He gave his birth place as Perry County, MS, but that county was formed from Greene County in 1820. The 23 Jul 1817 birth date given in the pension application is somewhat dubious. His age was shown as 26 in the 1850 Federal Census (Jones Co, MS, p 118, #58) and 35 in the 1860 Federal Census (Jones Co, MS, Ellisville P.O., #108).
He claimed in his pension application dated 10 Aug 1894 at Franklinton, LA that he enlisted in the Summer of 1846 at "Old Marion," Lauderdale Co, MS for a term of two years under Capt Harrison Findlay; that he mustered and drilled at various times and was held in readiness for service; and that he was ordered to Mexico, but was ordered back while en route and held "in reserve." The pension application was rejected due to no record of the claimed service.