I received my discharge in Randolph County, I returned home to Guilford
County where I remained for a very short time, and about the first day of July
1780, I again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer soldier
under Captain ROSS and Major DEVALD to fight the Tories, which was then rising
in all quarters. So soon as I entered the service, we marched to a place called
Scraps Mill [?Clapps Mill?] in Guilford County, where we had a skirmish or
fight. From here we marched from one place to another all over the state of
North Carolina for the purpose of keeping in check the Tories.
At length, we joined General GREENEs army, not far from Guilford Courthouse.
Then the whole army marched on to Martinsville, where we fought the Battle of
Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, which was on the 15th day of March 1781.
This battle I was in, and on that day, I was commanded by Captain FORBIS, who
was killed in the engagement. I was then discharged on the 16th day of March
1781, having served in this tour eight months and sixteen days. I received a
discharge from my captain, but it is now lost or destroyed.
I then remained at home but a short time, when I again entered the
service of the United States as a volunteer soldier as a minute horseman under
Captain MCADOW and Colonel PAISLEY. The month nor the day of the month which I
entered the service at this time, I cannot now recollect, but I volunteered for
the term of three months. So soon as we were organized, we marched to Randolph,
Moore and Montgomery Counties to keep the Tories in check, and continued in
service until my time of three months was out. I then received a discharge from
Captain MCADOW, but it is now lost or destroyed.
I resided in Guilford County, North Carolina until 1830, when I moved
to McNairy County, Tennessee, where I now reside, etc."
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/mcnairy/military/revwar/pensions/...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 5.6 Kb
Gibson County TN Archives Military Records.....Rankin, Robert
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 1:26 pm
Pension Application Of Robert Rankin [a], Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 2001, Application #S4042
ROBERT RANKIN [a], a resident of Gibson County, Tennessee, aged 84 (old style):
I entered the service of the United States during the Revolutionary
War in the North Carolina militia and served one three-month campaign called
the Snowy Campaign [from Heitman, pg.678, Dec.22, 1775, Cane Brake, SC],
under Captain DIXON, I think it was during the year 1778 or 79 [wrong years
named], General RUTHERFORD of North Carolina commander. During the campaign we
took 100 of the Scotch troops at Cane Creek, South Carolina, Reedy River. Major
WILLIAM POLK was wounded in the arm here.
One other campaign of one month under Captain HOUSTON [per Nothing but Blood
and Slaughter, Captain James Houston.]. I was during this campaign, in the
Battle of Ramsours [June 20, 1780, per Heitmans, pg.678]. Here I had a
brother killed by the Tories. Colonel LOCKE and Major RUTHERFORD commanded
here.
I then served one three months tour under Captain DIXON at Camden. No battle
this campaign [probably before Battle of Camden, August 16, 1780]. Colonel
LOCKE commanded. I knew here, Colonel PAISLEY of Guilford with the Guilford
troops.
I afterward served as Captain guarding the fords on Catawba River one month. I
served one other tour on Bear Creek [south side of Deep River], of one month
under Captain CRAWFORD. I was in one skirmish during this campaign. General
DAVIDSON (then Colonel DAVIDSON) was wounded here. [If this is the skirmish in
which Davidson was wounded and killed, then his guard duty was February 1,
1781. Davidson was killed at Cowans Ford on the ?Catawba? or Yadkin.]
I then served one three months tour under Captain JOHNSON, when the British
under CORNWALLIS crossed the Catawba River. I was then in the horse. I then
served three months with my wagon and team under the command of Captain BELL
and hauled baggage for 52 privates, when CORNWALLIS was taken at York [October
19, 1781].
I also served three months under Captain HUGGINS when the British came to
Charlotte [26 September 1780], Colonel DAVIDSON [It was William Richardson
Davie] in command. Sergeant LANGUM? pressed me, my wagon and team to haul
ammunition from Mr. Nails in Iredell to Camden. I do not remember how long it
took for this service.
I rendered other services which I do not recollect sufficiently to state. I
fought for my country. I was acquainted with Captain BREVARD of GREENEs army.
He knows of no person in this country by whom he can prove the foregoing
services, etc.
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/gibson/military/revwar/pensions/r...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 3.2 Kb
Williamson County TN Archives Military Records.....Peay, George
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 12:55 pm
Pension Application Of George Peay, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1899, Application #S3673
GEORGE PEAY, a resident of Williamson County, TN, aged 75 years:
That in January or February 1776, I joined the army of the United
States as a volunteer in Guilford County, NC, under Captain JOHN LEAK and
Colonel JAMES MARTIN. We rendezvoused at Guilford Courthouse and marched thence
to Cross Creek where Fayetteville now stands. This expedition was against the
Highland Scotch and Tories who had rebelled against the government. Governor
CASWELL having defeated them before we arrived at Cross Creek [per Heitman,
February 27, 1776], we in a day or two returned home and stayed there two
weeks. Then we were called out again to go to Wilmington and when we had
marched to Rocky River in Chatham County, an express met us stating the British
had left Wilmington and hove out of sight. We then returned home, having been
absent these two trips, three months. Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN commanded a
regiment of regular troops and we lay at the Cross-Roads in Randolph County
with his regiment nearly four weeks during the first trip.
That about the 20th of June, 1776, I joined as a volunteer Captain JOHN
LEAK and Colonel JAMES MARTIN, General GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD being our Brigadier
General. In the county of Rowan in the town of Salisbury, we rendezvoused and
marched thence to the head of the Catawba River near Catheys Fort, which is at
a place called Pleasant Gardens, where we remained near four weeks until
General RUTHERFORD and the balance of his army joined us. We marched thence
against the Cherokee Indians across the Blue Ridge and stopped on the Tennessee
River in the Cherokee nation where we remained four weeks, the Indians having
been subdued by the Southern Army commanded by General WILLIAMSON. We returned
home after an absence of about three months and a half, no battle having been
fought this expedition.
That about the 20th of June 1778, I joined the company of Captain JOHN
LEAK as a volunteer, which company belonged to the regiment called New Levees
commanded by Colonels ARCHIBALD LYTLE and HENRY DIXON. We rendezvoused about
that time at Guilford Courthouse in Guilford County, and our two companies from
Guilford, one commanded by Captain LEAK, the other by Captain GEORGE HAMILTON,
marched thence to David Logans, 4 miles from Guilford Courthouse, where we lay
four weeks until the balance of said regiment commanded by said Colonels LYTLE
and DIXON, joined us.
We marched thence to Dixons Ferry on Dan River in Virginia, on our
way towards the north, where we met an express which caused us to return into
North Carolina, our services not being needed in the North. We marched thence
to Moores Creek in Caswell County, NC, where we remained about a month.
