Pension application of Archibald McCurdy 1 W7414 Elizabeth McCurdy f59NC
Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 10/2/16
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832
State of North Carolina, Cabarrus County: Superior Court of Law, begun and held for said
County, at the Court House in Concord, November 19th, 1832.
On this 19th day of November in the year of our Lord 1832 personally appeared in Open
Court for the Honorable David L. Swain, one of the Judges of the Superior Court of Law of
North Carolina, now sitting or Cabarrus County – Archibald McCurdy a resident of Cabarrus
County North Carolina, aged eighty 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 7th 1832. “That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: “To Wit” --In the year 1775 in the month of December while a resident of the County of Mecklenburg NC I joined a company, as a volunteer, commanded by Captain Houston [James Houston], Lieutenant Ramsey [possibly William
Ramsey] – in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Polk. I volunteered for three
months in an expedition against the Tories, and was in what was called the Snow Campaign2 –
we marched through the country from Charlotte where they rendezvoused, to Broad River in
South Carolina then to Enoree & Tyger Rivers to the same State – at a place called Hendrick's Mills in South Carolina we had a contest with the Tories. The expedition terminated with this engagement in the month of January we were then verbally discharged by the captains
respectively – I by Captain Houston the month of February. Served about two months in this
expedition.
“In the same County, Mecklenburg N. C., I volunteered in the month of May 1780 (the
date not recollected) in a company commanded by Captain James White, Col. George Alexander,
General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford]. I entered a wagon & team in the service for three
months. I took a wagon load of flour from Mecklenburg to Salisbury, where the Head Quarters
of General Rutherford were established. I then marched from Salisbury to the Island Ford on the Yadkin River – thence to the mouth of Rocky River – I was then dispatched back to be
commissary in Mecklenburg for another load of flour which I got – returned, under the
protection of the Guard, to Big Lynches Creek in South Carolina, where we overtook the Army
under Gates – and the Militia under Rutherford, who were then with Gates [Horatio Gates]. I
then went on with the Army to Rugeley's Mill, 12 miles from Camden. There we camped for
about a week – General Gates had his quarters at Rugeley's House. We remained there till the
Battle of the 16th of August 1780, usually called Gates defeat3 – our troops were dispersed and returned home. I served in this expedition three months – and lost a wagon and one horse in the engagement. I received no discharge, as we were routed and our time had nearly expired.
“Again in the County of Mecklenburg N.C. I joined the Cavalry, or mounted infantry, as
they were then called, about the month of August 1780 in a company commanded by Captain
Oliver Wilie [sic, Oliver Wiley]-- and attached to Colonel Davie's [William Richardson Davie's] Regiment. I volunteered and served two months and was discharged by Captain Wiley of the month of October 1780. In this service I went to South Carolina – had a skirmish with the Tories Rugeley's Mills – took them in his house.4
I again volunteered in the same County for six weeks under Captain Wiley,
Colonel Davie, Colonel Com.-- in the month of October 1780 – went in the Cavalry to Hanging
Rock [August 6, 1780]5 there had a skirmish with the Tories – drove them – till they were reinforced by the British, who were encamped near them – we then retreated – and came back to Charlotte – and was discharged in the month of November after serving six weeks – by Captain
Wiley.
In the same County, I again volunteered for two months in the month of December 1780,
under Thomas Rhea [Thomas Ray] as Captain – and marched from Mecklenburg to the
assistance of Colonel Childs [Thomas Childs], who lived in a disaffected part of the Country, in the County of Montgomery N. C. on Little River. We served two months and [were] discharged by Captain Rhea in February 1781. While in the service, I was under Col. Childs. I remember in this service, that the Colonel held a Court Martial for the trial of a Tory – who was condemned and hanged at Raiford's Ford on Little River.
In the month of March 1781 in the County of Mecklenburg N.C. I again volunteered
under Captain __ in the Regiment commanded by Colonel William Polk, now of Raleigh N. C.
commanded by General Sumpter [sic, Thomas Sumter] of South Carolina, Major Snipes
[William Clay Snipes]. I served in this service six months. It was called Sumter's ten-month
service. After six months, the Regiment was reorganized – and after drawing a lot the
supernumeraries were discharged & returned home. I was one of them. In this six months
service I was a Lieutenant. We were marched to South Carolina and rendezvoused at a place
called Palmer's. I was discharged by Col. Polk.
Again in the month of June 1776 I also volunteered in what was called the Cherokee
expedition6 under Captain J. Barringer [John Barringer], Colonel Phifer [John Phifer], General Griffith Rutherford for three months. We went to the mountains in North Carolina. We had different small skirmishes with the Indians. I was discharged in September 1776 by Captain Barringer after serving three months. I served in all nineteen months & two weeks. I was born in the County of Mecklenburg [County], State of North Carolina on the 16th day of April 1752. I always lived in Mecklenburg when I entered the service and ever since in that part called Cabarrus [County]. I do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension except the present & declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
S/ A McCurdy
Questions propounded by the said Court to Archibald McCurdy
1st: Where and in what year were you born?
