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Nathaniel Davis, of Battle of King's Mountain
Facts and Events
Revolutionary War Pension Information
Information from “Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records”, Vol. 2, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :
- Davis, Nathaniel - born 7/4/1753 in Augusta County, Virginia; entered service 1776 in Washington County, Virginia; moved 1779 to Sullivan County, North Carolina, where entered service 1780; moved after Revolutionary War to Tennessee for abt. 39 years, thence to Caldwell County, Kentucky, where received Pension in 1833; query letter in file states soldier was born in Albemarle County, Virginia and married Susannah Goolsby, moved to Tennessee, thence to Kentucky
 , FS30366, R762.
 - the query letter in file was a different Nathaniel Davis, as this Nathaniel was clearly born in Augusta County, where his father resided during the 1750's, .
References
- Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Pension application of Nathaniel Davis S30366 f18VA
Transcribed by Will Graves 11/25/06 rev'd 1/2/14
State of Kentucky, Caldwell County
On this 20th day of May 1833 personally appeared in open court before Matthew Lyon, Stephen Grove, Mourton A. Rucker, & Isaac Grubbs, Esqrs., justices of the County Court in and for said County and State, now sitting, Nathaniel Davis, resident of said County, aged Seventy nine 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: That on the first day of May 1776 I first entered the service as a spy in the County of Washington, State of Virginia, under Captain John Davis (my brother) and under Colonel Robert Craig. The nature of this service was as follows: at the time I am speaking, the Indians were exceedingly bold and troublesome on the frontiers and for several years after the Battle on the Big Canhawa [sic, Kanawha] at the mouth of New River in 1774 (where Lewis was killed) the Indians (Shawnee & Cherokees particularly) kept up a constant warfare, and the frontier inhabitants had to organize themselves, and keep up a constant force. In the year 1776 the Indians were more than common bold and troublesome, and the inhabitants had to build forts to defend themselves. The Flat Lick Fort, Blackamore's Fort1, and the Rye Cove Fort [on Clinch River in present Scott County, VA], were the names of some built on that frontier. It became necessary for each company to appoint one or more spies, and the company to which I belong selected me for that purpose, and on the said first day of May 1776 I undertook that duty and continued as such until sometime in the month of August following, when immediate danger for the present ceased and I returned again to the company, which about this time rather relaxed their guard and dispersed to their homes. By some arrangement, I know not how, some of the frontier counties of Virginia were required to defend themselves and the frontiers, and were excused from serving anywhere else. Again in the spring of the year 1777, and in the month of April, I was again appointed a spy to the same company and Regiment, and continued in this capacity until late in the fall, and I think in the month of October. It was only necessary to keep out spies during the spring and summer, as in the winter time they were not troublesome. I was ordered to spy down the North fork of Holston [River] and towards Clinch Mountain, and generally remained two or three days on a trip and would then returned to the Fort (Blackamore's) and report. Sometimes I proceeded towards the Rye Cove Fort, and in every direction that was necessary. By this time I became what was termed a good spy, and on the following spring was again selected from the same company, and took upon me the office as well as I remember in the month of May, and continued until September following. In all these tours, I often ran many risks and discovered many dangers, and discovered and reported much information to the Fort, and to the company. I continued to live in Washington County until the Winter of 1779, when I moved into the State of North Carolina in Sullivan County near the mouth of the Watauga [River]. In the month of September 1780 between the 5th and 10th, I was drafted from this County for a tour of three months under Captain George Maxfield, and I served in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Isaac Shelby (afterwards Governor of Kentucky). The object of this expedition was against a Colonel Furgerson [Patrick Ferguson] who was marching a detachment through North & South Carolina. We rendezvoused on Doe River at the foot of the Yellow mountain. He marched to the top of the mountain and their mustered and received and immediately proceeded to Kings Mountain, and there met the said Colonel Ferguson and fought a battle with him in which our troops gained a great victory. Ferguson was killed and a great number killed and wounded – I cannot state the number. A number of prisoners were taken, for the night after the battle I was placed to guard them. This battle was fought on the 7 or 8 October 1780 [October 7, 1780]. From this place, we went to the Shallow Ford of the Yadkin [River] and there the prisoners were taken from our guard and conducted on. At this place we were discharged and permitted to return home which was on the 27th or 28th of October 1780. I was not [out] the full three months for which we were drafted, but at the time, it was allowed as such. In the Battle of Kings Mountain, Col. William Campbell, Colonel John Sevier, Colonel Shelby, Colonel Cleveland [Benjamin Cleveland], and Colonel Williams [James Williams] commanded the American troops, the two latter from South Carolina [sic, Benjamin Cleveland was from North Carolina]. This is the amount of my services. Being in need I have thought it proper to present them – if worthy, why well; if not, why, let it go. I declare that I have no documentary evidence in my possession which would prove my service, nor do I know of any now living by whom I could prove it. It is likely many are living, but I do not know of them. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State whatever.
The said court propounded the following interrogatories to the said applicant to which he made the subjoined answers.
1. Where and in what year were you born? I was born in Augusta County, State of Virginia on the fourth day of July 1753.
2. Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? Answer. I have not. But my father had, and I had access to them that until within a few years, and I distinctly remember it.
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live? Answer. During my service as a spy, I lived in the County of Washington, State of Virginia – in my last service, I lived in Sullivan County North Carolina, where I lived a few years and then moved to Tennessee, and lived there about 39 years, and then I moved to where I now live in this County; and have been here but about two years.
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom? Answer. While acting as a spy, I was selected by the Company or my Captain. In the expedition to Kings Mountain, I was drafted.
5. 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 now recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. Answer. I never served with any regular troops. I remember several militia Regiments in the expedition to Kings Mountain: Colonel Sevier's, Campbell's, Shelby's, Cleveland's, and Williams'.
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it? Answer. I never received any written discharge.
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief in your services as a soldier of the Revolution. Answer: George [illegible last name], Bailey Baker, Andrew Collie, and Luke Nichols, Eli Griffith and many others.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
S/ Nathaniel Davis
[Balaam Ezell, a clergyman, and Luke Nichols, George Kesterson and Bailey Baker gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
Personally appeared before me the Subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for Caldwell County & State of Kentucky, Nathaniel Davis (within named) who being duly sworn deposeth, and saith that by reason of old age, and the Consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the period mentioned, and in the following grades: For eleven months I served as a spy; and for one month as a private (in the King's Mountain expedition, though drafted for three months) and for such service I claim a pension.
Sworn & subscribed before me this 1st day of October 1833
S/ James A Cartwright, JP
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $40 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for services as a private for one-year in the Virginia militia.]
1 Blackmore’s Fort near present Fort Blackmore in Russell County, was built on the land of John Blackmore, who came from Fauquier County with his brother Joseph Blackmore.
http://revwarapps.org/s30366.pdf
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