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On the 26th day
of October, 1832, personally appeared in open court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions in the county aforesaid, Richard Vernon a resident of said county
of Davidson aged 74 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 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 here stated:
I first entered the service of the United States about the 15th February
1776, while living in Guilford County, N Carolina as a Lieutenant in Capt.
John Leak’s command which was attached to the militia of Guilford County
commanded by Col. Jas Martin. We marched about the above named time under
Col. Martin from Guilford in an operation against the Scots Tories near
Fayetteville, where we were under the command of Alexander Martin Col. of
the first regiment of N Carolina troops and Gen. Rutherford. This part of my
service is proved by the certificate of Col. Martin, marked (A) and who
resides in N Carolina, Stokes County. Immediately after my return from this
tour, there being a call for men to go to Wilmington, near where in the
Capes the British having appeared. I entered Capt. Leak’s company as a
Lieutenant, Col. James Martin commanding again and we marched to Wilmington
but before we arrived, the British having continued to Charleston we halted
and returned. I was 30 days in service in this expedition which added to my
first tour making a little more than three months. I next volunteered about
the first of August 1776, (being there in the first Division in consequence
of my first tour of service), in Capt. Leak’s company and served as
Lieutenant. This expedition was against the Cherokee Indians. We marched
about the above date from Guilford under Col. James Martin to Salisbury
where we fell under the command of Gen. Rutherford. From thence we marched
through the country to Indian Nation and after having destroyed a number of
their towns and villages we returned. However, on 21st of October, 1776, at
Cathier’s[?] fort near 220 miles from home I took the certificate marked (B)
of James Hunter Pack Master Gen. certifying that I have four horses as pack
horses in the service of this expedition, and a driver and the same day, I
took all the sick of the company I was in and conducted them from Cathier’s[?]
Fort home where I arrived some time in November 1776, being out in this tour
a little more than three months. This tour of service is also proved by Col.
Martin’s certificate marked (A) as above.
About the 15th March 1780, I volunteered in Capt. Bethel’s company in which
I served as Lieutenant and Robert Nelson as Ensign. We marched about the
time above stated from Guilford for the relief and defense of Charleston
(S.C.). Bethel’s company was attached to a regiment commanded by Col. Joseph
Brannon in Gen. Caswell’s Brigade. We entered S Carolina about the first of
April, 1780. We marched by Camden, from thence to a place called Monk’s
Corner near Charleston, which the British, we understood, had entered as to
make it impossible for us to give Charleston any assistance. On the 11th
April or there about the British under Tarlton attacked us at Monk’s Corner
and routed us after which we collected our scattered ponies and marched to a
place called the Big savanah on Santee River, where we remained until Gen.
Caswell with his Brigade came to us. Whence we marched to Dupree’s Ferry on
Santee where we remained some time acting as guards on the ferry until we
heard of the complete fall of Charleston. We then, under Gen. Caswell fell
back to Camden and from thence we marched to N Carolina, soon after this my
term of three months expired. This tour is proved by Austin Smith’s
certificate marked (C) who lives in Abbeville, S Carolina and who obtained a
pension under the Act of 1818. This certificate is not certified by the
Clerk but by the Justices of the Court of Abbeville District. We were
disbanded about the last of June or first of July, having served upwards of
three months in this tour. About the 25th of August 1780 and even after
Gates’ defeat at Camden, I entered Capt. Peay’s company and served as
Lieutenant. We were attached to Col. Pasely’s regiment of N Carolina
militia. After rendezvousing at Guilford we marched under Col. Pasely to
Salisbury where we joined Gen. Davidson’s Brigade and were marched by him to
the County of Mecklenburg to McCalpin’s Creek where the British coming on
us, we retreated to the North side of Adkin river; on our retreat we were
over taken by the English and had a slight skirmish with them near Charlotte
in which several men were killed among whom was William Rankins, and a Wm
Lock of my acquaintance. Capt. Peay taking sick soon after the commencement
of our return, the command of the company devolved to me. Col. Pasely was
dispatched with about 700 men from headquarters on the Adkin, among which
was Capt. Peay’s company commanded by me, to disperse a body of about 380
Tories collected on the shallow ford of the Adkin in Surrey County, N
Carolina. About the time we attacked them they were attacked in the rear by
some troops from the other side. We killed several and took 30 or 40
prisoners, among the killed was Capt. Jas Bryant. Col. Pasely took charge of
the prisoners and we conducted them to Moravian Town and left them under
guard. From there we returned to headquarters. The British having retreated
to Waynesborough, S Carolina, Gen. Davidson marched us down about the Waxhaw
settlement and took up winter quarters at a place called New Providence
where Col. Morgan joined us. Also Col. Howard commanding the Maryland
Continental troops, while we remained here Col. Morgan was promoted to Gen.
