List of 63 Pension Application Petitioners
Copies from the original document. All spelling is Same as In Copy (sic).
BOLD has been used to highlight Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing
Additional Information for each of the 63 Petitioners included with Link.
Pension Application Joseph Pinson - W5560 - Margery Pinson - f97NC
Transcribed by Will Graves 9/4/09: rev'd 12/7/17
State of Georgia County of Rabun} SS
On this seventh day of July 1834 Personally appeared before the undersigned Judges of the Inferior or County Court of Rabun Joseph Pinson a resident of Rabun County in the State of Georgia aged Eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the Country by turning out volunteer & going into the service on the 15th of July 1776 and continued constantly in the service till 12th day of October 1776. He served under Colonel Shelby [Isaac Shelby], and Captain J. Womack [Jacob Womack] during this term he was in only one Battle that he now recollects, and that was with a company of the Indians, who had been engaged in massacring the defenseless inhabitants of Nolachucky [sic, Nolichucky] River & the frontiers, this Battle was fought on the waters of the River they there killed one Indian the others fled -- He was discharged at Womack's Fort, on Holston River.
That on the 19th day of March 1777 he entered the service again as a volunteer under Captain Joseph Wilson, Colonel John Carter to protect the Frontiers of North Carolina against the Indians and Tories and was constantly out in actual service on the frontiers still 23 day of July 1777, during which time he was in no Battle, for which he got a discharge signed by Captain Wilson, which states his services commenced early in the spring. The Captain had not his field Book present when he gave the discharge or he would have given the exact time, which this applicant states he certainly knows was the 19th March. He was living in Wilkes County in North Carolina when he entered the service the second Tour but his services were done in Washington County which is now Tennessee, and during this time they were forted at Wilson's Fort on waters of Nolichucky River, during this period was in no engagement. The Indians had made peace except a few or a party who took shelter in the mountains & could not be found during his services in that section.
He afterwards turned out volunteer under Colonel Benjamin Cleveland to go with him to subdue the Tories on the waters of New River and did go with him on the expedition on New River they took one prisoner in the age of the State of Virginia and delivered him to Colonel Campbell who had him hanged immediately he was out on this Tour not less than 8 days.
He afterwards turned out volunteer under the same Colonel Cleveland and went down into Surry County North Carolina to guard the British & Tories who had been taken prisoners at the Battle of Kings Mountain [October 7, 1780] he served during this Tour not less than 3 weeks or 21 days. -- He was afterwards called on by Captain Herndon [Benjamin Herndon] to go with him to oppose the British under Cornwallis he went with the Captain down near Salisbury, where he was dismissed, he was out on this time not less than 4 days.
The First Tour was in actual service 2 months 28 days
The Second Tour was in actual service 4 months 6 days
The Third Tour was in actual service 8 days
The Fourth Tour was in actual service 21 days
The Fifth Tour was in actual service 4 days
Total 8 months, 7 days
He is certain he served much more but cannot be positive to the exact time -- But is certain he did serve at the very least eight months & seven days all as a private.
He knows of no living witness who can testify to his said services.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State.
He hereby makes the following answers to the interrogatories required by the War department to be put by the Court to the Applicant.
Answer 1st he was born in Orange County North Carolina on the 30th of January 1754 as he has been informed.
Answer 2nd He has no record of his age but has often seen it in his Father's Family Bible.
3rd When first called into Service he lived in the Western part, called Washington in North Carolina now in Tennessee, afterwards lived in Wilkes County North Carolina after the War moved to Spartanburg District South Carolina from there to Pendleton District South Carolina and from there to Rabun County Georgia where he has lived for the last 11 years.
4th Drafted once & hired a substitute volunteered the other times, when he went into service.
5. He was with no Regular Officers that he knows of or now recollects.
6. He received 2 discharges which are herewith sent, one signed by Captain Jacob Womack the other signed by Captain Joseph Wilson.
7th. He can refer with confidence to H T. Moseley, Senator, William Kelby, Representative, Colonel Sam. Beck, Maj. Coffee & Major Price & all who know him as a man of veracity and character.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written.
