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.
"THE CHICKAMAUGA NATION" - In Joel Callahan's Application he mentions the soldiers marching through The Chickamauga Nation.
Pension Application William Burns S16669
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Kentucky
Clay County Sct
In this 23 of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Judge of the Clay Circuit court, William Burns resident of said County and State aged as he believes 76 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 pased June 7 1832. That he enterd the service of the U. states in the Revolutionary War, in Pitsylvania [sic: Pittsylvania] County Va, year forgotten [1776], for a trip ags’t. the Cherokee Indians, under Cap’n. Joseph Martin, his Lt. was Brice Martin, & Ensign Brice Martin [sic: John Martin] in the Reg’t. commanded by Colo. or Gen’l. Christie [Col. William Christian] on the Va. line. He recollects on the campain Maj’r. [Evan] Shelby, Colo. Russell and Maj’r. Blecher. He was marched to the long Ileands of Holston [sic: Long Island of Holston River at present Kingsport TN], then to the Cherokee towns on the Ten. [Tennessee] River and remained in service for a little upwards of nine months when he was discharged at the Long Ileand of Holston in Ten. by Capt. Joseph Martin. This trip he was in no battle. On the day he was discharged he engajed for six months under Capt. Martin afs’d. to defend the frontiers, under Maj’r. Bletcher afs’d. Under this engajement he remained at the Long Ileands, then to Clinch River to the Rye Cove [in present Scott County VA], there he remained untill he was discharjed by Cap’n. Martin for six months service All this was before the Battle of Kings Mountain [7 Oct 1780]. Shortly before the Battle of Ramsowers Mill [Ramsour’s Mill, 20 Jun 1780] he enlisted in Wilks [sic: Wilkes] County N.C. where he lived for nine months in the line of the state of N. Carolina, caled “state troops” under Capt. Michajah Lewis [sic: Micajah Lewis] under Colo. Gorden. Shortly after he enlisted he hierd Johnthan Hickman [sic: Jonathan Hickman] to take his place who was accepted and he got a discharge in his own name from Colo. Gorden at Wilks C. H. N.C. for the said nine months. His discharge he has long since lost. He remembers no offcers except what he has stated, but Colo. Cleaveland [sic: Benjamin Cleveland] was in Gordens Reg’t. He has almost lost his memory. He was born in State of Va. County forgotten. He served as a private each term on his own act. He has record of his age. As to
the other questions of the War Department he supposes he has explained in the foregoing. As to his charracter he refers to his neighbors Wm. Morris, Rob’t. Baker and John Spurlock.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or anuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state nor has ever been.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year afs’d. William HisXmark Burns
Pension Application Joel Callahan - S21110 - f62NC
Transcribed by Will Graves 11/11/07 rev'd 10/20/14
South Carolina, Greenville District
On this the tenth day of October in the year of our Lord 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court in of Common Pleas and General Sessions now sitting Joel Callahan a resident of Greenville District and 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 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 – he thinks he entered the service for the first time in the fall of '77 under Captain Goode [Richard Goode] Colonel Christie [sic, William Christian], Colonel Williams [Joseph Williams] and Major Winston were also in command –
he went against the Cherokee Indians on Tennessee River -- the first time he was gone under the above named officers about eight weeks – he marched in the Spring following against the Indians under Colonel Shelby [Evan or Isaac Shelby] and Colonel Robinson down the Chickamauga Nation, burnt the Indian towns, we destroyed their property and took their livestock – was gone on this expedition about eight weeks –
came home again and in the year '80 [1780] or '81 [1781] Colonel Sevier [John Sevier] raised men and this applicant was one of them and marched against the Cherokees-- crossed French Broad [River] about 4 miles, came across a party of Indians and killed a parcel of them – then retreated back into “Big Island” and lay until Colonel William Campbell came up – then marched against the Indians again and killed some and destroyed their houses &c was gone about eight weeks in this expedition – After coming home in the year “'81” [1781] or “'82” [1782] Colonel Sevier gave this applicant a commission of Captain and wrote to him to raise men and meet him on Chucka [sic, Nolichucky River] at what was called the greasy Cove – he met there and had but five men -- went to the Valley Towns on the head of Tennessee [River], was gone two weeks, killed 20 or 30 Indians and took a good number prisoners he then returned home – was again written to