At this place, I was attached out of Captain LEAKs company and put into the
company of Captain JOHN NELSON, who was a regular officer, after remaining in
his company a week or ten days, I left the army and went to Henry County,
Virginia, to attend to a lawsuit which I had there, my brother ELIAS PEAY
filling my place in my absence. I returned to my fathers in Guilford County,
NC. I met my brother, who brought me a furlough from Captain JOHN NELSON until
the 14th of March 1779, at the end of which time I received a discharge from
Colonel JAMES MARTIN for the whole nine months I was in no battle during this
campaign because there was none fought
In the last of May 1779, our company of men was called out from
Guilford County to join the army of General LINCOLN in South Carolina. I
entered that company as a substitute for one Mr. ?RUMBY under Captain JOHN
DAVIS, and GEORGE PEARCE lieutenant, and ROBERT MOORE, ensign. We marched to
about a mile above Guilford Courthouse, when I was sent back by Colonel MARTIN
to bring up some men who had remained behind. Before I could collect those men,
the other part of the army fought the Battle at Stono Ferry [per Heitman, June
20, 1779] in South Carolina and were defeated and returned home. I did not
again join them, but Captain DAVIS gave me a discharge signed by himself for a
three months tour. I was in no battle and saw no regular officers this
expedition.
Some time in the summer of 1780, I joined the company of Captain PETER
ONEAL as substitute for WILLIAM STUBBLEFIELD at Guilford Courthouse. We
marched thence 14 miles towards Salisbury when I was sent back by Major THOMAS
OWENS to bring up some delinquents and being engaged in preparing them to march
for a week or two, the battle at which General GATES was defeated was fought
[at Camden, per Heitman, August 16, 1780] and the men discharged. I did not
join the army again, and received a discharge for a three months tour from
Major THOMAS OWENS, signed by himself, which I left in North Carolina.
Some time in July 1781, I joined the company of Captain CHARLES
WILLIAMS in Pittsylvania County in Virginia as a substitute for NED WARREN.
Said company marched to Yorktown at General Washingtons headquarters where our
company joined the regiment commanded by Colonel THOMAS MERRIWEATHERS and Major
GIVENS and General EDMOND STEPHENS. I remained there till the last of the siege
of York, where Cornwallis was taken
August 1833-RICHARD VERNON-This is to certify at the request of GEORGE PEAY,
to state on oath, that which I was witness to as it respects his service as a
soldier in the Revolutionary War. It then shall be first stated that I am about
75 years of age. I was acquainted with GEORGE PEAY in the state of North
Carolina in the County of Guilford in the year 1776, at which time an
insurrection was raised by a set of people called Scotch Tories, and about the
first of February 1776, the militia was called to arms.
Mr. PEAY, along with myself and many others, turned out as volunteers and
marched to Guilford Courthouse on the fifteenth of February 1776, and there
formed a regiment under the command of Colonel JAMES MARTIN and Captain JOHN
LEAK (I acted his subaltern) and at that period, Guilford County was in the
western part of North Carolina in a district called Salisbury, which was
commanded by Brigadier General RUTHERFORD, who at that time had all the militia
of said district in arms.
Then marching down to the lower part of the state where these Tories were
embodied, our regiment joined General RUTHERFORD and then marched and proceeded
with him to a town on Cape Fear River, at that time was called Cross Creek,
where we understood for certain that the Tories were defeated by Colonel
CASWELL [Moores Creek Bridge, per Heitman, 27 February, 1776] near Wilmington
in said state, we were then sent back home, excepting a regiment of regular
troops that had marched down with us under the command of Colonel ALEXANDER
MARTIN.
In about fifteen days after we returned home, a general alarm took place
throughout the state, caused by the British vessels appearing in the Capes
adjacent to said state, at which time we were all called to arms. Mr. GEORGE
PEAY with myself and many others volunteered again, under our former officers
and marching in military order to Wilmington, and the only transaction that
took place was an express that came to Colonel MARTIN stating that a party of
Tories were embodying in front of us to make an attack. We advanced near them.
Myself and 13 others were sent to discover their situation. We proceeded to the
place in the night and discovered a large encampment. Their sentinels fired at
us and we returned to our regiment. All preparation was made by us to advance
and attack them the next day. Accordingly, we met and prepared for action. We
then discovered they were our friends who had drove the Tories the evening
before.
We then proceeded on our march for Wilmington and were met by an express from
the executive of the state, stating that the British vessels had left the Capes
contiguous to North Carolina. We were all remarched back to our homes where we
remained until the month of June in the same year 1776.
The Cherokee Indians broke out and was committing great depradations upon the
frontier settlements of North and South Carolina. On which occasion a general
call for the militia in the district of Salisbury took place about the month of
June 1776. Then Mr. GEORGE PEAY and myself volunteered again under the command
of said officers RUTHERFORD, MARTIN and LEAK. So we marched north, a determined
resolution to destroy the Indian settlements on Tennessee and Hiwassee, which
we affected by entering wilderness on the 9th day of September 1776. About the
25th November following, we were discharged.
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/williamson/military/revwar/pensio...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 9.2 Kb
Williamson County TN Archives Military Records.....Lesley, Peter
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 12:44 pm
Pension Application Of Peter Lesley, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1551, Application #S4540
PETER LESLEY, a resident of Davidson County, Tennessee, aged 71:
That he was born in the state of New Jersey the 13th day of January
1761, agreeable to my fathers record given me, and moved to Guilford County,
North Carolina, where I was raised and in the month of March 1780, I was
drafted in Guilford County, North Carolina and mustered into service at
Guilford Courthouse for three months under the command of Captain WILLIAM
BETHEL, RICHARD VERNON Lieutenant, and ROBERT NELSON, Ensign. We stayed in
Guilford about eight days. We then set out for Charleston in South Carolina by
the way of Salisbury, then to Camden, then to Moncks Corner. There we stayed a
few days when Colonel WASHINGTON and his horse were routed with PULASKI and
[Major JAMES] WHITE, by the British under Colonel TARLETON [April 14th, 1780,
see Heitman, page 682].
Then Capt. BETHELs company marched the next day about thirty miles, crossing
the Santee at Nelsons Ferry. We there met Gen. CASWELL with one thousand
militia where we joined him on the Santee River and guarded Nelsons Ferry and
Duprees Ferry until we heard that Charleston had surrendered to the British
[May 12, 1780, see Heitman, page 682]. Then we marched to Camden and on our way
we met General BUFORD with three hundred regulars and one field piece. We all
marched to Camden, then BUFORD marched to Salisbury, and we with CASWELL,
marched to Pedee River at the Cheraw Hills. Then we marched to Fayetteville in
North Carolina, where we stayed a few days. Col. MCDOWELL and part of his
regiment were sent to guard several wagons loaded with salt [ROBERT RANKIN (b)
dated this June 3rd or 4th, 1780] for the army, to Mecklenburg and Rowan
Counties and when Capt. BETHELs company reached Guilford County, Col. MCDOWELL
discharged us, for we had served a little over three months.
I was home about one month, and my stepfather, JOHN WILEY of Guilford
County, North Carolina was drafted to serve three months tour, for which I went
and served in his place, under the command of Captain FORBIS and WILLIAM
GILMORE, Lieutenant, and ALEXANDER ALLISON, Ensign, and was mustered into
service in Guilford County, North Carolina on the 25th day of August, 1780, and
marched to Salisbury, then to Brushy Camp, where we joined General DAVIDSON.
Then we marched to New Providence. There Colonel PAISLEYs regiment joined us
and we continued there in Rowan and Mecklenburg Counties until our time of
service had expired, and a part of the time, Colonel MORGANs regiment were
stationed there, also Colonel WASHINGTONs, and his horse, a part of the time.
