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On this 1st day
of September 1832, personally appeared in open court before me, Thomas
Stuart, presiding judge now sitting, Robert Guthrie aged 75 the 24th day of
last October, a resident of said County and State who being duly sworn
according to law doth on oath make the following declaration in order to
obtain the benefit of the provision of the Act of Congress passed 7th June
1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following
named officers, and served as herein stated; to wit:
I was living in the Waxhaw settlement, Camden District, South Carolina, when
I first entered the service being drafted to go down toward Charleston,
where the British were expected. I did not go on this expedition in
consequence of a proposition made that any who would go on another
expedition against the Indians who were doing great damage in a place called
‘fair forest’ might be exempted from the first expedition. I acceded to this
proposition. I was drafted for a tour of three months. I entered in the
company of Captain James Adams in my nineteenth year in 1776. We were
marched to a place called Paince[?] Fort where we guarded the country from
Indian depredations. After putting down the Indians we were marched home. I
did not get a discharge for this three month tour.
I remained at home until the year 1778 when I was drafted again to go
against the British who had possession of Savannah City, Georgia. In this
tour of three months I entered into Captain Montgomery’s company and he
marched us from Camden District to Purysburgh where General Lincoln
commanded a division. I was in Colonel Joseph Cashaw’s regiment. At
Purysburgh we lay stationed in order to prevent the British from the Georgia
side crossing over into South Carolina. At the expiration of this tour of
three months I returned home where I remained until Charleston fell into the
possession of the British, on which event taking place the whole state of S.
Carolina was continually infested with the ravages and depredations of the
Tories who rose on all sides and all places and being well acquainted with
the country and sometimes under the mask of Whigs, done more damage than the
British. I was continually in the service from Charleston’s falling into the
possession of the British until Sumpter’s defeat which was a few weeks after
Gates’ defeat; which time I think was about three months.
I cannot recollect every circumstance at this time which took place, but can
state some of the events. I was at the battle of Rocky Mount where a
considerable body of British and Tories under Col. Turnbul were posted. I
had entered Capt. Coffee’s company which was attached to Col. Cashaw’s
regiment in which Robert Crawford was Major. I was marched to Rocky Mount,
and General Sumpter commanded us in that engagement. We were repulsed with
considerable loss. From this place General Sumpter marched to Land’s Ford on
the Catawby[?] River where laying some time with his men, he crossed that
river and marched to the Hanging Rock where he was defeated. I was not in
the battle of the Hanging Rock being sick at that time.
After Sumpter’s defeat I was frequently in scouting parties against the
Tories who still, at every opportunity, infested the country. I was
sometimes under Captain Coffee and sometimes under, I think, Captain
Kimbrol. We went about this country and prevented the Tories from doing
damage. I think the whole of my service after Sumpter’s defeat amounted to
at least six months.
I was born 1757. I lived in Camden District until 1788 when I moved to
Kentucky, living two years in Lincoln County, two or three years in […?]
County and in Madison 8 or 9 years when I moved to Williamson County,
Tennessee where I have been living ever since and now live. I have a record
of my age in my bible at home taken from my father’s family bible.
I am acquainted with Thomas Hardeman, Robert Davis and George Nealy who can
certify to my character as a soldier of the Revolution and their belief of
my services. I know of no person in this country except George Nealy who can
certify to my services as stated.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the
present and declare my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any
state. I was acquainted with Gen. Sumpter, Col. Lacy, Major Crawford & etc.
who were with their troops when I served.
[signed] Robert Guthrie
Sworn to & subscribed in open court ))
1st September 1832 ))
[signed] P. Hay, Clk. & etc.
We, Robert Davis, a clergyman resident in the County of Williamson, State of
Tennessee and Thomas Hardeman, a resident in the same County and State, do
hereby certify that we have long been acquainted with Robert Guthrie, that
we believe him to be 75 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the
neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and
that we concur in that opinion.
[signature and certification page missing]
On the 20th day of January in the year of our Lord 1842, personally appeared
before me, William R. Henry, Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit of the
State of Tennessee in open court, Mary Guthrie, a resident of the said
County and State aforesaid, aged about 81 years, who being first duly sworn
according to law, doth swear and makes the following declaration, in order
to obtain the benefit of the pension made by the Act of Congress and passed
July 7th, 1836. That she is the widow of Robert Guthrie who was a Private of
Infantry in the Revolutionary War.
She further declares that she is unable to prove the service performed by
her said husband and for proof refers to his declaration filed in his
lifetime, and the office of the War Department at Washington City, where she
is informed proof exists. She further declared that she was married to the
said Robert Guthrie on the 7th day of March 1780 and that her husband, the
aforesaid Robert Guthrie, died on the 13th day of April 1838, and that she
has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by
the proof hereto annexed.
[signed] Mary Guthried
Sworn to & subscribed before me on the ))
Day and year above written ))
[signed] Wm. R. Harris
[Pages apparently torn from family Bible]
Adam Guthrie was born first of October 1769
Mary Taylor was born the [?] of December Annodom 1760
Robert Guthrie & Mary Taylor w[ere] married the [?] of March in the year of
our Lord Annodom 1780.
David Houston Gates was born the 19th day of October in the year of our Lord
1796.
Jacob Finly Guthrie was born the 15th day of September in the year of our
Lord 1803.
Elisebeth Guthrie was born the 20th day of February .annodominy 18[?]
William Ferguson Guthrie was born [?] September 1785
James Guthrie was born the 4th day of December in the year of our Lord Anom.
1787.
Robert Guthrie was born the 29th[?] of March Anodom 1790.
Samuel Taylor Guthrie was born the 3rd day of June Anodom 1793.
Lancaster County ))
So. Carolina ))
Sept. 5, 1788
It is hereby certified that Robert Guthrie & Mary his [page torn] lived in
the Waxhaw congregation many years, behaved them [page torn] & holy. Hath[?]
been admitted into full communion in the church & conducted them-selves as
good members, leaves us without […?] or anything known to us that can
justice […?] them there to & going to […?] may be treated as herein
recommended by Christians of every denomination when God [page torn] his
providence may [page torn]. It is likewise certi[page torn] Robert Guthrie
have officiated some years in the office of a ruling Elder & in every
particular has discovered[?] a faithfulness in the discharge of his duties
of that important office. Certified by the order of Session.
[signed] R. W[?] Finley
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