Revolutionary War Record for
Sgt. John Slaughter's Messmates

John Slaughter was born in about 1755 in Virginia. And, the first records we have for "Old John" are from his Revolutionary War service. From pension applications for John's messmates and fellow soldiers with whom he served, we learn what John did and when he did it.

1. From James Potter's 1835 Revolutionary War Pension Application we learn that James Potter and Leonard Shoemaker and John Slaughter were messmates who served from the Chickamauga Expedition through the occupation of the Illinois Territory.

James Potter's Pension Application S. 17023:

[Additional note. Revolutionary War Pension Record S-17023 establish that James Potter was born in 1759 in Connecticut and served in the Virginia Continental Line.  James “entered the army from a place now in Washington County, Virginia.” This James Potter “lived in Cocke County, Tennessee until 1832, moved to Clay County, Missouri about 1838 and died in Platte County, Missouri around 1845.]

[Illinois Regiment of Virginia Volunteers]. . .Sometime in September 1779 as near as he can recollect - and from the Long Islands [Kingsport TN] they marched by water down the Holston to the Tennessee River and down the River to the junction with the Ohio and down the Ohio to the Mississippi and up the Mississippi to the Kaskaskia and stationed about two months from whence he marched by water down the Mississippi to the mouth of the Ohio and up the Ohio to Fort Vangant [Ft. Sackville, Vincennes IN]- where they were stationed during the winter of 1779 - and were marched from thence down to the mouth of the Ohio and from thence to Fort Yellow Back on the Mississippi. During all which ____ they had no engagement except as they went down the Tennessee some Indians fired on them in their canoes in what is now called the _____ inse River but didn't execution nor were they able to find them on pursuit - but some miles below they found six Indians and after a hard row caught them - kept them as prisoners. And after being stationed at Fort Yellow Back during the summer of 80 they were ordered to Kaskaskia [IL] where he was honorable discharged by Col. Montgomery sometime in September as he believes, making a term of twelve months being his term of enlistment.

Declarent does not now recollect the number of the Regiment to which he belonged nor does he know whether it was considered as belonging to Virginia or North Carolina line - as he was young and inexperienced - He states that the Regulars in company amounted to about 150 men - he also recollects that Capt. Thomas Shelby - Capt. Quirk commanded companies in D Regiment. During this campaign he messed with Leonard Shoemaker and John Slaughter and others. . . .

This was sworn before Geo. M. Porter Clerk on August 29, 1835 in Open Court in Cocke County, Tennessee.

    "James Potter," RootsWeb Longhunters Archive, 9 January 1999 <http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/LONGHUNTERS> 29 May 2005.

2. By tracing Leonard Shoemaker, we find John Slaughter in the State of Virginia Revolutionary War Bounty Land recipients. There we learn that John was promoted to Sergeant and credited with three years service in the Virginia Continental Line.

A LIST OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND  SOLDIERS OF THE ILLINOIS REGIMENT AND THE WESTERN ARMY
Under the command of General G. R. Clarke, who are entitled to Bounty in Land
"Reproduced from the 1833 Virginia House of Delegates Journal"
<http://genealogytrails.com/main/bountyland.html> 9 June 2018.
Slaughter John Sergeant Entitled to land for 3 years
Shoemaker Leonard Private Entitled to land for 3 years

And from Leonard's personal history, we learn that these bounty lands were on Flat Creek in Knox Co KY.

[Additional note: Leonard Shoemaker served in the Illinois Regiment from 1/13/1779 until about 7/1780. Later, he served in the Southern Campaign, fighting from King's Mountain NC to Yorktown VA. Leonard probably wasn't discharged until 1782 or 1783 as he is credited with a total of 5 years and 6 months service.]

Leonard Claiborne Shewmaker, Judge, was born on 19 May 1757 in Goochland County VA. He was the son of Evan Shewmaker and Sarah Claiborne. His father was said to have been a fur-trader of Welsh descent. Leonard served in the Rev War from Augusta County VA and later went on an expedition to Kaskaskia (IL) and the Northwest Territory.

