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 James LaFoy - S10971
He entered a company as a private soldier commanded by Richard Goode, Captain; Joseph Winston was Major. He was drafted about the beginning of the War; was in an expedition against the Cherokee Indians and was under the command of General Christie from Virginia. This applicant served three months in the expedition. He does not remember the time when he entered the service. He lived in Surry County in North Carolina when he was drafted as before stated; went from Surry County to the Tennessee River about the mouth of Nickajack Creek and burnt some Indian Towns.
Pension Application David Laws - W5125 - Martha - fn51NC
Transcribed by Will Graves 4/7/10
State of North Carolina County of Wilkes
On this 29th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of the County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina, now sitting, David Laws a resident of the County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina, aged seventy-seven 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 year 1755 in the County of Halifax & State of Virginia (the record of which was entered in a Bible lately the property of Mr. William Mitchell of Wilkes County, but which is now lost or destroyed, so that the record cannot be adverted to) where he lived until he was about eighteen years of age, when he removed with his father to the State of South Carolina, where he lived for about two years; when he again removed to Wilkes County North Carolina where he has lived ever since. In a short time after this deponent settled in the County of Wilkes, probably about the last of August 1776, he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer for three months, under Captain Francis Hargrove, and rendezvoused at Wilkes C. H. and as soon thereafter as they could prepare, they marched direct to the Pleasant Gardens in the County of Burke, where they joined the troops under General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford] -- (they longing however to the Regiment of Colonel Martin Armstrong) -- In a few days after joining General Rutherford, they marched as direct as they could, to what was called the Middle Towns of the Cherokee Nation -- where they expected to meet with the troops from South Carolina, but which, did not arrive as this deponent understood, until a day or two after he left that place. During the stay of General Rutherford's troops at the Middle Towns, a good deal of sickness prevailed among them from eating green corn & beef without salt; so that before they could advance from that place, a new organization of the troops had to be made -- accordingly General Rutherford issued orders for about 1000 or 1200 of the ablest, healthiest & stoutest of the troops to turn out for the purpose of marching to the Valley Towns, which was a distance of 50 or 60 miles -- this deponent was one of those who turned out on that occasion, & as soon as the required number was made up, they set out and marched to the Valley Towns -- Upon arriving at the latter place, they found that most of the Indians had fled, and abandoned the towns, leaving only a few straggling men, women and children, whom they took prisoners -- from thence about 50 of them marched a few miles down the River and destroyed a small town, and after having destroyed & burnt the Valley Towns & all the corn, & other property they could find, they returned to the Middle Towns, and rejoined the troops which had been left at that place. After resting a few days and recruiting themselves, the Army said out upon his return to North Carolina, and when they reached the Pleasant Garden, the Company under Captain Hargrove received their discharges and returned home --
In the spring of the year following (1777) this deponent again volunteered himself for 3 months to march against the Cherokee Indians, and joined the company of Captain Benjamin Cleveland on Lewis fork [?], (a branch of the Yadkin [River]) and very soon thereafter, marched to Carter's Fort on Watauga [River], (in what is now called East Tennessee) -- where they were stationed a considerable time, during which, they were principally engaged in scouting parties after the Indians, who at that time were very troublesome in that part of the Country -- the appearance of troops however in the country gave the Indians some cause of alarm, and they abandoned that section of it and retired further into the interior -- where tranquility was restored, Captain Cleveland marched with his company to the Long islands of Holston [River], where they found some troops collected at a Fort, and where some persons were engaged as commissioners on the part of the United States in forming a treaty with the Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation -- after remaining there a short time Captain Cleveland with his company marched back again to Carter's Fort, where they remained for 2 or 3 weeks, and then set out for home -- which place this deponent believes he reached some time in the month of June -- When they had arrived within a short distance of whom, Captain Cleveland gave to each man a written discharge from the service -- but the one given to this deponent has been lost or mislaid for many years, so that it cannot now be found. This deponent further states that during the last expedition there was no higher officer in command than a Captain.
This deponent has lived in the County of Wilkes ever since the revolutionary War, and resides there at this time. He has no documentary evidence of any kind to prove his service, but refers to the testimony of Moses Watters1 Esquire and Mr. John Yates,2 hereto annexed, both of whom served with him during the war under General Rutherford, and the latter of whom served with him under Captain Cleveland to the Long Islands of Holston.
