Person:John McCutcheon (21)

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/6980831/person/-613222280

Pension application of John McCutchen S32406 fn67SC
Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 3/11/09
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original.]
[fn p. 17]
State of Alabama, Jackson County
On this 22nd day of February 1833 personally appeared before me James P. Postan an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County John McCutchen aged about Seventy seven years who being too infirm to appear in Open Court and after 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 7th June 1832. That he entered the Service of the United States under the following officers & served as herein stated.
I entered the Continental service in the Third Regiment commanded by Col. William Thompson [sic, William Thomson] and in the company of Captain John Colwell [sic, John Caldwell] was enlisted by Lieutenant Colwell near Ninety Six some time in the last of March or first of April 1776 the precise day not recollected was marched to Nelson's Ferry on Santee River where we joined Colonel Thomson at his then head Quarters. Colonel Thomson's Regiment was ordered to Charleston and remained in Charleston until the arrival of General Lee [Charles Lee]. Shortly after which we were crossed over to Sullivan's Island and made a part of Colonel Moultrie's [William Moultrie's] force being stationed on a point where the British were expected to approach the shore with their land forces to assail the Fort I continued on the Island under the immediate command of Colonel Thomson five or six weeks was taken sick and sent to a hospital in Charleston Dr. Oliver chief surgeon I was in the hospital about three weeks when I was sent for by Colonel Thomson & was carried in a wagon to Camden Eli Kershaw & John Danalson [sic, John Donaldson?] in company both captains in the Continental Service, he lay sick in Camden in Woodtucker's house near eight weeks and was attended in the course of that time by two Doctors I think the one was named Oglethorpe the other Charlton [sic, Thomas Charleton] who was also a Lieutenant in the Army I was taken from Camden about one mile to a certain widow Dennis's where I was attended by her about five weeks more – when a house was procured for me and I was permitted to go up the Country to recover my health the officer who sent me was Captain Walley [sic] when I had somewhat recovered my health I returned to Nelson's Ferry and was transferred to Captain Felix Wally's [sic, Felix Warley's] company and remained in his company until discharged by him. I cannot recollect the time I believe in the latter part of the year 1777 the discharge has been lost long since I think it was lost out of a baggage [illegible word, could be “cart”] I then retired to the up country Seneca River where I enlisted under Captain Benjamin Tutt, Williamson's [Andrew Williamson's] Regiment and was employed in building a Fort Rutledge, was ordered to Savannah joined General Lincoln [Benjamin Lincoln] between Charleston & Savannah and was at Savannah during the Siege by General Lincoln & the Count De Estaing [sic, D'Estaing] I was orderly Sergeant both in Captain Warley's Company& Captain Tutt's & Caldwell's & Cook's. Captain Tutt was not at the Siege of Savannah was marched back to Seneca attached to Captain Moore's Company I was then marched to Augusta under Col. Williamson thence to the Beaver dams Georgia, was joined by Colonel Pickens [Andrew Pickens] and proceeded to the Coweta Towns and we went lower down with the intention of destroying Cameron [Alexander Cameron] and his followers, we did not exceed but made prisoners of some of his Scouts after much marching returned to Seneca and was there taken prisoners by Colonel Brown [Thomas “Burnt Foot” Brown] the Fort being betrayed as was supposed by Williamson, Tutt & others, was taken to Ninety Six, and from there to Camden where Lord Cornwallis commanded and was a prisoner there when General Gates [Horatio Gates] was defeated I was then taken to the Waxhaw Settlement where the British had some skirmishing with the Americans, was then taken to Charlotte Mecklenburg County North Carolina I there took the small Pox and about the same time Colonel Ferguson [Patrick Ferguson] was defeated at King's Mountain the party who had me in charge retreated towards Winnsborough and left me in an out house some humane persons administered to my relief among whom were General Sumpter [sic, Thomas Sumter] and Captain Taylor in about three weeks after I had been left by the British learning that Cornwallis was expected to come that way I took my departure and in three days reached Colonel Hill's [William Hill's] Iron Works I think the distance to be about fifteen miles Mrs. Hill had me taken care of about one week when I got a horse and proceeded to Sumter's Camp at the Fishdam Ford on Broad River I reached the Camp about the middle of the afternoon and that same night Sumter was attacked & defeated. I next got to General Casey's
1
State of Alabama Jackson County: Before me James P. Postan a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County personally appeared John Jackson and made oath in due form of law he was personally acquainted with the above named John McCutchen when in the Continental Service as aforesaid under Col. William Thompson and Capt. John Caldwell, acting as orderly Sgt. in said Company in the 3rd Regiment and further believes him to be 77 years of age. S/ John Jackson, X his mark Camp and joined Colonel Farr [William Farr] and under his command joined General Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] then lying before Ninety Six. I went with Colonel Farr who was detached by General Greene to scout against the enemy when we returned General Greene had broken off the Siege and had retired, we then made for the Island Ford of Saluda [River] but did not overtake General Greene we then proceeded towards North Carolina. I retired to my friends in North Carolina and was in the Service no more. I have never received a pension in any way nor is my name is enrolled in any State for a pension I have since lived in South Carolina upwards of 20 years some years in East Tennessee and about 23 years in what is now Alabama. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22nd day of February 1833. S/ James P. Pastan, Justice of the Peace S/ John McCutchen [fn p. 42]

