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Facts and Events
John Files was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Military Service
- American Revolutionary War Veteran
Revolutionary War Pension Information
Information from “Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records”, Vol. 2, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :
Files, John - born 3/31/1760 in Augusta County, Virginia; wntered service 1776 in Ninety-Six District, South Carolina; resided there to 1804 when moved to Warren County, Kentucky, for 5 years, thence to Ohio County (area later Daviess County), Kentucky for 13 years, thence to White County, Illinois for 5 years, thence to Wayne County, Illinois, where granted Pension in 1832. F-S32245, R973.
References
- Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Pension application of John Files S32245 f27SC
Transcribed by Will Graves 3/7/08 rev'd 2/9/15
State of Illinois, Wayne County
On this 30th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Honorable William Wilson Judge of the Wayne Circuit Court being a court of Record now sitting John Files a resident of said County & State aged 72 years who being 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 entered the service of the United States in the militia under the following named officers, and served as herein stated General Andrew Williamson Col. Andrew Pickens Major Reed Captain Robert Anderson 1st Lieutenant John Woods 2nd Lieutenant William Riley, on the 2nd of July 1776. That he was a volunteer & resided in the District of Ninety Six that he marched to Fort Independent [sic, Fort Independence] in same district & State of South Carolina remained there three weeks where he was detached on to the line of the frontiers, continued thence until about the middle of September or first of October when he marched to Fort Seneca, remained there until the last of February 1777. Commander at the Fort Benjamin Tutt Captain in the Regulars.
That soon after about the last of March same year he enlisted in the State Service under the same General Colonel & Major & Captain William Baskin 1st Lieutenant James Baskin 2nd Lieutenant William Harris and was stationed at a block house on the lines between Saluda & Savannah rivers fourteen months during the period had a battle on the 14th of February 1778 at the mouth of Van Creek in Georgia we were defeated at that engagement. This about 30 miles from Seneca Fort. That the Block House above was the head quarters of the forces & that he ranged on the frontiers.
That under the same officers in August or September after he volunteered in the militia & marched against the Cherokee Nation the Indians had deserted the town killed one Indian & burnt 26 towns & cut down all their corn gone 33 days and were then discharged.
That under Captain Robert Anderson he entered the service as a volunteer on the 10th of March 1780 & marched to Beach Island where Colonel Pickens took command of us & remained there until sometime in May when he marched to the Congarees, there heard of the fall of Charleston [May 12, 1780] from the Congarees to Camden when the enemy drove us back to the Congarees served three months and fifteen days.
That under Colonel James McCall Major John Cunningham (Col. Clark [sic, Elijah Clarke] commanded the Georgia troops) he entered the service in October after and marched to Augusta Georgia where there was a battle with some British, Tories & Indians in which we were defeated on the 14th of October continued to fight for four days. That at this time the country was entirely over run with the enemy and the Tories. That from Augusta Georgia he went through Georgia & South Carolina near the line of North Carolina on the North Pacolet & joined Captain Major Parsons, that he remained with him ranging until the following spring when General Greene [Nathanael Greene] and Colonel Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee], Colonel Washington [William Washington] & General Morgan [Daniel Morgan] came from North Carolina with the Main Army to South Carolina and about the first of March 1781, he went as a guard of some prisoners who had been taken in the battle at Hogskin's mill and left them at the town House on Holston in the State of Virginia. That he then returned to South Carolina on the frontiers between Saluda and Savannah rivers and joined Captain William Baskins & remained with him until the following June when he joined Captain Robert Weathers [? last name, looks like “Wreathers” the War Dept. abstractor translated it as “Breathers”] 1st Lieutenant Francis Carlisle 2nd Lieutenant John Caldwell 2nd Lieutenant Joseph McClaskey and ranged with him three months and was one of his spies, and ranged between the Saluda & the Savannah rivers. We then joined Captain William Baskin 1st Lieutenant John Files his father 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin Lawrence ranged with him in the same district three months. Then joined Captain John Norwood 1st Lieutenant Benjamin Lawrence acted in that capacity & served three months ranging in the same district. Then joined Captain William Baskins 1st Lieutenant Benjamin Lawrence and continued to range in the same district with Captain Baskin until peace was declared.
That he has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure to testify to his services.
That he was born in Augusta County Virginia 31st March 1760. That he has no record of his age. That he resided in the District of Ninety Six when first called into service & that he resided there until the year 1804, he then removed toWarren County Kentucky resided there five years he then removed to Ohio County same State the part in which he resided was afterwards stricken off and called Davis County he resided there 13 years, that he then removed to White County State of Illinois & resided there five years, that he then removed to this County where he has resided since. That on his first tour he was a volunteer, that on the second he enlisted in the state troops, that at all times after he was a volunteer. That on his third tour Benjamin Tutt Major Bones also a Major were all the regular officers that he now remembers.
That he has no recollection of ever receiving a written discharge except when he was enlisted & served fourteen months he received a discharge from Captain William Baskins which was burnt in his brother's house in the year 1802 as he now thinks. That David W. McLin and Enoch Beach all persons living in his present neighborhood and who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
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 the agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
S/ Samuel Leech, Clerk
S/ John Files
[David W. McLin, a clergyman and Enoch Beach gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[p 16]
State of Illinois, Wayne County
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace in & for said County of Wayne John Files, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades, in 1776 & 1777 I served eight months and 15 days as a private. In 1777 & 1778, I served one year & two months as a private. In 1778 for one month and three days I served as a private.
In 1780 for three months and 15 days I served as a private. In 1780, 1781, & 1782 for one year and six months I served as a private. Making the whole service three years nine months and three days during the Revolutionary War and for such service I claim a pension.
Sworn to and subscribed this 27th day of June A.D. 1833 before me.
S/ Charles Wood, JP
S/ John Files
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $80 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for service as a private for 2 years in the South Carolina militia.]
http://revwarapps.org/s32245.pdf
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