On 7 Apr 1787 he married Eunice Ritchie born in 1770. The Couple lived in Botetourt County for four years before going to East TN and settling near Duck River. However, by 1797 the family had moved to Knox County KY and remained for several years. Here, Leonard acquired 500 acres of land on the waters of the Cumberland River and Flat Creek.

    "Shewmaker, Henrico County VA," GenForum Gen Web Page, <http://genforum.genealogy.com/shewmaker/messages/12.html> 22 March 2009.

Doing the Math:
-Leonard served 18 months in the Chickamauga Expedition with LTC Montgomery.
-Leonard served about an additional 24 months in the Southern Campaign under Gen Gates: 18 + 24 = 42 months.
-Leonard is credited with 5 1/2 years total service: 66 months
-66 - 42 = 24: When and where did Leonard serve the additional 24 months.
-And, did Old John serve alongside Leonard at that time?

Recreating the History:
-Speculation: Leonard Shoemaker served from the beginning of the Revolutionary War (2/1776) with Cpt James Shelby of Augusta Co VA, probably with the 7th Virginia Regiment and Morgan's Rangers. Discharged c. 2/1778. And, Leonard took some time off from the war.
-Enlisted 1/1779 in Botetourt VA with the Illinois Regiment. Discharged 7/1780 at Falls of the Ohio KY.
-9/1780 - 9/1782 Served with LTC Montgomery & the Overmountain Men.
-Reasonable conjecture leads to the belief that SGT John Slaughter served alongside Leonard Shoemaker in the Southern Campaign.

3. From Lt. Anthony Crockett's 1832 pension application, we learn a combined history of Morgan's Rangers and the Chickamauga Expedition and the occupation of the Illinois Territory, much of which applies to Sgt. John Slaughter.

Pension application of Anthony Crockett S. 10429:
Transcribed by Will Graves
Pension Statement of Anthony Crockett
State of Kentucky, Franklin County

On this 17th day of December 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justice of the county court of Franklin [KY] now sitting Col. Anthony Crockett a resident citizen of said county and State aged 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 passed the 7th day of June 1832.

-Viz: I Anthony Crockett do hereby solemnly declare that I am now 76 years of age according to the information of my parents and being interrogated by the court according to the directory to the Secretary of War. I further say that I was born in the county of Prince Edward in the state of Virginia, and when very young I removed with my parents to Botetourt County of the same state where I resided when the revolutionary war commenced and that
-in said county in the month of February 1776, I enlisted for two years in Capt. Thomas Posey's company of the 7th Virginia Regiment commanded by Lt. Col. Alexander McClanahan at that time my company marched down to opposite Gwinn's Island at which place and (old) Point Comfort we were stationed as a guard, where we remained until after the Battle of Princeton when my company marched to Philadelphia, where Col. Morgan raised his rifle regiment by selecting men and officers from the army.
-
Capt. Posey and many of his men including myself joined Col. Morgan's Regiment and we were stationed in the vicinity of Philadelphia but were almost continually in motion, during the spring and summer of 1777, we marched several times into New Jersey and had several skirmishes with the British at Bunbrook and Sommerset and Piscatawa and in the month of August 1777 we were ordered to the north to aid our Army in opposing Burgoyne, we marched from near Philadelphia across through New Jersey and struck the North River at Peakskill when we went on board sail boats and sailed up to Albany and from there joined the American army near Still Water, and were actively engaged in the skirmishes and battles which eventuated in the Capture of Burgoyne's army the 17th October 1777 --
-Soon after which event we marched back and joined Genl Washington at White Marsh where we had a skirmish with the British who then occupied Philadelphia and afterwards we attacked some Hessians at a place in New Jersey called Hatternfield about five miles from Philadelphia, we killed some of them and drove the balance to their boats in the Delaware near Philadelphia we then returned to White Marsh where I remained until my time expired and I was honorably discharged and I returned home and in the fall 1778,
-I was commissioned 1st Lieutenant in Capt. Jesse Evans company of the Illinois Regiment raised by Virginia and soon after began to recruit my company which was done during the war 1778-9 and in the spring 1779 on the 14th March, I left home and Rendezvoused my company at Long Island on the Holston down which and Tennessee River we sailed in boats and had several skirmishes with the Indians, and also down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to Kaskaskia where I was stationed until August 1779, when I was ordered to Vincennes where we joined Col. George R. Clarke and in the winter or late in the fall 1779,
-I was ordered back to Virginia by Col. Clarke to recruit more men during the next summer and in 1780 I recruited more men and was engaged in frequent skirmishes with Tories and when the Battle of King's Mountain was fought I was in march with my men to that place
-and in 1781 I returned to Kentucky and was stationed at Gordon's Station in Lincoln and was in frequent pursuit of Indians during that year 1782, and in August 1872 I was on the march with Col. Logan to join our troops in pursuit of the Indians who attacked Bryant's Station but the Battle of the Blue Licks was fought before we got up and it fell to our melancholy lot to aid in burying the dead
-and soon after I marched as Lieutenant with Capt. Ray with Col. Geo. R. Clarke against the Indians on the Great Miami at Piqua where we burnt many towns, and I continued to serve as Lieutenant at Gordon's and M Gary's Stations until the closing of the Revolutionary War, having in the whole served two years in the 7th Virginia Regiment and Morgan's Rifle Regiment and from the month of November or December 1778 as 1st Lieutenant in Capt. Evans company of the Illinois Regiment until the close of the war of the Revolution in the uniform. . of the duties of a Lieutenant as I have a stated above.
-I further declare that I have made a commentary of my age or service having long since lost my discharge and commission, that my services are well known as a Lieutenant of the Illinois Regiment to Col. James Ray and John Smith of Mercer County and William Robertson of Anderson County whose affidavits have been sent to the Secretary of the Treasury, in support of my claim on the state of Virginia for half pay for life, and I hereby relinquish all claim which I may have to a Pension or annuity from the State of Virginia or the United States since the 3rd day of March 1831, excepted the present, Witness my hand this 17th December 1832 S/ A. Crockett

