MySource:Quolla6/Pension Application of James Walker of Adams County, OH, 1832

On this 26th day of October, 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Adams and State of Ohio, now sitting at West Union in said County, 'James Walker, a resident of Adams County aforesaid, of the age of 77 years who 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 June 7, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated. He first entered the service of the United States as a volunteer militia man in Captain Matthew Dewitt's Company – his Colonel, Thackston. He entered the service on the first day of February 1776, as he well recollects; -- at that time he lived with his father in Orange County, North Carolina (Since Caswell County N. C.). He was marched from Orange County N. C. against the Scotch Tories at Cross Creek; but before reaching the Army commanded by Colonel Caswell, that Officer had defeated the Tories at the Bridge across Black Water. From which place Cross Creek the Thackston's troops had reached [sic] -- and the command, to which this declarant was attached, returned to Orange, taking of a number of Tories scattered through the Country. At the expiration of one month he was discharged; -- the term for which he engaged having expired. He again entered the service in the month of June 1776 – and as well as he can recollect was on the ninth of the month.

He entered the service this second time as a volunteer light horseman in a Company under the command of Captain McCrory an Irishman. The troops to which Captain McCrory's Company was attached, were [sic] commanded by General Rutherford. They marched from or from near the Catawba River, to what was then called the Middle Settlement of the Cherokee Indians, on the Tennessee River. They lay several days at the Middle Settlement, waiting for the Brigade of Regulars under command of General Williams or Williamson [sic, Andrew Williamson] (he cannot recollect which) then expected from South Carolina as was said. The troops from S. C. not arriving at the Middle Settlement as was expected, to form a Junction with General Rutherford at that place, General Rutherford marched about 1500 of his men – this declarant being of the number – to an Indian Town called Valley Town. The residue of his troops, about an equal number (1500) were left in the Camp at Middle Settlement. On his march to Valley Town General Rutherford received an express from General Williams (or Williamson) requesting the former to await the arrival of the latter, and that a Junction might be formed of the troops under command of the two Generals. But General Rutherford choosing to proceed on his march toward the Indian Town, answered the express accordingly and marched to the Valley Town.

When General Rutherford reached the Town, it was nearly evacuated. He took about seven Indian prisoners. General Williams (or Williamson) receiving the answer of General Rutherford that the latter could not await his arrival, proceeded on his march against the Indians. The Indians were lying in wait for General Williams (or Williamson) about six or 8 miles from the Camp at Middle Settlement. A severe engagement ensued in which the Indians were defeated as this declarant understood.

After the battle General Williams (or Williamson) marched on to the Valley Town where General Rutherford lay. He remained there a few days, and returned to South Carolina with his troops; and General Rutherford returned with the troops he had marched to Valley Town back to the Camp at the Middle Settlement, where he again United his Brigade.

From Middle Settlement the troops under General Rutherford commenced their return march; and near the Catawba River the Declarant was discharged, about the last day of October or the first day of November. For the two tours specified, the first of one month and the second of five months, this declarant claims a pension for six months service – having served that length of time.

From the time last mentioned to the conclusion of the War, this declarant was called into Service very frequently. The service generally required and performed was the protecting of his section of country against the outrages of the Tories who much and generally distressed and harassed the Carolinas. For about four years, frequent calls for short periods were made; and with two exceptions only this declarant obeyed the calls in person. He once hired a substitute; and on one occasion he contributed his portion to hire a substitute for a class. The personal service which this Declarant performed subsequent to the five months term specified, he confidently believes could not have been less than six months; and for six months he might reasonably claim a pension therefore – making in all 12. But except for the two tours first mentioned, of one and five months, this Declarant cannot undertake [to specify] either as to times, length of time, or officers. He can only state generally that his services consisted in endeavors to keep down the Tories and protect the Country against their outrages. He particularly recollects the taking of two Tories, Daniel Triplett & Francis Triplett who lived on Country Line Creek Caswell County N. C. in one or two of those short tours last above mentioned he was under the command of Captain Dewitt and on one short tour under Captain Peter O'Neal.

Shortly after the close of the War this Declarant moved to Pennsylvania.

He resided there a short time, and then removed to Rockbridge County Virginia, where he resided about 13 years.

He removed from Rockbridge Virginia to Adams County of Ohio, where he has continued to reside till the

present time.

He has no documentary evidence of his service, having never received a written discharge; nor does he know of any person now living by whom he can prove his Services. 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. And the said James Walker being interrogated by the Court as prescribed by the War Department, made the following answers to the interrogatories put, to wit

1st When and in what year were you born? Answer: in Cumberland County Pennsylvania on the second of March 1755.

2nd Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? Ans: I have none – I have frequently seen my father's record of it.

3rd Where were you living when called into service: where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live? Ans: In Orange County North Carolina, since the Revolutionary War I have lived in Pennsylvania – and in Virginia – and I'm now live in the Adams County of Ohio.

4th How were you called into service; were you drafted; did you volunteer or were you a substitute, and if in substitute, for whom? Ans: My first entering the service was as a Volunteer for one month from the first day of February 1776 to the first of March 1776 – the next tour was as a Volunteer for five months, he entered the service on the ninth of June 1770 6 – and served the period of five months.

5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service. Ans: There were no regular officers with us when on service except General Grand – I was under him in one or two of the short tours and a short time before the battle of Guilford. I don't recollect the names or numbers of any of the Continental regiments except the one under Colonel Thackston of the first tour of one month and General Rutherford's of the second tour of five months as specified in the declaration.

6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? Ans: I never received any written discharge

7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief in your services as a soldier in the revolution. Ans: William Walker, Stephen Baldwin, John Baughman & Thomas Curry S/ James Walker, Senior

[Thomas Curry, a clergyman, and John Baughman gave the standard supporting affidavit.]

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Chalkley

Chalkley includes the following entry that may or may not be related.

Walker vs. Prickett--O. S. 182; N. S. 64--Bill 23d March, 1807. Orator is James Walker of Ohio. On 20th October, 1781, he obtained a warrant for _____ acres by a settlement certificate. On 7th January, 1782, he entered 1,000 acres on Monongalia adjoining his settlement on Prickett Creek. On account of the war he went to Pennsylvania for safety, and while there Jacob Prickett located on same land and sold to James Morgan. Jacob Pindall deposes, 1810, in Monongalia--brother of Thomas Pindell, who claimed to have bought from orator land on Prickett's Creek in Prickett's settlement. Surveys, patents and copy of preemption warrant.

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