1 This is probably a reference to William Casey who assumed command of the Little River Regiment of Whig militia after the death of Col. Joseph Hayes at Hayes Station in late 1781.
2 John Jackson R5511
[fn p. 55]
State of Alabama Jackson County: This day came John Edmonson3
3 before me John Berry an acting Capt. justice of the peace for the County of Jackson and State aforesaid and made oath that he was Personally acquainted with John McCutchen when in the United States service as orderly Sgt. under Capt. Benjamin That in General Andrew Williamson's Regiment to the best of my knowledge in the year 1777 or 1778 and was well acquainted with said McCutchen he was a good soldier and at this time not less than 77 years of age. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day of August 1833. S/ John Edmonson] [fn p. 60] State of Alabama Jackson County: On this day 8th August 1833 appeared before me John Berry an acting Capt. justice of the peace for the County aforesaid John McCutchen who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath take the following additional or Explanatory declaration to the one already submitted to the war department on the 22nd day of February 1833. I enlisted near Ninety Six South Carolina where I resided at the time with regard to the time I served under each enlistment I cannot undertake to be exact but I do know that I enlisted early in the war and continued in the service until very near the its close, and did not follow any other Employment in the time of its duration and I feel justified in saying that I served 2 years under the first enlistment and 3 under the 2nd not less than 5 years in all with regard to the officers under whom I served I have already stated to they were and that they had competent authority I have never doubted -- my service was both in the field and in Garrison, I have already went as much into detail as I thought necessary him a [indecipherable word] of my claim and have throughout stated to the best of my Recollection though I am very infirm and my memory much faded. Sworn to and subscribed the day and date above written &c S/John McCutchen S/ John Berry, JP [fn p. 3 Jackson County, Alabama, May 7, 1854, Macklin McCutchen, administrator John McCutchen late of said County; that John McCutchen departed this life in the year 1835 before any pension was paid to him leaving then a second wife as his widow who also departed life in 1842; that the said John McCutchen left the following heirs at law, to wit: John L. McCutchen, who resides in Madison County, Alabama, Walker McCutchen dec'd, Celia McCutchen who married one Richard Riddle (residence unknown); Joseph McCutchen, dec'd, petitioner's father who died in Jackson County leaving seven children some in Texas and some in Mississippi; Joshua McCutchen who lives in Morgan County; Ann McCutchen who married one [illegible name](residence unknown)] [fn p. 6:On January 24, 1842, Cassandra McCutchen made oath in Jackson County, Ala., that she is the widow of John McCutchen; that he lived in Jackson County for 11 years before he died; that previous to that he lived in 2 other counties in Alabama for about 15 years; that prior to that he had lived in East Tennessee and Carolina.]
[facts in file: John McCutchen married Cassandra Gray January 1, 1823 in Morgan County, Alabama; he died January 17, 1835].

"It is our unhappy lot to announce that another Revolutionary Hero has gone! Col. John McCutchen, who, in 'the times that tried men's soul's', stood boldly forth in defense of the liberty and independence of his country, bidding defiance not only to oppression, but confronting the armed myrmidons of the Tyrant, was on the 17th [inst] in the eightieth year of his age, summoned to'another and a better world.'.

"He engaged early in the Revolutionary conflict, was at the defense of Fort Moultrie, the battle at Eutaw Springs, and with a true patriotric zeal partiscipated in all the perils and distress that so peculiarly characterized the unfeeling warfare, then waged throughout the Carolinas; nor did he retire until he had the satisfaction of beholding the independance of his country, for which he had so long and ardently struggled, permanently secured.".

"Having devoted his youth to the service of his country in the field, in the maturity of manhood he engaged with those fearless and enterprising pioneers, who emigrating to the West, embarked in the arduous undertaking of reclaiming the fertile valley of Tennessee from it's then savage wilderness, and preparing it for the enjoyment of all the arts, luxuries and refinements of social life.".

"He has ever been noted as a man of uncommon intellectual endowments for the last forty years; for the last forty years has been a professor of Christianity of the Baptist order and been esteemed by all as a worthy example and an honor to his profession. Thus ripe in years and rich in the consciousness of having at two different periods of his life, rendered important services to his country, and in the consoling hopes of a glorious immortality, the veteran has departed, leaving his relatives and numerous friends to mourn his loss/".

"On Monday the 19th inst., as the citizens of this vicinity had convened to pay the last honors to the deceased, on the motion of Maj. John B. Stevens, they constituted themselves into a meeting for the purpose of making a public manisfestation of their grief, to acknowledge the services, and express the high regard they have ever entertained for the principles of their dear departed friend, Col. James Smith was called to the chair and Maj. John B. Stevens appointed secretary-when the following resolutions were unanimously adopted, viz:.

"Resolved, that under a deep sense of the gratitude we owe to those sages and heroes who achieved our independence, we deem it a duty incumbent upon us, their sons, with filial piety to pay every tribute of respect to their virtues and their valor, as only renumeration in our power, for the manifold rights and privileges that we now enjoy.".

"Resolved , that in the death of Col. John McCutchen, we have to lament the loss of one of that band of aged warriors, whose presense never fails to enliven our zeal in the cause of liberty and to remind us what it cost that in him we have lost a firm patriot, a worthy citizen, a pious Christian and an esteemed friend. And while we respectfully acknowledge his public services, stern integrity and private worth, we deeply sympathize with his widow and other members of his family in their bereavement.".

"Resolved, that the above resolutions be signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and transmitted to the Democrat and Southern Advocate for publication.".

"James Smith, Chairman." "John B. Stevens, Secretary."