by Colonel Sevier to raise a number of men out of so many companies and if the men could not be raised otherwise to draft them, then marched under Colonel Sevier, Colonel Robinson and Major Walton down to the High Hills of Santee, joined General Marion [Francis Marion] was under General Marion three months – went in September and returned home in January, served a three months tour – He thinks he served all together one year and suffered a great deal – He lived in Watauga West Tennessee [sic, then North Carolina] when he entered the service – He volunteered every time he went out – He was in no battles of any importance – he marched through Camden and the Waxhaws – and whilst with General Marion, Col. Mayum [Hezekiah Maham] and Colonel Horry [probably Daniel Horry, but possibly Peter Horry or Hugh Horry] commanded the Horse – He has no documentary evidence – knows of no one whose testimony he can procure, except Mr. Abner Thompson [sic, Absalom Thompson1] who served with him in the second campaign against the Indians. 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 was born in Virginia Pittsylvania County about the year '54 [1754] – has no record of his age – has lived since the revolution in South Carolina –has received a discharge but lost it-- was given by Colonel Sevier – did receive a commission from Col. Sevier but it is lost – did serve as a Captain about four or five months – besides serving as a Captain at Beans' fort--[illegible first name] Pickett, Mr. Blythe, Mr. Russell and others of his neighbors can testify as [to] his character for truth and good behavior.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
S/ Joel Callahan
S/ J McDaniel, C. C. P. [John B. Chappel, a clergyman, and John Whitten gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
South Carolina, Greenville District
Personally came Absalom Thompson Esq. Before me the Subscribing Justice and made oath in due form of law that he is well acquainted with Joel Callahan, who has lately made application for a pension under the laws of Congress, as a revolutionary Soldier and who is now about 78 years of age, and has been from about the year 1773 up to this time, that he has during that time been regarded and esteemed a true friend to his Country – that in or about the year 1776 the said Callahan done a tour of duty as a private soldier under General Christie [William Christian] marching from then North Carolina now Tennessee against the Cherokee Indians – then about 1779 he the said Callahan done another tour of duty under Colonel Evan Shelby against the Chickamauga Indians – that about the year 1780 he the said Callahan was first Lieutenant in a company commanded by Captain William Bean, which company was ordered to march and join the Army under the command of Colonel Isaac Shelby in North Carolina – that the said Callahan was reputed to have performed many other tours of duty in the American Service – Such as scouring the Country in search of the enemy, guarding the fort &c &c – and that he the said Joel Callahan has been a resident of Greenville District & State aforesaid for the last 30 years and also that the said Joel Callahan has, during his acquaintance with him sustained that character of an honest individual Citizen.
Sworn to & subscribed this 10th May 1833 before me.
S/ Silas R. Whitten, JQ S/ Abs. Thompson
South Carolina, Greenville District
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace for Greenville District South Carolina Joel Callahan, who being duly sworn Deposeth 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 eight weeks I served as a private under Captain Goode in the year 1777 against the Cherokee Indians and was under the command of Colonel Christian – For eight weeks I served as a private under Captain Henry Clark in the Spring of 1778 against the Chickamauga Indians under the command of Cols. Shelby and Robinson – For eight weeks I served as a Captain under Colonel John Sevier in 1781 against the Cherokee Indians but cannot prove that I had a commission and the commission is lost, and therefore I am under the necessity of claiming pay as a private – for two weeks I served as a Captain under Colonel Sevier in another expedition against the Cherokee Indians during the same year, but claims pay only as a private. For three months I served as a Captain under Colonel Sevier, Major Jesse Walton in South Carolina near the High Hills of Santee, was under the command of General Marion – For three months I served as a Lieutenant in a Fort on the Holston River, under the command of Captain Jacob Wammack [sic, Jacob Womack?], but claims pay as a private in an as much as his commission was lost and he cannot prove it – I also served in frequent reconnoitering expeditions, and also under the command of Captain William Bean [?] -- but I cannot state with precision the length of my services at each time. I am sure that I served not less than one year and claims pay for that length of time as a pensioner.
