Pension application of Peter King W7981 Jane King f27NC
Transcribed by Will Graves 1/7/08: rev'd 4/20/16
[p 9]
State of Tennessee, Smith County
On this day to wit 20th day of May in the year 1837 personally appeared Jane King before
me Patrick Fergusson one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for said County aged eightytwo years and also a resident of the County of Smith and State of Tennessee who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Peter King who was a private in the Army of the Revolution and served in different tours of service almost throughout the Revolution. His first tour of Service was in the Militia service under the command of Captain Beard and under Colonel Maybin or Maybourn [Robert
Mebane?] and under General Green [sic, Nathanael Greene], he served this time three months as a volunteer he was marched this time to Richmond in Virginia as well as she can recollect she knows that his route was toward Virginia and Petersburg they lived at this time in Guilford County North Carolina this was before the British had come about they had been fighting at the North some time before he was discharged this time but all his papers have been placed in the hands of some person in Jackson County in this State a short time before he died and this affiant cannot recollect who was the person as he was then endeavoring to get his Pension but died before he could succeed. He entered the service again shortly after his return as she thinks under General Greene but cannot recollect the name of his Captain but she recollects his being at the battle of the Eutaw Springs [September 8, 1781]1 and at Camden [probably the Battle of her recollection of these battles are more fresh in her recollection than his tour of service he served three months this tour was discharged as a militia volunteer but continued at home but a short time she had two children at this time and the British were then coming toward North Carolina and it was necessary that all who could bear arms should go as a volunteer or be drafted and he turned out as a volunteer and joined the Army of General Greene this was after Greene had come into North Carolina and the British also was marching upon Guilford she cannot recollect the Captain's name this tour but distinctly recollects his coming home with his Brother who was very sick and his Commanding officer thinking it was the Small pox sent him out of the Army and her husband took him home to his father's [house] this was two days before the battle of Guilford [March 15, 1781] she distinctly recollects the battle of Guilford they lived only 4 miles off when the action place took place and a party of the Americans came to where her father lived on Ready fork Creek and tore up a bridge fearing lest the British should come that way her husband waited on his brother for seven days and then he died it was not the smallpox as was thought but a fever on the death of his Brother her husband immediately joined the Army there was none of the British Army came to her father's [house] as it was off the road he served this tour of three months and was discharged which discharge is mislaid as above stated. He then with some persuasion agreed to stay at home and hired a substitute for one whole year but after having paid a substitute a likely mare, Bridle and Saddle he found that he would be compelled to go again and volunteered for a whole year was stationed sometimes at Salisbury sometimes on Pedee River as occasion might require he was at the battle with the Tories on Pedee River also at Ramsour's Mills3 and at __ Ford during this tour of service he frequently got furloughs to stay at home a week or sometimes a day or two she cannot recollect the name of his Captain or officers on this tour of service which was the most important as it took a considerable Army to keep down the Tories he was discharged this time as before but it is with the other papers and cannot be found she further declares that through old age and bodily infirmity she cannot travel to the court house in order to make this declaration in open [court]. She further declares that she was married to the said Peter King on the 2nd day of March 1778 and that her husband the aforesaid Peter King died on the 29th day of March 1825 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. She further declares that her recollection has been much impaired she cannot state at this time the particulars but must rely on over proof she believes her husband's service to be more but will only state what she mentioned above that is three tours of three months and one tour of 12 months.
Sworn to and subscribed for me this the 20th day of May 1837 and interlined before
signed in the above second line in the date “1778.”
S/ Patrick Fergusson, JP
S/ Jean King, X her mark
[p 4: Family record:
Elender King Daugter to Peter King was Born April 2nd 1779
[paper torn, name missing] King was Born October 13th 1780 [other records show this is Johnson King]
[paper torn, name partially missing] [Nic]halas King Was Born September 18th 1782
Mary King Was Born April the 7th 1784
Anual King March 20th 1786
Sarah King Was Born April 20th 1788
Hannah King Was Born February 22nd 1790
Jane King Was Born in July 1st 1792
Elizabeth King Was Born August 21st 1794
Rachel and Marthy King was Born in September 29th 1796
Peter King Son of Peter was Born March 30th 1801
Jane King was born August 21 1810]
[p 11]
State of Tennessee Smith County
On this day personally appeared James Davis a resident of Smith County and State
aforesaid aged Sixty-four years of age before me Patrick Fergusson one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for said County and made oath that he is well acquainted with Peter King in his lifetime and Jane King his wife he became acquainted with them in Washington County East
Tennessee afterwards Green County then North Carolina they had moved from near Guilford
Court house this was in 1784 the revolutionary war was but just over and he had close by the
Connection of the Kings & more particularly Peter King and his wife Jane they had been married several years and had four children when he first knew them this affiant has heard said Peter King relate his services in the war of the revolution particularly his engagement he was in the battle of Kings Mountain [October 7, 1780]4 also at several others but cannot say particularly at this distance of time. About this time there was a report that all the old Revolutionary Soldiers were to receive pay Peter King said he would go to the court House and carry his discharges and this affiant recollects his having several and his particularly speaking about them he has no hesitation in saying that from his acquaintance with them he served throughout most of the war also that they were legally married such a thing was never disputed nor were any question made about it they were among their old friends and acquaintances and if there was any question as to the legality of their marriage this affiant is sure he would have known he further states that she still remains a widow.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21st day of May 1837
S/ Patrick Fergusson, JP S/ James Davis
[p 12: William Bertram gave a supporting affidavit in which he says that Peter King “frequently spoke and related his Services in the War of the revolution he has hear him repeat the circumstance of Seeing Colonel Washington [William Washington] [and] Tarleton [Banastre Tarleton] meet and the horse of the latter Jumping across the Waggon at the battle of the Cowpens....”]
