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On this 2 day of
October personally appeared in Open Court before the Justices of the Court
of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting, William Hope, a resident of the
County of Williamson and the State of Tennessee, aged seventy one years, who
being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed
June 7th, 1832.
That he was born June 28th 1761 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In 1772 his
father moved to South Carolina and settled in York District, where he was
raised. About the 1st of April 1779 he was drafted in Capt. Byers’ company
and was marched under Lieutenant Henry to Orangeburgh, and there joined the
regiment under Colonel Neal, was at Orangeburgh several days and then went
on to Charleston where the regiments stayed a few days. During one of the
nights they staid there, the British marched up to attack the town, but
finding the American Army prepared did not make the attempt. Major Hughee
was accidentally killed by a shot from the Americans. [Page torn] went by
Dorchester to Bacon’s Bridge on Ashley River and joined Gen. Williamson’s
Brigade in Gen. Lincoln’s Army and went from thence to Stono. His term of
service was then out. He does not recollect the precise time but thinks it
was the last of June or beginning of July.
After the British took Charleston, in 1780 and had spread all over South
Carolina, Gen. Singleton formed a camp at Mecklenburgh County, North
Carolina, and some time toward the last of June, he volunteered in Captain
Moffitt’s company and went to Sumpter’s camp in Colonel Bratin’s regiment
and staid there some time. About this time the British burnt Hill’s, Iron
Works and the regiment in which he then was, was sent over the Catawba river
into South Carolina, and he was there constantly out on scouting parties
over the whole country until after Tarleton’s defeat on the 17th of January
1781.
The week after his defeat Cornwallis went on through the country with the
British Army, and the next week General Sumpter took a tour down through
South Carolina, with about 300 men. He had then volunteered in Capt.
Venable’s company, in Colonel Hawthorne’s regiment and went with them and
attacked Friday’s Fort on the Congaree river, but without success. They then
attacked another at Colonel Thompson’s on the same river, but were again
unsuccessful. They then fell in with 16 wagons belonging to the British,
with a guard of 40 or 50 men. They killed several of the guards and took the
rest prisoners – burned the wagons – and loaded the plunder they had taken
in boats and sent it down the river with a view to meet it again, but the
British had a fort at Wright’s Bluff and in going down the river […?] the
British firing upon them before they were aware that they were near them.
The British retook the plunder taken from the wagons and the Americans swam
their horses across the river, in hopes of regaining their boats, but had at
length to leave the place with the loss of several brave men. They then went
by Black River, then by Linche’s[?] Creek where they had another fight and
[…?] from there, home.
About the middle of December 1780 he was drafted in Capt. Henry’s company
and attached to Capt. Henderson’s company in Col. Moffitt’s regiment. He
then went to Orangeburgh and served a three month tour which was the last of
his service. He believes he served in all upwards of twelve[?] months.
In the year 1790 he moved to Cabarras County in North Carolina and lived
there six years; then moved back to York District, South Carolina, where he
had formerly lived. In the year 1802 he came to Tennessee; settled on
Stone’s River, and in 1810 he moved into this county (Williamson) where he
has lived ever since.
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 any
agency of any state.
[signed] Wm. Hope
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] Thos. Hardeman, Clk.
To all whom it may concern. I, Hugh Allison of Davidson County and state of
Tennessee, do certify that I have been acquainted with William Hope
personally since the year 1780. I lived in South Carolina, York District, at
the above date and within three miles of the above named William Hope, and
after the British took Charleston and Lord Cornwallis marched his army
through our country, and William Hope, from the best information, was
generally with the American troops fighting the enemies of our country, my
father and one uncle [were] part of the time with him.
[signed] Hugh Allison
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] Thos. Hardeman, Clk.
We, Robert Davis, a clergyman, residing in the town of Franklin, County of
Williamson and State of Tennessee and William Reed residing in the same
County and State, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William
Hope, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe
him to be 70 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the
neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and
we concur in that opinion.
[signed] Robert Davis, Wm. Reed
Sworn and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] Thos. Hardeman, Clk.
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