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 and year aforesaid.
S/ R. Martin, C. H. CC S/ David Laws, X his mark
On the day and year aforesaid, personally appeared in open court before the Court aforesaid, Moses Watters Esquire, who being first duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, that he served with David Laws the above applicant during the 3 months tour of service performed under General Rutherford to the Cherokee nation in the year 1776, and further that the services set forth and specified in the foregoing declaration as having been performed by the said David laws under General Rutherford, were performed by him.
Sworn to & subscribed, the day & year aforesaid
S/ Moses Waters
On the day and year aforesaid, personally appeared in open court before the court aforesaid, John Yates, who being first duly sworn according to law, deposes and saith, that he served with David laws the foregoing applicant during both the 3 months tour mentioned in the foregoing declaration -- first under General Rutherford to the Cherokee Nation; and secondly to Carter's Fort and that he Long Islands of Holston; also against the Cherokee Indians under Captain Benjamin Cleveland -- and further, that the services set forth and specified in the foregoing declaration as having been performed by the said David laws, were performed by him.
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid
S/ John Yates, Y his mark
[fn p. 5: On January 17, 1843, in Wilkes County North Carolina, Martha Laws, 82, filed for a widow's pension under the 1836 act stating that she is the widow of David Laws, a revolutionary soldier and pensioner; that she married him about the year 1778 in the County of Wilkes she thinks or Rowan it may have been; that the marriage took place before her husband's last service in the revolution; that her husband died December 2, 1841 and that she remains his widow.]
[fn p. 7: on January 17, 1843 in Wilkes County North Carolina, Shadrach Laws, gave testimony that he was well acquainted with David Laws and is wife Martha, formerly Martha Mitchell; that they lived together as man and wife; that he well remembers David entering the service under Captain Hartgroves or Hongroves; that the marriage of David Laws & Martha Mitchell took place in the year 1778 the month he cannot recollect; that they were married by John Greer, a magistrate of said County [Wilkes County I presume since he makes no specific reference otherwise].]
[fn p. on August 28, 1844 in Wilkes County North Carolina, Shadrach laws, 85, gave another affidavit in which he states he was present at the marriage of David Laws to Martha Mitchell at her father's house on Moravian Creek in Wilkes County in the month of February 1778.]
[fn p. 46: on August 28, 1844 in Wilkes County North Carolina, Elizabeth Mitchell, 79, gave testimony that she was present at the wedding when David laws a revolutionary soldier married Martha Mitchell at her father's house on Moravian Creek in the month of February 1778; that they were married by publication in the manner of marriages customary at that time; that she has lived close neighbor to them up to the time of his death and that they lived together as man and wife.]
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $20 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831 46 months
service in the revolution in the North Carolina militia.]
Pension Application Joseph Logan - R6413
On the fourth day of September 1776 under the command of Captain Christy Major Evan Shelby & Colonel Christy [sic, William Christian] as a volunteer under a call of the County Colonel we rendezvoused in September 1776 at a place called the Long Island of Holston River in Washington County Virginia where we remained in a few days we was then marched against the Cherokee Indian towns on the Tennessee River we destroyed some corn & Indians huts & then we marched back to the Long Island of Holston & discharged in January 1777 having been out a tour of four months.
Pension Application William Lowe - S13795 - fn29NC
Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 4/24/10
State of Kentucky Warren County
On this 24th day of July 183 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the County Court of Warren County now sitting, William Lowe a resident Citizen of the adjoining County of Simpson and State aforesaid aged Seventy seven years on the 17th day of February 1833 – 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated.
1St – That he volunteered into the service of the Army of the Revolution from the County of Surry & State of North Carolina sometime in the summer (he thinks) of 1775 under the command of Captain Joseph Philips. He joined the Army for the purpose of quelling certain Scotch Tories who had risen near the “sand hills” in North Carolina under the command of a Colonel McCloud he thinks –There was a Captain Jarvis marched in company with him. He was under no general officer. He belonged to the Regiment of Colonel Dye – as well as he remembers his name. He marched from Surry County to Cross Creek on Cape Fear River. We encamped here for eight or 10 days, till we heard that McCloud had been defeated by an officer named Caswell – as well as he remembers – we were then marched back & discharged. He was only out about six weeks and got no discharge. There was a Captain Good out with him.
