|
State of North Carolina County of Wilkes On this 30th day of October 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina now sitting, John Love, a resident of the County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina, 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 benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 That he was born in the year 1762 in the County of Brunswick & State of Virginia, but has no record of his age to advert to ( his information however is declared from a memorandum given him by his father, but which he lost before it was recorded in his family bible, which he intended doing- ) When he was quite small, his father removed into the County of Charlotte, in the same state, where he lived for a few years, and then removed to what is now Wilkes County North Carolina – about the month of June or July 1780 this deponent entered the service of the United States as a substitute for his father, James Love, and joined the company of Capt. Gist in the said County of Wilkes, & rendezvoused at Hamblins old store in said County, where they joined Col. Isaacs – after remaining there a few days organizing and making the necessary preparations, they set out upon their march for the southern part of the State, where / and in the northern part of South Carolina, it was believed the Tories were embodying themselves – the proceeded on through Salisbury to the mouth of Rocky River in Anson County, where they were stationed for some little time - during this stay at this place, Colo Isaacs ( he believes ) changed his determination, and intended joining Genl. Gates – As a good many of his troops were without arms, it being impossible to procure them, it became necessary to reorganize the troops, and in doing so the many of those who had arms were deprived of them & their arms transferred to others - [ illegible - marked through] the mess to which this deponent belonged being without arms, they were discharged and returned home, having been in service about one month – About the last of August or first of September following, Colo. Benjamin Cleveland ________ ordered for all the Whig militia within the County of Wilkes, to rendezvous at the C. H. and prepare for opposing Maj. Ferguson , who was said to be advancing from South Carolina what a large body of British & Tories – this deponent volunteered himself and immediately repaired himself to Wilkes County C. H. where he joined the Company of Captain Benjamin Herndon, and as soon thereafter as the necessary preparations could be made, they set out under under Colo Cleveland to meet Majr. Ferguson – On their march they were joined by a regiment from Virginia under Col Campbell, and by some other troops from North Carolina under Col McDowell & some other officers not recollected - When they had proceeded near to Broad River, information was received that Majr Ferguson was about posting himself on Kings Mountain, where it was immediately determined that all those who had horses, or could procure them, should advance forthwith to meet him – this deponent having no horse, and not being able to procure one, was necessarily left behind, with many others, and although they made rapid marches, were not able to reach Kings Mountain in time to engage in the battle - it having been fought, & the Americans with their prisoners being on their return before the foot men rejoined them – after rejoining the army this deponent combined with them assisting in guarding the prisoners, until they marched to the Moravian towns in the County of Stokes, where they were stationed a considerable time guarding the prisoners aforesaid until they were sent off to Virginia or somewhere - when this deponent was discharged and returned home, having been in service in this expedition near three months - Very soon after the return home of this deponent, probably in the month of December following, some considerable disturbances were said to exist in the county watered by Deep River, in consequence of the Tories having broken out there – Colo Cleveland immediately gave orders for a company to be raised, to assist in suppressing them - when this deponent again volunteered himself and joined the company of Capt. Johnson, and rendezvoused at Hamblens old store and marched thence as direct as they could to Aaron Cox’s Mills on Deep River – upon arriving at that place, they ascertained that Col Fanning who commanded the Tories hand marched off and abandoned that part of the country – much fear & apprehension existed in the neighborhood however, on account of the many persons who were supposed to be disaffected – in this situation of affairs, Capt. Johnson deemed it most prudent scour the country round about for some time, which he accordingly did, and when the excitement and alarm had subsided, he marched back home, and discharged his troops – in this expedition this deponent believes he served [ illegible – marked through] three months About the latter part of January 1782, an express brought information to the County of Wilkes, from Genl Davidson, that Lord Cornwallis was approaching the State from South Carolina and urging the militia to turn out and oppose him – this deponent again volunteered himself and joined the Company of Richard Allen and set out immediately with a view of marching to Salisbury – but before they reached that place, they understood that Lord Cornwallis had crossed the Catawba & was there in Salisbury – they immediately changed the direction of their route and intended joining Genl Greene If possible, who was at that time supposed to be on the waters of Dan River, in the edge of Virginia – When they had advanced some distance beyond Salem in N. C. orders were received from Genel Greene directing them to return, and endeavour to a junction with Genl Pickens, who was supposed to be advancing by a arduous route from South Carolina – they did return, and met with Genl Pickens at or near Maj Lewis’s in the lower end of Wilkes, and not far distant from Mitchell’s River - upon joining Genl Pickens they remained with and conducted him to Salem, where they joined Colo Locke with a considerable number of troops - On leaving Salem, Genl Pickens took the direct road to Hillsboro while Colo Locke took a road higher up the country – this deponent was attached to the troops under Colo Locke, & when they had advanced probably as far as Rockingham County, an express arrived from Genl Pickens stating that a large number of Tories were embodying themselves under Colo Pyles ( a Tory Col ) and requesting him to meet him without delay at Trollingers ford on Haw River – Col Locke with his troops immediately set out for that place, but before they reached it, information was received that Genl Pickens had engaged with the Tories and defeated them – Whereupon, Colo Locke turned about and directed his course towards Gel Greene’s army, which they met near the high Rock Ford on Haw River - after remaining a few days with Genl Greene, Colo Lockes regiment, together with some others of the troops were discharged, and returned home – which place this deponent believes he reached sometime in March, having been in service during this expedition from five to six weeks - This deponent performed several other short tours against the Tories, amounting in the whole he believes to as much as three months, but the precise length of each, and the officers whom they were performed, he cannot now after so a great a lapse of time and the great decay of his memory pretend to recollect -
This deponent removed to the County of Stokes N C shortly after the war, where he lived two or three years, and then removed back to the County of Wilkes, where he has lived ever since, and where he now lives – He never received any written discharge from the service, nor has he any documentary evidence to prove his service, but refers to the testimony of Mr. Elijah Vickers [Capt Samuel Johnson] hereto annexed & who was with him most of the time, for proof of the same-
R. Martin, Clerk |
|
On the day and year aforesaid, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court aforesaid, Elijah Vickers, who being first duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, that he served with John Love [the above applicant] during the four several tours of duty mentioned in the foregoing declaration – first, under Colo Isaacs down to the mouth of Rocky River in Anson County, ( intending to proceed against the Tories ) secondly under Colo Cleveland at Kings Mountain, and thence down to Moravian Towns guarding the prisoners – thirdly under Capt Johnson down to Aaron Cox’s mill on Deep River after Colo. Fanning ( a Tory Col ) and fourthly under Capt Allen to Salem, where they joined Col Locke, and thence to the High Rock Ford on Haw River where they joined Genl Greene – and further that the said several tours of service as set fourth and specified in the foregoing declarations having been performed by the said John Love, were performed by him - Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid R. Martin, Clrk On the day and year aforesaid personally appeared in open court before the Court aforesaid, Capt. Samuel Johnson who being first duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith that John Love the above applicant served under him during the three month tour of service as set forth and specified in the foregoing declaration purporting to to have been performed by the said John Love at Cox’s Mill aforesaid and the surrounding country after Colo Fanning ( a Tory Col ) were performed by him -
The above was prepared for signature of Capt Saml Johnson, but owing to the ___ of business in Court this applicant could not get his declaration attended to until after Capt Johnson had left town – he however proves nothing but what is proven by Mr. Elijah Vickers -And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogation prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that Elijah Vickers and Capt Saml Johnson who have signed the preceding affidavits are residents of the County of Wilkes and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
|