Pension Application of Obed Britt S1499
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
The State of Tennessee
Perry County } S.S. Court of pleas and quarter sessions
Personally appeared before the Court of pleas and quarter sessions of the County of
Perry in the State of Tennessee Obed Britt a resident of the County and state aforesaid aged seventy three years the twelfth day of last February who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath make the following Declaration, in Order to obtain the benefit of the provision made of the Act of Congress passed June the 7 1832 — that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
That in the Summer of the year 1777 he thinks in the month of August, but cannot be
positive, nor does recollect the day of the month, being then a citizen of Goochland County in the state of Virginia, a rumor was spread over the country, that a British fleet was ascending York River when the Militia was called upon to proceed in that direction with a view to ascertain the facts and to take such steps as was best calculated to defeat their purposes in the event that it was the fact.
At this time a man by the name of Lovell being called into service, and having a family, this Declarant Volunteered his services to take his place – and was marched in the company commanded by Captain Richard Bibb. James More first Lieutenant. Walter Johnson second Lieutenant. Obed Smith Ensign. We rendesvoused at Williams burgh [sic: Williamsburg] and was marched under the command of General [Thomas] Nelson and Colonel Mason to the Town of little York [Yorktown], on york River in the State of Virginia. Upon arriving at this place and remaining about six weeks the officers became satisfied that the rumor which had caused them to March to that place was unfounded and he with many others were discharged and sent home.
Sometime after this, but the precise time he cannot now recollect, he was drafted to go to Albermale [sic: Albemarle] County in the state of Virginia to guard the soldiers there stationed, having been captured by General [Horatio] Gates at the defeat of Burgoin [sic: John Burgoyne at Saratoga, 17 Oct 1777; prisoners arrived at Charlottesville Jan 1779]. At this time he was commanded by Captain John Curd but cannot now recollect the name of any of the other company officers. He was marched to what was called the Barracks, where he remained six or seven weeks and was discharged and returned home.
And enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1779 with Captain Tarleton
Payne and served in the third Virginia detachment of the Virginia line under the following named officers. He first marched to Fredericksburgh [sic: Fredericksburg] where he was appointed sergent to the company to which he belonged and continued to fill said appointment until he reached Petersburgh [sic: Petersburg] to which place he was marched via Williamsburgh and was placed under the command of Brigadier General [Charles] Scott and at which place he rec’d. the appointment of Waggon master by Col. George Elliott quarter master
At this place the main army commanded by General Scott remained for some time and was marched away leaving him with others behind, when he was placed under the command of Col. Heath [sic: William Heth] who remained for some time, but left there before he did, when he was placed under the command of Col Bluford [sic: Abraham Buford] who remained as near as he now recollects until spring he thinks April. When we left Petersburgh and took up the line of march for Charlestown. But upon arriving at a place then known by the name of the name of the pine tree – but now better known by Camden [SC] we rec’d information that Charleston was surrounded by the enemy, that we could not enter – when we turned our direction and marched over the high Hills on Santee River to Laneu’ Ferry [Leneud’s Ferry] on said River where we remained until we rec’d. information that Charlestown was surrendered to the Brittish [12 May 1780]
While at this place [on 6 May] Colonels [William] Washington and [Anthony Walton] White took a number of the Brittish soldiers prisoners and brought them to said Ferry on the opposite [south] side of the River from where we were and Col. Bluford detached about a hundred and fifty of his men to aid in bringing the prisoners over to the side of the River upon which he was stationed. But before the prisoners could be brought over Col. Tarlton [sic: Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton] who was in close pursuit, came upon them, retook his men and forced the American party to retreat. Washington swam the River and made good his retreat to Col Blufords Markee – and this Declarant saw him when he reached the shore. At this place a number of the Americans and their horses and baggage was captured by the Brittish.
Immediately after this we retreated to Camden with as much speed as possible, having
with us perhaps a thousand or more North Carolina Militia. But upon reaching Camden, Col Blueford feeling himself secure from the Enemy, except the Tories, and feeling able to contend with them, the North Carolina Militia was seperated from us, leaving us at Camden where we remained all night. It being late the next day before we all could get off from Camden we only marched about ten miles that day and struck camp – and it rained so excessively that night that it was found extremely difficult to get on with our waggons — and was overtaken that day [29 May] sometime before night near the waxsaw [sic: Waxhaws] meeting house by Col Tarlton who sent out a flag to Col Bluford asking him to surrender. But Bluford refusing sent for this declarant (who still and had all the time since they left Petersburgh continued to act as waggon master) and directed him to keep the waggons as near together as he could with a view protecting his men from the fire of the Enemy — he done so and in a few minutes the Enemy commenced fireing upon us. The Battle lasted But a few minutes before the American Army was put to route leaving their waggons and every thing else to the mercy of the enemy – each man making the best escape he could – many of whom was killed many wounded and some taken prisoner such as were wounded and such as was taken prisoner were parolled by Col Tarlton — And such as were able marched to Salisbury [NC] to which place all who escaped had gone and where this declarant upon his arrival found Col Bluford, who directed him to procure some place for the wounded that reached there and to procure a physician to attend them – which he done.
And such as recovered as soon as they became able went home from this place this Declarant went to the house of Captain Abed Smith, in the fork of the Yadkin and had went with Captain Smith to the house of a neighbour by the name of Joseph Haddin, and while there was attacked by a party of Tories who took Smith & Hadin both prisoners he having made good his escape at great hazzard – having been several times shot at. From this place he returned home to Virginia but remained But a short time before he proceded to Chesterfield court house where Bluford was stationed having recruited his Regiment, he joined him, and was marched to Hillsborough in the State of North Carolina where his term of service of eighteen months expired & he was discharged. This Declarant served as waggon master as much as ten months at least, it having been some considerable time after he reached Petersburgh before he was appointed, But was appointed some time before he left there. But he cannot now ascertain the precise time and the balance of the time that he was not wagon master he was sergent of the company to which he belonged. this Declarant has no Documentary evidence of his services as a volunteer Militia man or substitute and he knows of no person by whom he can prove his services. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pention to a pention or annuity except the present and he declares his name is not on the pention roll of any agency in any state
[signed] Obed Britt
NOTE: On the pension application is written “died 20 Mar ‘34.”