2nd – He volunteered again into the service from the same County & State in the latter end of the summer or beginning of the fall of 1776 on a three months tour under the command of Captain William Dobson-- Major Joseph Winston, & Colonel Joseph Williams. There were three other captains along – Captain Good, Mosby, & Cobb, there was a Captain Shepherd, Captain of horse, along also. We marched into the State of Virginia & joined Colonel Christie [sic, William Christian] at the Long Island of Holston [River] – Colonel Christie then took command of the whole – marched thence to a place on Tennessee River called the “Over Hill” Towns. We were scattered about through the Country here a while and burnt many of Indian towns – And then returned home in the winter. We were out on this tour thirteen weeks. He did not receive a discharge.
3Rd – He again volunteered from the same County & State under the command of Captain Minor Smith-- his lieutenant was named Varnil [sic, Richard Vernon] – Major Winston [Joseph Winston] & Colonel Benjamin Cleveland. There was a Captain Guess [Moses Guess or Guest] along. The forces rendezvoused at Bethany or Bethlehem, a Moravian town in Surry County – and marched towards the Cowpens and on our route joined the Virginia militia under Colonel Campbell [William Campbell] at the Cowpens we joined Colonel Williams' [James Williams'] Regiment from South Carolina. He started from the Cowpens under the command of Campbell, about sunset marched the whole night and crossed Broad River at the Cherokee Ford about day light – thence on to King's Mountain. Surrounded Colonel Fergurson [Patrick Ferguson] & killed & took his whole Army. In this engagement Captain Smith was shot through the head but recovered. His Lieutenant Varnil was wounded & died of his
wound a day or two afterwards. He spent a day or two here – and then marched back towards the Moravian towns with the prisoners. He did not continue with the Army but went as a nurse with William Hana [sic, Hanna or Hannah?] as a nurse who was severely wounded in the battle, to a doctor and remained with said Hannah till he died. He then returned to Surry County and Captain Smith, not having yet recovered, he marched under a Captain Joel Lewis against some Tories at the head of John's River we followed them to the head of the Watauga River now in the State of Tennessee. Here we overtook them – fired on them, killed one & wounded another – they fled & hid themselves in an adjoining swamp. And we then returned over on John's River again – thence home. There was a Major White in company with us after these tours, but I believe he had no command. He got no discharge. He was out on this tour a little upwards of three months.
4thly He again volunteered from the same County & State under Captain William Bostick, he joined a Regiment commanded by Col. Pickens [Andrew Pickens], a refugee from South Carolina – marched down on Haw River near Trolener's [sic, Trollinger's or Trolinger's] Ford-- and was there waiting to strengthen Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] when he required his services. The British under Lord Cornwallis was then in Hillsborough – While he was yet stationed near Trollinger's Ford the British evacuated Hillsboro & marched on towards Guilford. As they were passing on near where your applicant was stationed in a small skirmish of spies Major M. Lewis was shot through the thighs and died of his wounds. We were beaten back that night from two encampments & were compelled to make a third without fire. The next morning being confined with rheumatism he was compelled to leave the Army. He was engaged on this tour about three weeks. He was not discharged. This was in the
winter of 1781, just before the battle of Guilford. He cannot remember precisely the date of his joining & leaving the service. By reference to the fixed dates he has alluded to, he hopes his statement on that subject will be found sufficiently certain. After the war he resided in Surry County six or seven years then moved to South Carolina on Saluda River where he lived 11 years, then to Kentucky where he now lives. He has his birth recorded in his family register, now at home. He can prove a portion of his service by a Mr. Clark but who he has been unable to get to the Court House owing to his advanced age. He forwards to the certificates of Joseph Smith & Zachariah Morris a minister of the gospel. He hereby relinquishes all claim 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
S/ William Lowe
[Zachariah Morris, a clergyman, and Euclid M. Covington gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
State of Kentucky Warren County
On this 26th day of November personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Warren Circuit Court now sitting William Lowe and offered the following amendment to his declaration, pursuant to the suggestions of the War Department. 1st That he was born in the State of Virginia but was moved from that State while an infant to North Carolina. 2nd The reason his application is not made in Simpson County where he resides is 1st that he could get no individual in that County to write his declaration & attend to the business for him and 2nd that his witnesses live in Warren. And the said Lowe being duly sworn, deposeth & saith that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory he cannot positively swear 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 34 weeks or eight months & two weeks I served as a private and for such service I claim a pension. He begs leave to present also pursuant to the direction of the war Department the Certificate of Micajah Clark.1
S/ William Lowe
Kentucky Warren County: SS
Be it known that before me an acting Justice of the Peace for said County, on the 26th day of November 1832 personally appeared Micajah Clark aged eighty-three years also very feeble & infirm insomuch that he is unable to attend Court, at the house of the said Clark in the said County of Warren and made oath that he was with William Lowe who makes the present application for a pension, in the State of North Carolina on an expedition of thirteen weeks duration against the Cherokee Indians under Colonel Joseph Williams, in the year 1776, also in 1780 said Lowe was in the North Carolina State troops under Colonel Benjamin Cleaveland at the battle of King's Mountain. And I do further certify that the said Micajah Clark is a person of Credibility and that his statement is entitled to credit. Given under my hand the date above written.