S/ Joseph Pinson
S/ William Gillespie, JIC S/ Robert Brown, JIC
S/ JH Sloan, JIC S/ E. Welborn, JIC
S/ B. Power, JIC
[John S. Henley, a clergyman, and H T Moseley gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[p 12: On July 20, 1847 in Walker County Georgia, Margery Pinson, 89, filed for a widow's pension under the 1836 act stating that she is the widow of Joseph Pinson, a revolutionary war pensioner; that she married him September 15 1775 and that her husband died May 26, 1838 and that she has remained his widow. She signed her application with her mark.]
[p 15: On July 2, 1853, in Union County Georgia, Jane Carter, 55, filed an affidavit and power of attorney in which she states she is the daughter of Joseph Pinson and Margrey Pinson his wife; that her mother died August 25, 1852; that her parents were married in Wilkes County North Carolina in the year 1773; that there are now 4 children of her parents living in their names are as follows:
Elizabeth, Mary, Milla and Jane.
[Facts in file: Joseph and Margery Pinson were married by Aaron Pinson, a minister, his relationship, if any, to the veteran is not stated; the widow died at the home of Samuel Farris and she was buried near Lafayette Georgia; in 1853 the only surviving children of Joseph and Margery Pinson were as follows: Elizabeth Visage, born July 4, 1777, referred to as the eldest child of her parents and married to William Visage in 1820 and living in Union County Georgia in 1853; Jane Carter living in Union County Georgia; Mary Burch; Milla Burch; [p 43] in 1847 Moses Pinson appeared in Cass County Georgia and stated that he was the younger brother of the veteran;
Josiah H. Carter, a resident of Fannin County, Georgia, was the administrator of the estate of Margery Pinson in 1855 and was living in Morganton Georgia in 1857.]
[p 25]
This may Certifie Joseph Pinson has Sarv'd as a Soldier from the 15 of July till the 12 of October and is now discharged Given under my hand this 15 h of October 1776
S/ Jacob Womack, Cp
[p 26]
State of North Carolina Washington County: To whom it may Concern &c
Whereas the within Named Joseph Pinson have applyed to me for a Certificate of the Time he Serv'd as a Soldier in my Companey of the Washington Malitia Regiment: These may Certify, that the said Joseph Pinson, in the year of our Lord 1777 Served as a faithful Soldier from Sometime Early in the Spring of that year untill the 23d Day of July in the Same year at which Day, I and my Company were Legally by Colonel John Carter Commander of said Regiment, Discharged for that Time.
Given under my hand the 15th of Augt 1780
S/ Joseph Wilson, Capt.
Sir please to Send to me by the Barier [bearer] hearof [hereof] William Cowder [?]2 a des charge [discharge] in full Spesafying [specifying] how being I was a soldier under you and Sir in so doing you will much oblige me your friend and well wisher august ye 7th 1780
To Mr. Joseph Willson, CP
S/ Joseph Pinson
[p 9]
William Visage was born August the 21st [?] at 3 1774 [could be 1794] Elizabeth Visage was born July the 4th 1777
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $27.44 per annum commencing March 4, 1831 for service as a private for 8 months and 7 days in the North Carolina militia. His wife was pensioned in a like amount.]