[p 19]
State of Kentucky, Monroe County
On this day personally appeared Joshua Brown5 a resident of the County and State
aforesaid aged eighty-five years before me Jefferson Gee one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid and made oath in due form of law that he was in the War of the revolution as one of the Virginia blues and went over to North Carolina to the neighborhood of a place called the Red house. This affiant then live in Pittsylvania County State of Virginia and his Captain who was by the name of Daulton took sick on the day they started and did not go. They were mustered into service under Colonel Thomas Owens and Major Butler. It was at this place affiant met with Peter King from Guilford County North Carolina with whom he became
afterwards well acquainted. Affiant thinks Peter King at that time was under a Captain William Bethel. Affiant has a more distinct recollection of Peter King on account of his very jovial and Soldier-like manner than from any particular acquaintance with him as affiant had lived previously in Virginia near the North Carolina line and Peter King lived in Guilford County in North Carolina. Peter King was a robust strong athletic man was fond of sport had a very strong and healthy constitution and when did not engaged in action or exercise would be engaged in the areas pastimes such as running foot races jumping and wrestling which made this affiant take more notice of him. Said King was a resolute and good Soldier and affiant and he would take a glass of rum together when they could get it. Affiant and said Peter King were together at the Battles of Eutaw Springs and Cowpens [January 17, 1781]6 and when the battle of Guilford was fought cannot state whether said King was at Guilford or at Bells Mills. This affiant was engaged at Bell's Mills against the Tories but was not at Guilford. Said King would endure an insult from no one – he messed with a different set of men from affiant and of course would be together only when the Army was at Leisure and not on the march or engaged in fight, affiant cannot state how long the said King served because he was not with him all the time or under the same officers but said King must have served more than two years and chiefly as a volunteer and on one occasion said Peter King informed him he was there under an engagement for nine months all this information and acquaintance was during the Revolutionary War and under Generals Greene and Morgan [Daniel Morgan] and Colonel Washington. The knowledge affiant has is from seeing said King in actual service and not from any acquaintance after the War of the Revolution. The places this affiant has a more correct knowledge of seeing said King in service are the following, to wit: Before and after the Battle of the Cowpens, before and after the Battle of Eutaw Springs, Before and after the Battle of Guilford. On one time in July following after the battle of Guilford this affiant and Peter King got discharged to go home and then took a notion and volunteered again and served three months longer. Affiant would have made application for a pension on his own account long since but had such a dislike to ask for a
pension from his Government affiant had a brother named Samuel Brown who drew a pension
and if living is now in the State of Illinois.
Sworn to and subscribed this second day of June 1845.
S/ Jefferson Gee, JPMC
S/ Joshua Brown, X his mark
[p 5]
State of Illinois, Jefferson County
On this day personally appeared Benjamin King a resident of the State County aforesaid,
aged Seventy-four years, before me Samuel Casey one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Jefferson and State of Illinois who being first duly Sworn according to law Deposeth and says, His Brother Peter King entered the service of the United States in the war of the Revolution and served the following tours of service (to wit) – He entered the Service of the United States in the year 1775 and served during the remainder of the War, his first trip in service lasted three months. His second trip lasted six months, and he recollects of his having been out in the Service at one time nine months, without being at home, this trip was near the close of the war he was scarcely if ever at home, and when he was, it was but a short time, being kept busy in the Service. He was a drafted militia man, and held the office of Lieutenant all the time he was in the service, he was in the battle at Guilford Court House, and at a scrimmage in Hillsboro.
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this seventh day of March 1840.
S/ Samuel K. Casey, JP
S/ Benjamin King, X his mark
[Veteran's widow was pensioned at the rate of $40 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for
her husband service as a private for 12 months in the North Carolina militia.]
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1 http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_battle_of_eutaw_springs.html
2 http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_battle_of_hobkirks_hill.html I base the assumption that the veteran was in this engagement as opposed to the Battle of Camden [August 15-16, 1780] on the widow's statement that her husband served under Gen. Greene who was in command at Hobkirk Hill but not in the engagement in August 1780.
3 This most likely a reference to Ramsey's Mill, not Ramsour's Mill, but the scribe clearly heard and wrote “Ramsour's.” Compare http://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/revolution_battle_of_ramseurs_mill.html &
http://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/revolution_ramseys_mill.htm
4 http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_battle_of_kings_mountain.html
5 I could not find any such pensioner under the federal pension acts.
6 http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_battle_of_cowpens.html
