Person:John Billingsley (7)

Born St. Mary’s County, Maryland 17 August 1754, moved to Baltimore County, Maryland with his parents and then to Guilford County, North Carolina with them. He married 2 June 1772 Jean Milsap, born North Carolina 7 May 1754. Original marriage bond on file at North Carolina Historical Commission at Raleigh and appears to have been filled out by John Billingsley himself as the signature and the body of the bond are the same writing. They moved to Rutherford County, Norty Carolina. From his father’s will he appears to have been given his share of the estate at the time of his marriage. He enlisted 1776-1778 Private, Captain John Arnold’s Company, Colonel Collier’s Regiment, served. six months; enlisted June 1780 and served to 25 December 1780, Private, Captains Britton Fuller, and Jacob Williams, Colonel Collier’s Regiment; enlisted again soon afterwards and served a few days Captain Thomas Williams, Colonel Collier’s Regiment. He was pensioned 23 December 1833 while residing in Warren County, Kentucky. He states in his claim that he was residing in Rutherford County at the time of his service On 4 January 1779 he entered 290 acres of land in Washington County (Tenn.). On 2 April 1779 he entered two tracts of 400 acres and 200 acres of land in Onslow County, North Carolina and these were issued to him 29 March 1780. (Land Rec. 38, fol. 11, 17.) On 11 June 1779 he again entered 300 acres of land in Washington County (Tenn.). On 26 April 1780 he entered 75 acres of land in Sullivan County (Tenn.) and this was followed by entries of 74 acres, 30 acres, and 15 acres in the same County before 1785. They moved from Rutherford County to Onslow County, North Carolina about 1781 where they resided to about 1794 then moved to Sullivan County (Tenn.), and his entries were issued to him 4 December 1795. (Land Rec. 84, fol. 158, 161, 162; 89, fol. 325, 387.) They then moved to Washington County, Tennessee in 1796 where they resided many years. Some time in the 1820’s John turned over his property to his youngest son, Jacob, with the provision that Jacob would care for John and his wife the rest of their days. Jacob appears to have converted most of the property into cash and moved to Cumberland County, Kentucky where they resided in 1830. It is also stated that Jacob soon ran thru with everything available leaving his parents in destitute circumstances and that John Billingsley, Junior, came and carried his parents to his home in Warren County, Kentucky. It was from this home that John made his application for pension 23 December 1833. Jean died 8 February 1842, and John died 19 September 1844 at the home of their son, John, Warren County, Kentucky.

Pension application of John Billingsley S30862
Transcribed by Will Graves f32NC, 2/26/09: rev'd 6/23/16

State of Kentucky Warren County: Sct.
On this 23rd day of December 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Magistrates of the Warren County Court now sitting John Billingsley a resident of the State and County aforesaid aged in his 80th year 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 July 7th 1832 [sic, June 7th, 1832]. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
He was drafted for six months in the State of North Carolina Rutherford County in the year 1776 in which County he then resided, James McFaden [James McFadden] was his Capt. and Andrew Hampton was his Col. His Corps ranged through the Saluda Mountains & the mountains of Green River in NC to guard against the Tories & Indians -- he served out said term & was discharged by said Col. Hampton at his camp in Rutherford County of aforesaid which discharge he has lost. He was again in a few days after drafted in the same County for six
months & served under the same officers for six months more, & marched through the same Country as before & was discharged by the same officer -- which is lost also -- He again about the year 1777 or 78 was called on in Randolph County in NC he was again drafted for six months to the best of his recollection & belief & served under Capt. John Arnold & Col. Colliers (he believes) he marched towards the sand hills after the Tories, he was discharged by Arnold this time in said County of Randolph, which discharge is also lost. He was again drafted in Randolph County NC and served under Capt. Britton Fuller [Brittain Fuller] & Col. Collier & General Davidson, he marched out to near Santee. This time against the British & Tories who then lay near Santee River, he went out for six months this time towards the end of this tour he was sent on an express to Col. Francis Lock [sic, Francis Locke] 9 miles above Salisbury to raise more troops & General Davidson¹ was killed while he was gone, he was then placed under General Morgan [Daniel Morgan] & Capt. Jacob Williams for the residue of this tour at General Smallwood's [William Smallwood's] Camp -- he served this tour out & was discharged by General Morgan & Jacob Williams at the Ford of Turkey Creek on the ² Christmas before the Battle of the Cowpens [January 17, 1781], and a few days thereafter he joined Capt. Thomas Williams & served but a few days but cannot recollect how many. He has no documentary evidence of his service & that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
S/ John Billingsley

[Merrick Harrington, a clergyman, Joshua Brown and Nathan Hale gave the standard supporting
affidavit.]

[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $40 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for service
as a private for one year in the North Carolina militia.]
_____
¹ William Lee Davidson was killed at Cowan's Ford on February 1, 1781.
² This line of text is missing from the digital image on Fold3.com but can be found on the digital image of HeritageQuest.com.

https://revwarapps.org/s30862.pdf