Pension application of Thomas Prather - S17030 - fn43NC
Transcribed by Will Graves 9/21/09
[fn p. 36]
United States Treasury Department SS
Declaration for the benefit of an act for the relief of certain surviving officers and Soldiers of the revolution
For the purpose of obtaining the benefit of an act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Army of the revolution approved on the 15th of May 1828 I Thomas Prather of Salt Creek in the County of Jackson in the State of Indiana do hereby declare that in the summer of the year 1776 at Wills [sic, probably Wilkes County] Court house at the Mulberry fields [sic, now Wilkesboro North Carolina] in the State of North Carolina I entered in the Continental line of the Army of the revolution for and during the war of the revolution and continued in its service until its termination at which period I was a private in Captain Cleveland's company in the Regiment commanded by Colonel _____ Armstrong of the North Carolina line. And I also declare that I afterwards received a certificate for the reward of $80 to which I was entitled under a resolve of Congress passed the 15th of May 1778. And I further declare that I was not on the 15th day of March 1826 on the pension list of the United States. Signed as aforesaid by me by the name of
S/ Thomas Prather
[William Crenshaw and William Marshall gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
Before me Joseph Hanna one of the Justices of the peace of in and for the County of Jackson in the State of Indiana the same as aforesaid the same declarant Thomas Prather therein named and by whom the foregoing declaration was made and subscribed as aforesaid personally appeared and made oath that the same said declaration and the matters and things therein contained are true in substance and matter of fact. And he also further makes oath that he was discharged from the service in the Army of the war of the revolution (as in said declaration mentioned) about 6 months after its termination as in said declaration mentioned or the conclusion of peace between the United States and Great Britain at Burke courthouse on the Catawba River in the State of North Carolina by Colonel Povard [sic, Brevard?] and Captain Fall who were authorized for that purpose. And the said Thomas Prather further makes oath that he has lost the certificate of his discharge aforesaid by time during which it became old and was thereby so corroded and wasted away so rotten as to become destroyed or by accident of some kind unknown to the said Thomas and without his neglect or fought and that he the said Thomas has forgotten the number of the Regiment in which he served as in his foregoing declaration mentioned by him by reason of the lapse of time and is very old age And in testimony of all which the said Thomas subscribes his name there to and swears to the same this 3rd day of October 1828.
S/ Thomas Prather
[Sally Wilson "of lawful age" gave testimony in support of the claim of Thomas Prather in which she states that she lived in the household of Thomas Prather for about 17 years until she was 26 years of age and that during the time she lived there she often heard Thomas Prather talk of his papers and saw them as they related to his service in the revolution.]
[fn p. 41: on November 18, 1828, the Third Auditor's office certify that the name of Thomas Prather cannot be found on the list of those who received the $80 certificate for service in the North Carolina line.]
State of Indiana Jackson County: On this 4th day of September in the year 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before the Honorable John F. Ross president Judge of the 2nd judicial circuit of the State of Indiana & judge of the Jackson circuit Court now sitting, Thomas Prather, a resident of Jackson County Indiana aged 76 years being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 he Was born 26th March 1756 in Prince George Maryland, agreeable to the record of his father, he lived in North Carolina at the Mulberry fields at the time he was called into service, after peace was made he removed to Smith River Henry County Virginia, and there resided until October 1789 from there removed to Kentucky having County & in the year 1805 at which place he resided until the year 1817 at which time he removed to his present residence in Indiana, he volunteered into the Service in September 1776 he continued during the war joined the Army under the command of General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford], Colonel Armstrong, Captain Cleaveland [sic, Cleveland] & Lieutenant Lenore [sic William Lenoir], Ensign Benjamin Elidge [sic] from the Mulberry fields we marched to the flowery Gap where we joined the Virginia troops, we marched down Swannanoa & crossed French Broad River, from there we marched to the Tennessee River, against the Cherokee Indians at which time & place, there were 1500 men chosen to go & take & destroyed the Indians at Valley Town on the Hiwassee River of which number he was one, our officers were General Rutherford, Colonel Love & Colonel Lock [sic, Francis Locke] after performing this service by destroying the Indian villages on the Hiwassee we then returned to our Army on the Tennessee River, from there we marched on to the Catawba River, from thence to King's Mountain where we had a battle from thence we marched to Reddies [sic, Reedy?] River in North Carolina where we was stationed for 9 months to guard the frontiers from thence to the Catawba our place of rendezvous at which place we was discharged after the surrender of Cornwallis in October 1781 under Colonel Pevard [sic, Brevard] -- he has no documentary evidence of his discharge. And that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service he is well known in his present neighborhood by Captain James Woodmansee & Joseph Hanna Esquire who will testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first above written.
S/ Thomas Prather
[James Woodmansee & Joseph Hanna gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[fn p. 43]
State of Indiana Jackson County: Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Jackson State of Indiana Thomas Prather who being duly sworn, deposes and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades for one year and 9 months under Colonel Rutherford the first tour of service, 6 months under Colonel Brevard and also 3 months under Colonel Holmes & Captain Reed all the time as a private soldier. This last mentioned tour was not recollected in making out my first Declaration I was stationed the last 3 months named at Ramsour's Mill. And for such services I claim a pension.
