Pension application of James Gardner R3908 f22NC
Transcribed by Will Graves 7/30/08 rev'd 10/30/13
State of North Carolina, Randolph County
On this fourth day of November 1839 personally appeared before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of said County James Gardner a resident in the County and State aforesaid aged eighty four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following the declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. That he was drafted in this County some time after the commencement of the Revolutionary
War but in what year he does not remember, for the term of six months, as well as he can recollect. He employed one Winsor Pearce as his Substitute, who entered the service under one Colonel Luttrell or Littrell [John Luttrell] at a place called Luttrell's barracks in Chatham County, N. C. and served out his time. This declarant further states that he afterwards volunteered or enlisted and served three years (according to his best recollection and belief) under Colonel Gholson [William
G holson or Goldston] in the Cavalry and was discharged, as hereinafter set forth; after peace was made. During the whole time he was in the service he was engaged in Tory warfare chiefly in this State in the Counties of Randolph, Chatham, Cumberland and the Counties bordering on South Carolina – that he was in no general battle,
but was in many skirmishes with the Tories – particularly with Colonel Fanning [David Fanning] & the Tories whom he commanded. He was present at the taking of Stephen Walker, a distinguished Tory, who was shot under the direction of Colonel Gholson. He served under Captain Hines [perhaps Capt. John Hinds]1 & Captain Gwin [Gwinn?]. He is certain that he served as a soldier during the Revolutionary War more than two years and he believes he served as much as three years, and was under the immediate command of Colonel Gholson, during the greater part of the time he was in the Service. About six months before the close of the War, as well as he can recollect, he was sent as a pilot or guide for a Company of Infantry under the command of a French officer named Feregood.2
He does not recollect whether Feregood was a Captain or a Colonel and never having seen the name of said Feregood or Ferrygood in print, he does not know the correct spelling of that name, but he knows that it was pronounced as above spelled –
Feregood & his Company were employed in repressing the Tories in the Counties of this State bordering on South Carolina and the troops under his command were styled “State Troops.” This declarant performed his last service under said Ferrygood near the South Carolina line in the neighborhood of Drowning Creek, at which place they got intelligence that the War had ended and Ferrygood left his man under a promise to return in two or three days and gave them a discharge. His men waited several days for him to return but he did not return. This declarant afterwards understood that he proceeded to Charleston & there took shipping to France. This declarant
was born in the County of Randolph aforesaid on the first day of October 1754 and has resided in said County of Randolph ever since. The only record which he has of his age is contained in his family Bible which he has now in his possession. He knows of no person by whom he can prove his actual services as a soldier of the revolution except William Pearce.3
He is known to Jesse Larrence William Byrd and many other persons of his neighborhood, who can testify as to his character & their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State.
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year above written.
S/ James Gardner
William Pearce maketh oath that he is well acquainted with James Gardner who has made the foregoing declaration and has been well acquainted with him for the last sixty years. I know of my own knowledge that he served as a private soldier in the War of the Revolution. I do not remember the length of his Service but I am confident he served as much as two or three years I have heard his declaration read and believe the facts therein set forth or true. The said James Gardner was always
considered a good & faithful Soldier and continued in the service till the close of the War.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court this 4th day of November 1839.
S/ William Pearce
[Jesse Larrence, a clergyman, and William Bird gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[p 9: Dolphin Gardner, of Randolph County, NC, gave a power of attorney dated January 8, 1855, to John T. Neely of Washington City DC to pursue any claims he might have as the heir of James and Elizabeth Gardner based on the services of his father in the Revolution.
[p 12]
“State North Carolina Randolph County
This is to Certify that James Garner [sic] Served a Tower [sic, tour] of Duty in a troop of horse under my Command and is Discharged of the same Given under my hand this 28th March 1782.
S/ Charles Goldston, Capt.”
__________
1 His surname is spelled variously throughout the pension records as Hines, Hynes, Haynes, Hynds
2 This is very probably a reference to Jorge Farragut (Anglicized George Farragut) (b. 9/29/1755 on Minorca; d. 1817), father of Admiral David G. Farragut (1801-1870). George Farragut is known to have been in North and South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. He served in the SC navy and was captured when Charleston fell on May 12, 1780. Exchanged or paroled, he is thought by some to have been at the Battle of Cowpens and later at Wilmington during the Revolution. It is possible he held a commission in the NC militia or State Troops after the fall of Charleston, but I can find no definitive proof of that.
3 William Pearce W3590? This claimant is from Gates County, NC and his description of his service does not reflect the same experience as that described by Gardner. Also, this William Pearce signed his own application with his mark.