I was discharged at New Providence by General DAVIDSON on, I think, about the
last of November, 1780.
I returned home, and I think in January 1781, Captain FORBIS called on
his old company again to take the field with him, as the British were in our
neighborhood, and I and several of his company joined him as volunteers with
Lieutenant GILMORE and Ensign ELLISON. We then marched down to General GREENEs
army on Dan River, and were attached to Colonel PAISLEYs regiment.
We stayed about one month with the army and I was furloughed by Colonel
PAISLEY to go home, and to join the army again when called. I stayed at home
about one month and was notified to join the army again, and about two weeks
before the Battle of Guilford, I entered the service under the command of
Captain FORBIS in Guilford County, marched up to Guilford Courthouse and on the
15th day of March 1781, I was in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, in which
our Captain FORBIS was mortally wounded, and went home and died, and WILLIAM
PAISLEY of our company was slightly wounded. I was on the battleground in about
three days after the battle was fought. The British had buried their dead and
marched off. Our dead men was not all buried. I then went home and stayed some
time.
I again entered the service in the same company as before, except
Captain FORBIS, who was killed and Captain GEORGE STEWART commanded in his
place. We then went down the country, crossed Deep River and crossed Cape Fear
River below Fayetteville. Below Deep River, we joined Colonel JAMES MARTINs
regiment under General RUTHERFORD which were some over 1000 strong, all
militia. While on this expedition on Raft Swamp in the Tory settlement we were
scouring the swamps in search of Tories, the militia on foot, and Captain
GILLESPIE of the horse.
About five of the horse came to a house in search of forage where the Tories
fired on the horsemen and killed John MCADOW, a colonel [probably only captain]
belonging to the horse. A short time after this, there appeared in sight of our
camp a number of women and General RUTHERFORD sent a guard to conduct them into
camp, and after they stayed under guard all night, General RUTHERFORD ordered
that they be drummed out of camp with our camp kettles and two sticks. We
stayed there about two months in this Tory settlement, and five of our company
were discharged before the drafted militia by Captain STEWART, because we were
volunteers, and the rest militia. I think I served a little over three months
as a volunteer under the last engagement and was discharged below Fayetteville,
North Carolina.
After that I served about ten days in Randolph County after the Tories and
caught several at a wedding and held them under guard until they agreed to join
our side and help us to fight. Again I was called on to help thrash of the
Quakers wheat, so much as would pay their part of the expense of the war, as
they would not fight, and they agreed, they would not say no. I was ten days on
this trip, in all I think I served nearly ten months, but I have lost my
discharges. I can prove by Lt. RICHARD VERNON a part of my service and by
WILLIAM GAMBLE also a part. I know of no person by whom I can prove the last of
my service. I moved from Guilford County, N.C. in the year of 1801 to Tennessee
State and first lived in Williamson Co., and then in Davidson Co., where I now
live.
This day came WILLIAM GAMBLE and made oath that PETER LESLEY did serve
a tour of six months in the army. In the Revolution, was in the North Carolina
militia under General DAVIDSON, Colonels JOHN PAISLEY and JAMES RUTHERFORD,
Captain ARTHUR FORBIS, Lieutenant WILLIAM GILMORE, Ensign ALEXANDER ALLISON.
Under these officers the said LESLEY served one three month tour, and also one
three months tour under General GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD and Captain GEORGE STEWART,
and I, WILLIAM GAMBLE have been acquainted with said PETER LESLEY ever since,
and know him to be the very same man.
Personally appeared, RICHARD VERNON and made oath that he was
acquainted with PETER LESLEY in two tours of duty in the Revolution War. That
in March 1780 we rendezvoused at Guilford Courthouse, state of North Carolina.
He the said LESLEY was a soldier under Captain WILLIAM BETHEL, and I was
lieutenant in said company, and ROBERT NELSON, ensign. We then took up the line
of march to South Carolina by way to Salisbury, where we met with General
RUTHERFORD, who ordered us to march to Charleston, by way to Camden to Moncks
Corner, where we understood that the British had surrounded Charleston, so that
we could not get in. There, where we lay a few days, and was routed by the
enemy under Colonel TARLETON. From thence we retreated to the north side of the
Santee River, where we lay until the arrival of Brigadier General WILLIAM
CASWELL from North Carolina.
We then formed a regiment called the third regiment of North Carolina militia,
Col. JAMES BRANNON our field officer, where we continued as guard for the
Ferries on said river, until we heard that Charleston had surrendered to the
British. We then retreated to the Cheraw Hills on the Pedee River, from thence
to Fayetteville in North Carolina where we were detached under the command of
Col. MCDOWELL to guard some wagons loaded with public salt, to the County of
Mecklenburg, North Carolina.
Our time of service being out when we was disbanded and returned home where I
remained until about the 25th day of August, 1780, and then was called on
another tour of duty for three months, which tour I served as lieutenant in a
regiment of militia commanded by Colonel JOHN PAISLEY of Guilford County North
Carolina, and under General Brigadier DAVIDSON, and this tour we served in the
Counties of Rowan and Mecklenburg, and says that he is satisfied that said
PETER LESLEY was in service at that time from several events which took place,
which we both recollect., the man JOHN BRAWLEY getting shot through and fell
dead accidentally [probably at Shallow Ford], and said regiment was discharged
about the 25th of November.
Personally appeared before me, PETER LESLEY who saith that by reason
of old age and the consequent loss of memory he served not less than the
periods mentioned below and in the following grades: First I served three
months as a drafted militiaman from the month of March 1780 as a private in
Captain BETHELs company, and a second tour from the 25th of August 1780, I
served three months as a private in Captain FORBIS militia company, and a
third tour I served as a volunteer from January 1781, three months under
Captain FORBIS and STEWART as an orderly sergeant, and the same year I served
ten days in Randolph County after the Tories under the command of Captain
GILLESPIE of about 75 men. We whipped several Tories and cut JOHN DICKEY very
bad with a sword.
Again I served ten days in Randolph County under the command of Captain
WHITESELL, after the Tories. About 75 of us caught several Tories at a wedding
as per declaration, and last of all, I served ten days thrashing the Quakers
wheat as per declaration. In all, I think I served at least ten months, seven
of them as a private soldier and three months as an orderly sergeant. The above
is offered as a supplement to my declaration in which is not named the first
ten days I served in Randolph County after Tories and for which I claim a
pension.
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/williamson/military/revwar/pensio...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 10.7 Kb
Williamson County TN Archives Military Records.....Johnson, Gideon
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 12:41 pm
Pension Application Of Gideon Johnson, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1421, Application #S4456
GIDEON JOHNSON, a resident of Williamson County, TN [in 1832] aged 78 years:
That I enlisted in the army of the United States in the last of the
month of July 1776 for the term of twelve months under Captain JOHN ARMSTRONG
from Surrey County, Lieutenant JOSEPH TATE from Guilford County, in North
Carolina. I resided in Guilford County, NC at that time and joined the army in
that county at a place called Spring Garden. Captain ARMSTRONGs company joined
the second regiment of the Continental line at Salisbury, shortly after my
enlistment as well as I can recollect, which regiment was commanded by Colonel
ALEXANDER MARTIN. We lay at Salisbury about three months when we marched thence
to a place near Hollisworth Mills on Duncans Creek, which I think is a branch
of the Catawba River. Receiving information that there were a body of Tories
collected either on Duncan Creek about fifteen miles distant, we were marched
thither in the night and surrounded them near daybreak, when we [were] fired on
by their sentinels and our men closed in upon them and took, as was reported,
one hundred prisoners, whom we marched to headquarters on Duncans Creek, where
we guarded them two days when they were sent to Charleston, South Carolina.