S/ Thomas Prather
Sworn & subscribed to before me this 20th day of May 1833
S/ Wm Williams, JP
Pension application of Joseph Pruit - R8506 - fn15NC
Transcribed by Will Graves 9/28/09
State of North Carolina County of Wilkes
On this first day of August 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of the County & state aforesaid, now sitting, Joseph Pruit a resident of the County of -- & State of North Carolina aged seventy-nine years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he was born in the County of Pittsylvania & State of Virginia on the 16th day of July 1754 record of which he has in his family Bible now in his possession -- and that he continued to reside in the said County until he was about 19 years of age when he removed to Wilkes County North Carolina -- after residing in Wilkes County about 4 years, he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in Captain Benjamin Cleveland's company of minute men in the month of August 1776 and marched to Kriders fort [sic, Cryder's Fort?] In the County of Burke, where they were stationed for 2 weeks, and thence marched to the Pleasant Gardens in said County where they joined the troops under General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford], and thence marched to the most direct practicable route to the Cherokee Towns of Watauga, Coosa, Oconeluffee [?], and some others not recollected. After their arrival at one of the Indian Towns, General Rutherford received an express from General Pickens (who had command of the South Carolina troops in the Nation) requesting that a detachment of three hundred men should be detached from General Rutherford's troops and sent immediately to his assistance -- the request was immediately complied with, and the three hundred men detached for that purpose (among whom the deponent was one). They had taken up the line of march but a short distance, when another express arrived from General Pickens stating that the Indians had fled, and that the services of the troops would not be required, they accordingly returned and rejoined General Rutherford -- upon visiting the various Indian Towns they found them almost entirely abandoned, there being in them but a few straggling men, women & children, who implored for peace and whom they did not molest. After destroying their towns, corn & such other property as they could find, the Army under General Rutherford returned to North Carolina, and this deponent received his discharge from Captain Cleveland at Wilkes Court House and repaired tohis home, having served for 3 months.
After this expedition this deponent served several short terms against the Tories first under Captain Cleveland in the capacity of a scouting party after 3 celebrated Tories on the North West side of the Blue Ridge by the names of Roberts, Coyle & Jones but did not succeed in taking them -- this expedition was performed principally through the Counties of Ashe & Surry in North Carolina and Grayson in Virginia, and in which this deponent served 2 months -- In a few days after this deponent returned home he again volunteered himself to go against the Tories under Captain Cleveland -- it being understood that a body of them had assembled on New River in Ashe County under Captain John Roberts, one of the 3 persons above mentioned -- Captain Cleveland with his men marched direct to the place where they understood the Tories had embodied themselves, and prepared to attack them, but upon making a proper inquiry as to their numbers, they found their strength was too great there being about 300 of them, and only about 30 or 40 of the Whigs, they accordingly retreated after capturing some few of the Tories who were sent out to reconnoiter, but whom they afterwards released, upon finding that they were closely pursued -- after the prisoners were released, Captain Cleveland with his men recrossed the mountains where they were discharged and returned home -- In this expedition this deponent was in service 5 weeks. In a few weeks after the deponent arrived at home he again volunteered himself to go against the same body of Tories, and was attached to a company commanded by Captain Larkin Cleveland, but was afterwards transferred to the command of Captain William Nall -- they rendezvoused at Captain Cox's on New River on the North West side of the Blue Ridge in what is now Ashe County North Carolina and thence marched down the River to near Grayson Court House in Virginia where they captured a Tory by the name of Oliver Roberts (a brother of the Tory Captain) whom they detained some time, in custody, and until he gave the most solemn assurances that he would from thence forth joined the Whigs, and that he would within a given time repair to Wilkes Court House and joined the standard of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland which he afterwards did -- After the release of Roberts, they crossed to the South side of the mountain upon the waters of the Yadkin [River] where they captured 2 more Tories, but who afterwards made their escape -- they then recrossed the Blue Ridge in the hope of meeting with a body of Tories under the command of Colonel Bryan, but to they ascertained had abandoned that part of the Country and took a direction towards the High Rock Ford on Haw River