The deponent states that he was born in Virginia – Pittsylvania County – has no record of his age – I was born in the year of our Lord 1754 – lived in Tennessee – Washington County when he entered the service – and has lived since the revolution and South Carolina – did receive a discharge from Sevier – did also receive a commission of Lieutenant and Captain from Colonel Sevier but has lost them. These questions the deponent has already answered in his declaration and all others required by the War Department.
Sworn to and subscribed this May 12th, 1833. S/ Richard Thruston, JP S/ Joel Callahan
[p 10: In an affidavit dated January 26, 1853, Catherine Compton, 60, a resident of Greenville District swore that she and her brother, John Callahan (who last lived in Louisiana], are the only surviving children of John Callahan who died in Spartanburg District in 1847; that John left no widow. She signed her affidavit with her mark.]
[p 17: Other records in the file refer to John Callahan's wife as being named Sarah and that she predeceased him, dying 'some 30 thirty ago' in Greenville District South Carolina at John McAfee's [in affidavit dated January28, 1853 and given by Portman Howard]
[p 48] State of North Carolina Comptroller's Office I William J Clarke, Comptroller of Public Accounts in and for the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears of record in my office, among the payments made by said State to sundry persons for Military services in the Revolutionary War as follows, to wit: Joel Callihan
Indent or Army Certificate issued by the Auditors of the counties of Washington & Sullivan
No. 753 June 1783 £8S15D6 specie
Ditto June 1783 £25 specie No. 1292
Ditto " " £4S14 " (four) 997 Capt. Joel Callihan
Ditto " " £24S14 " 998 Ditto
Book No. 24 page 80 £11S17D6 specie " " " " 103 £20S5
In testimony whereof I have hereunto inscribed my name and affixed my seal of office this 14th day of January A.D. 1853
S/ William J Clarke Comptroller
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $40.22 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for service as a private for 12 months in 2 days in the North Carolina militia.]
Pension Application of William Carter W3385
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris. Revised 22 Aug 2012.
Virginia Patrick County to wit
On this 14th day of march 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the County Court of Patrick now sitting William Carter Esquire a resident of the County of Patrick and State of Virginia aged seventy one last May –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. He was born (as appears by a record of his age kept by his Father and now at the house of his youngest brother Silas Carter in the County of Patrick) on the 17th day of May 1761 at Staunton River in the now County of Campbell and State of Virginia but was brought to the now County of Patrick, (then Pittsylvania) before his recollection where he has resided ever since. In the fall of the year 1776 as well as he now recollects, he drove a baggage waggon for Capt. Dethrige [sic: George Deatherage] of the North Carolina militia on an expedition against the Cherokee Towns. The company to which he belonged joined Col. William’s Regiment at Surry Ct House North Carolina, and being too small was divided among other companies and Capt. Dethrige sent home. This applicant continued driving his waggon in the service of the troops before they marched, and on the march across the Blue ridge, New river and the Iron mountains where his waggon broke down and he being discharged came home with his team. On this tour he was gone at least six weeks. In May 1777 as well as he recollects, he volunteered as a private Soldier under Capt Peter Hairston of Henry County Virginia where the applicant then resided, who had for subalterns William Ferguson Lieutenant and Thomas Smith Ensign. He marched to the Long Islands of Holston river and served a time of three months against the Cherokee Indians, when a treaty being entered into with the Indians [Treaty of Long Island, 20 Jun 1777], he was discharged & returned home on foot through the wilderness fording or swimming the water courses a distance of near two hundred miles.
In the next summer 1778 as well as he recollects he volunteered in a rifle company, James Lyon Captain, Samuel Hairston Lieutenant and William Birch Ensign, and marched from Henry Court House Virginia, across the Alleghany mountains, down New river to the mouth of Wolf Creek, Peters Mountain & Walkers creek ranging along the frontiers in order to protect them from the incursions of the Indians, and was discharged at the place where Giles Court House in Virginia now stands, having served a tour of three months.
