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 John Majors - S16944 - f34NC
Transcribed by Will Graves 2008: rev'd 5/29/16
State of Kentucky, Wayne Count
On this 24 day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Wayne County Court the same being a Court of record and in Session John Majors aged Seventy-three years last April 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 Company officers Richard Goode Captain, Thomas Evans Lieutenant, Ambrose Blackburn Ensign field officers Colonel Joseph Williams, Major Joseph Winston – I entered the service in the month of July or August in the year 1776 the day of the month not recollected I was drafted for to fight the Cherokee Indians [1776 Cherokee Indian Expedition]1 and served faithfully five months & 14 days received no regular discharge we got home just before Christmas 1776 at the time I was drafted I was a citizen of Surry County North Carolina and was rendezvoused at Richmond Court House in the same County and State and marched from thence to the Blue Ridge near the head of Holston [River] Virginia thence down the Holston to the Long Island and there Joined Colonel Christie [William Christian] Commander of the Virginia Troops thence to the Cherokee nation then the Indians fled, we burnt and destroyed their Towns I was in no Battle thence we marched home I again entered the Service of the United States as a Substitute in place of a person not recollected for the term of five months in the year 1779 in the month of October and entered the Service on the 10th day of the same month under the following named officers Company officers James Sheppard [James Shepherd] Captain other inferior officers not recollected the field officers General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford], Colonel Locke [Francis Locke] Major Richard Goode who had been promoted I was at the time of my Substituting for the term aforesaid a Citizen of the same County and State as above stated and rendezvoused at the same place thence to Salisbury North Carolina thence to Camden South Carolina thence to Santee River South Carolina thence to Savannah River at Purysburg there we Joined General Lincoln [Benjamin Lincoln] and his Army we were there stationed during the winter occasionally marching up and down the River keeping guard &c I was a Substitute against the British in this Tour, but was engaged in no Battle I was discharged on the 10th of April and have lost the same.
I again was engaged and entered the Service of the United States to act and fight against the Tories whenever called on we were what was called minute men I was a volunteer for that purpose Served under various officers I was about a year off and on engaged in the Service of the United States as above mentioned I was a Citizen at the time of the same County & State aforementioned and was engaged as aforesaid in the year 1780 & 1781.
I was again drafted in the year 1781 for three months, the month not recollected and entered the Service of the United States for term aforesaid in the year aforesaid under the following named officers in what was called the Light horse Service: Company Officers Minor Smith Captain rendezvoused at the same place as before mentioned and marched from thence to Pedee [River] where we Joined the Main Army commanded by General Rutherford, thence to a place called the Waukamau
[sic, Waccamaw] and were there attacked by the Tories we had a Battle and we whipped them thence to head quarters at Wilmington, we were at Wilmington at the time Cornwallis was taken [Yorktown, October 19, 1781] at the Little York from thence we were discharged and went home I received no regular discharge I was a Citizen of the same County and State as above mentioned I have no documentary testimony about which I can prove the above Services nor do I know of any person by whom I can prove the same.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and I declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
S/ John Magors
[Richard Barrier, a clergyman, and Lewis Coffey gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[p 9]
State of Kentucky, Wayne County: Sct.
On this 24th day of June 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the County Court of Wayne the same being a Court of record and in Session John Majors who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following amended declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.
1st He states that he was born in the County of Baltimore in State of Maryland and in the year 1759.
2nd That he has a record of his age now in his possession
7th (the other interrogatories being embodied in his original declaration) That he is known to the following persons in his neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity and as to their belief of his services to wit Lewis Coffy, William P. Hardin, William Sloan, Milton Christal, & many others that he did procure the number required by the regulations of the war department to certify in his original declaration to which this is an amendment.
Signed & sworn to the day above given under my hand.
S/ John Majors
[p 30]
State of Kentucky, Wayne County: SS
On this 25th day of November in the year 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Wayne County Court the same being a Court of record and in Session John Majors who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following amended declaration (in addition to his original and amended declaration heretofore made) in order to
obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That whilst acting as a minute man as stated in his original declaration he 1st entered under Captain Mosely [probably Samuel Moseby whose surname is variously spelled as "Mosby" or "Mosley"] and served as near as he now recollects one & half months that he served and acted the above time in State of North Carolina and was a citizen of the State and County Stated in his original declaration. The 2nd time he served as a minute man was under Captain Bostick [probably Absalom Bostick but could be John Bostick or William Bostick all of whom served as Captain's at various times in the Surry County militia] and served as near as he recollects three months in the same State as above the 3rd time he served as a minute man was under Captain Smith and served one & half months in the same State the 4th time he served as a minute man was under Captain Lovin [perhaps Edward Lovell] and served about one month & half months the 5th time he served was under Major Winston and served four months 6th time with the same and served as a minute man and one half months and under Major Winston joined General Pickens [Andrew Pickens] and was with him in two battles in Guilford County North Carolina the 1st at Alamance 2nd at Whitesal's Mill [sic, Wetzel's Mill, March 6, 1781]4 I was during this time I served as a minute man as above stated a citizen of the same County and State mentioned in my original declaration I served as stated in this amendment and original declaration twelve months as a minute [man] and received no regular discharge for the same and has no documentary evidence by which he can prove the same nor knows of no person by whom he can prove the same signed and sworn to in open Court given under my hand the date first written.