State of Kentucky, Franklin County 
Viz: We William Hickman, Sr. a clergyman residing in the county of Franklin and state aforesaid and James Hunter and Robert McAfee residing the the same county do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Col. Anthony Crockett (now Sergeant at Arms of the Senate of Kentucky) who has submitted and sworn to the above declaration and we believe him to be of the age he has stated, and that he is respected and believed by the neighborhood in which he resides to have been a soldier and officer of the Revolutionary War and we concur in this opinion, and we further certify that he is a highly respected citizen and a man of truth.
Witness our hand this 17th December 1832. S/ Wm. Hickman, Sr. S/ Jas. Hunter S/ Robert McAfee

    "Anthony Crockett Pension Application," Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution, No date <http://southerncampaign.org/pen/s10492.pdf> 5 April 2009.

4. Next we need to know the service records for John Slaughter's commanding officers. From Col. George Rogers Clark's papers, we learn that John was in the company commanded by Cpt. James Shelby:

3497-3-364-366-October 19, 1779: Bottom right document. Capt. John Williams order for 4 day ration for John Slaughter of Capt. Shelby's company.

And by 11/1779, John was promoted to Sergeant:

3912-3-552-553-November 26, 1779: Top right document. Order for rations. Names: Capt. James Shelby, Sergeant John Slaughter.

In 10/1780 John is located at Ft. Jefferson at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers (vic. Wickliffe KY), serving with LTC John Montgomery:

7706-4-1327-1332-October 27, 1780: Account of state of Virginia for sundry disbursement of John Montgomery of Illinois Regiment from July 13, 1779-1780 and an invoice of goods delivered by Israel Dodge at Fort Jefferson. . .Names: Isaac Shelby; Thomas Quirk. . .John Slaughter. . . .

5. Unfortunately, no complete record exists for LTC John Montgomery.

[LTC John Montgomery] was a militia colonel who fought in many early Indian battles and was killed by Indians on Nov. 27, 1794 near Eddyville, Kentucky. Montgomery County, Tennessee was named for him in 1796. Likely the very same Kentucky Colonel who fought with Gen. George Rogers Clark and Benjamin Logan. His wife Phobe and her children moved to Livingston county, Ky. after his death where she died in 1810.