In April or May 1779 as well as he recollects, the tories became very troublesome on the frontiers of North Carolina and Virginia particularly in the upper end [the western end referred to as The Hollow] of the then County of Henry (now Patrick) in Virginia. A great excitement was produced through the county by the murder of a distinguished Whig William Letcher who was shot down in his own home by a tory in the upper end of Henry County [2 Aug 1780]. Capt Elipahas [sic: Eliphaz] Shelton then commanded a company of militia in the County of Henry (now Patrick) in which the applicant was a Sergeant. On receiving the news of the murder of Letcher, he was ordered by his Captain to summon a portion of the company to go in pursuit of the murderer He rode all night collected twenty or thirty men early next morning, and pushed for the scene of the murder – The murderer and the tories with whom he was connected had fled to the mountains - where the detachment pursued them but failed in overtaking them, and returned home after an absence of a week or more – He had scarcely returned home when the tories returned to the same neighborhood and committed a good many robberies – The same Capt. Shelton then raised a company of volunteer horsemen for a three months tour, in which the applicant acted as a Sergeant and found his own horse. The tories fled again from the County of Henry Virginia into Surry County North Carolina whither the company first mentioned pursued them, and had its head quarters at Osborne mill on Loving’s creek [now Lovills Creek] in the said County of Surry – While the said company and the applicant of course were engaged in this service some of the North Carolina light Horse took some of the tories prisoners and committed [several illegible words] to the Jail of Surry Cty aforesaid the applicant was directed to take some of the rest and escort them to the Head quarters above mentioned, where they were kept awhile, and then taken in charge of the applicant and some horsemen to the Jail of Henry County Virginia. While in this tour the applicant and fifteen or twenty of the troops pursued the Tories who had robbed a whig Daniel Carlin while said Carlin was in [word illegible],) some distance over the mountain dispersed them and recovered the property – After the expiration of this tour of duty the applicant was repeatedly in service as sergeant commanding small detachments for short periods in order to suppress and pursue tories who were constantly committing robberies [one or two words illegible] not specify the precise length of time he served in these expeditions, but it could not have been less than two months. It would take a volume to detail all the adventures encountered which took place between the whigs and tories in the neighborhood of the applicant for a year or two prior to the battle of King’s mountain [7 Oct 1780] in many of which he was an actor – nearly half the population in what was called the Hollow being parts of the counties of Henry in Va. and Surry in North Carolina were disaffected and the whigs were kept constantly on the alert. In fact their service was more harrassing than a regular tour of duty for the same length of time. The applicant has no idea that his memory will enable him to claim for near the length of time he actually served. He will mention a circumstance, which he does not know will avail him, but refers it to the discretion of the War Department – In the year 1780 many individuals after having been drafted for the service concealed themselves in the mountains to avoid serving – It was made known that any person who brought in one of these deserters and delivered him to the proper officer should be entitled to credit for a three month tour of duty. The applicant having accompanied one Capt James Patterson from the lower end of Henry, who with six or seven men was detached to apprehend deserters, & being dissatisfied with the severity of the Captains proceedings in burning the houses of the outlyers & being apprehensive that his being in company might induce a retaliation upon his Father, who lived convenient, he returned home in company with Peter Scales – On their return they found and took prisoners four deserters – kept them in custody untill the return of Capt Patterson, when said Scales carried in said Deserters to Prince Edward Ct House Virginia & delivered them to a regular officer & received a discharge from himself & the applicant for four tours of three months – The applicant as he has already stated cannot recollect the precise time he was in actual service, but feels justified in claiming for 12 months in the whole besides the tour for which he got credit as above stated for apprehending deserters – being satisfied that in that estimate he falls short of the actual time he served, but wishing to err on the safe side if he err at all. The applicant was in service altogether with Detachment of militia under militia officers whose names he has recited and no regular officers were attached to them. The last expedition in which he was engaged was when the British had reached Salem North Carolina in March 1781 – The same Capt. Shelton above mentioned went with his company of Horse in which the applicant was still Sergeant to join General Green [sic: Nathanael Greene], Col. James Lyon commanding. The British marched down on the South side of Dan river and this Detachment marched down the north side of the said river – The Battle of Guilford [sic: Guilford Courthouse, 15 Mar 1781] was fought before the Detachment joined the army & the men returned home – The length of this tour is not recollected. Of the above period of 12 months, the applicant served as a private seven months. The ballance of the time he served as a sergeant of Horse. The applicant has had written discharges for all his regular tours of duty, but they have been mislaid or are among his Father’s old papers – He will however make further search and forward any that he may find. He knows of no living witness whose testimony he can conveniently procure to prove his services except Maj. Peter Hairston, Col. Samuel Hairston & William Cloud whose affidavits accompany this Declaration. He can prove that he is reputed in his neighborhood to have been a revolutionary Soldier by nearly all his neighbors & among others by John Conner a clergyman and Abram Staples.