where this deponent afterwards understood they had been attacked and defeated by the Americans. After scouring the Country round through Grayson in Virginia for some time they proceeded up New River near to its source, and after having captured several other Tories, they recrossed the mountains to Wilkes Court House and from thence were discharged and returned home. In this expedition, this deponent served for 2 months. Soon after this deponent returned home he was again ordered out by Colonel Cleveland to go on a similar expedition against the Tories on the waters of the New River in which he served 2 weeks. In a short time after this little expedition Colonel Cleveland received information that a number of Tories were embodying themselves near Ramsour's Mills in the County of Lincoln upon which he issued orders for all the Whigs in the County of Wilkes to turn out and oppose them -- this deponent accordingly again turned out and marched under Colonel Cleveland towards Ramsour's Mills -- but before they reached the point at which they expected to meet with the Tories they received intelligence that an engagement had taken place between them and the Whigs in which the Tories were entirely defeated -- upon receiving this information Colonel Cleveland ordered his men to return and proceed back as far as Hamblin's old store where they were stationed for some time to keep the Tories in check as the neighborhood around that place was considerably infested by them -- after the neighborhood was restored to a state of tolerable security, Colonel Cleveland discharged his men and they returned home -- In this expedition, this deponent served one month. This deponent also performed one other tour of 2 weeks under Colonel Cleveland against the Tories in the edge of Virginia, in which they captured several & executed some -- after which they marched for Wilkes where Colonel Cleveland discharge, and they repaired to their respective homes -- where this deponent remained until the close of the War. This deponent further states that he has resided in Wilkes County ever since the War of the Revolution until about 3 years ago, when he removed to the County of Ashe. He further states that he never received a written or any portion of his services nor has he any documentary evidence to prove them -- but refers to William Spicer & Benjamin Hammons who served with him, as witnesses whose testimony is hereto annexed, for proof of his services. His answers to the 5th interrogatory is contained in the general body of this declaration. He further states that there is no clergyman residing in his neighborhood who certificate he could procure -- but he refers to Mr. Robert Bangar & John Holloway Esquire as persons to whom he is well known in his present neighborhood, and who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
S/ R. Martin, Clerk S/ Joseph Pruit, X his mark
On the day & year aforesaid, personally appeared in open Court before the Court aforesaid, William Spicer, who, after being duly sworn according to law deposes & saith that he served with Joseph Pruet the above applicant during the 3 months tour performed under General Rutherford against the Cherokee Indians, and further that the said 3 months tour as set forth and specified in the foregoing declaration as having been performed by the said Joseph Pruit was performed by him.
Sworn & described the day & year aforesaid
S/ R. Martin, Clk S/ Wm Spicer, X his mark
On the day and year aforesaid personally appeared in open Court before the court aforesaid, Benjamin Hammons, who after being duly sworn according to law deposes & saith that he served with Joseph Pruit the above applicant, during all of the several tours mentioned in the foregoing declaration except the 3 months tour against the Cherokee Indians under General Rutherford, and further, that the said several tours of duty as set forth & specified in the foregoing declaration (with the exception of aforesaid) as having been performed by the said Joseph Pruit were performed by him.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
S/ R. Martin, Clk S/ Benjamin Hammons, X his mark
[Robert Bangar & John Holloway gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[fn p. 2: Joel Prewitt [sic] executed a power of attorney in Wilkes County North Carolina in which he states that he is the son of Joseph Prewitt, a soldier of the revolution. The power of attorney is dated June 23, 1853.]
Pension Application Obadiah Cobb - S32462
He turned out as a volunteer under Captain Obial. Cobb [Obadiah Cobb?] the name of the Lieutenant was Allen -- the name of the Ensign was Elifalet Jarvice [sic, Elliott Jarvis?]. The name of the Quarter master was John Meradey [John Meredith?] -- the name of the Colonel not recollected [Joseph Williams] -- he marched from Surry Court house to the Mulberry fields in North Carolina to join the South Carolina Troops but was ordered back to Surry Court House to go from thence to joined the Virginia Troops at the Long Island of Hoalston [sic, Holston River] from thence to the Cherokee nation then the Middle Settlements, and there destroyed some Indian property and houses and then returned back to Surry Court house North Carolina and there was discharged, Having served 3 months and some few days.