John Montgomery was a Revolutionary patriot of considerable renown. In October, 1777, Captain John Montgomery's Company from the "Wholestons's" of Virginia arrived at Logan's Station to strengthen the defenses of Kentucky. The next year, Montgomery commanded one of the four companies of General George Rogers Clark's "Big Knives" who succeeded, in grasping by surprise the entire Northwest from the hands of the British. After their initial success, Clark entrusted Montgomery to escort the captured Rocheblave, the former British lieutenant governor of the Illinois, to the Virginia capitol at Williamsburg, and to acquaint Governor Patrick Henry with the conditions prevailing in the Northwest, and to plead Clark's case to Governor Henry for reinforcements and supplies. Governor Henry was so impressed with Captain Montgomery's capabilities that he immediately elevated him to the rank of lieutenant colonel, knowing full well that this promotion would place Montgomery in the position of second in command of the Virginia Regiment in the Illinois.

In the absence of General Clark, Montgomery assumed the command of the Illinois Regiment. In the spring of 1780, the British launched an attack on Cahokia destined to annihilate the Americans. They were successfully defeated by Montgomery. Montgomery aggressively took the offensive, pursuing the attackers north to Rock River, where he again defeated his adversaries, destroying their crops and their villages in what was the westernmost battle of the Revolution. The above information on Colonel John Montgomery, for whom it is believed that Caldwell County's Montgomery Fork was named, illustrates that he was not just a run-of-the-mill pioneer. . . .

    "John Montgomery," GenWeb Page, No date <http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:1896898&id=I499> 5 April 2009.

6. Unfortunately, no complete record exists for Cpt. James Shelby's service

7. Reportedly, Sgt. John Slaughter also served under Cpt. Jesse Evans.

8. And from the many other regular soldiers in the Illinois Regiment, we learn a great deal about the units activities and battles fought. From Pvt. Low Brown's 1832 pension application we learn that some soldiers were discharged at Ft. Jefferson before the fort was abandoned.

Pension Application of Low Brown: S5299
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
Virginia Tazwell [sic: Tazewell] County}

On this 25th day of September 1832 personally appeared before the Circuit Superior Court of law and chancery for the county of Tazwell aforsaid Low Brown a resident of the said county of Tazwell and State of Virginia aged seventy six 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 enlisted in the year 1779 [sic: see note below]. with Capt. Jesse Evans, and served in the said Illinois regiment under the following named officers Captain [sic: Colonel] George Rogers Clark, Lieutenant Colo. John Montgomery, in the company of Captain Jesse Evans, that he remained in the service as a militia soldier for the term of eighteen months in the revolutionary war, and that he left the service on the first day of August in the year 1780. [three words illegible] a discharge of that date, which is produced here in court and inspected, and believed to be genuine, by which it appears to be under the hand of Lieutenant Colo. John Montgomery. certifying that his term of enlistment, which was eighteen months had expired at that time; that at the time of his enlistment he was a resident of the county of Montgomery in the State of Virginia, and enlisted in said county; that he marched through the country at present the state of Tennessee and Kentucky; by water from the mouth of Big Creek, which empties into Halsten [sic: Holston River] to the mouth of Tennessee river, and from there to Kaskaskia in Illinois; That he went from there to the Opost on the Wabash, from there to the Iron Banks [Ft. Jefferson] on the Mississippi, and then he was discharged.

That previous to the above enlistment in the spring of 1774 while he was a captain of Montgomery militia under Lieut. John Draper, that he served in Capt. Russell company under Colo. Christie [sic: William Christian], and General Andrew Lewis, that he was marched from Montgomery to the highlands of Greenbriar [sic: Greenbrier River in present West Virginia], and [word illegible] Ge’l. Lewis army, and from there to the mouth of Elk on the Kanawha [near present Charleston WV] and remained there a few days until canoes were made to transport the provisions down the river, and we then marched down the river to the point and that he was then in the battle called the Shawnee battle [sic: Battle of Point Pleasant] which was fought on the 10. day of October 1774. from there he was marched towards the Shawnee towns and met with Governor Dunmore near the town, and was by his order dismissed some time in the month of November 1774. but received no discharge.

That some time between the two terms of enlistment above stated, he was by the order of Colo. [William] Preston to Capt. James Moore, appointed by said Capt. Moore an Indian Spy. and that he acted as such for two years on the waters of Bluestone, Clinch, and New river, and was in company with William McGraw, David English, and Joseph Turner. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state; sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Low Brown.