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 day and year aforesaid [signed] Wm. Carter
NOTE: On 26 July 1847 Susanna Carter, 77, applied for a pension stating that she married William Carter on 31 Jan 1788, and he died on 17 Dec 1845. She present to the court a Bible with the family record with the following entries in the handwriting of her husband:
William Carter was born may the 17th in the year of our Lord 1761.
Susannah Carter was born may the 2nd in the year of our Lord 1770
William Carter married Susannah Carter his wife January the 31st in the year of our Lord 1788.
The dates of birth of the children were not copied into the court record. On 21 April 1855 Susanna Carter applied for bounty land.
Pension application of Samuel Castle - S8144 - fn23NC
Transcribed by Will Graves - 11/9/10
State of North Carolina Wilkes County: SS
On this 23rd day of January A. D. 1839 personally appeared before the undersigned subscriber one of the acting justices of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid and one of the Judges of the Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the same, Samuel Castle a resident of said County of Wilkes and State of North Carolina aged ninety-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 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. In the spring of the year 1775 or 1776 (this declarant cannot be positive which) the Scotch Tories in the neighborhood of Cross Creek or Fayetteville North Carolina became very troublesome, annoying the Whig settlements adjacent to where they lived very much so that it became necessary to call out the militia to suppress them – A call for volunteers was accordingly made upon the County of Wilkes among others, for that purpose. This declarant turned out under the call, (which he believes was made by the Governor of the State) and joined a company raised by Captain Francis Haregrave, and rendezvoused at Wilkes CH and as soon thereafter as some hasty preparations could be made they took up the line of march for Cross Creek and after proceeding a distance of upwards of sixty miles they received intelligence that the Tories had been suppressed by other troops near the scene of action, whereupon the Company to which this declarant belonged was ordered back and after reaching Wilkes County they were discharged and repaired to their respective homes. In this tour this declarant is satisfied that he served not less than ten days.
About the month of August 1776 another call was made upon the County of Wilkes for volunteers to go against the Cherokee Indians, when this declarant again turned out and joined a company raised by his former Captain, Francis Hargrave, and immediately set out for the nation. They proceeded as far as Kriders Fort [sic, Crider's Fort] on the waters of the Catawba [River] where they were stationed for 10 days or two weeks, from whence they proceeded to the Pleasant Gardens near the head of the Catawba where they joined the main Army under General Griffith Rutherford – this declarant being attached to the Regiment commanded by Colonel Martin Armstrong. On the next day after joining the main Army they set out on their march and proceeded by the most direct route to near the head of Tennessee River – from thence they proceeded to several of the Indian Towns which they found most generally abandoned. The Indians having embodied themselves to some extent had an engagement with a body of troops from South Carolina in which they were defeated and put to the route. After which they generally fled leaving only some women & children and old men in possession of their towns. It was the purpose and intention of General Rutherford to join the South Carolina troops but owing to some mistake or want of knowledge in the guide he was not able to do so until after the engagement above spoken of. After burning the Indian Towns, destroying their corn and committing such other depredations upon them as they could the Army returned to North Carolina, and upon reaching Wilkes CH this declarant was discharged. In this expedition
this declarant is confident that he served not less than three months.