and Col. Howard’s Battalion was attached to his Brigade. We remained here
until my minor tour of service expired. I got a discharge for three months
service as Lieutenant signed by Arthur Forbes, Capt. Commandant, (Colonel
Pasely being about with the sick) and Wm Davidson, Brigadier Gen. on the
28th November 1780; (as proved by the discharge itself marked (D)). The date
of the discharge is torn off and obliterated. This tour is also proved by
the certificate marked (C) of Austin Smith, also by a receipt for a
discharge of a tour of duty marked (E) signed by John Pratt, stating as a
private in Peay’s company then under my command.
About the first of February 1781, I was appointed Capt. in the upper part of
Capt. Peay’s District and being too large for one company as proved by the
commission marked (E) signed by Col. Jas Martin, there never being a date to
it or if there was it is torn off. In pursuance of which commission I raised
a company and marched under Col. Martin to join Gen. Greene who was then
retreating through North Carolina. We joined in with him near Halifax,
Virginia. Cornwallis having quit pursuit of Greene turned into Hillsborough,
North Carolina. The latter then returned back and marched us into Guilford
County where I was ordered to raise a company of mounted infantry and joined
him as soon as this was done. I was taken from under Benj. Ford D. A. Gen.
of Gen. Greene’s army. Our duty was to write up sesses[?] and pilate[?] of
various detachments of our men. While we remained at Guilford I received
orders from Benj. Ford D. A. Gen. to receive from McCloud commander of
Provost Guard, a body of Tory prisoners stationed, I think, at Boyd’s Mill,
and conduct them to a place of greater safety which I did. This is proved by
the orders marked (G) and which never had any date signed by Ford. Another
duty assigned to me and my men was to collect provisions for the army which
is proved by two receipts marked (H) (I), dated one the 8th of March 1781,
the other 21st of March of the same year and both signed by Joseph Thomas
for Col. Davidson. I remained in Guilford until my term of three months
service was expired and we were disbanded.
On the 13th of August 1781, I received a Capt.’s commission marked (J) to
raise a company of light horsemen, signed by Col. James Martin. I was
ordered to raise these horsemen for the purposes mentioned in the
commission. I served a three months tour of duty in the capacity of capt.,
taking and apprehending delinquents, Tories and deserters proved by the
documents marked (K).
About the month of October 1781, I was called out with my company under Col.
Martin in an expedition against British under Major Gray who lay near
Wilmington. After we had marched some distance on this route my company
under Col. Pasely was ordered back by Col. Martin to keep the Tories down.
We accordingly marched back to Guilford. This is the expedition mentioned in
Col. Martin’s certificate marked (A). A short time after this the same month
a parcel of my light horsemen under me, commanded by Col. Pasely marched
against a certain Colonel Fanning who lurking in Anson, Orange and other
counties in N Carolina commanded a body of Tories. A list of part of the men
who were in this expedition may be seen by reference to list (L).We were out
in the expedition about five weeks, see (M) or to October 1781. After our
return from this expedition I served until three months from October had
expired, and my men were disbanded.