S/ John Majors
[p 32: In May 1838, applicant petitioned for a transfer of his pension benefits to Missouri, County of Clay where he had moved in order to be near his son Elisha Majors. This document does appear to me to have been signed by the veteran himself as follows]
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $80 per annu commencing March 4th, 1831, for service as a private for 2 years in the North Carolina militia.]
Pension Application Moses Martin W8415
While a resident citizen of Surry County North Carolina in the year 1776 the month not now recollected he was drafted according to his present recollection for the period of 9 months in the company of Capt. Richard Goode in the Regiment of Col. Martin Armstrong was rendezvoused at the Court House of Surry County in Richmond, and after the rendezvous was ordered to march to and be placed under the command of General Rutherford, that before the Regiment he was in formed a Junction with the Army under General Rutherford, an express came from the State of Virginia requesting a reinforcement of man, that after a consultation was held by the officers, the Regiment to which he belonged except the commanding Col. marched back under the command of Lieut. Col. Williams to the State of Virginia and joined the Army under the command of General Christy [sic, William Christian] at the Long Island of Holston [River], after he was first drafted he was appointed & made a Drummer -- after joining the Army under Christy they remained at the place of Junction about 2 weeks was then marched into the Indian Country against the Indians, and was a while stationed at an Indian Town called big Island Town was marched through & to several Towns, and was a while stationed at a Town called Chilltowne [?] and was at the Long Island on Holston by his Officers discharged and received a certificate for 9 months service to enable him to draw his pay -- the Certificate was given to him as drummer and in the capacity of drummer he served out the whole Tour. He further states that he served to the end of the Campaign under Christy and although he received a certificate for 9 months service he thinks he lacked about one week of that time, he was in no regular Battle, but was in 2 or 3 little Skirmishes with the Indians. He received no written discharge other than the Certificate above mentioned, which when he drew his pay, he delivered up.
Pension Application James Meritt - S21883 - f20NC
Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 4/27/09 & 4/6/17
Carolina, Anderson District} SS
On this tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord 1833, personally appeared before me, James Douthit, a Justice of the Quorum in & for the District aforesaid, James Meritt, a resident in the said district of Anderson & State of South Carolina, aged Seventy-Eight 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 United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated --
First: -- That he volunteered in a company of Infantry, in Surry County North Carolina, being then a citizen of the same, under Captain Richard Goode, Major Winston [Joseph Winston] and Colonel Williams [Joseph Williams]; and under their command he was marched from said County to a place near Fayetteville called the Scotch Camp then called “Cross Creek,” on Cape Fear River. The Scotch were subdued & taken without fighting and after a tour of four weeks we returned home. This was in the
beginning of the War; the exact date he can't remember.1
Secondly: -- That he volunteered, for three months, in a company of Infantry volunteers raised in Surry County & commanded by Captain Goode to go against the Cherokee Indians. This company was raised soon after our return from the “Scotch Camp,” & was marched under Captain Goode to Long Island, on Holston River, where the troops from Virginia and North Carolina were united under the command of Col. Christie [sic, William Christian]. From Long Island Colonel Christie marched the forces to the Cherokee nation. In this expedition he declares that Captain Goode, Major Winston, Col. Williams and Christie, were the officers under whom he served. That on their arrival in the Cherokee nation, the Indians fled from their huts and villages – that they afterwards came in and agreed with the officers to make a treaty, & accordingly they did hold the treaty in the following spring. To the best of his recollection this tour commenced early in the month of August and was not ended until the last of November – he believes that the term of service extended to very nearly four months, but is well assured that it was not less than three & a half months.
Thirdly: -- That his next tour of service was under Captain Camplin [Jacob Camplin], in whose Company of Infantry he volunteered for three months, and was marched from Surry County in North Carolina into South Carolina opposite to Augusta in Georgia; thence down the Savannah River to a place thereon called “the two Sisters.” Thence across the state to Bacon's Bridge. Here we were associated with the Army under General Lincoln [Benjamin Lincoln] & General Butler [John Butler]. Our Camps were moved about from one rice-field to another for many days until we had an engagement with the British. He was in this action during the engagement. General Lincoln was the commander of the Americans, & Provost that of the British. After this action, & ten days before the expiration of his term of service – (in three months) he was taken sick in camp, & was then sent home.2
Fourthly: -- That after his return home, he again volunteered in a troop of Cavalry commanded by Captain Minor Smith in Surry County North Carolina to go against Ferguson [Patrick Ferguson] and the forces under him. Under Col. Cleveland [Benjamin Cleveland] he came upon Ferguson at Kings Mountain [October 7, 1780].3 Here he was in the action on Kings Mountain, in which Colonel Campbell [William Campbell] had the command and in which Ferguson was defeated. After this action he was appointed as one of the Guard, and as such, under orders proceeded with the prisoners to Moravian Town, where he was stationed to guard them until the guard was dismissed. This tour was commenced for no definite term that he can recollect – the troop being raised specifically for the purpose to assist in defeating Ferguson. The time he was in actual service in this tour, to the best of his recollection, was not less than three months. At the end of his several tours of service he was dismissed, but he never received any formal discharge. He has no documentary evidence that would be of any use in the investigation of his claim – But is acquainted with William Southerland, resident in an adjoining District (Pickens) who can testify to a part of the services at the least, which he rendered the United States in the War of the revolution.