    "Low Brown Pension Application," Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution, No date <http://southerncampaign.org/pen/s5299.pdf> 5 April 2009.

9. From Micajah Mayfield's 1828 pension application we learn that the exact name of the fort on the Mississippi was Ft. Jefferson.

Name: Micajah Mayfield
Service: VA
Number: S36692
State of Indiana, Knox County

"Be it remembered that on this 7th day of January 1828 personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said county of Knox, Micajah Mayfield now of Sullivan County and state aforesaid who being duly sworn deposeth and saith,

That sometime in the month of January 1779 he enlisted as a soldier in the State of Virginia and he understood that it was the first Virginia Regiment. That the Spring following he was moved under the Command of Colonel John Montgomery to what was then called the Illinois country, and remained there in service until the Summer of 1780 when he removed to Fort Jefferson on the Mississippi, where he remained until the 8th of June 1781 when he ascended the Ohio under the command of Capt. George to Louisville where he remained in the service under the command of Major Wails until he was lawfully discharged sometime in the month of March 1785 which discharge he has long since lost.

This deponent further states that he is now in his 80th year and so infirm that he is unable to procure a comfortable living, that he is nearly blind and has for several years been entirely dependent on the liberality of his friends who are not in affluent circumstances, he therefore hopes and prays the bounty of the government may be extended to him and that he may be placed on the pension list as early as practicable, he should have applied earlier but from his remote and private situation he was ignorant of the offered bounty of the government.

Micajah (his mark) Mayfield
Signed, acknowledged and sworn to before me this 7th day of January 1827
Joseph Chamberg"

    "Micajah Mayfield's Revolutionary War Pension Application," Mayfield Family Genealogy, No date, <http://mayfield02.tripod.com/pension_application.htm> 5 April 2009.

10. From James Kincaid's 1833 Pension Application we learn about fighting in the Powell Valley of Virginia before the advance into the Illinois Territory.

[Additional note: James and John (sons of Capt. John Kincaid) decided to enlist in Col. George Rogers Clark's Illinois campaign on the Ohio River. They served under Col. John Montgomery and were sent as reinforcements for Clark after his Vincennes Campaign. After descending to the Falls of the Ohio they hid their canoes and headed inland and engaged in several battles, destroying several Indian towns and their stores of food. Opost, a principle British outpost was finally retaken by Clark's forces. Among the officers James and Joseph fought along side were Captain Todd, and a Leftenant Davey Crockett. John Kincaid would soon find himself fighting along side Davey's father in the forthcoming Kings Mountain Battle.]

RW Pension Statement of James KINCAID S. 16907,
application dated 5 Nov 1833,
Lafayette Co, MO:

"...I entered the service Of the United States under Captain John DUNKIN. At this time my father lived in a settlement called Castle's Woods on Clinch River about 25 miles north of Abingdon, Virginia, a frontier fort. Powell Valley had been settled, but the settlers had been run off by the Indians. A good many of them could not bring their plunder with them, but had hid it. John DUNKIN was ordered out with a company of militia to guard the people who had left their property behind them, to collect it together and bring it into the settlements. I was one of DUNKIN'S company. At this time Captain Joseph MARTIN was stationed at Rye Cove Fort on Clinch River in order to guard the frontiers of Virginia. He kept two spys, who were brothers, to wit: John and James BUNCH.

"When we got into the valley we met with these spys. They they returned with us down to what was called MARTIN'S Station in said valley, but we found no one there - they had all fled. One of the settlers that was with us, who had fled from the valley by the name of DAVIS. Before the people fled he had lived at OWEN's Station, ten miles below MARTIN's Station. We took up at MARTIN's Station. Sometime after, DAVIS petitioned DUNKIN for a few men to go down to OWEN'S Station with him to collect his plunder. Five men was granted him, one of whom was James BUNCH. They went to the Station and collected the plunder accordingly, as I understood, and returning back to the camp the Indians waylaid the path and fired upon them and wounded BUNCH, and killed a man by the name of  BOWMAN at the place, and wounded another by the name of JOHNSON, so BUNCH related, for he returned with him a piece, but he never got in. Three of them got in that night, two of whom was BUNCH and DAVIS.

