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On this 24th day
of August, 1832, before the Hon. Thomas Stuart, Judge of the Fourth Judicial
Circuit for the state of Tennessee now sitting, James Turner, a resident of
the county of Williamson and state of Tennessee aged 76 years who being
first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the benefits of an Act of Congress passed
June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States about April 1776, as a
volunteer under the following officers: Captain George Samuel (rest of
company officers not recollected), commanded by Col. William Moore and
attached to the Brigade commanded by General Butler and marched over the
following country; from Caswell Courthouse he marched to Hillsboro, North
Carolina, to Cross Creek and to a small place named Camden, S.C. and was
there discharged about two months after he entered the service, a day in
June following, he was in no engagements or battles nor received any
discharge.
Entered the service a second time as a substitute for a person whose name he
has forgotten about July 1776, under Captain Falker commanded by Col.
William Moore attached to General Butler’s Brigade. He marched towards
Halton[?] River to attack the Indians but heard that they were defeated and
returned home and was discharged in September same year, received a
discharge but destroyed it believing it to be of no value.
Entered the service a third time on the 19th day of May 1780, as a drafted
militiaman under the following officers; Captain Robert Parks, Lieutenant
George Oldham and Ensign John Oldham, commanded by Col. Stephen Moore, Major
Bilfield attached to General Butler’s Brigade, marched from Caswell
Courthouse, North Carolina to Hillsborough to Cheraw Hills to Rugeley’s
Mills and marched again for Camden, South Carolina and met the British army
commanded by Lord Cornwallis at which time he was defeated, together with
General Gates’ army and returned home and immediately returned to the army
again and was marched to Salisbury in North Carolina, and there discharged
some time in December 1780. He was in only one battle of Gates’ defeat,
received no discharge. He recollects that he served with and under the
following officers at Gates’ defeat; General Gates, Col. Richardson of
Virginia Regulars, Col. Dickson and Major Sharp.
Entered the service a fourth time some time in the year 1781, as a volunteer
under Colonel William Moore and served about one month during which time he
was at the battle of Guilford. The other particulars relative to this
campaign he does not recollect. He received no discharge.
Entered the service a fifth time as a volunteer in the fall of the year
1781, under Captain John Douglas, commanded by Col. William O’Neal to harass
and keep down the Tories and was absent about two months during which time
he was in no engagements except that with Col. Fannen of the Tories which as
well as he now recollects was during the campaign. He received no discharge
for any of the above services except one two month tour which he disposed of
aforesaid.
He further states that he knows of no person who can prove his services
except Thomas Miles who served with him in the term commencing on the 29th
day of May 1780, but in a different regiment and was an Ensign, under whose
command he fell after the defeat of Gates owing to there being many small
companies and under whom he served a short time and was discharged at
Salisbury as aforesaid.
He was born on the 9th October 1756, in Culpeper County, Virginia where he
entered the service of the United States at the several times above
specified, he resided in the county of Caswell in North Carolina.
After the Revolution he lived in Caswell County until the year 1808 at which
time he moved to Tennessee and has resided in Williamson County aforesaid.
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 whatever.
[signed] James Turner
Sworn to and subscribed ))
the day and year aforesaid ))
[signed] Preston Hay, clerk of
Williamson Circuit Court in the State of Tennessee
I, Thomas Miles, do hereby certify that I am a resident of Williamson
County, Tennessee and am well acquainted with James Turner who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That I served with him in the
campaign of the Revolutionary War beginning on the 29th day of May 1780, and
ending in December following but under different officers and in different
regiments as detailed in his above declaration. that he was at the defeat of
General Gates and that after the men had been collected after the battle,
that he was placed in the company in which I was an Ensign and there
remained until discharged at Salisbury in North Carolina and that he is
reputed to have served several other campaigns and that I concur in that
opinion and also that I believe him to be 76 years of age.
Sworn to and subscribed )) [signed] Thos Miles
the day and year aforesaid ))
[signed] Preston Hay, clk &c
October 21, 1939
S.1881
Mrs. Callie Turner Sessuns
406 East Methvin Street
Longview, Texas
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War
record of James Turner, who served from North Carolina, and was a pensioner
of Williamson County, Tennessee, in 1832.
The data which follows were obtained from the papers in file in Pension
Claim S. 1881, based upon the service of James Turner in the Revolutionary
War.
James Turner was born October 9, 1755, in Culpeper County, Virginia, the
names of his parents not given.
While a resident of Caswell County, North Carolina, he enlisted and served
as private in the North Carolina troops at different times, shown as
follows: from about April 1778, two months in Captain George Samuel’s
company, Colonel William Moore’s regiment; from July 1776, until September
of that year in Captain Falker’s company, Colonel William Moore’s regiment,
from May 29, 1780 until December 1780, in Captain Robert Park’s company,
Colonel Stephen Moore’s regiment, during which he was in the battle of
Gates’ defeat; in 1781, one month under Colonel William Moore (name of his
Captain not given), during which he was in the battle of Guilford; in the
fall of 1781, two months in Captain John Douglass’ company, Colonel William
O’Neal’s regiment, during which he was engaged against the Tories.
James Turner continued to reside in Caswell County, North Carolina, until
1808, when he moved to Tennessee.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 24, 1832 at which
time he resided in Williamson County, Tennessee. James Turner made no
reference to wife or children.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of
person paid and, possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should
address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and
furnish the following data:
James Turner
Certificate #7117
Issued March 2, 1833
Rate $35.00 per annum
Commenced March 3, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Very Truly Yours,
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant
To the Administrator
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