That he has never received any pension, and that 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.
He further adds to this declaration, and under solemn oath, declares, that, by reason of old age, extreme affliction of body, and a consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear to the precise length of his services nor to the exact periods of the War when they were rendered; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned above in this declaration, and as herein stated; i.e., he firmly believes he served in the Infantry, as a private, not less than seven & a half months; and as a private in the Cavalry, three months; and for this service he claims a pension.
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me. S/ James Douthit JQ
S/ James Meritt, X his mark
[John B. Chappell, a clergyman, and John Wilson gave the standard supporting affidavit. They also noted as follows: "... and, that, from the effects of a Cancer (which has deprived him of his left eye & corroded the surrounding flesh so as to leave the socket & left side of his face, almost entirely lax) we are satisfied that he has not been able for many months past to attend personally before any of the Courts of the District, and that, by the progress of the disease his life must necessarily soon be terminated."]
1. I was born in Essex County, Virginia March 1, 1755.
2. I have no record of my age. But asserts it from the declaration of my parents, to be as above stated.
3. When called into service, I was living in Surry County North Carolina, where I continued to live after the War ended for one or two years; thence I moved into Newberry District South Carolina where I lived 14 years & from there I came to this place where I have lived ever since until the present day.
4. I volunteered in every instance when there was a call made for men to be raised out of each Captain's company. I never stood a draft.
5. I don't recollect the names of any of the regular Officers in command where I served unless General Lincoln and Andrew Williams [sic, Andrew Williamson] were – Williams was Colonel or General I can't say which.
6. I never received a formal discharge.
7. Many of my neighbors will testify to my character for veracity & their belief of my services as a soldier in the revolution – namely John H. Roseman, William Holcombe, George Dilworth
[p 8]
South Carolina Pickens District: Be it known, that before me Joseph B. Reid a Justice of the peace in and for the District aforesaid personally appeared William Southerland Senior who being first duly sworn according to law, saith, that, James Meritt, of Anderson District, did serve three months, to his own personal knowledge, with him in the service of the United States during the Revolution, in Capt. Richard Goode's Company, which was commanded by Col. Williams & Major Winston, all of Surry County in North Carolina.
Sworn to & subscribed the 10th day of June A.D. 1833
Test:
S/ Jos. B. Reid, JP
S/ William Southerland5
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $36.97 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for service as a private for 10 months and 13 days in the North Carolina militia.]
1 Veteran appears to be referring to the time at which the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge occurred on February 27, 1776 even though he says no fighting occurred.
2 Veteran appears to be referring to the action at Stono Ferry on June 20, 1779. http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_stono_ferry.html
3 https://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_battle_of_kings_mountain.html
4 It appears that this veteran did not filed for a pension under any of the federal pension acts.
Pension Application William Moore - S2858
That in the year 1776 he resided on the head waters of Holston River in what is now Wyeth County Virginia. In August of that year he joined a company of militia commanded by Captain McAfee and assisted in driving a drove of cattle down to the Army stationed at Long Island on Holston River under the command of Colonel William Christian. When they reached the Army he enrolled in Captain Aaron Lewis's company (Samuel Hayes Lieutenant & William Crabtree Ensign) and marched against the Cherokee Indians in what is now Monroe County Tennessee. They burnt their towns and brought them to a peace for some time. In this service he was engaged at least three months.
Joseph Moseby - S15539
He was enrolled as a volunteer in the company of Captain Samuel Moseby in the year 1776. In the latter part of August in that year he marched on a campaign against the Cherokee Indians on the Tennessee River, in said company, there being about 300 men under the command of Colonel Joseph Williams, Major Joseph Winston being second in command. The troops march to the Long Islands of Holston River where they joined the Virginia troops under Colonel Will Christie [sic, William Christian]. Here the troops were detained some time preparing pack horses to carry their baggage, as the baggage wagons could go no further. Whilst the troops remained at that place, he with others, was ordered over the River as a scout in search of Indian camps; and having traveled until late in the night they found a white man who had just escaped from the Indians by whom they were informed that the Indians had removed, upon which the party returned to camp. The troops having crossed the River, marched to French Broad River, where they met Major Guest who informed them that he expected that the Indians would attack them in crossing the River. In consequence of that information, a detachment was sent off in the night in which he went, which crossed the River 2 miles below, and having marched up the River to a point opposite to the Army, remained on their arms until daybreak. No Indians however were seen, and the remainder of the troops crossed over without interruption and proceeded to the Indian towns and villages which they destroyed, together with their crops of corn &c. After which the Army returned home having captured some horses and cattle, but not having met an enemy. On this campaign he served more than 3 months.