Pension application of John Grier (Greer) S1906 f66NC
Transcribed by Will Graves amended 9/2/08 & 11/3/15
State of Tennessee, Carter County
On this 18th day of September personally appeared in open Court before this Circuit
Court of Carter County now sitting John Grier a resident of Carter County & State of Tennessee, aged Sixty nine years the 17th day of February next, 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. That he volunteered in the County of Washington, North Carolina now
Tennessee in the year 1779 for a six months tour of duty under Colonel John Sevier, his
Lieutenant Colonel was Charles Robison [sic, Charles Robertson], his Captain John Patterson,
his Lieutenant Simon Kirkendall [Simon Kuykendall]. He was stationed as an Indians spy at
Harden's station on Lick Creek then in Washington County North Carolina while in service
Lieutenant Kirkendall's wife and five children who were living near Hardin's station were killed by the Indians, he & others pursued the Indians some distance, but could not overtake them, he set out on this tour of duty in the month of May & continued in service he thinks near six months. But cannot state positively the time he was discharged at the station, not know written discharge.
He again volunteered at the same place in the year 1780 for six months under Colonel
John Sevier, his Captain was James Gibson, his Lieutenant Jesse Greene, he was stationed on the frontier of Washington County, he set out on this campaign in the month of February &
continued in service about five months – got no written discharge.
The third tour he substituted in the place of John Sherret [? could be Sherrit or Sherod]1 at the same place in the month of September 1780 under Colonel John Sevier, his Lieutenant Colonel was Charles Robison and his Captain Jacob Brown. He crossed the Yellow Mountain at the Yellow Spot, Colonel Sevier joining General Campbell [sic, then Colonel William Campbell] & Colonel Shelby [Isaac Shelby] in what is now Carter County Tennessee, crossed the Island ford of Broad River & camped at the Cowpens and was in the Battle of Kings Mountain [October 7, 1780], 2 where he received a wound in the cap of his right knee which wound at times pains him to this day when he walks much, he substituted for three months & continued in service until discharged which he thinks was two months no written discharge was given him.
He again volunteered at the same place in the year 1781 for three months under Colonel
John Sevier, Jacob Brown was his Captain. They marched to the Cherokee Nation to the
Chickamauga Towns, & burnt the towns. They set out in the month of September he thinks &
remained in service about one month. They suffered much with cold & hunger got no written
discharge. He again volunteered at the same place in 1781 or 82 not certain as to time for three months under Colonel John Sevier, Captain Davis (Nathaniel Davis) was his Captain. They marched to the Cherokee Nation to the Overhill Towns, burnt the towns, killed five the Indians, took 15 prisoners not far from these towns. Captain Davis, my Captain was wounded. We made an effort to get him home, got him in the Greasy Cove in Washington County where he died. He was in service two months, got no written discharge.
In the year 1782 he again volunteered at the same place under Colonel John Sevier, John
Patterson was his Captain, for three months. They marched to the Cherokee Nation & fought the Indians at the Blue Springs now in Blount County Tennessee. Colonel Sevier was victorious, we killed about 19 of the enemy, after the Battle we returned a few miles & camped at Boyd's
Creek. At this place he fell off of a stump & got five of his ribs broke, he was sent home by Colonel Sevier with two men to aid, having only been in service three weeks. After this he again volunteered at the same place, in the year 1782 for 20 days under Captain McFarland [Brent McFarland]. They marched to the Bald Mountain, near what is now the line between Tennessee & North Carolina, killed one Indian and returned, having been in service 18 days, got no written discharge. This Affiant further states that he cannot precisely state the sum or date of the time that he was in the service of his country, but feels confident that he was in service at least 17 months, that there is no minister in his immediate vicinity; that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except Andrew Taylor whose deposition is hereto annexed.
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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, to his knowledge.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court.
S/ John Grier
Test: S/ A. M. Carter, Clk
[Isaac Taylor and Archibald Williams gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[p 8]
I Andrew Taylor3 do hereby certify that I served a tour of duty with John Grier the applicant for a pension to the Overhill Towns – Cherokee Nation in the year I think of 1780 or 1781. I was in service three months. But do not recollect certainly the time Grier was in service. But have no recollection of his being discharged before me & further certify that I believe he served several other tours.
Sworn to & subscribed.
S/ Andrew Taylor
[p 58: On October 10, 1835 in Rush County Indiana, John Greer [sic] filed for a transfer of his pension benefit to the Indiana agency stating that he had removed from Tennessee to Indiana, that his 3 sons moved to Indiana – 2 of them more than 2 years ago and the other at the time veteran moved, all in hopes of bettering their condition. He signed his name as John Greer.]
[p 29: On April 6, 1835 in Rush County Indiana, Robert Grier and Richard Grier gave testimony that John Grier is the identical person named in the above affidavit. Their relationship, if any, to the veteran is not stated.]
[Facts in file: Veteran died in Sullivan County, Tenn., June 13, 1844; he was born February 17, 1764; he was living in Rush County, Indiana in 1835; he stated he had 3 sons living in Rush County; in 1840, he had moved to Sullivan County, Tenn. and stated one of his sons had died; one son had recently moved to Missouri and the other had returned to Tenn, and that he, the veteran, was living with his daughter in Tenn.]
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $56.66 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for
service as a private for 17 months in the North Carolina militia.]
_____________
1 Sherrit
2 http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_battle_of_kings_mountain.html
3 Andrew Taylor S3761
https://revwarapps.org/s1906.pdf