Pension Application Elisha Reynolds - W4060 - Judith - fn71NC
Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 1/1/10
State of North Carolina, Wilkes County: Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions October Term 1832.
On this the 30th of October A.D. 1832 personally appeared before the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of said County Elijah Reynolds a resident in the County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina aged 78 years who being duly sworn according to Law doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.
In the spring of the year 1776 I resided in what was then called Surry County, now Wilkes [County], on the Yadkin River State of North Carolina and have resided in the same part of the Country ever since. At the aforesaid time he volunteered with a small party under Captain William Lenoir to serve as Indian spy along the mountains towards Baker's Station on New River a little below where Ashe Court house now stands. Our term of service was about ten days – the people along the Blue Ridge were generally collected about stations – and the object of our tour was to contribute to their security. In the month of August about the first thing, same year, I volunteered for an expedition against the Cherokee Indians about Tuckaseegee, Tennessee & Hiwassee Rivers – my company officers were Captain Benjamin Cleveland, afterwards celebrated as a partisan officer & Lieutenant William Lenoir now living in this County. Our Regiment was commanded by Colonel Martin Armstrong – and the whole force of the expedition about 3000 men was under the chief command of General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford]. Having joined the General at the head of the Catawba [River], we marched across the Blue Ridge at the head of Savannah [River] & down that stream to the French Broad [River] -- & thence to the Indian towns on the Tuckaseegee & Tennessee Rivers. The Indians fled at our approach . We desolated their Country by the destruction of their corn and burning their towns – Cowee, Big & Little Echota, Hiwassee & other Towns to the number of thirteen were destroyed. On the return of the expedition I was discharged at the Pleasant Gardens near the head of the Catawba having served three months.
In the fall of the year 1777 I volunteered with about forty or fifty others & marched under Captain B. Cleveland, Lieutenant William Lenoir war against a party of Tories, said at the time to amount to 400 or 500 on New River in that part of Virginia which is now Grayson County. Before we arrived at the scene of the operations the Main body of Tories had been disbursed by the Virginia militia – we, however, encountered a few of them & without affecting any thing further returned after having
spent in the tour about three weeks.
In the summer of 1780 the Tories in the Western part of this State acquired confidence from the disasters of the Americans and embodied in the County of Lincoln. As soon as intelligence of their movements reached this part of the Country, we volunteered to the number of about one hundred from Wilkes under Captain Cleveland & Lieutenant Lenoir to march against them. A battle fought between the Whigs & Tories in Lincoln County at Ramsour's Mills, between the Whigs & Tories. The day of the conflict we arrived at the field of battle but it was over. General Rutherford was there who had commanded the Whigs – with his force we remained a few days & receiving information of a body of Tories in the forks of the Yadkin [River] we proceeded against them. Before we arrived at that place, they had marched further toward the South. No further service presenting itself, we were discharged after an expedition of about four weeks duration. Under the countenance & protection of a British force under Ferguson [Patrick Ferguson] a strong body of Tories were assembled in the fall of 1780 & overawed the Country about the Broad & Catawba rivers. Ben Cleveland & Lenoir, the former became a Colonel and the latter a Captain, again marched at the head of the volunteers from this part of the Country to attack the Tories who were said to be collected on the waters of Broad River. I marched with the expedition as a volunteer. On Cain [sic, Cane] Creek in what is now Rutherford [County] we formed a junction with the forces from Virginia & Washington County beyond the mountain, under Campbell [William Campbell], Sevier [John Sevier] & Shelby [Isaac Shelby]. The Tories before we arrived at this place had changed their position. We followed the train of their march & crossed Broad River at the Cherokee Ford. Here satisfactory intelligence of their position on King's Mountain was received and our officers made preparation for immediate attack. My horse being disabled I was left with the guard for the baggage & those who were mounted marched against the enemy about thirty miles distant. The battle was fought on the 8th of October [sic, October 7, 1780]. On the second day afterwards the baggage & it's guard joined the Army at Col Walker's in South Carolina. The Tory prisoners were here in number about 700 or 800. Ten