In the spring of the following year (to wit 1777) as this declarant believes in the month of March or April he again volunteered his services (under what particular authority is not now recollected) and joined a company of volunteers commanded by Captain Benjamin Cleveland and Lieutenant Moses Poor and after organizing and preparing for the campaigns set out on their march from Wilkes County to the Watauga settlements (in what is now Tennessee) to guard the frontiers. They were stationed at what was called Carter's Fort or Carter Station from whence they occasionally make short excursions along the frontier settlements to protect them against the depredations of the Cherokee Indians who previous to that time had been very troublesome. At the time Captain Cleveland's company was then stationed at Carter's Fort or Station there were also some troops from the State of Virginia stationed at the Long Islands of Holston [River]. About this time also the Indians sued for peace, and commissioners were appointed on the part of the Government to form a treaty which was accordingly done at the Long Islands of Holston. During the formation of this treaty the company of Captain Cleveland was ordered to the Long Island which were distant probably 25 or 30 miles from the Station. After which the company returned to Wilkes County and was discharged. In this expedition this declarant believes he served not less than three months.
Sometime after the return of this declarant from Watauga Settlements, (but how long he cannot now recollect) he again volunteered his services to march against the Tories who at that time were embodying themselves in various places to the South of where the declarant lived – he joined a company commanded by Captain Robert Cleveland and marched southwardly with an expectation of cooperating with other Whig troops against the Tories – upon reaching Lincoln County they understood that the Tories were collecting at or near a place called Ramsour's, upon which they pressed forward with all possible dispatch, but before they reached the place the other Whig troops had engaged with and defeated the Tories. After which this declarant was discharged by his Captain and returned home. In this tour he is satisfied he served not less than six days.
In the fall of the year 1780, information was received that a body of British and Tories was approaching from South Carolina, whereupon Colonel Cleveland made a call for volunteers to march to oppose their progress. This declarant again turned out a volunteer and joined a company commanded by Captain William Jackson and rendezvoused at Wilkes CH. After the necessary organization & preparation were made the Regiment set out under command of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland on their march towards the upper part of South Carolina to oppose the approach of the British and Tories. After proceeding as far as Crider's Fort in Burke Count this declarant was rendered unable to proceed by reason of an attack of Rheumatism, whereupon he was discharged and sent home which place he reached by the aid of a horse furnished him by a friend. After the engagement with Colonel Ferguson at King's Mountain and the prisoners captured there were brought as far back as Wilkes CH this declarant rejoined the Army and proceeded with them aiding and assisting in guarding the prisoners as far as the Moravian Towns where they were relieved by the substitution of other troops, when the company to which this declarant was attached was discharged and returned home. In these two tours, this declarant is confident he served not less than one month.
In the spring of the year following when Lord Cornwallis was approaching from South Carolina the Whig militia was called out in order to harass & annoy his out posts and flanking parties as much as possible and also to cooperate with the main Army in case a general action should occur. This declarant again turned out and joined the company of volunteers commanded by Captain Robert Cleveland & Lieutenant Stonecypher and marched with all possible haste to join General Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] before a meeting could be had between him & Lord Cornwallis – in this expectation have other they were disappointed as Cornwallis had passed the Shallow Ford of the Yadkin [River] before they reached that point, and Captain Cleveland finding it would be impossible to join General Greene before the expected engagement, discharged his company and directed them to return home – he however being on horseback proceeded with a determination to join General Greene at all hazards if possible. In this tour this declarant believes he served not less than eight days. This declarant was born in the Town of Danby County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut on the 16th day of June 1740, the record of which he has in his family Bible. He was living in Wilkes County when called into service of the United States. He has lived there since the revolutionary war, and lives there at this time. He volunteered his services at an early period of the war and considered himself a standing volunteer throughout the war. There were no regular officers nor any Continental regiments with the militia where he served – such militia regiments and the general circumstances of his service are detailed above. He never received any written discharge, nor has he any documentary evidence to prove his services, but refers to David Laws as a witness who can prove the service performed against the Indians under General Rutherford and on the Watauga under Captain Cleveland – Also to Abijah Fairchild as a witness who can prove the service performed in the expedition part of the way to Kings Mountain and in guarding the prisoners to the Moravian Towns also in the attempt under Captain Cleveland to join General Greene. He also refers to the Reverend Smith Ferguson and Captain William Dyer 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 and year aforesaid.