"The next day DUNKIN went down with all his force, save a few left to guard the wounded. This affiant was one that went down. We went to the place and there found BOWMAN dead. DAVIS took us to a tree where he said and [sic] Indian stood whom he shot at. We went to the place and found a great deal of blood. We then took his trail and followed them, but not a great ways, as it appeared they had scattered. We returned back and buried the dead, thence to camp. This circumstance broke up the expedition.

"Bunch grew very sick and we had to take him to his company at the Rye Cove. We were then all dismissed and returned home. As well as I can recollect, this took place in 1776. I do not recollect the particular month, except that it was in warm weather. . . .

Illinois Regiment of Virginia Volunteers information missing. . . .

In the written deposition taken when James was 70 years old on November 9, 1833 by Judge John J. Ryland, of the Circuit Court of Lafayette County Missouri, Judge Ryland goes on to transcribe the whiteness who could corroborate James' testimony:

The petitioner states that he has lived in the State of Missouri for a little upward of four years, but in this part of the State where he now resides (Camden Point) not more than two or three months. And he does not know of a person within a convenient reach to whom he can refer that are knowing of his service. But that he was living in Kentucky for about Fifty Years and has extensive acquaintances in that State. There he would refer the department to the following men for character and factual corroboration: the Honorable Robert P. Letcher, the Honorable Martin Brady, the Honorable James Sarr, the honorable W. T. Barry. If the department deems it necessary the petitioner states that he could procure the testimony of the following men who live in this State but at a considerable distance. To whit; Captain Jesse Evins, in the Illinois Expedition, Colonel Benjamine Cooper, who was also in the Battle of Blue Licks, and also a William John Callaway who was on the Expedition to Kentucky with the applicant under the command of Colonel John Bowman. The petitioner further states that he relinquishes claim to any (other) claim of pension or annuity except the one he has presently, and declares that his name is not on the roll of any (other) state. Swarm to and subscribe to this day and year aforesaid.
Signed; James Kincaid

    Probate Records, Platte County Missouri File 115, 13 July 1841 proof of affidavit: "James Kincaid a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States, State of Missouri, departed this life on the eighth day of July ad 1841".

11. From Lt Joseph Ramsey's 1839 pension application we learn that he was a recruiting officer in the vicinity of Washington Co VA in 1/1779. And, he possibly recruited John Slaughter for the Illinois Regiment.

[Additional note: In 1845 or 1846 Mary Ann Ramsey, 71, applied for a pension and for restoration of a portion of her late husband’s pension that had been withheld because of his alleged indebtedness to the United States, as well as an increase in pension for which he had applied. She stated that Joseph Ramsey died on 16 June 1845. She could not recall the date of her marriage, but stated that her eldest son, Thomas, was then 54.]

Pension Application of Joseph Ramsey: S7348
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia}
County of Wythe} S.S.

On this 14 day of October 1839 personally appeared in open court before Christopher Brown, Thomas Sanders, Robert Sayers, and William Groseclose the court of Wythe County now sitting, Joseph Ramsay a resident of the county & state aforesaid aged seventy eight years & ten months 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 7 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he enlisted in the service of the State of Virginia at that time called the colonial service under the command of Captain John Montgomery in the January of 1778. in the county of Montgomery & state aforesaid where he then lived and marched to Harrodsburg in the State of Kentucky which was at that period a part of the State of Virginia this declarant remained there but a short time & then marched to the Falls of the Ohio where Louisville now stands, where the company to which he belonged joined the Illinois Regiment under the command of Col. George Rogers Clark. From there he marched with the Regiment to Illinois and was present at the taking of Kaskaskia [4 July 1778]. This declarant states that he does not recollect others of the field officers who commanded at that period than Major Bowman and Col Clark he having returned to [one or two illegible words] guard[?] to Ross[?] Clark who was a prisoner taken at Kaskaskia under the command of Capt. Montgomery. This declarant remained in the county of Montgomery now a portion of which is Wythe County until the return of Capt Montgomery who went on to Richmond in Virginia in company with the Prisoner who was there promoted to the Rank of Colonel and directed by the Governor of Virginia who was Thomas Jefferson [sic: Patrick Henry, succeeded by Jefferson on 1 June 1779] to raise a Regiment in Virginia. In the month of January 1779. this declarant was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the company commanded by Captain Thomas Quirk & detached to Colonel John Montgomerys Regiment. The regiment so commanded by Col. Montgomery marched in the Spring of 1779 to Illinois & was there commanded by Gen’l Clark who had been promoted from the rank of Colonel. After the regiment to which this declarant belonged reached Kaskaskia an expedition against Detroit was undertaken & the army under the command of Clark was ordered upon that Expedition. After they reached Opost now Vincennes a counsel was held & the Expedition abandoned. After the failure of this expedition against Detroit, this declarant and one Captain Jesse Evans were sent into the settlements as recruiting officers. Evans went to Richmond in Virginia for instructions whether they should enlist soldiers for the period of three years or during the war when Evans returned this declarant commenced his recruiting service & was stationed at the Lead Mines in the now county of Wythe [near Fort Chiswell]. he continued this service until the fall of the year 1780. when the recruits were sent to join the Illinois Regiment.