S/ Benjamin C. Smith
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $26.66 commencing March 4, 1831, for 8 months service in the Revolution.]
Pension Application Joseph Lusk - S4581 - f53NC/VA
Transcribed by Will Graves 4/26/10 rev'd 8/14/15
[p 49] State of Tennessee County of McMinn: SS
On this 5th day of September personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of the County Court of said County, Joseph Lusk a resident of said County and state, aged 80 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That he entered the Service of the United States the first week in June 1776 as a volunteer in a company commanded by Captain John Sevier in an expedition against the Cherokee Indians, for a tour of six months enrolled at the Sycamore Shoals on Watauga River in North Carolina, George Hart Lieutenant, Rendezvoused at the Long Island on Holston River under the command of Colonel William Christie [sic, William Christian] and Joseph Williams, which Campaign was generally known by the appellation of Christie's Campaign, declarant marched from Long Island to the Bent on Noli Chucky [Nolichucky River], from thence to Sevier's Island on French Broad River, and from thence to the mouth of Tellico River, crossing the Tennessee just above the mouth of Tellico River, thence crossed the Tellico River, & marched down to Tennessee, to an Indian town known by the name of Island town, there remained for 17 days, Thence up the Tennessee River to the Chilhowee Town from there marched down the Tennessee River to the Virginia Ford and crossed said River, thence marched to the Long Islands of Holston, marching the same route back, and was discharged at the Long Island, about the 27th of November 1776, declarant's messmates were, Thomas Simpson, armorer, Felix Walker, Julius Robinson and William Dodd on this campaign; Declarant again entered the service of the United States about the 2nd day of March 1777 as a drafted militia from Washington County Virginia, in a company commanded by Captain James Shelby = Rendezvoused at the Long Island, and was marched from that in search of stock by order of Colonel William Cristie [sic], to the mouth of the Big Creek on Holston, which engaged us six weeks wanting of one day, returned again to Long Island, at which place declarant was discharged, allowing three days to return home and bury a man by the name of George Faulkner that the Indians had killed the day before, declarant received no written discharge for said Tour, declarant again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer for one month from Washington County Virginia in the month of October 1777 in a Company commanded by Captain Isaac Shelby and Lieutenant Josiah Gamble, rendezvoused at Black's Station and marched from thence to Moore's Fort on Clinch River for the purpose of guarding the frontiers against the depredations of the Indians, marched from Moore's Fort to Cowan's Ford on Clinch River, and was there discharged after having served the term for which declarant engaged, about the 2nd day of November 1777. Declarant again entered the service of the United States in the month of June 1780 about the first day, as a drafted militia man from Washington County Virginia for one month, in a company commanded by Captain John Snoddy, rendezvoused at Moore's Station on Clinch River served out his month at that Station and was discharged there, about the 8th July 1779. Declarant again entered the service of the United States in the month of June 1780 as a volunteer militia man from Washington County Virginia in a Company commanded by Captain Andrew Colville commanded by Colonel Arthur Campbell on an expedition against the Tories who were commanded by Colonel James Roberts, declarant joined the Regiment at a place called the blue Spring on the waters of the New River, marched from thence to the mouth of the South fork of the New River, and at that place received the news of the defeat of Colonel Shepherd in the gap of the mountain leading from the mouth of the South fork of New River to Wilkes Courthouse North Carolina by the Tories who had made their escape through the gap and deluded our search, declarant then received orders at that place to return home, having been assured by Colonel Campbell that he should receive pay for one month, but did not serve quite a month, declarant never was in any battle, has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service.