S/ S. F. Patterson, JP S/ Samuel Castle, X his mark
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, Abijah Fairchild, the person referred to in the foregoing declaration, and after being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he served in the revolutionary War with Samuel Castle the above declarant during two of the tours of duty described by him in the foregoing declaration to wit: the first, part of the way to Kings Mountain until he was turned back on account of the rheumatism, and afterward in guarding the prisoners from Wilkes CH to the Moravian Towns – and the second, in the effort under Captain Cleveland to join General Greene – and that the service their described as having been performed by the said Samuel Castle, comprising a period of not less than one month and eight days was performed by him.
Sworn to and subscribed the fifth day of February 1839
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, David Laws the person referred to in the foregoing declaration, and after being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he served in the revolutionary War with Samuel Castle the foregoing declarant during two of the tours of duty described by him in the foregoing declaration – to wit: the first under General Rutherford against the Cherokee Indians, and the second under Captain Cleveland at Carter's Fort or Stationed on the Watauga River and at the Long Islands of Holston – and that the services their described as having been performed by the said Samuel Castle comprising a period of not less than six months were performed by him.
Sworn to and subscribed this fifth day of February 1839.
S/ David Laws, X his mark
[Smith Ferguson, a clergyman, and William Dyer gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $26 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for seven
months and 24 days service as a private in the North Carolina militia.
Pension Application Mitchel Childress - S2426 - fn23NC
Transcribed by Will Graves - 11/15/10
State of Tennessee Knox County: County Court January Sessions 1833
On the 10th day of January 1833 personally appeared in open Court at a Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said County now sitting, Mitchel Childress, a citizen of said County, aged eighty-two years who having been duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of an act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. – That he was born in Henrico County Virginia on the 23rd day of October 1750, where he lived but a few years till he moved to Amherst County Virginia where he lived and married there and then moved to Wilkes County North Carolina where he lived about one year and then moved to Georgia – he recollects that he reached Georgia some time in May, and he does not now recollect whether there were any counties then laid out and that part of Georgia, but his impression now is that he went to what was then called the Province [?] of Georgia – he remained in Georgia until sometime in the latter part of November following, when having taken the fever and ague he moved up on the waters of Low River in Burke County, North Carolina, for the object of recovering his health, where he lived until sometime in May or June when being alarmed at the outrages of the Indians he moved back into the same neighborhood in Wilkes County North Carolina where he had
formerly lived – he states that he cannot at this time recollect what year it was he moved from Georgia, but he recollects distinctly that a few days after he had left Georgia, the news reached him that the Whigs and Tories had had a battle at a place then called the Snow Camps, afterwards Ninety Six, and that the Whigs were victorious – he continued after this second settlement in Wilkes County to live there during the whole of the Revolutionary War – Applicant states that very shortly after his second settlement in Wilkes County, he entered the Army of the United States as a volunteer for a tour against the Indians – he was enrolled in Burke County North Carolina into a company commanded by Captain Frank Hargroves, which company was attached to a Battalion under the command of Major Jesse Walton, and he now thinks his Regiment was commanded by Colonel Armstrong and the whole Army by General Rutherford as commander in chief – he also believes that his Lieutenant was William Lenoir – Applicant states that the whole Army consisting of about five thousand rendezvoused at Buck Creek in Burke County North Carolina and after remaining there a few weeks to get supplies marched over the mountain to the headwaters of French Broad River, crossed it, Little and Big Pigeon rivers, Little River, Little Tennessee River, and the Hiwassee River – Applicant states that the main Army lay at the Middle towns in the Cherokee nation, while he with a detachment of about fifteen hundred men marched up the Hiwassee River, he thinks under Colonel Locke or Knox, for the purpose of destroying the Overhill towns of the Cherokees – this detachment marched up the Hiwassee but before they reached the place where the Indians had embodied, they met a part of the southern Army, who had been in pursuit of the same object and had scattered and defeated the Indians, upon which our detachment marched about through the nation and destroyed the crops of