Shortly after this, we rendezvoused at Salisbury, I going by home by furlough,
whence I, in the company of Captain SAMUEL MARTIN who had recruited a company
of fifty men with some delinquents, marched to Charleston, SC, where we joined
the main army, the latter part of the summer of 1777. I in the meantime, having
been employed in assisting Captain SAMUEL MARTIN in recruiting men, he being a
recruiting officer of the U.S. Army and in scouting after the Tories in NC.
On account of the sickness of the troops in Charleston, we left that place
where I took sick and was hauled to Camden in a wagon, where we lay 10 days.
From that place the army marched towards Salisbury, NC and I being too sick to
travel further, was left at the Widow Suttons on Seven-Mile Creek under the
care of Sergeant REUBEN CURTIS. At the end of ten days I went to Charlotte, NC
where I met with Captain SAMUEL MARTIN, with whom I traveled to Salisbury,
where I arrived about the last of October, 1777, where I think I received a
discharge signed by Colonel ALEX. MARTIN, which I have lost, not thinking it
would ever be important to me.
Some years after this, when Colonel ALEX. MARTIN was chosen governor of N.
Carolina, the year I cannot recollect, it being necessary for him to have a
life guard, I was chosen by him as one of his life guard, and became such in
Guilford County, and marched with him thence to a place called Nutbush in
Granville County where we, after remaining some time were dismissed and
returned home after an absence of about four weeks. Captain JOSIAH GATES
commanded this company of lifeguards. It was represented to us when acting as
his guard that that tour should answer as a three months tour, but whether I
got a discharge for the same I do not now recollect.
In about 1778 or the winter of 1779, I carried an express from Colonel JAMES
MARTIN of the County of Guilford to the western part of the state into Burke,
Buncombe and Wilks Counties and delivered the same to Colonel and Major ERVIN,
Colonel and Major MCDOWELL and to Mr. GREENLEA of Buncombe County. In this
expedition I underwent much hardship on account of inclement weather and high
waters and returned home after having been absent about four weeks...
September 13, 1832-This day came JOHN W. CRUNK that in the year of
1776 he was intimately acquainted with GIDEON JOHNSON in the Continental Army
and further saith that he knew him to be a regular soldier in the Revolutionary
War, in the second regiment of the North Carolina troops commanded by Colonel
ALEXANDER MARTIN and Captain JOHN ARMSTRONGs company and her further saith
that he (CRUNK) and the said JOHNSON both belonged to the same company at the
same time, and he further saith that in consequence of sickness that he (CRUNK)
was separated from the regiment and sent home and that he never returned to the
regiment again, the time for which he enlisted having expired before he
recovered from his sickness, but that said JOHNSON continued in the army for a
long time, and returned home to Guilford County honorably discharged, the time
for which he enlisted being eighteen months. He further adds that they were
both born and raised in the same neighborhood.
August 9, 1833-GIDEON JOHNSON in addition and explanation of his said
declaration states that he served as a private from July 1776 till October
1777, fifteen months, for which he got a discharge as stated in said
declaration.
He states that he served as a private for one month as a life guard
for Governor MARTIN in the year 1778 as well as he recollects, he is not
certain of the time.
He states that he served as a private one month in carrying an express
from Colonel MARTIN to Colonel and Major ERWIN and others as stated in his
declaration in 1778 or 9, making in all as near as he can recollect, seventeen
months and in every instance as a private soldier.
Davidson County Tennessee, January 1840:
Personally appeared, GIDEON JOHNSON, aged 86 years that he entered the
service in the month of June 1775, he thinks in the second regiment of the
Continental line of North Carolina as a regular soldier, under the command of
Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, in which there were four companies: First company
commanded by Captain JOHN DAVIDSON of Rowan County, second company commanded by
Captain JOHN ARMSTRONG of Surrey County, third company commanded by Captain ___
PICKET of Anson County, fourth company commanded by Captain JOHN BELL of
Guilford County, which four companies composed said regiment.
Deponent states that he first turned out as a volunteer under Lieutenant
JOSEPH TATE, who was Lieutenant under his Captain JOHN ARMSTRONG, at Spring
Garden, Guilford County, North Carolina for a term of (he thinks) of twelve
months; rendezvoused in the latter end of said month at Salisbury, and (he
thinks) left Salisbury in September following. While at Salisbury, a
dissatisfaction arose amongst the troops and a second enlistment became
necessary and was proposed by Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN for a term of eighteen
months, for which time said declarant volunteered, he thinks about the last of
July or first of August 1775.
The troops, when leaving Salisbury, were ordered south, kept
headquarters at Hollingsworth Mills on Enoree River, about four weeks, after
which the troops were ordered south on a meandering route, to the Hickory
Camps, he thinks near the borders of South Carolina, from thence, he thinks, in
the month of January following, they were informed, there was a company of
Tories collected on Duncans Creek, to which place the troops were ordered and
marched under the guidance of our informants. On our arrival at said Duncans
Creek, we had a small skirmish with the Tories. They fled, save three hundred
prisoners we took, and marched back to Hickory Camp. Guarded them there two
days and nights. Thence we were sent to Charleston, South Carolina under a
guard of militia. From Hickory Camp we marched south in the direction of Ninety-
Six through the country watered by Tyger River, Congaree, Wateree Rivers,
falling down below Ninety-Six. Thence we went towards Bells Mills on Deep
River in the direction of Fayetteville in North Carolina. Thence we returned to
Salisbury, where we stayed five or six weeks, and where many of the troops were
furloughed for a small space of time.
We were from thence marched to Charleston, through the Swamps of Santee River
and arrived at Charleston some time in August, just in time to see the British
embark, when they evacuated Charleston, or Sullivans Island near Charleston,
where we continued until (I think) the latter end of October following,
occupying the old British Barracks. From which place we were then ordered to
march in consequence of the bad health of the troops, of whom many had died. On
our first or second days march at night, going towards Camden, in Goose Creek,
deponent for the first time was taken sick and put in a wagon, he thinks about
twenty miles from Charleston, and hauled from thence to Camden, he thinks 130
or 140 miles. There, in consequence of sickness of the troops we lay about
three weeks. Some two or three men died there, and from thence we marched to
Seven-mile Creek at Widow Suttles. Deponent was given out for dead and left in
the care of Sergeant REUBEN CURTIS for an attendant. Deponent thinks he lay
here about three weeks, from whence deponent started about, leaving his gun and
shot bag and belt? bit? not being able to carry them, has never heard of them
since.