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 and subscribed the 5th day of September 1832
S/
Jo. Lusk
[Abraham Slover, a clergyman, and Spencer Beavers gave the standard supporting affidavit.] [p 3] State of Tennessee County of McMinn On this 4th day of June 1833 personally appeared before me Samuel Workman one of the acting justices of the peace for McMinn County Joseph Lusk a resident of said County and State, who first being duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration amendatory of his of the 5th of September 1832 numbered 23834, declarant says that he entered the service of the United States on the 2nd day of June 1776 as a volunteer as stated in his first declaration, and that he was discharged on the 27th day of November same year, and that he received a discharge for this tour of duty from Captain John Sevier, and that he had a pocket book stolen out of his pocket, in which was his discharge -- Declarant again entered the service as stated in his first declaration, on the 2nd day of March 1777 as a drafted militia man and that he made the marches as stated in said 2nd tour and was released from service on the 13th day of April same year, received no discharge for this tour. Declarant again entered the service as in his first declaration mentioned 3rd tour on the 3rd day of October 1777 and performed the services as therein mentioned, and was discharged on the 5th day of November same year as appears to him from some old papers in his possession which he has since found, Served under the officers as therein stated received no written discharge -- Declarant again went into service as in his 4th statement 1st decl. mentioned on the 4th day of June 1778, as also appears to him from his old papers, performed as therein mentioned and was discharged on the 8th day of July following. Received for this tour a written discharge which declarant has lost -- declarant again entered the service as in his 5th tour first declaration mentioned on the 4th day of June 1780 as a volunteer as in said statement mentioned, performed all of the service specified in said statement under the officers therein mentioned and was discharged on the 2nd day of July following received no discharge for this tour -- Declarant states that in his first tour of 6 months under Sevier he acted as orderly Sergeant during said Campaign -- the whole of the time which he neglected mentioning in his first statement. 1st Interrogatory -- Where and in what year were you born: Was born in Augusta County Virginia on the 15th day of March 1753, on Sunday of according to the record. 2nd Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it, declarant has a record of his age, and has it now present, and his Father's own handwriting. 3rd where were you living when called into service, where he lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live. Declarant lived on Watauga River then in the bounds of North Carolina now in Tennessee, lived in Virginia during the Revolutionary War, from there moved into Tennessee, from there to Buncombe County North Carolina thence removed to McMinn County Tennessee where he has lived for the last 12 or 13 years. 4th How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a Substitute, and if a Substitute for whom? Declarant was a volunteer and drafted both never served as a Substitute. 5th State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the Troops where you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your Services -- Declarant has already stated in his Declaration, all the officers he can recollect as well as the Circumstances attending his services -- 7 -- 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 Soldier of the Revolution. George Colville, William Brittain, Samuel Workman, Archibald Edens, John Walker, John McDowell, Robert Walker, Levin L. Ball, Jonathan Couch, George McCulloch, William McCulloch, James Cowan, James Hickey, John McClatchy, John L. McCarty, Spencer Beavers, James S. Bridges, Barnett Hicklin, William Bates, Ezekiel Bates, declarant has stated about his discharges – Sworn to and subscribed before me this 3rd day of June 1833
S/ Samuel Workman, JP
S/ Jo Lusk [George Colville and William Brittain
gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[p 18: On March 15, 1838 in Bradley County Tennessee, the veteran applied for a new pension certificate stating that he lost his pension certificate on the road between Cleaveland [Cleveland] Tennessee and Knoxville Tennessee.]
[Facts in file: Veteran died August 15, 1839; the soldier's son Joseph Lusk, Junior, was living in 1839; the file contains
no other family data.]
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $34.66 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831 for 10 months & 12 days service in the revolution.]