the Indians, and burning their towns, and killed those that could be found the main Army marched back along the same general route to Burke County North Carolina the Army was disbanded and applicant returned home – applicant thinks he got home in the latter part of November and thinks as well as he now recollects that he was in actual service in this campaign at least three months – Applicant states that some time as well as he now recollects in the middle of August he does not know whether the August immediately succeeding the first campaign or not, he volunteered to take another tour against the Indians – he joined and enrolled himself at same place in Burke County North Carolina into a Company of horse commanded by Captain John Foster, who was under the command of Colonel Benjamin Harrington – Under the command of the said officers applicant marched across the mountains to the borders of French Broad River which they crossed, and crossing Little & Big Pigeon rivers, Little River, and Little Tennessee, they marched about through the Cherokee nation, killed a few of the Indians, burned their towns, cut down their corn, and returned by the same route, and were discharged applicant thinks he was in service in this campaign between two and three months – Applicant states that sometime in the month of June 1781 as well as he now recollects, he recollects well that he was plowing his corn at the time, the militia of Wilkes County were ordered out to suppress the Tories, he was one of the class who were ordered out and was enrolled as a private into a company commanded by Captain James Henderson, who was attached to a Regiment under the command of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland – under these officers applicant marched with his Regiment to Ramsour's mill in what is now Lincoln County North Carolina where it was understood the Tories had embodied in considerable force. Before applicant and his Regiment however could reach Ramsour's mill the Whigs and Tories had met their and the Tories were driven off – Applicant well recollects when he reached the battleground the Whigs were engaged in burying the slain. The night after they reached Ramsour's there came an express to Colonel Cleveland informing him that the Tories under Colonel Fannan [sic, David Fanning] were collecting near Salisbury – Colonel Cleveland ordered his men to march there with all haste – Applicant states that he marched with his company in that direction until his horse was so overcome that he could go no further, and his Captain gave him leave to go home. Applicant thinks that he was out in actual service at least one month in this campaign – Applicant states that sometime in the month of March or April following the last campaign, the militia of Wilkes County were all ordered out, and applicant was enrolled in a company commanded by Captain John Cleveland, who was under the command of his father Colonel Benjamin Cleveland – under these officers applicant marched down to Cross Creek, or Salisbury where it was said the Tories, under Colonel Fannan were collecting – applicant states his Regiment marched to the Swan ponds on the Yadkin River and were stationed at Major Lewis', eleven days, when Colonel Cleveland discharge one half of his Regiment applicant among the rest when he returned home – Applicant thinks he was in service in this campaign at least one month. Applicant states that from his age and the long time which has elapsed since his services have been performed, he cannot recollect distinctly the time he was in service but feels confident that he must have been in actual service at least seven months as a private, for which he claims a pension – Applicant states he has no record of his age, but from the information of his mother he believes he has stated his age truly – He states that he lived in Wilkes County North Carolina during the whole of his services in the Revolutionary War and for several years after the war, when he moved to Greene County Tennessee where he lived about one year when he moved to Knox County Tennessee where he now lives and has lived for 40 years – he states that the persons with whom he is acquainted in his neighborhood who can testify as to his veracity and the reputation of his military services are Joshua Frost, Mordecai Yarnell, Elijah Hickey, James Scott, William Morris he states that he never received a discharge, to the best of his recollection, for any of his services, nor has he any documentary evidence whatever of his services, nor does he know of any person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services – he hereby relinquishes all claim to and annuity or pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court this 10th January 1833
S/ Wm Swan, D. Clk S/ Mitchil Childress
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $23.33 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for seven months service as a private in the North Carolina militia.]
[Notes: Veteran died August five, 1844; the place of his death is not shown; there is no family data in this file.]
(C) This document was produced at the request of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on July 18, 2019, to document the History, Anthropology, Culture, Religion, and Archaeology of The Chickamauga Nation.