Pension application of James Terry R10464 f22NC
Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 6/11/15
[p 2]
State of North Carolina, Granville County: Superior Court of Law Fall Term A.D. 1832
On this 5th day of September A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Honorable James Martin one of the Judges of the Superior Court of Law & Courts of Equity for the County and State aforesaid now sitting for said County & State at Oxford, James Terry, Senior, an Inhabitant of Granville County born the 5th of August 1858 Register of which is in my father's Bible now in my possession evidences the same, who was born in the County of King William & State of Virginia and removed with his parents to Granville County in the year 1765 where he continued to live & now resides 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 7th June 1832.
That he first entered into the Service of the United States and served as herein set forth Viz.:
He entered as a volunteer a Company of light Horse in the month of September 1780 under the Command of Captain Samuel Sneed [Samuel Snead], Lieutenant John Farrar, Ensign Stephen Sneed [Steven Snead], Samuel Williams and Payton Wood Sergeants and Leonard Smith Surgeon. The tour of duty was for three months, but in consideration of each volunteer finding his own Horse, a service of two months should be entitled to a discharge for the full term of service. Each member of this company found his own horse -- & I among them –our place of rendezvous was at Hillsborough and when assembled we were placed under the command of Colonel Phil Taylor [Philip Taylor] Lieutenant Colonel John Dickerson & Major William Hunt – From Hillsboro we marched to Bells Mills in Randolph [County] and scoured the country between these two places for Tories. From Bells Mills we scoured the Country toward the Yadkin [River], passed through at the Dutch Settlement, and went to Salisbury, Thence we went to Phifer's Mills on Rocky River. Here we were stationed as long as the enemy Remained in possession of Charlotte – constantly reconnoitering the Country around about the enemy. After the defeat of General Ferguson1 the enemy left Charlotte & endeavored to recross the Catawba [River] at the old Nation's Ford [sic, Nationsford] we were then marched upon the flanks of them. But General Sumpter [sic, Thomas Sumter] having met the British at the River and prevented them from crossing the British were forced back and returned to Charlotte – we were compelled heartily to retrace our steps. About this time we attacked & killed one and took prisoner of eight Tories at the Cross Roads near Charlotte – on the same night we had this affair with the Tories, we were sent to take Polk's Mill which was in possession of the enemy – we took a Sentinel a British man and attacked the Mill [October 9, 1780] but finding ourselves overpowered and the men firing from the Mill upon us, we found ourselves unable to accomplish our purpose and after the loss of one man killed & some wounded and several Horses wounded we gave up the attack and retired. The British next made an attempt to cross the Catawba at Land's Ford and succeeded – we followed after and finding the enemy had effected his purpose, we returned – We were afterwards marched towards Camden in pursuit of the Enemy and stationed on Big Lynches Creek. After remaining here for some time we were marched into Mecklenburg [County] and our time having very nearly expired we were there remained upon duty in & through that Country: we were marched homeward – when we arrived at Hillsboro we were examined by an officer, by the name of Stevens but his grade I cannot recollect, who received our arms and accoutrements & were discharged which has been lost or mislaid.
The next service I was engaged in was as a volunteer under Peter Bennett Captain, Thomas Grant Lieutenant – Drury Smith was superintendent. This was a tour to catch fish for the Army under General Greene--for it was immediately after the Battle of Guilford. This Tour was for three months & was Early in the Spring of 1781 – we were marched to Roanoke and performance of the duty required of us – and after performing our full tour, we were discharged. If I ever received a discharge it is lost or mislaid.
I am fortunate in having it [in] my power to prove both these tours of duty by Allen Howard2 and James Terry, Seawell Fraizer,3 the first of whom is my neighbor and the other was a brother soldier in both tours of service as was the first named also in both tours of service – James Downey4 Senior also a member of the same Regiment of Cavalry with myself will be able to Testify to my service about Charlotte as stated in my declaration. If it were necessary I could establish this latter tour by several other witnesses, although I am the only member of my own troop of Cavalry, officer or privates, who is now living.
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 or Territory.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year above stated.
S/ James Terry
We James Downey Sr. & Allen Howard Citizens of Granville County in Sowell Frazier a Citizen of Stokes County & State aforesaid being duly sworn according to Law in open Court testify and declare as follows Viz.: James Downey Senior declares that he was a Private in the same Regiment of Cavalry as stated by James Terry in his foregoing declaration and well knows that said Terry was in service and performed the duties as he has stated. The said Allen Howard and Sowell Frazier make oath that they are well acquainted with James Terry the applicant in the foregoing declaration. That he is about the age he has stated and that they know of their own knowledge that said Terry performed the duty as he has stated in both tours as they were soldiers in both Tours of duty with him as by him stated. And they all declare that the duty mentioned by the said James Taylor was by him performed as stated in his said declaration and that he is a man of strict veracity and Truth.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
S/ Jas. Downey, Senr.4
S/ Sowell Frazer3
S/ Allen Howard2
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1 Sic, Maj. Patrick Ferguson was defeated at the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780.
2 Allen Howard S8730
3 Sowell (Lowell) Frazer (Frazier) R3767
4 James Downey R3064
[p 8: A note in the file indicates that the veteran's claim was rejected because he served less than the required 6 months stipulated in the 1832 act.]