He pursued the army alone (having left Sergeant CURTIS sick) to Charlotte in
North Carolina, where he stayed with SAMUEL MARTIN, about two weeks. From
thence, by the assistance of the said SAML MARTIN, he went to Salisbury where
he joined the remaining fragment of his regiment, he thinks some time in the
month of November 1776. After remaining at Salisbury a short time, deponent by
permission of Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN left for his house in Guilford County,
being very weak. Arrived he thinks, in November, near the latter end. He
afterwards saw Colonel MARTIN who gave him a discharge, his term of eighteen
months being ended.
Sometime in the month of January or February in the year 1777 or1778,
deponent was engaged by Colonel JAMES MARTIN of the militia of the County of
Guilford to bear some expresses, he thinks to JOSEPH and CHARLES MCDOWELL
living in Wilkes County, North Carolina, both bearing commissions in the United
States service; and to Major ALEXANDER ERWIN and Major GREENLEE, living, he
thinks, in Burke County and state aforesaid; for which service he, Colonel
JAMES MARTIN gave him a receipt for a term of three months served as a
militiaman.
Deponent thinks in the month of May, June or July 1779, he again
volunteered as a life guard to Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, to guard and convey
him to Wilmington, he being appointed Governor of the State of North Carolina
the fill the place of [Thomas Burk], Governor who was taken prisoner by the
British. In consequence of services pressed, which Colonel A. MARTIN met, we
did not escort him quite to Wilmington. JOSIAH GATES being Captain, we marched
back to Guilford, for which service deponent got from (he thinks) Colonel
MARTIN a certificate for a three months term of service as a militiaman.
Deponent further states that he was at home plowing in his field when
he heard the firing of the cannon and platoons at the Battle of Guilford on the
15th of March, he thinks 1781 or 1782. He immediately took out his horses,
seized his gun and hastened hither, though not at that time in service himself.
He had a substitute (ELIJU CURRAY). He met the baggage wagons near Guilford,
making their way to a safe place, out on Haw River. He turned round, led them
on till he knew they could not mistake the way. He then hastened to the place
of action and joined his countrymen in that engagement, it having nearly ended.
Reconnoitered and assisted in burying dead for about 9 days. This service was
voluntary for which deponent had no receipt, nor did he expect or demand or
wish any.
Deponent had been previous to this, summoned as guard to the
Legislature at Salem in North Carolina in which service he was engaged about 3
or 4 weeks. Deponent further states that the discharge of Colonel ALEXANDER
MARTIN, the receipt of Colonel JAMES MARTIN and the last receipt from Colonel
ALEXANDER MARTIN, making in all a term of two years service, etc.
That his name is already on a pension roll of the agency of the state
of Tennessee, was placed there on the 20th day of August 1833, and receives a
pension of fifty dollars payable semiannually. That said pension is not
proportionate to his terms of Revolutionary services for the want of a living
testimony to the facts herein before stated. That he has, since making
application before, found living, ?Olituopy, of whom he did not know, which
accompanies this declaration; many things now also came to his own recollection
since, which are true and not named in his former declaration
In 1832, an ABNER JOHNSON, of Maury County, TN aged 74 years, stated that he
served in the Revolution a part of the time with GIDEON JOHNSON.
January 29th, 1840-Personally appeared, RICHARD VERNON, aged eighty-one years:
That he has been acquainted with GIDEON JOHNSON for upwards of seventy years,
first in the state of North Carolina and then in this state. That he was
present when said JOHNSON enlisted into the regular army in Continental
service, with Lieutenant JOSEPH TATE of Captain ARMSTRONGs company, Colonel
ALEXANDER MARTINs regiment. That the troops to which he belonged marched to
the south as he then understood, that about the time his enlistment expired he
returned to his fathers house, where deponent visited him and found him
reduced almost to a skeleton by sickness. That said enlistment was for twelve
or eighteen months.
That he knows Colonel JAMES MARTIN sent expresses to some persons in Wilkes
County, North Carolina, but does not recollect who was the bearer of them. That
he knows also that Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, when he was appointed Governor of
North Carolina had a guard to escort him on his way to Wilmington and that
JOSIAH
GATES was captain of that guard, but he does not recollect who composed the
guard; and that said JOHNSON served as one of the guard to the Legislature at
Salem.
Said deponent also states that he was personally acquainted with Colonel
ALEXANDER MARTIN, Colonel JAMES MARTIN, Captain JOHN ARMSTRONG, Lieutenant
JOSEPH TATE and JOSEPH and CHARLES MCDOWELL. He also states that during the
Revolutionary War and afterwards, said JOHNSON was considered a good Whig and a
true friend to his country and was frequently engaged in active service during
the War. He also further states that he was acquainted with WALT CRUNK, and
would believe him on his oath, etc.
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/williamson/military/revwar/pensio...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 14.8 Kb
Hawkins County TN Archives Military Records.....Pasley/Peasley/Paisley, John
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 25, 2006, 3:29 am
Pension Application Of John Pasley [or Peasley Or Paisley], Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1898, Application #S3646
JOHN PEASLEY, Hawkins County, Tennessee aged 75 years:
That in the year 1775, he was a resident of Guilford County, North Carolina.
He volunteered for the term of three months under Colonel PAISLEY. The Captain
and Lieutenant he does not now recollect. Inasmuch as he was ordered to take
charge of and drive a baggage wagon, which team he had charge of and drove,
during the whole tour. He states that he was marched to Camden, South Carolina,
and remained there until discharged after serving a three months tour. He
states that if ever he heard the number of the regiment to which he belonged,
he does not now recollect it.
He states that some months after he returned home from this tour, there was a
company of what was then called New Levees, raising in the County of
Guilford, North Carolina, where this applicant resided, in which company he
volunteered for the term of nine months, under the command of ALEXANDER MARTIN,
Maj. JOHN NELSON, and Captain DAVID COWAN. He states that all those who would
serve nine months as above stated, once ______a discharge for the same would be
exempted from serving any other tour for the sum of three years. He states that
he volunteered as aforesaid and rendezvoused at Guilford Courthouse in said
county and was marched as [far] north as Moores Creek in the state of North
Carolina near the Virginia line. Then he states the troops were furloughed
until a further call, with orders to hold themselves in readiness to march
immediately when called.
He states that he remained home about six months on said furlough when he,
with others were called on to march to South Carolina. He states that the
troops again assembled at Guilford Courthouse under the same officers as before
stated, with the exception of Colonel [ALEX] MARTIN and Lt. CLARK. Colonel
ARCHIBALD LYTLE took the command in the room of the said Col. MARTIN, and Lt.
CLARK in the room of Lt. _____ [name not given] whose name he does not now
recollect. He states they were marched through North Carolina and South
Carolina, to a small village on Savannah River in South Carolina called
Purysburg, where he joined Headquarters or the militia of South Carolina under
the command of Gen. SUMTER; where there was a company of light infantry called
for to march up the Savannah River, on the South Carolina side to prevent the
British from crossing over the said river into North Carolina; and he states he
was marched up said river as high as opposite Augusta where the British camped
for about the space of two weeks. When they (the British) left that place and
marched back down the said river again.
Then he states that the American troops crossed the river at that place.