of their leaders were here condemned by a Court Martial & they, with the exception of one, who escaped, were hung. I marched with the guard on the prisoners to the Moravian Town where I remained in the service about three weeks – when being sick I was brought home. The length of this tour was as well as I can now recollect was about three months. In the summer of 1780, I went as a volunteer under Cleveland & Lenoir with about two hundred men on an expedition to the Catawba in Burke County. The object of this expedition was to give protection to such Tories as were disposed to comply with the term to of the Governor's Proclamation & enter into the service of their Country. We were discharged after being in this service about three weeks. Late in the summer of 1781, General Rutherford was on a campaign against the Tories near Georgetown. I marched as a Lieutenant under Captain Samuel Johnson & Major Frank Hargrove with a body of men to join him, but for some reason not now recollected, we were ordered back before we reached our destination. This term was seven weeks. In the following winter I marched as a Lieutenant under Captain Samuel Johnson & Colonel Elijah Isaacs with a body of militia against the Tories under Fanning [David Fanning] on Deep River-- and to keep them in check we were stationed near Cox's Mill on Deep River about three months. In the summer of 1781 I joined [name obliterated by ink blot] a refugee Whig from Georgia, and with [several words obliterated by ink blot] forty or fifty men under Captain Lenoir, marched with him to the Hawfields in Orange County. From there I was sent with an express to Major Preston of Virginia with permission to return home after having performed this service. I met the Major at Salem which I served this tour of about three or four weeks. I performed one other short term of service of about one week – with a small party from Wilkes County I volunteered for the purpose of recapturing Col Cleveland who was a prisoner with the Tories. This object was affected on New River. The two terms performed by me as Lieutenant were under the appointment of the Colonel of the County & my commission which I have now in my possession was not issued by the Governor until the first of January 1782. My age is 78 years. General William Lenoir & Captain Samuel Johnson now live in this County who have a knowledge of several of the terms of service set forth in this foregoing declaration. I never as I now recollect received any written discharges.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn to & subscribed the year aforesaid.
S/ R. Martin, C. W. C. C.
S/ Elisha Reynolds
[Thomas Fletcher, a clergyman, and James Hackett gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
I Samuel Johnson of Wilkes County & State of North Carolina hereby certify that I was a soldier of the revolution & served in the same company with Elisha Reynolds in the expedition of 1776 against the Cherokee Towns on Tennessee, Hiwassee etc. and that he served in the same as stated in the above declaration -- that I also served in the same company with him for three weeks in that tour against the Tories on New River in Virginia. In the expedition to King's Mountain, with this qualification that I was wounded in the battle & was discharged from the service sooner than Reynolds -- That I served with him for the time he stated in his declaration under Cleveland & Lenoir to the Catawba in Burke County to favor [?] the intentions of such Tories as might be disposed to desert the cause of the British. That he served as Lieutenant in the company of which I was Captain under Major Hargroves when we marched down towards Georgetown to reinforce General Rutherford & that we were engaged in that service for 7 weeks -- also that he served as my Lieutenant in an expedition against Colonel Isaacs upon Deep River where for 3 months we were acting against the Tories. I also was with him at the time of the recapture of Colonel Cleveland from the Tories and it occurred as he states. I have no actual knowledge of any other services performed by the said Reynolds but have often heard & always believed that the additional service stated by him in his declaration was performed as he therein states -- I know that he performed his 2 terms of service as Lieutenant by the appointment of the Colonel of the County and that his commission for that office, which I have this day examined, was issued by Alexander Martin Governor of the State in the month of January 1782.
S/ Saml. Johnson
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
S/ R. Martin, CWCC
[fn p. 12: on June 30, 1841 in Wilkes County North Carolina, Judith Reynolds, 83, filed for a widow's pension under the 1838 act stating that she is the widow of Elisha Reynolds, a pensioner for his services in the revolution; that she married him August 10, 1786 in Wilkes County North Carolina; that her husband died December 13, 1836 and that she remains his widow.]
[fn p. 15: marriage license issued for the marriage of Elisha Reynolds to Judith Eddins, both of Wilkes County North Carolina. Said licenses dated August 5, 1786.]