This Declarant conducted the recruits on their way to the west and meeting with General Clark in the Wilderness of Kentucky on the 1st of November 1780. he there resigned his commission as Lieutenant & returned home. Soon after his return he volunteered under the command of Colonel William Preston on an Expedition into North Carolina against the English Army under the command of Cornwallis. Shortly after their arrival they had an engagement with the English at Whitsels or Whitsels Mills in the County of Guilford [Wetzel’s Mill on Reedy Fork, 6 March 1781] & another skirmish on the Allamance river [sic: possibly the skirmish at Clapp’s Mill on Alamance Creek, 4 March 1781]. This declarant does not now remember the length of his services in this service, but he continued during the time Preston was on the Expedition. This declarant had until recently in his possession the pay rolls of this company to which he belonged under the command of Captain Quirk in the Illinois regiment & the commission or Instructions of the Governor to recruit for that service. He believes that his name is to be found in the Army Rolls for the State of Virginia. He further states that he does not know of anyone now living who can testify as to the length of time he served during the Revolutionary War, but he can prove that was in that service. This declarant further states that he was in the service from January 1778 regularly until the 1 of November 1780. being a period st of near three years. That the term of his services under Preston was nearly equal to if not more than two months, but of this he is not certain.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the Agency of any State Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid [signed] Joseph Ramsey.

    "Joseph Ramsey Pension Application," Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution, No date <http://southerncampaign.org/pen/s7348.pdf> 5 April 2009.

12. From Thomas Howard's 1833 pension application we learn about the many fights in the Northwest and have a list of many of the unit's commanders.

[Additional note: The Canadians and French Creoles, and Indians all joined to lay waste the settlements in Kentucky” probably refers to attacks in 1780 by an army mostly of Indians but possibly including French Canadians, all under the command of British Col. Alexander McKee from Detroit.
On 2 Dec 1871 in Magoffin County KY Mrs. Frances Howard, 90, applied for a pension declaring that she married Thomas Howard on or about 15 Aug 1796 and that he died on 27 Jan 1853. A typed summary states that Thomas Howard died in Morgan County KY, and it cites conflicting dates and places of the marriage.]

Pension Application of Thomas Howard: S45796
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Kentucky}
Perry County Sct} SS.