ARCHIBALD LYTLE being his colonel and JOHN NELSON being Major and Lt. MCCALLEY
(the Captain not being recollected, Captain DAVID COWAN having resigned
previous to his march up river [Perhaps Lt. CLARK was promoted to captain when
DAVID COWAN resigned]) took the command of his regiment in Augusta. And marched
down the river after the British had crossed on a bridge and after crossing,
had burned it down, and marched up said creek recrossed and attacked the
American army troops in the fork between said [Briar] Creek and Savannah River,
where there was a battle fought between the Americans and English in which the
Americans were defeated [per Heitman, March 3, 1779]. The Americans recrossed
said river at Matthews Bluff and joined General LINCOLNs command cover? of
regulars at or near said bluff.
He states that he was then placed under the command of Captain WILLIAM GOODMAN
and Colonel MALMEDY, a French officer, Colonel LYTLE was continued under
General LINCOLN. Major DIXON took the command in place of Major JOHN NELSON,
and his former Lt. THOMAS CLARK was also continued. He was then marched in
various directions under the command of said officers until the army was halted
at a small creek called Edisto, near Stono.
Then the American army to which he belonged under the command of General
LINCOLN attacked the British in their entrenchments at Stono, which battle
lasted near two hours, a close engagement [per Heitman, June 20, 1779]. He
states that he was then a sergeant [to] Captain GOODMAN, which afforded him an
opportunity of ascertaining the number of killed and wounded. He states that in
said engagement the Americans lost 64 killed and 96 wounded. The American army
retreated in order to draw the British out of their entrenchment, but they
being reinforced, the American army did not make a second attack. The British
then left their entrenchment the next day after the battle, and the Americans
buried their dead (He does not recollect whether the British were commanded by
General HOWE or CLINTON); from which place he was marched to Ashley River near
Charleston, South Carolina, where he remained some time.
Then they were marched to Charlotte, North Carolina, where a part of the men
were discharged from there. A part of the men were marched to Salisbury, North
Carolina and discharged and others were marched from Salisbury, to
Hillsborough, and discharged so as to suit the convenience of the soldiers. He
states that he was discharged at Hillsborough by Col. ARCHIBALD. LYTLE, after
having served the full nine months subsequent to the furlough above named
He states that he made his home after he left the said service, at Colonel
JOHN Paisleys in Guilford County, North Carolina, where he had said discharge
and also his state oath certificate. Was home? when house was burned with the
said discharge and certificate. He states that his discharge bore date the last
of August, the year not recollected.
He states that in the March following for JAMES LETT [served as a substitute
for said JAMES LETT] of Guilford County, North Carolina for three months under
Captain GEORGE STUART, Lt. GEORGE NICKS, 1st Lt, and Lt. GEORGE DENNY, 2nd Lt.
And was marched near Fayetteville to what was called the Raft Swamps against a
body of Tories which was infesting that section of the country. He remained at
that place some time, until they were marched in pursuit of Col. FANNING, a
Tory commander, whose company was dispersed and returned home, after having
served a tour of three months.
He states he was actually? dismissed that tour? shortly after his return home
to Guilford County North Carolina, under Captain FORBIS and General GREENE, to
go against LORD CORNWALLIS, whose army at that time was in Guilford County,
North Carolina. He was then marched to Guilford Courthouse, where the American
army fought a battle with the British [per Heitman, March 15, 1781]. The
Americans were commanded by General GREENE, in which we were defeated. We again
rendezvoused at Buffingtons Ironworks on Troublesome Creek, the Fork of Haw
River, where he was dismissed after he served a tour of six weeks. He states
that his said Captain FORBIS was wounded in said battle, who afterward died of
his wound, but previous to his death he received his dismissal from him. He
states that he was in actual service during the Revolutionary War seventeen
months and a week, exclusive of the time he was on furlough, which was six
months, which in all would make twenty three months and one week. He states
that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose
testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. He also states that
there is no resident minister of the Gospel in his neighborhood whose statement
he can procure etc, etc.
An additional statement of JOHN PAISLEY made before me, John Shough, Justice
of the Peace for Hawkins County, Tennessee
He states that he was born in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, on
Schuykill about one mile from Indian Creek, as he is informed and believes, and
at about the age of seven years he was moved to Orange County, North Carolina
by his uncle, WILLIAM PAISLEY (the father and mother of this applicant having
died in Pennsylvania), and he lived in North Carolina til he entered the
service in the War of the Revolution, and he has lived in Burk and Wilks
Counties in North Carolina, and in Hawkins County since the Revolution to this
time.
He states that he served first three months, a volunteer under Colonel
JOHN PAISLEY, then he volunteered for nine months under Colonels ALEXANDER and
JAMES MARTIN, and marched to the north, and after three weeks was furloughed
and remained on furlough six months, and then entered the service again and
served out the nine months. Then he substituted in the room of JAMES LETT, and
served three months under Colo. HENRY DIXON. He again substituted for JOHN
MCDANIEL for six weeks, under Colonel JAMES MARTIN, and served out the time.
He then volunteered whilst British were in Guilford County, North
Carolina, under Captain ARTHUR FORBIS in General GREENEs army, and was then in
the Battle of Guilford, in which action his captain was wounded and died of his
wounds. He served at that time, three weeks, and which makes in all, seventeen
months and one weeks service, exclusive of the time he was on furlough. In all
his service he was a private, except during the nine months service he acted as
corporal part of the time.
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/hawkins/military/revwar/pensions/...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 9.9 Kb
Hawkins County TN Archives Military Records.....Mullins, Flower
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 24, 2006, 9:43 pm
Pension Application Of Flower Mullins, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1787, Application #S1557
FLOWER MULLINS, a resident of Hawkins County, TN, aged 73 years:
That he entered the service of the United States about the first week
in May in the year 1777 or 1776 or 1778 in Guilford County, state of North
Carolina, the county of his residence and served three months and marched near
Camden in South Carolina. This service was in the militia under GEORGE PEARCE,
Major THOMAS OWENS. The company joined General LINCOLN near Camden and after
the three months ended he was discharged by GEORGE PEARCE and returned home,
but the discharge is lost.
In about three weeks after his return home, he entered the service again as a
substitute for Major OWENS brother, GLEN OWENS, who was drafted under Captain
GEORGE PEARCE, Colonel TINNEN and served as a substitute three months more.
General BUTLER then commanded and on that campaign, was in the Battle of
Cowpens [per Heitman, January 17, 1781], at Stono [per Heitman, June 20, 1779],
and in several skirmishes about the Black Swamp and Camden, and was discharged
by Captain PEARCE again, by written discharge.
He further states that he enlisted in Guilford County, North Carolina, after
he had served the two tours before spoken of under Colonel MELVIN and served in
Captain ROBERT H___s company, the number of the regiment not remembered. He
believes Count ROCHAMBEAU commanded. From Guilford they marched to Salisbury,
from thence to Camden, thence to Augusta, thence to the Black Swamps, thence to
Charleston, where he was taken prisoner and carried to St. Martins Island
[Fort Moultrie] and was at St. Johns, exchanged and then came to Bacons
Bridge, South Carolina, where the troops lay for some time, and then went to
the Black Swamp and there lay a considerable time at New Providence, and from
New Providence went to Augusta, from thence went to Golphins where they were
stationed for some time.