Answer. In Mecklenburg County N. C. on the __ day of __.
2nd Have you any record of you age and if so, where is it?
Ans. I have the Bible here produced.
3rd Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the
Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Ans. When called into service I always resided in Mecklenburg County N. C. where I have lived ever since, in that part, which since the division has been called "Cabarrus."
4th How were you called into service; were you drafted; did you volunteer, or were you a
substitute and if so for whom did you substitute?
Ans. I was always a volunteer.
5th State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Ans. I do not remember the names or number of any officers or regiments. I was in the “Snow
Campaign”. I served much against the Tories – was in South Carolina under Sumter & Polk –
was at Gates defeat.
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. My discharges are all lost. I was discharged first by Captain [name obliterated] -- at
Camden or Gates defeat we received no discharge – then by Captain Wiley again by him – then
by Captain Rhea then by Colonel Polk – then by Captain Barringer.
7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who
can testify to your character for veracity and good behavior and your services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
Ans. I refer to General Paul Barringer & William H. Archibald.
On to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
S/ A. McCurdy
[Paul Barringer and Will. H. Archibald gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
State of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County
I William Alexander of the County of Mecklenburg North Carolina do hereby certify on
oath that I knew that Archibald McCurdy was in the service under General Sumter. He was in
the Regiment under Colonel William Polk—Major Snipes. He was out in South Carolina about
six months. I was in the Regiment under Colonel Wade Hampton but being from the same
section of the country with Archibald McCurdy, I became acquainted with him. We all enlisted
in March 1781 and rendezvoused at a place called Palmer's in South Carolina. He was a
Lieutenant in the service.
Witness my hand this 13th day of November 1832.
S/ Wm Alexander7
I William Hutchinson of Mecklenburg County N. C. do hereby certify on oath that I knew
Archibald McCurdy, now of Cabarrus County, in the service under General Sumter. I was in the
same Regiment under Colonel William Polk—Major Swipes. McCurdy served about six
months. We were called the State troops. I knew that McCurdy was a Lieutenant in his
company. He entered the service in March 1781 and was regularly discharged.
Witness my hand & seal – November 13, 1832
S/ Wm Hutchinson8
I Matthew Miller of the County of Mecklenburg North Carolina, do hereby certify on oath that I knew Archibald McCurdy, now of Cabarrus County & an applicant for a pension, in the service of the United States, in the militia, at the time of Gates Defeat – August 1780 – he was a Waggoner in the service at that time & I know that he lost his wagon, one horse and the furniture attached to the wagon. I was in the Regiment of Colonel Isaacs [Elijah Isaacks], under General Rutherford. He served about three months – at Gates defeat, I rode one of his horses nearly home, we lived near together. I was wounded in the head at that battle – and was assisted home by McCurdy. I also know that he was a Lieutenant in his company, in the State troops in South Carolina under General Sumter. He served about six months as I believe in this service. Witness my hand – November 13, 1832.
S/ Matthew Miller
State of North Carolina SS
I William Polk a Colonel Commandant of a Regiment in the service of South Carolina
engaged for the term of Ten months, do certify that Archibald McCurdy of the County of
Mecklenburg in the State aforesaid served as a Lieutenant in said service under my command,
the time not Recollected, and was discharged in consequence of a reduction of the Regiment.
Given under my hand a Raleigh January 1833
S/ Will Polk
[p 7: NC, Cabarrus County, November 2nd 1853, Elizabeth McCurdy, 61, widow of Archibald
McCurdy filed an application for a pension stating that her husband was a pensioner of the US at the rate of $13.33/ annum; that she married him on October 19, 1826 in Cabarrus County, NC; that he died in Cabarrus County on November 10, 1845. She signed her application with her mark.]
[On April 27, 1855, Elizabeth Greely McCurdy of Cabarrus County applied for a widow's bounty
land warrant stating that she married Archibald McCurdy on October 26, 1821; that her husband died on November 10, 1843; that her husband was a pensioner of the US at the rate of
$113.33/annum.]
[p 6: Certified copy of a marriage bond dated October 19, 1826 issued in Cabarrus County North Carolina to Archibald McCurdy and John Klutts conditioned upon the marriage of Archibald McCurdy to Elizabeth Greely.]
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $113.33 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for
service as a private and Lieutenant in the North Carolina militia. His widow was pensioned in a like amount.]
1BLWt26427-160-55
2 http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_snow_campaign.html
3 http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_battle_of_camden.html
4 http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_rugeley_mills_2.html
5 http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_battle_of_hanging_rock.html
6 http://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/revolution_cherokee_expedition_1776.html
7 Alexander S6496
8 Hutchison (Hutchinson) W10133
https://revwarapps.org/w7414.pdf