On this 24 day of December 1833. personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for Perry County now sitting Thomas Howard a resident in the county of Perry and state of Kentucky aged eighty three 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 7. 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, under Col John Montgomery, Captain Jesse Evans Lieutenant Anthony Crockett in the state of Virginia in the county of Montgomery on the – day of June in the year 1778 for three years – from Mong’y the army all met at the Long Isl’ds of Holstien [sic: Long Islands of the Holston River at present Kingsport TN], and went down that river to the Tennessee, to the Ohio to the Mississippi, up to the mouth of the Illinois river and up it to Kaskaskia river. Remained there for some time. We marched to Vincennes on the Wabash river, & this applicant remained till the Spring of 1779. During which time, the portion of the troops had several small fights with the Indians, and in the month of July 1779. We marched across to the falls where Col Clarkes [sic: George Rogers Clark’s] Regiment had assembled and was stationed he was some times called Gen Clark, he remained here until next year at the falls, and remained here until during that summer he accompanied the army to Piccaway [sic: Piqua] where the battle ensued between Gen Clark and the Indians [8 Aug 1780] Gen Clarks Regt and the Kentucky forces entirely overcame them during this year 1780. the Indians had attacked Bonsboro [sic: Boonesborough KY], had killed several men, one near Lexington and one on Licking River, and had taken Riddle Fort [sic: Ruddle’s Station]., he forgot to mention that during the year 1778 over on the waters of the Miamis [sic: Great and Little Miami rivers in Ohio] we took an Indian Town the name of which this applicant cant remember. After the battle at Piccaway this applicant went back with the most of the troops to the falls and here staid until next April 1781. four companies then marched up on the Kentucky side to where Cincinnati now stands and the Americans built two block houses on the Cincinnati side and two or rather repaired one & built one on the other during the battle at Piccay. He deems it proper to state that A Crockett receiv’d several wounds from the Indians – he will not swear as to dates but believes it was in June 1781 he received his discharge. During 1779/80 many small affairs took place between the Indians and the Kentucky settlements and often the troops were attacked on passing between Hardonburg [sic: probably Harrodsburg KY] and some killed, the Canadians and French Creoles, and Indians all joined to lay waste the settlements in Kentucky – After receiving his discharge for three years he returned with his brother, and several to Montgomery county VA where he lived until he came to Licking where he now resides.

He lost his discharge, or done something with it, it has been fifty years since he seen it. in fact and truth he does not know what has become of it – He was promised land when he enlisted which he never got. He has no documentary evidence in his favor, but is certain his name is on the pay roll at the board of war. He knew he thinks one or two Regular officers in the continental service, To wit Col. Crockett from Shaneydoy [sic: Shenandoah] County VA.  I always understood he was a regular officer, he came to the falls from Fort Pitt, during the year 1779. or 80. with a Regt from VA, he knew Col Benj. Logan of Kentucky, Col Montgomery, Gen Clark, Col Bomar and Major Bomar. Major Hugh McGany of Ky, Col Canniday Capt Benton and Col Hart, he knew Col [William] Preston of VA, He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state – Sworn to and subscribed the day and year afores’d.
[signed] Thomas Howard

Qu’t 1st: Where and  in what year were you born?
Ans. I was born in Georgia (in Wilkes county now) on the 8th day of June 1750.
2d Qu: Have you any record of your age and if so where is it
Ans I have now record at my house or elsewhere that I know of but know my age from my father having set down my age in a book and having seen it often
3rd Qus. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
Ans. In Montgomery county Virginia – and moved here thirty seven years since the Revolutionary war and I now live in Perry county Kentucky it was a new county formed out of Floyd, and Clay counties. the place where I now live on was formed in Floyd –
4th. How were you called into service, where you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Ans. I was enlisted for three years and promised land when I enlisted which I never got in my life–
5th State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such continental and militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.
Ans. I know many officer’s names that served but cannot distinguish who were regulars and who were not. fifty years or more has passed by since the service was rendered by me and being physically defective and very old I may be easily mistaken. There was Gen Clarke who was commander, Col. Bomar he was a militia Col. for I knew him in Virginia before he came to Kentucky. Col Montgomery also there was a Col Crockett from Shenandoah perhaps was a regular officer. Col. Logan lived in KY not far from Harodsburg as I understood and Hugh McGairy a Maj. and in KY some where. There was several Militia Regiments along when I first went to Kaskaskia, and when the army took an Indian town called Opost. I however was not along when the main fight took place. And also when we whipt the Indians at piccway on the Miamis–the general circumstances of my service are fully stated in the declaration it is a matter of impossibility to remember everything or is it necessary to mention every account that occurred during the service, a minute detail would swell this statement to many pages – However my self and Brother James agreed to enlist for three years in Virginia and done so under the promise of land & our father having been murdered by the Indians and everything taken from us we went from low down on New River, and enlisted, neither of us having families, we marched from Montgomery to the Long Islands of . . . .

    "Thomas Howard Pension Application," Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution, No date <http://southerncampaign.org/pen/s45796.pdf> 5 April 2009.

 

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This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
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