He was kept a prisoner after he was taken at Charleston about seven weeks, and
during that service, was in the skirmishes at the Blue Springs [?Green
Springs?, SC-per Heitman, August 1, 1780], at the Eutaw Springs [per Heitman
September 8, 1781], at the Black Swamps, at Charleston where he was taken
prisoner, at Moncks Corners [per Heitman, April 14, 1780 or October 16, 1781],
at Ninety-Six, and at Pine Tree, and at Savannah River. He was wounded on the
front of the left leg at Stono River [per Heitman, June 20, 1779] in South
Carolina, and he served two years and three months in the regular service and
was discharged, and his discharge signed by a French captain whose name is not
now remembered. His fathers house was burned after the war, and all his
discharges in it, which is the reason he cannot present them
He further states that he was in the regular service. He was commanded
by GEORGE PEARCE, JOHN DAVIS, JACOB WILLIAMS, MELVIN and others, and was under
the command of Generals LINCOLN, MARION, SUMTER and GREENE, but he does not
know the number of the regiment, as he has forgotten ___ ____.
Personally appeared DAVID BRAGG that he knew FLOWER MULLINS whilst said
MULLINS was in the service in the Revolutionary War, and remembers seeing him
at Sullivan County (now Tennessee). They then marched under Colonel ISAAC
SHELBY to Burke Courthouse, North Carolina, thence to Camden, thence to High
Hills of Santee, where General GREENEs army lay, thence to General MARION, and
served with him til the end of the campaign, under the command of General
MARION
Also personally appeared, BENJAMIN BIRDWELL that he knew him during the
Revolutionary War and he knew and saw said MULLINS in the service at the
places named in DAVID BRAGGs deposition above stated under the command of
General MARION
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/hawkins/military/revwar/pensions/...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 4.4 Kb
Henderson County TN Archives Military Records.....Anthony, Philip February 13, 1835
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 24, 2006, 9:41 pm
Pension Application Of PHILIP ANTHONY, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 68, Application #S21046
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed 7 June 1832
State of Tennessee
Henderson County
On this thirteenth day of February 1835 personally appeared in open
Court before Adam M. Brown, Daniel Ragsdal? and David Wilson, Esquires and
Justices;
And holding the Court of Pleas and Quarters? Deposes in said county, PHILIP
ANTHONY a resident of said county aged eighty years, who being duly sworn
according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to
obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed 7 of June 1832: That in April
1775, he volunteered under Captain Rudolph Conrad, Lieutenant John Sidman
[however, the spelling found in John Wilfongs pension statement, NC State
Records is Sigmon] and Colonel Christopher Bateman [Actual spelling is
Beekman], Rowan County North Carolina, to quell an insurrection of the Scotch
inhabitants and marched to Cross Creek near Fayetteville [on the Cape Fear
River, N.C.] where he was discharged after a service of five weeks, the Scotch
Tories having been dispersed by Governor [of North Carolina] Caswell.
In the summer of 1776 he was drafted for three months under Captain James
Roddy and Colonel Charles McDowell and joined the regiment at the Quaker
Meadows [on the South Fork of the Catawba River] to the residence of Col.
McDowell and marched in a direction towards Princes Fort in South Carolina in
the neighborhood of which there was a body of Tories under Scovell and [Col.
Samuel] Brown who were in the habit of committing depradations on the property
of the inhabitants then called Whigs (but a different kind of citizens from the
Whigs of the present day) but before we reached there the Tories had been
dispersed by a party of South Carolinians. The balance of this term of service
he was employed in protecting the inhabitants from the depredations of the
Tories and discharged after the expiration of three months.
In the summer of 1777 he was again drafted under Captain John Russel
for three months service and stationed at Catheys Fort on the Catawba Frontier
in what is called Burk County, South Carolina. The object of this service was
to act as spies against the Cherokee Indians and to protect the frontier
settlement. He had no engagement with the Indians and was discharged at the
expiration of his term of three months service.
In the following spring of 1780 he was again drafted for three months
under Captain William Johnson [Emmett R. White called him Whitson, in his
Revolutionary Soldiers of Western North Carolina: Burke County, Volume I, but
to this researcher the handwriting suggests Johnson.] and Lieutenant Oliver
Spradly to serve as an Indian spy and for the protection of the frontier and
employed in erecting a fort [which became called Wofford Fort] on the North
Fork of the Catawba River at a place called the Turkey Cove in what is now Burk
County but Rowan in the time of the Revolution. He had no engagement with the
Indians and was discharged after the expiration of three months.
In July 1780 or early in August he was again drafted for three months under
Captain Thomas Kenady [Kennedy], Maj. Joseph White and Colonel Charles
McDowell. The troops assembled at Quaker Meadows and marched to Pacolet River
and camped at Hamptons Plantations where a company of British dragoons and
Tories attacked us in the night and killed three of our men and wounded
thirteen. In the morning we pursued them some distance and took some of the
Tories prisoners. After this we retreated towards the mountains and after being
accompanied by Colonels Campbell, Shelby and Sevier, and at Kings Mountain
overtook the British Colonel Ferguson and had a severe battle in which Ferguson
was killed and we took as prisoners nearly all his men that were not killed.
After this battle in the month of October he was discharged, his term of
service having expired.
In the spring of 1781 he was again drafted under Captain Daniel Smith and
Lieutenant Jesse Brown and served again as an Indian spy and stationed at
Davidsons Fort on the Catawba River. He ranged and scouted the county around
but the Indians did not make their appearance and he was discharged after the
expiration of three months, and Lord Cornwallis having surrendered that fall he
was never called on to perform any further military duty. He states that the
whole of his service during the war amounted to sixteen months and one week.
Being an unlettered man and the transaction having transpired so many
years past, and being attacked with a paralitic stroke and a waning memory he
may have made some mistakes as to dates but feels confident he performed the
several tours of duty before mentioned. He has no documentary evidence and
knows of no person living by whom he can prove the performance of his
services .etc.
Interrogations
Interrogatory 1-Where and in what year were you born?
Answer- In Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, January 1754, the day of the
month not recollected.
Interrogatory 2- Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
Answer- My age was recorded in a book kept by my uncle on the fathers side,
who died many years ago in North Carolina, and I am unable to say what has
become of said book.
Interrogatory 3-Where were you living when called into service; Where have you
lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Answer-When called into service I lived in what was then called Rowan County,
North Carolina, but by a division of the County, now called Burk, and lived
there seventeen or eighteen years after the close of the Revolution, and moved
to Greenville District, South Carolina, then to Logan County, Kentucky, thence
to Maury County, Tennessee, and thence to Henderson County, where I have lived
for the last seven years.
Interrogatory 4- how were you called into service? Were you drafted, did you
volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute, for whom?
Answer- I volunteered for the first tour of service and drafted for the others
as stated in my declaration.
Interrogatory 5-State the names of some of the Regulars who were with the
troops whom you served, such Continental and militia regiments as you may
recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer- I was not engaged with any Continental troops or regiments and have no
recollection of serving a Continental officer while in service to my knowledge,
except Genl Morgan after the Battle of Cowpens and on his way to Virginia with
the British prisoners taken at the Cowpens. At the request of Genl Morgan I
carried an express from him to Genl Pickens. For the balance of the
interrogatory, I refer to my declaration as containing as correct a narrative
as I can give. I should have stated that Genl Rutherford was the commander-in-
chief of the militia of the county where I lived and was called into service
and was frequently with us.