In the commencement of 1782, I reentered the minute company as mine was
called and served as Capt. apprehending deserters, Tories and delinquents,
until peace was declared, for proof see documents marked (N). All the
particular expeditions I cannot recollect but know I was employed almost
entirely in the service during 1782 until peace.
I was born in Charlotte County, Virginia on 18th October 1758. I have a
record of my age in my father’s family bible now in my possession. I lived
in Guilford County, N Carolina when called into the service of the United
States. I lived in that part of Guilford now called Rockingham until 1825
when I moved to Williamson County, Tennessee and soon after moved into
Davidson County, Tennessee where I now live.
I volunteered into the service of the United States. There was Col.
Alexander Martin who commanded the first regiment of N Carolina regular
troops. Col. Howard commander of the Maryland troops, Gen. Morgan commander
of the Virginia troops and Gen. Greene while in Guilford, besides Col. James
Martin, who commanded the militia of Guilford, Gen. Caswell commander of the
N Carolina Militia, Gen. Rutherford who commended in the two expeditions
where I was, against the Scots Tories and the Indians in 1776 and Gen.
Davidson who was a regular officer. I have stated above the general
circumstances of my service.
I never received a regular commission for Lieutenant though I served four
three months tours as such and took the oath of officer and was ranked in
Court Martials as one. I must have had a certificate from Col. Martin, but I
do not recollect it. I have two certificates for Captaincy, one of the foot
and the other of the horsemen, signed by Col. Martin, now in my possession.
I am acquainted with Saml McMaury, Solm[?] Norton, John Norton and William
H. Mann, Esquires who can testify to my character.
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 any agency in any
state.
Sworn to and subscribed in open court )) [signed] Richd Vernon
October 26, 1832 [signed] Henry Ewing ))
Clerk of Davidson County Court ))
We, William Johnson, a clergyman resident of the county of Davidson and
state of Tennessee and James S. Williams a resident in the said county and
state aforesaid do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Richard
Vernon who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we
believe him to be 74 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.
Sworn to and subscribed in open court )) [signed] William Johnson
October 26, 1832 [signed] Henry Ewing )) [signed] James S Williams
Clerk of Davidson County Court ))
And the said Court declares this, after a period of investigation of the
matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War
Department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution
and served as he states; and the Court further certifies that it appears to
them that the said William Johnson and James S. Williams who have signed the
preceding certificate are credible persons and that their statement is
entitled to credit.
Washington D. C. September 4, 1931
Mrs. B. K. Scott
3900-10th Avenue
Columbus, Georgia
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War
Pension Claim S. 1883, that Richard Vernon was born October 18, 1758, in
Charlotte County, Virginia.
While residing in Guilford County, North Carolina, he served with the North
Carolina troops, as follows; from February 15, 1776, three months as
Lieutenant in Captain John Leak’s company, Colonel James Martin’s regiment,
from July or August 1776, three months as Lieutenant in Captain Leak’s
company, Colonel James Martin’s regiment, in an expedition against the
Cherokee Indians, from February or March 1780, three months as Lieutenant in
Captain William Bethel’s company, Colonel James Brannon’s regiment and was
in the battle of Monk’s Corner; from August 25, 1780, three months as
Lieutenant in Captain George Peay’s company, Colonel John Pasely’s regiment;
from February 1, 1781, about two months as Captain in Colonel Martin’s
regiment; from August 13, 1781, as Captain of a Company of horse for about
three months, and he continued to serve under Colonels Pasely and Martin
until the close of the war.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 26, 1832, at
which time he lived in Davidson County, Tennessee.
In 1835, he was living in Williamson County, Tennessee.
His wife and children were referred to, but no names were given.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of the
person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War
Pensioner, Richard Vernon, S. 1883, you should apply to the Comptroller
General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington D. C. ,
citing all of the following data:
Richard Vernon
Certificate # 8133
Rate $ 189.33 per annum
Commenced September 4, 1834
Act of June 7th, 1832
Tennessee Agency
Very Truly Yours,
A. D. Hiller
Assistant to the Administrator
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