Interrogatory 6th- Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so
by whom was it signed and what has become of it?
Answer- At the end of the several tours of service I have detailed, I received
a written discharge from my Captain, which stated the time I had served under
him, and as well as I recollect the compensations I was entitled to, but I
never received one cent for my services. These discharges have long since been
lost or destroyed, not supposing them of any value, I took no particular care
of them.
Interrogatory 7th- State the names of persons to whom you are known in your
present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and
their belief of your services as a Revolutionary soldier.
Answer- I refer to James R. White and William Bartons, esquires, who are well
acquainted with me.
Sworn to and subscribed his
In open Court this PHILIP x ANTHONY
13th February 1835 mark
[Henderson County, TN]
illegible writing
State of Tennessee
I, John A. Wilson clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for
the County of Henderson do certify that the foregoing are the original
proceedings of said court in the matter of PHILIP ANTHONY in an application for
a pension. Etc, etc.
I, William H. Burton, chairman and founding Justice of the Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions for the County of Henderson in the State of Tennessee, do
certify that John A. Wilson is clerk of said court, and that Edward H. Terrant
is his deputy legally qualified as such and that his ____ and attestation in
the foregoing proceedings are in due form of ___ and his signature where the
same appears in the foregoing are genuine. Witness my hand and seal this 13th
day of February 1835,
W. H. Burton
Lexington, T
Hon. James K. Polk
And in his absence
I.L. Edwards, commissioner of pensions
Washington City
Lexington,
Tennessee
February 14th,
1835
Dear Sir,
At the request of PHILIP ANTHONY who is an applicant for a pension
under the Act of 1832, I enclose you his declaration and documents for that
purpose. He says you are well-acquainted with him, and feels assured you will
attend to this matter for him. He was formerly a constituent of yours.
I am well satisfied this old man is a very honest, conscientious man,
his memory is very fail [frail] and his constitution quite infirm and should he
be delayed much longer in getting a pension I fear it will be of no use to him-
He employed some person here to ____ his declaration 2 years ago. He was told
it was sent in, and that is the last he heard of it until lately, when Mr. ?
Warmly? wrote in to the War Department and received for answer that the claim
had been sent back for some defect, and to have it supplied and it has never
come to hand. You will be particular in instructing the Commissioner of
Pensions to advise me at Jackson, of the fate of the application and I will
advise the old man. A letter to him at this place or Jackson would remain
forever at the post office without his being any the wiser.
Your friend
H.H. Talbot
Jackson, Tennessee
September 5th, 1837
I.L. Edwards, Esqr,
Dear sir, enclosed I send you the affidavit of identity of PHILIP ANTHONY, a
pensioner of the United States: his power of attorney to me to receive his
pension or that part due from the 4th March 1835 to 4th September 1837- at the
Pension Agency established in Jackson, Ten, and with all the necessary
certifications the pension agent here has instructed me.
I therefore request that you will direct Mr. John W. Campbell, the
Pension agent here to pay over to me the amount due Mr. ANTHONY from 4th March
1835 up to 4th of this month. Please also to drop me a few lines at the same
time you write to Mr. Campbell,
Yours very respectfully,
Samuel McClanahan
A page attached to the pension application, dated February 9, 1916, and
addressed to Mr. B. C. Dancer, describing PHILIP ANTHONYs Revolution service,
on a line labeled Remarks: gives his date of death as Nov. 4, 1838, and
says: He left a widow, but her name is not stated, and there is no other data
on the family.
A separate sheet, attached, indicates that the widow applied for his
remaining benefit of forty dollars in 1838, under an act of 1838, paid from
Sept. 4th 1837, to 4th November, 1838, the date of his death, on the roll of
the Jackson, TN Agency at the time of his death. Jackson was in Henderson
County.
In 1835, his pension agent was J.H. Talbot, in Lexington, West Tennessee rolls.
On another page, the outside cover is signed by J. H. Talbot, of Lexington, TN
to Hon. J. K. Polk of Columbia, TN.
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/henderson/military/revwar/pension...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 12.4 Kb
Henderson County TN Archives Military Records.....Moore, Robert
Revwar - Pension
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tn/tnfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq(a)hotmail.com June 24, 2006, 9:38 pm
Pension Application Of Robert Moore, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1758, Application #S2857
ROBERT MOORE, a resident of Henderson County, TN, aged 70 years in June 1833:
When I was very young my father moved from Pennsylvania and settled in
Guilford County, NC, that county being afterwards divided, I remained in the
portion called Randolph County, and on the first day of March in the year 1779,
I entered the service of the United States in Randolph County as a volunteer
soldier under Captain WILLIAM CLARK. So soon as his company was organized we
took our march and went directly to Salisbury and thence to Charlotte, thence
directly to the Saluda River in South Carolina, where he, with his company
joined the army of General LINCOLN. Here, our company was attached to the North
Carolina regiment commanded by Colonel MCDOWELL, and under the command of
General BUTLER.
From here, the whole army marched to Augusta in Georgia, there crossed
the Savannah River and went directly on to Bacons Bridge near Edisto River in
South Carolina. There they encamped for some time. During this time, I became
acquainted with a Major MOORE belonging to the regular army, and the British
having stationed themselves at a place called Stono Ferry, I left the company
of Captain CLARK and joined the infantry under Colonel MALMEDY and Major MOORE.
From here we marched to Stono Ferry, where we had a severe battle with the
British, which was fought on the 20th of June 1779. I was in this engagement.
So soon as the battle was over, we marched to Bacons Bridge again, where we
remained until the British went to Beaufort [Beauport?]. After the battle, I
again joined the company of Captain CLARK, and was by him discharged after I
had served a tour of a few months. The date of my discharge I cannot now
recollect, the same being lost or destroyed. I was discharged from the service
at Bacons Bridge in South Carolina and returned home to Randolph County, North
Carolina.
In the month of September 1780, I went out as a substitute for MALICA
DICKERSON, who was drafted for the term of three months (the said DICKERSON
having hired me to perform the tour for him), so I again entered the service of
the United States as a substitute some time in the month of September 1780 in
Randolph County, state of North Carolina, for the term of three months under
Captain THOMAS DOUGAN. The company marched from Randolph to Salisbury and there
joined Colonel DAVIEs regiment. Then they marched to Charlotte and was there
when CORNWALLIS entered that place. When there was a slight skirmish,
CORNWALLIS retreated to Camden. We went in pursuit. On the route, I took the
smallpox. The rest of the companys time was out and discharged before my
recovery. He therefore got no discharge.
After the Battle of Guilford when CORNWALLIS retreated through
Virginia, I joined a light horse company in Randolph County, North Carolina
under Captain THOMAS DOUGAN and Colonel EDWARD SHARPE, for the purpose of
keeping down the Tories who would, every chance, rise up against the interest
of the United States. In this capacity, I served from time to time as my
services may be called for until the end of the war. What length of time I was
in actual service during this time, I cannot ___, from the great length of
time, old age and consequent loss of memory, but I am positive I served not
less than six weeks or forty-five days
File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/henderson/military/revwar/pension...
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 4.0 Kb